|
Cayman Islands
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
| |
2834
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
| |
Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
|
|
Portia Ku, Esq.
Vincent Lin, Esq. O’Melveny & Myers LLP Times Square Tower 7 Times Square New York, NY 10036 +1-212-326-2000 |
| |
Yu-Hsin Lin
Belite Bio, Inc 5820 Oberlin Drive, Suite 101, San Diego, CA 92121 +1-858-246-6240 |
| |
Richard Anslow, Esq.
John J. Hart, Esq. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor New York, New York 10105 +1-212-370-1300 |
|
| | | | | 1 | | | |
| | | | | 17 | | | |
| | | | | 86 | | | |
| | | | | 88 | | | |
| | | | | 89 | | | |
| | | | | 90 | | | |
| | | | | 92 | | | |
| | | | | 94 | | | |
| | | | | 96 | | | |
| | | | | 97 | | | |
| | | | | 98 | | | |
| | | | | 112 | | | |
| | | | | 138 | | | |
| | | | | 167 | | | |
| | | | | 175 | | | |
| | | | | 177 | | | |
| | | | | 182 | | | |
| | | | | 194 | | | |
| | | | | 204 | | | |
| | | | | 206 | | | |
| | | | | 211 | | | |
| | | | | 222 | | | |
| | | | | 223 | | | |
| | | | | 224 | | | |
| | | | | 225 | | | |
| | | | | F-1 | | |
Indication
|
| |
Clinical Trials
|
| |
Trial Participants
|
| |
Estimated Timeline
|
|
STGD1 | | | Phase 1 single and multiple ascending dose trial | | | Healthy adult subjects | | | Completed | |
| | | Phase 1b trial | | | Adolescent patients with STGD1 | | | Completed | |
| | | Phase 2 trial | | | Adolescent patients with STGD1 | | | Ongoing, with interim data read-outs expected to be captured at Months 12, 15, 18 and 21, and a final data read-out to be captured at Month 24. | |
| | | Phase 3 trial | | | Adolescent patients with STGD1 | | | Initiated | |
Dry AMD | | | Phase 1 single ascending dose trial | | | Healthy adult subjects | | | Completed | |
| | | Phase 2 or Phase 3 trial | | |
Patients with dry AMD
|
| | 2022 | |
| | |
For the Years Ended
December 31, |
| |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||
| | |
(amounts in $ and in thousands,
except for shares and per share data) |
| |||||||||
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development
|
| | | | 3,688 | | | | | | 7,419 | | |
General and administrative
|
| | | | 2,055 | | | | | | 2,378 | | |
Total operating expenses
|
| | | | 5,743 | | | | | | 9,797 | | |
Loss from operations
|
| | | | (5,743) | | | | | | (9,797) | | |
Other income (expense): | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income
|
| | | | 12 | | | | | | 5 | | |
Interest expense
|
| | | | (21) | | | | | | — | | |
Other income
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 126 | | |
Total other (expense) income, net
|
| | | | (9) | | | | | | 131 | | |
Loss before income tax
|
| | | | (5,752) | | | | | | (9,666) | | |
Income tax expense
|
| | | | (1) | | | | | | — | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | (5,753) | | | | | | (9,666) | | |
Other comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil tax
|
| | | | 6 | | | | | | (152) | | |
Total comprehensive loss
|
| | | $ | (5,747) | | | | | $ | (9,818) | | |
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in per share calculation: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
—Basic and Diluted
|
| | | | 8,790,397 | | | | | | 9,569,932 | | |
Net loss per ordinary share | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
—Basic and Diluted
|
| | | $ | (0.65) | | | | | $ | (1.01) | | |
| | |
As of
December 31, 2020 |
| |
As of
December 31, 2021 |
| ||||||
| | |
(amounts in $ and in
thousands) |
| |||||||||
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheets Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash
|
| | | $ | 25,618 | | | | | $ | 17,344 | | |
Total assets
|
| | | $ | 25,741 | | | | | $ | 18,348 | | |
Total liabilities
|
| | | $ | 972 | | | | | $ | 1,635 | | |
Total convertible preferred shares
|
| | | $ | 31,806 | | | | | $ | 31,806 | | |
Total shareholders’ deficit
|
| | | $ | (7,037) | | | | | $ | (15,093) | | |
Total liabilities, convertible preferred shares and shareholders’ deficit
|
| | | $ | 25,741 | | | | | $ | 18,348 | | |
| | |
As of December 31, 2021
|
| |||||||||||||||
| | |
Actual
|
| |
Pro forma
|
| |
Pro forma
as adjusted(1) |
| |||||||||
| | |
(amounts in US$ thousands, except
for shares and per share data) |
| |||||||||||||||
| | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |||
Convertible preferred shares: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series A convertible preferred shares, US$0.0001 par value; 2,377,642 shares (actual) and no shares (pro forma and pro forma as adjusted) authorized; 2,377,642 shares issued and outstanding (actual); shares issued and outstanding (pro forma and pro forma as adjusted)
|
| | | $ | 8,806 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Series B convertible preferred shares, US$0.0001 par value; 5,443,272 shares (actual) and no shares (pro forma and pro forma as adjusted) authorized; 5,443,272 shares issued and outstanding (actual); shares issued and outstanding (pro forma and pro forma as adjusted)
|
| | | $ | 23,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Total convertible preferred shares
|
| | | $ | 31,806 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Shareholders’ deficit: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share; 492,179,086 shares authorized; 10,274,403 shares issued and outstanding (actual); shares issued and outstanding (pro forma and pro forma as adjusted)
|
| | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Additional paid-in capital
|
| | | | 12,325 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
| | | | (196) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accumulated deficit
|
| | | | (27,223) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total shareholders’ equity (deficit)
|
| | | | (15,093) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total capitalization
|
| | | $ | 18,348 | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |
| | |
Per
Ordinary Share |
| |
Per
ADS |
|
Assumed initial public offering price
|
| |
US$
|
| | US$ | |
Net tangible book value as of December 31, 2021
|
| |
US$
|
| | US$ | |
Pro forma net tangible book value after giving effect to the conversion of our preferred shares
|
| |
US$
|
| | | |
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after giving effect to the conversion of our preferred shares and this offering
|
| |
US$
|
| | US$ | |
Amount of dilution in net tangible book value to new investors in this offering
|
| |
US$
|
| | US$ | |
| | |
Ordinary Shares
Purchased |
| |
Total Consideration
|
| |
Average
Price Per Ordinary Share |
| |
Average
Price Per ADS |
| |||||||||||||||
| | |
Number
|
| |
Percent
|
| |
Amount
|
| |
Percent
|
| |||||||||||||||
Existing shareholders
|
| | | | | | | | | | % | | | | US$ | | | | | % | | | | US$ | | | US$ | |
New investors
|
| | | | | | | | | % | | | | US$ | | | | | % | | | | US$ | | | US$ | | |
Total
|
| | | | | | | | | | 100.0% | | | | US$ | | | | | 100.0% | | | | | | | | |
| | |
For the Year Ended December 31,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||
| | |
(In thousand US Dollars, except
share and per share amounts) |
| |||||||||
Selected Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total operating expenses(1)
|
| | | | 5,743 | | | | | | 9,797 | | |
Total other (expense) income, net
|
| | | | (9) | | | | | | 131 | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | (5,753) | | | | | | (9,666) | | |
Total comprehensive loss
|
| | | $ | (5,747) | | | | | $ | (9,818) | | |
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in per share calculation, basic and diluted
|
| | | | 8,790,397 | | | | | | 9,569,932 | | |
Net loss per ordinary share, basic and diluted
|
| | | | (0.65) | | | | | | (1.01) | | |
| | |
Year Ended
|
| |||||||||
| | |
December 31,
2020 |
| |
December 31,
2021 |
| ||||||
| | |
(amounts in $
and in thousands) |
| |||||||||
Research and development
|
| | | $ | 77 | | | | | $ | 52 | | |
General and administrative
|
| | | | 1,286 | | | | | | 1,478 | | |
Total
|
| | | $ | 1,363 | | | | | $ | 1,530 | | |
| | |
As of
December 31, 2020 |
| |
As of
December 31, 2021 |
| ||||||
| | |
(amounts in $
and in thousands) |
| |||||||||
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheets Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash
|
| | | $ | 25,618 | | | | | $ | 17,344 | | |
Total assets
|
| | | $ | 25,741 | | | | | $ | 18,348 | | |
Total liabilities
|
| | | $ | 972 | | | | | $ | 1,635 | | |
Total convertible preferred shares
|
| | | $ | 31,806 | | | | | $ | 31,806 | | |
Total shareholders’ deficit
|
| | | $ | (7,037) | | | | | $ | (15,093) | | |
Total liabilities, convertible preferred shares and shareholders’ deficit
|
| | | $ | 25,741 | | | | | $ | 18,348 | | |
| | |
For the Years Ended December 31,
|
| |
Change
|
| | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
(amounts in $ and in thousands)
|
| | | | | | | |
(%)
|
| | ||||||||||||||
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development(1)
|
| | | | 3,688 | | | | | | 7,419 | | | | | | 3,731 | | | | | | 101.2 | | | | ||
General and administrative(1)
|
| | | | 2,055 | | | | | | 2,378 | | | | | | 323 | | | | | | 15.7 | | | | ||
Total operating expenses
|
| | | | 5,743 | | | | | | 9,797 | | | | | | 4,054 | | | | | | 70.6 | | | | ||
Loss from operations
|
| | | | (5,743) | | | | | | (9,797) | | | | | | (4,054) | | | | | | 70.6 | | | | ||
Other income (expense): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income
|
| | | | 12 | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | (7) | | | | | | (58.3) | | | | ||
Interest expense
|
| | | | (21) | | | | | | — | | | | | | 21 | | | | | | 100 | | | | ||
Other income
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 126 | | | | | | 126 | | | | | | | | | | ||
Total other (expense) income, net
|
| | | | (9) | | | | | | 131 | | | | | | 140 | | | | | | 1,555.6 | | | | ||
Loss before income tax
|
| | | | (5,752) | | | | | | (9,666) | | | | | | (3,914) | | | | | | 168.0 | | | | ||
Income tax expense
|
| | | | (1) | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 100 | | | | ||
Net loss
|
| | | | (5,753) | | | | | | (9,666) | | | | | | (3,915) | | | | | | 168.0 | | | | ||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil tax
|
| | | | 6 | | | | | | (152) | | | | | | (158) | | | | | | (2,633.3) | | | | ||
Total comprehensive loss
|
| | | $ | (5,747) | | | | | $ | (9,818) | | | | | $ | (4,071) | | | | | $ | (70.8) | | | |
| | |
Years ended December 31,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||
Research and development
|
| | | $ | 77 | | | | | $ | 52 | | |
General and administrative
|
| | | | 1,286 | | | | | | 1,478 | | |
Total
|
| | | $ | 1,363 | | | | | $ | 1,530 | | |
| | |
For the Years Ended December 31,
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
(in $ thousands, except percentages)
|
| |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
| | |
$
|
| |
%
|
| |
$
|
| |
%
|
| ||||||||||||
Contracted research expenses and clinical trial expenses
|
| | | | 1,979 | | | | | | 53.7 | | | | | | 6,384 | | | | | | 86.0 | | |
Consultancy and professional service fees
|
| | | | 319 | | | | | | 8.6 | | | | | | 492 | | | | | | 6.6 | | |
Royalties
|
| | | | 1,187 | | | | | | 32.2 | | | | | | 103 | | | | | | 1.4 | | |
Other expenses
|
| | | | 203 | | | | | | 5.5 | | | | | | 440 | | | | | | 6.0 | | |
Total
|
| | | $ | 3,688 | | | | | | 100 | | | | | $ | 7,419 | | | | | | 100 | | |
| | |
Number of
Options |
| |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
| |
Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value |
| |
Weighted
Average Remaining Term (Years) |
| |
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value |
| |||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2020
|
| | | | 1,335,794 | | | | | $ | 0.1191 | | | | | $ | 2.4720 | | | | | | 9.96 | | | | | | 3,301 | | |
Granted
|
| | | | 2,807,381 | | | | | $ | 0.4386 | | | | | $ | 2.2574 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Exercised
|
| | | | (727,676) | | | | | $ | 0.1191 | | | | | $ | 2.4720 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Forfeited or expired
|
| | | | (19,601) | | | | | $ | 0.1191 | | | | | $ | 2.4733 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2020
|
| | | | 3,395,898 | | | | | $ | 0.3832 | | | | | $ | 2.2946 | | | | | | 9.80 | | | | | | 7,834 | | |
Granted
|
| | | | 41,736 | | | | | $ | 4.2254 | | | | | $ | 0.4626 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Exercised
|
| | | | (706,406) | | | | | $ | 0.3289 | | | | | $ | 2.3311 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Forfeited or expired
|
| | | | (748,667) | | | | | $ | 0.4386 | | | | | $ | 2.2574 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Outstanding Options, December 31, 2021
|
| | | | 1,982,561 | | | | | $ | 0.4626 | | | | | $ | 2.2571 | | | | | | 8.82 | | | | | $ | 4,480 | | |
Vested and Expected to Vest Options as of December 31 2021
|
| | | | 844,774 | | | | | $ | 0.3935 | | | | | $ | 2.3052 | | | | | | 8.58 | | | | | $ | 1,969 | | |
Exercisable Options as of December 31, 2021
|
| | | | 356,067 | | | | | $ | 0.2291 | | | | | $ | 2.4192 | | | | | | 7.99 | | | | | $ | 891 | | |
| | |
As of
December 17, 2019 |
| |
As of
December 23, 2020 |
| |
As of
March 1, 2021 |
| |||||||||
Risk-free interest rate
|
| |
1.72% – 1.74%
|
| | | | 0.51% | | | | | | 0.87% | | | |||
Expected volatility range
|
| |
35.50% – 35.72%
|
| | | | 36.59% | | | | | | 36.75% | | | |||
Exercise multiple
|
| | | | 2.8 | | | | | | 2.8 | | | | | | 2.8 | | |
Expected dividend yield
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| | |
Years ended December 31,
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||
Research and development
|
| | | $ | 77 | | | | | $ | 52 | | |
General and administrative
|
| | | | 1,286 | | | | | | 1,478 | | |
Total
|
| | | $ | 1,363 | | | | | $ | 1,530 | | |
Indication
|
| |
Clinical Trials
|
| |
Trial Participants
|
| |
Estimated Timeline
|
|
STGD1
|
| |
Phase 1 single and multiple ascending dose trial
|
| |
Healthy adult subjects
|
| |
Completed
|
|
| Phase 1b trial | | | Adolescent patients with STGD1 | | | Completed | | ||
| Phase 2 trial | | | Adolescent patients with STGD1 | | | Ongoing, with interim data read-outs expected to be captured every 6 months | | ||
| Phase 3 trial | | | Adolescent patients with STGD1 | | | Initiated | | ||
Dry AMD
|
| |
Phase 1 single ascending dose trial
|
| |
Healthy adult subjects
|
| |
Completed
|
|
| Phase 2 or Phase 3 trial | | | Patients with dry AMD | | | 2022 | |
Adverse Events
|
| |
Severity
|
| |
Relationship
to Drug |
| |
Frequency
(#Patients) |
| |
%
Recovered |
| |
% On-going
|
| |||||||||
Xanthopsia/Chromatopsia
|
| | | | Mild | | | |
Definitely Related
|
| | | | 7/11 | | | |
7/7 (100%)
|
| | | | 0/7 | | |
Delayed Dark Adaptation (DDA)
|
| | | | Mild | | | |
Definitely Related
|
| | | | 7/11 | | | |
7/7 (100%)
|
| | | | 0/7 | | |
Night Vision Impairment
|
| | | | Mild | | | |
Definitely Related
|
| | | | 1/11 | | | |
1/1 (100%)
|
| | | | 0/1 | | |
Adverse Events
|
| |
Severity
|
| |
Relationship
to Drug |
| |
Frequency
(#Patients) |
| |
%
Recovered |
| |
% On-going
|
| ||||||
Xanthopsia/Chromatopsia
|
| | | | Mild | | | |
Definitely Related
|
| | | | 6/13 | | | |
3/6 (50%)
|
| |
3/6 (50%)
|
|
Delayed Dark Adaptation (DDA)
|
| | | | Mild | | | |
Definitely Related
|
| | | | 8/13 | | | |
1/8 (12.5%)
|
| |
7/8 (87.5%)
|
|
Night Vision Impairment
|
| | | | Mild | | | |
Definitely Related
|
| | | | 1/13 | | | |
0/1
|
| |
1/1 (100%)
|
|
Increasing error score on FM100
|
| | | | Mild | | | |
Probably Related
|
| | | | 1/13 | | | |
0/1
|
| |
1/1 (100%)
|
|
Adverse Events
|
| |
Severity
|
| |
Frequency (#Subjects)
|
|
Xanthopsia – yellow being more prominent in their color vision | | |
Mild
|
| |
1/29
|
|
Adverse Events
|
| |
Severity
|
| |
Frequency (#Subjects)
|
|
Delayed Dark Adaptation (DDA) | | |
Mild
|
| |
16/24
|
|
Xanthopsia – yellow being more prominent in their colour vision | | |
Mild
|
| |
1/24
|
|
Photophobia – sensitivity to light | | |
Mild
|
| |
1/24
|
|
Ocular migraine | | |
Mild
|
| |
1/24
|
|
Intermittent dyspepsia (indigestion) | | |
Mild
|
| |
1/24
|
|
Migraine | | |
Moderate
|
| |
1/24
|
|
Patent
Family No. |
| |
Type of Patent
|
| |
Issued Countries/ Regions
and/or Application Type |
| |
Pending
Countries/ Regions and/or Application Type |
| |
Termination Date
(mm/dd/yyyy) |
| |
Subject to
“March-in Rights” (Yes/ No) |
|
1 | | | Utility – Methods of Use | | |
U.S
Europe Japan |
| | N.A | | | 11/22/2031 | | | Yes | |
2 | | | Utility – Methods of Use | | | U.S | | | N.A | | | 04/30/2033 | | | Yes | |
3 | | | Utility – Manufacture and Composition of Matter | | |
U.S
U.S Divisional #1 Europe Europe Divisional |
| |
U.S Divisional #2
Hong Kong |
| | 03/13/2034 | | | Yes | |
4 | | | Utility – Manufacture and Composition of Matter | | |
U.S
U.S Continuation #1 U.S Continuation #2 Europe |
| | N.A | | | 03/13/2034 | | | Yes | |
5 | | | Utility – Manufacture and Composition of Matter | | |
U.S
U.S Divisional |
| | N.A | | | 03/13/2034 | | | Yes | |
6 | | | Utility – Manufacture and Composition of Matter | | |
U.S
U.S Continuation |
| | N.A | | | 03/13/2034 | | | Yes | |
7 | | |
Utility – Manufacture
and Composition of Matter |
| |
U.S
U.S Continuation #1 U.S Continuation #2 U.S Continuation #3 U.S Continuation #4 Europe Australia India Mexico Japan Philippines China Singapore Indonesia |
| |
U.S Continuation
#5 Hong Kong South Korea Myanmar Thailand Canada China Divisional New Zealand Brazil |
| | 04/29/2035 | | | Yes | |
8 | | | Utility – Methods of Use | | | N.A | | |
U.S
Europe Hong Kong China |
| | 08/01/2039 | | | Yes | |
Patent
Family No. |
| |
Type of Patent
|
| |
Issued Countries/
Regions and/or Application Type |
| |
Pending
Countries/ Regions and/or Application Type |
| |
Termination
Date (mm/dd/yyyy) |
| |
Subject to
“March-in Rights” (Yes/ No) |
|
9 | | |
Utility – Methods of
Use |
| |
U.S,
U.S Divisional #1 |
| |
U.S Divisional #2
Europe Taiwan Hong Kong |
| | 06/14/2038 | | | No | |
Patent
Family No. |
| |
Type of Patent
|
| |
Issued Countries/
Regions and/or Application Type |
| |
Pending
Countries/ Regions and/or Application Type |
| |
Expected
Termination Date (mm/dd/yyyy) |
| |
Subject to
“March-in Rights” (Yes/ No) |
|
10 | | |
Utility – Methods of
Use |
| | N.A | | |
U.S
Europe Taiwan Hong Kong |
| | 06/14/2038 | | | No | |
11 | | | Utility – Formulations | | | N.A | | |
U.S
Europe Australia Canada China India Israel Japan South Korea Singapore Taiwan |
| | 07/06/2040 | | | No | |
12 | | | Utility – Companion Diagnostics | | | N.A | | | U.S Provisional | | | 05/21/2042 | | | No | |
13 | | | Utility – Formulation | | | N.A | | | U.S Provisional | | | 11/23/2042 | | | No | |
Functions
|
| |
Number of
Employees |
| |
% of Total
|
| ||||||
Finance and Accounting
|
| | | | 5 | | | | | | 42% | | |
Research and Development
|
| | | | 7 | | | | | | 58% | | |
Total | | | | | 12 | | | | | | 100% | | |
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Positions(s)
|
|
Yu-Hsin Lin | | |
44
|
| | Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board of Directors* | |
Hao-Yuan Chuang | | |
38
|
| | Chief Financial Officer, Director* | |
Nathan L. Mata | | |
56
|
| | Chief Scientific Officer | |
Ching-Chen Chiu | | |
52
|
| |
Vice President of Clinical Operations
|
|
Wan-Shan Chen | | |
36
|
| | Director* | |
Hung-Wei Chen | | |
40
|
| | Director* | |
John M. Longo | | |
53
|
| | Independent Director Nominee# | |
Ita Lu | | |
45
|
| | Independent Director Nominee# | |
Gary C. Biddle | | |
70
|
| | Independent Director Nominee# | |
Name
|
| |
Ordinary
Shares Underlying Options |
| |
Exercise
Price (US$/Share) |
| |
Date of Grant
|
| |
Date of Expiration
|
| ||||||
Yu-Hsin Lin
|
| | | | 827,814 | | | | | $ | 0.4386 | | | |
December 23, 2020
|
| |
December 22, 2030
|
|
Hao-Yuan Chuang
|
| | | | 579,471 | | | | | $ | 0.4386 | | | |
December 23, 2020
|
| |
December 22, 2030
|
|
Nathan L. Mata
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | |
—
|
| |
—
|
|
Ching-Chen Chiu
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | |
—
|
| |
—
|
|
Wan-Shan Chen
|
| | | | * | | | | | $ | 0.4386 | | | |
December 23, 2020
|
| |
December 22, 2030
|
|
Hung-Wei Chen
|
| | | | * | | | | | $ | 0.4386 | | | |
December 23, 2020
|
| |
December 22, 2030
|
|
All directors and executive officers as
a group |
| | |
|
1,494,775
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
Ordinary Shares Beneficially
Owned Prior to This Offering |
| |
Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned
After This Offering |
| | |||||||||||||||||
| | |
Ordinary
Shares |
| |
% of
Beneficial Ownership† |
| |
Ordinary
Shares |
| |
% of
Beneficial Ownership |
| |
% of
aggregate voting power†† |
| | ||||||||
Directors and Executive Officers**: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Yu-Hsin Lin(1)
|
| | | | 2,463,015 | | | | | | 13.61% | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Hao-Yuan Chuang(2)
|
| | | | 529,193 | | | | | | 2.92% | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Nathan L. Mata
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Ching-Chen Chiu
|
| | | | * | | | | | | * | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Wan-Shan Chen(3)
|
| | | | * | | | | | | * | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Hung-Wei Chen(4)
|
| | | | 193,526 | | | | | | 1.07% | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
John M. Longo (independent director nominee).
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ita Lu (independent director nominee)(5).
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gary C. Biddle (independent director nominee)
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Principal Shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Lin Bioscience International Ltd(6).
|
| | | | 13,928,597 | | | | | | 76.97% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities/Purchaser
|
| |
Date of Issuance
|
| |
Number of Securities
|
| |
Exercise
Price |
| |||
Options | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Certain directors, officers and employees
|
| |
December 17, 2019
|
| |
Option to purchase up to 1,335,794 ordinary shares
|
| | | $ | 0.1191 | | |
Certain directors, officers and employees
|
| |
December 23, 2020
|
| |
Option to purchase up to 2,807,381 ordinary shares
|
| | | $ | 0.4386 | | |
Certain key consultants
|
| |
March 1, 2021
|
| |
Option to purchase up to 41,736 ordinary shares
|
| | | $ | 4.2254 | | |
Service
|
| |
Fees
|
|
• To any person to which ADSs are issued or to any person to which a distribution is made in respect of ADS distributions pursuant to stock dividends or other free distributions of stock, bonus distributions, stock splits or other distributions (except where converted to cash) | | | Up to US$0.05 per ADS issued | |
• Cancellation of ADSs, including the case of termination of the deposit agreement | | | Up to US$0.05 per ADS cancelled | |
• Distribution of cash dividends | | | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
• Distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends) and/or cash proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other entitlements | | | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
• Distribution of ADSs pursuant to exercise of rights. | | | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
• Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs | | | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
• Depositary services | | | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary bank | |
If we:
|
| |
Then:
|
|
Change the nominal or par value of our ordinary shares | | | The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities. | |
Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities | | | Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities. | |
Distribute securities on the ordinary shares that are not distributed to you, or
Recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar action |
| | The depositary may distribute some or all of the cash, shares or other securities it received. It may also deliver new ADSs or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities. | |
Name
|
| |
Number of ADSs
|
| |||
The Benchmark Company, LLC
|
| | | | | | |
Total
|
| | | | | | |
| | |
Total
|
| |||||||||||||||
| | |
Per ADS
|
| |
No Exercise
|
| |
Full exercise
|
| |||||||||
Public offering price
|
| | | US$ | | | | | | US$ | | | | | US$ | | | ||
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)
|
| | | US$ | | | | | | US$ | | | | | US$ | | | ||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us
|
| | | US$ | | | | | | US$ | | | | | US$ | | | |
|
SEC Registration Fee
|
| | US$ | |
|
FINRA Filing Fee
|
| | | |
|
Stock Exchange Market Entry and Listing Fee
|
| | | |
|
Printing and Engraving Expenses
|
| | | |
|
Legal Fees and Expenses
|
| | | |
|
Accounting Fees and Expenses
|
| | | |
|
Miscellaneous
|
| | | |
| Total | | | US$ | |
| | |
PAGE(S)
|
| |||
| | | | F-2 | | | |
| | | | F-3 | | | |
| | | | F-4 | | | |
| | | | F-5 | | | |
| | | | F-6 | | | |
| | | | F-7 | | |
| | |
December 31
|
| |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||
ASSETS | | | | ||||||||||
Current Assets
Cash |
| | | $ | 25,618 | | | | | $ | 17,344 | | |
Prepayments and other current assets
|
| | | | 50 | | | | | | 87 | | |
Total current assets
|
| | | | 25,668 | | | | | | 17,431 | | |
Property and equipment, net
|
| | | | 46 | | | | | | 94 | | |
Prepayment for property and equipment
|
| | | | 20 | | | | | | — | | |
Deferred offering costs
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 815 | | |
Security deposits
|
| | | | 7 | | | | | | 8 | | |
TOTAL ASSETS
|
| | | $ | 25,741 | | | | | $ | 18,348 | | |
LIABILITIES, CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
|
| | | ||||||||||
Current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other payable due to related parties
|
| | | $ | 26 | | | | | $ | 71 | | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
| | | | 946 | | | | | | 1,564 | | |
Total current liabilities
|
| | | | 972 | | | | | | 1,635 | | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES
|
| | | | 972 | | | | | | 1,635 | | |
Commitments and contingencies | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Convertible preferred shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series A convertible preferred shares, US$0.0001 par value, 2,377,642 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2021
|
| | | | 8,806 | | | | | | 8,806 | | |
Series B convertible preferred shares, US$0.0001 par value, 5,443,272 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2021
|
| | | | 23,000 | | | | | | 23,000 | | |
Total convertible preferred shares
|
| | | | 31,806 | | | | | | 31,806 | | |
Shareholders’ deficit | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares, par value of US$0.0001 per share; 492,179,086 shares authorized;
9,567,997 and 10,274,403 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively |
| | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | |
Additional paid-in capital
|
| | | | 10,563 | | | | | | 12,325 | | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
| | | | (44) | | | | | | (196) | | |
Accumulated deficit
|
| | | | (17,557) | | | | | | (27,223) | | |
Total shareholders’ deficit
|
| | | | (7,037) | | | | | | (15,093) | | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES, CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
|
| | | $ | 25,741 | | | | | $ | 18,348 | | |
| | |
For the Years Ended
December 31, |
| |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development
|
| | | | 3,688 | | | | | | 7,419 | | |
General and administrative
|
| | | | 2,055 | | | | | | 2,378 | | |
Total operating expenses
|
| | | | 5,743 | | | | | | 9,797 | | |
Loss from operations
|
| | | | (5,743) | | | | | | (9,797) | | |
Other income (expense): | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income
|
| | | | 12 | | | | | | 5 | | |
Interest expense
|
| | | | (21) | | | | | | — | | |
Other income
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 126 | | |
Total other (expense) income, net
|
| | | | (9) | | | | | | 131 | | |
Loss before income tax
|
| | | | (5,752) | | | | | | (9,666) | | |
Income tax expense
|
| | | | (1) | | | | | | — | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | (5,753) | | | | | | (9,666) | | |
Other comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil tax
|
| | | | 6 | | | | | | (152) | | |
Total comprehensive loss
|
| | | $ | (5,747) | | | | | $ | (9,818) | | |
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in per share calculation: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
− Basic and Diluted
|
| | | | 8,790,397 | | | | | | 9,569,932 | | |
Net loss per ordinary share
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
− Basic and Diluted
|
| | | $ | (0.65) | | | | | $ | (1.01) | | |
| | |
Convertible Preferred
Shares |
| | |
Ordinary Shares
|
| |
Additional
Paid-in Capital |
| |
Accumulated
other Comprehensive loss |
| |
Accumulated
deficit |
| |
Total
Shareholders’ deficit |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Shares
|
| |
Amount
|
| | |
Shares
|
| |
Amount
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2020
|
| | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | 7,840,321 | | | | | $ | 1 | | | | | $ | 8,114 | | | | | $ | (50) | | | | | $ | (11,804) | | | | | $ | (3,739) | | |
Issuance of ordinary shares
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | 500,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 500 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 500 | | |
Issuance of ordinary shares upon conversion of other payable due to related parties
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | 500,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 500 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 500 | | |
Issuance of Series A preferred shares
|
| | | | 1,833,892 | | | | | | 6,792 | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Issuance of Series A preferred shares upon conversion of convertible promissory notes
|
| | | | 543,750 | | | | | | 2,014 | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Issuance of Series B preferred shares
|
| | | | 5,443,272 | | | | | | 23,000 | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Exercise of share options
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | 727,676 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 86 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 86 | | |
Share-based compensation expense
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,363 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,363 | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (5,753) | | | | | | (5,753) | | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 6 | | |
Balance as of December 31, 2020
|
| | | | 7,820,914 | | | | | $ | 31,806 | | | | | | | 9,567,997 | | | | | $ | 1 | | | | | $ | 10,563 | | | | | $ | (44) | | | | | $ | (17,557) | | | | | $ | (7,037) | | |
Exercise of share options
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | 706,406 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 232 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 232 | | |
Share-based compensation expense
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,530 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,530 | | |
Net loss
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (9,666) | | | | | | (9,666) | | |
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | (152) | | | | | | — | | | | | | (152) | | |
Balance as of December 31, 2021
|
| | | | 7,820,914 | | | | | $ | 31,806 | | | | | | | 10,274,403 | | | | | $ | 1 | | | | | $ | 12,325 | | | | | $ | (196) | | | | | $ | (27,223) | | | | | $ | (15,093) | | |
| | |
For the years ended
December 31, |
| |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss
|
| | | $ | (5,753) | | | | | $ | (9,666) | | |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation
|
| | | | 17 | | | | | | 30 | | |
Share-based compensation expense
|
| | | | 1,363 | | | | | | 1,530 | | |
Gain on disposal of property and equipment
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (8) | | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other receivables due from related parties
|
| | | | 4 | | | | | | — | | |
Prepayments
|
| | | | 192 | | | | | | (35) | | |
Other payables due to related parties
|
| | | | (19) | | | | | | 45 | | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
| | | | (254) | | | | | | 632 | | |
Security deposits
|
| | | | 8 | | | | | | (2) | | |
Net cash used in operating activities
|
| | | | (4,442) | | | | | | (7,474) | | |
Cash flows from investing activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acquisition of property and equipment
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (74) | | |
Prepayments for property and equipment
|
| | | | (20) | | | | | | — | | |
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 18 | | |
Net cash used in investing activities
|
| | | | (20) | | | | | | (56) | | |
Cash flows from financing activities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Payments of deferred offering costs
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (815) | | |
Proceeds from related party loan
|
| | | | 131 | | | | | | — | | |
Repayment of related party loan
|
| | | | (2,450) | | | | | | — | | |
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares
|
| | | | 500 | | | | | | — | | |
Proceed from issuance of convertible preferred shares
|
| | | | 29,792 | | | | | | — | | |
Proceed from exercise of share options
|
| | | | 86 | | | | | | 232 | | |
Net cash used in financing activities
|
| | | | 28,059 | | | | | | (583) | | |
Effects of exchange rate on cash
|
| | | | 4 | | | | | | (161) | | |
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH
|
| | | | 23,601 | | | | | | (8,274) | | |
CASH AT BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
|
| | | | 2,017 | | | | | | 25,618 | | |
CASH AT END OF THE PERIOD
|
| | | $ | 25,618 | | | | | $ | 17,344 | | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest paid
|
| | | | 19 | | | | | | — | | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Conversion of convertible promissory notes and accrued interest into convertible preferred shares
|
| | | | 2,014 | | | | | | — | | |
Conversion of other payable due to related parties into ordinary shares
|
| | | | 500 | | | | | | — | | |
Subsidiaries
|
| |
Date of
incorporation |
| |
Place of
incorporation |
| |
Ownership
|
| |
Principal
activities |
|
Belite Bio Holdings Corp.
(“Belite Holding”) |
| | June 10, 2016 | | |
The United States of America
|
| | 100% owned by Belite | | | Investment holding | |
Belite Bio, LLC
(“Belite USA”) |
| | June 10, 2016 | | |
The United States of America
|
| |
100% owned by Belite Holding
|
| |
Research and development
|
|
RBP4 Pty Ltd
(“RBP4”) |
| | August 13, 2018 | | | Australia | | |
100% owned by Belite Holding
|
| | Clinical trial activities | |
Belite Bio (HK) Limited
(“Belite HK”) |
| | June 10, 2021 | | | Hong Kong | | | 100% owned by Belite | | | Investment holding | |
Belite Bio (Shanghai) Limited
(“Belite Shanghai”) |
| | August 12, 2021 | | | China | | | 100% owned by Belite HK | | | Clinical trial activities | |
Supplier
|
| |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| ||||||
A | | | | $ | * | | | | | $ | 2,385 | | |
B | | | | | * | | | | | | 1,213 | | |
C | | | | | 776 | | | | | | 765 | | |
D | | | | | 1,187 | | | | | | * | | |
E | | | | | 448 | | | | | | * | | |
F | | | | | 442 | | | | | | * | | |
G | | | | | 423 | | | | | | * | | |
| | |
As of December 31,
|
| | | | |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| | ||||||||
Prepayments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
− Prepayments for other services
|
| | | $ | 10 | | | | | $ | 64 | | | | ||
Deductible value-added tax input
|
| | | | 40 | | | | | | 23 | | | | ||
| | | | $ | 50 | | | | | $ | 87 | | | |
| | |
As of December 31,
|
| | | | |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| | ||||||||
Laboratory equipment
|
| | | $ | 92 | | | | | $ | 141 | | | | ||
Less: accumulated depreciation
|
| | | | (46) | | | | | | (47) | | | | ||
Total
|
| | | $ | 46 | | | | | $ | 94 | | | |
| | |
As of December 31,
|
| | | | |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| | ||||||||
Research and development
|
| | | $ | 488 | | | | | $ | 741 | | | | ||
Legal and consulting
|
| | | | 266 | | | | | | 525 | | | | ||
License royalties
|
| | | | 187 | | | | | | 147 | | | | ||
Other
|
| | | | 5 | | | | | | 151 | | | | ||
| | | | $ | 946 | | | | | $ | 1,564 | | | |
| | |
December 31, 2020 and 2021
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | |
Preferred
Shares Authorized |
| |
Preferred
Shares Issued and Outstanding |
| |
Carrying
Value |
| |
Liquidation
Value |
| |
Common
Stock Issuable Upon Conversion |
| | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Series A Preferred Shares
|
| | | | 2,377,642 | | | | | $ | 2,377,642 | | | | | $ | 8,806 | | | | | $ | 8,806 | | | | | | 2,377,642 | | | | | | | ||||||||
Series B Preferred Shares
|
| | | | 5,443,272 | | | | | | 5,443,272 | | | | | | 23,000 | | | | | | 23,000 | | | | | | 5,443,272 | | | | | | | ||||||||
Total
|
| | | | 7,820,914 | | | | | | 7,820,914 | | | | | | 31,806 | | | | | | 31,806 | | | | | | 7,820,914 | | | | | | |
| | |
As of December 17,
2019 |
| |
As of December 23,
2020 |
| |
As of March 1,
2021 |
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
| |
1.72% – 1.74%
|
| |
0.51%
|
| |
0.87%
|
|
Expected volatility range
|
| |
35.50% – 35.72%
|
| |
36.59%
|
| |
36.75%
|
|
Exercise multiple
|
| |
2.8
|
| |
2.8
|
| |
2.8
|
|
Expected dividend yield
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
|
| | |
Number of
Options |
| |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
| |
Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value |
| |
Weighted
Average Remaining Term (Years) |
| |
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value |
| |||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2020
|
| | | | 1,335,794 | | | | | $ | 0.1191 | | | | | $ | 2.4720 | | | | | | 9.96 | | | | | | 3,301 | | |
Granted
|
| | | | 2,807,381 | | | | | $ | 0.4386 | | | | | $ | 2.2574 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Exercised
|
| | | | (727,676) | | | | | $ | 0.1191 | | | | | $ | 2.4720 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Forfeited or expired
|
| | | | (19,601) | | | | | $ | 0.1191 | | | | | $ | 2.4733 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2020
|
| | | | 3,395,898 | | | | | $ | 0.3832 | | | | | $ | 2.2946 | | | | | | 9.80 | | | | | | 7,834 | | |
Granted
|
| | | | 41,736 | | | | | $ | 4.2254 | | | | | $ | 0.4626 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Exercised
|
| | | | (706,406) | | | | | $ | 0.3289 | | | | | $ | 2.3311 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Forfeited or expired
|
| | | | (748,667) | | | | | $ | 0.4386 | | | | | $ | 2.2574 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
Outstanding Options, December 31, 2021
|
| | | | 1,982,561 | | | | | $ | 0.4626 | | | | | $ | 2.2571 | | | | | | 8.82 | | | | | $ | 4,480 | | |
Vested and Expected to Vest Options as of December 31, 2021
|
| | | | 844,774 | | | | | $ | 0.3935 | | | | | $ | 2.3052 | | | | | | 8.58 | | | | | $ | 1,969 | | |
Exercisable Options as of December 31, 2021
|
| | | | 356,067 | | | | | $ | 0.2291 | | | | | $ | 2.4192 | | | | | | 7.99 | | | | | $ | 891 | | |
| | |
Years ended December 31,
|
| | | | |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| | ||||||||
Research and development
|
| | | $ | 77 | | | | | $ | 52 | | | | ||
General and administrative
|
| | | | 1,286 | | | | | | 1,478 | | | | ||
Total | | | | $ | 1,363 | | | | | $ | 1,530 | | | |
| | |
(In Thousands)
Years ended December 31, |
| | | | |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| | ||||||||
Federal statutory tax rate
|
| | | | 21% | | | | | | 21% | | | | ||
State taxes
|
| | | | 8.84% | | | | | | 8.84% | | | | ||
Withholding tax
|
| | | | 0.02% | | | | | | 0.00% | | | | ||
Research and development credit
|
| | | | (0.03)% | | | | | | (0.33)% | | | | ||
Non-deductible expenses
|
| | | | (0.27)% | | | | | | (0.20)% | | | | ||
Changes in valuation allowances
|
| | | | (29.54)% | | | | | | (29.31)% | | | | ||
Effective tax rate
|
| | | $ | 0.02% | | | | | $ | 0.00% | | | |
| | |
As of December 31,
|
| | | | |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| | ||||||||
Deferred income tax assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Research and development credits
|
| | | $ | 59 | | | | | $ | 103 | | | | ||
Net operating loss carryforwards
|
| | | | 3,687 | | | | | | 4,005 | | | | ||
| | | | | 3,746 | | | | | | 4,108 | | | | ||
Valuation allowance
|
| | | | (3,746) | | | | | | (4,108) | | | | ||
Total net deferred income tax assets
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | |
| | |
Years ended December 31,
|
| | | | |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| | ||||||||
Numerator: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders
|
| | | $ | (5,753) | | | | | $ | (9,666) | | | | ||
Denominator: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding – basic and diluted
|
| | | | 8,790,397 | | | | | | 9,569,932 | | | | ||
Net loss per share – basic and diluted
|
| | | $ | (0.65) | | | | | $ | (1.01) | | | |
| | |
Years ended December 31,
|
| | | | |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| | ||||||||
Convertible preferred shares
|
| | | | 7,820,914 | | | | | | 7,820,914 | | | | ||
Outstanding share options
|
| | | | 3,395,898 | | | | | | 1,982,561 | | | | ||
Total
|
| | | | 11,216,812 | | | | | | 9,803,475 | | | |
Name of related parties
|
| |
Relationship with the Company
|
|
Lin BioScience, Inc. | | | The ultimate shareholder of the Company | |
Lin Bioscience International Ltd. | | | The shareholder of the Company | |
Lin BioScience Pty Ltd | | | Controlled by the ultimate shareholder of the Company | |
| | |
As of December 31,
|
| | | | |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| | ||||||||
Due to related parties | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Lin BioScience, Inc.
|
| | | $ | 26 | | | | | $ | 71 | | | |
| | |
Years ended December 31,
|
| | | | |||||||||
| | |
2020
|
| |
2021
|
| | ||||||||
Lin BioScience, Inc.: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||
Research and Development Expense
|
| | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 183 | | | | ||
Professional Service Expense
|
| | | $ | 21 | | | | | $ | — | | | | ||
Interest Expense
|
| | | $ | 17 | | | | | $ | — | | | |
Securities/Purchaser
|
| |
Date of Issuance
|
| |
Number of Securities
|
| |
Exercise Price
|
|
Options | | | | | | | | | | |
Certain directors, officers and employees | | |
December 17, 2019
|
| |
Option to purchase up
to 1,335,794 ordinary shares |
| |
$0.1191
|
|
Certain directors, officers and employees | | |
December 23, 2020
|
| |
Option to purchase up
to 2,807,381 ordinary shares |
| |
$0.4386(1)
|
|
Certain key consultants | | |
March 1, 2021
|
| |
Option to purchase up
to 41,736 ordinary shares |
| |
$4.2254
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number |
| |
Description of Document
|
|
| 1.1* | | | Form of Underwriting Agreement | |
| 3.1 | | | | |
| 3.2 | | | | |
| 4.1 | | | Registrant’s Specimen American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.3) | |
| 4.2 | | | | |
| 4.3 | | | | |
| 4.4 | | | | |
| 4.5 | | | | |
| 5.1 | | | Opinion of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP regarding the validity of the ordinary shares being registered and certain Cayman Islands tax matters | |
| 8.1 | | | Opinion of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP regarding certain Cayman Islands tax matters (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
| 8.2 | | | | |
| 10.1 | | | | |
| 10.2* | | | 2022 Performance Incentive Plan | |
| 10.3 | | | | |
| 10.4 | | | | |
| 10.5 | | | | |
| 10.6 | | | | |
| 10.7 # | | | | |
| 10.8 | | | | |
| 10.9 | | | | |
| 10.10# | | | | |
| 10.11# | | | | |
| 10.12# | | | | |
| 10.13# | | | Fifth Amendment to Exclusive License Agreement by and between Belite Bio, Inc and The Trustees of Columbia University in The City of New York dated February 4, 2022 | |
| 10.14 | | | |
|
Exhibit
Number |
| |
Description of Document
|
|
| 10.15 | | | First Amendment to LBS-008 Research and Development Services Agreement by and between Belite Bio, Inc and Lin BioScience, Inc. dated February 23, 2022 | |
| 21.1 | | | | |
| 23.1 | | | | |
| 23.2 | | | Consent of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
| 23.3 | | | | |
| 24.1 | | | | |
| 99.1 | | | | |
| 99.2 | | | | |
| 99.3 | | | | |
| 99.4 | | | | |
| 99.5 | | | | |
| 107 | | | |
| | | | BELITE BIO, INC | | |||
| | | | By: | | |
/s/ Yu-Hsin Lin
Name: Yu-Hsin Lin
Title: Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
|
|
Signature
|
| |
Title
|
|
|
/s/ Yu-Hsin Lin
Name: Yu-Hsin Lin
|
| | Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer) | |
|
/s/ Wan-Shan Chen
Name: Wan-Shan Chen
|
| | Director | |
|
/s/ Hung-Wei Chen
Name: Hung-Wei Chen
|
| | Director | |
|
/s/ Hao-Yuan Chuang
Name: Hao-Yuan Chuang
|
| | Chief Financial Officer, Director (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |
| | | | Authorized U.S. Representative | | |||
| | | | By: | | |
/s/ Donald J. Puglisi
Name: Donald J. Puglisi
Title: Managing Director |
|
Exhibit 3.1
THE COMPANIES ACT (2020 REVISOIN)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES
OF
ASSOCIATION
OF
Belite Bio, Inc
(adopted by a special resolution passed on 23 December 2020 and effective on 24 December 2020)
THE COMPANIES ACT (2020 REVISION)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
Belite Bio, Inc
(adopted by a special resolution passed on 23 December 2020 and effective on 24 December 2020 )
1. | The name of the Company is Belite Bio, Inc. |
2. | The Registered Office of the Company shall be at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands or at such other place in the Cayman Islands as the Directors may from time to time decide. |
3. | The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Act (2020 Revision) or as the same may be revised from time to time, or any other law of the Cayman Islands. |
4. | The Company has unrestricted corporate capacity. Without limitation to the foregoing, as provided by Section 27(2) of the Companies Act (2020 Revision), the Company has and is capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit. Without in any way limiting the unrestricted nature of its objects, the Company may accept mortgages over land or any other property irrespective of location. |
5. | Nothing in any of the preceding paragraphs permits the Company to carry on any of the following businesses without being duly licensed, namely: |
a. | the business of a bank or trust company without being licensed in that behalf under the Banks and Trust Companies Act (Revised); or |
b. | insurance business from within the Cayman Islands or the business of an insurance manager, agent, sub-agent or broker without being licensed in that behalf under the Insurance Act (Revised); or |
- 1 -
c. | the business of company management without being licensed in that behalf under the Companies Management Act (Revised). |
6. | The liability of each Member is limited to the amount from time to time unpaid on such Member’s Shares. |
7. | The authorized share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into (i) 492,179,086 Ordinary Shares of par value US$0.0001 each, (ii) 2,377,642 Series A Preferred Shares of par value US$0.0001 each (the “Series A Preferred Shares”), and (iii) 5,443,272 Series B Preferred Shares of par value US$0.0001 each (the “Series B Preferred Shares”). |
8. | If the Company is registered as exempted, its operations will be carried on subject to the provisions of Section 193 of the Companies Act (2020 Revision) and, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act (Revision) and the Articles of Association, it shall have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
9. | Capitalised terms that are not defined in this Memorandum of Association bear the same meaning as those given in the Articles of Association of the Company. |
- 2 -
THE COMPANIES ACT (2020 REVISION)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
Belite Bio, Inc
(adopted by a special resolution passed on 23 December 2020 and effective on 24 December 2020 )
INTERPRETATION
1. | In these Articles Table A in the First Schedule to the Statute does not apply and, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith: |
“Affiliate” | means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such Person. | |
“Approved Sale” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 115. | |
“Articles” | means these articles of association of the Company as originally formed or as from time to time altered by Special Resolution. | |
“Auditor” | means the Person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any). | |
“Automatic Conversion” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.3C hereof. | |
“Board” or “Board of Directors” | means the board of directors of the Company. | |
“Business Day” | means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday or other day on which commercial banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in the PRC, Taiwan, or the United States. |
- 1 -
“Charter Documents” | means, with respect to a particular legal entity, the articles or certificate of incorporation, formation or registration (including, if applicable, certificates of change of name), memorandum of association, articles of association, bylaws, articles of organization, limited liability company agreement, trust deed, trust instrument, operating agreement, joint venture agreement, business license, or similar or other constitutive, governing, or charter documents, or equivalent documents, of such entity. | |
“Company” | means the above named company. | |
“Control” | of a given Person means the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; provided, that such power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person. The terms “Controlled” and “Controlling” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. | |
“Conversion Price” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.3A hereof. | |
“Conversion Shares” | means Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of any Preferred Shares. | |
“Convertible Securities” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.3E(5)(a)(ii) hereof. | |
“Deemed Liquidation Event” | means any of the following events: | |
(1) any consolidation, amalgamation, scheme of arrangement or merger of any Group Company with or into any other Person or other reorganization in which the Members or shareholders of such Group Company immediately prior to such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, scheme of arrangement or reorganization own less than fifty percent (50%) of such Group Company’s voting power in the aggregate immediately after such consolidation, merger, amalgamation, scheme of arrangement or reorganization, or any transaction or series of related transactions to which such Group Company is a party in which in excess of fifty percent (50%) of such Group Company’s voting power is transferred; or |
- 2 -
(2) a sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Group Company (or any series of related transactions resulting in such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Group Company); | ||
(3) [Intentionally Left Blank] | ||
provided that corporate activities taken solely for the purpose of achieving a Qualified IPO shall not in any case be a “Deemed Liquidation Event.” | ||
“Director” | means a director serving on the Board for the time being of the Company and shall include an alternate Director appointed in accordance with these Articles. | |
“Drag Holders” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 115. | |
“Electronic Record” | has the same meaning as given in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised). | |
“Equity Securities” | means, with respect to any Person that is a legal entity, any and all shares of capital stock, membership interests, units, profits interests, ownership interests, equity interests, registered capital, and other equity securities of such Person, and any right, warrant, option, call, commitment, conversion privilege, preemptive right or other right to acquire any of the foregoing, or security convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for any of the foregoing, or any contract providing for the acquisition of any of the foregoing. | |
“Excepted Issuances” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.3E(5)(a)(iii) hereof. |
- 3 -
“Exempted Distribution” | means (a) a dividend payable solely in Ordinary Shares, (b) the purchase, repurchase or redemption of Ordinary Shares by the Company, and (c) the purchase, repurchase or redemption of the Preferred Shares pursuant to these Articles (including in connection with the conversion of such Preferred Shares into Ordinary Shares). | |
“Group Company” | means each of the Company and all of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries, and “Group” refers to all of the Group Companies collectively. | |
“Interested Transaction” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 79 hereof. | |
“Majority Preferred Holders” | means the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and on an as converted basis). | |
“Member” | has the same meaning as in the Statute. | |
“Memorandum” | means the memorandum of association of the Company, as amended from time to time. | |
“New Securities” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.3E(5)(a)(iii) hereof. | |
“Offeror” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 115. | |
“Options” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.3E(5)(a)(i) hereof. | |
“Ordinary Resolution” | means a resolution of a duly constituted general meeting of the Company passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by, or on behalf of, the Members entitled to vote present in person or by proxy and voting at the meeting, or a written resolution as provided in Article 38. | |
“Ordinary Share” | means an ordinary share of US$0.0001 par value per share in the capital of the Company having the rights attaching to it as set out herein. | |
“Original Issue Price” | means the Series A Issue Price and the Series B Issue Price, as the case may be. |
- 4 -
“Person” | means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, firm, joint venture, estate, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, entity or governmental or regulatory authority or other enterprise or entity of any kind or nature. | |
“PRC” | means the People’s Republic of China, but solely for the purposes hereof excludes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and the island of Taiwan. | |
“Preference Amount” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.2A. | |
“Preferred Shares” | means the Series A Preferred Shares and the Series B Preferred Shares. | |
“Qualified IPO” | means a firm commitment underwritten public offering of the Ordinary Shares of the Company (or depositary receipts or depositary shares therefor) in the United States pursuant to an effective registration statement under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with an offering price (net of underwriting commissions and expenses) that implies a market capitalization of the Company immediately prior to such offering of not less than US$120,000,000 and that results in gross proceeds to the Company of at least US$30,000,000, or in a public offering of the Ordinary Shares of the Company (or depositary receipts or depositary shares therefor) in another jurisdiction which results in the Ordinary Shares trading publicly on a recognized international securities exchange approved by the Majority Preferred Holders, so long as such offering satisfies the foregoing market capitalization and gross proceeds requirements. | |
“Register of Members” | means the register maintained in accordance with the Statute and includes (except where otherwise stated) any duplicate Register of Members. | |
“Registered Office” | means the registered office for the time being of the Company. |
- 5 -
“Series A Issue Price” | means US$3.7036, as appropriately adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares. | |
“Series A Preferred Share” | means a Series A Preferred Share of US$0.0001 par value per share in the capital of the Company having the rights, preference and privileges attaching to it as set out herein. | |
“Series A Preference Amount” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.2A. | |
“Series B Issue Date” | means the date of the first issuance of a Series B Preferred Share. | |
“Series B Issue Price” | means US$4.2254, as appropriately adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events with respect to the Series B Preferred Shares. | |
“Series B Preferred Share” | means a Series B Preferred Share of US$0.0001 par value per share in the capital of the Company having the rights, preference and privileges attaching to it as set out herein. | |
“Series B Preference Amount” | shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.2A. | |
“Seal” | means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal. | |
“Share” and “Shares” | means a share or shares in the capital of the Company and includes a fraction of a share. | |
“Shareholders Agreement” | means the Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement, dated on or about the Series B Issue Date among the Company and certain other parties named therein, as amended from time to time. | |
“Share Sale” | means a transaction or series of related transactions in which a Person, or a group of related Persons, acquires any Equity Securities of the Company such that, immediately after such transaction or series of related transactions, such Person or group of related Persons holds Equity Securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the issued and outstanding voting power of the Company. |
- 6 -
“Special Resolution” | has the same meaning as in the Statute. | |
“Statute” | means the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands as amended and every statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in effect. | |
“Subsidiary” | means, with respect to any given Person, any other Person that is Controlled directly or indirectly by such given Person. |
2. | In the Articles: |
2.1 | words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa; |
2.2 | words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender; |
2.3 | “written” and “in writing” include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record; |
2.4 | references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced from time to time; |
2.5 | any phrase introduced by the terms “including,” “include,” “in particular” or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms; |
2.6 | the term “voting power” refers to the number of votes attributable to the Shares (on an as-converted basis) in accordance with the terms of the Memorandum and Articles; |
2.7 | the term “day” means “calendar day” (unless the term “Business Day” is used), and “month” means calendar month; |
2.8 | the phrase “directly or indirectly” means directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediate Persons or through contractual or other arrangements, and “direct or indirect” has the correlative meaning; |
2.9 | references to any documents shall be construed as references to such document as the same may be amended, supplemented or novated from time to time; |
2.10 | all references to dollars or to “US$” are to currency of the United States of America and all references to RMB are to currency of the PRC (and each shall be deemed to include reference to the equivalent amount in other currencies); and |
2.11 | headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing these Articles. |
- 7 -
COMMENCEMENT OF BUSINESS
3. | The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation as the Directors shall see fit notwithstanding that any part of the Shares may not have been allotted. The Company shall have perpetual existence until wound up or struck off in accordance with the Statute and these Articles. |
4. | The Directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration. |
ISSUE OF SHARES
5. | Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given by the Company in a general meeting) and to the provisions of the Memorandum and these Articles (including Article 7) and without prejudice to any rights, preferences and privileges attached to any existing Shares, (a) the Directors may allot, issue, grant options or warrants over or otherwise dispose of the Shares and may designate, allot and issue the Shares from time to time in one or more series/classes. In the event that any Preferred Shares shall be converted pursuant to Article 7.3 hereof, the Preferred Shares so converted shall be cancelled and shall not be re-issuable by the Company. Further, any Preferred Share acquired by the Company by reason of redemption, repurchase, conversion or otherwise shall be cancelled and shall not be re-issuable by the Company. |
6. | The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer. |
RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND PRIVILEGES OF SHARES
7. | Certain rights, preferences and privileges of the Preferred Shares of the Company are as follows: |
7.1 | Dividends Rights. |
A. | Preference. Each holder of a Preferred Share shall be entitled to receive dividends at the rate of six percent (6%) per year of the Original Issue Price per annum for each Share held by such holder, payable out of funds or assets when and as such funds or assets become legally available therefor on parity with each other, prior and in preference to, and satisfied before, any dividend or distribution on any other class or series of shares (except for applicable Exempted Distributions and except for a distribution pursuant to Article 7.2). Such dividends shall be payable only when, as, and if declared by the Board of Directors. |
B. | Restrictions; Participation. Except for an Exempted Distribution and except for a distribution pursuant to Article 7.2, no dividend or distribution, whether in cash, in property, or in any other shares of the Company, shall be declared, paid, set aside or made with respect to the Ordinary Shares at any time unless (i) all accrued but unpaid dividends on the Preferred Shares set forth in Article 7.1A (if any) have been paid in full, and (ii) a dividend or distribution is likewise declared, paid, set aside or made, respectively, at the same time with respect to each issued and outstanding Preferred Share such that the dividend or distribution declared, paid, set aside or made to the holder thereof shall be equal to the dividend or distribution that such holder would have received pursuant to this Article 7.1B if such Preferred Share had been converted into Ordinary Shares immediately prior to the record date for such dividend or distribution, or if no such record date is established, the date such dividend or distribution is made, and if such share then participated in and the holder thereof received such dividend or distribution. |
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7.2 | Liquidation Rights. |
A. | Liquidation Preferences. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, all assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution to the Members (after satisfaction of all creditors’ claims and claims that may be preferred by law) shall be distributed to the Members of the Company as follows: | |
(1) First, the holders of the Series B Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive for each Series B Preferred Share held by such holder, on parity with each other and prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or funds of the Company to the holders of any other class or series of shares by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to 100% of the Series B Issue Price, plus all accrued but unpaid and declared dividends on such Series B Preferred Share (the “Series B Preference Amount”). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Series B Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series B Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed ratably among the holders of the Series B Preferred Shares in proportion to the aggregate Series B Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive pursuant to this subparagraph (1).
(2) Second, if there are any assets or funds remaining after the aggregate Series B Preference Amount has been distributed or paid in full to the applicable holders of Series B Preferred Shares pursuant to subparagraph (1) above, the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive for each Series A Preferred Share held by such holder, on parity with each other and prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or funds of the Company to the holders of Ordinary Shares by reason of their ownership of such shares, the amount equal to 100% of the Series A Issue Price, plus all accrued but unpaid and declared dividends on such Series A Preferred Share (the “Series A Preference Amount”, together with the Series B Preference Amount, the “Preference Amount”). If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series A Preference Amount, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution after the aggregate Series B Preference Amount has been distributed or paid in full to the applicable holders of Series B Preferred Shares pursuant to subparagraph (1) above shall be distributed ratably among the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares in proportion to the aggregate Series A Preference Amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive pursuant to this subparagraph (2). |
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(3) Third, if there are any assets or funds remaining after the aggregate Preference Amount has been distributed or paid in full to the applicable holders of the Preferred Shares pursuant to subparagraphs (1) and (2) above, the remaining assets and funds of the Company available for distribution to the Members shall be distributed ratably among the holders of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares in proportion to the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares held by them.
B. | Deemed Liquidation. Unless waived in writing by the Majority Preferred Holders, a Deemed Liquidation Event shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company for purposes of Article 7.2A, and any proceeds, whether in cash or properties, resulting from a Deemed Liquidation Event shall be distributed in accordance with the terms of Article 7.2A. |
C. | Valuation of Properties. In the event the Company proposes to distribute assets other than cash in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company pursuant to Article 7.2A or pursuant to a deemed liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company pursuant to Article 7.2B, the value of the assets to be distributed to the Members shall be determined in good faith by the Board; provided that any securities not subject to investment letter or similar restrictions on free marketability shall be valued as follows: |
(1) If traded on a securities exchange, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the security's closing prices on such exchange over the thirty (30) day period ending one (1) day prior to the distribution;
(2) If traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing bid prices over the thirty (30) day period ending three (3) days prior to the distribution; and
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(3) If there is no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board;
provided further that the method of valuation of securities subject to investment letter or other restrictions on free marketability shall be adjusted to make an appropriate discount from the market value determined as above in clauses (1), (2) or (3) to reflect the fair market value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board.
Regardless of the foregoing, the Majority Preferred Holders shall have the right to challenge any determination by the Board of value pursuant to this Article 7.2C, in which case the determination of value shall be made by an independent appraiser selected jointly by the Board and the Majority Preferred Holders, with the cost of such appraisal to be borne by the Company.
D. | Notices. In the event that the Company shall propose at any time to consummate a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or a Deemed Liquidation Event, then, in connection with each such event, subject to any necessary approval required in the Statute and these Articles, the Company shall send to the holders of Preferred Shares at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of the date when the same shall take place; provided, however, that the foregoing notice periods may be shortened or waived with the vote or written consent of the Majority Preferred Holders. |
E. | Enforcement. In the event the requirements of this Article 7.2 are not complied with, the Company shall forthwith either (i) cause the closing of the applicable transaction to be postponed until such time as the requirements of this Article 7.2 have been complied with, or (ii) cancel such transaction. |
7.3 | Conversion Rights |
The holders of the Preferred Shares shall have the rights described below with respect to the conversion of the Preferred Shares into Ordinary Shares:
A. | Conversion Ratio. Each Preferred Share shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such Preferred Share into such number of fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Shares as determined by dividing the Original Issue Price by the then-effective Conversion Price (as defined below) for such series of Preferred Shares. The “Conversion Price” shall initially be the Original Issue Price, resulting in an initial conversion ratio for the applicable Preferred Shares of 1:1, and shall be subject to adjustment and readjustment from time to time as hereinafter provided. |
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B. | Optional Conversion. Subject to the Statute and these Articles, any Preferred Share may, at the option of the holder thereof, be converted at any time after the date of issuance of such shares, without the payment of any additional consideration, into fully-paid and non- assessable Ordinary Shares based on the applicable Conversion Price at the time in effect for such Share. |
C. | Automatic Conversion. Each Preferred Share shall automatically be converted, based on the applicable Conversion Price at the time in effect for such Share, without the payment of any additional consideration, into fully-paid and non-assessable Ordinary Shares upon the earlier of (i) the closing of a Qualified IPO, or (ii) the date specified by written consent or agreement of the Majority Preferred Holders. Any conversion pursuant to this Article 7.3C shall be referred to as an “Automatic Conversion”. |
D. | Conversion Mechanism. The conversion hereunder of the Preferred Shares shall be effected in the following manner: |
(1) Except as provided in Articles 7.3D(2) and 7.3D(3) below, before any holder of any Preferred Shares shall be entitled to convert the same into Ordinary Shares, such holder shall surrender the certificate or certificates therefor duly endorsed (or in lieu thereof shall deliver an affidavit of lost certificate and indemnity therefor) (if any), at the office of the Company or of any transfer agent or registered office provider of the Company for such share to be converted and shall give notice to the Company at its principal corporate office, of the election to convert the same and shall state therein the name or names in which the certificate or certificates for Ordinary Shares are to be issued. The Company shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder of Preferred Shares, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, a certificate or certificates (if applicable) for the number of Ordinary Shares to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid, and such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such notice and such surrender of the certificates representing the Preferred Shares, or affidavits of lost certificates, to be converted, the Register of Members of the Company shall be updated accordingly to reflect the same, and the Person or Persons entitled to receive the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Ordinary Shares as of such date.
(2) If the conversion is in connection with an underwritten public offering of securities, the conversion will be conditioned upon the closing with the underwriter(s) of the sale of securities pursuant to such offering and the Person(s) entitled to receive the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such conversion shall not be deemed to have converted the applicable Preferred Shares until immediately prior to the closing of such sale of securities.
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(3) Upon the occurrence of an event of Automatic Conversion, the Company shall give all holders of Preferred Shares to be automatically converted at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice of the date fixed (which date shall in the case of a Qualified IPO be the latest practicable date immediately prior to the closing of a Qualified IPO) and the place designated for automatic conversion of all such Preferred Shares pursuant to this Article 7.3D. Such notice shall be given pursuant to Articles 104 through 108 to each record holder of such Preferred Shares at such holder’s address appearing on the Register of Members. On or before the date fixed for conversion, each holder of such Preferred Shares shall surrender the applicable certificate or certificates duly endorsed (or in lieu thereof shall deliver an affidavit of lost certificate and indemnity therefor) (if any) for all such shares to the Company at the place designated in such notice. On the date fixed for conversion, the Company shall promptly effect such conversion and update its Register of Members to reflect such conversion, and upon surrender of the certificate or certificates of the shares to be converted duly endorsed (or in lieu thereof upon delivery of an affidavit of lost certificate and indemnity therefor) (if any), the holder thereof shall be entitled to receive certificates (if applicable) for the number of Ordinary Shares into which such Preferred Shares have been converted. All certificates evidencing such Preferred Shares shall, from and after the date of conversion, be deemed to have been retired and cancelled and the Preferred Shares represented thereby converted into Ordinary Shares for all purposes, notwithstanding the failure of the holder or holders thereof to surrender such certificates on or prior to such date.
(4) The Company may effect the conversion of Preferred Shares in any manner available under applicable law, including redeeming or repurchasing the relevant Preferred Shares and applying on behalf of the holders thereof the proceeds thereof towards payment for the new Ordinary Shares. For purposes of the repurchase or redemption, the Company may, subject to the Company being able to pay its debts in the ordinary course of business, make payments out of its capital.
(5) No fractional Ordinary Shares shall be issued upon conversion of any Preferred Shares. In lieu of any fractional shares to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the Company shall at the discretion of the Board of Directors either (i) pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the fair market value for the applicable Preferred Share as determined and approved by the Board of Directors, or (ii) issue one whole Ordinary Share for each fractional share to which the holder would otherwise be entitled.
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(6) Upon conversion, all declared but unpaid share dividends on the applicable Preferred Shares shall be paid in shares and all declared but unpaid cash dividends on the applicable Preferred Shares shall be paid either in cash or by the issuance of such number of further Ordinary Shares as equal to the value of such cash amount divided by the applicable Conversion Price, at the option of the holders of the applicable Preferred Shares.
E. | Adjustment of Conversion Price. The Conversion Price shall be adjusted and re-adjusted from time to time prior to a Qualified IPO as provided below: |
(1) Adjustment for Share Subdivisions and Combinations. If the Company shall at any time, or from time to time, effect a subdivision of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, the Conversion Price for each series of Preferred Shares in effect immediately prior to such subdivision shall be proportionately decreased. Conversely, if the Company shall at any time, or from time to time, combine the outstanding Ordinary Shares into a smaller number of shares, the Conversion Price for each series of Preferred Shares in effect immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately increased. Any adjustment under this paragraph shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.
(2) Adjustment for Ordinary Share Dividends and Distributions. If the Company makes (or fixes a record date for the determination of holders of Ordinary Shares entitled to receive) a dividend or other distribution to the holders of Ordinary Shares payable in additional Ordinary Shares, the Conversion Price for each series of Preferred Shares then in effect shall be decreased as of the time of such issuance (or in the event such record date is fixed, as of the close of business on such record date) by multiplying such Conversion Price by a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the total number of Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date, and (ii) the denominator of which is the total number of Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus the number of Ordinary Shares issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution.
(3) Adjustments for Other Dividends. If the Company at any time, or from time to time, makes (or fixes a record date for the determination of holders of Ordinary Shares entitled to receive) a dividend or other distribution to the holders of Ordinary Shares payable in securities of the Company other than Ordinary Shares or payable in any other asset or property (other than cash), then, and in each such event, subject to compliance with Article 7.1B and to the extent not duplicative with Article 7.1B, provision shall be made so that, upon conversion of any Preferred Share thereafter, the holder thereof shall receive, in addition to the number of Ordinary Shares issuable thereon, the amount of securities of the Company or other asset or property which the holder of such share would have received in connection with such event had the Preferred Shares been converted into Ordinary Shares immediately prior to such event.
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(4) Adjustments for Reorganizations, Mergers, Consolidations, Reclassifications, Exchanges, Substitutions. If at any time, or from time to time, any capital reorganization or reclassification of the Ordinary Shares (other than as a result of a share dividend, subdivision, split or combination otherwise treated above) occurs or the Company is consolidated, merged or amalgamated with or into another Person (other than a consolidation, merger or amalgamation treated as a liquidation in Article 7.2B), then in any such event, provision shall be made so that, upon conversion of any Preferred Share thereafter, the holder thereof shall receive the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property which the holder of such shares would have received in connection with such event had the relevant Preferred Shares been converted into Ordinary Shares immediately prior to such event.
(5) Adjustments to Conversion Price for Dilutive Issuance.
(a) Special Definition. For purpose of this Article 7.3E(5), the following definitions shall apply:
(i) “Options” mean rights, options or warrants to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire either Ordinary Shares or Convertible Securities.
(ii) “Convertible Securities” shall mean any indebtedness, shares or other securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares.
(iii) “New Securities” shall mean all Ordinary Shares issued (or, pursuant to Article 7.3E(5)(c), deemed to be issued) by the Company after the date on which these Articles are adopted, other than the following issuances (collectively, the “Excepted Issuances”):
(1) | Ordinary Shares (or Options exercisable for such Ordinary Shares) (as appropriately adjusted in connection with share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events) issued (or issuable pursuant to such Options) to the Group Companies’ employees, officers, directors, consultants or any other Persons qualified pursuant to a written employee share option plan or employee equity incentive plan or other similar arrangements duly approved by the Board; |
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(2) | Ordinary Shares issued or issuable pursuant to a share split or sub-division, share dividend, combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction of the Company, as described in Article 7.3E(1) through Article 7.3E(3); |
(3) | any Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to bona fide transactions with commercial lenders or lessors in connection with loans, credit arrangements, equipment financings or similar transactions, each such transaction having been approved by the Board; |
(4) | any Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to bona fide transactions with licensors, collaborator or strategic partners in connection with technology licensing, research, development or commercialization collaboration, strategic partnership or similar transactions, each such transaction having been approved by the Board; |
(5) | any Equity Securities of the Company issued pursuant to the acquisition of another corporation or entity by the Company by consolidation, merger, purchase of assets, or other reorganization in which the Company acquires, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, all or substantially all assets of such other corporation or entity, or fifty percent (50%) or more of the equity ownership or voting power of such other corporation or entity, in any case, duly approved in accordance with Article 7.4B; |
(6) | Ordinary Shares issued upon the conversion of Preferred Shares; and |
(7) | any Equity Securities of the Company issued pursuant to a Qualified IPO. |
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(b) Waiver of Adjustment. No adjustment in any Conversion Price shall be made as the result of the issuance or deemed issuance of New Securities if the Company receives written notice from the Majority Preferred Holders agreeing that no such adjustment shall be made as the result of the issuance or deemed issuance of such New Issuance.
(c) Deemed Issuance of New Securities. In the event the Company at any time or from time to time after the Series B Issue Date shall issue any Options or Convertible Securities or shall fix a record date for the determination of holders of any series or class of securities entitled to receive any such Options or Convertible Securities, then the maximum number of Ordinary Shares (as set forth in the instrument relating thereto without regard to any provisions contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number for anti-dilution adjustments) issuable upon the exercise of such Options or, in the case of Convertible Securities and Options therefor, the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities or the exercise of such Options, shall be deemed to be New Securities issued as of the time of such issue or, in case such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, provided that in any such case in which New Securities are deemed to be issued:
(i) no further adjustment in the Conversion Price for such series of Preferred Shares shall be made upon the subsequent issue of Convertible Securities or Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of such Options or conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities or upon the subsequent issue of Options for Convertible Securities or Ordinary Shares;
(ii) if such Options or Convertible Securities by their terms provide, with the passage of time or otherwise, for any change in the consideration payable to the Company, or change in the number of Ordinary Shares issuable, upon the exercise, conversion or exchange thereof, the then effective Conversion Price for such series of Preferred Shares computed upon the original issue thereof (or upon the occurrence of a record date with respect thereto), and any subsequent adjustments based thereon, shall, upon any such change becoming effective, be recomputed to reflect such change insofar as it affects such Options or the rights of conversion or exchange under such Convertible Securities;
(iii) no readjustment pursuant to Article 7.3E(5)(c)(ii) shall have the effect of increasing the then effective Conversion Price to an amount which exceeds the Conversion Price for such series of Preferred Shares that would have been in effect had no adjustments in relation to the issuance of such Options or Convertible Securities as referenced in Article 7.3E(5)(c)(ii) been made;
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(iv) upon the expiration of any such Options or any rights of conversion or exchange under such Convertible Securities that have not been exercised, the then effective Conversion Price for such series of Preferred Share computed upon the original issue thereof (or upon the occurrence of a record date with respect thereto) and any subsequent adjustments based thereon shall, upon such expiration, be recomputed as if: |
(x) | in the case of Convertible Securities or Options for Ordinary Shares, the only New Securities issued were the Ordinary Shares, if any, actually issued upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities and the consideration received therefor was the consideration actually received by the Company for the issue of such exercised Options plus the consideration actually received by the Company upon such exercise or for the issue of all such Convertible Securities that were actually converted or exchanged, plus the additional consideration, if any, actually received by the Company upon such conversion or exchange, and |
(y) | in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, only the Convertible Securities, if any, actually issued upon the exercise thereof were issued at the time of issue of such Options, and the consideration received by the Company for the New Securities deemed to have been then issued was the consideration actually received by the Company for the issue of such exercised Options, plus the consideration deemed to have been received by the Company (determined pursuant to Article 7.3E(5)(e)) upon the issue of the Convertible Securities with respect to which such Options were actually exercised; and |
(v) if such record date shall have been fixed and such Options or Convertible Securities are not issued on the date fixed therefor, the adjustment previously made in the Conversion Price for a particular series of Preferred Share which became effective on such record date shall be canceled as of the close of business on such record date, and thereafter such Conversion Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this Article 7.3E(5)(c) as of the actual date of their issuance. |
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(d) Adjustment of Conversion Price upon Issuance of New Securities. In the event of an issuance of New Securities, at any time after the Series B Issue Date, for a consideration per Ordinary Share received by the Company (net of any selling concessions, discounts or commissions) less than the Conversion Price for a particular series of Preferred Share in effect immediately prior to such issue, then and in such event, such Conversion Price shall be reduced, concurrently with such issue, to a price determined as set forth below:
NCP = OCP * (OS + (NP/OCP))/(OS + NS)
WHERE:
NCP = the new Conversion Price for such series of Preferred Share,
OCP = the Conversion Price for such series of Preferred Share in effect immediately before the issuance of the New Securities,
OS = the total outstanding Ordinary Shares immediately before the issuance of the New Securities plus the total Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the outstanding Convertible Securities and exercise of outstanding Options,
NP = the total consideration received for the issuance or sale of the New Securities, and
NS = the number of New Securities issued or sold or deemed issued or sold.
(e) Determination of Consideration. For purposes of this Article 7.3E(5), the consideration received by the Company for the issuance of any New Securities shall be computed as follows:
(i) Cash and Property. Such consideration shall:
(1) | insofar as it consists of cash, be computed at the aggregate amount of cash received by the Company excluding amounts paid or payable for accrued interest or accrued dividends and excluding any discounts, commissions or placement fees payable by the Company to any underwriter or placement agent in connection with the issuance of any New Securities; |
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(2) | insofar as it consists of property other than cash, be computed at the fair market value thereof at the time of such issue, as determined and approved in good faith by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that no value shall be attributed to any services performed by any employee, officer or director of any Group Company; |
(3) | in the event New Securities are issued together with other Shares or securities or other assets of the Company for consideration which covers both, be the proportion of such consideration so received which relates to such New Securities, computed as provided in clauses (1) and (2) above, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. |
(ii) Options and Convertible Securities. The consideration per Ordinary Share received by the Company for New Securities deemed to have been issued pursuant to Article 7.3E(5)(c) hereof relating to Options and Convertible Securities, shall be determined by dividing (x) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the issue of such Options or Convertible Securities (determined in the manner described in paragraph (i) above), plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such consideration) payable to the Company upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, or in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options for Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities by (y) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) issuable upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities.
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(6) No Impairment. The Company will not, by amendment of these Articles or through any reorganization, recapitalization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, amalgamation, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Company, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Article 7.3 and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the conversion rights of the holders of Preferred Shares against impairment.
(7) Certificate of Adjustment. In the case of any adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price for any series of Preferred Shares, the Company, at its sole expense, shall compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the provisions hereof and prepare a certificate showing such adjustment or readjustment, and shall deliver such certificate by notice to each registered holder of the Preferred Shares, at the holder’s address as shown in the Company’s books. The certificate shall set forth such adjustment or readjustment, showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based, including a statement of (i) the consideration received or deemed to be received by the Company for any New Securities issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold, (ii) the number of New Securities issued or sold or deemed to be issued or sold, (iii) the applicable Conversion Price in effect before and after such adjustment or readjustment, and (iv) the type and number of Equity Securities of the Company, and the type and amount, if any, of other property which would be received upon conversion of the Preferred Shares after such adjustment or readjustment.
(8) Notice of Record Date. In the event the Company shall propose to take any action of the type or types requiring an adjustment set forth in this Article 7.3E, the Company shall give notice to the holders of the relevant Preferred Shares, which notice shall specify the record date, if any, with respect to any such action and the date on which such action is to take place. Such notice shall also set forth such facts with respect thereto as shall be reasonably necessary to indicate the effect of such action (to the extent such effect may be known at the date of such notice) on the applicable Conversion Price and the number, kind or class of shares or other securities or property which shall be deliverable upon the occurrence of such action or deliverable upon the conversion of the relevant Preferred Shares. In the case of any action which would require the fixing of a record date, such notice shall be given at least twenty (20) days prior to the date so fixed, and in the case of all other actions, such notice shall be given at least thirty (30) days prior to the taking of such proposed action.
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(9) Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Preferred Shares, such number of its Ordinary Shares as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all issued and outstanding Preferred Shares. If at any time the number of authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then issued and outstanding Preferred Shares, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to the holders of Preferred Shares, the Company and its Members will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose.
(10) Notices. Any notice required or permitted pursuant to this Article 7.3 shall be given in writing and shall be given in accordance with Articles 104 through 108.
(11) Payment of Taxes. The Company will pay all taxes (other than taxes based upon income) and other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to the issue or delivery of Ordinary Shares upon conversion of the Preferred Shares, excluding any tax or other charge imposed in connection with any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of Ordinary Shares in a name other than that in which such Preferred Shares so converted were registered.
7.4 | Voting Rights. |
A. | General Rights. Subject to the provisions of the Memorandum and these Articles (including any Article providing for special voting rights), at all general meetings of the Company: (a) the holder of each Ordinary Share issued and outstanding shall have one vote in respect of each Ordinary Share held, and (b) the holder of a Preferred Share shall be entitled to such number of votes as equals the whole number of Ordinary Shares into which such holder’s collective Preferred Shares are convertible immediately after the close of business on the record date of the determination of the Company’s Members entitled to vote or, if no such record date is established, at the date such vote is taken or any written consent of the Company’s Members is first solicited. Fractional votes shall not, however, be permitted and any fractional voting rights available on an as converted basis (after aggregating all shares into which the Preferred Shares held by each holder could be converted) shall be rounded to the nearest whole number (with one-half being rounded upward). To the extent that the Statute or the Articles allow the Preferred Shares to vote separately as a class or series with respect to any matters, the Preferred Shares, shall have the right to vote separately as a class or series with respect to such matters. |
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B. | Protective Provisions. |
1. | Approval by Majority Preferred Shareholders. So long as no less than fifty percent (50%) of the Preferred Shares issued at the Closing are issued and outstanding, the Company shall not take, permit to occur, approve, authorize, or agree or commit to do any of the following, and each Member shall procure the Company not to, take, permit to occur, approve, authorize, or agree or commit to do any of the following, and the Company shall procure any other Group Company not to take, permit to occur, approve, authorize, or agree or commit to do any of the following, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, whether directly or indirectly, and whether or not by amendment, merger, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, amalgamation, or otherwise, without the written consent or affirmative vote of the Majority Preferred Holders given in writing or by vote at a meeting, consenting or voting (as the case may be) (vote together and separately as a class or series), provided that where any such action requires the approval of a Special Resolution under the Statute and if the consent or affirmative vote by the Majority Preferred Holders has not been obtained, the Majority Preferred Holders voting against such resolution shall have the voting rights equal to the aggregate power of all shareholders who vote in favour of such resolution plus one. |
(1) any adverse amendment or change of the rights, preferences, privileges or powers of, or the restrictions provided for the benefit of, the Preferred Shares;
(2) creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of Equity Securities having rights, preferences, privileges or powers superior to or on a parity with the Preferred Shares, whether as to liquidation, conversion, dividend, voting, redemption, or otherwise, or any Equity Securities convertible into, exchangeable for, or exercisable into any Equity Securities having rights, preferences, privileges or powers superior to or on a parity with any series of Preferred Shares, whether as to liquidation, conversion, dividend, voting, redemption or otherwise;
(3) any action that reclassifies any outstanding shares into shares having rights, preferences, privileges or powers senior to or on a parity with the Preferred Shares, whether as to liquidation, conversion, dividend, voting, redemption or otherwise;
(4) any amendment or modification to the Charter Documents, other than amendments pursuant to and in compliance with Section 15.17 of the Shareholders Agreement and other than to effect a Qualified IPO;
(5) any declaration, set aside or payment of a dividend or other distribution by the Company;
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(6) any change of the size or composition of the board of directors of any Group Company other than changes pursuant to and in compliance with the Shareholders Agreement;
(7) any increase or decrease in the authorized number of Preferred Shares, or any series thereof;
(8) any Deemed Liquidation Event or any Share Sale or any merger, amalgamation, scheme or arrangement or consolidation of any Group Company with any Person, or the purchase or other acquisition by any Group Company of all or substantially all of the assets, equity or business of another Person, other than in any case an Approved Sale; or
(9) any action by a Group Company to authorize, approve or enter into any agreement or obligation with respect to any of the above actions.
REGISTER OF MEMBERS
8. | The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Statute. The Register of Members shall be the only evidence as to who are the Members entitled to examine the Register of Members or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of Members. |
FIXING RECORD DATE
9. | The Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any determination of Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Members, or any adjournment thereof, and for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any dividend the Directors may, at or within ninety (90) days prior to the date of declaration of such dividend, fix a subsequent date as the record date for such determination. |
10. | If no record date is fixed for the determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Members or Members entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is sent or the date on which the resolution of the Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof. |
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
11. | A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. Share certificates shall be signed by one or more Directors or other Person authorised by the Directors. The Directors may authorise certificates to be issued with the authorised signature(s) affixed by mechanical process. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to which they relate. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and, subject to these Articles, no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate representing a like number of relevant Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled. |
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12. | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by more than one Person and delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
13. | If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and on the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence, as the Directors may prescribe, and (in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate. |
TRANSFER OF SHARES
14. | The Shares of the Company are subject to transfer restrictions as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto. The Company will register transfers of Shares that are made in accordance with Schedule A and will not register transfers of Shares that are made in violation of Schedule A. The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor (and, if the Directors so require, signed by the transferee). The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register of Members. |
REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES
15. | The Company is permitted to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of the Company’s Shares, so long as such redemption, purchase or acquisition (i) is pursuant to any redemption provisions set forth in these Articles, (ii) is as otherwise agreed by the holder of such Share and the Company, subject in the case of clause (ii) to compliance with any applicable restrictions set forth in the Shareholders Agreement, the Memorandum and these Articles. |
16. | Subject to the provisions of the Statute and these Articles, the Company may issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Member or the Company. Subject to the provisions of the Statute and these Articles, the Directors may authorize the redemption or purchase by the Company of its own Shares in such manner and on such terms as they think fit and may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Statute, including out of capital. |
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VARIATION OF RIGHTS OF SHARES
17. | Subject to Article 7, if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of Shares, the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class) may only be varied with the consent in writing of Members holding not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders (in person or by proxy) of Shares on a poll at a general meeting of such class affected by the proposed variation of rights or with the sanction of a resolution of such Members holding not less than a majority of the votes which could be cast by holders (in person or by proxy) of Shares of such class on a poll at a general meeting but not otherwise: |
18. | For the purpose of the preceding Article, all of the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall apply, to the extent applicable, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except that the necessary quorum shall be one or more Persons holding or representing by proxy at least a majority of the issued Shares of such class and that any Member holding Shares of such class, present in person or by proxy, may demand a poll. |
19. | Subject to Article 7, the rights conferred upon the holders of Shares or any class of Shares shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of such Shares, be deemed to be varied by the creation, re-designation, or issue of Shares ranking pari passu therewith. |
COMMISSION ON SALE OF SHARES
20. | The Company may, with the approval of the Board, so far as the Statute permits, pay a commission to any Person in consideration of his or her subscribing or agreeing to subscribe whether absolutely or conditionally for any Shares of the Company. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash and/or the issue of fully or partly paid-up Shares. The Company may also on any issue of Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful. |
NON RECOGNITION OF INTERESTS
21. | The Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by these Articles or the Statute) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder. |
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
22. | If a Member dies, the survivor or survivors where such Member was a joint holder, and his or her legal personal representatives where such Member was a sole holder, shall be the only Persons recognised by the Company as having any title to such Member’s interest. The estate of a deceased Member is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share that had been jointly held by such Member. |
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23. | Any Person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Directors, elect either to become the holder of the Share or to have some Person nominated by him or her as the transferee, but the Directors shall, in any case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer by that Member before his death or bankruptcy pursuant to Article 14. If he or she elects to become the holder, he or she shall give written notice to the Company to that effect. |
24. | If the Person so becoming entitled shall elect to be registered as the holder, such Person shall deliver or send to the Company a notice in writing signed by such Person stating that he or she so elects. |
AMENDMENTS OF MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AND ALTERATION OF CAPITAL
25. | Subject to Article 7, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution: |
A. | increase the share capital by such sum as the resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the Company in general meeting may determine; |
B. | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares; |
C. | by subdivision of its existing Shares or any of them divide the whole or any part of its share capital into Shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum or into Shares without par value; |
D. | cancel any Shares that at the date of the passing of the resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any Person; and |
E. | perform any action not required to be performed by Special Resolution. |
26. | Subject to the provisions of the Statute and the provisions of these Articles as regards the matters to be dealt with by Ordinary Resolution, and subject further to Article 7, the Company may by Special Resolution: |
A. | change its name; |
B. | alter or add to these Articles; |
C. | alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein; and. |
D. | reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve fund. |
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REGISTERED OFFICE
27. | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors change the location of its Registered Office. |
GENERAL MEETINGS
28. | All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. |
29. | The Company shall, if required by the Statute, in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting, and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Directors shall appoint. At these meetings, the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented. |
30. | The Directors may call general meetings, and they shall on a Members requisition forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the Company. |
31. | A Members requisition is a requisition of Members of the Company holding, on the date of deposit of the requisition, not less than twenty percent (20%) of the paid up capital of the Company as at the date of the deposit carries the right of voting at general meetings of the Company, |
32. | The requisition must state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the Registered Office, and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists. |
33. | If the Directors do not within twenty-one (21) days from the date of the deposit of the requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting to be held within a further twenty-one (21) days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one-half of the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall not be held after the expiration of three (3) months after the expiration of the said twenty-one (21) days. |
34. | A general meeting convened as aforesaid by requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which general meetings are to be convened by Directors. |
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
35. | At least ten (10) days’ notice shall be given of any general meeting unless such notice is waived either before, at or after such meeting both (i) by the Members (or their proxies) holding a majority of the aggregate voting power of all of the Ordinary Shares entitled to attend and vote thereat (including the Preferred Shares on an as converted basis), and (ii) by the Majority Preferred Holders (or their proxies). Every notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is given or deemed to be given and shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner, if any, as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this regulation has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed both (i) by the Members (or their proxies) holding a majority of the aggregate voting power of all of the Ordinary Shares entitled to attend and vote thereat (including the Preferred Shares on an as converted basis), and (ii) by the Majority Preferred Holders (or their proxies). |
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36. | The officer of the Company who has charge of the Register of Members of the Company shall prepare and make, at least two (2) days before every general meeting, a complete list of the Members entitled to vote at the general meeting, and showing the address of each Member and the number of shares registered in the name of each Member. Such list shall be open to examination by any Member for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least two (2) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any Member of the Company who is present. |
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
37. | The holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of all of the Ordinary Shares entitled to notice of and to attend and vote at such general meeting (including the Preferred Shares on an as converted basis) together present in person or by proxy or if a company or other non-natural Person by its duly authorised representative shall be a quorum. Subject to Article 39, no business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. A Person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the Persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a Person in a general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. |
38. | A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts) shall be as valid and effective as if the resolution had been passed at a duly convened and held general meeting of the Company if: |
A. | in the case of a Special Resolution, it is signed by all Members (or their duly authorized representative or proxy) required for such Special Resolution to be deemed effective under the Statute; or |
B. | in the case of any resolution passed other than as a Special Resolution, it is signed by Members (or their duly authorized representative or proxy) for the time being holding Shares carrying in aggregate not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a general meeting at which all Shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted (calculated in accordance with Article 7.4A) (or, being companies, signed by their duly authorised representative). |
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39. | A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum and the votes present may continue to transact business until adjournment. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any general meeting, the Members (or their proxies) holding a majority of the aggregate voting power of all of the Shares of the Company represented at the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, until a quorum shall be present or represented. |
40. | The chairman, if any, of the Board of Directors shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of the Company, or if there is no such chairman, or if he or she shall not be present within ten (10) minutes after the time appointed for the holding of the meeting, or is unwilling or unable to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number, or shall designate a Member, to be chairman of the meeting; provided that, if notice of such meeting has been duly delivered to all Members in accordance with the notice procedures hereunder, and the quorum is not present within one hour from the time appointed for the meeting solely because of the absence of any holder of Preferred Shares, the meeting shall be adjourned to the seventh (7th) following Business Day at the same time and place (or to such other time or such other place as the directors may determine) with notice delivered to all Members five (5) days prior to the adjourned meeting in accordance with the notice procedures under Articles 104 through 108 and if at the adjourned meeting the quorum is not present within one half hour from the time appointed for the meeting solely because of the absence of the Majority Preferred Holders, then the separate requirement that the Majority Preferred Holders be present for a quorum to be established shall not apply to such adjourned meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum. At such adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. |
41. | With the consent of a general meeting at which a quorum is present, the chairman may (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a general meeting is adjourned, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. |
42. | A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided by poll and not on a show of hands. |
43. | On a poll a Member shall have one vote for each Ordinary Share he holds on an as converted basis, unless any Share carries special voting rights. |
44. | Except on a poll on a question of adjournment, a poll shall be taken as the chairman directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
45. | A poll on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. |
46. | A poll on any other question shall be taken at such time as the chairman of the general meeting directs, and any business other than that upon which a poll has been demanded or is contingent thereon may proceed pending the taking of the poll. |
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VOTES OF MEMBERS
47. | Except as otherwise required by law or these Articles, the Ordinary Shares and the Preferred Shares shall vote together on an as converted basis on all matters submitted to a vote of Members. |
48. | In the case of joint holders of record, the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register of Members. |
49. | A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote by his or her committee, receiver, or other Person on such Member’s behalf appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, or other Person may vote by proxy. |
50. | No Person shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of a class or series of Shares unless he or she is registered as a Member on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other monies then payable by such Member in respect of Shares have been paid. |
51. | No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at the meeting shall be valid. Any objection made in due time shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
52. | Votes may be cast either personally or by proxy. A Member may appoint more than one proxy or the same proxy under one or more instruments to attend and vote at a meeting. |
53. | A Member holding more than one Share need not cast the votes in respect of his or her Shares in the same way on any resolution and therefore may vote a Share or some or all such Shares either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares and, subject to the terms of the instrument appointing him or her, a proxy appointed under one or more instruments may vote a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he or she is appointed either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting. |
PROXIES
54. | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing, be executed under the hand of the appointor or of his or her attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation, under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised for that purpose. A proxy need not be a Member of the Company. |
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55. | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited at the Registered Office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, no later than the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting. |
56. | The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form and may be expressed to be for a particular meeting or any adjournment thereof or generally until revoked. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to include the power to demand or join or concur in demanding a poll. |
57. | Votes given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy is given unless notice in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer was received by the Company at the Registered Office before the commencement of the general meeting or adjourned meeting at which it is sought to use the proxy. |
CORPORATE MEMBERS
58. | Any corporation or other non-natural Person that is a Member may in accordance with its constitutional documents, or in the absence of such provision by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such Person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or any class of Members, and the Person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he or she represents as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member. |
SHARES THAT MAY NOT BE VOTED
59. | Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company or held by it in a fiduciary capacity shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued and outstanding Shares at any given time. |
APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS
60. | The authorized number of directors on the Board shall be four (4) directors, with the composition of the Board determined as follows: the holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (voting as a separate class) shall be exclusively entitled to designate, appoint, remove, replace and reappoint at any time or from time to time four (4) directors on the Board. |
POWERS OF DIRECTORS
61. | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Memorandum and these Articles and to any directions given by Special Resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not carry out any action inconsistent with Article 7. No alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors that would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. A duly convened meeting of Directors at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the Directors. |
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62. | All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable instruments and all receipts for monies paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed as the case may be in such manner as the Directors shall determine. |
63. | Subject to Article 7, the Directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any Director who has held any other salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his or her spouse or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance. |
64. | Subject to Article 7, the Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture shares, mortgages, bonds and other such securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. |
VACATION OF OFFICE AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTOR
65. | The office of a Director shall be vacated if: |
A. | such Director gives notice in writing to the Company that he or she resigns the office of Director; or |
B. | such Director dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with such Director’s creditors generally; or |
C. | such Director is found to be or becomes of unsound mind. |
66. | Any Director who shall have been elected by a specified group of Members may be removed during the aforesaid term of office, either for or without cause, by, and only by, the affirmative vote of the group of Members then entitled to elect such Director in accordance with Article 60, given at a special meeting of such Members duly called or by an action by written consent for that purpose. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors caused as a result of such removal or one or more of the events set out in Article 65 of any Director who shall have been elected by a specified group of Members, may be filled by, and only by, the affirmative vote of the group of Members then entitled to elect such Director in accordance with Article 60, given at a special meeting of such Members duly called or by an action by written consent for that purpose, unless otherwise agreed upon among such Members; provided further that the said approval process by the majority of the Board shall in no event unfairly deprive a specified group's right to appoint a replacement director in accordance with Article 60. |
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PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
67. | A Director may by a written instrument appoint an alternate who need not be a Director, and an alternate is entitled to attend meetings in the absence of the Director who appointed him and to vote or consent in place of the Director. At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the number of the Directors in office elected in accordance with Article 60 shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the Directors present (in person or in alternate) at any meeting at which there is a quorum, shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by the Statute, the Memorandum or these Articles. If only one Director is elected, such sole Director shall constitute a quorum. If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall be adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or to such other time or such other place as the Directors may determine. |
68. | Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit, provided however that the board meetings shall be held at least once every three (3) months unless the Board otherwise approves and that the written notice of each meeting given to the Directors shall include an agenda of the business to be transacted at the meeting. |
69. | A Person may participate in a meeting of the Directors or committee of the Board of Directors by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the Persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time. Participation by a Person in a meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Directors, the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the place where the chairman is at the start of the meeting. |
70. | A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by majority of the Directors or majority of the members of a committee of the Board of Directors shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors, or committee of the Board of Directors as the case may be, duly convened and held. |
71. | Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by any Director on forty-eight (48) hours’ notice to each Director in accordance with Articles 104 through 108. |
72. | The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors, the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to that number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose. |
73. | The Directors may elect a chairman of their board and determine the period for which he or she is to hold office; but if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman shall not be present within ten (10) minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the Directors present may choose one of their members to be chairman of the meeting. |
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74. | All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Board of Directors shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such Person had been duly appointed and qualified to be a Director. |
PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT
75. | A Director of the Company who is present at a meeting of the Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless the Director’s dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless the Director shall file his or her written dissent from such action with the Person acting as the chairman or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such Person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action. |
DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS
76. | Subject to Article 79, a Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of Auditor) in conjunction with his or her office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Directors may determine. |
77. | Subject to Article 79, a Director may act by himself or herself or his or her firm in a professional capacity for the Company and such Director or firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if such Director were not a Director. |
78. | Subject to Article 79, a Director of the Company may be or become a director or other officer of or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as Member or otherwise, and no such Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by such Director as a director or officer of, or from his or her interest in, such other company. |
79. | In addition to any further restrictions set forth in these Articles, no Person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or prevented by such office from contracting with the Company, either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director shall be in any way interested (each, an “Interested Transaction”) be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by any such Interested Transaction by reason of such Director holding office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established, and any such director may vote at a meeting of directors on any resolution concerning a matter in which that director has an interest (and if he votes his vote shall be counted) and shall be counted towards a quorum of those present at such meeting, in each case so long as the material facts of the interest of each Director in the agreement or transaction and his interest in or relationship to any other party to the agreement or transaction are disclosed in good faith to and are known by the other Directors. A general notice or disclosure to the Directors or otherwise contained in the minutes of a meeting or a written resolution of the directors or any committee thereof that a Director is a member of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company shall be sufficient disclosure under this Article 79. |
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MINUTES
80. | The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of all appointments of officers made by the Directors, all proceedings at meetings of the Company or the holders of any series of Shares and of the Directors, and of committees of the Board of Directors including the names of the Directors present at each meeting. |
DELEGATION OF DIRECTORS’ POWERS
81. | Subject to these Articles, the Board of Directors may establish any committees and approve the delegation of any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of any such committee. |
82. | The Board of Directors may also, delegate to any managing Director or any Director holding any other executive office such of their powers as they consider desirable to be exercised by such Person provided that the appointment of a managing Director shall be revoked forthwith if he or she ceases to be a Director. Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Board of Directors may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked or altered. |
83. | Subject to these Articles, the Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm, Person or body of Persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or authorised signatory of the Company for such purpose and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such powers of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of Persons dealing with any such attorneys or authorised signatories as the Directors may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him or her. |
84. | Subject to these Articles, the Directors may appoint such officers as they consider necessary on such terms, at such remuneration and to perform such duties, and subject to such provisions as to disqualification and removal as the Directors may think fit. Unless otherwise specified in the terms of an officer’s appointment, an officer may be removed by resolution of the Directors or Members. |
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NO MINIMUM SHAREHOLDING
85. | There is no minimum shareholding required to be held by a Director. |
REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS
86. | The remuneration to be paid to the Directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as determined by the Board. The Directors shall also be entitled to be paid all reasonable travelling, hotel and other out-of-pocket expenses properly incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors or committees of the Board of Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or separate meetings of the holders of any series of Shares or debentures of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company. |
87. | The Directors may be resolution of the majority of the Board approve additional remuneration to any Director for any services other than his or her ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel or solicitor to the Company, or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity, shall be in addition to his or her remuneration as a Director. |
SEAL
88. | The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal. The Seal shall only be used by the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Board of Directors authorised by the Board of Directors. Every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by at least one Person who shall be either a Director or some officer or other Person appointed by the Directors for the purpose. |
89. | The Company may have for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands a duplicate Seal or Seals each of which shall be a facsimile of the common Seal of the Company and, if the Directors so determine, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used. |
90. | A Director or officer, representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority of the Directors affix the Seal over his or her signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by him or her under seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever. |
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND RESERVE
91. | Subject to the Statute and these Articles (including Article 7), the Directors may declare dividends and distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the dividends or distributions out of the assets of the Company lawfully available therefor. No dividend or distribution shall be paid except out of the realised or unrealised profits of the Company, or out of the share premium account or as otherwise permitted by the Statute. |
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92. | All dividends and distributions shall be declared and paid according to the provisions of Article 7. |
93. | The Directors may deduct from any dividend or distribution payable to any Member all sums of money (if any) then payable by such Member to the Company on account of calls or otherwise. |
94. | Subject to the provisions of Article 7, the Directors may declare that any dividend or distribution be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular of shares, debentures or securities of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional Shares and fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Members upon the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all Members and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Directors. |
95. | Any dividend, distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of Shares may be paid by wire transfer to the holder or by cheque or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of the holder who is first named on the Register of Members or to such Person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the Person to whom it is sent. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share held by them as joint holders. |
96. | No dividend or distribution shall bear interest against the Company, except as expressly provided in these Articles. |
97. | Any dividend that cannot be paid to a Member and/or that remains unclaimed after six (6) months from the date of declaration of such dividend may, in the discretion of the Directors, be paid into a separate account in the Company’s name, provided that the Company shall not be constituted as a trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain as a debt due to the Member. Any dividend that remains unclaimed after a period of six (6) years from the date of declaration of such dividend shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company. |
CAPITALIZATION
98. | Subject to these Articles, including but not limited to Article 7, the Directors may capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution and to appropriate such sum to Members in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst them had the same been a distribution of profits by way of dividend as set forth in Article 7 hereof and to apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid-up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. In such event, the Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalization, with full power to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit for the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Directors may authorise any Person to enter on behalf of all of the Members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalization and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned. |
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BOOKS OF ACCOUNT
99. | The Directors shall cause proper books of account to be kept at such place as they may from time to time designate with respect to all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place, all sales and purchases of goods by the Company and the assets and liabilities of the Company. Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if there are not kept such books of account as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs and to explain its transactions. The Directors shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places, and under what conditions or regulations, the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to inspection of Members not being Directors and no such Member shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by the Statute or authorized by the Directors or the Company in general meeting or in a written agreement binding on the Company. |
100. | The Directors may from time to time cause to be prepared and to be laid before the Company in general meeting profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and such other reports and accounts as may be required by law. |
AUDIT
101. | The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office until removed from office by a resolution of the Directors, and may fix the Auditor’s remuneration. |
102. | Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor. |
103. | Auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company that is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company that is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members. |
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NOTICES
104. | Except as otherwise provided in these Articles, notices shall be in writing. Notice may be given by the Company to any Member or Director either personally or by sending it by next-day or second-day courier service, fax, electronic mail or similar means to such Member or Director (as the case may be) or to the address of such Member or Director as shown in the Register of Members or the Register of Directors (as the case may be) (or where the notice is given by electronic mail by sending it to the electronic mail address provided by such Member or Director). |
105. | Where a notice is sent by next-day or second-day courier service, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre paying and sending by next-day or second-day service through an internationally-recognized courier a letter containing the notice, with a confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected at the expiration of two (2) days (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays) after the letter containing the same is sent as aforesaid. Where a notice is sent by fax to a fax number provided by the intended recipient, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected when the receipt of the fax is acknowledged by the recipient. Where a notice is given by electronic mail to the electronic mail address provided by the intended recipient, service shall be deemed to be effected when the receipt of the electronic mail is acknowledged by the recipient. |
106. | A notice may be given by the Company to the Person or Persons that the Company has been advised are entitled to a Share or Shares in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member in the same manner as other notices that are required to be given under these Articles and shall be addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description at the address supplied for that purpose by the Persons claiming to be so entitled, or at the option of the Company, by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred. |
107. | Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner hereinbefore authorised to every Person shown as a Member in the Register of Members on the record date for such meeting except that in the case of joint holders the notice shall be sufficient if given to the joint holder first named in the Register of Members and every Person upon whom the ownership of a Share devolves by reason of his or her being a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy of a Member of record where the Member of record but for his or her death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting, and no other Person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings. |
108. | Whenever any notice is required by law or these Articles to be given to any Director, member of a committee or Member, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the Person or Persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. |
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WINDING UP
109. | If the Company shall be wound up, assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be distributed, in accordance with Article 7. |
110. | If the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Statute, divide amongst the Members in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and, subject to Article 7, determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability. |
INDEMNITY
111. | To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Directors and officers for the time being of the Company and any trustee for the time being acting in relation to any of the affairs of the Company and their heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives respectively shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company from and against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses that they or any of them shall or may incur or sustain by reason of any act done or omitted in or about the execution of their duty in their respective offices or trusts, except such (if any) as they shall incur or sustain by or through their own fraud or dishonesty, and no such Director or officer or trustee shall be answerable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other Director or officer or trustee or for joining in any receipt for the sake of conformity or for the solvency or honesty of any banker or other Persons with whom any monies or effects belonging to the Company may be lodged or deposited for safe custody or for any insufficiency of any security upon which any monies of the Company may be invested or for any other loss or damage due to any such cause as aforesaid or which may happen in or about the execution of his or her office or trust unless the same shall happen through the fraud or dishonesty of such Director or officer or trustee. Except with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification pursuant to this Article, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee pursuant to this Article in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition to the maximum extent provided by, and subject to the requirements of, applicable law, so long as the indemnitee agrees with the Company to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article. |
112. | To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Directors and officers for the time being of the Company and any trustee for the time being acting in relation to any of the affairs of the Company and their heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives respectively shall not be personally liable to the Company or its Members for monetary damages for breach of their duty in their respective offices, except such (if any) as they shall incur or sustain by or through their own fraud or dishonesty respectively. |
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FINANCIAL YEAR
113. | Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on the 31st of December in each year and, following the year of incorporation, shall begin on the 1st of January in each year. |
TRANSFER BY WAY OF CONTINUATION
114. | If the Company is exempted as defined in the Statute, it shall, subject to the provisions of the Statute and with the approval of a Special Resolution and the written consent of the Majority Preferred Holders, have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
DRAG ALONG RIGHTS
115. | On or after January 31, 2025, if more than 67% of holders of Preferred Shares (collectively, the “Drag Holders”) approve in writing a proposed Deemed Liquidation Event, Share Sale or other sale of the Company, whether structured as a merger, reorganization, asset sale, share sale, sale of control of the Company, or otherwise at a valuation no less than US$500,000,000 (the “Approved Sale”), to any Person that is not a Drag Holder or an Affiliate of any Drag Holder (the “Offeror”), then at the request of the Drag Holders the Company shall promptly notify in writing each other holder of Equity Securities of the Company and the material terms and conditions of such proposed Approved Sale, whereupon each such holder shall, in accordance with instructions received from the Company at the direction of the Drag Holders: |
(i) Sell, at the same time as the Drag Holders sell to the Offeror, in the Approved Sale, all of its Equity Securities of the Company or the same percentage of its Equity Securities of the Company as the Drag Holders sell, on the same terms and conditions as were agreed to by the Drag Holders; provided, however, that such terms and conditions, including with respect to price paid or received per Equity Security of the Company, may differ as between different classes of Equity Securities of the Company in accordance with their relative liquidation preferences as set forth in Article 7.2 and provided further that some Members may be given the right or opportunity to exchange or roll a portion of their Equity Securities of the Company for Equity Securities of the acquirer or an Affiliate thereof in the Approved Sale but in such event there shall be no obligation to afford such right or opportunity to all of the Members;
(ii) Vote all of its Equity Securities of the Company (a) in favor of such Approved Sale, (b) against any other consolidation, recapitalization, amalgamation, merger, sale of securities, sale of assets, business combination, or transaction that would interfere with, delay, restrict, or otherwise adversely affect such Approved Sale, and (c) against any action or agreement that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the definitive agreement(s) related to such Approved Sale or that could result in any of the conditions to the closing obligations under such agreement(s) not being fulfilled, and, in connection therewith, to be present (in person or by proxy) at all relevant meetings of the shareholders of the Company (or adjournments thereof) or to approve and execute all relevant written consents in lieu of a meeting.
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(iii) Not exercise any dissenters’ or appraisal rights under applicable law with respect to such Approved Sale.
(iv) Take all necessary actions in connection with the consummation of such Approved Sale as reasonably requested by the Drag Holders, including but not limited to the execution and delivery of any share transfer or other agreements prepared in connection with such Approved Sale, and the delivery, at the closing of such Approved Sale involving a sale of stock, of all certificates representing stock held or controlled by such Shareholder, duly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by a duly executed share transfer form, or affidavits and indemnity undertakings with respect to lost certificates.
(v) Restructure such Approved Sale, as and if reasonably requested by the Drag Holders, as a merger, consolidation, restructuring or similar transaction, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or otherwise.
In the event that any Member fails for any reason to comply with this Article after reasonable notice thereof, such Member hereby grants an irrevocable power of attorney and proxy to any Director approving the Approved Sale to take all necessary actions and execute and deliver all documents deemed by such Director to be reasonably necessary to effectuate the terms hereof.
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Schedule A
Capitalized terms used in this Schedule A and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them below:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such Person. In the case of a Preferred Holder, the term “Affiliate” also includes (v) any Controlling shareholder of the Preferred Holder, (w) any of such shareholder's or Preferred Holders’ general partners or limited partners, (x) the fund manager managing such shareholder or Preferred Holder (and general partners, limited partners and officers thereof) and other funds managed by such fund manager, and (y) trusts Controlled by or for the benefit of any such Person referred to in (v), (w) or (x).
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday or other day on which commercial banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in the PRC, Taiwan, or the United States.
“Control” of a given Person means the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; provided, that such power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person. The terms “Controlled” and “Controlling” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person that is a legal entity, any and all shares of capital stock, membership interests, units, profits interests, ownership interests, equity interests, registered capital, and other equity securities of such Person, and any right, warrant, option, call, commitment, conversion privilege, preemptive right or other right to acquire any of the foregoing, or security convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for any of the foregoing.
“Governmental Authority” means any government of any nation or any federation, province or state or any other political subdivision thereof, any entity, authority or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including any governmental authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality of any country, or any political subdivision thereof, any court, tribunal or arbitrator, and any self-regulatory organization.
“Governmental Order” means any applicable order, ruling, decision, verdict, decree, writ, subpoena, mandate, precept, command, directive, consent, approval, award, judgment, injunction or other similar determination or finding by, before or under the supervision of any Governmental Authority.
“HKIAC” means Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre.
“Preferred Holders” means holders of the Preferred Shares.
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“Law” or “Laws” means any and all provisions of any applicable constitution, treaty, statute, law, regulation, ordinance, code, rule, or rule of common law, any governmental approval, concession, grant, franchise, license, agreement, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any formally issued written interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority, in each case as amended, and any and all applicable Governmental Orders.
“Majority Preferred Holders” means the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis).
“Ordinary Share Equivalents” means any Equity Security which is by its terms convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Ordinary Shares or other share capital of the Company, including without limitation, the Preferred Shares.
“Ordinary Shares” means the Company’s ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, association, limited liability company, firm, trust, estate or other enterprise or entity.
“PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, but solely for the purposes of this Schedule, excluding Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and the islands of Taiwan.
“Preferred Shares” means, collectively, the Series A Preferred Shares and the Series B Preferred Shares.
“Principal” means Lin Bioscience International Ltd..
“Shares” means the Ordinary Shares and the Preferred Shares.
1. Restriction on Transfers; Rights of First Refusal and Co-Sale Rights.
1.1 Restriction on Transfers.
A. Principals and Holding Companies. A Principal shall not directly or indirectly sell, assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber or dispose of in any way or otherwise grant any interest or right with respect to (“Transfer”) all or any part of any interest in any Equity Securities of the Company now or hereafter owned or held by such Principal unless Sections 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 are complied with.
B. Preferred Holders. For the avoidance of doubt, Preferred Holders may freely Transfer any Equity Securities of the Company now or hereafter owned or held by them without limitation; provided that (i) no such Transfer shall result in any shares of the Company being transferred to or owned by, directly or indirectly, any competitor of the Company; (ii) such Transfer is effected in compliance with all applicable Laws and (iii) the transferee shall execute and deliver to the Company a deed of adherence or joinder becoming a party of the Shareholders Agreement as an “Investor” subject to the terms and conditions of the Shareholders Agreement (if not already so bound) upon and after such Transfer. The Company will update its register of members upon the consummation of any such permitted Transfer.
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C. Prohibited Transfers Void. Any Transfer of Equity Securities of the Company not made in compliance with this Schedule shall be null and void as against the Company, shall not be recorded on the books of the Company and shall not be recognized by the Company.
D. No Indirect Transfers. Each Principal agrees not to circumvent or otherwise avoid the transfer restrictions or intent thereof set forth in this Schedule, whether by holding the Equity Securities of the Company indirectly through another Person or by causing or effecting, directly or indirectly, the Transfer or issuance of any Equity Securities by any such Person, or otherwise. Any purported Transfer, sale or issuance of any Equity Securities of any company held by a Principal holding shares in the Company (the “Holding Company”) in contravention of this Schedule shall be void and ineffective for any and all purposes and shall not confer on any transferee or purported transferee any rights whatsoever, and no party (including without limitation, any Principal or Holding Company) shall recognize any such Transfer, sale or issuance.
1.2 Rights of First Refusal.
A. Transfer Notice. If a Principal (a “Transferor”) proposes to Transfer any Equity Securities of the Company or any interest therein to one or more third parties, then the Transferor shall give the Company and each Preferred Holder written notice of the Transferor’s intention to make the Transfer (the “Transfer Notice”), which shall include (i) a description of the Equity Securities to be transferred (the “Offered Shares”), (ii) the identity and address of the prospective transferee and (iii) the consideration and the material terms and conditions upon which the proposed Transfer is to be made. The Transfer Notice shall certify that the Transferor has received a definitive offer from the prospective transferee and in good faith believes a binding agreement for the Transfer is obtainable on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice. The Transfer Notice shall also include a copy of any written proposal, term sheet or letter of intent or other agreement relating to the proposed Transfer.
B. Option of Company. The Company shall have an option for a period of ten (10) days following receipt of the Transfer Notice (the “Company Option Period”) to elect to purchase all or a portion of the Offered Shares, at the same price and subject to the same terms and conditions as described in the Transfer Notice, exercisable by written notice to the Transferor (with a copy to the Preferred Holders).
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C. Option of Preferred Holders.
(1) If the Company does not timely elect to purchase all of the Offered Shares pursuant to clause (B) above, then the Company shall deliver to each Preferred Holder written notice (the “Company Notice”) thereof within ten (10) days after the expiration of the Company Option Period, and each such Preferred Holder shall have an option for a period of ten (10) days following receipt of the Company Notice (the “Option Period”) to elect to purchase all or any portion of its respective Pro Rata Share of the remaining Offered Shares at the same price and subject to the same terms and conditions as described in the Transfer Notice, by notifying the Transferor and the Company in writing before expiration of the Option Period as to the number of such Offered Shares that it wishes to purchase.
(2) For the purposes of this Section 1.2C, a Preferred Holder’s “Pro Rata Share” of such Offered Shares shall be equal to (i) the total number of such Offered Shares, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares held by such Preferred Holder on the date of the Transfer Notice (including all Preferred Shares held by such Preferred Holder on an as-converted to Ordinary Share basis) and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Ordinary Shares held by all Preferred Holders on such date (including all Preferred Shares held by such Preferred Holders on an as-converted to Ordinary Share basis).
(3) If any Preferred Holder fails to exercise its right to purchase its full Pro Rata Share of such Offered Shares, the Company shall deliver written notice thereof (the “Second Notice”), within five (5) days after the expiration of the Option Period, to the Transferor and to each Preferred Holder that elected to purchase its entire Pro Rata Share of the Offered Shares (an “Exercising Shareholder”). The Exercising Shareholders shall have a right of re-allotment, and may exercise an additional right to purchase such unpurchased Offered Shares by notifying the Transferor and the Company in writing within ten (10) days after receipt of the Second Notice (the “Re-allotment Period”); provided, however, that if the Exercising Shareholders desire to purchase in aggregate more than the number of such unpurchased Offered Shares, then such unpurchased Offered Shares will be allocated to the extent necessary among the Exercising Shareholders in accordance with their relative Pro Rata Shares.
(4) Subject to applicable securities Laws, each Preferred Holder shall be entitled to apportion Offered Shares to be purchased among its Affiliates, provided that such Preferred Holder notifies the Company and the Transferor in writing and such Affiliates shall execute and deliver such documents and take such other actions as may be necessary for such Affiliates to join in and be bound by the terms of the Shareholders Agreement as an “Investor” (if not already a party hereto) upon and after such Transfer.
D. Procedure. If the Company or any Preferred Holder gives the Transferor notice that it desires to purchase Offered Shares, and, as the case may be, any re-allotment, then payment for the Offered Shares to be purchased shall be made by check (if agreeable to the Transferor), or by wire transfer in immediately available funds of the appropriate currency, against delivery of such Offered Shares to be purchased, at a place agreed to by the Transferor, the Company (if it is a purchaser) and all the Exercising Shareholders (if they are purchasers) and at the time of the scheduled closing therefor, but if they cannot agree, then at the principal executive offices of the Company on the thirtieth (30th) day after the Company’s receipt of the Transfer Notice, unless such notice contemplated a later closing date with the prospective third party transferee or unless the value of the purchase price has not yet been established pursuant to Section 1.2E, in which case the closing shall be on such later date or as provided in Section 1.2E(4). The Transferor shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any Transfer Notice and any intent to transfer Offered Shares at any time, whether or not any Preferred Holder has elected to purchase under this Section 1.2 any Offered Shares offered thereby. The Company will update its register of members upon the consummation of any such Transfer.
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E. Valuation of Property.
(1) Should the purchase price specified in the Transfer Notice be payable in property other than cash or evidences of indebtedness, the Company and/or the Preferred Holders, as applicable, shall have the right to pay the purchase price in the form of cash equal in amount to the fair market value of such property.
(2) If the Transferor, the Company (if it is a purchaser), and the Exercising Shareholders holding a majority of the Offered Shares elected to be purchased by all Exercising Shareholders (if they are purchasers) cannot agree on such cash value within the Option Period, the valuation shall be made by an appraiser of internationally recognized standing jointly selected by agreement of such groups or, if they cannot agree on an appraiser within the Option Period, each such group shall select an appraiser of internationally recognized standing and such appraisers shall designate another appraiser of internationally recognized standing, whose appraisal shall be determinative of such value.
(3) The cost of such appraisal (and the cost, if any, of securing the appointment thereof by the HKIAC council) shall be shared equally by the Transferor, on the one hand, and the purchasers pro rata based on the number of Offered Shares such purchaser is purchasing, on the other hand.
(4) If the value of the purchase price offered by the prospective transferee is not determined within 30 days following the Company’s receipt of the Transfer Notice from the Transferor, the closing of the purchase of Offered Shares by the Company and/or the Exercising Shareholders shall be held on or prior to the fifth (5th) Business Day after such valuation shall have been made pursuant to this Section 1.2E.
1.3 Right of Co-Sale.
A. To the extent the Company and the Preferred Holders do not exercise their respective rights of first refusal under Section 1.2 as to all or any of the Offered Shares proposed to be sold by the Transferor to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice, the Transferor shall give notice thereof to each Preferred Holder not exercising any right of first refusal pursuant to Section 1.2 (the “Co-Sale Notice”) (specifying in such Co-Sale Notice the number of remaining Offered Shares as well as the number of Shares that such Preferred Holder would be eligible to include in such sale pursuant to its co-sale right hereunder, and each such Preferred Holder shall have the right to participate in such sale, to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice, of the remaining Offered Shares not purchased pursuant to Section 1.2, on the same terms and conditions as specified in the Transfer Notice (but in no event less favorable than the terms and conditions offered to the Transferor) (and for the same consideration on an as converted to ordinary share basis) by notifying the Transferor in writing within ten (10) days following the date of the Co-Sale Notice (each such electing Preferred Holder, a “Selling Shareholder”). Such Selling Shareholder’s notice to the Transferor shall indicate the number of Equity Securities the Selling Shareholder wishes to sell under its right to participate. To the extent one or more Preferred Holders exercise such right of participation in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below, the number of Offered Shares that the Transferor may sell in the Transfer to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice shall be correspondingly reduced.
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B. The total number of Equity Securities that each Selling Shareholder may elect to sell shall be equal to the product of (i) the aggregate number of the remaining Offered Shares being transferred to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice after giving effect to the exercise of all rights of first refusal pursuant to Section 1.2 hereof, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Ordinary Shares (including Preferred Shares on an as-converted to Ordinary Share basis) owned by such Selling Shareholder on the date of the Transfer Notice and the denominator of which is the total number of Ordinary Shares (including Preferred Shares on an as-converted to Ordinary Share basis) owned by the Transferor and all Selling Shareholders.
C. Each Selling Shareholder shall effect its participation in the sale by promptly delivering to the Transferor for transfer to the prospective purchaser, before the applicable closing, one or more certificates, properly endorsed for transfer, which represent the type and number of Equity Securities which such Selling Shareholder elects to sell; provided, however that if the prospective third party purchaser objects to the delivery of Ordinary Share Equivalents in lieu of Ordinary Shares, such Selling Shareholder shall only deliver Ordinary Shares (and therefore shall convert any such Ordinary Share Equivalents into Ordinary Shares) and certificates corresponding to such Ordinary Shares, and the Company shall effect any such conversion concurrent with the actual transfer of such shares to the purchaser and contingent on such transfer.
D. The share certificate or certificates that a Selling Shareholder delivers to the Transferor pursuant to this Section 1.3 shall be transferred to the prospective purchaser in consummation of the sale of the Equity Securities pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Transfer Notice, and the Transferor shall concurrently therewith remit to such Selling Shareholder that portion of the sale proceeds to which such Selling Shareholder is entitled by reason of its participation in such sale. The Company will update its register of members upon the consummation of any such Transfer.
E. To the extent that any prospective purchaser prohibits the participation by a Selling Shareholder exercising its co-sale rights hereunder in a proposed Transfer or otherwise refuses to purchase shares or other securities from a Selling Shareholder exercising its co-sale rights hereunder, the Transferor shall not sell to such prospective purchaser any Equity Securities unless and until, simultaneously with such sale, the Transferor shall purchase from such Selling Shareholder such shares or other securities that such Selling Shareholder would otherwise be entitled to sell to the prospective purchaser pursuant to its co-sale rights for the same consideration and on the same terms and conditions as the proposed transfer described in the Transfer Notice.
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1.4 Non-Exercise of Rights.
A. If the Company and the Preferred Holders do not elect to purchase all of the Offered Shares in accordance with Section 1.2, then, subject to the right of the Preferred Holders to exercise their rights to participate in the sale of Offered Shares within the time periods specified in Section 1.3, the Transferor shall have a period of sixty (60) days from the expiration of the Option Period in which to sell the remaining Offered Shares to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice upon terms and conditions (including the purchase price) no more favorable to the purchaser than those specified in the Transfer Notice, so long as any such sale is effected in accordance with all applicable Laws. Each such transferee, prior to and as a condition to the consummation of any sale, shall execute and deliver to the Parties documents and other instruments assuming the obligations of such Transferor under the Shareholders Agreement with respect to the Offered Shares, and the transfer shall not be effective and shall not be recognized by any party until such documents and instruments are so executed and delivered.
B. In the event the Transferor does not consummate the sale of such Offered Shares to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice within sixty (60) day period, the rights of the Preferred Holders under Section 1.2 and Section 1.3 shall be re-invoked and shall be applicable to each subsequent disposition of such Offered Shares by the Transferor until such rights lapse in accordance with the terms of this Schedule.
C. The exercise or non-exercise of the rights of the Preferred Holders under this Section 1 to purchase Equity Securities from a Transferor or participate in the sale of Equity Securities by a Transferor shall not adversely affect their rights to make subsequent purchases from the Transferor of Equity Securities or subsequently participate in sales of Equity Securities by the Transferor hereunder.
1.5 Limitations to Rights of First Refusal and Co-Sale. Subject to the requirements of applicable Law, the restrictions under Section 1.1 and the right of first refusal and right of co-sale of the Preferred Holders under Sections 1.2 and 1.3 shall not apply to (a) any sale of Equity Securities of the Company to the public pursuant to a Qualified IPO, (b) Transfer of any Equity Securities of the Company now or hereafter held by a Transferor to such Transferor’s parents, children, spouse, or to a trustee, executor, or other fiduciary for the benefit of such Transferor or such Transferor’s parents, children, spouse for bona fide estate planning purposes, and (c) Transfer of any Equity Securities of the Company now or hereafter held by an Transferor to its Affiliates (each such transferee pursuant to clause (b) above, a “Permitted Transferee”, and collectively, the “Permitted Transferees”); provided, that (i) such Transfer is effected in compliance with all applicable Laws, (ii) respecting any transfer pursuant to clause (b) above, the Transferor has provided the Majority Preferred Holders reasonable evidence of the bona fide estate planning purposes for such transfer, and (iii) each such Permitted Transferee, prior to the completion of the Transfer, shall execute and deliver to the Company a deed of adherence or joinder becoming a party to the Shareholders Agreement as an “Investor” subject to the terms and conditions hereof (if not already so bound) assuming the obligations of such Transferor under this Schedule as a Transferor, with respect to the transferred Equity Securities; provided further, that the Transferor shall remain liable for any breach by such Permitted Transferee of any provision under this Schedule.
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Exhibit 3.2
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
BELITE BIO, INC
(Adopted by a Special Resolution passed on April 5, 2022 and effective immediately prior to the completion of the initial public offering of the Company’s American Depositary Shares representing its Ordinary Shares)
1. | The name of the Company is Belite Bio, Inc. |
2. | The Registered Office of the Company will be at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Grand Cayman KY1-1104, Cayman Islands, or at such other location within the Cayman Islands as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
3. | The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Act or any other law of the Cayman Islands. |
4. | The Company shall have and be capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit as provided by the Companies Act. |
5. | The Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of the business of the Company carried on outside the Cayman Islands; provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as to prevent the Company effecting and concluding contracts in the Cayman Islands, and exercising in the Cayman Islands all of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands. |
6. | The liability of each Shareholder is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the Shares held by such Shareholder. |
7. | The authorised share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 500,000,000 shares comprising (i) 400,000,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, and (ii) 100,000,000 undesignated shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors may determine in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 of the Articles of Association of the Company. Subject to the Companies Act and the Articles, the Company shall have power to redeem or purchase any of its Shares and to increase or reduce its authorised share capital and to sub-divide or consolidate the said Shares or any of them and to issue all or any part of its capital whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced with or without any preference, priority, special privilege or other rights or subject to any postponement of rights or to any conditions or restrictions whatsoever and so that unless the conditions of issue shall otherwise expressly provide every issue of shares whether stated to be ordinary, preference or otherwise shall be subject to the powers on the part of the Company hereinbefore provided. |
8. | The Company has the power contained in the Companies Act to deregister in the Cayman Islands and be registered by way of continuation in some other jurisdiction. |
9. | Capitalised terms that are not defined in this Memorandum of Association bear the same meanings as those given in the Articles of Association of the Company. |
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THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
BELITE BIO, INC
(Adopted by a Special Resolution passed on April 5, 2022 and effective immediately prior to the completion of the initial public offering of the Company’s American Depositary Shares representing its Ordinary Shares)
TABLE A
The regulations contained or incorporated in Table ‘A’ in the First Schedule of the Companies Act shall not apply to the Company and the following Articles shall comprise the Articles of Association of the Company.
INTERPRETATION
1. | In these Articles the following defined terms will have the meanings ascribed to them, if not inconsistent with the subject or context: |
"ADS" | means an American Depositary Share representing Ordinary Shares; |
“Articles” | means these articles of association of the Company, as from time to time altered or added to in accordance with the Companies Act and these Articles; |
“Board” and “Board of Directors” and “Directors” | means the directors of the Company for the time being, or as the case may be, the directors assembled as a board or as a committee thereof; |
“Chairman” | means the chairman of the Board of Directors; |
“Class” or “Classes” | means any class or classes of Shares as may from time to time be issued by the Company; |
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“Commission” | means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America or any other federal agency for the time being administering the Securities Act; |
“Communications Facilities” | means technology (including without limitation video, video-conferencing, internet or online conferencing applications, telephone or tele-conferencing and/or other video-communications, internet or online conferencing application or telecommunications facilities) by which natural persons are capable of hearing and being heard by each other; |
“Company” | means Belite Bio, Inc, a Cayman Islands exempted company; |
“Companies Act” | means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and any statutory amendment or re-enactment thereof; |
“Company’s Website” | means the main corporate/investor relations website of the Company, the address or domain name of which has been disclosed in any registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in connection with its initial public offering of ADSs, or which has otherwise been notified to Shareholders; |
“Designated Stock Exchange” | means the stock exchange in the United States on which any Shares and ADSs are listed for trading; |
“Designated Stock Exchange Rules” | means the relevant code, rules and regulations, as amended, from time to time, applicable as a result of the original and continued listing of any Shares or ADSs on the Designated Stock Exchange; |
“electronic” | has the meaning given to it in the Electronic Transactions Act and any amendment thereto or re-enactments thereof for the time being in force and includes every other law incorporated therewith or substituted therefor; |
“electronic communication” | means electronic posting to the Company’s Website, transmission to any number, address or internet website or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by not less than a majority of the vote of the Board; |
“Electronic Transactions Act” | means the Electronic Transactions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and any statutory amendment or re-enactment thereof; |
“electronic record” | has the meaning given to it in the Electronic Transactions Act and any amendment thereto or re-enactments thereof for the time being in force and includes every other law incorporated therewith or substituted therefor; |
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“Memorandum of Association” | means the memorandum of association of the Company, as amended or substituted from time to time; |
“Ordinary Resolution” |
means a resolution:
(a) passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by such Shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy or, in the case of corporations, by their duly authorised representatives, at a general meeting of the Company held in accordance with these Articles; or |
(b) approved in writing by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Shareholders and the effective date of the resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument, or the last of such instruments, if more than one, is executed; | |
“Ordinary Shares” | means the ordinary shares in the capital of the Company with a par value of US$0.0001 each; |
“paid up” | means paid up as to the par value in respect of the issue of any Shares and includes credited as paid up; |
“Person” | means any natural person, firm, company, joint venture, partnership, corporation, association or other entity (whether or not having a separate legal personality) or any of them as the context so requires; |
“Present” | means, in respect of any Person, such Person's presence at a general meeting of Shareholders, which may be satisfied by means of such Person or, if a corporation or other non-natural Person, its duly authorized representative (or, in the case of any Shareholder, a proxy which has been validly appointed by such Shareholder in accordance with these Articles), being: (a) physically present at the venue specified in the notice convening the meeting; or (b) in the case of any meeting at which Communications Facilities are permitted in accordance with these Articles, including any Virtual Meeting, connected by Communication Facilities in accordance with procedures specified in the notice convening such general meeting; and "Presence" shall be construed accordingly; |
“Register” | means the register of Members of the Company maintained in accordance with the Companies Act; |
“Registered Office” | means the registered office of the Company as required by the Companies Act; |
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“Seal” | means the common seal of the Company (if adopted) including any facsimile thereof; |
“Secretary” | means any Person appointed by the Directors to perform any of the duties of the secretary of the Company; |
“Securities Act” | means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States of America, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time; |
“Share” | means a share in the capital of the Company. All references to “Shares” herein shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all Classes as the context may require. For the avoidance of doubt in these Articles the expression “Share” shall include a fraction of a Share; |
“Shareholder” or “Member” | means a Person who is registered as the holder of one or more Shares in the Register; |
“Share Premium Account” | means the share premium account established in accordance with these Articles and the Companies Act; |
“signed” | means bearing a signature or representation of a signature affixed by mechanical means or an electronic symbol or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic communication and executed or adopted by a Person with the intent to sign the electronic communication; |
“Special Resolution” |
means a special resolution of the Company passed in accordance with the Companies Act, being a resolution:
(a) passed by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast by such Shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy or, in the case of corporations, by their duly authorised representatives, at a general meeting of the Company of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given; or
(b) approved in writing by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Shareholders and the effective date of the special resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument or the last of such instruments, if more than one, is executed; |
“Treasury Share” | means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Companies Act; |
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“United States” | means the United States of America, its territories, its possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction; and |
“Virtual Meeting” | means any general meeting of the Shareholders at which the Shareholders (and any other permitted participants of such meeting, including without limitation the chairman of the meeting and any Directors) are permitted to be Present solely by means of Communications Facilities. |
2. | In these Articles, save where the context requires otherwise: |
(a) | words importing the singular number shall include the plural number and vice versa; |
(b) | words importing the masculine gender only shall include the feminine gender and any Person as the context may require; |
(c) | the word "may" shall be construed as permissive and the word “shall” shall be construed as imperative; |
(d) | reference to a dollar or dollars (or US$) and to a cent or cents is reference to dollars and cents of the United States of America; |
(e) | reference to a statutory enactment shall include reference to any amendment or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force; |
(f) | reference to any determination by the Directors shall be construed as a determination by the Directors in their sole and absolute discretion and shall be applicable either generally or in any particular case; |
(g) | reference to “in writing” shall be construed as written or represented by any means reproducible in writing, including any form of print, lithograph, email, facsimile, photograph or telex or represented by any other substitute or format for storage or transmission for writing including in the form of an electronic record or partly one and partly another; |
(h) | any requirements as to delivery under the Articles include delivery in the form of an electronic record or an electronic communication; |
(i) | any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles, including the execution of the Articles themselves, can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature as defined in the Electronic Transaction Act; and |
(j) | Sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply. |
3. | Subject to the last two preceding Articles, any words defined in the Companies Act shall, if not inconsistent with the subject or context, bear the same meaning in these Articles. |
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PRELIMINARY
4. | The business of the Company may be conducted as the Directors see fit. |
5. | The Registered Office shall be at such address in the Cayman Islands as the Directors may from time to time determine. The Company may in addition establish and maintain such other offices and places of business and agencies in such places as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
6. | The expenses incurred in the formation of the Company and in connection with the offer for subscription and issue of Shares shall be paid by the Company. Such expenses may be amortised over such period as the Directors may determine and the amount so paid shall be charged against income and/or capital in the accounts of the Company as the Directors shall determine. |
7. | The Directors shall keep, or cause to be kept, the Register at such place or (subject to compliance with the Companies Act and these Articles) places as the Directors may from time to time determine and, in the absence of any such determination, the Register shall be kept at the Registered Office. |
SHARES
8. | Subject to these Articles, all Shares for the time being unissued shall be under the control of the Directors who may, in their absolute discretion and without the approval of the Members, cause the Company to: |
(a) | issue, allot and dispose of Shares (including, without limitation, preferred shares) (whether in certificated form or non-certificated form) to such Persons, in such manner, on such terms and having such rights and being subject to such restrictions as they may from time to time determine; |
(b) | grant rights over Shares or other securities to be issued in one or more classes or series as they deem necessary or appropriate and determine the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and other rights attaching to such Shares or securities, including dividend rights, voting rights, conversion rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the powers, preferences, privileges and rights associated with the then issued and outstanding Shares, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper; and |
(c) | grant options with respect to Shares and issue warrants, convertible securities or similar instruments with respect thereto. |
and, for such purposes, the Directors may reserve an appropriate number of Shares for the time being unissued.
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9. | The Directors, or the Shareholders by Ordinary Resolution, may authorise the division of Shares into any number of Classes and the different Classes shall be authorised, established and designated (or re-designated as the case may be) and the variations in the relative rights (including, without limitation, voting, dividend and redemption rights), restrictions, preferences, privileges and payment obligations as between the different Classes (if any) may be fixed and determined by the Directors or by the Shareholders by Ordinary Resolution. The Directors may issue Shares with such preferred or other rights, all or any of which may be greater than the rights of Ordinary Shares, at such time and on such terms as they may think appropriate. Notwithstanding Article 12, the Directors may issue from time to time, out of the authorised share capital of the Company (other than the authorised but unissued Ordinary Shares), series of preferred shares in their absolute discretion and without approval of the Members; provided, however, before any preferred shares of any such series are issued, the Directors shall by resolution of Directors determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including: |
(a) | the designation of such series, the number of preferred shares to constitute such series and the subscription price thereof if different from the par value thereof; |
(b) | whether the preferred shares of such series shall have voting rights, in addition to any voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights, which may be general or limited; |
(c) | the dividends, if any, payable on such series, whether any such dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from what dates, the conditions and dates upon which such dividends shall be payable, and the preference or relation which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable on any shares of any other class or any other series of shares; |
(d) | whether the preferred shares of such series shall be subject to redemption by the Company, and, if so, the times, prices and other conditions of such redemption; |
(e) | whether the preferred shares of such series shall have any rights to receive any part of the assets available for distribution amongst the Members upon the liquidation of the Company, and, if so, the terms of such liquidation preference, and the relation which such liquidation preference shall bear to the entitlements of the holders of shares of any other class or any other series of shares; |
(f) | whether the preferred shares of such series shall be subject to the operation of a retirement or sinking fund and, if so, the extent to and manner in which any such retirement or sinking fund shall be applied to the purchase or redemption of the preferred shares of such series for retirement or other corporate purposes and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof; |
(g) | whether the preferred shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or any other series of preferred shares or any other securities and, if so, the price or prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjusting the same, and any other terms and conditions of conversion or exchange; |
(h) | the limitations and restrictions, if any, to be effective while any preferred shares of such series are outstanding upon the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions on, and upon the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Company of, the existing shares or shares of any other class of shares or any other series of preferred shares; |
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(i) | the conditions or restrictions, if any, upon the creation of indebtedness of the Company or upon the issue of any additional shares, including additional shares of such series or of any other class of shares or any other series of preferred shares; and |
(j) | any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof; |
and, for such purposes, the Directors may reserve an appropriate number of Shares for the time being unissued. The Company is not obliged to issue, allot or dispose of Shares if it is, in the opinion of the Directors, unlawful or impracticable. The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer.
10. | The Company may insofar as may be permitted by law, pay a commission to any Person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe whether absolutely or conditionally for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the lodgement of fully or partly paid-up Shares or partly in one way and partly in the other. The Company may also pay such brokerage as may be lawful on any issue of Shares. |
11. | The Directors may refuse to accept any application for Shares, and may accept any application in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason. |
MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS
12. | Whenever the capital of the Company is divided into different Classes (and as otherwise determined by the Directors), the rights attached to any such Class may, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any Class, only be materially adversely varied or abrogated with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than a majority of the issued Shares of that Class or with the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that Class. To every such separate meeting all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings of the Company or to the proceedings thereat shall, mutatis mutandis, apply, except that the necessary quorum shall be one or more Persons holding or representing by proxy at least one-third in nominal or par value amount of the issued Shares of the relevant Class (but so that if at any adjourned meeting of such holders a quorum as above defined is not present, those Shareholders who are present shall form a quorum) and that, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the Shares of that Class, every Shareholder of the Class shall on a poll have one vote for each Share of the Class held by him. For the purposes of this Article the Directors may treat all the Classes or any two or more Classes as forming one Class if they consider that all such Classes would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate Classes. |
13. | The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any Class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the Shares of that Class, be deemed to be materially adversely varied or abrogated by, inter alia, the creation, allotment or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with or subsequent to them or the redemption or purchase of any Shares of any Class by the Company. The rights of the holders of Shares shall not be deemed to be materially adversely varied or abrogated by the creation or issue of Shares with preferred or other rights including, without limitation, the creation of Shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights. |
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CERTIFICATES
14. | Every Person whose name is entered as a Member in the Register may, without payment and upon its written request, request a certificate within one calendar month after allotment or lodgement of transfer (or within such other period as the conditions of issue shall provide) in the form determined by the Directors. All certificates shall specify the Share or Shares held by that Person, provided that in respect of a Share or Shares held jointly by several Persons the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate, and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all. All certificates for Shares shall be delivered personally or sent through the post addressed to the Member entitled thereto at such Member’s address notified by such Member to the Company prior to such delivery, or if absent of such notification, at the Member’s registered address as appearing in the Register. |
15. | Every share certificate of the Company shall bear legends required under the applicable laws, including the Securities Act. |
16. | Any two or more certificates representing Shares of any one Class held by any Member may at the Member’s request be cancelled and a single new certificate for such Shares issued in lieu on payment (if the Directors shall so require) of one U.S. dollar (US$1.00) or such smaller sum as the Directors shall determine. |
17. | If a share certificate shall be damaged or defaced or alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, a new certificate representing the same Shares may be issued to the relevant Member upon request, subject to delivery up of the old certificate or (if alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed) compliance with such conditions as to evidence and indemnity and the payment of out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in connection with the request as the Directors may think fit. |
18. | In the event that Shares are held jointly by several Persons, any request may be made by any one of the joint holders and if so made shall be binding on all of the joint holders. |
FRACTIONAL SHARES
19. | The Directors may issue fractions of a Share and, if so issued, a fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to nominal or par value, premium, contributions, calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights (including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, voting and participation rights) and other attributes of a whole Share. If more than one fraction of a Share of the same Class is issued to or acquired by the same Shareholder such fractions shall be accumulated. |
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LIEN
20. | The Company has a first and paramount lien on every Share (whether or not fully paid) for all amounts (whether presently payable or not) payable at a fixed time or called in respect of that Share. The Company also has a first and paramount lien on every Share registered in the name of a Person indebted or under liability to the Company (whether he is the sole registered holder of a Share or one of two or more joint holders) for all amounts owing by him or his estate to the Company (whether or not presently payable). The Directors may at any time declare a Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The Company’s lien on a Share extends to any amount payable in respect of it, including but not limited to dividends. |
21. | The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors in their absolute discretion think fit, any Share on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless an amount in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable nor until the expiration of fourteen calendar days after a notice in writing, demanding payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, has been given to the registered holder for the time being of the Share, or the Persons entitled thereto by reason of his death or bankruptcy. |
22. | For giving effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise a Person to transfer the Shares sold to the purchaser thereof. The purchaser shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale. |
23. | The proceeds of the sale after deduction of expenses, fees and commissions incurred by the Company shall be received by the Company and applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, and the residue shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares prior to the sale) be paid to the Person entitled to the Shares immediately prior to the sale. |
CALLS ON SHARES
24. | Subject to the terms of the allotment, the Directors may from time to time make calls upon the Shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares, and each Shareholder shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen calendar days’ notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on such Shares. A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising such call was passed. |
25. | The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay calls in respect thereof. |
26. | If a sum called in respect of a Share is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof, the Person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest upon the sum at the rate of eight percent per annum from the day appointed for the payment thereof to the time of the actual payment, but the Directors shall be at liberty to waive payment of that interest wholly or in part. |
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27. | The provisions of these Articles as to the liability of joint holders and as to payment of interest shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the amount of the Share, or by way of premium, as if the same had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
28. | The Directors may make arrangements with respect to the issue of partly paid Shares for a difference between the Shareholders, or the particular Shares, in the amount of calls to be paid and in the times of payment. |
29. | The Directors may, if they think fit, receive from any Shareholder willing to advance the same all or any part of the moneys uncalled and unpaid upon any partly paid Shares held by him, and upon all or any of the moneys so advanced may (until the same would, but for such advance, become presently payable) pay interest at such rate (not exceeding without the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution, eight percent per annum) as may be agreed upon between the Shareholder paying the sum in advance and the Directors. No such sum paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such sum to any portion of a dividend declared in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such sum would, but for such payment, become presently payable. |
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
30. | If a Shareholder fails to pay any call or instalment of a call in respect of partly paid Shares on the day appointed for payment, the Directors may, at any time thereafter during such time as any part of such call or instalment remains unpaid, serve a notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued. |
31. | The notice shall name a further day (not earlier than the expiration of fourteen calendar days from the date of the notice) on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that in the event of non-payment at or before the time appointed, the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. |
32. | If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any Share in respect of which the notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before the payment required by notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors to that effect. |
33. | A forfeited Share may be sold or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit, and at any time before a sale or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. |
34. | A Person whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Shareholder in respect of the forfeited Shares, but shall, notwithstanding, remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of the Shares forfeited, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company receives payment in full of the amount unpaid on the Shares forfeited. |
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35. | A certificate in writing under the hand of a Director that a Share has been duly forfeited on a date stated in the certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the facts in the declaration as against all Persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. |
36. | The Company may receive the consideration, if any, given for a Share on any sale or disposition thereof pursuant to the provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture and may execute a transfer of the Share in favour of the Person to whom the Share is sold or disposed of and that Person shall be registered as the holder of the Share and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the disposition or sale. |
37. | The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which by the terms of issue of a Share becomes due and payable, whether on account of the amount of the Share, or by way of premium, as if the same had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
TRANSFER OF SHARES
38. | The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing and in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, approve and be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and if in respect of a nil or partly paid up Share, or if so required by the Directors, shall also be executed on behalf of the transferee and shall be accompanied by the certificate (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer. The transferor shall be deemed to remain a Shareholder until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect of the relevant Shares. |
39. | The Directors may in their absolute discretion decline to register any transfer of Shares which is not fully paid up or on which the Company has a lien. |
(a) | The Directors may also decline to register any transfer of any Share unless: |
(i) | the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate for the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; |
(ii) | the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one Class of Shares; |
(iii) | the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; |
(iv) | in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the Share is to be transferred does not exceed four; and |
(v) | a fee of such maximum sum as the Designated Stock Exchange may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as the Board of Directors may from time to time require, is paid to the Company in respect thereof. |
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40. | The registration of transfers may, on ten calendar days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers, by electronic means or by any other means in accordance with the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, be suspended and the Register closed at such times and for such periods as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, from time to time determine, provided always that such registration of transfer shall not be suspended nor the Register closed for more than thirty calendar days in any calendar year. |
41. | All instruments of transfer that are registered shall be retained by the Company. If the Directors refuse to register a transfer of any Shares, they shall within three calendar months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company send notice of the refusal to each of the transferor and the transferee. |
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
42. | The legal personal representative of a deceased sole holder of a Share shall be the only Person recognised by the Company as having any title to the Share. In the case of a Share registered in the name of two or more holders, the survivors or survivor, or the legal personal representatives of the deceased survivor, shall be the only Person recognised by the Company as having any title to the Share. |
43. | Any Person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Directors, have the right either to be registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share or, instead of being registered himself, to make such transfer of the Share as the deceased or bankrupt Person could have made; but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the deceased or bankrupt Person before the death or bankruptcy. |
44. | A Person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered Shareholder, except that he shall not, before being registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company, provided however, that the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such Person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the Share, and if the notice is not complied with within ninety calendar days, the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all dividends, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with. |
REGISTRATION OF EMPOWERING INSTRUMENTS
45. | The Company shall be entitled to charge a fee not exceeding one U.S. dollar (US$1.00) on the registration of every probate, letters of administration, certificate of death or marriage, power of attorney, notice in lieu of distringas, or other instrument. |
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ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL
46. | The Company may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into Shares of such Classes and amount, as the resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the resolution shall prescribe. |
47. | The Company may by Ordinary Resolution: |
(a) | increase its share capital by new Shares of such amount as it thinks expedient; |
(b) | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of a larger amount than its existing Shares; |
(c) | subdivide its Shares, or any of them, into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum, provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and |
(d) | cancel any Shares that, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any Person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled. |
The Board may settle as they consider expedient any difficulty which arises in relation to any consolidation and division under the preceding Article and in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing may issue certificates in respect of fractions of shares or arrange for the sale of the shares representing fractions and the distribution of the net proceeds of sale (after deduction of the expenses of such sale) in due proportion amongst the Members who would have been entitled to the fractions, and for this purpose the Board may authorize some person to transfer the shares representing fractions to their purchaser or resolve that such net proceeds be paid to the Company for the Company’s benefit. Such purchaser will not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor will his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale.
48. | The Company may by Special Resolution reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner authorised by law. |
REDEMPTION, PURCHASE AND SURRENDER OF SHARES
49. | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and these Articles, the Company may: |
(a) | issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Shareholder or the Company. The redemption of Shares shall be effected in such manner and upon such terms as may be determined, before the issue of such Shares, by either the Board or by the Shareholders by Ordinary Resolution; |
(b) | redeem or purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) on such terms and in such manner and terms as have been approved by the Board or by the Members by Ordinary Resolution, or are otherwise authorised by these Articles; and |
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(c) | make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Companies Act, including out of capital. |
50. | The purchase of any Share shall not oblige the Company to purchase any other Share other than as may be required pursuant to applicable law and any other contractual obligations of the Company. |
51. | The holder of the Shares being purchased shall be bound to deliver up to the Company the certificate(s) (if any) thereof for cancellation and thereupon the Company shall pay to him the purchase or redemption monies or consideration in respect thereof. Any Share in respect of which notice of redemption has been given shall not be entitled to participate in the profits of the Company in respect of the period after the date specified as the date of redemption in the notice of redemption. |
52. | The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid Share. |
TREASURY SHARES
53. | The Directors may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share. |
54. | The Directors may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for nil consideration). In the event that the Directors do not specify that the relevant Shares are to be held as Treasury Shares, such Shares shall be cancelled. |
55. | No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to Shareholders on a winding up) may be declared or paid in respect of a Treasury Share. |
56. | The Company shall be entered in the Register as the holder of the Treasury Shares provided that: |
(a) | the Company shall not be treated as a Shareholder for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void; |
(b) | a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Companies Act, save that an allotment of Shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share is permitted and Shares allotted as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a treasury share shall be treated as Treasury Shares. |
57. | Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company on such terms and conditions as determined by the Directors. |
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GENERAL MEETINGS
58. | All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. |
59. | The Company may (but shall not be obliged to, unless as required by applicable law or Designated Stock Exchange Rules) in each calendar year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Directors. |
(a) | At these meetings the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented. |
60. | The Chairman or a majority of the Directors may call general meetings, and they shall on a Shareholders’ requisition forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the Company. |
(a) | A Shareholders' requisition is a requisition of Members holding at the date of deposit of the requisition Shares which carry in aggregate not less than one-third (1/3) of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding Shares of the Company that as at the date of the deposit carry the right to vote at general meetings of the Company. |
(b) | The requisition must state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the Registered Office, and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists. |
(c) | If there are no Directors as at the date of the deposit of the Shareholders’ requisition, or if the Directors do not within twenty-one calendar days from the date of the deposit of the requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting to be held within a further twenty-one calendar days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one-half of the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall not be held after the expiration of three calendar months after the expiration of the said twenty-one calendar days. |
(d) | A general meeting convened as aforesaid by requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which general meetings are to be convened by Directors. |
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
61. | At least seven (7) calendar days’ notice shall be given for any general meeting. Every notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is given or deemed to be given and of the day for which it is given and shall specify the place (except in the case of a Virtual Meeting), the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of these Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed: |
(a) | in the case of an annual general meeting, by all the Shareholders (or their proxies) entitled to attend and vote thereat; and |
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(b) | in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by two-thirds (2/3rd) of the Shareholders having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, Present at the meeting. |
62. | The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non-receipt of a notice of a meeting by any Shareholder shall not invalidate the proceedings at any meeting. |
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
63. | No business except for the appointment of a chairman for the meeting shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of Shareholders is Present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. One or more Shareholders holding Shares which carry in aggregate (or representing by proxy) not less than one-third of all votes attaching to all Shares in issue and entitled to vote at such general meeting, Present at the meeting, shall be a quorum for all purposes. |
64. | If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not Present, the meeting shall be dissolved. |
65. | If the Directors so determine in respect of a specific general meeting or all general meetings of the Company, Presence at the relevant general meeting may be by means of Communications Facilities. The Directors may determine that any general meeting may be held as a Virtual Meeting. The notice of any general meeting at which Communications Facilities may be utilized (including any Virtual Meeting) must disclose the Communications Facilities that will be used, including the procedures to be followed by any Shareholder or other participant of the general meeting utilizing such Communications Facilities. |
66. | The Chairman, if any, shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of the Company. |
67. | If there is no such Chairman, or if at any general meeting he is not Present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairman of the meeting, any Director or Person nominated by the Directors shall preside as chairman of that meeting, failing which the Shareholders Present shall choose any Person Present to be chairman of that meeting. |
68. | The chairman of any general meeting shall be entitled to participate at any such general meeting by Communication Facilities, and to act as the chairman of such general meeting, in which event the following provisions shall apply: |
(a) | he shall be deemed to be Present at the general meeting; and |
(b) | if the Communication Facilities fail to enable the chairman of the general meeting to hear and be heard by other Persons participating in the meeting, then the other Directors Present at the general meeting shall choose another Director Present to act as chairman of the general meeting for (or for the remainder of) the general meeting; provided that if no other Director is Present at the general meeting, or if all the Directors Present decline to take the chair, then the general meeting shall be automatically adjourned to the same day in the next week and at such time and place as shall be decided by the Directors. |
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69. | The chairman of any general meeting at which a quorum is Present may with the consent of the meeting (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a meeting, or adjourned meeting, is adjourned for fourteen calendar days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Save as aforesaid it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting. |
70. | The Directors may cancel or postpone any duly convened general meeting at any time prior to such meeting, except for general meetings requisitioned by the Shareholders in accordance with these Articles, for any reason or for no reason, upon notice in writing to Shareholders. A postponement may be for a stated period of any length or indefinitely as the Directors may determine. Notice of the business to be transacted at such postponed general meeting shall not be required. |
71. | At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided by way of a poll save that the chairman of the meeting may, in good faith, allow a resolution which relates purely to a procedural or administrative matter to be voted on by a show of hands, and where a show of hands is allowed pursuant to these Articles, before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands, a poll may be demanded by the chairman of the meeting or any Shareholder present in person or by proxy. Where a resolution is voted on by a show of hands, a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that a resolution has, on a show of hands, been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect in the book of the proceedings of the Company, shall be conclusive evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of, or against, that resolution. For the purposes of these Articles, procedural and administrative matters are (i) the proposal of new resolutions which are not already set out in the notice convening the general meeting or any proposed amendments to the resolutions; and (ii) those that relate to the chairman’s duties to maintain the orderly conduct of the meeting and/or allow the business of the meeting to be properly and effectively dealt with, whilst allowing all Shareholders a reasonable opportunity to express their views. |
72. | If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman of the meeting directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
73. | All questions submitted to a meeting shall be decided by an Ordinary Resolution except where a greater majority is required by these Articles or by the Companies Act. In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded, shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. |
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74. | A poll demanded on the election of a chairman of the meeting or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such time as the chairman of the meeting directs. |
VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS
75. | Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Share, at a general meeting of the Company, (i) on a show of hands, every Shareholder Present at the meeting shall have one vote, and (ii) on a poll, every Shareholder Present at the meeting shall have one (1) vote for each Ordinary Share of which such Shareholder is the holder. |
76. | In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior who tenders a vote whether in person or by proxy (or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy) shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register. |
77. | Shares carrying the right to vote that are held by a Shareholder of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction in lunacy, may be voted, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his committee, or other Person in the nature of a committee appointed by that court, and any such committee or other Person may vote in respect of such Shares by proxy. |
78. | No Shareholder shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting of the Company unless all calls, if any, or other sums presently payable by him in respect of Shares carrying the right to vote held by him have been paid. |
79. | On a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy. |
80. | Each Shareholder, other than a recognised clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)), may only appoint one proxy on a show of hand. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, either under Seal or under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised. A proxy need not be a Shareholder. |
81. | An instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may approve. |
82. | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited at the Registered Office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company: |
(a) | not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote; or |
(b) | in the case of a poll taken more than 48 hours after it is demanded, be deposited as aforesaid after the poll has been demanded and not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll; or |
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(c) | where the poll is not taken forthwith but is taken not more than 48 hours after it was demanded be delivered at the meeting at which the poll was demanded to the chairman of the meeting or to the secretary or to any Director; |
provided that the Directors may in the notice convening the meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, direct that the instrument appointing a proxy may be deposited at such other time (no later than the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting) at the Registered Office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company. The chairman of the meeting may in any event at his discretion direct that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted shall be invalid.
83. | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll. |
84. | A resolution in writing signed by all the Shareholders for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company (or being corporations by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the same had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held. |
CORPORATIONS ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES AT MEETINGS
85. | Any corporation which is a Shareholder or a Director may by resolution of its directors or other governing body authorise such Person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any meeting of holders of a Class or of the Directors or of a committee of Directors, and the Person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder or Director. |
DEPOSITARY AND CLEARING HOUSES
86. | If a recognised clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)) is a Member of the Company it may, by resolution of its directors or other governing body or by power of attorney, authorise such Person(s) as it thinks fit to act as its representative(s) at any general meeting of the Company or of any Class of Shareholders provided that, if more than one Person is so authorised, the authorisation shall specify the number and Class of Shares in respect of which each such Person is so authorised. A Person so authorised pursuant to this Article shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the recognised clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)) which he represents as that recognised clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)) could exercise if it were an individual Member holding the number and Class of Shares specified in such authorisation, including the right to vote individually on a show of hands. |
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DIRECTORS
87. | Unless otherwise determined by the Company in general meeting, the number of Directors shall not be more than seven (7) Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the right to change the size of the Board of Directors and determine the exact number of Directors. |
88. | All Directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. A Director appointed to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a Director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the Director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified. |
89. | The Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director. |
90. | The Board may, by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining Directors present and voting at a Board meeting, appoint any person as a Director, to fill a casual vacancy on the Board or as an addition to the existing Board. |
91. | A Director may be removed from office by Ordinary Resolution, notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement between the Company and such Director (but without prejudice to any claim for damages under such agreement). A vacancy on the Board created by the removal of a Director under the previous sentence may be filled by Ordinary Resolution or by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining Directors present and voting at a Board meeting. The notice of any meeting at which a resolution to remove a Director shall be proposed or voted upon must contain a statement of the intention to remove that Director and such notice must be served on that Director not less than ten (10) calendar days before the meeting. Such Director is entitled to attend the meeting and be heard on the motion for his removal. |
92. | The Board of Directors shall elect and appoint a Chairman by a majority of the Directors then in office. The period for which the Chairman will hold office will also be determined by a majority of all of the Directors then in office. The Chairman shall preside as chairman at every meeting of the Board of Directors. To the extent the Chairman is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the attending Directors may choose one of their number to be the chairman of the meeting. |
93. | The Board may, from time to time, and except as required by applicable law or Designated Stock Exchange Rules, adopt, institute, amend, modify or revoke the corporate governance policies or initiatives of the Company and determine on various corporate governance related matters of the Company as the Board shall determine by resolution of Directors from time to time. |
94. | A Director shall not be required to hold any Shares in the Company by way of qualification. A Director who is not a Member of the Company shall nevertheless be entitled to attend and speak at general meetings. |
95. | The remuneration of the Directors may be determined by the Directors or by Ordinary Resolution. |
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96. | The Directors shall be entitled to be paid their travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in going to, attending and returning from meetings of the Directors, or any committee of the Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company, or to receive such fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors from time to time, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other. |
ALTERNATE DIRECTOR OR PROXY
97. | Any Director may in writing appoint another Person to be his alternate and, save to the extent provided otherwise in the form of appointment, such alternate shall have authority to sign written resolutions on behalf of the appointing Director, but shall not be required to sign such written resolutions where they have been signed by the appointing director, and to act in such Director’s place at any meeting of the Directors at which the appointing Director is unable to be present. Every such alternate shall be entitled to attend and vote at meetings of the Directors as a Director when the Director appointing him is not personally present and where he is a Director to have a separate vote on behalf of the Director he is representing in addition to his own vote. A Director may at any time in writing revoke the appointment of an alternate appointed by him. Such alternate shall be deemed for all purposes to be a Director and shall not be deemed to be the agent of the Director appointing him. The remuneration of such alternate shall be payable out of the remuneration of the Director appointing him and the proportion thereof shall be agreed between them. |
98. | Any Director may appoint any Person, whether or not a Director, to be the proxy of that Director to attend and vote on his behalf, in accordance with instructions given by that Director, or in the absence of such instructions at the discretion of the proxy, at a meeting or meetings of the Directors which that Director is unable to attend personally. The instrument appointing the proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointing Director and shall be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may approve, and must be lodged with the chairman of the meeting of the Directors at which such proxy is to be used, or first used, prior to the commencement of the meeting. |
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
99. | Subject to the Companies Act, these Articles and to any resolutions passed in a general meeting, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors, who may pay all expenses incurred in setting up and registering the Company and may exercise all powers of the Company. No resolution passed by the Company in general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors that would have been valid if that resolution had not been passed. |
100. | Subject to these Articles, the Directors may from time to time appoint any natural person or corporation, whether or not a Director to hold such office in the Company as the Directors may think necessary for the administration of the Company, including but not limited to, chief executive officer, one or more other executive officers, president, one or more vice presidents, treasurer, assistant treasurer, manager or controller, and for such term and at such remuneration (whether by way of salary or commission or participation in profits or partly in one way and partly in another), and with such powers and duties as the Directors may think fit. Any natural person or corporation so appointed by the Directors may be removed by the Directors. The Directors may also appoint one or more of their number to the office of managing director upon like terms, but any such appointment shall ipso facto terminate if any managing director ceases for any cause to be a Director, or if the Company by Ordinary Resolution resolves that his tenure of office be terminated. |
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101. | The Directors may appoint any natural person or corporation to be a Secretary (and if need be an assistant Secretary or assistant Secretaries) who shall hold office for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions and with such powers as they think fit. Any Secretary or assistant Secretary so appointed by the Directors may be removed by the Directors or by the Company by Ordinary Resolution. |
102. | The Directors may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of such member or members of their body as they think fit; any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the Directors. |
103. | The Directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney (whether under Seal or under hand) or otherwise appoint any company, firm or Person or body of Persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or attorneys or authorised signatory (any such person being an “Attorney” or “Authorised Signatory”, respectively) of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretion (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of Persons dealing with any such Attorney or Authorised Signatory as the Directors may think fit, and may also authorise any such Attorney or Authorised Signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretion vested in him. |
104. | The Directors may from time to time provide for the management of the affairs of the Company in such manner as they shall think fit and the provisions contained in the three next following Articles shall not limit the general powers conferred by this Article. |
105. | The Directors from time to time and at any time may establish any committees, local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company and may appoint any natural person or corporation to be a member of such committees or local boards and may appoint any managers or agents of the Company and may fix the remuneration of any such natural person or corporation. |
106. | The Directors from time to time and at any time may delegate to any such committee, local board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in the Directors and may authorise the members for the time being of any such local board, or any of them to fill any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding vacancies and any such appointment or delegation may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may think fit and the Directors may at any time remove any natural person or corporation so appointed and may annul or vary any such delegation, but no Person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby. |
107. | Any such delegates as aforesaid may be authorised by the Directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities, and discretion for the time being vested in them. |
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BORROWING POWERS OF DIRECTORS
108. | The Directors may from time to time at their discretion exercise all the powers of the Company to raise or borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any part thereof, to issue debentures, debenture stock, bonds and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. |
THE SEAL
109. | The Seal shall not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the Directors provided always that such authority may be given prior to or after the affixing of the Seal and if given after may be in general form confirming a number of affixing of the Seal. The Seal shall be affixed in the presence of a Director or a Secretary (or an assistant Secretary) or in the presence of any one or more Persons as the Directors may appoint for the purpose and every Person as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to which the Seal is so affixed in their presence. |
110. | The Company may maintain a facsimile of the Seal in such countries or places as the Directors may appoint and such facsimile Seal shall not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the Directors provided always that such authority may be given prior to or after the affixing of such facsimile Seal and if given after may be in general form confirming a number of affixing of such facsimile Seal. The facsimile Seal shall be affixed in the presence of such Person or Persons as the Directors shall for this purpose appoint and such Person or Persons as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to which the facsimile Seal is so affixed in their presence and such affixing of the facsimile Seal and signing as aforesaid shall have the same meaning and effect as if the Seal had been affixed in the presence of and the instrument signed by a Director or a Secretary (or an assistant Secretary) or in the presence of any one or more Persons as the Directors may appoint for the purpose. |
111. | Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Secretary or any assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix the Seal, or the facsimile Seal, to any instrument for the purposes of attesting authenticity of the matter contained therein but which does not create any obligation binding on the Company. |
DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
112. | The office of Director shall be vacated, if the Director: |
(a) | becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; |
(b) | dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; |
(c) | resigns his office by notice in writing to the Company; |
(d) | is prohibited by any applicable Law or Designated Stock Exchange Rules from being a Director; |
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(e) | without special leave of absence from the Board, is absent from meetings of the Board for three consecutive meetings and the Board resolves that his office be vacated; or |
(f) | is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of these Articles. |
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
113. | The Directors may meet together (either within or outside of the Cayman Islands) for the despatch of business, adjourn, and otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. At any meeting of the Directors, each Director present in person or represented by his proxy or alternate shall be entitled to one vote. In case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote. A Director may, and a Secretary or assistant Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Directors. |
114. | A Director may participate in any meeting of the Directors, or of any committee appointed by the Directors of which such Director is a member, by means of telephone or similar communication equipment by way of which all Persons participating in such meeting can communicate with each other and such participation shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at the meeting. |
115. | The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed, the quorum shall be a majority of Directors then in office. A Director represented by proxy or by an alternate Director at any meeting shall be deemed to be present for the purposes of determining whether or not a quorum is present. |
116. | A Director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction with the Company shall declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of the Directors. A general notice given to the Directors by any Director to the effect that he is a member of any specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any contract or transaction which may thereafter be made with that company or firm shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of interest in regard to any contract so made or transaction so consummated. Subject to the Designated Stock Exchange Rules and disqualification by the chairman of the relevant Board meeting, a Director may vote in respect of any contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction notwithstanding that he may be interested therein and if he does so his vote shall be counted and he may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of the Directors at which any such contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction shall come before the meeting for consideration, provided that: |
(a) | such Director, if his interest (whether direct or indirect) in such contract or arrangement is material, has declared the nature of his interest at the earliest meeting of the Board at which it is practicable for him to do so, either specifically or by way of a general notice; and |
(b) | if such contract of arrangement is a transaction with a related party, such transaction has been approved by the audit committee of the Company. |
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117. | A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms (as to remuneration and otherwise) as the Directors may determine and no Director or intending Director shall be disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company either with regard to his tenure of any such other office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director is in any way interested be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such Director holding that office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established. A Director, notwithstanding his interest, may be counted in the quorum present at any meeting of the Directors whereat he or any other Director is appointed to hold any such office or place of profit under the Company or whereat the terms of any such appointment are arranged and he may vote on any such appointment or arrangement. |
118. | Any Director may act by himself or through his firm in a professional capacity for the Company, and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director; provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise a Director or his firm to act as auditor to the Company. |
119. | The Directors shall cause minutes to be made for the purpose of recording: |
(a) | all appointments of officers made by the Directors; |
(b) | the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Directors and of any committee of the Directors; and |
(c) | all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Company, and of the Directors and of committees of Directors. |
120. | When the chairman of a meeting of the Directors signs the minutes of such meeting the same shall be deemed to have been duly held notwithstanding that all the Directors have not actually come together or that there may have been a technical defect in the proceedings. |
121. | A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of Directors entitled to receive notice of a meeting of Directors or committee of Directors, as the case may be (an alternate Director, subject as provided otherwise in the terms of appointment of the alternate Director, being entitled to sign such a resolution on behalf of his appointer), shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a duly called and constituted meeting of Directors or committee of Directors, as the case may be. When signed a resolution may consist of several documents each signed by one or more of the Directors or his duly appointed alternate. |
122. | Meetings of the Directors may be called by any Director on not less than 48 hours' notice to each Director in accordance with Articles 149 through 154; provided that a meeting of the Directors shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of these Articles regarding meetings of the Directors have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed by a majority of the Directors then in office. |
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123. | The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body but if and for so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors, the continuing Directors may act for the purpose of increasing the number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose. |
124. | Subject to any regulations imposed on it by the Directors, a committee appointed by the Directors may elect a chairman of its meetings. If no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the committee members present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
125. | A committee appointed by the Directors may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Subject to any regulations imposed on it by the Directors, questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the committee members present and in case of an equality of votes the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. |
126. | All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of Directors, or by any Person acting as a Director, shall notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any such Director or Person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such Person had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a Director. |
PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT
127. | A Director who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which an action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairman or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action. |
DIVIDENDS
128. | Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, the Directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and other distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. |
129. | Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, the Company by Ordinary Resolution may declare dividends, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors. |
130. | The Directors may, before recommending or declaring any dividend, set aside out of the funds legally available for distribution such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, in the absolute discretion of the Directors, be applicable for meeting contingencies or for equalising dividends or for any other purpose to which those funds may be properly applied, and pending such application may in the absolute discretion of the Directors, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments (other than Shares of the Company) as the Directors may from time to time think fit. |
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131. | Any dividend payable in cash to the holder of Shares may be paid in any manner determined by the Directors. If paid by cheque it will be sent by mail addressed to the holder at his address in the Register, or addressed to such person and at such addresses as the holder may direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose name stands first on the Register in respect of such Shares, and shall be sent at his or their risk and payment of the cheque or warrant by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute a good discharge to the Company. |
132. | The Directors may determine that a dividend shall be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets (which may consist of the shares or securities of any other company) and may settle all questions concerning such distribution. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Directors may fix the value of such specific assets, may determine that cash payment shall be made to some Shareholders in lieu of specific assets and may vest any such specific assets in trustees on such terms as the Directors think fit. |
133. | Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares, but if and for so long as nothing is paid up on any of the Shares dividends may be declared and paid according to the par value of the Shares. No amount paid on a Share in advance of calls shall, while carrying interest, be treated for the purposes of this Article as paid on the Share. |
134. | If several Persons are registered as joint holders of any Share, any of them may give effective receipts for any dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of the Share. |
135. | No dividend shall bear interest against the Company. |
136. | Any dividend unclaimed after a period of six calendar years from the date of declaration of such dividend may be forfeited by the Board of Directors and, if so forfeited, shall revert to the Company. |
ACCOUNTS, AUDIT AND ANNUAL RETURN AND DECLARATION
137. | The books of account relating to the Company’s affairs shall be kept in such manner as may be determined from time to time by the Directors. |
138. | The books of account shall be kept at the Registered Office, or at such other place or places as the Directors think fit, and shall always be open to the inspection of the Directors. |
139. | The Directors may from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Shareholders not being Directors, and no Shareholder (not being a Director) shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by law or authorised by the Directors or by Ordinary Resolution. |
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140. | The accounts relating to the Company’s affairs shall be audited in such manner and with such financial year end as may be determined from time to time by the Directors or failing any determination as aforesaid shall not be audited. |
141. | The Directors may appoint an auditor of the Company who shall hold office until removed from office by a resolution of the Directors and may fix his or their remuneration. |
142. | Every auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors. |
143. | The auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment, and at any time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members. |
144. | The Directors in each calendar year shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, an annual return and declaration setting forth the particulars required by the Companies Act and deliver a copy thereof to the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands. |
CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES
145. | Subject to the Companies Act and these Articles, the Directors may: |
(a) | resolve to capitalise an amount standing to the credit of reserves (including a Share Premium Account, capital redemption reserve and profit and loss account), which is available for distribution; |
(b) | appropriate the sum resolved to be capitalised to the Shareholders in proportion to the nominal amount of Shares (whether or not fully paid) held by them respectively and apply that sum on their behalf in or towards: |
(i) | paying up the amounts (if any) for the time being unpaid on Shares held by them respectively, or |
(ii) | paying up in full unissued Shares or debentures of a nominal amount equal to that sum, |
and allot the Shares or debentures, credited as fully paid, to the Shareholders (or as they may direct) in those proportions, or partly in one way and partly in the other, but the Share Premium Account, the capital redemption reserve and profits which are not available for distribution may, for the purposes of this Article, only be applied in paying up unissued Shares to be allotted to Shareholders credited as fully paid;
(c) | make any arrangements they think fit to resolve a difficulty arising in the distribution of a capitalised reserve and in particular, without limitation, where Shares or debentures become distributable in fractions the Directors may deal with the fractions as they think fit; |
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(d) | authorise a Person to enter (on behalf of all the Shareholders concerned) into an agreement with the Company providing for either: |
(i) | the allotment to the Shareholders respectively, credited as fully paid, of Shares or debentures to which they may be entitled on the capitalisation, or |
(ii) | the payment by the Company on behalf of the Shareholders (by the application of their respective proportions of the reserves resolved to be capitalised) of the amounts or part of the amounts remaining unpaid on their existing Shares, |
and any such agreement made under this authority being effective and binding on all those Shareholders; and
(e) | generally do all acts and things required to give effect to the resolution. |
146. | Notwithstanding any provisions in these Articles, the Directors may resolve to capitalise an amount standing to the credit of reserves (including the share premium account, capital redemption reserve and profit and loss account) or otherwise available for distribution by applying such sum in paying up in full unissued Shares to be allotted and issued to: |
(a) | employees (including Directors) or service providers of the Company or its subsidiaries or group companies upon exercise or vesting of any options or awards granted under any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been adopted or approved by the Directors or the Members; |
(b) | any trustee of any trust or administrator of any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme to whom shares are to be allotted and issued by the Company in connection with the operation of any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been adopted or approved by the Directors or Members; or |
(c) | any depositary of the Company for the purposes of the issue, allotment and delivery by the depositary of ADSs to employees (including Directors) or service providers of the Company or its subsidiaries or group companies upon exercise or vesting of any options or awards granted under any share incentive scheme or employee benefit scheme or other arrangement which relates to such persons that has been adopted or approved by the Directors or the Members. |
SHARE PREMIUM ACCOUNT
147. | The Directors shall in accordance with the Companies Act establish a Share Premium Account and shall carry to the credit of such account from time to time a sum equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share. |
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148. | There shall be debited to any Share Premium Account on the redemption or purchase of a Share the difference between the nominal value of such Share and the redemption or purchase price provided always that at the discretion of the Directors such sum may be paid out of the profits of the Company or, if permitted by the Companies Act, out of capital. |
NOTICES
149. | Except as otherwise provided in these Articles, any notice or document may be served by the Company or by the Person entitled to give notice to any Shareholder either personally, or by posting it by airmail or a recognised courier service in a prepaid letter addressed to such Shareholder at his address as appearing in the Register, or by electronic mail to any electronic mail address such Shareholder may have specified in writing for the purpose of such service of notices, or by facsimile to any facsimile number such Shareholder may have specified in writing for the purpose of such service of notices, or by placing it on the Company’s Website should the Directors deem it appropriate. In the case of joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the joint holding, and notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders. |
150. | Notices sent from one country to another shall be sent or forwarded by prepaid airmail or a recognised courier service. |
151. | Any Shareholder Present at any meeting of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have received due notice of such meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which such meeting was convened. |
152. | Any notice or other document, if served by: |
(a) | post, shall be deemed to have been served five calendar days after the time when the letter containing the same is posted; |
(b) | facsimile, shall be deemed to have been served upon production by the transmitting facsimile machine of a report confirming transmission of the facsimile in full to the facsimile number of the recipient; |
(c) | recognised courier service, shall be deemed to have been served 48 hours after the time when the letter containing the same is delivered to the courier service; or |
(d) | electronic means, shall be deemed to have been served immediately (i) upon the time of the transmission to the electronic mail address supplied by the Shareholder to the Company or (ii) upon the time of its placement on the Company’s Website. |
In proving service by post or courier service it shall be sufficient to prove that the letter containing the notice or documents was properly addressed and duly posted or delivered to the courier service.
153. | Any notice or document delivered or sent by post to or left at the registered address of any Shareholder in accordance with the terms of these Articles shall notwithstanding that such Shareholder be then dead or bankrupt, and whether or not the Company has notice of his death or bankruptcy, be deemed to have been duly served in respect of any Share registered in the name of such Shareholder as sole or joint holder, unless his name shall at the time of the service of the notice or document have been removed from the Register as the holder of the Share, and such service shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service of such notice or document on all Persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the Share. |
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154. | Notice of every general meeting of the Company shall be given to: |
(a) | all Shareholders holding Shares with the right to receive notice and who have supplied to the Company an address for the giving of notices to them; and |
(b) | every Person entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder, who but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting. |
No other Person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings.
INFORMATION
155. | Subject to the relevant laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Company, no Member shall be entitled to require discovery of any information in respect of any detail of the Company’s trading or any information which is or may be in the nature of a trade secret or secret process which may relate to the conduct of the business of the Company and which in the opinion of the Board would not be in the interests of the Members of the Company to communicate to the public. |
156. | Subject to due compliance with the relevant laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Company, the Board shall be entitled to release or disclose any information in its possession, custody or control regarding the Company or its affairs to any of its Members including, without limitation, information contained in the Register and transfer books of the Company. |
INDEMNITY
157. | Every Director (including for the purposes of this Article any alternate Director appointed pursuant to the provisions of these Articles), Secretary, assistant Secretary, or other officer for the time being and from time to time of the Company (but not including the Company’s auditors) and the personal representatives of the same (each an “Indemnified Person”) shall be indemnified and secured harmless against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such Indemnified Person, other than by reason of such Indemnified Person’s own dishonesty, wilful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such Indemnified Person in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning the Company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. |
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158. | No Indemnified Person shall be liable: |
(a) | for the acts, receipts, neglects, defaults or omissions of any other Director or officer or agent of the Company; or |
(b) | for any loss on account of defect of title to any property of the Company; or |
(c) | on account of the insufficiency of any security in or upon which any money of the Company shall be invested; or |
(d) | for any loss incurred through any bank, broker or other similar Person; or |
(e) | for any loss occasioned by any negligence, default, breach of duty, breach of trust, error of judgement or oversight on such Indemnified Person’s part; or |
(f) | for any loss, damage or misfortune whatsoever which may happen in or arise from the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities, or discretions of such Indemnified Person’s office or in relation thereto; |
unless the same shall happen through such Indemnified Person’s own dishonesty, willful default or fraud.
FINANCIAL YEAR
159. | Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on December 31st in each calendar year and shall begin on January 1st in each calendar year. |
NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS
160. | No Person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share upon any trust and the Company shall not, unless required by law, be bound by or be compelled in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share or (except only as otherwise provided by these Articles or as the Companies Act requires) any other right in respect of any Share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in each Shareholder registered in the Register. |
WINDING UP
161. | If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, divide amongst the Members in specie or in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability. |
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162. | If the Company shall be wound up, and the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them. If in a winding up the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise. This Article is without prejudice to the rights of the holders of Shares issued upon special terms and conditions. |
AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
163. | Subject to the Companies Act, the Company may at any time and from time to time by Special Resolution alter or amend these Articles in whole or in part. |
CLOSING OF REGISTER OR FIXING RECORD DATE
164. | For the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at any meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination as to who is a Shareholder for any other purpose, the Directors may provide that the Register shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not exceed in any case thirty calendar days in any calendar year. |
165. | In lieu of or apart from closing the Register, the Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of the Shareholders and for the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of any dividend the Directors may, at or within ninety calendar days prior to the date of declaration of such dividend, fix a subsequent date as the record date for such determination. |
166. | If the Register is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of those Shareholders entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders or those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is posted or the date on which the resolution of the Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Shareholders. When a determination of those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof. |
REGISTRATION BY WAY OF CONTINUATION
167. | The Company may by Special Resolution resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing. In furtherance of a resolution adopted pursuant to this Article, the Directors may cause an application to be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing and may cause all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company. |
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DISCLOSURE
168. | The Directors, or any service providers (including the officers, the Secretary and the registered office provider of the Company) specifically authorised by the Directors, shall be entitled to disclose to any regulatory or judicial authority any information regarding the affairs of the Company including without limitation information contained in the Register and books of the Company. |
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Exhibit 4.2
BELITE BIO, INC
Number | Ordinary Shares |
Incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands
Share capital is US$50,000 divided
into
500,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, comprising of
(i) [ ] Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, and
(ii) [ ] shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors may determine in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 of the Articles of Association of the Company
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT is the registered holder of Ordinary Shares in the above-named Company subject to the Memorandum and Articles of Association thereof.
EXECUTED on behalf of the said Company on the day of by:
DIRECTOR |
Exhibit 4.3
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
by and among
BELITE BIO, INC
as Issuer,
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
as Depositary,
AND
THE HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS
OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES EVIDENCED BY
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ISSUED HEREUNDER
Dated as of [●], 2022
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, dated as of [●], 2022, by and among (i) Belite Bio, Inc, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, with its principal executive office at 5820 Oberlin Drive, Suite 101, San Diego, CA 92121, United States of America and its registered office at Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands (together with its successors, the “Company”), (ii) Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank A.G., acting in its capacity as depositary, with its principal office at 1 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019, United States of America (the “Depositary”, which term shall include any successor depositary hereunder) and (iii) all Holders and Beneficial Owners of American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder (all such capitalized terms as hereinafter defined).
W I T N E S S E T H T H A T:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish an ADR facility with the Depositary to provide for the deposit of the Shares and the creation of American Depositary Shares representing the Shares so deposited;
WHEREAS, the Depositary is willing to act as the depositary for such ADR facility upon the terms set forth in this Deposit Agreement;
WHEREAS, the American Depositary Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares issued pursuant to the terms of this Deposit Agreement are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A and Exhibit B annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement;
WHEREAS, the American Depositary Shares to be issued pursuant to the terms of this Deposit Agreement are accepted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (or an authorized committee thereof) has duly approved the establishment of an ADR facility upon the terms set forth in this Deposit Agreement, the execution and delivery of this Deposit Agreement on behalf of the Company, and the actions of the Company and the transactions contemplated herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.ARTICLEI.
DEFINITIONS
All capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined, herein shall have the meanings set forth below, unless otherwise clearly indicated:
SECTION 1.1 “Affiliate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term by the Commission under Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act.
SECTION 1.2 “Agent” shall mean such entity or entities as the Depositary may appoint under Section 7.8 hereof, including the Custodian or any successor or addition thereto.
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SECTION 1.3 “American Depositary Share(s)” and “ADS(s)” shall mean the securities represented by the rights and interests in the Deposited Securities granted to the Holders and Beneficial Owners pursuant to this Deposit Agreement and evidenced by the American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder. Each American Depositary Share shall represent the right to receive [●] Share[s], until there shall occur a distribution upon Deposited Securities referred to in Section 4.2 hereof or a change in Deposited Securities referred to in Section 4.9 hereof with respect to which additional American Depositary Receipts are not executed and delivered and thereafter each American Depositary Share shall represent the Shares or Deposited Securities specified in such Sections.
SECTION 1.4 “Article” shall refer to an article of the American Depositary Receipts as set forth in the Form of Face of Receipt and Form of Reverse of Receipt in Exhibit A and Exhibit B annexed hereto.
SECTION 1.5 “Articles of Association” shall mean the articles of association of the Company, as amended from time to time.
SECTION 1.6 “ADS Record Date” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 4.7 hereof.
SECTION 1.7 “Beneficial Owner” shall mean as to any ADS, any person or entity having a beneficial interest in such ADS. A Beneficial Owner need not be the Holder of the ADR evidencing such ADSs. A Beneficial Owner may exercise any rights or receive any benefits hereunder solely through the Holder of the ADR(s) evidencing the ADSs in which such Beneficial Owner has an interest.
SECTION 1.8 “Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not (a) a day on which banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close and (b) a day on which the market(s) in which ADSs are traded are closed.
SECTION 1.9 “Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States or any successor governmental agency in the United States.
SECTION 1.10 “Company” shall mean Belite Bio, Inc, a company incorporated and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and its successors.
SECTION 1.11 “Corporate Trust Office” when used with respect to the Depositary, shall mean the corporate trust office of the Depositary at which at any particular time its depositary receipts business shall be administered, which, at the date of this Deposit Agreement, is located at 1 Columbus Circle, New York, New York 10019, U.S.A.
SECTION 1.12 “Custodian” shall mean, as of the date hereof, Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch, having its principal office at 57/F International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong S.A.R., People’s Republic of China, as the custodian for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other firm or corporation which may hereinafter be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of Section 5.5 hereof as a successor or an additional custodian or custodians hereunder, as the context shall require. The term “Custodian” shall mean all custodians, collectively.
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SECTION 1.13 “Deliver”, “Deliverable” and “Delivery” shall mean, when used in respect of American Depositary Shares, Receipts, Deposited Securities and Shares, the physical delivery of the certificate representing such security, or the electronic delivery of such security by means of book-entry transfer, as appropriate, including, without limitation, through DRS/Profile. With respect to DRS/Profile ADRs, the terms “execute”, “issue”, “register”, “surrender”, “transfer” or “cancel” refer to applicable entries or movements to or within DRS/Profile.
SECTION 1.14 “Deposit Agreement” shall mean this Deposit Agreement and all exhibits annexed hereto, as the same may from time to time be amended and supplemented in accordance with the terms hereof.
SECTION 1.15 “Depositary” shall mean Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG, in its capacity as depositary under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, and any successor depositary hereunder.
SECTION 1.16 “Deposited Securities” as of any time shall mean Shares at such time deposited or deemed to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement and any and all other securities, property and cash received or deemed to be received by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect thereof and held hereunder, subject, in the case of cash, to the provisions of Section 4.6.
SECTION 1.17 “Dollars” and “$” shall mean the lawful currency of the United States.
SECTION 1.18 “DRS/Profile” shall mean the system for the uncertificated registration of ownership of securities pursuant to which ownership of ADSs is maintained on the books of the Depositary without the issuance of a physical certificate and transfer instructions may be given to allow for the automated transfer of ownership between the books of DTC and the Depositary. Ownership of ADSs held in DRS/Profile is evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Holders entitled thereto.
SECTION 1.19 “DTC” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, the central book-entry clearinghouse and settlement system for securities traded in the United States, and any successor thereto.
SECTION 1.20 “DTC Participants” shall mean participants within DTC.
SECTION 1.21 “Exchange Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as from time to time amended.
SECTION 1.22 “Foreign Currency” shall mean any currency other than Dollars.
SECTION 1.23 “Foreign Registrar” shall mean the entity, if any, that carries out the duties of registrar for the Shares or any successor as registrar for the Shares and any other appointed agent of the Company for the transfer and registration of Shares or, if no such agent is so appointed and acting, the Company.
SECTION 1.24 “Holder” shall mean the person in whose name a Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary (or the Registrar, if any) maintained for such purpose. A Holder may or may not be a Beneficial Owner. A Holder shall be deemed to have all requisite authority to act on behalf of those Beneficial Owners of the ADRs registered in such Holder’s name.
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SECTION 1.25 “Indemnified Person” and “Indemnifying Person” shall have the respective meanings set forth in Section 5.8 hereof.
SECTION 1.26 “Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.8 hereof.
SECTION 1.27 “Memorandum” shall mean the memorandum of association of the Company.
SECTION 1.28 “Opinion of Counsel” shall mean a written opinion from legal counsel to the Company who is acceptable to the Depositary.
SECTION 1.29 “Receipt(s); “American Depositary Receipt(s)”; and “ADR(s)” shall mean the certificate(s) or statement(s) issued by the Depositary evidencing the American Depositary Shares issued under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, as such Receipts may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement. References to Receipts shall include physical certificated Receipts as well as ADSs issued through any book-entry system, including, without limitation, DRS/Profile, unless the context otherwise requires.
SECTION 1.30 “Registrar” shall mean the Depositary or any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall be appointed by the Depositary to register ownership of Receipts and transfer of Receipts as herein provided, and shall include any co-registrar appointed by the Depositary for such purposes. Registrars (other than the Depositary) may be removed and substitutes appointed by the Depositary.
SECTION 1.31 “Restricted ADRs” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.11 hereof.
SECTION 1.32 “Restricted ADSs” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.11 hereof.
SECTION 1.33 “Restricted Securities” shall mean Shares which (i) have been acquired directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its Affiliates in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving any public offering and subject to resale limitations under the Securities Act or the rules issued thereunder, or (ii) are held by an officer or director (or persons performing similar functions) or other Affiliate of the Company or (iii) are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws of the United States or the Cayman Islands, under a shareholders’ agreement, shareholders’ lock-up agreement or the Articles of Association or under the regulations of an applicable securities exchange unless, in each case, such Shares are being sold to persons other than an Affiliate of the Company in a transaction (x) covered by an effective resale registration statement or (y) exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (as hereafter defined) and the Shares are not, when held by such person, Restricted Securities.
SECTION 1.34 “Restricted Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.11 hereof.
SECTION 1.35 “Securities Act” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
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SECTION 1.36 “Shares” shall mean ordinary shares in registered form of the Company, par value $0.0001 each, heretofore or hereafter validly issued and outstanding and fully paid. References to Shares shall include evidence of rights to receive Shares, whether or not stated in the particular instance; provided, however, that in no event shall Shares include evidence of rights to receive Shares with respect to which the full purchase price has not been paid or Shares as to which pre-emptive rights have theretofore not been validly waived or exercised; provided further, however, that, if there shall occur any change in par value, split-up, consolidation, reclassification, exchange, conversion or any other event described in Section 4.9 hereof in respect of the Shares, the term “Shares” shall thereafter, to the extent permitted by law, represent the successor securities resulting from such change in par value, split-up, consolidation, reclassification, exchange, conversion or event.
SECTION 1.37 “United States” or “U.S.” shall mean the United States of America.
ARTICLE II.
APPOINTMENT OF DEPOSITARY; FORM OF RECEIPT; DEPOSIT OF SHARES;
EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 2.1 Appointment of Depositary . The Company hereby appoints the Depositary as exclusive depositary for the Deposited Securities and hereby authorizes and directs the Depositary to act in accordance with the terms set forth in this Deposit Agreement. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms of this Deposit Agreement, shall be deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of this Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s) and (b) appoint the Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in this Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law and to take such action as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s) (the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof).
SECTION 2.2 Form and Transferability of Receipts.
(a) Form. Receipts in certificated form shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. Receipts may be issued in denominations of any number of American Depositary Shares. No Receipt in certificated form shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless such Receipt shall have been dated and signed by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary. The Depositary shall maintain books on which each Receipt so executed and Delivered, in the case of Receipts in certificated form, and each Receipt issued through any book-entry system, including, without limitation, DRS/Profile, in either case as hereinafter provided, and the transfer of each such Receipt shall be registered. Receipts in certificated form bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary who was at any time a proper signatory of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding the fact that such signatory has ceased to hold such office prior to the execution and Delivery of such Receipts by the Registrar or did not hold such office on the date of issuance of such Receipts.
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Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement or in the form of Receipt to the contrary, to the extent available by the Depositary, ADSs shall be evidenced by Receipts issued through any book-entry system, including, without limitation, DRS/Profile, unless certificated Receipts are specifically requested by the Holder. Holders and Beneficial Owners shall be bound by the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and of the form of Receipt, regardless of whether their Receipts are in certificated form or are issued through any book-entry system, including, without limitation, DRS/Profile.
(b) Legends. In addition to the foregoing, the Receipts may, and upon the written request of the Company shall, be endorsed with, or have incorporated in the text thereof, such legends or recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may be (i) necessary to enable the Depositary and the Company to perform their respective obligations hereunder, (ii) required to comply with any applicable laws or regulations, or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or market upon which ADSs may be traded, listed or quoted, or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, (iii) necessary to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular ADRs or ADSs are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the Deposited Securities or otherwise or (iv) required by any book-entry system in which the ADSs are held. Holders and Beneficial Owners shall be deemed, for all purposes, to have notice of, and to be bound by, the terms and conditions of the legends set forth, in the case of Holders, on the ADR registered in the name of the applicable Holders or, in the case of Beneficial Owners, on the ADR representing the ADSs owned by such Beneficial Owners.
(c) Title. Subject to the limitations contained herein and in the form of Receipt, title to a Receipt (and to the ADSs evidenced thereby), when properly endorsed (in the case of certificated Receipts) or upon delivery to the Depositary of proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument under the laws of the State of New York; provided, however, that the Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Holder thereof as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes and neither the Depositary nor the Company will have any obligation or be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any holder of a Receipt, unless such holder is the Holder thereof.
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SECTION 2.3 Deposits.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and applicable law, Shares or evidence of rights to receive Shares may be deposited by any person (including the Depositary in its individual capacity but subject, however, in the case of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, to Section 5.7 hereof) at any time beginning on the 181st day after the date of the prospectus contained in the registration statement on Form F-1 under which the ADSs are first sold or on such earlier date as the Company (with the approval of the underwriters referred to in the said prospectus) may specify in writing to the Depositary, whether or not the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if any, are closed, by Delivery of the Shares to the Custodian. Except for Shares deposited by the Company in connection with the initial sale of ADSs under the registration statement on Form F-1, no deposit of Shares shall be accepted under this Deposit Agreement prior to such date. Every deposit of Shares shall be accompanied by the following: (A)(i) in the case of Shares represented by certificates issued in registered form, appropriate instruments of transfer or endorsement, in a form satisfactory to the Custodian, (ii) in the case of Shares represented by certificates issued in bearer form, such Shares or the certificates representing such Shares and (iii) in the case of Shares Delivered by book-entry transfer, confirmation of such book-entry transfer to the Custodian or that irrevocable instructions have been given to cause such Shares to be so transferred, (B) such certifications and payments (including, without limitation, the Depositary’s fees and related charges) and evidence of such payments (including, without limitation, stamping or otherwise marking such Shares by way of receipt) as may be required by the Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement or as may be deemed by them to be appropriate in the circumstances, (C) if the Depositary so requires, a written order directing the Depositary to execute and Deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such order a Receipt or Receipts for the number of American Depositary Shares representing the Shares so deposited, (D) evidence satisfactory to the Depositary (which may include an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary provided at the cost of the person seeking to deposit Shares) that all conditions to such deposit have been met and all necessary approvals have been granted by, and there has been compliance with the rules and regulations of, any applicable governmental agency and (E) if the Depositary so requires, (i) an agreement, assignment or instrument satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian which provides for the prompt transfer by any person in whose name the Shares are or have been recorded to the Custodian of any distribution, or right to subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other property in respect of any such deposited Shares or, in lieu thereof, such indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian and (ii) if the Shares are registered in the name of the person on whose behalf they are presented for deposit, a proxy or proxies entitling the Custodian to exercise voting rights in respect of the Shares for any and all purposes until the Shares so deposited are registered in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or any nominee. No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by confirmation or such additional evidence, if any is required by the Depositary, that is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian that all conditions to such deposit have been satisfied by the person depositing such Shares under the laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands and any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in the Cayman Islands, if any, which is then performing the function of the regulator of currency exchange. The Depositary may issue Receipts against evidence of rights to receive Shares from the Company, any agent of the Company or any custodian, registrar, transfer agent, clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction records in respect of the Shares. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Shares or other Deposited Securities required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares or other Deposited Securities, or any Shares or other Deposited Securities the deposit of which would violate any provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Depositary shall use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with reasonable written instructions of the Company that the Depositary shall not accept for deposit hereunder any Shares specifically identified in such instructions at such times and under such circumstances as may reasonably be specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company’s compliance with the securities laws in the United States and other jurisdictions, provided that the Company shall indemnify the Depositary and the Custodian for any claims and losses arising from not accepting the deposit of any Shares identified in the Company’s instructions.
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(b) As soon as practicable after receipt of any permitted deposit hereunder and compliance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, the Custodian shall present the Shares so deposited, together with the appropriate instrument or instruments of transfer or endorsement, duly stamped, to the Foreign Registrar for transfer and registration of the Shares (as soon as transfer and registration can be accomplished and at the expense of the person for whom the deposit is made) in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or a nominee of either. Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary or a nominee, in each case for the account of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, at such place or places as the Depositary or the Custodian shall determine.
(c) In the event any Shares are deposited which entitle the holders thereof to receive a per-share distribution or other entitlement in an amount different from the Shares then on deposit, the Depositary is authorized to take any and all actions as may be necessary (including, without limitation, making the necessary notations on Receipts) to give effect to the issuance of such ADSs and to ensure that such ADSs are not fungible with other ADSs issued hereunder until such time as the entitlement of the Shares represented by such non-fungible ADSs equals that of the Shares represented by ADSs prior to such deposit. The Company agrees to give timely written notice to the Depositary if any Shares issued or to be issued contain rights different from those of any other Shares theretofore issued and shall assist the Depositary with the establishment of procedures enabling the identification of such non-fungible Shares upon Delivery to the Custodian.
SECTION 2.4 Execution and Delivery of Receipts . After the deposit of any Shares pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, the Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such deposit and the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order a Receipt or Receipts are Deliverable in respect thereof and the number of American Depositary Shares to be evidenced thereby. Such notification shall be made by letter, first class airmail postage prepaid, or, at the request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by cable, telex, SWIFT, facsimile or electronic transmission. After receiving such notice from the Custodian, the Depositary, subject to this Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, the payment of the fees, expenses, taxes and/or other charges owing hereunder), shall issue the ADSs representing the Shares so deposited to or upon the order of the person or persons named in the notice delivered to the Depositary and shall execute and Deliver a Receipt registered in the name or names requested by such person or persons evidencing in the aggregate the number of American Depositary Shares to which such person or persons are entitled.
SECTION 2.5 Transfer of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of Receipts .
(a) Transfer. The Depositary, or, if a Registrar (other than the Depositary) for the Receipts shall have been appointed, the Registrar, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall register transfers of Receipts on its books, upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of a Receipt by the Holder thereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed in the case of a certificated Receipt or accompanied by, or in the case of Receipts issued through any book-entry system, including, without limitation, DRS/Profile, receipt by the Depositary of, proper instruments of transfer (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard industry practice) and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York, of the United States, of the Cayman Islands and of any other applicable jurisdiction. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, including payment of the applicable fees and charges of the Depositary set forth in Section 5.9 hereof and Article (9) of the Receipt, the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts and Deliver the same to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as those evidenced by the Receipts surrendered.
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(b) Combination and Split Up. The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement shall, upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts and upon payment to the Depositary of the applicable fees and charges set forth in Section 5.9 hereof and Article (9) of the Receipt, execute and Deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
(c) Co-Transfer Agents. The Depositary may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and split-ups of Receipts at designated transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary. In carrying out its functions, a co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and compliance with applicable laws and other requirements by Holders or persons entitled to such Receipts and will be entitled to protection and indemnity, in each case to the same extent as the Depositary. Such co-transfer agents may be removed and substitutes appointed by the Depositary. Each co-transfer agent appointed under this Section 2.5 (other than the Depositary) shall give notice in writing to the Depositary accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of this Deposit Agreement.
(d) Substitution of Receipts. At the request of a Holder, the Depositary shall, for the purpose of substituting a certificated Receipt with a Receipt issued through any book-entry system, including, without limitation, DRS/Profile, or vice versa, execute and Deliver a certificated Receipt or deliver a statement, as the case may be, for any authorized number of ADSs requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of ADSs as those evidenced by the relevant Receipt.
SECTION 2.6 Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities . Upon surrender, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, and upon payment of (i) the fees and charges of the Depositary for the making of withdrawals of Deposited Securities and cancellation of Receipts (as set forth in Section 5.9 hereof and Article (9) of the Receipt) and (ii) all fees, taxes and/or governmental charges payable in connection with such surrender and withdrawal, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Section 7.11 hereof and any other provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities and other applicable laws, the Holder of such American Depositary Shares shall be entitled to Delivery, to him or upon his order, of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares so surrendered. American Depositary Shares may be surrendered for the purpose of withdrawing Deposited Securities by Delivery of a Receipt evidencing such American Depositary Shares (if held in certificated form) or by book-entry Delivery of such American Depositary Shares to the Depositary.
A Receipt surrendered for such purposes shall, if so required by the Depositary, be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank, and if the Depositary so requires, the Holder thereof shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be Delivered to or upon the written order of a person or persons designated in such order. Thereupon, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to Deliver (without unreasonable delay) at the designated office of the Custodian or through a book-entry delivery of the Shares (in either case, subject to Sections 2.7, 3.1, 3.2, 5.9, hereof and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and to the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities and applicable laws, now or hereafter in effect) to or upon the written order of the person or persons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as provided above, the Deposited Securities represented by such American Depositary Shares, together with any certificate or other proper documents of or relating to title of the Deposited Securities as may be legally required, as the case may be, to or for the account of such person.
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The Depositary may refuse to accept for surrender American Depositary Shares only in the circumstances described in Article (4) of the Receipt. Subject thereto, in the case of surrender of a Receipt evidencing a number of American Depositary Shares representing other than a whole number of Shares, the Depositary shall cause ownership of the appropriate whole number of Shares to be Delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall, at the discretion of the Depositary, either (i) issue and Deliver to the person surrendering such Receipt a new Receipt evidencing American Depositary Shares representing any remaining fractional Share, or (ii) sell or cause to be sold the fractional Shares represented by the Receipt surrendered and remit the proceeds of such sale (net of (a) applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary and (b) taxes and/or governmental charges) to the person surrendering the Receipt.
At the request, risk and expense of any Holder so surrendering a Receipt, and for the account of such Holder, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward (to the extent permitted by law) any cash or other property (other than securities) held in respect of, and any certificate or certificates and other proper documents of or relating to title to, the Deposited Securities represented by such Receipt to the Depositary for delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, and for further Delivery to such Holder. Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission. Upon receipt by the Depositary of such direction, the Depositary may make delivery to such person or persons entitled thereto at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of any dividends or cash distributions with respect to the Deposited Securities represented by such American Depositary Shares, or of any proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights, which may at the time be held by the Depositary.
SECTION 2.7 Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, etc. of Receipts; Suspension of Delivery, Transfer, etc.
(a) Additional Requirements. As a condition precedent to the execution and Delivery, registration, registration of transfer, split-up, subdivision, combination or surrender of any Receipt, the Delivery of any distribution thereon (whether in cash or shares) or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary or the Custodian may require (i) payment from the depositor of Shares or presenter of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees and charges of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 hereof and Article (9) of the Receipt hereto, (ii) the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matter contemplated by Section 3.1 hereof and (iii) compliance with (A) any laws or governmental regulations relating to the execution and Delivery of Receipts or American Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal or Delivery of Deposited Securities and (B) such reasonable regulations and procedures as the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and applicable law.
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(b) Additional Limitations. The issuance of ADSs against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits of particular Shares may be suspended, or the issuance of ADSs against the deposit of particular Shares may be withheld, or the registration of transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfers of Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company, in good faith, at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law, any government or governmental body or commission or any securities exchange on which the Receipts or Shares are listed, or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement or provisions of, or governing, the Deposited Securities, or any meeting of shareholders of the Company or for any other reason, subject, in all cases, to Section 7.11 hereof.
(c) The Depositary shall not issue ADSs prior to the receipt of Shares or deliver Shares prior to the receipt and cancellation of ADSs.
SECTION 2.8 Lost Receipts, etc. To the extent the Depositary has issued Receipts in physical certificated form, in case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, unless the Depositary has notice that such ADR has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, subject to Section 5.9 hereof, the Depositary shall execute and Deliver a new Receipt (which, in the discretion of the Depositary may be issued through any book-entry system, including, without limitation, DRS/Profile, unless specifically requested otherwise) in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt. Before the Depositary shall execute and Deliver a new Receipt in substitution for a destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the Holder thereof shall have (a) filed with the Depositary (i) a request for such execution and Delivery before the Depositary has notice that the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond in form and amount acceptable to the Depositary and (b) satisfied any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
SECTION 2.9 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts . All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the Depositary. The Depositary is authorized to destroy Receipts so cancelled in accordance with its customary practices. Cancelled Receipts shall not be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
SECTION 2.10 Maintenance of Records . The Depositary agrees to maintain records of all Receipts surrendered and Deposited Securities withdrawn under Section 2.6, substitute Receipts Delivered under Section 2.8 and cancelled or destroyed Receipts under Section 2.9, in keeping with the procedures ordinarily followed by stock transfer agents located in the United States.
SECTION 2.11 Restricted ADSs. At the request and expense of the Company, or at the request and expense of a holder of Shares and with the written consent of the Company, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may establish procedures permitting a deposit of Shares that are or may be Restricted Securities (“Restricted Shares”) and the Delivery of restricted American Depositary Shares (“Restricted ADSs”, the ADRs evidencing such Restricted ADSs being the “Restricted ADRs”) representing those Restricted Shares as provided in this Section 2.11. Such procedures shall also govern the removal of the Restrictive Legend (as defined below) from Restricted ADRs, the transfer of Restricted ADRs and the Restricted ADSs evidenced thereby, and the cancellation of Restricted ADRs and withdrawal of Deposited Securities (including Restricted Shares).
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(a) The Company shall assist the Depositary in the establishment of such procedures and agrees that it shall take all steps necessary and reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary to ensure that deposits of Restricted Shares, issuances and transfers of Restricted ADRs and the Restricted ADSs evidenced thereby, and cancellations of Restricted ADRs and withdrawals of Deposited Securities (including Restricted Shares) pursuant to such procedures do not violate the provisions of the Securities Act or any other applicable laws. Depositors of Restricted Shares, holders and transferees of Restricted ADRs and the Restricted ADSs evidenced thereby, and the Company may be required to provide such written certifications and instructions as the Depositary or the Company deem necessary, as well as an appropriate Opinion of Counsel in the Cayman Islands and the United States.
(b) The Restricted ADSs shall not be eligible for inclusion in any book-entry settlement system, including, without limitation, DTC, and shall be segregated on the Depositary’s register as a class of securities separate from, and not fungible with, outstanding American Depositary Shares that are not Restricted ADSs so that Restricted ADSs shall represent interests only in the corresponding Restricted Shares.
(c) Prior to the deposit of Restricted Shares, the depositor shall deliver to the Depositary a delivery order that (i) discloses or acknowledges all restrictions on transferability of the Restricted Shares (and to that extent need not represent and warrant that the deposited Shares are not Restricted Securities), and (ii) provides that the depositor agrees that the Restricted ADSs will be subject to a specified legend in a form provided by the Company and satisfactory to the Depositary (the “Restrictive Legend”) that describes those restrictions and agrees to comply with those restrictions.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.11 and except as required by applicable law, the Restricted ADRs and the Restricted ADSs evidenced thereby shall be treated as ADRs and ADSs issued outstanding under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, all provisions of this Deposit Agreement shall apply to Restricted ADSs. In the event that, in determining the rights and obligations of parties hereto with respect to any Restricted ADSs, any conflict arises between (i) the terms of this Deposit Agreement (other than this Section 2.11) and (ii) the terms of this Section 2.11 or of the applicable Restricted ADR, the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 2.11 and of the Restricted ADR shall be controlling and shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties to this Deposit Agreement pertaining to the deposited Restricted Shares, the Restricted ADSs and Restricted ADRs.
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ARTICLE III.
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS
AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 3.1 Proofs, Certificates and Other Information . Any person presenting Shares for deposit shall provide, any Holder and any Beneficial Owner may be required to provide, and every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees, from time to time to provide to the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, taxpayer status, payment of all applicable taxes or other governmental charges, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership of ADSs and Deposited Securities, compliance with applicable laws and the terms of this Deposit Agreement and the provisions of, or governing, the Deposited Securities or other information, to execute such certifications and to make such representations and warranties and to provide such other information and documentation as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper or as the Company may reasonably require by written request to the Depositary consistent with its obligations hereunder. The Depositary and the Registrar, as applicable, may withhold the execution or Delivery or registration of transfer of any Receipt or the distribution or sale of any dividend or other distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof, or to the extent not limited by the terms of Section 7.11 hereof, the Delivery of any Deposited Securities, until such proof or other information is filed or such certifications are executed, or such representations and warranties are made, or such other documentation or information provided, in each case to the Depositary’s and the Company’s satisfaction. The Depositary shall from time to time on the written request of the Company advise the Company of the availability of any such proofs, certificates or other information and shall, at the Company’s sole expense, provide or otherwise make available copies thereof to the Company upon written request therefor by the Company, unless such disclosure is prohibited by law. Each Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to provide, any information requested by the Company or the Depositary pursuant to this Section 3.1. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to (i) obtain any information for the Company if not provided by the Holders or Beneficial Owners or (ii) verify or vouch for the accuracy of the information so provided by the Holders or Beneficial Owners.
Every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian, the Agents and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates against, and to hold each of them harmless from, any Losses which any of them may incur or which may be made against any of them as a result of or in connection with any inaccuracy in or omission from any such proof, certificate, representation, warranty, information or document furnished by or on behalf of such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner or as a result of any such failure to furnish any of the foregoing.
The obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners under Section 3.1 shall survive any transfer of Receipts, any surrender of Receipts or withdrawal of Deposited Securities or the termination of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 3.2 Liability for Taxes and Other Charges . If any present or future tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Depositary or the Custodian with respect to any ADR or any Deposited Securities or American Depositary Shares, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Holders and Beneficial Owners to the Depositary and such Holders and Beneficial Owners shall be deemed liable therefor. The Company, the Custodian and/or the Depositary may withhold or deduct from any distributions made in respect of Deposited Securities and may sell for the account of a Holder and/or Beneficial Owner any or all of the Deposited Securities and apply such distributions and sale proceeds in payment of such taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and charges, with the Holder and the Beneficial Owner remaining fully liable for any deficiency. In addition to any other remedies available to it, the Depositary and the Custodian may refuse the deposit of Shares, and the Depositary may refuse to issue ADSs, to Deliver ADRs, to register the transfer, split-up or combination of ADRs and (subject to Section 7.11 hereof) the withdrawal of Deposited Securities, until payment in full of such tax, charge, penalty or interest is received. The liability of Holders and Beneficial Owners under this Section 3.2 shall survive any transfer of Receipts, any surrender of Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities or the termination of this Deposit Agreement.
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SECTION 3.3 Representations and Warranties on Deposit of Shares . Each person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that (i) such Shares and the certificates therefor are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and were legally obtained by such person, (ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Shares have been validly waived or exercised, (iii) the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do, (iv) the Shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim and are not, and the American Depositary Shares issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities (except as contemplated by Section 2.11), (v) the Shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements and (vi) the Shares are not subject to any lock-up agreement with the Company or other party, or the Shares are subject to a lock-up agreement but such lock-up agreement has terminated or the lock-up restrictions imposed thereunder have expired. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit and withdrawal of Shares, the issuance and cancellation of American Depositary Shares in respect thereof and the transfer of such American Depositary Shares. If any such representations or warranties are false in any way, the Company and the Depositary shall be authorized, at the cost and expense of the person depositing Shares, to take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences thereof.
SECTION 3.4 Compliance with Information Requests . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement, the Articles of Association and applicable law, each Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to (a) provide such information as the Company or the Depositary may request pursuant to law (including, without limitation, relevant Cayman Islands law, any applicable law of the United States, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, any resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors adopted pursuant to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the Shares, ADSs or Receipts are listed or traded, or to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the ADSs or Receipts may be transferred), (b) be bound by and subject to applicable provisions of the laws of the Cayman Islands, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the ADSs, Receipts or Shares are listed or traded, or pursuant to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the ADSs, Receipts or Shares may be transferred, to the same extent as if such Holder and Beneficial Owner held Shares directly, in each case irrespective of whether or not they are Holders or Beneficial Owners at the time such request is made and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (c) comply with all applicable provisions of Cayman Islands law, the rules and requirements of any stock exchange on which the Shares are, or will be registered, traded or listed and the Articles of Association regarding any such Holder or Beneficial Owner's interest in Shares (including the aggregate of ADSs and Shares held by each such Holder or Beneficial Owner) and/or the disclosure of interests therein, whether or not the same may be enforceable against such Holder or Beneficial Owner. The Depositary agrees to use its reasonable efforts to forward upon the request of the Company, and at the Company’s expense, any such request from the Company to the Holders and to forward to the Company any such responses to such requests received by the Depositary.
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ARTICLE IV.
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
SECTION 4.1 Cash Distributions . Whenever the Depositary receives confirmation from the Custodian of receipt of any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, or receives proceeds from the sale of any Shares, rights, securities or other entitlements under the terms hereof, the Depositary will, if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a Foreign Currency can in the judgment of the Depositary (pursuant to Section 4.6 hereof) be converted on a practicable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, promptly convert or cause to be converted such cash dividend, distribution or proceeds into Dollars (on the terms described in Section 4.6 hereof) and will distribute promptly the amount thus received (net of (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary and (b) taxes and/or governmental charges) to the Holders of record as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Holders respectively as of the ADS Record Date. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Holder a fraction of one cent. Any such fractional amounts shall be rounded down to the nearest whole cent and so distributed to Holders entitled thereto. Holders and Beneficial Owners understand that in converting Foreign Currency, amounts received on conversion are calculated at a rate which exceeds the number of decimal places used by the Depositary to report distribution rates. The excess amount may be retained by the Depositary as an additional cost of conversion, irrespective of any other fees and expenses payable or owing hereunder and shall not be subject to escheatment. If the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes, duties or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to Holders of the ADSs representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. Such withheld amounts shall be forwarded by the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary to the relevant governmental authority. Evidence of payment thereof by the Company shall be forwarded by the Company to the Depositary upon request. The Depositary shall forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file with governmental agencies such reports as are necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties for the Holders and Beneficial Owners of Receipts.
SECTION 4.2 Distribution in Shares . If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Company shall cause such Shares to be deposited with the Custodian and registered, as the case may be, in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or any of their nominees. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit from the Custodian, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.7 hereof and shall, subject to Section 5.9 hereof, either (i) distribute to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date, additional ADSs, which represent in the aggregate the number of Shares received as such dividend, or free distribution, subject to the other terms of this Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes and/or governmental charges), or (ii) if additional ADSs are not so distributed, each ADS issued and outstanding after the ADS Record Date shall, to the extent permissible by law, thenceforth also represent rights and interests in the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby (net of (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes and/or governmental charges). In lieu of Delivering fractional ADSs, the Depositary shall sell the number of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the proceeds upon the terms described in Section 4.1 hereof. The Depositary may withhold any such distribution of Receipts if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company (including an Opinion of Counsel furnished at the expense of the Company) that such distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act or is exempt from registration under the provisions of the Securities Act. To the extent such distribution may be withheld, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such distribution in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale (after deduction of applicable taxes and/or governmental charges and fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary) to Holders entitled thereto upon the terms described in Section 4.1 hereof.
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SECTION 4.3 Elective Distributions in Cash or Shares . Whenever the Company intends to distribute a dividend payable at the election of the holders of Shares in cash or in additional Shares, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the proposed distribution stating whether or not it wishes such elective distribution to be made available to Holders of ADSs. Upon receipt of notice indicating that the Company wishes such elective distribution to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall assist the Depositary in its determination, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such elective distribution available to the Holders of ADSs. The Depositary shall make such elective distribution available to Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that the elective distribution is available to Holders of ADRs, (ii) the Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 hereof (including, without limitation, any legal opinions of counsel in any applicable jurisdiction that the Depositary in its reasonable discretion may request, at the expense of the Company) and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable. If the above conditions are not satisfied, the Depositary shall, to the extent permitted by law, distribute to the Holders, on the basis of the same determination as is made in the local market in respect of the Shares for which no election is made, either cash upon the terms described in Section 4.1 hereof or additional ADSs representing such additional Shares upon the terms described in Section 4.2 hereof. If the above conditions are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date (on the terms described in Section 4.7 hereof) and establish procedures to enable Holders to elect the receipt of the proposed dividend in cash or in additional ADSs. The Company shall assist the Depositary in establishing such procedures to the extent necessary. Subject to Section 5.9 hereof, if a Holder elects to receive the proposed dividend in cash, the dividend shall be distributed upon the terms described in Section 4.1 hereof or in ADSs, the dividend shall be distributed upon the terms described in Section 4.2 hereof. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to make available to Holders a method to receive the elective dividend in Shares (rather than ADSs). There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Shares.
SECTION 4.4 Distribution of Rights to Purchase Shares .
(a) Distribution to ADS Holders. Whenever the Company intends to distribute to the holders of the Deposited Securities rights to subscribe for additional Shares, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least 45 days prior to the proposed distribution stating whether or not it wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs. Upon timely receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall determine, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such rights available to the Holders. The Depositary shall make such rights available to Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that such rights be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 hereof and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution of rights is lawful and reasonably practicable. In the event any of the conditions set forth above are not satisfied, the Depositary shall proceed with the sale of the rights as contemplated in Section 4.4(b) below or, if timing or market conditions may not permit, do nothing thereby allowing such rights to lapse. In the event all conditions set forth above are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date (upon the terms described in Section 4.7 hereof) and establish procedures to distribute such rights (by means of warrants or otherwise) and to enable the Holders to exercise the rights (upon payment of applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges). Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to make available to the Holders a method to exercise such rights to subscribe for Shares (rather than ADSs).
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(b) Sale of Rights. If (i) the Company does not timely request the Depositary to make the rights available to Holders or requests that the rights not be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary fails to receive satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 hereof or determines it is not lawful or reasonably practicable to make the rights available to Holders or (iii) any rights made available are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the Depositary shall determine whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to sell such rights, and if it so determines that it is lawful and reasonably practicable, endeavour to sell such rights in a riskless principal capacity or otherwise, at such place and upon such terms (including public or private sale) as it may deem proper. The Company shall assist the Depositary to the extent necessary to determine such legality and practicability. The Depositary shall, upon such sale, convert and distribute proceeds of such sale (net of applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary and taxes and/or governmental charges) upon the terms set forth in Section 4.1 hereof.
(c) Lapse of Rights. If the Depositary is unable to make any rights available to Holders upon the terms described in Section 4.4(a) hereof or to arrange for the sale of the rights upon the terms described in Section 4.4(b) hereof, the Depositary shall allow such rights to lapse.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or practicable to make such rights available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale or exercise or (iii) the content of any materials forwarded to the Holders on behalf of the Company in connection with the rights distribution.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.4, if registration (under the Securities Act or any other applicable law) of the rights or the securities to which any rights relate may be required in order for the Company to offer such rights or such securities to Holders and to sell the securities represented by such rights, the Depositary will not distribute such rights to the Holders (i) unless and until a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such offering is in effect or (ii) unless the Company furnishes at its expense the Depositary with opinion(s) of counsel for the Company in the United States and counsel to the Company in any other applicable country in which rights would be distributed, in each case satisfactory to the Depositary, to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to Holders and Beneficial Owners are exempt from, or do not require registration under, the provisions of the Securities Act or any other applicable laws. In the event that the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian shall be required to withhold and does withhold from any distribution of property (including rights) an amount on account of taxes and/or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Holders shall be reduced accordingly. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes and/or charges.
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There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Shares or be able to exercise such rights. Nothing herein shall obligate the Company to file any registration statement in respect of any rights or Shares or other securities to be acquired upon the exercise of such rights or otherwise to register or qualify the offer or sale of such rights or securities under the applicable law of any other jurisdiction for any purpose.
SECTION 4.5 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights to Purchase Shares .
(a) Whenever the Company intends to distribute to the holders of Deposited Securities property other than cash, Shares or rights to purchase additional Shares, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the proposed distribution and shall indicate whether or not it wishes such distribution to be made to Holders of ADSs. Upon receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such distribution be made to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall determine whether such distribution to Holders is lawful and practicable. The Depositary shall not make such distribution unless (i) the Company shall have timely requested the Depositary to make such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 hereof and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable.
(b) Upon receipt of satisfactory documentation and the request of the Company to distribute property to Holders of ADSs and after making the requisite determinations set forth in (a) above, the Depositary may distribute the property so received to the Holders of record as of the ADS Record Date, in proportion to the number of ADSs held by such Holders respectively and in such manner as the Depositary may deem practicable for accomplishing such distribution (i) upon receipt of payment or net of the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (ii) net of any taxes and/or other governmental charges. The Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of the property so distributed and deposited, in such amounts and in such manner (including public or private sale) as the Depositary may deem practicable or necessary to satisfy any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges applicable to the distribution.
(c) If (i) the Company does not request the Depositary to make such distribution to Holders or requests the Depositary not to make such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary does not receive satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 hereof or (iii) the Depositary determines that all or a portion of such distribution is not reasonably practicable or feasible, the Depositary shall endeavor to sell or cause such property to be sold in a public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper and shall distribute the net proceeds, if any, of such sale received by the Depositary (net of applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary and taxes and/or governmental charges) to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date upon the terms of Section 4.1 hereof. If the Depositary is unable to sell such property, the Depositary may dispose of such property in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances for nominal or no consideration and Holders and Beneficial Owners shall have no rights thereto or arising therefrom.
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SECTION 4.6 Conversion of Foreign Currency . Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive Foreign Currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and in the judgment of the Depositary such Foreign Currency can at such time be converted on a practicable basis (by sale or in any other manner that it may determine in accordance with applicable law) into Dollars transferable to the United States and distributable to the Holders entitled thereto, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine, such Foreign Currency into Dollars, and shall distribute such Dollars (net of any fees, expenses, taxes and/or other governmental charges incurred in the process of such conversion) in accordance with the terms of the applicable sections of this Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary shall have distributed warrants or other instruments that entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, the Depositary shall distribute such Dollars to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation, in either case without liability for interest thereon. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Holders on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise.
In converting Foreign Currency, amounts received on conversion may be calculated at a rate which exceeds the number of decimal places used by the Depositary to report distribution rates (which in any case will not be less than two decimal places). Any excess amount may be retained by the Depositary as an additional cost of conversion, irrespective of any other fees and expenses payable or owing hereunder and shall not be subject to escheatment.
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary may file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem necessary, practicable and at nominal cost and expense. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to file or cause to be filed, or to seek effectiveness of any such application or license.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment the conversion of any Foreign Currency and the transfer and distribution of proceeds of such conversion received by the Depositary is not practical or lawful, or if any approval or license of any governmental authority or agency thereof that is required for such conversion, transfer and distribution is denied, or not obtainable at a reasonable cost, within a reasonable period or otherwise sought, the Depositary shall, in its sole discretion but subject to applicable laws and regulations, either (i) distribute the Foreign Currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such Foreign Currency) received by the Depositary to the Holders entitled to receive such Foreign Currency or (ii) hold such Foreign Currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of the Holders entitled to receive the same.
Holders and Beneficial Owners are directed to refer to Section 7.9 hereof for certain disclosure related to conversion of Foreign Currency.
SECTION 4.7 Fixing of Record Date . Whenever necessary in connection with any distribution (whether in cash, Shares, rights, or other distribution), or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of or solicitation of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall fix a record date (the “ADS Record Date”), as close as practicable to the record date fixed by the Company with respect to the Shares (if applicable), for the determination of the Holders who shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, to give or withhold such consent, to receive such notice or solicitation or to otherwise take action or to exercise the rights of Holders with respect to such changed number of Shares represented by each American Depositary Share or for any other reason. Subject to applicable law and the provisions of Sections 4.1 through 4.6 hereof and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, only the Holders of record at the close of business in New York on such ADS Record Date shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to give such voting instructions, to receive such notice or solicitation, or otherwise take action.
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SECTION 4.8 Voting of Deposited Securities . Subject to the next sentence, as soon as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of Deposited Securities are entitled to vote, or of solicitation of consents or proxies from holders of Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix the ADS Record Date in respect of such meeting or such solicitation of consents or proxies. The Depositary shall, if requested by the Company in writing in a timely manner (the Depositary having no obligation to take any further action if the request shall not have been received by the Depositary at least 30 Business Days prior to the date of such vote or meeting) and at the Company’s expense, and provided no U.S. legal prohibitions exist, mail by regular, ordinary mail delivery (or by electronic mail or as otherwise may be agreed between the Company and the Depositary in writing from time to time) or otherwise distribute as soon as practicable after receipt thereof to Holders as of the ADS Record Date: (a) such notice of meeting or solicitation of consent or proxy; (b) a statement that the Holders at the close of business on the ADS Record Date will be entitled, subject to any applicable law, the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities (which provisions, if any, shall be summarized in pertinent part by the Company), to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the Deposited Securities represented by such Holder’s American Depositary Shares; and (c) a brief statement as to the manner in which such voting instructions may be given to the Depositary, or in which instructions may be deemed to have been given in accordance with this Section 4.8, including an express indication that instructions may be given (or be deemed to have been given in accordance with the immediately following paragraph of this section if no instruction is received) to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person or persons designated by the Company. Voting instructions may be given only in respect of a number of American Depositary Shares representing an integral number of Deposited Securities. Upon the timely receipt of voting instructions of a Holder on the ADS Record Date in the manner specified by the Depositary, the Depositary shall endeavor, insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable law, the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities, to vote or cause the Custodian to vote the Deposited Securities (in person or by proxy) represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with such voting instructions.
In the event that (i) the Depositary timely receives voting instructions from a Holder which fail to specify the manner in which the Depositary is to vote the Deposited Securities represented by such Holder’s ADSs or (ii) no timely instructions are received by the Depositary from a Holder with respect to any of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs held by such Holder on the ADS Record Date, the Depositary shall (unless otherwise specified in the notice distributed to Holders) deem such Holder to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to such Deposited Securities and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote such Deposited Securities, provided, however, that no such instruction shall be deemed to have been given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which the Company informs the Depositary (and the Company agrees to provide such information as promptly as practicable in writing, if applicable) that (x) the Company does not wish to give such proxy, (y) the Company is aware or should reasonably be aware that substantial opposition exists from Holders against the outcome for which the person designated by the Company would otherwise vote or (z) the outcome for which the person designated by the Company would otherwise vote would materially and adversely affect the rights of holders of Deposited Securities, provided, further, that the Company will have no liability to any Holder or Beneficial Owner resulting from such notification.
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In the event that voting on any resolution or matter is conducted on a show of hands basis in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Depositary will refrain from voting and the voting instructions (or the deemed voting instructions, as set out above) received by the Depositary from Holders shall lapse. The Depositary will have no obligation to demand voting on a poll basis with respect to any resolution and shall have no liability to any Holder or Beneficial Owner for not having demanded voting on a poll basis.
Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall, under any circumstances exercise any discretion as to voting, and neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall vote, attempt to exercise the right to vote, or in any way make use of for purposes of establishing a quorum or otherwise, the Deposited Securities represented by ADSs except pursuant to and in accordance with such written instructions from Holders, including the deemed instruction to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company. Deposited Securities represented by ADSs for which (i) no timely voting instructions are received by the Depositary from the Holder, or (ii) timely voting instructions are received by the Depositary from the Holder but such voting instructions fail to specify the manner in which the Depositary is to vote the Deposited Securities represented by such Holder’s ADSs, shall be voted in the manner provided in this Section 4.8. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, and subject to applicable law, regulation and the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Depositary shall, if so requested in writing by the Company, represent all Deposited Securities (whether or not voting instructions have been received in respect of such Deposited Securities from Holders as of the ADS Record Date) for the purpose of establishing quorum at a meeting of shareholders.
There can be no assurance that Holders or Beneficial Owners generally or any Holder or Beneficial Owner in particular will receive the notice described above with sufficient time to enable the Holder to return voting instructions to the Depositary in a timely manner.
Notwithstanding the above, save for applicable provisions of the law of the Cayman Islands, and in accordance with the terms of Section 5.3 hereof, the Depositary shall not be liable for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities or the manner in which such vote is cast or the effect of such vote.
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SECTION 4.9 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities . Upon any change in par value, split-up, subdivision, cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, amalgamation, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is otherwise a party, any securities which shall be received by the Depositary or the Custodian in exchange for, or in conversion of or replacement or otherwise in respect of, such Deposited Securities shall, to the extent permitted by law, be treated as new Deposited Securities under this Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall, subject to the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and applicable law, evidence American Depositary Shares representing the right to receive such additional securities. Alternatively, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall, if the Company shall so request, subject to the terms of this Deposit Agreement and receipt of an Opinion of Counsel furnished at the Company’s expense satisfactory to the Depositary (stating that such distributions are not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations), execute and deliver additional Receipts, as in the case of a stock dividend on the Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts. In either case, as well as in the event of newly deposited Shares, necessary modifications to the form of Receipt contained in Exhibit A and Exhibit B hereto, specifically describing such new Deposited Securities and/or corporate change, shall also be made. The Company agrees that it will, jointly with the Depositary, amend the Registration Statement on Form F-6 as filed with the Commission to permit the issuance of such new form of Receipt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any security so received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Holders, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall, if the Company requests, subject to receipt of an Opinion of Counsel (furnished at the Company’s expense) satisfactory to the Depositary that such action is not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, sell such securities at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper and may allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary and taxes and/or governmental charges) for the account of the Holders otherwise entitled to such securities upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Holders and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the case of a distribution received in cash pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof. The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such securities available to Holders in general or to any Holder in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such securities.
SECTION 4.10 Available Information. The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to foreign private issuers (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) and accordingly files certain information with the Commission. These reports and documents can be inspected and copied at the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549, U.S.A.
SECTION 4.11 Reports. The Depositary shall make available during normal business hours on any Business Day for inspection by Holders at its Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting materials, received from the Company which are both received by the Depositary, the Custodian, or the nominee of either of them as the holder of the Deposited Securities and made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. The Company agrees to provide to the Depositary, at the Company’s expense, all such documents that it provides to the Custodian. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary, the Depositary shall, at the expense of the Company and in accordance with Section 5.6 hereof, also mail to Holders by regular, ordinary mail delivery or by electronic transmission (if agreed by the Company and the Depositary) copies of notices and reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.6 hereof.
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SECTION 4.12 List of Holders. Promptly upon written request by the Company, the Depositary shall, at the expense of the Company, furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the names, addresses and holdings of American Depositary Shares by all persons in whose names Receipts are registered on the books of the Depositary.
SECTION 4.13 Taxation; Withholding. The Depositary will, and will instruct the Custodian to, forward to the Company or its agents such information from its records as the Company may request to enable the Company or its agents to file necessary tax reports with governmental authorities or agencies. The Depositary, the Custodian or the Company and its agents may, but shall not be obligated to, file such reports as are necessary to reduce or eliminate applicable taxes on dividends and on other distributions in respect of Deposited Securities under applicable tax treaties or laws for the Holders and Beneficial Owners. Holders and Beneficial Owners of American Depositary Shares may be required from time to time, and in a timely manner to provide and/or file such proof of taxpayer status, residence and beneficial ownership (as applicable), to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, or to provide any other information or documents, as the Depositary or the Custodian may deem necessary or proper to fulfill the Depositary’s or the Custodian’s obligations under applicable law. The Holders and Beneficial Owners shall indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian, the Agents and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained by the Beneficial Owner or Holder or out of or in connection with any inaccuracy in or omission from any such proof, certificate, representation, warranty, information or document furnished by or on behalf of such Holder or Beneficial Owner. The obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners under this Section 4.13 shall survive any transfer of Receipts, any surrender of Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities or the termination of this Deposit Agreement.
The Company shall remit to the appropriate governmental authority or agency any amounts required to be withheld by the Company and owing to such governmental authority or agency. Upon any such withholding, the Company shall remit to the Depositary information, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, about such taxes and/or governmental charges withheld or paid, and, if so requested, the tax receipt (or other proof of payment to the applicable governmental authority) therefor. The Depositary shall, to the extent required by U.S. law, report to Holders (i) any taxes withheld by it; (ii) any taxes withheld by the Custodian, subject to information being provided to the Depositary by the Custodian and (iii) any taxes withheld by the Company, subject to information being provided to the Depositary by the Company. The Depositary and the Custodian shall not be required to provide the Holders with any evidence of the remittance by the Company (or its agents) of any taxes withheld, or of the payment of taxes by the Company, except to the extent the evidence is provided by the Company to the Depositary. None of the Depositary, the Custodian or the Company shall be liable for the failure by any Holder or Beneficial Owner to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such Holder’s or Beneficial Owner’s income tax liability.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary shall withhold the amount required to be withheld and may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes and/or charges and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such taxes and/or charges to the Holders entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively.
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The Depositary is under no obligation to provide the Holders and Beneficial Owners with any information about the tax status of the Company. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by Holders and Beneficial Owners on account of their ownership of the American Depositary Shares, including without limitation, tax consequences resulting from the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) being treated as a “Passive Foreign Investment Company” (as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and the regulations issued thereunder) or otherwise.
ARTICLE V.
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIAN AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.1 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Registrar. Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Depositary or if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed, the Registrar shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office and facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration of transfers, combination and split-up of Receipts, the surrender of Receipts and the Delivery and withdrawal of Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary or the Registrar as applicable, shall keep books for the registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Company and by the Holders of such Receipts, provided that such inspection shall not be, to the Depositary’s or the Registrar’s knowledge, for the purpose of communicating with Holders of such Receipts in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or other than a matter related to this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
The Depositary or the Registrar, as applicable, may close the transfer books with respect to the Receipts, at any time and from time to time, when deemed necessary or advisable by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, or at the reasonable written request of the Company.
If any Receipts or the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby are listed on one or more stock exchanges or automated quotation systems in the United States, the Depositary shall act as Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registration of Receipts and transfers, combinations and split-ups, and to countersign such Receipts in accordance with any requirements of such exchanges or systems. Such Registrar or co-registrars may be removed and a substitute or substitutes appointed by the Depositary.
If any Receipts or the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby are listed on one or more securities exchanges, markets or automated quotation systems, (i) the Depositary shall be entitled to, and shall, take or refrain from taking such action(s) as it may deem necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of such securities exchange(s), market(s) or automated quotation system(s) applicable to it, notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement; and (ii) upon the reasonable request of the Depositary, the Company shall provide the Depositary such information and assistance as may be reasonably necessary for the Depositary to comply with such requirements, to the extent that the Company may lawfully do so.
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Each Registrar and co-registrar appointed under this Section 5.1 shall give notice in writing to the Depositary accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 5.2 Exoneration. None of the Depositary, the Custodian or the Company shall be obligated to do or perform any act which is inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement or shall incur any liability to Holders, Beneficial Owners or any third parties (i) if the Depositary, the Custodian or the Company or their respective controlling persons or agents (including without limitation, the Agents) shall be prevented or forbidden from, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of this Deposit Agreement, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any state thereof, the Cayman Islands or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal or civil penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Memorandum and Articles of Association or any provision of or governing any Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control (including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure), (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement or in the Memorandum and Articles of Association or provisions of or governing Deposited Securities, (iii) for any action or inaction of the Depositary, the Custodian or the Company or their respective controlling persons or agents (including without limitation, the Agents) in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder, any Beneficial Owner or authorized representative thereof, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information, (iv) for the inability by a Holder or Beneficial Owner to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, made available to Holders of American Depositary Shares or (v) for any special, consequential, indirect or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of this Deposit Agreement or otherwise.
The Depositary, its controlling persons, its agents (including without limitation, the Agents), the Custodian and the Company, its controlling persons and its agents may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, opinion or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act is intended by any provision of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 5.3 Standard of Care. The Company and the Depositary and their respective directors, officers, Affiliates, employees and agents (including without limitation, the Agents) assume no obligation and shall not be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement or any Receipts to any Holder(s) or Beneficial Owner(s) or other persons, except in accordance with Section 5.8 hereof, provided, that the Company and the Depositary and their respective directors, officers, Affiliates, employees and agents (including without limitation, the Agents) agree to perform their respective obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement or the applicable ADRs without gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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Without limitation of the foregoing, neither the Depositary, nor the Company, nor any of their respective controlling persons, directors, officers, affiliates, employees or agents (including without limitation, the Agents), shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liabilities be furnished as often as may be required (and no Custodian shall be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary).
The Depositary and its directors, officers, affiliates, employees and agents (including without limitation, the Agents) shall not be liable for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any vote is cast or the effects of any vote. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for any failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable, for the content of any information submitted to it by the Company for distribution to the Holders or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the Deposited Securities, for the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities or for any tax consequences that may result from the ownership of ADSs, Shares or Deposited Securities, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse upon the terms of this Deposit Agreement or for the failure or timeliness of any notice from the Company, or for any action or non action by it in reliance upon the opinion, advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary and its agents (including without limitation, the Agents) shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations without gross negligence or willful misconduct while it acted as Depositary.
SECTION 5.4 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary. The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of resignation delivered to the Company, such resignation to be effective on the earlier of (i) the 90th day after delivery thereof to the Company (whereupon the Depositary shall, in the event no successor depositary has been appointed by the Company, be entitled to take the actions contemplated in Section 6.2 hereof) and (ii) the appointment by the Company of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided, save that, any amounts, fees, costs or expenses owed to the Depositary hereunder or in accordance with any other agreements otherwise agreed in writing between the Company and the Depositary from time to time shall be paid to the Depositary prior to such resignation.
The Company shall use reasonable efforts to appoint such successor depositary, and give notice to the Depositary of such appointment, not more than 90 days after delivery by the Depositary of written notice of resignation as provided in this Section 5.4. In the event that notice of the appointment of a successor depositary is not provided by the Company in accordance with the preceding sentence, the Depositary shall be entitled to take the actions contemplated in Section 6.2 hereof.
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The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal, which removal shall be effective on the later of (i) the 90th day after delivery thereof to the Depositary (whereupon the Depositary shall be entitled to take the actions contemplated in Section 6.2 hereof if a successor depositary has not been appointed), and (ii) the appointment by the Company of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided, save that, any amounts, fees, costs or expenses owed to the Depositary hereunder or in accordance with any other agreements otherwise agreed in writing between the Company and the Depositary from time to time shall be paid to the Depositary prior to such removal.
In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York. Every successor depositary shall be required by the Company to execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed (except as required by applicable law), shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor. The predecessor depositary, upon payment of all sums due to it and on the written request of the Company, shall (i) execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder (other than as contemplated in Sections 5.8 and 5.9 hereof), (ii) duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest to the Deposited Securities to such successor, and (iii) deliver to such successor a list of the Holders of all outstanding Receipts and such other information relating to Receipts and Holders thereof as the successor may reasonably request. Any such successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to such Holders.
Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may assign or otherwise transfer all or any of its rights and benefits under this Deposit Agreement (including any cause of action arising in connection with it) to Deutsche Bank AG or any branch thereof or any entity which is a direct or indirect subsidiary or other affiliate of Deutsche Bank AG.
SECTION 5.5 The Custodian. The Custodian or its successors in acting hereunder shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the direction of the Depositary for the Deposited Securities for which the Custodian acts as custodian and shall be responsible solely to it. If any Custodian resigns or is discharged from its duties hereunder with respect to any Deposited Securities and no other Custodian has previously been appointed hereunder, the Depositary shall promptly appoint a substitute custodian. The Depositary shall require such resigning or discharged Custodian to deliver the Deposited Securities held by it, together with all such records maintained by it as Custodian with respect to such Deposited Securities as the Depositary may request, to the Custodian designated by the Depositary. Whenever the Depositary determines, in its discretion, that it is appropriate to do so, it may appoint an additional entity to act as Custodian with respect to any Deposited Securities, or discharge the Custodian with respect to any Deposited Securities and appoint a substitute custodian, which shall thereafter be Custodian hereunder with respect to the Deposited Securities. After any such change, the Depositary shall give notice thereof in writing to all Holders.
Upon the appointment of any successor depositary, any Custodian then acting hereunder shall, unless otherwise instructed by the Depositary, continue to be the Custodian of the Deposited Securities without any further act or writing and shall be subject to the direction of the successor depositary. The successor depositary so appointed shall, nevertheless, on the written request of any Custodian, execute and deliver to such Custodian all such instruments as may be proper to give to such Custodian full and complete power and authority to act on the direction of such successor depositary.
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SECTION 5.6 Notices and Reports. On or before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any action by such holders other than at a meeting, or of the taking of any action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any rights in respect of Deposited Securities, the Company shall transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the notice thereof in English but otherwise in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities. The Company shall also furnish to the Custodian and the Depositary a summary, in English, of any applicable provisions or proposed provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association that may be relevant or pertain to such notice of meeting or be the subject of a vote thereat.
The Company will also transmit to the Depositary (a) English language versions of the other notices, reports and communications which are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares or other Deposited Securities and (b) English language versions of the Company’s annual and other reports prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Commission. The Depositary shall arrange, at the request of the Company and at the Company’s expense, for the mailing of copies thereof to all Holders, or by any other means as agreed between the Company and the Depositary (at the Company’s expense) or make such notices, reports and other communications available for inspection by all Holders, provided, that, the Depositary shall have received evidence sufficiently satisfactory to it, including in the form of an Opinion of Counsel regarding U.S. law or of any other applicable jurisdiction, furnished at the expense of the Company, as the Depositary reasonably requests, that the distribution of such notices, reports and any such other communications to Holders from time to time is valid and does not or will not infringe any local, U.S. or other applicable jurisdiction regulatory restrictions or requirements if so distributed and made available to Holders. The Company will timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports, and communications, as requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect such mailings. The Company has delivered to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association along with the provisions of or governing the Shares and any other Deposited Securities issued by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, in connection with the Shares, in each case, to the extent not in English, along with a certified English translation thereof, and promptly upon any amendment thereto or change therein, the Company shall deliver to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of such amendment thereto or change therein, to the extent not in English, along with a certified English translation thereof. The Depositary may rely upon such copy for all purposes of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary will make available, at the expense of the Company, a copy of any such notices, reports or communications issued by the Company and delivered to the Depositary for inspection by the Holders of the Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares representing such Shares governed by such provisions at the Depositary’s Corporate Trust Office, at the office of the Custodian and at any other designated transfer office.
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SECTION 5.7 Issuance of Additional Shares, ADSs etc. The Company agrees that in the event it or any of its Affiliates proposes (i) an issuance, sale or distribution of additional Shares, (ii) an offering of rights to subscribe for Shares or other Deposited Securities, (iii) an issuance of securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, (iv) an issuance of rights to subscribe for securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, (v) an elective dividend of cash or Shares, (vi) a redemption of Deposited Securities, (vii) a meeting of holders of Deposited Securities, or solicitation of consents or proxies, relating to any reclassification of securities, merger, subdivision, amalgamation or consolidation or transfer of assets, (viii) any reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or sale of assets which affects the Deposited Securities or (ix) a distribution of property other than cash, Shares or rights to purchase additional Shares it will obtain U.S. legal advice and take all steps necessary to ensure that the application of the proposed transaction to Holders and Beneficial Owners does not violate the registration provisions of the Securities Act, or any other applicable laws (including, without limitation, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Exchange Act or the securities laws of the states of the United States). In support of the foregoing, the Company will furnish to the Depositary at its request, at the Company’s expense, (a) a written opinion of U.S. counsel (satisfactory to the Depositary) stating whether or not application of such transaction to Holders and Beneficial Owners (1) requires a registration statement under the Securities Act to be in effect or (2) is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and/or (3) dealing with such other issues requested by the Depositary; (b) a written opinion of Cayman Islands counsel (satisfactory to the Depositary) stating that (1) making the transaction available to Holders and Beneficial Owners does not violate the laws or regulations of the Cayman Islands and (2) all requisite regulatory and corporate consents and approvals have been obtained in the Cayman Islands; and (c) as the Depositary may request, a written Opinion of Counsel in any other jurisdiction in which Holders or Beneficial Owners reside to the effect that making the transaction available to such Holders or Beneficial Owners does not violate the laws or regulations of such jurisdiction as well as certificates of the Company as to such matters as the Depositary may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances. If the filing of a registration statement is required, the Depositary shall not have any obligation to proceed with the transaction unless it shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that such registration statement has been declared effective and that such distribution is in accordance with all applicable laws or regulations. If, being advised by counsel, the Company determines that a transaction is required to be registered under the Securities Act, the Company will either (i) register such transaction to the extent necessary, (ii) alter the terms of the transaction to avoid the registration requirements of the Securities Act or (iii) direct the Depositary to take specific measures, in each case as contemplated in this Deposit Agreement, to prevent such transaction from violating the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates will at any time (i) deposit any Shares or other Deposited Securities, either upon original issuance or upon a sale of Shares or other Deposited Securities previously issued and reacquired by the Company or by any such Affiliate, or (ii) issue additional Shares, rights to subscribe for such Shares, securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or rights to subscribe for such securities, unless such transaction and the securities issuable in such transaction are exempt from registration under the Securities Act or have been registered under the Securities Act (and such registration statement has been declared effective).
Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Deposit Agreement, nothing in this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed to obligate the Company to file any registration statement in respect of any proposed transaction.
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SECTION 5.8 Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, any Custodian and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents (including without limitation, the Agents) and Affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any losses, liabilities, taxes, costs, claims, judgments, proceedings, actions, demands and any charges or expenses of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel together with, in each case, value added tax and any similar tax charged or otherwise imposed in respect thereof) (collectively referred to as “Losses”) which the Depositary or any agent (including without limitation, the Agents) thereof may incur or which may be made against it as a result of or in connection with its appointment or the exercise of its powers and duties under this Agreement or that may arise (a) out of or in connection with any offer, issuance, sale, resale, transfer, deposit or withdrawal of Receipts, American Depositary Shares, the Shares, or other Deposited Securities, as the case may be, (b) out of or in connection with any offering documents in respect thereof or (c) out of or in connection with acts performed or omitted, including, but not limited to, any delivery by the Depositary on behalf of the Company of information regarding the Company in connection with this Deposit Agreement, the Receipts, the American Depositary Shares, the Shares, or any Deposited Securities, in any such case (i) by the Depositary, the Custodian or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents (including without limitation, the Agents) and Affiliates, except to the extent any such Losses arise out of the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of any of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates.
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company and hold it harmless from any Losses which may arise out of acts performed or omitted to be performed by the Depositary arising out of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct. Notwithstanding the above, in no event shall the Depositary or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents (including without limitation, the Agents) and/or Affiliates be liable for any special, consequential, indirect or punitive damages to the Company, Holders, Beneficial Owners or any other person.
Any person seeking indemnification hereunder (an “Indemnified Person”) shall notify the person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the “Indemnifying Person”) of the commencement of any indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such Indemnified Person becomes aware of such commencement (provided that the failure to make such notification shall not affect such Indemnified Person’s rights to indemnification except to the extent the Indemnifying Person is materially prejudiced by such failure) and shall consult in good faith with the Indemnifying Person as to the conduct of the defense of such action or claim that may give rise to an indemnity hereunder, which defense shall be reasonable under the circumstances. No Indemnified Person shall compromise or settle any action or claim that may give rise to an indemnity hereunder without the consent of the Indemnifying Person, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The obligations set forth in this Section shall survive the termination of this Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any party hereto.
SECTION 5.9 Fees and Charges of Depositary. The Company, the Holders, the Beneficial Owners, and persons depositing Shares or surrendering ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited Securities shall be required to pay to the Depositary the Depositary’s fees and related charges identified as payable by them respectively as provided for under Article (9) of the Receipt. All fees and charges so payable may, at any time and from time to time, be changed by agreement between the Depositary and the Company, but, in the case of fees and charges payable by Holders and Beneficial Owners, only in the manner contemplated in Section 6.1 hereof. The Depositary shall provide, without charge, a copy of its latest fee schedule to anyone upon request.
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The Depositary and the Company may reach separate agreement in relation to the payment of any additional remuneration to the Depositary in respect of any exceptional duties which the Depositary finds necessary or desirable and agreed by both parties in the performance of its obligations hereunder and in respect of the actual costs and expenses of the Depositary in respect of any notices required to be given to the Holders in accordance with Article (20) of the Receipt.
In connection with any payment by the Company to the Depositary:
(i) | all fees, taxes, duties, charges, costs and expenses which are payable by the Company shall be paid or be procured to be paid by the Company (and any such amounts which are paid by the Depositary shall be reimbursed to the Depositary by the Company upon demand therefor); |
(ii) | such payment shall be subject to all necessary applicable exchange control and other consents and approvals having been obtained. The Company undertakes to use its reasonable endeavours to obtain all necessary approvals that are required to be obtained by it in this connection; and |
(iii) | the Depositary may request, in its sole but reasonable discretion after reasonable consultation with the Company, an Opinion of Counsel regarding U.S. law, the laws of the Cayman Islands or of any other relevant jurisdiction, to be furnished at the expense of the Company, if at any time it deems it necessary to seek such an Opinion of Counsel regarding the validity of any action to be taken or instructed to be taken under this Agreement. |
The Company agrees to promptly pay to the Depositary such other fees, charges and expenses and to reimburse the Depositary for such out-of-pocket expenses as the Depositary and the Company may agree to in writing from time to time. Responsibility for payment of such charges may at any time and from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company and the Depositary.
All payments by the Company to the Depositary under this Section 5.9 shall be paid without set-off or counterclaim, and free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future taxes, levies, imports, duties, fees, assessments or other charges of whatever nature, imposed by the Cayman Islands or by any department, agency or other political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, and all interest, penalties or similar liabilities with respect thereto.
The right of the Depositary to receive payment of fees, charges and expenses as provided above shall survive the termination of this Deposit Agreement. As to any Depositary, upon the resignation or removal of such Depositary as described in Section 5.4 hereof, such right shall extend for those fees, charges and expenses incurred prior to the effectiveness of such resignation or removal.
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SECTION 5.10 Restricted Securities Owners/Ownership Restrictions. From time to time or upon request of the Depositary, the Company shall provide to the Depositary a list setting forth, to the actual knowledge of the Company, those persons or entities who beneficially own Restricted Securities and the Company shall update such list on a regular basis. The Depositary may rely on such list or update but shall not be liable for any action or omission made in reliance thereon. The Company agrees to advise in writing each of the persons or entities who, to the knowledge of the Company, holds Restricted Securities that such Restricted Securities are ineligible for deposit hereunder (except under the circumstances contemplated in Section 2.11) and, to the extent practicable, shall require each of such persons to represent in writing that such person will not deposit Restricted Securities hereunder (except under the circumstances contemplated in Section 2.11). Holders and Beneficial Owners shall comply with any limitations on ownership of Shares under the Memorandum and Articles of Association or applicable Cayman Islands law as if they held the number of Shares their ADSs represent. The Company shall, in accordance with Article (24) of the Receipt, inform Holders and Beneficial Owners and the Depositary of any other limitations on ownership of Shares that the Holders and Beneficial Owners may be subject to by reason of the number of ADSs held under the Articles of Association or applicable Cayman Islands law, as such restrictions may be in force from time to time.
The Company may, in its sole discretion, but subject to applicable law, instruct the Depositary to take action with respect to the ownership interest of any Holder or Beneficial Owner pursuant to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, including but not limited to, the removal or limitation of voting rights or the mandatory sale or disposition on behalf of a Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Shares represented by the ADRs held by such Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of such limitations, if and to the extent such disposition is permitted by applicable law and the Memorandum and Articles of Association; provided that any such measures are practicable and legal and can be undertaken without undue burden or expense, and provided further the Depositary’s agreement to the foregoing is conditional upon it being advised of any applicable changes in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Depositary shall have no liability for any actions taken in accordance with such instructions.
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ARTICLE VI.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
SECTION 6.1 Amendment/Supplement. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 6.1 and applicable law, the Receipts outstanding at any time, the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and the form of Receipt attached hereto and to be issued under the terms hereof may at any time and from time to time be amended or supplemented by written agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable and not materially prejudicial to the Holders without the consent of the Holders or Beneficial Owners. Any amendment or supplement which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than charges in connection with foreign exchange control regulations, and taxes and/or other governmental charges, delivery and other such expenses payable by Holders or Beneficial Owners), or which shall otherwise materially prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders or Beneficial Owners, shall not, however, become effective as to outstanding Receipts until 30 days after notice of such amendment or supplement shall have been given to the Holders of outstanding Receipts. Notice of any amendment to this Deposit Agreement or form of Receipts shall not need to describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated thereby, and failure to describe the specific amendments in any such notice shall not render such notice invalid, provided, however, that, in each such case, the notice given to the Holders identifies a means for Holders and Beneficial Owners to retrieve or receive the text of such amendment (e., upon retrieval from the Commission's, the Depositary's or the Company's website or upon request from the Depositary).The parties hereto agree that any amendments or supplements which (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary) in order for (a) the American Depositary Shares to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act or (b) the American Depositary Shares or the Shares to be traded solely in electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed not to materially prejudice any substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial Owners. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner at the time any amendment or supplement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such American Depositary Share or Shares, to consent and agree to such amendment or supplement and to be bound by this Deposit Agreement as amended and supplemented thereby. In no event shall any amendment or supplement impair the right of the Holder to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require amendment or supplement of this Deposit Agreement to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement this Deposit Agreement and the Receipt at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement to this Deposit Agreement in such circumstances may become effective before a notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Holders or within any other period of time as required for compliance with such laws, rules or regulations.
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SECTION 6.2 Termination. The Depositary shall, at any time at the written direction of the Company, terminate this Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Holders of all Receipts then outstanding at least 90 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination, provided that, the Depositary shall be reimbursed for any amounts, fees, costs or expenses owed to it in accordance with the terms of this Deposit Agreement and in accordance with any other agreements as otherwise agreed in writing between the Company and the Depositary from time to time, prior to such termination shall take effect. If 90 days shall have expired after (i) the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign, or (ii) the Company shall have delivered to the Depositary a written notice of the removal of the Depositary, and in either case a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.4 hereof, the Depositary may terminate this Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Holders of all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed for such termination. On and after the date of termination of this Deposit Agreement, each Holder will, upon surrender of such Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, upon the payment of the charges of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.6 hereof and subject to the conditions and restrictions therein set forth, and upon payment of any applicable taxes and/or governmental charges, be entitled to Delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Registrar thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, and the Depositary shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Holders thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights or other property as provided in this Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to Deliver Deposited Securities, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in Section 2.6 hereof, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the charges of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Holder in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes and/or governmental charges or assessments). At any time after the expiration of six months from the date of termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held hereunder and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, in an unsegregated account, without liability for interest for the pro rata benefit of the Holders of Receipts whose Receipts have not theretofore been surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement with respect to the Receipts and the Shares, Deposited Securities and American Depositary Shares, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the charges of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Holder in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes and/or governmental charges or assessments). Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary hereunder. The obligations under the terms of this Deposit Agreement and Receipts of Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs outstanding as of the effective date of any termination shall survive such effective date of termination and shall be discharged only when the applicable ADSs are presented by their Holders to the Depositary for cancellation under the terms of this Deposit Agreement and the Holders have each satisfied any and all of their obligations hereunder (including, but not limited to, any payment and/or reimbursement obligations which relate to prior to the effective date of termination but which payment and/or reimbursement is claimed after such effective date of termination).
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Deposit Agreement or any ADR, in connection with the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may, independently and without the need for any action by the Company, make available to Holders of ADSs a means to withdraw the Deposited Securities represented by their ADSs and to direct the deposit of such Deposited Securities into an unsponsored American depositary shares program established by the Depositary, upon such terms and conditions as the Depositary may deem reasonably appropriate, subject however, in each case, to satisfaction of the applicable registration requirements by the unsponsored American depositary shares program under the Securities Act, and to receipt by the Depositary of payment of the applicable fees and charges of, and reimbursement of the applicable expenses incurred by, the Depositary.
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ARTICLE VII.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 7.1 Counterparts. This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be maintained with the Depositary and shall be open to inspection by any Holder during business hours.
SECTION 7.2 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto (and their successors) and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person, except to the extent specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement. Nothing in this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed to give rise to a partnership or joint venture among the parties hereto nor establish a fiduciary or similar relationship among the parties. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (i) the Depositary and its Affiliates may at any time have multiple banking relationships with the Company and its Affiliates, (ii) the Depositary and its Affiliates may be engaged at any time in transactions in which parties adverse to the Company or the Holders or Beneficial Owners may have interests and (iii) nothing contained in this Agreement shall (a) preclude the Depositary or any of its Affiliates from engaging in such transactions or establishing or maintaining such relationships, or (b) obligate the Depositary or any of its Affiliates to disclose such transactions or relationships or to account for any profit made or payment received in such transactions or relationships.
SECTION 7.3 Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
SECTION 7.4 Holders and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect. The Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of American Depositary Shares shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of any Receipt by acceptance hereof or any beneficial interest therein.
SECTION 7.5 Notices. Any and all notices to be given to the Company shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by first-class mail, air courier or cable, telex, facsimile transmission or electronic transmission, confirmed by letter, addressed to 5820 Oberlin Drive, Suite 101, San Diego, CA 92121, USA, Attention: Hao-Yuan Chuang, telephone: +886-910-918-513, email: hyc@belitebio.com, or to any other address which the Company may specify in writing to the Depositary or at which it may be effectively given such notice in accordance with applicable law.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by first-class mail, air courier or cable, telex, facsimile transmission or by electronic transmission (if agreed by the Company and the Depositary), at the Company’s expense, unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Company and the Depositary, confirmed by letter, addressed to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, 1 Columbus Circle, New York, New York 10019, USA, Attention: ADR Department, telephone: +1 212 250-9100, facsimile: + 1 212 797 0327 or to any other address which the Depositary may specify in writing to the Company.
Any and all notices to be given to any Holder shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by first-class mail or cable, telex, facsimile transmission or by electronic transmission (if agreed by the Company and the Depositary), at the Company’s expense, unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Company and the Depositary, addressed to such Holder at the address of such Holder as it appears on the transfer books for Receipts of the Depositary, or, if such Holder shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such Holder be mailed to some other address, at the address specified in such request. Notice to Holders shall be deemed to be notice to Beneficial Owners for all purposes of this Deposit Agreement.
Delivery of a notice sent by mail, air courier or cable, telex, facsimile or electronic transmission shall be deemed to be effective at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a cable, telex, facsimile or electronic transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office letter box or delivered to an air courier service. The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any cable, telex, facsimile or electronic transmission received by it from the other or from any Holder, notwithstanding that such cable, telex, facsimile or electronic transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as aforesaid, as the case may be.
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SECTION 7.6 Governing Law and Jurisdiction. This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted in accordance with, and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, the laws of the State of New York without reference to the principles of choice of law thereof. Subject to the Depositary's rights under the third paragraph of this Section 7.6, the Company and the Depositary agree that the federal or state courts in the City of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any dispute between them that may arise out of or in connection with this Deposit Agreement and, for such purposes, each irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts. Notwithstanding the above, the parties hereto agree that any judgment and/or order from any such New York court can be enforced in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The Company hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers Puglisi & Associates, (the “Process Agent”), now at 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711, USA, as its authorized agent to receive and accept for and on its behalf, and on behalf of its properties, assets and revenues, service by mail of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any suit, action or proceeding brought against the Company in any federal or state court as described in the preceding sentence or in the next paragraph of this Section 7.6. If for any reason the Process Agent shall cease to be available to act as such, the Company agrees to designate a new agent in the City of New York on the terms and for the purposes of this Section 7.6 reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary. The Company further hereby irrevocably consents and agrees to the service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents in any suit, action or proceeding against the Company, by service by mail of a copy thereof upon the Process Agent (whether or not the appointment of such Process Agent shall for any reason prove to be ineffective or such Process Agent shall fail to accept or acknowledge such service), with a copy mailed to the Company by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, to its address provided in Section 7.5 hereof. The Company agrees that the failure of the Process Agent to give any notice of such service to it shall not impair or affect in any way the validity of such service or any judgment rendered in any action or proceeding based thereon.
The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any actions, suits or proceedings brought in any court as provided in this Section 7.6, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
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The Company, the Depositary and by holding an American Depositary Share (or interest therein) Holders and Beneficial Owners each agree that, notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to any claim or dispute or difference of whatever nature between or involving the parties hereto arising directly or indirectly from the relationship created by this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary, in its sole discretion, shall be entitled to refer such dispute or difference for final settlement by arbitration (“Arbitration”) in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “Rules”) then in force. The arbitration shall be conducted by three arbitrators, one nominated by the Depositary, one nominated by the Company, and one nominated by the two party-appointed arbitrators within 30 calendar days of the confirmation of the nomination of the second arbitrator. If any arbitrator has not been nominated within the time limits specified herein and in the Rules, then such arbitrator shall be appointed by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with the Rules. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be enforced in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The seat and place of any reference to arbitration shall be New York City, New York, and the procedural law of such arbitration shall be New York law. The language to be used in the arbitration shall be English. The fees of the arbitrator and other costs incurred by the parties in connection with such Arbitration shall be paid by the party or parties that is (are) unsuccessful in such Arbitration. For the avoidance of doubt this paragraph does not preclude Holders and Beneficial Owners from pursuing claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act in federal courts.
Holders and Beneficial Owners understand, and holding an American Depositary Share or an interest therein, such Holders and Beneficial Owners each irrevocably agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving the Company or the Depositary, arising out of or based upon the Deposit Agreement, the American Depositary Shares or Receipts, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or by virtue of ownership thereof, may only be instituted in a state or federal court in New York, New York, and by holding an American Depositary Share or an interest therein each irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Holders and Beneficial Owners agree that the provisions of this paragraph shall survive such Holders’ and Beneficial Owners’ ownership of American Depositary Shares or interests therein.
EACH PARTY TO THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH HOLDER AND BENEFICIAL OWNER AND/OR HOLDER OF INTERESTS IN ANY ADRs) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE DEPOSITARY AND/OR THE COMPANY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE ADSs OR THE ADRs, THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, COMMON LAW OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
The provisions of this Section 7.6 shall survive any termination of this Deposit Agreement, in whole or in part.
SECTION 7.7 Assignment. Subject to the provisions and exceptions set forth in Section 5.4 hereof, this Deposit Agreement may not be assigned by either the Company or the Depositary.
SECTION 7.8 Agents. The Depositary shall be entitled, in its sole but reasonable discretion, to appoint one or more agents (the “Agents”) of which it shall have control for the purpose, inter alia, of making distributions to the Holders or otherwise carrying out its obligations under this Agreement.
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SECTION 7.9 Affiliates etc. The Depositary reserves the right to utilize and retain a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary to direct, manage and/or execute any public and/or private sale of Shares, rights, securities, property or other entitlements hereunder and to engage in the conversion of Foreign Currency hereunder. It is anticipated that such division and/or Affiliate(s) will charge the Depositary a fee and/or commission in connection with each such transaction, and seek reimbursement of its costs and expenses related thereto. Such fees/commissions, costs and expenses, shall be deducted from amounts distributed hereunder and shall not be deemed to be fees of the Depositary under Article (9) of the Receipt or otherwise. Persons are advised that in converting foreign currency into U.S. dollars the Depositary may utilize Deutsche Bank AG or its affiliates (collectively, “DBAG”) to effect such conversion by seeking to enter into a foreign exchange (“FX”) transaction with DBAG. When converting currency, the Depositary is not acting as a fiduciary for the holders or beneficial owners of depositary receipts or any other person. Moreover, in executing FX transactions, DBAG will be acting in a principal capacity, and not as agent, fiduciary or broker, and may hold positions for its own account that are the same, similar, different or opposite to the positions of its customers, including the Depositary. When the Depositary seeks to execute an FX transaction to accomplish such conversion, customers should be aware that DBAG is a global dealer in FX for a full range of FX products and, as a result, the rate obtained in connection with any requested foreign currency conversion may be impacted by DBAG executing FX transactions for its own account or with another customer. In addition, in order to source liquidity for any FX transaction relating to any foreign currency conversion, DBAG may internally share economic terms relating to the relevant FX transaction with persons acting in a sales or trading capacity for DBAG or one of its agents. DBAG may charge fees and/or commissions to the Depositary or add a mark-up in connection with such conversions, which are reflected in the rate at which the foreign currency will be converted into U.S. dollars. The Depositary, its Affiliates and their agents, on their own behalf, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its Affiliates and in ADSs.
SECTION 7.10 Exclusivity. The Company agrees not to appoint any other depositary for the issuance or administration of depositary receipts evidencing any class of stock of the Company so long as Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas is acting as Depositary hereunder.
SECTION 7.11 Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws. Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the withdrawal or Delivery of Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the Company or the Depositary except as would be permitted by Instruction I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act.
SECTION 7.12 Titles. All references in this Deposit Agreement to exhibits, Articles, sections, subsections, and other subdivisions refer to the exhibits, Articles, sections, subsections and other subdivisions of this Deposit Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. The words “this Deposit Agreement”, “herein”, “hereof”, “hereby”, “hereunder”, and words of similar import refer to this Deposit Agreement as a whole as in effect between the Company, the Depositary and the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. Pronouns in masculine, feminine and neuter gender shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa unless the context otherwise requires. Titles to sections of this Deposit Agreement are included for convenience only and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained in this Deposit Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, BELITE BIO, INC and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth and all Holders and Beneficial Owners shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
BELITE BIO, INC |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
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EXHIBIT A
CUSIP________
ISIN________
American Depositary Shares (Each American Depositary Share representing [●] Fully Paid Ordinary Shares) | |
---|---|
[FORM OF FACE OF RECEIPT]
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
for
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
DEPOSITED ORDINARY SHARES
of
BELITE BIO, INC
(Incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands)
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as depositary (herein called the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that ________________ is the owner of ______________ American Depositary Shares (hereinafter “ADS”), representing deposited ordinary shares, each of Par Value of U.S. $ 0.0001 including evidence of rights to receive such ordinary shares (the “Shares”) of Belite Bio, Inc, a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”). As of the date of the Deposit Agreement (hereinafter referred to), each ADS represents [●] Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement with the Custodian which at the date of execution of the Deposit Agreement is Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch (the “Custodian”). The ratio of Depositary Shares to shares of stock is subject to subsequent amendment as provided in Article IV of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary’s Corporate Trust Office is located at 1 Columbus Circle, New York, New York 10019, U.S.A.
(1) The Deposit Agreement. This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue of American Depositary Receipts (“Receipts”), all issued or to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement, dated as of [●], 2022 (as amended from time to time, the “Deposit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of Receipts issued thereunder, each of whom by accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party thereto and becomes bound by all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights and obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners of Receipts and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time, received in respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, other securities, property and cash are herein called “Deposited Securities”). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary and the Custodian.
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Each owner and each Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, shall be deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and applicable ADR(s), and (b) appoint the Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law and to take such action as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s) (the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof).
The statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the Memorandum and Articles of Association (as in effect on the date of the Deposit Agreement) and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. All capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Deposit Agreement. To the extent there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Receipt and the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the terms of the Deposit Agreement shall prevail. Prospective and actual Holders and Beneficial Owners are encouraged to read the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities. The Depositary has made arrangements for the acceptance of the American Depositary Shares into DTC. Each Beneficial Owner of American Depositary Shares held through DTC must rely on the procedures of DTC and the DTC Participants to exercise and be entitled to any rights attributable to such American Depositary Shares. The Receipt evidencing the American Depositary Shares held through DTC will be registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. So long as the American Depositary Shares are held through DTC or unless otherwise required by law, ownership of beneficial interests in the Receipt registered in the name of DTC (or its nominee) will be shown on, and transfers of such ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by (i) DTC (or its nominee), or (ii) DTC Participants (or their nominees).
(2) Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities. Upon surrender, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, of ADSs evidenced by this Receipt for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, and upon payment of (i) the fees and charges of the Depositary for the making of withdrawals of Deposited Securities and cancellation of Receipts (as set forth in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement and Article (9) hereof) and (ii) all fees, taxes and/or governmental charges payable in connection with such surrender and withdrawal, and, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Section 7.11 of the Deposit Agreement, Article (22) hereof and the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities and other applicable laws, the Holder of the American Depositary Shares evidenced hereby is entitled to Delivery, to him or upon his order, of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADS so surrendered. ADS may be surrendered for the purpose of withdrawing Deposited Securities by Delivery of a Receipt evidencing such ADS (if held in registered form) or by book-entry delivery of such ADS to the Depositary.
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A Receipt surrendered for such purposes shall, if so required by the Depositary, be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank, and if the Depositary so requires, the Holder thereof shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be Delivered to or upon the written order of a person or persons designated in such order. Thereupon, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to Deliver (without unreasonable delay) at the designated office of the Custodian or through a book-entry delivery of the Shares (in either case subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and to the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities and applicable laws, now or hereafter in effect), to or upon the written order of the person or persons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as provided above, the Deposited Securities represented by such ADSs, together with any certificate or other proper documents of or relating to title for the Deposited Securities or evidence of the electronic transfer thereof (if available) as the case may be to or for the account of such person. Subject to Article (4) hereof, in the case of surrender of a Receipt evidencing a number of ADSs representing other than a whole number of Shares, the Depositary shall cause ownership of the appropriate whole number of Shares to be Delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall, at the discretion of the Depositary, either (i) issue and Deliver to the person surrendering such Receipt a new Receipt evidencing American Depositary Shares representing any remaining fractional Share, or (ii) sell or cause to be sold the fractional Shares represented by the Receipt so surrendered and remit the proceeds thereof (net of (a) applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary and (b) taxes and/or governmental charges) to the person surrendering the Receipt. At the request, risk and expense of any Holder so surrendering a Receipt, and for the account of such Holder, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward (to the extent permitted by law) any cash or other property (other than securities) held in respect of, and any certificate or certificates and other proper documents of or relating to title to, the Deposited Securities represented by such Receipt to the Depositary for Delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, and for further Delivery to such Holder. Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission. Upon receipt of such direction by the Depositary, the Depositary may make delivery to such person or persons entitled thereto at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of any dividends or cash distributions with respect to the Deposited Securities represented by such Receipt, or of any proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights, which may at the time be held by the Depositary.
(3) Transfers, Split-Ups and Combinations of Receipts. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Registrar shall register transfers of Receipts on its books, upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of a Receipt by the Holder thereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed in the case of a certificated Receipt or accompanied by, or in the case of Receipts issued through any book-entry system, including, without limitation, DRS/Profile, receipt by the Depositary of proper instruments of transfer (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard industry practice) and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York, of the United States, of the Cayman Islands and of any other applicable jurisdiction. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, including payment of the applicable fees and expenses incurred by, and charges of, the Depositary, the Depositary shall execute and Deliver a new Receipt(s) (and if necessary, cause the Registrar to countersign such Receipt(s)) and deliver same to or upon the order of the person entitled to such Receipts evidencing the same aggregate number of ADSs as those evidenced by the Receipts surrendered. Upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts upon payment of the applicable fees and charges of the Depositary, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of ADSs requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of ADSs as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
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(4) Pre-Conditions to Registration, Transfer, Etc. As a condition precedent to the execution and Delivery, registration, registration of transfer, split-up, subdivision, combination or surrender of any Receipt, the delivery of any distribution thereon (whether in cash or shares) or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary or the Custodian may require (i) payment from the depositor of Shares or presenter of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees and charges of the Depositary as provided in the Deposit Agreement and in this Receipt, (ii) the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matter and (iii) compliance with (A) any laws or governmental regulations relating to the execution and Delivery of Receipts and ADSs or to the withdrawal of Deposited Securities and (B) such reasonable regulations of the Depositary or the Company consistent with the Deposit Agreement and applicable law.
The issuance of ADSs against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits of particular Shares may be suspended, or the issuance of ADSs against the deposit of particular Shares may be withheld, or the registration of transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company, in good faith, at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law, any government or governmental body or commission or any securities exchange upon which the Receipts or Share are listed, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or provisions of, or governing, the Deposited Securities or any meeting of shareholders of the Company or for any other reason, subject in all cases to Article (22) hereof.
The Depositary shall not issue ADSs prior to the receipt of Shares or deliver Shares prior to the receipt and cancellation of ADSs.
(5) Compliance With Information Requests. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, each Holder and Beneficial Owner of the ADSs represented hereby agrees to comply with requests from the Company pursuant to the laws of the Cayman Islands, the rules and requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and any other stock exchange on which the Shares are, or will be registered, traded or listed, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which are made to provide information as to the capacity in which such Holder or Beneficial Owner owns ADSs and regarding the identity of any other person interested in such ADSs and the nature of such interest and various other matters whether or not they are Holders and/or Beneficial Owner at the time of such request. The Depositary agrees to use reasonable efforts to forward any such requests to the Holders and to forward to the Company any such responses to such requests received by the Depositary.
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(6) Liability of Holder for Taxes, Duties and Other Charges. If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Depositary or the Custodian with respect to any Receipt or any Deposited Securities or ADSs, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Holders and Beneficial Owners to the Depositary. The Company, the Custodian and/or the Depositary may withhold or deduct from any distributions made in respect of Deposited Securities and may sell for the account of the Holder and/or Beneficial Owner any or all of the Deposited Securities and apply such distributions and sale proceeds in payment of such taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or charges, with the Holder and the Beneficial Owner hereof remaining fully liable for any deficiency. The Custodian may refuse the deposit of Shares, and the Depositary may refuse to issue ADSs, to deliver Receipts, register the transfer, split-up or combination of ADRs and (subject to Article (22) hereof) the withdrawal of Deposited Securities, until payment in full of such tax, charge, penalty or interest is received.
The liability of Holders and Beneficial Owners under the Deposit Agreement shall survive any transfer of Receipts, any surrender of Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities or the termination of the Deposit Agreement.
Holders understand that in converting Foreign Currency, amounts received on conversion are calculated at a rate which may exceed the number of decimal places used by the Depositary to report distribution rates (which in any case will not be less than two decimal places). Any excess amount may be retained by the Depositary as an additional cost of conversion, irrespective of any other fees and expenses payable or owing hereunder and shall not be subject to escheatment.
(7) Representations and Warranties of Depositors. Each person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that (i) such Shares (and the certificates therefor) are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and were legally obtained by such person, (ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Shares, have been validly waived or exercised, (iii) the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do, (iv) the Shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim, and are not, and the ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities (except as contemplated by Section 2.11 of the Deposit Agreement), (v) the Shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements and (vi) the Shares are not subject to any lock-up agreement with the Company or other party, or the Shares are subject to a lock-up agreement but such lock-up agreement has terminated or the lock-up restrictions imposed thereunder have expired or been validly waived. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit and withdrawal of Shares and the issuance, cancellation and transfer of ADSs. If any such representations or warranties are false in any way, the Company and Depositary shall be authorized, at the cost and expense of the person depositing Shares, to take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences thereof.
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(8) Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. Any person presenting Shares for deposit shall provide, any Holder and any Beneficial Owner may be required to provide, and every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees, from time to time to provide to the Depositary such proof of citizenship or residence, taxpayer status, payment of all applicable taxes and/or other governmental charges, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership of ADSs and Deposited Securities, compliance with applicable laws and the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the provisions of, or governing, the Deposited Securities or other information as the Depositary deems necessary or proper or as the Company may reasonably require by written request to the Depositary consistent with its obligations under the Deposit Agreement. Pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary and the Registrar, as applicable, may withhold the execution or Delivery or registration of transfer of any Receipt or the distribution or sale of any dividend or other distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof, or to the extent not limited by the terms of Article (22) hereof or the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certifications are executed, or such representations and warranties are made, or such other documentation or information provided, in each case to the Depositary’s and the Company’s satisfaction. The Depositary shall from time to time on the written request of the Company advise the Company of the availability of any such proofs, certificates or other information and shall, at the Company’s sole expense, provide or otherwise make available copies thereof to the Company upon written request therefor by the Company, unless such disclosure is prohibited by law. Each Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to provide any information requested by the Company or the Depositary pursuant to this paragraph. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to (i) obtain any information for the Company if not provided by the Holders or Beneficial Owners or (ii) verify or vouch for the accuracy of the information so provided by the Holders or Beneficial Owners.
Every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian, the Agents and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates against, and to hold each of them harmless from, any Losses which any of them may incur or which may be made against any of them as a result of or in connection with any inaccuracy in or omission from any such proof, certificate, representation, warranty, information or document furnished by or on behalf of such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner or as a result of any such failure to furnish any of the foregoing.
The obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners under the Deposit Agreement shall survive any transfer of Receipts, any surrender of Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities or the termination of the Deposit Agreement.
(9) Charges of Depositary. The Depositary reserves the right to charge the following fees for the services performed under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, provided, however, that no fees shall be payable upon distribution of cash dividends so long as the charging of such fee is prohibited by the exchange, if any, upon which the ADSs are listed:
(i) to any person to whom ADSs are issued or to any person to whom a distribution is made in respect of ADS distributions pursuant to stock dividends or other free distributions of stock, bonus distributions, stock splits or other distributions (except where converted to cash), a fee not in excess of U.S. $ 5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) so issued under the terms of the Deposit Agreement to be determined by the Depositary;
(ii) to any person surrendering ADSs for withdrawal of Deposited Securities or whose ADSs are cancelled or reduced for any other reason including, inter alia, cash distributions made pursuant to a cancellation or withdrawal, a fee not in excess of U.S. $ 5.00 per 100 ADSs reduced, cancelled or surrendered (as the case may be);
(iii) to any holder of ADSs (including, without limitation, Holders), a fee not in excess of U.S. $ 5.00 per 100 ADSs held for the distribution of cash dividends;
(iv) to any holder of ADSs (including, without limitation, Holders), a fee not in excess of U.S. $ 5.00 per 100 ADSs held for the distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends) and/or cash proceeds, including proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other entitlements;
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(v) to any holder of ADSs (including, without limitation, Holders), a fee not in excess of U.S. $ 5.00 per 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) issued upon the exercise of rights; and
(vi) for the operation and maintenance costs in administering the ADSs an annual fee not in excess of U.S. $ 5.00 per 100 ADSs, such fee to be assessed against Holders of record as of the date or dates set by the Depositary as it sees fit and collected at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Holders for such fee or by deducting such fee from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions.
In addition, Holders, Beneficial Owners, any person depositing Shares for deposit and any person surrendering ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited Securities will be required to pay the following charges:
(i) taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;
(ii) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of Shares or other Deposited Securities with the Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares or other Deposited Securities to or from the name of the Custodian, the Depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;
(iii) such cable, telex, facsimile and electronic transmission and delivery expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of the depositor depositing or person withdrawing Shares or Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs;
(iv) the expenses and charges incurred by the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary in the conversion of Foreign Currency;
(v) such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to Shares, Deposited Securities, ADSs and ADRs;
(vi) the fees and expenses incurred by the Depositary in connection with the delivery of Deposited Securities, including any fees of a central depository for securities in the local market, where applicable;
(vii) any additional fees, charges, costs or expenses that may be incurred by the Depositary or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary from time to time.
Any other fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary or the Custodian under the Deposit Agreement shall be for the account of the Company unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Company and the Depositary from time to time. All fees and charges may, at any time and from time to time, be changed by agreement between the Depositary and Company but, in the case of fees and charges payable by Holders or Beneficial Owners, only in the manner contemplated by Article (20) hereof.
The Depositary may make payments to the Company and/or may share revenue with the Company derived from fees collected from Holders and Beneficial Owners, upon such terms and conditions as the Company and the Depositary may agree from time to time.
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(10) Title to Receipts. It is a condition of this Receipt, and every successive Holder of this Receipt by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this Receipt (and to each ADS evidenced hereby) is transferable by delivery of the Receipt, provided it has been properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, such Receipt being a certificated security under the laws of the State of New York. Notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, the Depositary may deem and treat the Holder of this Receipt (that is, the person in whose name this Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary) as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes. The Depositary shall have no obligation or be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt to any holder of this Receipt or any Beneficial Owner unless such holder is the Holder of this Receipt registered on the books of the Depositary or, in the case of a Beneficial Owner, such Beneficial Owner or the Beneficial Owner’s representative is the Holder registered on the books of the Depositary.
(11) Validity of Receipt. This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or enforceable for any purpose, unless this Receipt has been (i) dated, (ii) signed by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary, (iii) if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed, countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Registrar and (iv) registered in the books maintained by the Depositary or the Registrar, as applicable, for the issuance and transfer of Receipts. Receipts bearing the facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, who at the time of signature was a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, as the case may be, shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding the fact that such signatory has ceased to be so authorized prior to the execution and delivery of such Receipt by the Depositary or did not hold such office on the date of issuance of such Receipts.
(12) Available Information; Reports; Inspection of Transfer Books. The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to foreign private issuers (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) and accordingly files certain information with the Commission. These reports and documents can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549, U.S.A. The Depositary shall make available during normal business hours on any Business Day for inspection by Holders at its Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting materials, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary, the Custodian, or the nominee of either of them as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company.
The Depositary or the Registrar, as applicable, shall keep books for the registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Company and by the Holders of such Receipts, provided that such inspection shall not be, to the Depositary’s or the Registrar’s knowledge, for the purpose of communicating with Holders of such Receipts in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or other than a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
The Depositary or the Registrar, as applicable, may close the transfer books with respect to the Receipts, at any time or from time to time, when deemed necessary or advisable by it in good faith in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, or at the reasonable written request of the Company subject, in all cases, to Article (22) hereof.
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Dated: | DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Depositary | |
By: | ||
By: |
The address of the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary is 1 Columbus Circle, New York, New York 10019, U.S.A.
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EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF REVERSE OF RECEIPT]
SUMMARY OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
(13) Dividends and Distributions in Cash, Shares, etc. Whenever the Depositary receives confirmation from the Custodian of receipt of any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, or receives proceeds from the sale of any Shares, rights securities or other entitlements under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will, if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a Foreign Currency can, in the judgment of the Depositary (upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement), be converted on a practicable basis, into Dollars transferable to the United States, promptly convert or cause to be converted such dividend, distribution or proceeds into Dollars and will distribute promptly the amount thus received (net of applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary and taxes and/or governmental charges) to the Holders of record as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of ADSs representing such Deposited Securities held by such Holders respectively as of the ADS Record Date. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Holder a fraction of one cent. Any such fractional amounts shall be rounded down to the nearest whole cent and so distributed to Holders entitled thereto. Holders and Beneficial Owners understand that in converting Foreign Currency, amounts received on conversion are calculated at a rate which exceeds the number of decimal places used by the Depositary to report distribution rates. The excess amount may be retained by the Depositary as an additional cost of conversion, irrespective of any other fees and expenses payable or owing hereunder and shall not be subject to escheatment. If the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes, duties or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to Holders on the ADSs representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. Such withheld amounts shall be forwarded by the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary to the relevant governmental authority. Evidence of payment thereof by the Company shall be forwarded by the Company to the Depositary upon request. The Depositary shall forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file with governmental agencies such reports as are necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties for the Holders and Beneficial Owners of Receipts.
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Company shall cause such Shares to be deposited with the Custodian and registered, as the case may be, in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or their nominees. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit, the Depositary shall, subject to and in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, establish the ADS Record Date and either (i) distribute to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of ADSs held by such Holders as of the ADS Record Date, additional ADSs, which represent in aggregate the number of Shares received as such dividend, or free distribution, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and taxes and/or governmental charges), or (ii) if additional ADSs are not so distributed, each ADS issued and outstanding after the ADS Record Date shall, to the extent permissible by law, thenceforth also represent rights and interests in the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby (net of the applicable fees and charges of, and the expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and taxes and/or governmental charges). In lieu of delivering fractional ADSs, the Depositary shall sell the number of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the proceeds upon the terms set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
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In the event that (x) the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, or, (y) if the Company, in the fulfillment of its obligations under the Deposit Agreement, has either (a) furnished an opinion of U.S. counsel determining that Shares must be registered under the Securities Act or other laws in order to be distributed to Holders (and no such registration statement has been declared effective), or (b) fails to timely deliver the documentation contemplated in the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale (after deduction of taxes and/or governmental charges, and fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary) to Holders entitled thereto upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall hold and/or distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
Upon timely receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes an elective distribution to be made available to Holders upon the terms described in the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall, upon provision of all documentation required under the Deposit Agreement, (including, without limitation, any legal opinions the Depositary may request under the Deposit Agreement) determine whether such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable. If so, the Depositary shall, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, establish an ADS Record Date according to Article (14) hereof and establish procedures to enable the Holder hereof to elect to receive the proposed distribution in cash or in additional ADSs. If a Holder elects to receive the distribution in cash, the dividend shall be distributed as in the case of a distribution in cash. If the Holder hereof elects to receive the distribution in additional ADSs, the distribution shall be distributed as in the case of a distribution in Shares upon the terms described in the Deposit Agreement. If such elective distribution is not lawful or reasonably practicable or if the Depositary did not receive satisfactory documentation set forth in the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall, to the extent permitted by law, distribute to Holders, on the basis of the same determination as is made in the Cayman Islands, in respect of the Shares for which no election is made, either (x) cash or (y) additional ADSs representing such additional Shares, in each case, upon the terms described in the Deposit Agreement. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to make available to the Holder hereof a method to receive the elective dividend in Shares (rather than ADSs). There can be no assurance that the Holder hereof will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Shares.
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Whenever the Company intends to distribute to the holders of the Deposited Securities rights to subscribe for additional Shares, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least 45 days prior to the proposed distribution stating whether or not it wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs. Upon timely receipt by the Depositary of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Company shall determine whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such rights available to the Holders. The Depositary shall make such rights available to any Holders only if the Company shall have timely requested that such rights be made available to Holders, the Depositary shall have received the documentation required by the Deposit Agreement, and the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution of rights is lawful and reasonably practicable. If such conditions are not satisfied, the Depositary shall sell the rights as described below. In the event all conditions set forth above are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date and establish procedures (x) to distribute such rights (by means of warrants or otherwise) and (y) to enable the Holders to exercise the rights (upon payment of the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary and taxes and/or governmental charges). Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall obligate the Depositary to make available to the Holders a method to exercise such rights to subscribe for Shares (rather than ADSs). If (i) the Company does not timely request the Depositary to make the rights available to Holders or if the Company requests that the rights not be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary fails to receive the documentation required by the Deposit Agreement or determines it is not lawful or reasonably practicable to make the rights available to Holders, or (iii) any rights made available are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the Depositary shall determine whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to sell such rights, and if it so determines that it is lawful and reasonably practicable, endeavour to sell such rights in a riskless principal capacity or otherwise, at such place and upon such terms (including public and/or private sale) as it may deem proper. The Depositary shall, upon such sale, convert and distribute proceeds of such sale (net of applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary and taxes and/or governmental charges) upon the terms hereof and in the Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary is unable to make any rights available to Holders or to arrange for the sale of the rights upon the terms described above, the Depositary shall allow such rights to lapse. The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or practicable to make such rights available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or exercise, or (iii) the content of any materials forwarded to the Holders on behalf of the Company in connection with the rights distribution.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if registration (under the Securities Act and/or any other applicable law) of the rights or the securities to which any rights relate may be required in order for the Company to offer such rights or such securities to Holders and to sell the securities represented by such rights, the Depositary will not distribute such rights to the Holders (i) unless and until a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such offering is in effect or (ii) unless the Company furnishes to the Depositary opinion(s) of counsel for the Company in the United States and counsel to the Company in any other applicable country in which rights would be distributed, in each case satisfactorily to the Depositary, to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to Holders and Beneficial Owners are exempt from, or do not require registration under, the provisions of the Securities Act or any other applicable laws. In the event that the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian shall be required to withhold and does withhold from any distribution of property (including rights) an amount on account of taxes and/or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Holders shall be reduced accordingly. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes and/or charges.
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There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Shares or to exercise such rights. Nothing herein shall obligate the Company to file any registration statement in respect of any rights or Shares or other securities to be acquired upon the exercise of such rights or otherwise to register or qualify the offer or sale of such rights or securities under the applicable law of any other jurisdiction for any purpose.
Upon receipt of a notice regarding property other than cash, Shares or rights to purchase additional Shares, to be made to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall determine, after consultation with the Company, whether such distribution to Holders is lawful and reasonably practicable. The Depositary shall not make such distribution unless (i) the Company shall have timely requested the Depositary to make such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received the documentation required by the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable. Upon satisfaction of such conditions, the Depositary shall distribute the property so received to the Holders of record as of the ADS Record Date, in proportion to the number of ADSs held by such Holders respectively and in such manner as the Depositary may deem practicable for accomplishing such distribution (i) upon receipt of payment or net of the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (ii) net of any taxes and/or governmental charges. The Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of the property so distributed and deposited, in such amounts and in such manner (including public or private sale) as the Depositary may deem practicable or necessary to satisfy any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or other governmental charges applicable to the distribution.
If the conditions above are not satisfied, the Depositary shall sell or cause such property to be sold in a public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper and shall distribute the proceeds of such sale received by the Depositary (net of (a) applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary and (b) taxes and/or governmental charges) to the Holders upon the terms hereof and of the Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary is unable to sell such property, the Depositary may dispose of such property in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances.
(14) Fixing of Record Date. Whenever necessary in connection with any distribution (whether in cash, Shares, rights or other distribution), or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each ADS, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of or solicitation of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient in connection with the giving of any notice, or any other matter, the Depositary shall fix a record date (the “ADS Record Date”), as close as practicable to the record date fixed by the Company with respect to the Shares (if applicable), for the determination of the Holders who shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or to give or withhold such consent, or to receive such notice or solicitation or to otherwise take action, or to exercise the rights of Holders with respect to such changed number of Shares represented by each ADS or for any other reason. Subject to applicable law and the terms and conditions of this Receipt and the Deposit Agreement, only the Holders of record at the close of business in New York on such ADS Record Date shall be entitled to receive such distributions, to give such voting instructions, to receive such notice or solicitation, or otherwise take action.
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(15) Voting of Deposited Securities. Subject to the next sentence, as soon as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of Deposited Securities are entitled to vote, or of solicitation of consents or proxies from holders of Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix the ADS Record Date in respect of such meeting or such solicitation of consents or proxies. The Depositary shall, if requested by the Company in writing in a timely manner (the Depositary having no obligation to take any further action if the request shall not have been received by the Depositary at least 30 Business Days prior to the date of such vote or meeting) and at the Company’s expense, and provided no U.S. legal prohibitions exist, mail by regular, ordinary mail delivery (or by electronic mail or as otherwise may be agreed between the Company and the Depositary in writing from time to time) or otherwise distribute as soon as practicable after receipt thereof to Holders as of the ADS Record Date: (a) such notice of meeting or solicitation of consent or proxy; (b) a statement that the Holders at the close of business on the ADS Record Date will be entitled, subject to any applicable law, the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities (which provisions, if any, shall be summarized in pertinent part by the Company), to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the Deposited Securities represented by such Holder’s American Depositary Shares; and (c) a brief statement as to the manner in which such voting instructions may be given to the Depositary, or in which instructions may be deemed to have been given in accordance with this Article (15), including an express indication that instructions may be given (or be deemed to have been given in accordance with the immediately following paragraph of this section if no instruction is received) to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person or persons designated by the Company. Voting instructions may be given only in respect of a number of American Depositary Shares representing an integral number of Deposited Securities. Upon the timely receipt of voting instructions of a Holder on the ADS Record Date in the manner specified by the Depositary, the Depositary shall endeavor, insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable law, the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities, to vote or cause the Custodian to vote the Deposited Securities (in person or by proxy) represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with such voting instructions.
In the event that (i) the Depositary timely receives voting instructions from a Holder which fail to specify the manner in which the Depositary is to vote the Deposited Securities represented by such Holder’s ADSs or (ii) no timely instructions are received by the Depositary from a Holder with respect to any of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs held by such Holder on the ADS Record Date, the Depositary shall (unless otherwise specified in the notice distributed to Holders) deem such Holder to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to such Deposited Securities and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote such Deposited Securities, provided, however, that no such instruction shall be deemed to have been given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which the Company informs the Depositary (and the Company agrees to provide such information as promptly as practicable in writing, if applicable) that (x) the Company does not wish to give such proxy, (y) the Company is aware or should reasonably be aware that substantial opposition exists from Holders against the outcome for which the person designated by the Company would otherwise vote or (z) the outcome for which the person designated by the Company would otherwise vote would materially and adversely affect the rights of holders of Deposited Securities, provided, further, that the Company will have no liability to any Holder or Beneficial Owner resulting from such notification.
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In the event that voting on any resolution or matter is conducted on a show of hands basis in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Depositary will refrain from voting and the voting instructions (or the deemed voting instructions, as set out above) received by the Depositary from Holders shall lapse. The Depositary will have no obligation to demand voting on a poll basis with respect to any resolution and shall have no liability to any Holder or Beneficial Owner for not having demanded voting on a poll basis.
Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall, under any circumstances exercise any discretion as to voting, and neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall vote, attempt to exercise the right to vote, or in any way make use of for purposes of establishing a quorum or otherwise, Deposited Securities represented by ADSs except pursuant to and in accordance with such written instructions from Holders, including the deemed instruction to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company. Deposited Securities represented by ADSs for which (i) no timely voting instructions are received by the Depositary from the Holder, or (ii) timely voting instructions are received by the Depositary from the Holder but such voting instructions fail to specify the manner in which the Depositary is to vote the Deposited Securities represented by such Holder’s ADSs, shall be voted in the manner provided in this Article (15). Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, and subject to applicable law, regulation and the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Depositary shall, if so requested in writing by the Company, represent all Deposited Securities (whether or not voting instructions have been received in respect of such Deposited Securities from Holders as of the ADS Record Date) for the purpose of establishing quorum at a meeting of shareholders.
There can be no assurance that Holders or Beneficial Owners generally or any Holder or Beneficial Owner in particular will receive the notice described above with sufficient time to enable the Holder to return voting instructions to the Depositary in a timely manner.
Notwithstanding the above, save for applicable provisions of the law of the Cayman Islands, and in accordance with the terms of Section 5.3 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall not be liable for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities or the manner in which such vote is cast or the effect of such vote.
(16) Changes Affecting Deposited Securities. Upon any change in par value, split-up, subdivision, cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, amalgamation or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it otherwise is a party, any securities which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for, or in conversion of or replacement or otherwise in respect of, such Deposited Securities shall, to the extent permitted by law, be treated as new Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and the Receipts shall, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, evidence ADSs representing the right to receive such additional securities. Alternatively, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall, if the Company shall so requests, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and receipt of satisfactory documentation contemplated by the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a stock dividend on the Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts, in either case, as well as in the event of newly deposited Shares, with necessary modifications to this form of Receipt specifically describing such new Deposited Securities and/or corporate change. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any security so received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Holders, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall if the Company requests, subject to receipt of satisfactory legal documentation contemplated in the Deposit Agreement, sell such securities at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper and may allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and/or a division or Affiliate(s) of the Depositary and taxes and/or governmental charges) for the account of the Holders otherwise entitled to such securities and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the case of a distribution received in cash pursuant to the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such securities available to Holders in general or any Holder in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such securities.
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(17) Exoneration. None of the Depositary, the Custodian or the Company shall be obligated to do or perform any act which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or shall incur any liability to Holders, Beneficial Owners or any third parties (i) if the Depositary, the Custodian or the Company or their respective controlling persons or agents shall be prevented or forbidden from, or subjected to any civil or criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and this Receipt, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States, the Cayman Islands or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future of the Memorandum and Articles of Association or any provision of or governing any Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control, (including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure), (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement or in the Memorandum and Articles of Association or provisions of or governing Deposited Securities, (iii) for any action or inaction of the Depositary, the Custodian or the Company or their respective controlling persons or agents in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder, any Beneficial Owner or authorized representative thereof, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information, (iv) for any inability by a Holder or Beneficial Owner to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, made available to Holders of ADS or (v) for any special, consequential, indirect or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement or otherwise. The Depositary, its controlling persons, its agents (including without limitation, the Agents), any Custodian and the Company, its controlling persons and its agents may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, opinion or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement.
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(18) Standard of Care. The Company and the Depositary and their respective directors, officers, Affiliates, employees and agents (including without limitation, the Agents) assume no obligation and shall not be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts to Holders or Beneficial Owners or other persons, except in accordance with Section 5.8 of the Deposit Agreement, provided, that the Company and the Depositary and their respective directors, officers, Affiliates, employees and agents (including without limitation, the Agents) agree to perform their respective obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without gross negligence or wilful misconduct. The Depositary and its directors, officers, Affiliates, employees and agents (including without limitation, the Agents) shall not be liable for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any vote is cast or the effect of any vote. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for any failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable, for the content of any information submitted to it by the Company for distribution to the Holders or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the Deposited Securities, for the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities or for any tax consequences that may result from the ownership of ADSs, Shares or Deposited Securities, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement or for the failure or timeliness of any notice from the Company or for any action or non action by it in reliance upon the opinion, advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary and its agents (including without limitation, the Agents) shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations without gross negligence or willful misconduct while it acted as Depositary.
(19) Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary. The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement by written notice of resignation delivered to the Company, such resignation to be effective on the earlier of (i) the 90th day after delivery thereof to the Company (whereupon the Depositary shall, in the event no successor depositary has been appointed by the Company, be entitled to take the actions contemplated in the Deposit Agreement), or (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement, save that, any amounts, fees, costs or expenses owed to the Depositary under the Deposit Agreement or in accordance with any other agreements otherwise agreed in writing between the Company and the Depositary from time to time shall be paid to the Depositary prior to such resignation. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to appoint such successor depositary, and give notice to the Depositary of such appointment, not more than 90 days after delivery by the Depositary of written notice of resignation as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal which notice shall be effective on the later of (i) the 90th day after delivery thereof to the Depositary (whereupon the Depositary shall be entitled to take the actions contemplated in the Deposit Agreement if a successor depositary has not been appointed), or (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement save that, any amounts, fees, costs or expenses owed to the Depositary under the Deposit Agreement or in accordance with any other agreements otherwise agreed in writing between the Company and the Depositary from time to time shall be paid to the Depositary prior to such removal. In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York and if it shall have not appointed a successor depositary the provisions referred to in Article (21) hereof and correspondingly in the Deposit Agreement shall apply. Every successor depositary shall be required by the Company to execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor. The predecessor depositary, upon payment of all sums due to it and on the written request of the Company, shall (i) execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder (other than as contemplated in the Deposit Agreement), (ii) duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest to the Deposited Securities to such successor, and (iii) deliver to such successor a list of the Holders of all outstanding Receipts and such other information relating to Receipts and Holders thereof as the successor may reasonably request. Any such successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to such Holders. Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may assign or otherwise transfer all or any of its rights and benefits under the Deposit Agreement (including any cause of action arising in connection with it) to Deutsche Bank AG or any branch thereof or any entity which is a direct or indirect subsidiary or other affiliate of Deutsche Bank AG.
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(20) Amendment/Supplement. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article (20), and applicable law, this Receipt and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended or supplemented by written agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable without the consent of the Holders or Beneficial Owners. Any amendment or supplement which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than the charges of the Depositary in connection with foreign exchange control regulations, and taxes and/or other governmental charges, delivery and other such expenses), or which shall otherwise materially prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders or Beneficial Owners, shall not, however, become effective as to outstanding Receipts until 30 days after notice of such amendment or supplement shall have been given to the Holders of outstanding Receipts. Notice of any amendment to the Deposit Agreement or form of Receipts shall not need to describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated thereby, and failure to describe the specific amendments in any such notice shall not render such notice invalid, provided, however, that, in each such case, the notice given to the Holders identifies a means for Holders and Beneficial Owners to retrieve or receive the text of such amendment (i.e., upon retrieval from the Commission's, the Depositary's or the Company's website or upon request from the Depositary). The parties hereto agree that any amendments or supplements which (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary) in order for (a) the ADSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act or (b) the ADSs or Shares to be traded solely in electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed not to materially prejudice any substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial Owners. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner at the time any amendment or supplement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such ADS, to consent and agree to such amendment or supplement and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended or supplemented thereby. In no event shall any amendment or supplement impair the right of the Holder to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require amendment or supplement of the Deposit Agreement to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement and the Receipt at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement to the Deposit Agreement in such circumstances may become effective before a notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Holders or within any other period of time as required for compliance with such laws, or rules or regulations.
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(21) Termination. The Depositary shall, at any time at the written direction of the Company, terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Holders of all Receipts then outstanding at least 90 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination provided that, the Depositary shall be reimbursed for any amounts, fees, costs or expenses owed to it in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement and in accordance with any other agreements as otherwise agreed in writing between the Company and the Depositary from time to time, prior to such termination shall take effect. If 90 days shall have expired after (i) the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign, or (ii) the Company shall have delivered to the Depositary a written notice of the removal of the Depositary, and in either case a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided herein and in the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Holders of all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed for such termination. On and after the date of termination of the Deposit Agreement, each Holder will, upon surrender of such Holder’s Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, upon the payment of the charges of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Article (2) hereof and in the Deposit Agreement and subject to the conditions and restrictions therein set forth, and upon payment of any applicable taxes and/or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Registrar thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, and the Depositary shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Holders thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights or other property as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in the Deposit Agreement, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case the charges of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Holder in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes and/or governmental charges or assessments). At any time after the expiration of six months from the date of termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held hereunder and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, in an unsegregated account, without liability for interest for the pro rata benefit of the Holders of Receipts whose Receipts have not theretofore been surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement with respect to the Receipts and the Shares, Deposited Securities and ADSs, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case the charges of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Holder in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes and/or governmental charges or assessments) and except as set forth in the Deposit Agreement. Upon the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except as set forth in the Deposit Agreement. The obligations under the terms of the Deposit Agreement and Receipts of Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs outstanding as of the effective date of any termination shall survive such effective date of termination and shall be discharged only when the applicable ADSs are presented by their Holders to the Depositary for cancellation under the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the Holders have each satisfied any and all of their obligations hereunder (including, but not limited to, any payment and/or reimbursement obligations which relate to prior to the effective date of termination but which payment and/or reimbursement is claimed after such effective date of termination).
58
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, in connection with the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may, independently and without the need for any action by the Company, make available to Holders of ADSs a means to withdraw the Deposited Securities represented by their ADSs and to direct the deposit of such Deposited Securities into an unsponsored American depositary shares program established by the Depositary, upon such terms and conditions as the Depositary may deem reasonably appropriate, subject however, in each case, to satisfaction of the applicable registration requirements by the unsponsored American depositary shares program under the Securities Act, and to receipt by the Depositary of payment of the applicable fees and charges of, and reimbursement of the applicable expenses incurred by, the Depositary.
(22) Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws; Regulatory Compliance. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Receipt or the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the withdrawal or Delivery of Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the Company or the Depositary except as would be permitted by Section I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act.
(23) Certain Rights of the Depositary. The Depositary, its Affiliates and their agents, on their own behalf, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its Affiliates and in ADSs. The Depositary may issue ADSs against evidence of rights to receive Shares from the Company, any agent of the Company or any custodian, registrar, transfer agent, clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction records in respect of the Shares.
(24) Ownership Restrictions. Owners and Beneficial Owners shall comply with any limitations on ownership of Shares under the Memorandum and Articles of Association or applicable Cayman Islands law as if they held the number of Shares their American Depositary Shares represent. The Company shall inform the Owners, Beneficial Owners and the Depositary of any such ownership restrictions in place from time to time.
(25) Waiver. EACH PARTY TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH HOLDER AND BENEFICIAL OWNER AND/OR HOLDER OF INTERESTS IN ANY ADRs) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE DEPOSITARY AND/OR THE COMPANY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE ADSs OR THE ADRs, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, COMMON LAW OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
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(ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER SIGNATURE LINES)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Holder hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto ______________________________ whose taxpayer identification number is _______________________ and whose address including postal zip code is ____________________________, the within Receipt and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ________________________ attorney-in-fact to transfer said Receipt on the books of the Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: | Name: | |||
By: | ||||
Title: | ||||
NOTICE: The signature of the Holder to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. | ||||
If the endorsement be executed by an attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, the person executing the endorsement must give his/her full title in such capacity and proper evidence of authority to act in such capacity, if not on file with the Depositary, must be forwarded with this Receipt. | ||||
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED | ||||
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ARTICLE I. | DEFINITIONS | 1 | |
SECTION 1.1 | “Affiliate” | 1 | |
SECTION 1.2 | “Agent” | 1 | |
SECTION 1.3 | “American Depositary Share(s)” and “ADS(s)” | 2 | |
SECTION 1.4 | “Article” | 2 | |
SECTION 1.5 | “Articles of Association” | 2 | |
SECTION 1.6 | “ADS Record Date” | 2 | |
SECTION 1.7 | “Beneficial Owner” | 2 | |
SECTION 1.8 | “Business Day” | 2 | |
SECTION 1.9 | “Commission” | 2 | |
SECTION 1.10 | “Company” | 2 | |
SECTION 1.11 | “Corporate Trust Office” | 2 | |
SECTION 1.12 | “Custodian” | 2 | |
SECTION 1.13 | “Deliver”, “Deliverable” and “Delivery” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.14 | “Deposit Agreement” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.15 | “Depositary” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.16 | “Deposited Securities” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.17 | “Dollars” and “$” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.18 | “DRS/Profile” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.19 | “DTC” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.20 | “DTC Participants” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.21 | “Exchange Act” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.22 | “Foreign Currency” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.23 | “Foreign Registrar” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.24 | “Holder” | 3 | |
SECTION 1.25 | “Indemnified Person” and “Indemnifying Person” | 4 | |
SECTION 1.26 | “Losses” | 4 | |
SECTION 1.27 | “Memorandum” | 4 | |
SECTION 1.28 | “Opinion of Counsel” | 4 | |
SECTION 1.29 | “Receipt(s); “American Depositary Receipt(s)”; and “ADR(s)” | 4 | |
SECTION 1.30 | “Registrar” | 4 | |
SECTION 1.31 | “Restricted ADRs\ | 4 | |
SECTION 1.32 | “Restricted ADSs\ | 4 | |
SECTION 1.33 | “Restricted Securities” | 4 | |
SECTION 1.34 | “Restricted Shares\ | 4 | |
SECTION 1.35 | “Securities Act” | 4 | |
SECTION 1.36 | “Share(s)” | 4 | |
SECTION 1.37 | “United States” or “U.S.” | 5 | |
ARTICLE II. | APPOINTMENT OF DEPOSITARY; FORM OF RECEIPT; DEPOSIT OF SHARES; EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS | 5 | |
SECTION 2.1 | Appointment of Depositary | 5 | |
SECTION 2.2 | Form and Transferability of Receipts | 5 | |
SECTION 2.3 | Deposits | 6 | |
SECTION 2.4 | Execution and Delivery of Receipts | 8 | |
SECTION 2.5 | Transfer of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of Receipts | 8 | |
SECTION 2.6 | Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities | 9 | |
SECTION 2.7 | Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, etc. of Receipts; Suspension of Delivery, Transfer, etc. | 10 | |
SECTION 2.8 | Lost Receipts, etc. | 11 | |
SECTION 2.9 | Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts | 11 | |
SECTION 2.10 | Maintenance of Records | 11 |
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ARTICLE III. | CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF RECEIPTS | 12 | |
SECTION 3.1 | Proofs, Certificates and Other Information | 12 | |
SECTION 3.2 | Liability for Taxes and Other Charges | 13 | |
SECTION 3.3 | Representations and Warranties on Deposit of Shares | 13 | |
SECTION 3.4 | Compliance with Information Requests | 14 | |
ARTICLE IV | THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES. | 14 | |
SECTION 4.1 | Cash Distributions | 14 | |
SECTION 4.2 | Distribution in Shares | 15 | |
SECTION 4.3 | Elective Distributions in Cash or Shares | 16 | |
SECTION 4.4 | Distribution of Rights to Purchase Shares | 16 | |
SECTION 4.5 | Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights to Purchase Shares | 18 | |
SECTION 4.6 | Conversion of Foreign Currency | 18 | |
SECTION 4.7 | Fixing of Record Date | 19 | |
SECTION 4.8 | Voting of Deposited Securities | 20 | |
SECTION 4.9 | Changes Affecting Deposited Securities | 21 | |
SECTION 4.10 | Available Information | 22 | |
SECTION 4.11 | Reports | 22 | |
SECTION 4.12 | List of Holders | 22 | |
SECTION 4.13 | Taxation; Withholding | 23 | |
ARTICLE V. | THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIAN AND THE COMPANY | 24 | |
SECTION 5.1 | Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Registrar | 24 | |
SECTION 5.2 | Exoneration | 25 | |
SECTION 5.3 | Standard of Care | 25 | |
SECTION 5.4 | Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary | 26 | |
SECTION 5.5 | The Custodian | 27 | |
SECTION 5.6 | Notices and Reports | 28 | |
SECTION 5.7 | Issuance of Additional Shares, ADSs etc. | 28 | |
SECTION 5.8 | Indemnification | 29 | |
SECTION 5.9 | Fees and Charges of Depositary | 30 | |
SECTION 5.10 | Restricted Securities Owners/Ownership Restrictions | 31 | |
ARTICLE VI. | AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION | 32 | |
SECTION 6.1 | Amendment/Supplement | 32 | |
SECTION 6.2 | Termination | 33 |
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ARTICLE VII. | MISCELLANEOUS | 34 | ||
SECTION 7.1 | Counterparts | 34 | ||
SECTION 7.2 | No Third-Party Beneficiaries | 34 | ||
SECTION 7.3 | Severability | 35 | ||
SECTION 7.4 | Holders and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect | 35 | ||
SECTION 7.5 | Notices | 35 | ||
SECTION 7.6 | Governing Law and Jurisdiction | 36 | ||
SECTION 7.7 | Assignment | 37 | ||
SECTION 7.8 | Agents | 37 | ||
SECTION 7.9 | Affiliates etc | 38 | ||
SECTION 7.10 | Exclusivity | 38 | ||
SECTION 7.11 | Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws | 38 | ||
SECTION 7.12 | Titles | 38 | ||
EXHIBIT A | 40 | |||
EXHIBIT B | 49 |
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Exhibit 4.4
AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into on December 23, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), by and among
1. | Belite Bio, Inc, an exempted company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), |
2. | each of the Persons named on Schedule A-1 attached hereto (collectively, the “Principals”, and each an “Principal”), |
3. | each of the Persons named on Schedule A-2 hereto (collectively the “Series A Investors”, each a “Series A Investor”), and |
4. | each of the Persons named on Schedule A-3 hereto (collectively the “Series B Investors”, each a “Series B Investor”, together with the Series A Investors, the “Investors”, and each an “Investor”). |
Each of the parties to this Agreement is referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
A | The Company is engaged in the business of drug development (the “Business”). The Company seeks expansion capital to grow the Business and, correspondingly, seeks to secure an investment from the Investors, on the terms and conditions set forth herein. |
B | Certain investors have agreed to purchase from the Company, and the Company has agreed to sell to the investors, certain Series B Preferred Shares (as defined below) of the Company on the terms and conditions set forth in the Series B Preferred Share Purchase Agreement dated as of the date hereof by and among the Company and the Investors (the “Purchase Agreement”). |
C | The Company, the Principals and the Series A Investors entered into certain Shareholders Agreement on January 21, 2020 (the “Prior Shareholders Agreement”). |
D | In connection with the purchase and sale of the Series B Preferred Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and as a condition thereto, the Company and the Investors agree to enter into this Agreement to amend and restate the Prior Shareholders Agreement in its entirety. |
E | The Parties hereto constitute the required parties set forth in Section 15.11 of the Prior Shareholders Agreement and desire to amend and restate the Prior Shareholders Agreement in its entirety as set forth in this Agreement. |
Shareholders Agreement
WITNESSETH
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties intending to be legally bound hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
1.1 Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them below:
“Accounting Standards” means International Financial Reporting Standards as promulgated from time to time by the International Accounting Standards Board (the “IASB”) (including, without limitation, standards and interpretations approved by the IASB and International Accounting Principles issued under previous constitutions thereof), together with the IASB’s pronouncements thereon from time to time, applied on a consistent basis.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such Person. In the case of an Investor, the term “Affiliate” also includes (v) any Controlling shareholder of the Investor, (w) any of such shareholder's or Investors’ general partners or limited partners, (x) the fund manager managing such shareholder or Investor (and general partners, limited partners and officers thereof) and other funds managed by such fund manager, and (y) trusts Controlled by or for the benefit of any such Person referred to in (v), (w) or (x).
“Applicable Securities Laws” means (i) with respect to any offering of securities in the United States, or any other act or omission within that jurisdiction, the securities laws of the United States, including the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, and any applicable Law of any state of the United States, and (ii) with respect to any offering of securities in any jurisdiction other than the United States, or any related act or omission in that jurisdiction, the applicable Laws of that jurisdiction.
“Auditor” means the Person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any).
“Board” or “Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday or other day on which commercial banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in the PRC, Taiwan, or the United States.
“Charter Documents” means, with respect to a particular legal entity, the articles or certificate of incorporation, formation or registration (including, if applicable, certificates of change of name), memorandum of association, articles of association, bylaws, articles of organization, limited liability company agreement, trust deed, trust instrument, operating agreement, joint venture agreement, business license, or similar or other constitutive, governing, or charter documents, or equivalent documents, of such entity.
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Commission” means (i) with respect to any offering of securities in the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act, and (ii) with respect to any offering of securities in a jurisdiction other than the United States, the regulatory body of the jurisdiction with authority to supervise and regulate the offering or sale of securities in that jurisdiction.
2 | Shareholders Agreement |
“Control” of a given Person means the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; provided, that such power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person. The terms “Controlled” and “Controlling” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Deemed Liquidation Event” has the meaning given to such term in the Memorandum and Articles.
“Director” means a director serving on the Board.
“Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person that is a legal entity, any and all shares of capital stock, membership interests, units, profits interests, ownership interests, equity interests, registered capital, and other equity securities of such Person, and any right, warrant, option, call, commitment, conversion privilege, preemptive right or other right to acquire any of the foregoing, or security convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for any of the foregoing.
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exempted Distribution” has the meaning given to such term in the Memorandum and Articles.
“Form F-1” means Form F-1 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act or any successor form or substantially similar form then in effect.
“Form F-3” means Form F-3 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act or any successor form or substantially similar form then in effect.
“Form S-1” means Form F-1 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act or any successor form or substantially similar form then in effect.
“Form S-3” means Form S-3 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act or any successor form or substantially similar form then in effect.
“Governmental Authority” means any government of any nation or any federation, province or state or any other political subdivision thereof, any entity, authority or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including any governmental authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality of any country, or any political subdivision thereof, any court, tribunal or arbitrator, and any self-regulatory organization.
“Governmental Order” means any applicable order, ruling, decision, verdict, decree, writ, subpoena, mandate, precept, command, directive, consent, approval, award, judgment, injunction or other similar determination or finding by, before or under the supervision of any Governmental Authority.
“Group Company” means the Company, together with its Subsidiary, and “Group” refers to all of Group Companies collectively.
3 | Shareholders Agreement |
“Holders” means the holders of Registrable Securities who are parties to this Agreement from time to time, and their permitted transferees that become parties to this Agreement from time to time.
“Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
“Initiating Holders” means, with respect to a request duly made under Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 to Register any Registrable Securities, the Holders initiating such request.
“IPO” means the first firm underwritten registered public offering by the Company of its Ordinary Shares pursuant to a Registration Statement that is filed with and declared effective by either the Commission under the Securities Act or another Governmental Authority for a public offering in a jurisdiction other than the United States.
“Law” or “Laws” means any and all provisions of any applicable constitution, treaty, statute, law, regulation, ordinance, code, rule, or rule of common law, any governmental approval, concession, grant, franchise, license, agreement, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any formally issued written interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority, in each case as amended, and any and all applicable Governmental Orders.
“Majority Investors” means the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding Preferred Shares (voting together as a single class and calculated on as-converted basis).
“Memorandum and Articles” means the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company and the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company, as each may be amended and/or restated from time to time.
“Ordinary Share Equivalents” means any Equity Security which is by its terms convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Ordinary Shares or other share capital of the Company, including without limitation, the Preferred Shares.
“Ordinary Shares” means the Company’s ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, association, limited liability company, firm, trust, estate or other enterprise or entity.
“PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, but solely for the purposes of this Agreement, excluding Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and the islands of Taiwan.
“Preferred Shares” means, collectively, the Series A Preferred Shares and the Series B Preferred Shares.
“Public Official” means any executive, official, or employee of a Governmental Authority, political party or member of a political party, political candidate; executive, employee or officer of a public international organization; or director, officer or employee or agent of a wholly owned or partially state-owned or controlled enterprise.
4 | Shareholders Agreement |
“Qualified IPO” has the meaning given to such term in the Memorandum and Articles.
“Registrable Securities” means (i) the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares, (ii) any Ordinary Shares of the Company issued or issuable as a dividend or other distribution with respect to, in exchange for, or in replacement of, the shares referenced in (i) herein, and (iii) any Ordinary Shares owned or hereafter acquired by the Investors; excluding in all cases, however, any of the foregoing sold by a Person in a transaction other than an assignment pursuant to Section 15.3. For purposes of this Agreement, Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when such Registrable Securities have been disposed of pursuant to an effective Registration Statement.
“Registration” means a registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement and the declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of that Registration Statement; and the terms “Register” and “Registered” have meanings concomitant with the foregoing.
“Registration Statement” means a registration statement prepared on Form F-1, F-3, S-1, or S-3 under the Securities Act, or on any comparable form in connection with registration in a jurisdiction other than the United States.
“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Series A Preferred Shares” means the Series A Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share, with the rights and privileges as set forth in the Memorandum and Articles.
“Series B Preferred Shares” means the Series B Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share, with the rights and privileges as set forth in the Memorandum and Articles.
“Shareholder” means a holder of any Shares.
“Shares” means the Ordinary Shares and the Preferred Shares.
“Share Sale” has the meaning set forth in the Memorandum and Articles.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any given Person, any other Person that is Controlled directly or indirectly by such given Person.
“Transaction Documents” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
“US” means the United States of America.
5 | Shareholders Agreement |
1.2 Other Defined Terms. The following terms shall have the meanings defined for such terms in the Sections set forth below:
Agreement | Preamble |
Approved Sale | Section 9.1 |
Arbitration Notice | Section 15.5(i) |
Business | Recitals |
CFC | Section 14.4 |
Company | Preamble |
Company Notice | Section 8.2(iii)(a) |
Company Option Period | Section 8.2(ii) |
Confidential Information | Section 14.3 |
Co-Sale Notice | Section 8.3(i) |
Dispute | Section 15.5(i) |
Drag Holders | Section 9.1 |
Effective Date | Preamble |
ESOP | Section 7.3(i) |
Exempt Registrations | Section 3.4 |
Exercising Shareholder | Section 8.2(iii)(c) |
HKIAC | Section 15.5(ii) |
HKIAC Rules | Section 15.5(ii) |
Holding Company | Section 8.1(iv) |
Investors | Preamble |
New Securities | Section 7.3 |
Offeror | Section 9.1 |
Offered Shares | Section 8.2(i) |
Option Period | Section 8.2(iii)(a) |
Ordinary Directors | Section 12.1(i) |
Participation Notice | Section 7.4(i) |
Party | Preamble |
Permitted Transferee | Section 8.5 |
Permitted Transferees | Section 8.5 |
PFIC | Section 14.5 |
Preemptive Right | Section 7.1 |
Principal | Preamble |
Purchase Agreement | Preamble |
Re-allotment Period | Section 8.2(iii)(c) |
Rights Holder | Section 7.1 |
Second Notice | Section 8.2(iii)(c) |
Selling Shareholder | Section 8.3(i) |
Transfer | Section 8.1(i) |
Transfer Notice | Section 8.2(i) |
Transferor | Section 8.2(i) |
Violation | Section 5.1(i) |
1.3 Interpretation. For all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly herein provided, (i) the terms defined in this Section 1 shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1 and include the plural as well as the singular, (ii) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned under the Accounting Standards, (iii) all references in this Agreement to designated “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Sections and other subdivisions of the body of this Agreement, (iv) pronouns of either gender or neuter shall include, as appropriate, the other pronoun forms, (v) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision, (vi) all references in this Agreement to designated Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices are to the Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices attached to this Agreement, (vii) references to this Agreement, any other Transaction Documents and any other document shall be construed as references to such document as the same may be amended, supplemented or novated from time to time, (viii) the phrase “directly or indirectly” means directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediate Persons or through contractual or other arrangements, and “direct or indirect” has the correlative meaning, (ix) the term “voting power” refers to the number of votes attributable to the Shares (on an as-converted basis) in accordance with the terms of the Memorandum and Articles, (x) the headings used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement, (xi) references to laws include any such law modifying, re-enacting, extending or made pursuant to the same or which is modified, re-enacted, or extended by the same or pursuant to which the same is made, and (xii) all references to dollars or to “US$” are to currency of the United States of America and all references to RMB are to currency of the PRC (and each shall be deemed to include reference to the equivalent amount in other currencies).
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2. Demand Registration.
2.1 Registration Other Than on Form F-3 or Form S-3. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, at any time or from time to time after the date that is six (6) months after the closing of the IPO, Holders holding twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding Registrable Securities held by all Holders may request in writing that the Company effect a Registration on any internationally recognized exchange that is reasonably acceptable to such requesting Holders. Upon receipt of such a request, the Company shall (x) promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration to all other Holders and (y) as soon as practicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities specified in the request, together with any Registrable Securities of any Holder who requests in writing to join such Registration within fifteen (15) days after the Company’s delivery of written notice, to be Registered and/or qualified for sale and distribution in such jurisdiction as the Initiating Holders may request. The Company shall be obligated to consummate no more than three (3) Registrations pursuant to this Section 2.1 that have been declared and ordered effective; provided that if the Registrable Securities sought to be included in the Registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 are not fully included in the Registration for any reason other than solely due to the action or inaction of the Holders including Registrable Securities in such Registration, such Registration shall not be deemed to constitute one of the Registration rights granted pursuant to this Section 2.1. The Company shall not be obligated to take any action to effect any Registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 unless the aggregate proceeds from the offering that is the subject of the Registration exceeds US$50,000,000 and at least 10% of the Registrable Securities then issued and outstanding shall participate in such Registration.
2.2 Registration on Form F-3 or Form S-3. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify for registration on Form F-3 or Form S-3. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, if the Company qualifies for registration on Form F-3 or Form S-3 (or any comparable form for Registration in a jurisdiction other than the United States), Holders holding 10% or more of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding Registrable Securities held by all Holders may request the Company in writing to file, in any jurisdiction in which the Company has had a registered underwritten public offering, a Registration Statement on Form F-3 or Form S-3 (or any comparable form for Registration in a jurisdiction other than the United States), including without limitation any registration statement filed under the Securities Act providing for the registration of, and the sale on a continuous or a delayed basis by the Holders of, all of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act and/or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission. Upon receipt of such a request, the Company shall (i) promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration to all other Holders and (ii) as soon as practicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities specified in the request, together with any Registrable Securities of any Holder who requests in writing to join such Registration within fifteen (15) days after the Company’s delivery of written notice, to be Registered and qualified for sale and distribution in such jurisdiction. The Company shall be obligated to consummate no more than two (2) Registrations that have been declared and ordered effective within any twelve (12)-month period pursuant to this Section 2.2; provided that if the Registrable Securities sought to be included in the Registration pursuant to this Section 2.2 are not fully included in such Registration for any reason other than solely due to the action or inaction of the Holders including Registrable Securities in such Registration, such Registration shall not be deemed to constitute one of the Registration rights granted pursuant to this Section 2.2. The Company shall not be obligated to take any action to effect any Registration pursuant to this Section 2.2 unless the aggregate proceeds from the offering that is the subject of the Registration exceeds US$50,000,000.
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2.3 Right of Deferral.
(i) The Company shall not be obligated to Register or qualify Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2:
(1) if, within ten (10) days of the receipt of any request of the Holders to Register any Registrable Securities under Section 2.1 or Section 2.2, the Company gives notice to the Initiating Holders of its bona fide intention to effect the filing for its own account of a Registration Statement of Ordinary Shares within sixty (60) days of receipt of that request; provided, that the Company is actively employing in good faith its commercially reasonable efforts to cause that Registration Statement to become effective within sixty (60) days of receipt of that request; provided, further, that the Holders are entitled to join such Registration in accordance with Section 3 (other than an Exempt Registration);
(2) during the period starting with the date of filing by the Company of, and ending six (6) months following the effective date of any Registration Statement pertaining to Ordinary Shares of the Company other than an Exempt Registration; provided, that the Holders are entitled to join such Registration in accordance with Section 3;
(3) in any jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such Registration or qualification, unless the Company is already subject to service of process in such jurisdiction; or
(4) with respect to the registration on Form F-3 or Form S-3 (or any comparable form for Registration in a jurisdiction other than the United States), if Form F-3 or Form S-3 (or any comparable form for Registration in a jurisdiction other than the United States) (as the case may be) is not available for such offering by the Holders, or if the Holders, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at an aggregate price to the public of less than US$50,000,000.
(ii) If, after receiving a request from Holders pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 hereof, the Company furnishes to the Holders a certificate signed by the chief executive officer of the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board, it would be materially detrimental to the Company or its members for a Registration Statement to be filed in the near future, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period during which such filing would be materially detrimental, provided, that the Company may not utilize this right for more than ninety (90) days on any one occasion or more than once during any twelve (12) month period; provided, further, that the Company may not Register any other its securities during such period (except for Exempt Registrations).
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2.4 Underwritten Offerings. If, in connection with a request to Register Registrable Securities under Section 2.1 or Section 2.2, the Initiating Holders seek to distribute such Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering, they shall so advise the Company as a part of the request, and the Company shall include such information in the written notice to the other Holders described in Section 2.1 and Section 2.2. In such event, the right of any Holder to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwritten offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwritten offering (unless otherwise mutually agreed by the Initiating Holders and such Holder) to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwritten offering shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters of internationally recognized standing selected for such underwritten offering by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Registration. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the managing underwriter advises the Company that marketing factors (including without limitation the aggregate number of securities requested to be Registered, the general condition of the market, and the status of the Persons proposing to sell securities pursuant to the Registration) require a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities to be underwritten in a Registration pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2, the underwriters may exclude the Registrable Securities requested to be Registered but only after first excluding all other Equity Securities from the Registration and underwritten offering and so long as the number of shares to be included in the Registration on behalf of the non-excluded Holders is allocated among all Holders in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of Registrable Securities requested by such Holders to be included; provided that any Initiating Holder shall have the right to withdraw its request for Registration from the underwriting by written notice to the Company and the underwriters delivered at least ten (10) days prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, and such withdrawal request for Registration shall not be deemed to constitute one of the Registration rights granted pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2, as the case may be. If any Holder disapproves the terms of any underwriting, the Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the underwriters delivered at least ten (10) days prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwritten offering shall be withdrawn from the Registration. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to a Holder to the nearest one hundred (100) shares.
3. Piggyback Registrations.
3.1 Registration of the Company’s Securities. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, if the Company proposes to Register for its own account any of its Equity Securities, or for the account of any holder (other than a Holder) of Equity Securities any of such holder’s Equity Securities, in connection with the public offering of such securities (except for Exempt Registrations), the Company shall promptly give each Holder written notice of such Registration and, upon the written request of any Holder given within fifteen (15) days after delivery of such notice, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include in such Registration any Registrable Securities thereby requested to be Registered by such Holder. If a Holder decides not to include all or any of its Registrable Securities in such Registration by the Company, such Holder shall nevertheless continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent Registration Statement or Registration Statements as may be filed by the Company, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
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3.2 Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any Registration initiated by it under Section 3.1 prior to the effectiveness of such Registration, whether or not any Holder has elected to participate therein. The expenses of such withdrawn Registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 4.3.
3.3 Underwriting Requirements.
(i) In connection with any offering involving an underwriting of the Company’s Equity Securities, the Company shall not be required to Register the Registrable Securities of a Holder under this Section 3 unless such Holder’s Registrable Securities are included in the underwritten offering and such Holder enters into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters of internationally recognized standing selected by the Company and setting forth such terms for the underwritten offering as have been agreed upon between the Company and the underwriters. In the event the underwriters advise Holders seeking Registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 3 in writing that market factors (including the aggregate number of Registrable Securities requested to be Registered, the general condition of the market, and the status of the Persons proposing to sell securities pursuant to the Registration) require a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities to be underwritten, the underwriters may exclude all or such portion of the Registrable Securities which were requested to be Registered, but only after first excluding all other Equity Securities (except for securities sold for the account of the Company) from the Registration and underwriting and so long as the Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration on behalf of any non-excluded Holders are allocated among all Holders in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of Registrable Securities requested by such Holders to be included. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to a Holder to the nearest one hundred (100) shares.
(ii) If any Holder disapproves the terms of any underwriting, the Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the underwriters delivered at least ten (10) days prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from the underwritten offering shall be withdrawn from the Registration.
3.4 Exempt Registrations. The Company shall have no obligation to Register any Registrable Securities under this Section 3 in connection with a Registration by the Company (i) relating solely to the sale of securities to participants in a Company share plan, (ii) relating to a corporate reorganization or other transaction under Rule 145 of the Securities Act (or comparable provision under the Laws of another jurisdiction, as applicable), (iii) on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of the Registrable Securities and does not permit secondary sales, or (iv) relating to a registration in which the only Ordinary Shares being registered are Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being registered (collectively, “Exempt Registrations”).
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4. Registration Procedures.
4.1 Registration Procedures and Obligations. Whenever required under this Agreement to effect the Registration of any Registrable Securities held by the Holders, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:
(i) Prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement with respect to those Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause that Registration Statement to become effective, and, upon the request of the Holders holding at least two thirds in voting power of the Registrable Securities Registered thereunder, keep the Registration Statement effective until the distribution thereunder has been completed;
(ii) Prepare and file with the Commission amendments and supplements to that Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of Applicable Securities Laws with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by the Registration Statement;
(iii) Furnish to the Holders the number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, required by Applicable Securities Laws, and any other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them;
(iv) Use its commercially reasonable efforts to Register and qualify the securities covered by the Registration Statement under the Applicable Securities Laws, as reasonably requested by the Holders, provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdictions;
(v) In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in customary form, with the managing underwriter(s) of the offering;
(vi) Promptly notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under Applicable Securities Laws of (a) the issuance of any stop order by the Commission, or (b) the happening of any event or the existence of any condition as a result of which any prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, or if in the opinion of counsel for the Company it is necessary to supplement or amend such prospectus to comply with law, and at the request of any such Holder promptly prepare and furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made or such prospectus, as supplemented or amended, shall comply with law;
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(vii) Furnish, at the request of any Holder requesting Registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered for sale in connection with a Registration pursuant to this Agreement, (A) an opinion, dated the date of the sale, of the counsel representing the Company for the purposes of the Registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering; and (B) comfort letters dated as of (x) the effective date of the final registration statement covering such Registrable Securities, and (y) the closing date of the sale of the Registrable Securities, from the independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters;
(viii) Otherwise comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent applicable to the applicable registration statement and use its commercially reasonable efforts to make generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act, no later than forty-five (45) days after the end of a twelve (12) month period (or ninety (90) days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of such registration statement, which statement shall cover such twelve (12) month period, subject to any proper and necessary extensions;
(ix) Provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities Registered pursuant to the Registration Statement and, where applicable, a number assigned by the Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures for all those Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of the Registration; and
(x) Take all reasonable action necessary to list the Registrable Securities on the primary exchange on which the Company’s securities are then traded or, in connection with a Qualified IPO, the primary exchange on which the Company’s securities will be traded.
4.2 Information from Holder. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to effect the Registration of such Holder’s Registrable Securities.
4.3 Expenses of Registration. All expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement (which shall be borne by the Holders requesting Registration on a pro rata basis in proportion to their respective numbers of Registrable Securities sold in such Registration), incurred in connection with Registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to this Agreement, including (without limitation) all Registration, filing and qualification fees, printers’ and accounting fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and reasonable fees and disbursement of one counsel for all selling Holders, shall be borne by the Company. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay for any expenses of any Registration proceeding begun pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 of this Agreement if the Registration request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Holders holding at least two thirds of the voting power of the Registrable Securities requested to be Registered by all Holders in such Registration (in which case all participating Holders shall bear such expenses pro rata based upon the number of Registrable Securities that were to be thereby Registered in the withdrawn Registration) unless the Holders of at least two thirds of the voting power of the Registrable Securities then issued and outstanding agree that such registration constitutes the use by the Holders of one (1) demand registration pursuant to Section 2.1 (in which case such registration shall also constitute the use by all Holders of Registrable Securities of one (1) such demand registration); provided, however, that if at the time of such withdrawal, the Holders have learned of a material adverse change in the condition, business or prospects of the Company from that known to the Holders at the time of their request and have withdrawn the request with reasonable promptness following disclosure by the Company of such material adverse change, then the Holders shall not be required to pay any of such expenses and the Company shall pay any and all such expenses.
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5. Registration-Related Indemnification.
5.1 Company Indemnity.
(i) To the maximum extent permitted by Law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, such Holder’s partners, officers, directors, shareholders, members, and legal counsel, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) and each Person, if any, who controls (as defined in the Securities Act) such Holder or underwriter, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under Laws which are applicable to the Company and relate to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any Registration, qualification, or compliance, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations (each a “Violation”): (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such Registration Statement, on the effective date thereof (including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto), (b) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement, on the effective date thereof (including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto), a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (c) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of Applicable Securities Laws, or any rule or regulation promulgated under Applicable Securities Laws. The Company will reimburse, as incurred, each such Holder, underwriter or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.
(ii) The indemnity agreement contained in this Section 5.1 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action to the extent that it arises solely out of or is solely based upon a Violation that occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished for use in connection with such Registration by any such Holder, such Holder’s partners, officers, directors, and legal counsel, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) and each Person, if any, who controls (as defined in the Securities Act) such Holder or underwriter. Further, the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or other aforementioned person, or any person controlling such Holder, from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased shares in the offering, if a copy of the most current prospectus was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Holder or other aforementioned person to such person, if required by law to have been so delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the shares to such person, and if the prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage or liability.
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5.2 Holder Indemnity.
(i) To the maximum extent permitted by Law, each selling Holder that has included Registrable Securities in a Registration will, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers, any other Holder selling securities in connection with such Registration, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) and each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) the Company, such underwriter or other Holder, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which any of the foregoing persons may become subject, under Applicable Securities Laws, or any rule or regulation promulgated under Applicable Securities Laws, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs solely in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such Holder for use in connection with such Registration; and each such Holder will reimburse, as incurred, any Person intended to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 5.2, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. No Holder’s liability under this Section 5.2 (when combined with any amounts paid by such Holder pursuant to Section 5.4) shall exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder from the offering of securities made in connection with that Registration.
(ii) The indemnity contained in this Section 5.2 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
5.3 Notice of Indemnification Claim. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under Section 5.1 or Section 5.2, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying parties. An indemnified party (together with all other indemnified parties that may be represented without conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel, with the reasonably incurred fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party, to the extent so prejudiced, of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 5, but the omission to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 5. No indemnifying party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or the plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
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5.4 Contribution. If any indemnification provided for in Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense referred to herein, the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and of the indemnified party, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, however, that, in any such case: (A) no Holder will be required to contribute any amount (after combined with any amounts paid by such Holder pursuant to Section 5.2) in excess of the net proceeds to such Holder from the sale of all such Registrable Securities offered and sold by such Holder pursuant to such registration statement; and (B) no person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
5.5 Underwriting Agreement. To the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.
5.6 Survival. The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 5 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement under this Agreement, regardless of the expiration of any statutes of limitation or extensions of such statutes.
6. Additional Registration-Related Undertakings.
6.1 Reports under the Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act and any comparable provision of any Applicable Securities Laws that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without Registration or pursuant to a Registration on Form F-3 or Form S-3 (or any comparable form in a jurisdiction other than the United States), the Company agrees to:
(i) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 (or comparable provision, if any, under Applicable Securities Laws in any jurisdiction where the Company’s securities are listed), at all times following ninety (90) days after the effective date of the first Registration under the Securities Act filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public;
(ii) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under all Applicable Securities Laws; and
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(iii) at any time following ninety (90) days after the effective date of the first Registration under the Securities Act filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public by the Company, promptly furnish to any Holder holding Registrable Securities, upon request (a) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of all Applicable Securities Laws at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements or, at any time after so qualified, that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form F-3 or Form S-3 (or any form comparable thereto under Applicable Securities Laws of any jurisdiction where the Company’s securities are listed), (b) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents as filed by the Company with the Commission, and (c) such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the Commission, that permits the selling of any such securities without Registration or pursuant to Form F-3 or Form S-3 (or any form comparable thereto under Applicable Securities Laws of any jurisdiction where the Company’s Securities are listed).
6.2 Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the written consent of holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding Registrable Securities held by all Holders (calculated on an as-converted to Ordinary Share basis), enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any Equity Securities of the Company that would allow such holder or prospective holder (i) to include such Equity Securities in any Registration filed under Section 2 or Section 3, unless under the terms of such agreement such holder or prospective holder may include such Equity Securities in any such Registration only to the extent that the inclusion of such Equity Securities will not reduce the amount of the Registrable Securities of the Holders that are included, (ii) to demand Registration of their Equity Securities, or (iii) cause the Company to include such Equity Securities in any Registration filed under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof on a basis pari passu with or more favorable to such holder or prospective holder than is provided to the Holders of Registrable Securities.
6.3 “Market Stand-Off” Agreement. Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees, if so required by the managing underwriter(s), that it will not during the period commencing on the date of the final prospectus relating to the Company’s IPO and ending on the date specified by the Company and the managing underwriter (such period not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of such final prospectus, as may be extended in line with customary market practice, by up to a maximum of thirty two (32) days, to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (i) the publication or other distribution of research reports and (ii) analyst recommendations and opinions) (i) lend, offer, pledge, hypothecate, hedge, sell, make any short sale of, loan, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Equity Securities of the Company owned immediately prior to the date of the final prospectus relating to the IPO (other than those included in such offering), or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such Equity Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Equity Securities of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, that (a) the forgoing provisions of this Section shall not apply to the sale of any securities of the Company to an underwriter pursuant to any underwriting agreement, and shall not be applicable to any Holder unless all directors, officers and all other holders of at least one percent (1%) of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company (calculated on an as-converted to Ordinary Share basis) must be bound by restrictions at least as restrictive as those applicable to any such Holder pursuant to this Section, (y) this Section shall not apply to a Holder to the extent that any other Person subject to substantially similar restrictions is released in whole or in part, and (z) the lockup agreements shall permit a Holder to transfer their Registrable Securities to their respective Affiliates so long as the transferees enter into the same lockup agreement. The Investors agree to execute and deliver to the underwriters a lock-up agreement containing substantially similar terms and conditions as those contained herein. The underwriters in connection with the Company’s IPO are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may place restrictive legends on the certificates and impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Registrable Securities of each shareholder (and the shares or securities of every other Person subject to the foregoing restriction) until the end of such period.
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6.4 Termination of Registration Rights. The registration rights set forth in Section 2 and Section 3 of this Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the date that is five (5) years from the date of closing of a Qualified IPO, (ii) with respect to any Holder, the date on which such Holder may sell all of such Holder’s Registrable Securities under Rule 144 of the Securities Act in any ninety (90)-day period.
6.5 Exercise of Ordinary Share Equivalents. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in this Agreement, the Company shall have no obligation to Register Registrable Securities which, if constituting Ordinary Share Equivalents, have not been exercised, converted or exchanged, as applicable, for Ordinary Shares as of the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, but the Company shall cooperate and facilitate any such exercise, conversion or exchange as requested by the applicable Holder.
6.6 Intent. The terms of Sections 2 through 6 are drafted primarily in contemplation of an offering of securities in the United States of America. The parties recognize, however, the possibility that securities may be qualified or registered for offering to the public in a jurisdiction other than the United States of America where registration rights have significance or that the Company might effect an offering in the United States of America in the form of American Depositary Receipts or American Depositary Shares. Accordingly:
(i) it is their intention that, whenever this Agreement refers to a Law, form, process or institution of the United States of America but the parties wish to effectuate qualification or registration in a different jurisdiction where registration rights have significance, reference in this Agreement to the Laws or institutions of the United States shall be read as referring, mutatis mutandis, to the comparable Laws or institutions of the jurisdiction in question; and
(ii) it is agreed that the Company will not undertake any listing of American Depositary Receipts, American Depositary Shares or any other security derivative of the Ordinary Shares unless arrangements have been made reasonably satisfactory to the Majority Investors to ensure that the spirit and intent of this Agreement will be realized and that the Company is committed to take such actions as are necessary such that the Holders will enjoy rights corresponding to the rights hereunder to sell their Registrable Securities in a public offering in the United States of America as if the Company had listed Ordinary Shares in lieu of such derivative securities.
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7. Preemptive Right.
7.1 General. The Company hereby grants to each holder of Preferred Shares and Ordinary Shares (“Rights Holder”) the right of first refusal to purchase such Rights Holder’s Pro Rata Share (as defined below) (and any oversubscription, as provided below), of all (or any part) of any New Securities (as defined below) that the Company may from time to time issue after the date of this Agreement (the “Preemptive Right”).
7.2 Pro Rata Share. A Rights Holder’s “Pro Rata Share” for purposes of the Preemptive Rights is the ratio of (a) the number of Ordinary Shares (including Preferred Shares on an as-converted basis) held by such Rights Holder, to (b) the total number of Ordinary Shares (including Preferred Shares on an as-converted basis) then issued and outstanding immediately prior to the issuance of New Securities giving rise to the Preemptive Rights.
7.3 New Securities. For purposes hereof, “New Securities” shall mean any Equity Securities of the Company issued after the Closing, except for:
(i) Ordinary Shares (as adjusted in connection with share splits or share consolidation, reclassification or other similar event) and/or options or warrants therefor issued to employees, officers, directors, contractors, advisors or consultants of the Group Companies pursuant to the Company’s employee share option plans (“ESOP”) duly approved by the Board in accordance with Section 13;
(ii) any Equity Securities of the Company issued in connection with any share split, share dividend, reclassification or other similar event;
(iii) any Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to bona fide transactions with commercial lenders or lessors in connection with loans, credit arrangements, equipment financings or similar transactions, each such transaction having been approved by the Board;
(iv) any Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to bona fide transactions with licensors, collaborators or strategic partners in connection with technology licensing, research, development or commercialization collaboration, strategic partnership or similar transactions, each such transaction having been approved by the Board;
(v) any Equity Securities of the Company issued pursuant to the Qualified IPO;
(vi) any Equity Securities of the Company issued pursuant to the acquisition of another corporation or entity by the Company by consolidation, merger, purchase of assets, or other reorganization in which the Company acquires, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, all or substantially all assets of such other corporation or entity, or fifty percent (50%) or more of the equity ownership or voting power of such other corporation or entity, in any case, duly approved in accordance with Section 13;
(vii) any Ordinary Shares issued upon the conversion of the Preferred Shares; and
(viii) any Series B Preferred Shares issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
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7.4 Procedures.
(i) In the event that the Company proposes to undertake an issuance of New Securities (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions), it shall give to each Rights Holder written notice of its intention to issue New Securities (the “Participation Notice”), describing the amount and type of New Securities, the price and the general terms upon which the Company proposes to issue such New Securities. Each Rights Holder shall have ten (10) Business Days from the date of receipt of any such Participation Notice to agree in writing to purchase up to such Rights Holder’s Pro Rata Share of such New Securities for the price and upon the terms and conditions specified in the First Participation Notice by giving written notice to the Company and stating therein the quantity of New Securities to be purchased (not to exceed such Rights Holder’s Pro Rata Share). If any Rights Holder fails to so respond in writing within such ten (10) Business Day period, then such Rights Holder shall forfeit the right hereunder to purchase its Pro Rata Share of such New Securities, but shall not be deemed to forfeit any right with respect to any other issuance of New Securities. At the expiration of such ten (10) day period, the Company shall promptly notify each Rights Holder that elects to purchase or acquire all the shares available to it (each, a “Fully Exercising Investor”) of any other Rights Holder’s failure to do likewise. During the ten (10) day period commencing after the Company has given such notice, each Fully Exercising Investor may, by giving notice to the Company, elect to purchase or acquire, in addition to the number of shares specified above, up to that portion of the New Securities for which Rights Holders were entitled to subscribe but that were not subscribed for by the Rights Holders which is equal to the proportion that the Ordinary Shares issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of Preferred Shares, by such Fully Exercising Investor bears to the Ordinary Shares issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of the Preferred Shares then held, by all Fully Exercising Investors who wish to purchase such unsubscribed shares. The closing of any sale pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall occur within the later of ninety (90) days of the date that the Participation Notice is given and the date of initial sale of New Securities pursuant to Section 7.5.
7.5 Failure to Exercise. Upon the expiration of the Participation Period, the Company shall have ninety (90) days thereafter to complete the sale of the New Securities described in the Participation Notice with respect to which the Preemptive Rights hereunder were not exercised at the same or higher price and upon non-price terms not more favorable to the purchasers thereof than specified in the Participation Notice. In the event that the Company has not issued and sold such New Securities within such ninety (90) day period, then the Company shall not thereafter issue or sell any New Securities without again first offering such New Securities to the Rights Holders pursuant to this Section 7.
8. Restriction on Transfers; Rights of First Refusal and Co-Sale Rights.
8.1 Restriction on Transfers.
(i) Principals. A Principal shall not directly or indirectly sell, assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber or dispose of in any way or otherwise grant any interest or right with respect to (“Transfer”) all or any part of any interest in any Equity Securities of the Company now or hereafter owned or held by such Principal unless Sections 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 are complied with.
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(ii) Investors. For the avoidance of doubt, Investors may freely Transfer any Equity Securities of the Company now or hereafter owned or held by them without limitation; provided that (i) no such Transfer shall result in any shares of the Company being transferred to or owned by, directly or indirectly, any competitor of the Company; (ii) such Transfer is effected in compliance with all applicable Laws and (iii) the transferee shall execute and deliver to the Company a deed of adherence or joinder becoming a party hereto as an “Investor” subject to the terms and conditions hereof (if not already so bound) upon and after such Transfer. The Company will update its register of members upon the consummation of any such permitted Transfer.
(iii) Prohibited Transfers Void. Any Transfer of Equity Securities of the Company not made in compliance with this Agreement shall be null and void as against the Company, shall not be recorded on the books of the Company and shall not be recognized by the Company or any other Party.
(iv) No Indirect Transfers. Each Principal agrees not to circumvent or otherwise avoid the transfer restrictions or intent thereof set forth in this Agreement, whether by holding the Equity Securities of the Company indirectly through another Person or by causing or effecting, directly or indirectly, the Transfer or issuance of any Equity Securities by any such Person, or otherwise. Any purported Transfer, sale or issuance of any Equity Securities of any company held by a Principal holding shares in the Company (the “Holding Company”) in contravention of this Agreement shall be void and ineffective for any and all purposes and shall not confer on any transferee or purported transferee any rights whatsoever, and no Party (including without limitation, any Principal or Holding Company) shall recognize any such Transfer, sale or issuance.
8.2 Rights of First Refusal.
(i) Transfer Notice. If a Principal (a “Transferor”) proposes to Transfer any Equity Securities of the Company or any interest therein to one or more third parties, then the Transferor shall give the Company and each Investor written notice of the Transferor’s intention to make the Transfer (the “Transfer Notice”), which shall include (i) a description of the Equity Securities to be transferred (the “Offered Shares”), (ii) the identity and address of the prospective transferee and (iii) the consideration and the material terms and conditions upon which the proposed Transfer is to be made. The Transfer Notice shall certify that the Transferor has received a definitive offer from the prospective transferee and in good faith believes a binding agreement for the Transfer is obtainable on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice. The Transfer Notice shall also include a copy of any written proposal, term sheet or letter of intent or other agreement relating to the proposed Transfer.
(ii) Option of Company. The Company shall have an option for a period of ten (10) days following receipt of the Transfer Notice (the “Company Option Period”) to elect to purchase all or a portion of the Offered Shares, at the same price and subject to the same terms and conditions as described in the Transfer Notice, exercisable by written notice to the Transferor (with a copy to the Investors).
(iii) Option of Investors.
(a) If the Company does not timely elect to purchase all of the Offered Shares pursuant to clause (ii) above, then the Company shall deliver to each Investor written notice (the “Company Notice”) thereof within ten (10) days after the expiration of the Company Option Period, and each such Investor shall have an option for a period of ten (10) days following receipt of the Company Notice (the “Option Period”) to elect to purchase all or any portion of its respective Pro Rata Share of the remaining Offered Shares at the same price and subject to the same terms and conditions as described in the Transfer Notice, by notifying the Transferor and the Company in writing before expiration of the Option Period as to the number of such Offered Shares that it wishes to purchase.
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(b) For the purposes of this Section 8.2(iii), an Investor’s “Pro Rata Share” of such Offered Shares shall be equal to (i) the total number of such Offered Shares, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares held by such Investor on the date of the Transfer Notice (including all Preferred Shares held by such Investor on an as-converted to Ordinary Share basis) and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Ordinary Shares held by all Investors on such date (including all Preferred Shares held by such Investors on an as-converted to Ordinary Share basis).
(c) If any Investor fails to exercise its right to purchase its full Pro Rata Share of such Offered Shares, the Company shall deliver written notice thereof (the “Second Notice”), within five (5) days after the expiration of the Option Period, to the Transferor and to each Investor that elected to purchase its entire Pro Rata Share of the Offered Shares (an “Exercising Shareholder”). The Exercising Shareholders shall have a right of re-allotment, and may exercise an additional right to purchase such unpurchased Offered Shares by notifying the Transferor and the Company in writing within ten (10) days after receipt of the Second Notice (the “Re-allotment Period”); provided, however, that if the Exercising Shareholders desire to purchase in aggregate more than the number of such unpurchased Offered Shares, then such unpurchased Offered Shares will be allocated to the extent necessary among the Exercising Shareholders in accordance with their relative Pro Rata Shares.
(d) Subject to applicable securities Laws, each Investor shall be entitled to apportion Offered Shares to be purchased among its Affiliates, provided that such Investor notifies the Company and the Transferor in writing and such Affiliates shall execute and deliver such documents and take such other actions as may be necessary for such Affiliates to join in and be bound by the terms of this Agreement as an “Investor” (if not already a party hereto) upon and after such Transfer.
(iv) Procedure. If the Company or any Investor gives the Transferor notice that it desires to purchase Offered Shares, and, as the case may be, any re-allotment, then payment for the Offered Shares to be purchased shall be made by check (if agreeable to the Transferor), or by wire transfer in immediately available funds of the appropriate currency, against delivery of such Offered Shares to be purchased, at a place agreed to by the Transferor, the Company (if it is a purchaser) and all the Exercising Shareholders (if they are purchasers) and at the time of the scheduled closing therefor, but if they cannot agree, then at the principal executive offices of the Company on the thirtieth (30th) day after the Company’s receipt of the Transfer Notice, unless such notice contemplated a later closing date with the prospective third party transferee or unless the value of the purchase price has not yet been established pursuant to Section 8.2(v), in which case the closing shall be on such later date or as provided in Section 8.2(v)(d). The Transferor shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any Transfer Notice and any intent to transfer Offered Shares at any time, whether or not any Investor has elected to purchase under this Section 8.2 any Offered Shares offered thereby. The Company will update its register of members upon the consummation of any such Transfer.
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(v) Valuation of Property.
(a) Should the purchase price specified in the Transfer Notice be payable in property other than cash or evidences of indebtedness, the Company and/or the Investors, as applicable, shall have the right to pay the purchase price in the form of cash equal in amount to the fair market value of such property.
(b) If the Transferor, the Company (if it is a purchaser), and the Exercising Shareholders holding a majority of the Offered Shares elected to be purchased by all Exercising Shareholders (if they are purchasers) cannot agree on such cash value within the Option Period, the valuation shall be made by an appraiser of internationally recognized standing jointly selected by agreement of such groups or, if they cannot agree on an appraiser within the Option Period, each such group shall select an appraiser of internationally recognized standing and such appraisers shall designate another appraiser of internationally recognized standing, whose appraisal shall be determinative of such value.
(c) The cost of such appraisal (and the cost, if any, of securing the appointment thereof by the HKIAC council) shall be shared equally by the Transferor, on the one hand, and the purchasers pro rata based on the number of Offered Shares such purchaser is purchasing, on the other hand.
(d) If the value of the purchase price offered by the prospective transferee is not determined within 30 days following the Company’s receipt of the Transfer Notice from the Transferor, the closing of the purchase of Offered Shares by the Company and/or the Exercising Shareholders shall be held on or prior to the fifth (5th) Business Day after such valuation shall have been made pursuant to this Section 8.2(v).
8.3 Right of Co-Sale.
(i) To the extent the Company and the Investors do not exercise their respective rights of first refusal under Section 8.2 as to all or any of the Offered Shares proposed to be sold by the Transferor to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice, the Transferor shall give notice thereof to each Investor not exercising any right of first refusal pursuant to Section 8.2 (the “Co-Sale Notice”) (specifying in such Co-Sale Notice the number of remaining Offered Shares as well as the number of Shares that such Investor would be eligible to include in such sale pursuant to its co-sale right hereunder, and each such Investor shall have the right to participate in such sale, to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice, of the remaining Offered Shares not purchased pursuant to Section 8.2, on the same terms and conditions as specified in the Transfer Notice (but in no event less favorable than the terms and conditions offered to the Transferor) (and for the same consideration on an as converted to ordinary share basis) by notifying the Transferor in writing within ten (10) days following the date of the Co-Sale Notice (each such electing Investor, a “Selling Shareholder”). Such Selling Shareholder’s notice to the Transferor shall indicate the number of Equity Securities the Selling Shareholder wishes to sell under its right to participate. To the extent one or more Investors exercise such right of participation in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below, the number of Offered Shares that the Transferor may sell in the Transfer to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice shall be correspondingly reduced.
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(ii) The total number of Equity Securities that each Selling Shareholder may elect to sell shall be equal to the product of (i) the aggregate number of the remaining Offered Shares being transferred to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice after giving effect to the exercise of all rights of first refusal pursuant to Section 8.2 hereof, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Ordinary Shares (including Preferred Shares on an as-converted to Ordinary Share basis) owned by such Selling Shareholder on the date of the Transfer Notice and the denominator of which is the total number of Ordinary Shares (including Preferred Shares on an as-converted to Ordinary Share basis) owned by the Transferor and all Selling Shareholders.
(iii) Each Selling Shareholder shall effect its participation in the sale by promptly delivering to the Transferor for transfer to the prospective purchaser, before the applicable closing, one or more certificates, properly endorsed for transfer, which represent the type and number of Equity Securities which such Selling Shareholder elects to sell; provided, however that if the prospective third party purchaser objects to the delivery of Ordinary Share Equivalents in lieu of Ordinary Shares, such Selling Shareholder shall only deliver Ordinary Shares (and therefore shall convert any such Ordinary Share Equivalents into Ordinary Shares) and certificates corresponding to such Ordinary Shares, and the Company shall effect any such conversion concurrent with the actual transfer of such shares to the purchaser and contingent on such transfer.
(iv) The share certificate or certificates that a Selling Shareholder delivers to the Transferor pursuant to this Section 8.3 shall be transferred to the prospective purchaser in consummation of the sale of the Equity Securities pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Transfer Notice, and the Transferor shall concurrently therewith remit to such Selling Shareholder that portion of the sale proceeds to which such Selling Shareholder is entitled by reason of its participation in such sale. The Company will update its register of members upon the consummation of any such Transfer.
(v) To the extent that any prospective purchaser prohibits the participation by a Selling Shareholder exercising its co-sale rights hereunder in a proposed Transfer or otherwise refuses to purchase shares or other securities from a Selling Shareholder exercising its co-sale rights hereunder, the Transferor shall not sell to such prospective purchaser any Equity Securities unless and until, simultaneously with such sale, the Transferor shall purchase from such Selling Shareholder such shares or other securities that such Selling Shareholder would otherwise be entitled to sell to the prospective purchaser pursuant to its co-sale rights for the same consideration and on the same terms and conditions as the proposed transfer described in the Transfer Notice.
8.4 Non-Exercise of Rights.
(i) If the Company and the Investors do not elect to purchase all of the Offered Shares in accordance with Section 8.2, then, subject to the right of the Investors to exercise their rights to participate in the sale of Offered Shares within the time periods specified in Section 8.3, the Transferor shall have a period of sixty (60) days from the expiration of the Option Period in which to sell the remaining Offered Shares to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice upon terms and conditions (including the purchase price) no more favorable to the purchaser than those specified in the Transfer Notice, so long as any such sale is effected in accordance with all applicable Laws. The Parties agree that each such transferee, prior to and as a condition to the consummation of any sale, shall execute and deliver to the Parties documents and other instruments assuming the obligations of such Transferor under this Agreement with respect to the Offered Shares, and the transfer shall not be effective and shall not be recognized by any Party until such documents and instruments are so executed and delivered.
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(ii) In the event the Transferor does not consummate the sale of such Offered Shares to the third party transferee identified in the Transfer Notice within sixty (60) day period, the rights of the Investors under Section 8.2 and Section 8.3 shall be re-invoked and shall be applicable to each subsequent disposition of such Offered Shares by the Transferor until such rights lapse in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(iii) The exercise or non-exercise of the rights of the Investors under this Section 8 to purchase Equity Securities from a Transferor or participate in the sale of Equity Securities by a Transferor shall not adversely affect their rights to make subsequent purchases from the Transferor of Equity Securities or subsequently participate in sales of Equity Securities by the Transferor hereunder.
8.5 Limitations to Rights of First Refusal and Co-Sale. Subject to the requirements of applicable Law, the restrictions under Section 8.1 and the right of first refusal and right of co-sale of the Investors under Sections 8.2 and 8.3 shall not apply to (a) any sale of Equity Securities of the Company to the public pursuant to a Qualified IPO, (b) Transfer of any Equity Securities of the Company now or hereafter held by a Transferor to such Transferor’s parents, children, spouse, or to a trustee, executor, or other fiduciary for the benefit of such Transferor or such Transferor’s parents, children, spouse for bona fide estate planning purposes, and (c) Transfer of any Equity Securities of the Company now or hereafter held by an Transferor to its Affiliates (each such transferee pursuant to clause (b) above, a “Permitted Transferee”, and collectively, the “Permitted Transferees”); provided, that (i) such Transfer is effected in compliance with all applicable Laws, (ii) respecting any transfer pursuant to clause (b) above, the Transferor has provided the Majority Investors reasonable evidence of the bona fide estate planning purposes for such transfer, and (iii) each such Permitted Transferee, prior to the completion of the Transfer, shall execute and deliver to the Company a deed of adherence or joinder becoming a party hereto as an “Investor” subject to the terms and conditions hereof (if not already so bound) assuming the obligations of such Transferor under this Agreement as a Transferor, with respect to the transferred Equity Securities; provided further, that the Transferor shall remain liable for any breach by such Permitted Transferee of any provision under this Agreement.
9. Drag-Along Rights.
9.1 Drag-Along Obligations. On or after January 31, 2025, if more than 67% of holders of Preferred Shares (collectively, the “Drag Holders”) approve in writing a proposed Deemed Liquidation Event, Share Sale or other sale of the Company, whether structured as a merger, reorganization, asset sale, share sale, sale of control of the Company, or otherwise at a valuation no less than US$500,000,000 (the “Approved Sale”), to any Person that is not a Drag Holder or an Affiliate of any Drag Holder (the “Offeror”), then at the request of the Drag Holders the Company shall promptly notify in writing each other holder of Equity Securities of the Company and the material terms and conditions of such proposed Approved Sale, whereupon each such holder shall, in accordance with instructions received from the Company at the direction of the Drag Holders:
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(i) Sell, at the same time as the Drag Holders sell to the Offeror, in the Approved Sale, all of its Equity Securities of the Company or the same percentage of its Equity Securities of the Company as the Drag Holders sell, on the same terms and conditions as were agreed to by the Drag Holders; provided, however, that such terms and conditions, including with respect to price paid or received per Equity Security of the Company, may differ as between different classes of Equity Securities of the Company in accordance with their relative liquidation preferences as set forth in Article 7.2 of the Memorandum and Articles and provided further that some holders may be given the right or opportunity to exchange or roll a portion of their Equity Securities of the Company for Equity Securities of the acquirer or an Affiliate thereof in the Approved Sale but in such event there shall be no obligation to afford such right or opportunity to all of such holders.
(ii) Vote all of its Equity Securities of the Company (a) in favor of such Approved Sale, (b) against any other consolidation, recapitalization, amalgamation, merger, sale of securities, sale of assets, business combination, or transaction that would interfere with, delay, restrict, or otherwise adversely affect such Approved Sale, and (c) against any action or agreement that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the definitive agreement(s) related to such Approved Sale or that could result in any of the conditions to the closing obligations under such agreement(s) not being fulfilled, and, in connection therewith, to be present (in person or by proxy) at all relevant meetings of the shareholders of the Company (or adjournments thereof) or to approve and execute all relevant written consents in lieu of a meeting.
(iii) Not exercise any dissenters’ or appraisal rights under applicable law with respect to such Approved Sale.
(iv) Take all necessary actions in connection with the consummation of such Approved Sale as reasonably requested by the Drag Holders, including but not limited to the execution and delivery of any share transfer or other agreements prepared in connection with such Approved Sale, and the delivery, at the closing of such Approved Sale involving a sale of stock, of all certificates representing stock held or controlled by such holder, duly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by a duly executed share transfer form, or affidavits and indemnity undertakings with respect to lost certificates.
(v) Restructure such Approved Sale, as and if reasonably requested by the Drag Holders, as a merger, consolidation, restructuring or similar transaction, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or otherwise.
9.2 Other Provisions. In the event that any such holder fails for any reason to take any of the foregoing actions after reasonable notice thereof, such holder hereby grants an irrevocable power of attorney and proxy to any Director approving the Approved Sale to take all necessary actions and execute and deliver all documents deemed by such Director to be reasonably necessary to effectuate the terms hereof. None of the transfer restrictions set forth in Section 8 or 9 of this Agreement shall apply in connection with an Approved Sale, notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary herein and therein.
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10. Legend. Each existing or replacement certificate for Equity Securities of the Company now owned or hereafter acquired by a Party and their permitted transferees shall bear the following legend:
“THE SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION, ASSIGNMENT OR TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A CERTAIN SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE SHAREHOLDER, THE COMPANY AND CERTAIN OTHER PARTIES THERETO, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE COMPANY.”
The Company may annotate its register of members with an appropriate, corresponding legend. At such time as Equity Securities are no longer subject to this Agreement, the Company shall, at the request of the holder of such Equity Securities, issue replacement certificates for such Equity Securities without such legend.
In order to ensure compliance with the terms of this Agreement, the Company may issue appropriate “stop transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and, if the Company acts as transfer agent for its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.
11. Information and Inspection Rights.
11.1 Delivery of Financial Statements. The Company shall deliver to each Rights Holder who holds at least five percent (5%) in the share capital of the Company on fully-diluted basis the following documents or reports:
(i) within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a consolidated income statement and statement of cash flows for the Company for such fiscal year and a consolidated balance sheet for the Company as of the end of the fiscal year, all prepared in English and in accordance with the Accounting Standards consistently applied, such financial statements shall be audited and certified by independent public accountants selected by the Board of Directors if the Board of Directors determines that it is advisable for the Company to have such financial statements audited and certified;
(ii) within sixty (60) days of the end of each second quarter of a year, a consolidated unaudited income statement for the first six months of such year and a consolidated unaudited balance sheet for the Company as of the end of such six-month period, in accordance with the Accounting Standards consistently applied throughout the period (except for customary year-end adjustments and except for the absence of notes);
(iii) an annual business and financial plan for the following fiscal year prior to the beginning of such fiscal year in reasonable detail;
(iv) as soon as practicable, any other information reasonably requested by any such Rights Holder, provided that such requests shall not be more frequent than twice a year.
11.2 Inspection Rights. The Company covenants and agrees that each Rights Holder shall have the right, to reasonably inspect the books and records of each Group Company at any time during regular working hours and in a manner so as not to interfere with the normal business operations of the Group Company on reasonable prior notice to such Group Company, provided that such Rights Holder shall bear the costs for its own representatives and that such inspection shall not be more frequent than twice a year.
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12. Election of Directors.
12.1 Board of Directors.
(i) The Company shall have, and the Parties hereto agree to cause the Company to have, a Board consisting of one authorized director. The holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares shall have right to designate, appoint, remove, replace and reappoint one director on the Board (the “Ordinary Directors”).
12.2 Voting Agreements
(i) With respect to each election of directors of the Board, each holder of voting securities of the Company shall vote at each meeting of shareholders of the Company, or in lieu of any such meeting shall give such holder’s written consent with respect to, as the case may be, all of such holder’s voting securities of the Company as may be necessary (i) to keep the authorized size of the Board at one director, (ii) to cause the election or re-election as members of the Board, and during such period to continue in office, each of the individuals designated pursuant to Section 12.1, and (iii) against any nominees not designated pursuant to Section 12.1.
(ii) Any Director designated pursuant to Section 12.1 may be removed from the Board, either for or without cause, upon written request of the Person or group of Persons then entitled to designate such Director pursuant to Section 12.1 or by the Company at any time when the Person or group of Persons no longer are entitled to designate such Director pursuant to Section 12.1, and the Parties agree not to seek, vote for or otherwise effect the removal of any such Director without such vote or written consent. Any Person or group of Persons then entitled to designate any individual to be elected as a Director on the Board shall have the exclusive right at any time or from time to time to remove any such Director occupying such position and to fill any vacancy caused by the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal of any Director occupying such position or any other vacancy therein. Each holder of voting securities of the Company agrees to always vote such holder’s respective voting securities of the Company at a meeting of the members of the Company (and given written consents in lieu thereof) in support of the foregoing.
12.3 Quorum. The Board shall hold no less than one (1) board meeting during each fiscal quarter. A meeting of the Board shall only proceed where there are present (whether in person or by means of a conference telephone or any other equipment which allows all participants in the meeting to speak to and hear each other simultaneously) a majority of all Directors of such Group Company then in office. If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or to such other time or such other place as the directors may determine.
12.4 Expenses. The Company will promptly pay or reimburse each non-employee Board member for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending board or committee meetings and otherwise performing their duties as directors and committee members.
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12.5 Alternates. Subject to applicable Law, each Director shall be entitled to appoint an alternate to serve at any Board meeting, and such alternate shall be permitted to attend all Board meetings and vote on behalf of the director for whom she or he is serving as an alternate.
13. Protective Provisions.
13.1 Acts of the Group Companies Requiring Approval of Majority Investors. So long as no less than fifty percent (50%) of the Preferred Shares issued at the Closing are issued and outstanding, no Group Company shall take, permit to occur, approve, authorize, or agree or commit to do any of the following, and each Party shall procure the Company not to, and the shareholders of the Company shall procure the Company not to, take, permit to occur, approve, authorize, or agree or commit to do any of the following, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, whether directly or indirectly, and whether or not by amendment, merger, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, amalgamation, or otherwise, without the written consent or affirmative vote of the Majority Investors, given in writing or by vote at a meeting, consenting or voting (as the case may be) (vote together and separately as a class or series),
(i) any adverse amendment or change of the rights, preferences, privileges or powers of, or the restrictions provided for the benefit of, the Preferred Shares;
(ii) creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of Equity Securities having rights, preferences, privileges or powers superior to or on a parity with the Preferred Shares, whether as to liquidation, conversion, dividend, voting, redemption, or otherwise, or any Equity Securities convertible into, exchangeable for, or exercisable into any Equity Securities having rights, preferences, privileges or powers superior to or on a parity with any series of Preferred Shares, whether as to liquidation, conversion, dividend, voting, redemption or otherwise;
(iii) any action that reclassifies any issued and outstanding shares into shares having rights, preferences, privileges or powers senior to or on a parity with the Preferred Shares, whether as to liquidation, conversion, dividend, voting, redemption or otherwise;
(iv) any amendment or modification to the Charter, other than amendments pursuant to and in compliance with Section 15.17 hereof and other than to effect a Qualified IPO;
(v) any declaration, set aside or payment of a dividend or other distribution by the Company;
(vi) any change of the size or composition of the board of directors of any Group Company other than changes pursuant to and in compliance with this Agreement;
(vii) any increase or decrease in the authorized number of Preferred Shares, or any series thereof;
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(viii) any Deemed Liquidation Event or any Share Sale or any merger, amalgamation, scheme or arrangement or consolidation of any Group Company with any Person, or the purchase or other acquisition by any Group Company of all or substantially all of the assets, equity or business of another Person, other than in any case an Approved Sale; or
(ix) any action by a Group Company to authorize, approve or enter into any agreement or obligation with respect to any action listed above.
14. Additional Covenants.
14.1 Business of the Group Companies. The Company shall not engage in any business or operations without the approval of the Board. The business of each other Group Companies shall be restricted to the Business, except with the approval of the Board.
14.2 No Avoidance; Voting Trust. The Company will not, by any voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be performed hereunder by the Company, and the Company will at all times in good faith assist and take action as appropriate in the carrying out of all of the provisions of this Agreement. Each holder of Shares agrees that it shall not enter into any other agreements or arrangements of any kind with respect to the voting of any Shares or deposit any Shares in a voting trust or other similar arrangement.
14.3 Confidentiality.
(i) The terms and conditions of the Transaction Documents (collectively, the “Confidential Information”), including their existence, shall be considered confidential information and shall not be disclosed by any of the Parties to any other Person unless such Confidential Information (a) is known or becomes known to the public in general (other than as a result of a breach of this Section 14.3(i) by such Investor), (b) is or has been independently developed or conceived by the Investor without use of the Company’s Confidential Information, or (c) is or has been made known or disclosed to the Investor by a third party without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality such third party may have to the Company, and except that (i) each Party, as appropriate, may disclose any of the Confidential Information to its current or bona fide prospective investors, prospective permitted transferees, employees, investment bankers, lenders, accountants and attorneys, in each case only where such Persons are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations; (ii) each Investor may disclose any of the Confidential Information to its fund manager and the employees thereof so long as such Persons are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations; and (iii) if any Party is requested or becomes legally compelled (including without limitation, pursuant to the Applicable Securities Laws) to disclose the existence or content of any of the Confidential Information in contravention of the provisions of this Section, such Party shall promptly provide the other Parties with written notice of that fact so that such other Parties may seek a protective order, confidential treatment or other appropriate remedy and in any event shall furnish only that portion of the information that is legally required and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such information.
(ii) The provisions of this Section shall terminate and supersede the provisions of any separate nondisclosure agreement executed by any of the Parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation, any term sheet, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar agreement entered into by the Company and the Investors in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby.
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14.4 Controlled Foreign Corporation. Each year, based on and in reliance of the information provided by the Investors, the Company shall make due inquiry with its tax advisors regarding whether the Company or any of its subsidiaries is treated as a “Controlled Foreign Corporation” (“CFC”) as defined in the Code, whether any portion of the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ income is “Subpart F Income” (as defined in Section 952 of the Code) (“Subpart F Income”) and each Investor’s share, if any, of such Subpart F Income (regardless of whether an Investor is a “United States Shareholder” or not). The Company shall furnish the results of such inquiry to the Investors no later than sixty (60) days following the end of the Company’s or applicable subsidiary’s taxable year. Each Investor shall reasonably cooperate with the Company to provide information necessary for the Company’s tax advisors to determine the status of such Investor, or such Investor’s Partners, as a “United States Shareholder” within the meaning of Section 951(b) of the Code, provided, however, that no Investor shall be required to provide any confidential information in connection with this determination. The Company shall make reasonable commercial efforts, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to make reasonable commercial efforts, to provide each Investor in a timely manner with the information in its possession or reasonably obtainable that is necessary to allow such Investor or such Investor’s Partners to comply with its U.S. tax filing and reporting obligations as a result of any of the Company and its subsidiaries being treated as a CFC. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Investor’s Partners” shall mean each of the Investor partners, members, shareholders and other equity holders and any direct or indirect owners of such partners, members, shareholders and other equity holders. The Company shall be deemed to satisfy its obligations set forth in this Section 12.5 in the event that it is unable to provide the information related to the CFC status of the Company or any of its subsidiaries solely as the result of the failure of an Investor to provide any relevant information.
14.5 Passive Foreign Investment Company. Each year, the Company shall make due inquiry with its tax advisors regarding the status of the Company and each of its subsidiaries as a “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code (a “PFIC”). The Company shall notify the Investors of the results of such determination no later than sixty (60) days following the end of the Company’s or applicable subsidiary’s taxable year. Without limiting the Company’s obligations pursuant to Section 14.5, in connection with a “Qualified Electing Fund” election made by an Investor or any of an Investor’s Partners pursuant to Section 1295 of the Code with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or a “Protective Statement” filed by an Investor or any of an Investor’s Partners pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1295-3, as amended (or any successor thereto), with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to, provide the information requested by the Investor necessary for the Investor and the Investor’s Partners to comply with the U.S. tax filing and reporting obligations with respect to such Qualified Electing Fund election or Protective Statement, including without limitation a PFIC Annual Information Statement under Section 1295(b) of the Code, and a completed IRS Form 8621, no later than seventy-five (75) days following the end of each taxable year commencing with the first taxable year for which the Company is a PFIC.
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14.6 Provision of U.S. Tax Reporting Information. The Company shall make commercially reasonable efforts, and shall cause its subsidiaries to make commercially reasonable efforts, to provide as promptly as possible, an Investor with the information in the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ possession or reasonably obtainable by the Company or any of its subsidiaries as is reasonably requested by the Investor to allow such Investor or any of an Investor’s Partners to comply with their U.S. tax filing and reporting obligations for the prior calendar year including completed IRS Forms 5471 and 926 for such Investor.
14.7 Costs. Any and all costs incurred by any Group Company in providing the information that it is required to provide, or is required to cause to be provided, and the cost incurred by the Group Company in taking the action, or causing the action to be taken, described in Sections 14.4, 14.5 and 14.6 shall be borne by the relevant Investors.
14.8 U.S. Tax Classification. The Company is intended to be classified and treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. tax purposes. If necessary to ensure such classification, the Investors shall cooperate to cause the Company to timely execute and file United States Internal Revenue Form 8832 electing to treat the Company as a corporation for U.S. Federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 301.7701-3 of the U.S. Treasury Regulations. In connection therewith, each of the Investors hereby consent to such election and agrees to cooperate to effect such election. The Company shall furnish a copy of such Form 8832 as requested by an Investor promptly after the filing thereof. The Company shall not elect to be treated as anything other than an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal, state or local income tax purposes under U.S. Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-3(a) or under any corresponding provision of state or local law, without the prior written consent of all the Investors.
15. Miscellaneous.
15.1 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon mutual consent of the Parties hereto. The provisions of Sections 7, 8, 12, 13, and 14 shall terminate on the earliest of the consummation of the Qualified IPO or a Deemed Liquidation Event. If this Agreement terminates, the Parties shall be released from their obligations under this Agreement, except in respect of any obligation stated, explicitly or otherwise, to continue to exist after the termination of this Agreement (including without limitation those under Sections 2 through 6 14.3 and Section 15). This Agreement shall terminate with respect to any shareholder of the Company when such shareholder no longer holds any Shares. If any Party breaches this Agreement before the termination of this Agreement, it shall not be released from its obligations arising from such breach on termination.
15.2 Further Assurances. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein, each of the Parties hereto agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all action, to do or cause to be done, to execute such further instruments, and to assist and cooperate with the other Parties hereto in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws or otherwise to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
15.3 Assignments and Transfers; No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement and the rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, their respective successors, assigns and legal representatives, but shall not otherwise be for the benefit of any third party. The rights of any Investor hereunder (including, without limitation, registration rights) are assignable (together with the related obligations) to an Affiliate, or a third party in connection with the transfer of Equity Securities of the Company held by such Investor but only to the extent of such transfer, and any such transferee shall execute and deliver to the Company a deed of adherence or joinder becoming a party hereto as an “Investor” subject to the terms and conditions hereof (if not already so bound). This Agreement and the rights and obligations of each other Party hereunder shall not otherwise be assigned without the mutual written consent of the other Parties except as expressly provided herein.
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15.4 Governing Law. This Agreement and all actions arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the Laws of the State of Hong Kong, without regard to principles of conflict of laws thereunder.
15.5 Dispute Resolution.
(i) Any dispute, controversy, difference or claim (each, a “Dispute”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation, breach, termination, validity or invalidity thereof, shall be referred to arbitration upon the demand of either party to the dispute with notice (the “Arbitration Notice”) to the other.
(ii) The Dispute shall be settled by arbitration in Hong Kong administered by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “HKIAC”) in accordance with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules (the “HKIAC Rules”) in force when the Arbitration Notice is submitted in accordance with the HKIAC Rules. There shall be one (1) arbitrator. The HKIAC council shall select the arbitrator, who shall be qualified to practice law in Hong Kong.
(iii) The arbitral proceedings shall be conducted in English. To the extent that the HKIAC Rules are in conflict with the provisions of this Section, including the provisions concerning the appointment of the arbitrators, the provisions of this Section shall prevail.
(iv) The costs of arbitration shall be borne by the losing party, unless otherwise determined by the arbitral tribunal.
(v) The award of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding upon the parties thereto, and the prevailing party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award.
(vi) The arbitral tribunal shall decide any Dispute submitted by the parties to the arbitration strictly in accordance with the substantive Law of Hong Kong (without regard to principles of conflict of Laws thereunder) and shall not apply any other substantive Law.
(vii) Any party to the Dispute shall be entitled to seek preliminary injunctive relief, if possible, from any court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the applicable Laws of that jurisdiction.
(viii) When any Dispute occurs and when any Dispute is under arbitration, except for the matters in Dispute, the Parties shall continue to fulfill their respective obligations and shall be entitled to exercise their rights under this Agreement.
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15.6 Notices. Any notice required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be given either personally or by sending it by next-day or second-day courier service, fax, electronic mail or similar means to the address of the relevant Party as shown on Schedule B (or at such other address as such Party may designate by fifteen (15) days’ advance written notice to the other Parties to this Agreement given in accordance with this Section). Where a notice is sent by next-day or second-day courier service, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and sending by next-day or second-day service through an internationally-recognized courier a letter containing the notice, with a written confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected at the earlier of (i) delivery (or when delivery is refused) and (ii) expiration of two (2) Business Days after the letter containing the same is sent as aforesaid. Where a notice is sent by fax or electronic mail, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, and sending such notice through a transmitting organization, with a written confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected on the day the same is sent as aforesaid, if such day is a Business Day and if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, otherwise the next Business Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a “with a copy to” address is designated, notice must also be given to such address in the manner above for such notice, request, consent or other communication hereunder to be effective.
15.7 Expenses. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such Party may be entitled.
15.8 Rights Cumulative; Specific Performance. Each and all of the various rights, powers and remedies of a Party hereto will be considered to be cumulative with and in addition to any other rights, powers and remedies which such Party may have at Law or in equity in the event of the breach of any of the terms of this Agreement. The exercise or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy will neither constitute the exclusive election thereof nor the waiver of any other right, power or remedy available to such Party. Without limiting the foregoing, the Parties hereto acknowledge and agree irreparable harm may occur for which money damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
15.9 Successor Indemnification. If the Company or any of its successors or assignees consolidates with or merges into any other Person and is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, then to the extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assignees of the Company assume the obligations of the Company with respect to indemnification of members of the Board of Directors as in effect immediately before such transaction, whether such obligations are contained in the Memorandum and Articles, or elsewhere, as the case may be.
15.10 Severability. In case any provision of the Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. If, however, any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable under any such applicable Law in any jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be deemed modified to conform to the minimum requirements of such Law, or, if for any reason it is not deemed so modified, it shall be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality, or limitation on enforceability without affecting the remaining provisions of this Agreement, or the validity, legality, or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
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15.11 Amendments and Waivers. Any provision in this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only by the written consent of (i) the Company; (ii) the Majority Investors; provided, however, that (1) no amendment or waiver shall be effective or enforceable in respect of a holder of any class or series of Shares if such amendment or waiver affects such holder materially and adversely differently from the other or holders of the same series of Preferred Shares, respectively, unless such holder consents in writing to such amendment or waiver, and (2) any provision that specifically and expressly gives a right to a named Investor shall not be amended or waived without the prior written consent of such named Investor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Party hereunder may waive any of its/his rights hereunder without obtaining the consent of any parties. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section shall be binding upon all the Parties hereto.
15.12 No Waiver. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof will not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor will any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right, power or remedy hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right, power or remedy at any other time or times.
15.13 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting Party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any Party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing.
15.14 No Presumption. The Parties acknowledge that any applicable Law that would require interpretation of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the Party that drafted it has no application and is expressly waived. If any claim is made by a Party relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in the provisions of this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion will be implied because this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of any Party or its counsel.
15.15 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile and e-mailed copies of signatures shall be deemed to be originals for purposes of the effectiveness of this Agreement.
15.16 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Exhibits hereto) constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the Parties with regard to the subjects hereof, and supersedes all other agreements between or among any of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
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15.17 Control. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between any of the terms of this Agreement and any of the terms of any of the Charter Documents for any of the Group Companies, or in the event of any dispute related to any such Charter Document, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail in all respects, the Parties shall give full effect to and act in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement over the provisions of the Charter Documents, and the Parties hereto shall exercise all voting and other rights and powers (including to procure any required alteration to such Charter Documents to resolve such conflict or inconsistency) to make the provisions of this Agreement effective, and not to take any actions that impair any provisions in this Agreement.
15.18 Aggregation of Shares. All Shares held or acquired by any Affiliates shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights of any Investor under this Agreement.
15.19 Use of English Language. This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the English language. Any translation of this Agreement into another language shall have no interpretive effect. All documents or notices to be delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be in the English language or, if any such document or notice is not in the English language, accompanied by an English translation thereof, and the English language version of any such document or notice shall control for purposes thereof.
15.20 Effective Date. This Agreement shall only take effect and become binding on and enforceable against the Parties subject to and upon the Closing as defined in the Purchase Agreement.
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35 | Shareholders Agreement |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
Company: | Belite Bio, Inc | |
By: | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Name: | Tom Lin | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
PRINCIPAL: | ||
Lin Bioscience International Ltd. | ||
By: | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Name: | Tom Lin | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
By: | /s/ Cheng-Chao Sung | |
Name: | Cheng-Chao Sung | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
By: | /s/ Sen-Tai Chen | |
Name: | Sen-Tai Chen | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
By: | /s/ Yun-Ju Huang | |
Name: | Yun-Ju Huang | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
By: | /s/ Cheng-Han Huang | |
Name: | Cheng-Han Huang | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
H&D Asset Management Co., Ltd. | ||
(Company Seal) | ||
By: | /s/ Ping-Yu Chu (Seal) | |
Name: | Ping-Yu Chu | |
Title: | Legal Representative | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
By: | /s/ Tian-Ren Huang | |
Name: | Tian-Ren Huang | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
Grand Fortune Venture Capital Corporation | ||
(Company Seal) | ||
By: | /s/ Hsien-Hua Huang | |
Name: | Hsien-Hua Huang | |
Title: | Chairman | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
Foryou Venture Capital Limited Partnership | ||
(Company Seal) | ||
By: | /s/ Hsien-Hua Huang | |
Name: | Hsien-Hua Huang | |
Title: | Legal Representative | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
YUN HSIEN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD | ||
(Company Seal) | ||
By: | (Seal) Yu-Hsien Wu | |
Name: | Yu-Hsien Wu | |
Title: | Chairman | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
By: | /s/ Hsueh-Jung Hsia | |
Name: | Hsueh-Jung Hsia | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
By: | /s/ Hao-Wei Chu | |
Name: | Hao-Wei Chu | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
Foryou Capital Corporation | ||
(Company Seal) | ||
By: | /s/ Hsien-Hua Huang | |
Name: | Hsien-Hua Huang | |
Title: | Chairman | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
By: | /s/ Ching-Yu Peng | |
Name: | Ching-Yu Peng | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as on the date and year first above written.
INVESTOR: | ||
Lin Bioscience International Ltd. | ||
By: | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Name: | Tom Lin | |
Title: | Director | |
ID: | ######## |
[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]
SCHEDULE A-1
LIST OF PRINCIPALS
Shareholders Agreement
SCHEDULE A-2
LIST OF SERIES A INVESTORS
Shareholders Agreement
SCHEDULE A-3
LIST OF SERIES B INVESTORS
Shareholders Agreement
SCHEDULE B
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES
Shareholders Agreement
Exhibit 4.5
AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this “AMENDMENT”) is entered into on November 1, 2021 by and among
1. | Belite Bio, Inc, an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands with limited liability (the “Company”), |
2. | each of the Persons named on Schedule A-1 attached hereto (collectively, the “Principals”, and each an “Principal”); |
3. | each of the Persons listed in Schedule A-2 attached hereto (collectively, the “Investors”, and each an “Investor”). |
Each of the parties to this Amendment is referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.
RECITALS
A | The Parties and certain other parties thereto entered into that certain Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement on December 23, 2020 (the “Shareholders Agreement”). |
B | The Parties hereto constitute the required parties set forth in Section 15.11 of the Shareholders Agreement and desire to amend the Shareholders Agreement as set forth in this Amendment. |
WITNESSETH
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties intending to be legally bound hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Shareholders Agreement.
2. Amendments.
2.1 Section 12.1(i) of the Shareholders Agreement shall be deleted and replaced in its entirety by the following to read:
12.1 Board of Directors.
(i) The Company shall have, and the Parties hereto agree to cause the Company to have, a Board consisting of four (4) authorized directors. The holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares shall have right to designate, appoint, remove, replace and reappoint four (4) directors on the Board (the “Ordinary Directors”).
2.2 Section 12.2(i) of the Shareholders Agreement shall be deleted and replaced in its entirety by the following to read:
Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and
Restated Shareholders Agreement
12.2 Voting Agreements
(i) With respect to each election of directors of the Board, each holder of voting securities of the Company shall vote at each meeting of shareholders of the Company, or in lieu of any such meeting shall give such holder’s written consent with respect to, as the case may be, all of such holder’s voting securities of the Company as may be necessary (i) to keep the authorized size of the Board at four (4) directors, (ii) to cause the election or re-election as members of the Board, and during such period to continue in office, each of the individuals designated pursuant to Section 12.1, and (iii) against any nominees not designated pursuant to Section 12.1.
2.3 Section 15.1 of the Shareholders Agreement shall be deleted and replaced in its entirety by the following to read:
15.1 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon mutual consent of the Parties hereto. The provisions of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 shall terminate on the earliest of the consummation of the Qualified IPO or a Deemed Liquidation Event. If this Agreement terminates, the Parties shall be released from their obligations under this Agreement, except in respect of any obligation stated, explicitly or otherwise, to continue to exist after the termination of this Agreement (including without limitation those under Sections 2 through 6, 14.3 and Section 15). This Agreement shall terminate with respect to any shareholder of the Company when such shareholder no longer holds any Shares. If any Party breaches this Agreement before the termination of this Agreement, it shall not be released from its obligations arising from such breach on termination.
3. Miscellaneous.
3.1 General; Effective Date. Except as amended hereby, the Shareholders Agreement has not been modified, and as amended hereby, is in full force and effect. The Shareholders Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, represents the final, entire and complete agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of the Shareholders Agreement and this Amendment and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous agreements, communications or representations, whether oral or written, express or implied. This Amendment constitutes a part of the Shareholders Agreement and all references in the Shareholders Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement (e.g., “this Agreement,” “herein,” etc.) shall constitute references to the Shareholders Agreement as amended by this Amendment.
3.2 Governing Law. This Amendment and all actions arising out of or in connection with this Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of Hong Kong, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions of any jurisdiction.
3.3 Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and
Restated Shareholders Agreement
[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]
Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and
Restated Shareholders Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment on the date and year first above written.
COMPANY:
Belite Bio, Inc | ||
By: | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Name: | Tom Lin (Yu-Hsin Lin) | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment on the date and year first above written.
Principal & Investor:
Lin Bioscience International Ltd. | |||
By: | /s/ Tom Lin | ||
Name: | Tom Lin (Yu-Hsin Lin) | ||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment on the date and year first above written.
Investor:
Cheng-Chao Sung (ID: ########) | |
/s/ Cheng-Chao Sung |
[Signature Page to Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment on the date and year first above written.
Investor:
Yun-Ju Huang (ID: ######## ) | |
/s/ Yun-Ju Huang |
[Signature Page to Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment on the date and year first above written.
Investor:
Cheng-Han Huang (ID: ########) | |
/s/ Cheng-Han Huang |
[Signature Page to Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment on the date and year first above written.
Investor:
H&D (SINGAPORE) INVESTMENT HOLDING PTE. LTD. (ID: ######## ) | ||
By: | /s/ Chu Ping Yu | |
Name: | Chu Ping Yu | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment on the date and year first above written.
Investor:
Grand Fortune Venture Capital Corporation (ID: ########) | ||
(Company Seal) | ||
By: | /s/ Huang Hsien Hua | |
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment on the date and year first above written.
Investor:
Foryou Venture Capital Limited Partnership (ID: ########) | ||
(Company Seal) | ||
By: | /s/ Huang Hsien Hua | |
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment on the date and year first above written.
Investor:
YUN HSIEN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD (ID: ########) | ||
(Company Seal) | ||
By: | (seal) Yu-Hsien Wu | |
Name: | Yu-Hsien Wu | |
Title: |
[Signature Page to Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment on the date and year first above written.
Investor:
Foryou Capital Corporation (ID: ########) | ||
(Company Seal) | ||
By: | /s/ Huang Hsien Hua | |
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment on the date and year first above written.
Investor:
Ching-Yu Peng (ID: ########) | |
/s/ Ching-Yu Peng |
[Signature Page to Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement]
SCHEDULE A-1
List of PRINCIPALS
Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and
Restated Shareholders Agreement
SCHEDULE A-2
LIST OF INVESTORS
Belite Bio, Inc Amendment to Amended and
Restated Shareholders Agreement
Exhibit 5.1
Belite Bio, Inc
5820 Oberlin Drive
Suite 101, San Diego
CA 92121
5 April 2022
Dear Sir or Madam
Belite Bio, Inc
We have acted as Cayman Islands legal advisers to Belite Bio, Inc (the "Company") in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1, including all amendments or supplements thereto (the "Registration Statement"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended to date relating to the offering by the Company of certain American depositary shares (the "ADSs") representing the Company's ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each (the "Shares").
We are furnishing this opinion as Exhibits 5.1, 8.1 and 23.2 to the Registration Statement.
1 | Documents Reviewed |
For the purposes of this opinion, we have reviewed only originals, copies or final drafts of the following documents:
1.1 | The certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 27 March 2018 and the certificate of incorporation on change of name of the Company dated 8 October 2018 issued by the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands. |
1.2 | The second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as adopted by a special resolution passed on 23 December 2020, and effective on 24 December 2020 (as amended by a special resolution passed on 1 November 2021) (the "Pre-IPO Memorandum and Articles"). |
1.3 | The third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as conditionally adopted by a special resolution passed on 5 April 2022 and effective immediately prior to the completion of the initial public offering of the Company’s ADSs representing its Shares (the "IPO Memorandum and Articles"). |
1.4 | The written resolutions of the directors of the Company dated 25 November 2021 and 5 April 2022 (the "Directors' Resolutions"). |
1.5 | The minutes of the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company held on 5 April 2022 (the "EGM Minutes"). |
1.6 | A certificate from a director of the Company, a copy of which is attached hereto (the "Director's Certificate"). |
1.7 | A certificate of good standing dated 14 March 2022, issued by the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands (the "Certificate of Good Standing"). |
1.8 | The Registration Statement. |
2 | Assumptions |
The following opinions are given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion letter. These opinions only relate to the laws of the Cayman Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion letter. In giving these opinions we have relied (without further verification) upon the completeness and accuracy, as of the date of this opinion letter, of the Director's Certificate and the Certificate of Good Standing. We have also relied upon the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified:
2.1 | Copies of documents, conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals. |
2.2 | All signatures, initials and seals are genuine. |
2.3 | There is nothing under any law (other than the law of the Cayman Islands), which would or might affect the opinions set out below. |
3 | Opinion |
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set out below and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
3.1 | The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability and is validly existing and in good standing with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands under the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
3.2 | The authorised share capital of the Company, with effect immediately prior to the completion of the Company’s initial public offering of the ADSs representing the Shares, will be US$50,000 divided into 500,000,000 shares comprising of (i) 400,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, and (ii) 100,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors may determine in accordance with the IPO Memorandum and Articles. |
3.3 | The issue and allotment of the Shares have been duly authorised and when allotted, issued and paid for as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Shares will be legally issued and allotted, fully paid and non-assessable. As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a share is only issued when it has been entered in the register of members (shareholders). |
3.4 | The statements under the caption "Taxation" in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement, to the extent that they constitute statements of Cayman Islands law, are accurate in all material respects and that such statements constitute our opinion. |
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4 | Qualifications |
In this opinion the phrase "non-assessable" means, with respect to the Shares in the Company, that a shareholder shall not, solely by virtue of its status as a shareholder, be liable for additional assessments or calls on the Shares by the Company or its creditors (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).
Except as specifically stated herein, we make no comment with respect to any representations and warranties which may be made by or with respect to the Company in any of the documents or instruments cited in this opinion or otherwise with respect to the commercial terms of the transactions, which are the subject of this opinion.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our name under the headings "Enforceability of Civil Liabilities", "Taxation" and "Legal Matters" and elsewhere in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP
Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP
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Director's Certificate
April 5, 2022
To: Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP
26th Floor, Central Plaza
18 Harbour Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong
Dear Sirs
Belite Bio, Inc (the "Company")
I, the undersigned, being a director of the Company, am aware that you are being asked to provide a legal opinion (the "Opinion") in relation to certain aspects of Cayman Islands law. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalised terms used in this certificate have the meaning given to them in the Opinion. I hereby certify that:
1 | The Pre-IPO Memorandum and Articles remain in full force and effect and, except as amended by the resolutions as set out in the EGM Minutes adopting the IPO Memorandum and Articles, are otherwise unamended. |
2 | The Directors' Resolutions were duly passed in the manner prescribed in the Pre-IPO Memorandum and Articles (including, without limitation, with respect to the disclosure of interests (if any) by each director of the Company) and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect. |
3 | The EGM Minutes are a true and correct record of the proceedings of the EGM, which was duly convened and held, and at which a quorum was present throughout, in each case, in the manner prescribed in the Pre-IPO Memorandum and Articles. The resolutions set out in the EGM Minutes were duly passed in the manner prescribed in the Pre-IPO Memorandum and Articles and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect. |
4 | The authorised share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into (i) 492,179,086 ordinary shares of par value US$0.0001 each, (ii) 2,377,642 series A preferred shares of par value US$0.0001 each, and (iii) 5,443,272 series B preferred shares of par value US$0.0001 each. |
5 | The authorised share capital of the Company, with effect immediately prior to the completion of the Company’s initial public offering of the ADSs representing the Shares, will be US$50,000 divided into 500,000,000 shares comprising of (i) 400,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, and (ii) 100,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors may determine in accordance with the IPO Memorandum and Articles. |
6 | The minute book and corporate records of the Company as maintained at its registered office in the Cayman Islands and made available to you are complete and accurate in all material respects, and all minutes and resolutions filed therein represent a complete and accurate record of all meetings of the shareholders and directors (or any committee thereof) of the Company (duly convened in accordance with the Pre-IPO Memorandum and Articles) and all resolutions passed at the meetings or passed by written resolution or consent, as the case may be. |
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7 | The shareholders of the Company have not restricted or limited the powers of the directors in any way and there is no contractual or other prohibition (other than as arising under Cayman Islands law) binding on the Company prohibiting it from issuing and allotting the Shares or otherwise performing its obligations under the Registration Statement. |
8 | The directors of the Company at the date of the Director's Resolutions and at the date hereof were and are: |
Yu-Hsin Lin
Hao-Yuan Chuang
Hung-Wei Chen
Wan-Shan Chen
9 | Each director of the Company considers the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement to be of commercial benefit to the Company and has acted bona fide in the best interests of the Company, and for a proper purpose of the Company in relation to the transactions the subject of the Opinion. |
10 | To the best of my knowledge and belief, having made due inquiry, the Company is not the subject of legal, arbitral, administrative or other proceedings in any jurisdiction that would have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Company. Nor have the directors or shareholders taken any steps to have the Company struck off or placed in liquidation, nor have any steps been taken to wind up the Company. Nor has any receiver been appointed over any of the Company's property or assets. |
11 | Upon the completion of the Company's initial public offering of the ADSs representing the Shares, the Company will not be subject to the requirements of Part XVIIA of the Companies Act (As Revised). |
I confirm that you may continue to rely on this Certificate as being true and correct on the day that you issue the Opinion unless I shall have previously notified you personally to the contrary.
[signature page follows]
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Signature: | /s/ Yu-Hsin Lin | |
Name: | Yu-Hsin Lin | |
Title: | Director |
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Exhibit 8.2
OPINION OF O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP
April 5, 2022
Belite Bio, Inc
5820 Oberlin Drive, Suite 101,
San Diego, CA 92121
United States of America
Re: | American Depositary Shares (the “ADSs”), each representing 1 ordinary shares of Belite Bio, Inc. (the “Company”) |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to the Company, a Cayman Islands company, in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form F-1 (the “F-1 Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 5, 2022 (File No. 333- ), for registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of ADSs in an initial public offering. Each ADS represents 1 ordinary shares, par value US$ 0.0001 of the Company. You have requested our opinion concerning statements in the “Taxation — United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” section of the F-1 Registration Statement.
In our capacity as counsel to the Company, we have examined originals or copies of those corporate and other documents we considered appropriate, including the F-1 Registration Statement and the forms of agreements attached as exhibits thereto and such other records, documents, certificates or other instruments, and other written factual representations provided by the Company for us to rely on, as in our judgment were necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed that the transactions described in the F-1 Registration Statement and the forms of agreements attached as exhibits thereto will be performed in the manner described therein. We have not made an independent investigation of documents submitted or facts represented to us.
On the basis of the foregoing and our consideration of those questions of law we considered relevant, and subject to the limitations, qualifications, and assumptions set forth in this opinion, we confirm that the discussion in the “Taxation — United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” section of the F-1 Registration Statement, to the extent that it constitutes matters of U.S. federal income tax law or legal conclusions relating to the U.S. federal income tax laws of the United States and subject to the qualifications therein, represents our opinion and constitutes accurate summaries of such matters in all material respects.
Our opinion is based on the existing provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury regulations thereunder (both final and proposed), and interpretations thereof by the Internal Revenue Service and the courts having jurisdictions over such matters and other applicable authorities in effect as of the date hereof. Our opinion is not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, and there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not assert a contrary position. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that future legislative, judicial or administrative changes, on either a prospective or retroactive basis, would not affect the conclusions stated in such opinion. We express no opinion with respect to the applicability, or the effect, of other U.S. federal laws, the laws of any state, the laws of any foreign country or any other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies within any state. No opinion is expressed as to any matter not discussed herein. Our opinion is rendered to the Company as of the date of this letter and we undertake no obligation to update it subsequent to the date of this letter. Any changes or differences in the facts from those disclosed in the F-1 Registration Statement will affect our opinion.
We consent to the Company’s use of this opinion as an Exhibit to the F-1 Registration Statement, to the Company’s reference to our name in the “Taxation” and “Legal Matters” sections of the F-1 Registration Statement and to the discussion of this opinion in the prospectus included in the F-1 Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Respectfully submitted, | |
/s/ O’Melveny & Myers LLP |
Exhibit 10.1
BELITE BIO, INC
AMENDED AND RESTATED SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN
PREFACE
This Plan is divided into two separate equity programs: (1) the option and share appreciation rights grant program set forth in Section 5 under which Eligible Persons (as defined in Section 3) may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be granted Options and/or SARs, and (2) the share award program set forth in Section 6 under which Eligible Persons may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be awarded restricted or unrestricted Ordinary Shares. Section 2 of this Plan contains the general rules regarding the administration of this Plan. Section 3 sets forth the requirements for eligibility to receive an Award grant under this Plan. Section 4 describes the authorized shares of the Company that may be subject to Awards granted under this Plan. Section 7 contains other provisions applicable to all Awards granted under this Plan. Section 8 provides definitions for certain capitalized terms used in this Plan and not otherwise defined herein.
1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.
The purpose of this Plan is to promote the success of the Company and the interests of its shareholders by providing a means through which the Company may grant equity-based incentives to attract, motivate, retain and reward certain officers, employees, directors and other eligible persons and to further link the interests of Award recipients with those of the Company’s shareholders generally.
2. ADMINISTRATION.
2.1 Administrator. This Plan shall be administered by and all Awards under this Plan shall be authorized by the Administrator. The “Administrator” means the Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board or another committee (within its delegated authority) to administer all or certain aspects of this Plan. Any such committee shall be comprised solely of one or more directors or such number of directors as may be required under applicable law. A committee may delegate some or all of its authority to another committee so constituted. The Board or a committee comprised solely of directors may also delegate, to the extent permitted by the Companies Law, Cap 22 (Law 3 of 1961, as consolidated and revised) of the Cayman Islands and any other applicable law, to one or more officers of the Company, its powers under this Plan (a) to designate the officers and employees of the Company and its Affiliates who will receive grants of Awards under this Plan, and (b) to determine the number of shares subject to, and the other terms and conditions of, such Awards. The Board may delegate different levels of authority to different committees with administrative and grant authority under this Plan. Unless otherwise provided in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company or the applicable charter of any Administrator, a majority of the members of the acting Administrator shall constitute a quorum, and the vote of a majority of the members present assuming the presence of a quorum or the unanimous written consent of the members of the Administrator shall constitute action by the acting Administrator.
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2.2 Plan Awards; Interpretation; Powers of Administrator. Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Administrator is authorized and empowered to do all things necessary or desirable in connection with the authorization of Awards and the administration of this Plan (in the case of a committee or delegation to one or more officers, within the authority delegated to that committee or person(s)), including, without limitation, the authority to:
(a) | determine eligibility and, from among those persons determined to be eligible, the particular Eligible Persons who will receive Awards; |
(b) | grant Awards to Eligible Persons, determine the price and number of securities to be offered or awarded to any of such persons, determine the other specific terms and conditions of Awards consistent with the express limits of this Plan, establish the installments (if any) in which such Awards will become exercisable or will vest (which may include, without limitation, performance and/or time-based schedules) or determine that no delayed exercisability or vesting is required, establish any applicable performance targets, and establish the events of termination or reversion of such Awards; |
(c) | approve the forms of Award Agreements, which need not be identical either as to type of Award or among Participants; |
(d) | construe and interpret this Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreements defining the rights and obligations of the Company, its Affiliates, and Participants under this Plan, make factual determinations with respect to the administration of this Plan, further define the terms used in this Plan, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of this Plan or the Awards; |
(e) | cancel, modify, or waive the Company’s rights with respect to, or modify, discontinue, suspend, or terminate any or all outstanding Awards, subject to any required consent under Section 7.7.4; |
(f) | accelerate or extend the vesting or exercisability or extend the term of any or all outstanding Awards (within the maximum ten-year term of Awards under Sections 5.4.2 and 6.5) in such circumstances as the Administrator may deem appropriate (including, without limitation, in connection with a termination of employment or services or other events of a personal nature); |
(g) | determine Fair Market Value for purposes of this Plan and Awards; |
(h) | determine the duration and purposes of leaves of absence that may be granted to Participants without constituting a termination of their employment for purposes of this Plan; |
(i) | determine whether, and the extent to which, adjustments are required pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof and authorize the termination, conversion, substitution or succession of awards upon the occurrence of an event of the type described in Section 7.3; and |
(j) | implement any procedures, steps, additional or different requirements as may be necessary to comply with any laws of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) that may be applicable to this Plan, any Award or any related documents, including but not limited to foreign exchange laws, tax laws and securities laws of the PRC. |
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2.3 Binding Determinations. Any action taken by, or inaction of, the Company, any Affiliate, the Board or the Administrator relating or pursuant to this Plan and within its authority hereunder or under applicable law shall be within the absolute discretion of that entity or body and shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons. Neither the Board nor the Administrator, nor any member thereof or person acting at the direction thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with this Plan (or any Award), and all such persons shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under any directors and officers liability insurance coverage that may be in effect from time to time.
2.4 Reliance on Experts. In making any determination or in taking or not taking any action under this Plan, the Administrator may obtain and may rely upon the advice of experts, including employees of and professional advisors to the Company. No director, officer or agent of the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be liable for any such action or determination taken or made or omitted in good faith.
2.5 Delegation. The Administrator may delegate ministerial, non-discretionary functions to individuals who are officers or employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates or to third parties.
3. ELIGIBILITY.
Awards may be granted under this Plan only to those persons that the Administrator determines to be Eligible Persons. An “Eligible Person” means any person who qualifies as one of the following at the time of grant of the respective Award:
(a) | an officer (whether or not a director) or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates; |
(b) | any member of the Board; or |
(c) | any director of one of the Company’s Affiliates, or any individual consultant or advisor who renders bona fide services (other than services in connection with the offering or sale of securities of the Company or one of its Affiliates, as applicable, in a capital raising transaction or as a market maker or promoter of that entity’s securities) to the Company or one of its Affiliates. |
An advisor or consultant may be selected as an Eligible Person pursuant to clause (c) above only if such person’s participation in this Plan would not adversely affect (1) the Company’s eligibility to rely on the Rule 701 exemption from registration under the Securities Act for the offering of shares issuable under this Plan by the Company, or (2) the Company’s compliance with any other applicable laws.
An Eligible Person may, but need not, be granted one or more Awards pursuant to Section 5 and/or one or more Awards pursuant to Section 6. An Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under this Plan may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards under this Plan if the Administrator so determines. However, a person’s status as an Eligible Person is not a commitment that any Award will be granted to that person under this Plan. Furthermore, an Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under Section 5 is not necessarily entitled to an Award under Section 6, or vice versa, unless otherwise expressly determined by the Administrator.
Each Award granted under this Plan must be approved by the Administrator at or prior to the grant of the Award.
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4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
4.1 Shares Available. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3.1, the shares that may be delivered under this Plan will be the Company’s authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares (and any of its Ordinary Shares held as treasury shares). The Ordinary Shares issued and delivered may be issued and delivered for any lawful consideration.
4.2 Share Limit. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3.1 and further subject to the share counting rules of Section 4.3, the maximum number of Ordinary Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan will not exceed 4,165,310 shares (the “Share Limit”) in the aggregate. As required under U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.422-2(b)(3)(i), in no event will the number of Ordinary Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan exceed the Share Limit.
4.3 Replenishment and Reissue of Unvested Awards. To the extent that an Award is settled in cash or a form other than Ordinary Shares, the shares that would have been delivered had there been no such cash or other settlement shall not be counted against the shares available for issuance under this Plan. No Award may be granted under this Plan unless, on the date of grant, the sum of (a) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares issuable at any time pursuant to such Award, plus (b) the number of Ordinary Shares that have previously been issued pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan, plus (c) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares that may be issued at any time after such date of grant pursuant to Awards that are outstanding on such date, does not exceed the Share Limit. Ordinary Shares that are subject to or underlie Options or SARs granted under this Plan that expire or for any reason are canceled or terminated without having been exercised (or Ordinary Shares subject to or underlying the unexercised portion of such Options or SARs in the case of Options or SARs that were partially exercised), as well as Ordinary Shares that are subject to Share Awards made under this Plan that are forfeited to the Company or otherwise repurchased by the Company prior to the vesting of such shares for a price not greater than the original purchase or issue price of such shares (as adjusted pursuant to Section 7.3.1) will again, except to the extent prohibited by law or applicable listing or regulatory requirements, be available for subsequent Award grants under this Plan. Shares that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company as full or partial payment in connection with any Award under this Plan, as well as any shares exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company or one of its Affiliates to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any Award, shall be available for subsequent Awards under this Plan. In the case of an exercise of a SAR, only the number of shares actually issued in respect of such exercise shall be charged against this Plan’s Share Limit. Adjustments to the Share Limit pursuant to this Section 4.3 are subject to any applicable limitations of the Code in the case of Awards intended to be Incentive Stock Options.
4.4 Reservation of Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve a number of Ordinary Shares sufficient to cover the Company’s obligations and contingent obligations to deliver shares with respect to Awards then outstanding under this Plan.
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5. OPTION AND SAR GRANT PROGRAM.
5.1 Option and SAR Grants in General. Each Option or SAR shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Administrator. The Award Agreement evidencing an Option or SAR shall contain the terms established by the Administrator for that Award, as well as any other terms, provisions, or restrictions that the Administrator may impose on the Option or SAR or any Ordinary Shares subject to the Option or SAR; in each case subject to the applicable provisions and limitations of this Section 5 and the other applicable provisions and limitations of this Plan. The Administrator may require that the recipient of an Option or SAR promptly execute and return to the Company his or her Award Agreement evidencing the Award. In addition, the Administrator may require that the spouse of any married recipient of an Option or SAR also promptly execute and return to the Company the Award Agreement evidencing the Award granted to the recipient or such other spousal consent form that the Administrator may require in connection with the grant of the Award.
5.2 Incentive Stock Option Status. The Administrator will designate each Option granted under this Plan to a U.S. resident as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Option, and such designation shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Any Option granted under this Plan to a U.S. resident that is not expressly designated in the applicable Award Agreement as an Incentive Stock Option will be deemed to be designated a Nonqualified Option under this Plan and not an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the provisions of Section 5.5 in addition to the provisions of this Plan applicable to Options generally. The Administrator may designate any Option granted under this Plan to a non-U.S. resident in accordance with the rules and regulations applicable to options in the jurisdiction in which such person is a resident.
5.3 | Option or SAR Price. |
5.3.1 Option Pricing Limits. Subject to the following provisions of this Section 5.3.1, the Administrator will determine the purchase price per share of the Ordinary Shares covered by each Option (the “exercise price” of the Option) at the time of the grant of the Option, which exercise price will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. In no case will the exercise price of an Option be less than the greatest of:
(a) | the par value of an Ordinary Share; |
(b) | subject to clause (c) below, 100% of the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share on the date of grant; or |
(c) | in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant described in Section 5.5.4, 110% of the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share on the date of grant. |
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5.3.2 Payment Provisions. The Company will not be obligated to deliver certificates for the Ordinary Shares to be purchased upon the exercise of an Option unless and until it receives full payment of the exercise price therefor, all related withholding obligations under Section 7.6 have been satisfied, and all other conditions to the exercise of the Option set forth herein or in the Award Agreement have been satisfied. The purchase price of any Ordinary Shares purchased upon the exercise of an Option must be paid in full at the time of each purchase in such lawful consideration as may be permitted or required by the Administrator, which may include, without limitation, one or a combination of the following methods:
(a) | cash, check payable to the order of the Company, or electronic funds transfer; |
(b) | notice and third party payment in such manner as may be authorized by the Administrator; |
(c) | the delivery of previously owned Ordinary Shares; |
(d) | by a reduction in the number of Ordinary Shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the Award; |
(e) | subject to such procedures as the Administrator may adopt, pursuant to a “cashless exercise”; or |
(f) | if authorized by the Administrator or specified in the applicable Award Agreement, by a promissory note of the Participant consistent with the requirements of Section 5.3.3. |
In no event shall any shares newly-issued by the Company be issued for less than the minimum lawful consideration for such shares or for consideration other than consideration permitted by applicable law. Ordinary Shares used to satisfy the exercise price of an Option (whether previously-owned shares or shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the terms of the Option) shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Administrator may eliminate or limit a Participant’s ability to pay the purchase or exercise price of any Award by any method other than cash payment to the Company. The Administrator may take all actions necessary to alter the method of Option exercise and the exchange and transmittal of proceeds with respect to Participants resident in the PRC not having permanent residence in a country other than the PRC in order to comply with applicable PRC foreign exchange and tax regulations and any other applicable PRC laws and regulations.
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5.3.3 Acceptance of Notes to Finance Exercise. The Company may, with the Administrator’s approval in each specific case, accept one or more promissory notes from any Eligible Person in connection with the exercise of any Option; provided that any such note shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) | The principal of the note shall not exceed the amount required to be paid to the Company upon the exercise, purchase or acquisition of one or more Awards under this Plan and the note shall be delivered directly to the Company in consideration of such exercise, purchase or acquisition. |
(b) | The initial term of the note shall be determined by the Administrator; provided that the term of the note, including extensions, shall not exceed a period of five years. |
(c) | The note shall provide for full recourse to the Participant and shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Administrator, but not less than the interest rate necessary to avoid the imputation of interest under the Code or other applicable tax law, rules or regulations, and to avoid any adverse accounting consequences in connection with the exercise, purchase or acquisition. |
(d) | If the employment or services of the Participant by or to the Company and its Affiliates terminates, the unpaid principal balance of the note shall become due and payable on the 30th business day after such termination; provided, however, that if a sale of the shares acquired on exercise of the Option would cause such Participant to incur liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the unpaid balance shall become due and payable on the 10th business day after the first day on which a sale of such shares could have been made without incurring such liability assuming for these purposes that there are no other transactions (or deemed transactions) in securities of the Company by the Participant subsequent to such termination. |
(e) | If required by the Administrator or by applicable law, the note shall be secured by a pledge of any shares or rights financed thereby or other collateral, in compliance with applicable law. |
The terms, repayment provisions, and collateral release provisions of the note and the pledge securing the note shall conform with all applicable rules and regulations, including those of the Federal Reserve Board of the United States and any applicable law, as then in effect.
5.3.4 Base Price of SARs. The Administrator will determine the base price per share of the Ordinary Shares covered by each SAR at the time of the grant of the SAR, which base price will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement and will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share on the date of grant of the SAR.
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5.4 | Vesting; Term; Exercise Procedure. |
5.4.1 Vesting. Except as provided in Section 5.8, an Option or SAR may be exercised only to the extent that it is vested and exercisable. The Administrator will determine the vesting and/or exercisability provisions of each Option or SAR (which may be based on performance criteria, passage of time or other factors or any combination thereof), which provisions will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Unless the Administrator otherwise expressly provides, once exercisable an Option or SAR will remain exercisable until the expiration or earlier termination of the Option or SAR.
5.4.2 Term. Each Option and SAR shall expire not more than 10 years after its date of grant. Each Option and SAR will be subject to earlier termination as provided in or pursuant to Sections 5.6 and 7.3 or the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.
5.4.3 Exercise Procedure. Any exercisable Option or SAR will be deemed to be exercised when (a) the applicable exercise procedures in the related Award Agreement have been satisfied (or, in the absence of any such procedures in the related Award Agreement, the Company has received written notice of such exercise from the Participant), (b) in the case of an Option, the Company has received any required payment made in accordance with Section 5.3, (c) in the case of an Option or SAR, all withholding obligations arising in connection with the exercise have been satisfied in accordance with Section 7.6, and (d) in the case of an Option or SAR, the Company has received any written statement required pursuant to Section 7.5.1.
5.4.4 Fractional Shares/Minimum Issue. Fractional share interests will be disregarded, but may be accumulated. The Administrator, however, may determine that cash, other securities, or other property will be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional share interests. No Option or SAR may be exercised as to fewer than 100 shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7.3.1) at one time unless the number as to which the Award is exercised is the total number at the time then subject to the vested and exercisable portion of the Award.
5.5 | Limitations on Grant and Terms of Incentive Stock Options. |
5.5.1 US$100,000 Limit. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares with respect to which incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) first become exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year exceeds US$100,000, taking into account both Ordinary Shares subject to Incentive Stock Options under this Plan and shares subject to incentive stock options under all other plans of the Company or any of its Affiliates, such options will be treated as Nonqualified Options. For this purpose, the Fair Market Value of the shares subject to options will be determined as of the date the options were awarded. In reducing the number of options treated as incentive stock options to meet the US$100,000 limit, the most recently granted options will be reduced (recharacterized as Nonqualified Options) first. To the extent a reduction of simultaneously granted options is necessary to meet the US$100,000 limit, the Administrator may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate which Ordinary Shares are to be treated as shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option.
5.5.2 Other Code Limits. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to individuals that are employees of the Company or one of its Affiliates and satisfy the other eligibility requirements of the Code. Any Award Agreement relating to Incentive Stock Options will contain or shall be deemed to contain such other terms and conditions as from time to time are required in order that the Option be an “incentive stock option” as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.
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5.5.3 ISO Notice of Sale Requirement. Any Participant who exercises an Incentive Stock Option shall give prompt written notice to the Company of any sale or other transfer of the Ordinary Shares acquired on such exercise if the sale or other transfer occurs within (a) one year after the exercise date of the Option, or (b) two years after the grant date of the Option.
5.5.4 Limits on 10% Holders. No Incentive Stock Option may be granted to any person who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns (or is deemed to own under Section 424(d) of the Code) outstanding shares of the Company (or any of its Affiliates) possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company (or any of its Affiliates), unless the exercise price of such Incentive Stock Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the shares subject to the Incentive Stock Option and the Incentive Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable more than five years after the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted.
5.6 | Effects of Termination of Employment on Options and SARs. |
5.6.1 Dismissal for Cause. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 5.4.2 or 7.3, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Company or any of its Affiliates is terminated by such entity for Cause, the Participant’s Option or SAR will terminate on the Participant’s Severance Date, whether or not the Option or SAR is then vested and/or exercisable.
5.6.2 Death or Disability. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement (consistent with applicable securities laws) and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 5.4.2 or 7.3, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Company or any of its Affiliates terminates as a result of the Participant’s death or Total Disability:
(a) | the Participant (or his or her Personal Representative or Beneficiary, in the case of the Participant’s Total Disability or death, respectively), will have until the date that is 12 months after the Participant’s Severance Date to exercise the Participant’s Option or SAR (or portion thereof) to the extent that it was vested and exercisable on the Severance Date; |
(b) | the Option or SAR, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the Participant’s Severance Date, shall terminate on the Severance Date; and |
(c) | the Option or SAR, to the extent exercisable for the 12-month period following the Participant’s Severance Date and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on the last day of the 12-month period. |
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5.6.3 Other Terminations of Employment. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement (consistent with applicable securities laws) and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 5.4.2 or 7.3, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Company or any of its Affiliates terminates for any reason other than a termination by such entity for Cause or because of the Participant’s death or Total Disability:
(a) | the Participant will have until the date that is 3 months after the Participant’s Severance Date to exercise his or her Option or SAR (or portion thereof) to the extent that it was vested and exercisable on the Severance Date; |
(b) | the Option or SAR, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the Participant’s Severance Date, shall terminate on the Severance Date; and |
(c) | the Option or SAR, to the extent exercisable for the 3-month period following the Participant’s Severance Date and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on the last day of the 3-month period. |
5.7 Option and SAR Repricing/Cancellation and Regrant/Waiver of Restrictions. Subject to Section 4 and Section 7.7 and the specific limitations on Options and SARs contained in this Plan, the Administrator from time to time may authorize, generally or in specific cases only, for the benefit of any Eligible Person, any adjustment in the exercise or base price, the vesting schedule, the number of shares subject to, or the term of, an Option or SAR granted under this Plan by cancellation of an outstanding Option or SAR and a subsequent regranting of the Option or SAR, by amendment, by substitution of an outstanding Option or SAR, by waiver or by other legally valid means. Such amendment or other action may result in, among other changes, an exercise or base price that is higher or lower than the exercise or base price of the original or prior Option or SAR, provide for a greater or lesser number of Ordinary Shares subject to the Option or SAR, or provide for a longer or shorter vesting or exercise period. In no event, however, may any such amendment or other action reduce the exercise or base price of the Option or SAR to less than the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share at the time of such change, or extend the maximum term of the Option or SAR at a time when the exercise or base price of such Award is less than the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share.
5.8 Early Exercise Options and SARs. The Administrator may, in its discretion, designate any Option or SAR as an “early exercise Option” or “early exercise SAR” which, by express provision in the applicable Award Agreement, may be exercised prior to the date such Option or SAR has vested. If the Participant elects to exercise all or a portion of an early exercise Option or SAR before it is vested, the Ordinary Shares acquired under the Option or SAR which are attributable to the unvested portion of the Option or SAR shall be Restricted Shares. The applicable Award Agreement will specify the extent (if any) to which and the time (if ever) at which the Participant will be entitled to dividends, voting and other rights in respect of such Restricted Shares prior to vesting, and the restrictions imposed on such shares and the conditions of release or lapse of such restrictions. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, such Restricted Shares shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 6.6 through 6.9, below.
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6. SHARE AWARD PROGRAM.
6.1 Share Awards in General. Each Share Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Administrator. The Award Agreement evidencing a Share Award shall contain the terms established by the Administrator for that Share Award, as well as any other terms, provisions, or restrictions that the Administrator may impose on the Share Award; in each case subject to the applicable provisions and limitations of this Section 6 and the other applicable provisions and limitations of this Plan. The Administrator may require that the recipient of a Share Award promptly execute and return to the Company his or her Award Agreement evidencing the Share Award. In addition, the Administrator may require that the spouse of any married recipient of a Share Award also promptly execute and return to the Company the Award Agreement evidencing the Share Award granted to the recipient or such other spousal consent form that the Administrator may require in connection with the grant of the Share Award.
6.2 Types of Share Awards. The Administrator shall designate whether a Share Award shall be a Restricted Share Award, and such designation shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
6.3 | Purchase Price. |
6.3.1 Pricing Limits. Subject to the following provisions of this Section 6.3, the Administrator will determine the purchase price per share of the Ordinary Shares covered by each Share Award at the time of grant of the Award. In no case will such purchase price be less than the par value of the Ordinary Shares.
6.3.2 Payment Provisions. The Company will not be obligated to record in the Company’s register of members, or issue certificates evidencing, Ordinary Shares awarded under this Section 6 unless and until it receives full payment of the purchase price therefor and all other conditions to the purchase, as determined by the Administrator, have been satisfied, at which point the relevant shares shall be issued and noted in the Company’s register of members. The purchase price of any shares subject to a Share Award must be paid in full at the time of the purchase in such lawful consideration as may be permitted or required by the Administrator, which may include, without limitation, one or a combination of the methods set forth in clauses (a) through (f) in Section 5.3.2 and/or past services rendered to the Company or any of its Affiliates.
6.4 Vesting. The restrictions imposed on the Ordinary Shares subject to a Restricted Share Award (which may be based on performance criteria, passage of time or other factors or any combination thereof) will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
6.5 Term; Settlement of Awards. A Share Award shall either vest or be forfeited not more than 10 years after the date of grant. Each Share Award will be subject to earlier termination as provided in or pursuant to Sections 6.8 and 7.3. Payment of Awards may be in the form of cash, Ordinary Shares, other Awards or combinations thereof as the Administrator shall determine, and with such restrictions as it may impose. The Administrator may also require or permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of shares or the settlement of Awards in cash under such rules and procedures as it may establish under this Plan. The Administrator may also provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest or other earnings on the deferral amounts, or the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents where the deferred amounts are denominated in shares.
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6.6 Share Certificates; Fractional Shares. Share certificates evidencing Restricted Shares will bear a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed hereunder and will be held by the Company or by a third party designated by the Administrator until the restrictions on such shares have lapsed, the shares have vested in accordance with the provisions of the Award Agreement and Section 6.4, and any related loan has been repaid. Fractional share interests will be disregarded, but may be accumulated. The Administrator, however, may determine that cash, other securities, or other property will be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional share interests.
6.7 Dividend and Voting Rights. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant holding Restricted Shares will be entitled to cash dividend and voting rights for all Restricted Shares issued even though they are not vested, but such rights will terminate immediately as to any Restricted Shares which cease to be eligible for vesting or are repurchased by the Company.
6.8 Termination of Employment; Return to the Company. Unless the Administrator otherwise expressly provides, Restricted Shares subject to an Award that remain subject to vesting conditions that have not been satisfied by the time specified in the applicable Award Agreement (which may include, without limitation, the Participant’s Severance Date), will not vest and will be reacquired by the Company in such manner and on such terms as the Administrator provides, which terms shall include, to the extent not prohibited by law, return or repayment of the lower of (a) the Fair Market Value of the Restricted Shares at the time of the termination, or (b) if applicable, the original purchase price of the Restricted Shares, without interest. The Award Agreement shall specify any other terms or conditions of the repurchase if the Award fails to vest. Any other Share Award that has not been exercised as of a Participant’s Severance Date shall terminate on that date unless otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement.
6.9 Waiver of Restrictions. Subject to Sections 4 and 7.7 and the specific limitations on Share Awards contained in this Plan, the Administrator from time to time may authorize, generally or in specific cases only, for the benefit of any Eligible Person, any adjustment in the vesting schedule, or the restrictions upon or the term of, a Share Award granted under this Plan by amendment, by substitution of an outstanding Share Award, by waiver or by other legally valid means.
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7. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL AWARDS.
7.1 | Rights of Eligible Persons, Participants and Beneficiaries. |
7.1.1 Employment Status. No Person shall have any claim or rights to be granted an Award (or additional Awards, as the case may be) under this Plan, subject to any express contractual rights (set forth in a document other than this Plan) to the contrary.
7.1.2 No Employment/Service Contract. Nothing contained in this Plan (or in any other documents under this Plan or related to any Award) shall confer upon any Eligible Person or Participant any right to continue in the employ or other service of the Company or any of its Affiliates, constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service or affect an employee’s status as an employee at will, nor shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to change such person’s compensation or other benefits, or to terminate his or her employment or other service, with or without cause at any time. Nothing in this Section 7.1.2, or in Section 7.3 or 7.15, however, is intended to adversely affect any express independent right of such person under a separate employment or service contract. An Award Agreement shall not constitute a contract of employment or service.
7.1.3 Plan Not Funded. Awards payable under this Plan will be payable in Ordinary Shares or from the general assets of the Company, and (except as to the share reservation provided in Section 4.4) no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit will be made to assure payment of such Awards. No Participant, Beneficiary or other person will have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including Ordinary Shares, except as expressly provided) of the Company or any of its Affiliates by reason of any Award hereunder. Neither the provisions of this Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of this Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan will create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any of its Affiliates and any Participant, Beneficiary or other person. To the extent that a Participant, Beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to any Award hereunder, such right will be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.
7.1.4 Charter Documents. The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, as may lawfully be amended from time to time, may provide for additional restrictions and limitations with respect to the Ordinary Shares (including additional restrictions and limitations on the voting or transfer of Ordinary Shares) or priorities, rights and preferences as to securities and interests prior in rights to the Ordinary Shares. These restrictions and limitations are in addition to (and not in lieu of) those set forth in this Plan or any Award Agreement and are incorporated herein by this reference.
7.2 | No Transferability; Limited Exception to Transfer Restrictions. |
7.2.1 Limit on Exercise and Transfer. Unless otherwise expressly provided in (or pursuant to) this Section 7.2, by applicable law and by the Award Agreement, as the same may be amended:
(a) | all Awards are non-transferable and will not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge; |
(b) | Awards will be exercised only by the Participant; and |
(c) | amounts payable or shares issuable pursuant to an Award will be delivered only to (or for the account of), and, in the case of Ordinary Shares, registered in the name of, the Participant. |
In addition, the shares shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
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7.2.2 Further Exceptions to Limits on Transfer. The exercise and transfer restrictions in Section 7.2.1 will not apply to:
(a) | transfers to the Company; |
(b) | transfers by gift or domestic relations order to one or more “family members” (as that term is defined in SEC Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Participant, including transfers to a trust in which the Participant (or other family member) has more than 50% of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which the Participant (or other family member) controls the management of assets, or an entity in which the Participant (or other family member) owns more than 50% of the voting interest, so long as such transfer is expressly authorized by the Administrator and is in compliance with all applicable laws; |
(c) | the designation of a Beneficiary to receive benefits if the Participant dies or, if the Participant has died, transfers to or exercises by the Participant’s Beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated Beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution; or |
(d) | if the Participant has suffered a disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the Participant by the Participant’s duly authorized legal representative. |
Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 7.2.2 to the contrary, but subject to compliance with all applicable laws, Incentive Stock Options and Restricted Share Awards will be subject to any and all transfer restrictions under the Code applicable to such awards or necessary to maintain the intended tax consequences of such Awards. Notwithstanding clause (b) above but subject to compliance with all applicable laws, any contemplated transfer by gift or domestic relations order to one or more family members of a Participant as referenced in clause (b) above is subject to the condition precedent that the transfer be approved by the Administrator in order for it to be effective. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, withhold its approval of any such proposed transfer.
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7.3 | Adjustments; Changes in Control. |
7.3.1 Adjustments. Subject to Section 7.3.2 below, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to) any reclassification, recapitalization, share split (including a share split in the form of a share dividend) or reverse share split; any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; any split-up, spin-off, or similar extraordinary dividend distribution in respect of the Ordinary Shares; or any exchange of Ordinary Shares or other securities of the Company, or any similar, unusual or extraordinary corporate transaction in respect of the Ordinary Shares; then the Administrator shall equitably and proportionately adjust (1) the number and type of shares of Ordinary Shares (or other securities) that thereafter may be made the subject of Awards (including the specific share limits, maximums and numbers of shares set forth elsewhere in this Plan), (2) the number, amount and type of Ordinary Shares (or other securities or property) subject to any outstanding Awards, (3) the grant, purchase, exercise or base price of any outstanding Awards, and/or (4) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise or vesting of any outstanding Awards, in each case to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by this Plan and the then-outstanding Awards.
Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to) any event or transaction described in the preceding paragraph or a sale of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company as an entirety, the Administrator shall equitably and proportionately adjust the performance standards applicable to any then-outstanding performance-based Awards to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by this Plan and the then-outstanding performance-based Awards.
It is intended that, if possible, any adjustments contemplated by the preceding two paragraphs be made in a manner that satisfies applicable legal, tax (including, without limitation and as applicable in the circumstances, Sections 409A, 424 and 457A of the Code) and accounting (so as to not trigger any charge to earnings with respect to such adjustment) requirements.
Without limiting the generality of Section 2.3, any good faith determination by the Administrator as to whether an adjustment is required in the circumstances pursuant to this Section 7.3.1, and the extent and nature of any such adjustment, shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator, in no event shall a conversion of one or more outstanding shares of the Company’s preferred share (if any) or any new issuance of securities by the Company for consideration be deemed, in and of itself, to require an adjustment pursuant to this Section 7.3.1.
7.3.2 Consequences of a Change in Control Event. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control Event, the Administrator may make provision for a cash payment in settlement of, or for the assumption, substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding Awards (or the cash, securities or other property deliverable to the holder(s) of any or all outstanding Awards) based upon, to the extent relevant in the circumstances, the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Ordinary Shares upon or in respect of such event.
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The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide in the applicable Award Agreement or by an amendment thereto for the accelerated vesting of one or more Awards to the extent such Awards are outstanding upon a Change in Control Event or such other events or circumstances as the Administrator may provide.
The Administrator may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding Awards as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash, securities or other property settlement. In the case of Options and SARs, but without limitation on other methodologies, the Administrator may base such settlement solely upon the excess (if any) of the amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the exercise or base price of the Option or SAR, as applicable, to the extent of the then vested and exercisable shares subject to the Option or SAR.
In any of the events referred to in this Section 7.3.2, the Administrator may take such action contemplated by this Section 7.3.2 prior to such event (as opposed to on the occurrence of such event) to the extent that the Administrator deems the action necessary to permit the Participant to realize the benefits intended to be conveyed with respect to the underlying shares. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator may deem an acceleration to occur immediately prior to the applicable event and/or reinstate the original terms of the Award if an event giving rise to an acceleration does not occur.
7.3.3 Early Termination of Awards. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control Event, each then-outstanding Award (whether or not vested and/or exercisable) shall terminate, subject to any provision that has been expressly made by the Administrator, through a plan of reorganization or otherwise, for the survival, substitution, assumption, exchange or other continuation or settlement of such Award and provided that, in the case of Options and SARs that will not survive or be substituted for, assumed, exchanged, or otherwise continued or settled in the Change in Control Event, the holder of such Award shall be given reasonable advance notice of the impending termination and a reasonable opportunity to exercise his or her outstanding and vested Options and SARs in accordance with their terms before the termination of the Awards (except that in no case shall more than ten days’ notice of the impending termination be required). For purposes of this Section 7.3, an Award shall be deemed to have been “assumed” if (without limiting other circumstances in which an Award is assumed) the Award continues after the Change in Control Event, and/or is assumed and continued by a Parent (as such term is defined in the definition of Change in Control Event) following a Change in Control Event, and confers the right to purchase or receive, as applicable and subject to vesting and the other terms and conditions of the Award, for each Ordinary Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control Event, the consideration (whether cash, shares, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control Event by the shareholders of the Company for each Ordinary Share sold or exchanged in such transaction (or the consideration received by a majority of the shareholders participating in such transaction if the shareholders were offered a choice of consideration);
provided, however, that if the consideration offered for an Ordinary Share in the transaction is not solely the ordinary or common shares of a successor company or a Parent, the Administrator may provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise or payment of the Award, for each share subject to the Award, to be solely ordinary or common shares (as applicable) of the successor company or a Parent equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by the shareholders participating in the Change in Control Event.
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7.3.4 Other Acceleration Rules. The Administrator may override the provisions of this Section 7.3 as to any Award by express provision in the applicable Award Agreement and may accord any Participant a right to refuse any acceleration, whether pursuant to the Award Agreement or otherwise, in such circumstances as the Administrator may approve. The portion of any Incentive Stock Option accelerated in connection with a Change in Control Event (or such other circumstances as may trigger accelerated vesting of the Incentive Stock Option) shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Stock Option only to the extent the applicable US$100,000 limitation on Incentive Stock Options is not exceeded. To the extent exceeded, the accelerated portion of the Option shall be exercisable as a Nonqualified Option.
7.4 | Termination of Employment or Services. |
7.4.1 Events Not Deemed a Termination of Employment. Unless the Administrator otherwise expressly provides with respect to a particular Award, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Company or an Affiliate terminates but immediately thereafter the Participant continues in the employ of or service to another Affiliate or the Company, as applicable, the Participant shall be deemed to have not had a termination of employment or service for purposes of this Plan and the Participant’s Awards. Unless the express policy of the Company or the Administrator otherwise provides, a Participant’s employment relationship with the Company or any of its Affiliates shall not be considered terminated solely due to any sick leave, military leave, or any other leave of absence authorized by the Company or any Affiliate or the Administrator; provided that, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or law, such leave is for a period of not more than three months. In the case of any Participant on an approved leave of absence, continued vesting of the Award while on leave from the employ of or service with the Company or any of its Affiliates will be suspended until the Participant returns to service, unless the Administrator otherwise provides or applicable law otherwise requires. In no event shall an Award be exercised after the expiration of the term of the Award set forth in the Award Agreement.
7.4.2 Effect of Change of Affiliate Status. For purposes of this Plan and any Award, if an entity ceases to be an Affiliate, a termination of employment or service will be deemed to have occurred with respect to each Eligible Person in respect of such Affiliate who does not continue as an Eligible Person in respect of another Affiliate that continues as such after giving effect to the transaction or other event giving rise to the change in status unless the Affiliate that is sold, spun-off or otherwise divested (or its successor or a direct or indirect parent of such Affiliate or successor) assumes the Eligible Person’s award(s) in connection with such transaction.
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7.4.3 Administrator Discretion. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.6 or 6.8, in the event of, or in anticipation of, a termination of employment or service with the Company or any of its Affiliates for any reason, the Administrator may accelerate the vesting and exercisability of all or a portion of the Participant’s Award, and/or, subject to the provisions of Sections 5.4.2 and 7.3, extend the exercisability period of the Participant’s Option or SAR upon such terms as the Administrator determines and expressly sets forth in or by amendment to the Award Agreement.
7.4.4 Termination of Consulting or Affiliate Services. If the Participant is an Eligible Person solely by reason of clause (c) of Section 3, the Administrator shall be the sole judge of whether the Participant continues to render services to the Company or any of its Affiliates, unless a written contract or the Award Agreement otherwise provides.
7.5 | Compliance with Laws. |
7.5.1 General. This Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under this Plan, and the offer, issuance and delivery of Ordinary Shares, the acceptance of promissory notes and/or the payment of money under this Plan or under Awards are subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, applicable foreign laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state and federal securities laws, and federal margin requirements) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any person acquiring any securities under this Plan will, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Administrator may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal and accounting requirements.
7.5.2 Compliance with Securities Laws. No Participant shall sell, pledge or otherwise transfer Ordinary Shares acquired pursuant to an Award or any interest in such shares except in accordance with the express terms of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Any attempted transfer in violation of this Section 7.5 shall be void and of no effect. Without in any way limiting the provisions set forth above, no Participant shall make any disposition of all or any portion of Ordinary Shares acquired or to be acquired pursuant to an Award, except in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and unless and until:
(a) | there is then in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement; |
(b) | such disposition is made in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or |
(c) | such Participant notifies the Company of the proposed disposition and furnishes the Company with a statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and, if requested by the Company, furnishes to the Company an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company’s counsel, that such disposition will not require registration under the Securities Act and will be in compliance with all applicable state securities laws. |
Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, neither the Company or any Affiliate has any obligation to register the Ordinary Shares or file any registration statement under either federal or state securities laws, nor does the Company or any Affiliate make any representation concerning the likelihood of a public offering of the Ordinary Shares or any other securities of the Company or any Affiliate.
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7.5.3 Share Legends. All certificates evidencing Ordinary Shares issued or delivered under this Plan shall bear the following legends and/or any other appropriate or required legends under applicable laws:
“OWNERSHIP OF THIS CERTIFICATE, THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND ANY INTEREST THEREIN ARE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER UNDER APPLICABLE LAW AND UNDER AGREEMENTS WITH THE COMPANY, INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON SALE, ASSIGNMENT, TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER DISPOSITION.”
“THE SHARES ARE SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL AND CALL RIGHTS TO REPURCHASE THE SHARES UNDER THE COMPANY’S SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN AND AGREEMENTS WITH THE COMPANY THEREUNDER.”
“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP PERIOD FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY FILED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (“ACT”), AS SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THESE SHARES, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY. SUCH LOCK-UP PERIOD IS BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.”
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER THE ACT, NOR HAVE THEY BEEN REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. NO TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES WILL BE PERMITTED UNLESS A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT IS IN EFFECT AS TO SUCH TRANSFER, THE TRANSFER IS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 UNDER THE ACT, OR IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY, REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT IS UNNECESSARY IN ORDER FOR SUCH TRANSFER TO COMPLY WITH THE ACT AND WITH ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS.”
7.5.4 Confidential Information. Any financial or other information relating to the Company obtained by Participants in connection with or as a result of this Plan or their Awards shall be treated as confidential.
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7.6 | Tax Withholding. Upon any exercise, vesting, or payment of any Award or upon the disposition of Ordinary Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option prior to satisfaction of the holding period requirements of Section 422 of the Code, the Company or any of its Affiliates shall have the right at its option to: |
(a) | require the Participant (or the Participant’s Personal Representative or Beneficiary, as the case may be) to pay or provide for payment of at least the minimum amount of any taxes which the Company or Affiliate may be required to withhold with respect to such Award event or payment; |
(b) | deduct from any amount otherwise payable (in respect of an Award or otherwise) in cash to the Participant (or the Participant’s Personal Representative or Beneficiary, as the case may be) the minimum amount of any taxes which the Company or Affiliate may be required to withhold with respect to such Award event or payment; or |
(c) | reduce the number of Ordinary Shares to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire shares held by the Participant) the appropriate number of Ordinary Shares, valued at their then Fair Market Value, to satisfy the minimum withholding obligation. |
In any case where a tax is required to be withheld (including taxes in the PRC where applicable) in connection with the delivery of Ordinary Shares under this Plan (including the sale of Ordinary Shares as may be required to comply with foreign exchange rules in the PRC for Participants resident in the PRC), the Administrator may in its sole discretion (subject to Section 7.5) grant (either at the time of the Award or thereafter) to the Participant the right to elect, pursuant to such rules and subject to such conditions as the Administrator may establish, to have the Company reduce the number of shares to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire) the appropriate number of shares, valued in a consistent manner at their Fair Market Value or at the sales price in accordance with authorized procedures for cashless exercises, necessary to satisfy the minimum applicable withholding obligation on exercise, vesting or payment. In no event shall the shares withheld exceed the minimum whole number of shares required for tax withholding under applicable law. The Company may, with the Administrator’s approval, accept one or more promissory notes from any Eligible Person in connection with taxes required to be withheld upon the exercise, vesting or payment of any Award under this Plan; provided that any such note shall be subject to terms and conditions established by the Administrator and the requirements of applicable law. Any such note need not otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 5.3.3.
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7.7 | Plan and Award Amendments, Termination and Suspension. |
7.7.1 Board Authorization. The Board may, at any time, terminate or, from time to time, amend, modify or suspend this Plan, in whole or in part. No Awards may be granted during any period that the Board suspends this Plan.
7.7.2 Shareholder Approval. To the extent then required by applicable law or any applicable listing agency or required under Sections 162, 422 or 424 of the Code or other applicable tax law, rules or regulations, to preserve the intended tax consequences of this Plan, or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, any amendment to this Plan shall be subject to shareholder approval.
7.7.3 Amendments to Awards. Without limiting any other express authority of the Administrator under (but subject to) the express limits of this Plan, the Administrator by agreement or resolution may waive conditions of or limitations on Awards to Participants that the Administrator in the prior exercise of its discretion has imposed, without the consent of a Participant, and (subject to the requirements of Sections 2.2 and 7.7.4) may make other changes to the terms and conditions of Awards.
7.7.4 Limitations on Amendments to Plan and Awards. No amendment, suspension or termination of this Plan or amendment of any outstanding Award shall, without written consent of the Participant, affect in any manner materially adverse to the Participant any rights or benefits of the Participant or obligations of the Company under any Award granted under this Plan prior to the effective date of such change. Changes, settlements and other actions contemplated by Section 7.3 shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments for purposes of this Section 7.7.
7.8 Privileges of Share Ownership. Except as otherwise expressly authorized by the Administrator, a Participant will not be entitled to any privilege of share ownership as to any Ordinary Shares not actually delivered to and held of record by the Participant. Except as expressly required by Section 7.3.1, no adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights as a shareholder for which a record date is prior to such date of delivery.
7.9 Share-Based Awards in Substitution for Awards Granted by Other Company. Awards may be granted to Eligible Persons in substitution for or in connection with an assumption of employee share options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares or other share-based awards granted by other entities to persons who are or who will become Eligible Persons in respect of the Company or one of its Affiliates, in connection with a distribution, merger, amalgamation or other reorganization by or with the granting entity or an affiliated entity, or the acquisition by the Company or one of its Affiliates, directly or indirectly, of all or a substantial part of the shares or assets of the employing entity. The Awards so granted need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, provided the Awards reflect only adjustments giving effect to the assumption or substitution consistent with the conversion applicable to the Ordinary Shares in the transaction and any change in the issuer of the security. Any shares that are delivered and any Awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company, as a result of the assumption by the Company of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an acquired company (or previously granted by a predecessor employer (or direct or indirect parent thereof) in the case of persons that become employed by the Company or one of its Affiliates in connection with a business or asset acquisition or similar transaction) shall not be counted against the Share Limit or other limits on the number of shares available for issuance under this Plan.
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7.10 Effective Date of the Plan. This Plan is effective upon the Effective Date, subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve months after the date the Board approves this Plan.
7.11 Term of the Plan. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, this Plan will terminate at the close of business on the day before the 10th anniversary of the Effective Date. After the termination of this Plan either upon such stated expiration date or its earlier termination by the Board, no additional Awards may be granted under this Plan, but previously granted Awards (and the authority of the Administrator with respect thereto, including the authority to amend such Awards) shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of this Plan.
7.12 | Governing Law/Severability/Construction. |
7.12.1 | Choice of Law. This Plan, the Awards, all documents evidencing Awards and all other related documents will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
7.12.2 | Severability. If it is determined that any provision of this Plan or an Award Agreement is invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Plan and/or the Award Agreement, as applicable, will continue in effect provided that the essential economic terms of this Plan and the Award can still be enforced. |
7.12.3 | Construction. It is intended that this Plan, and any Award under this Plan, will be exempt from, or comply with, Sections 409A and 457A of the Code so as to not result in any tax, penalty or interest thereunder, and this Plan and each Award shall be construed and interpreted consistent with that intent. |
7.13 Captions. Captions and headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings will not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Plan or any provision thereof.
7.14 Non-Exclusivity of Plan. Nothing in this Plan will limit or be deemed to limit the authority of the Board or the Administrator to grant awards or authorize any other compensation, with or without reference to the Ordinary Shares, under any other plan or authority.
7.15 No Restriction on Corporate Powers. The existence of this Plan, the Award Agreements, and the Awards granted hereunder, shall not limit, affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Board or the shareholders of the Company to make or authorize: (a) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s or any Affiliate’s capital structure or its business; (b) any merger, amalgamation, consolidation or change in the ownership of the Company or any Affiliate; (c) any issue of bonds, debentures, capital, preferred or prior preference shares ahead of or affecting the Company’s authorized shares or the rights thereof; (d) any dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate; (e) any sale or transfer of all or any part of the Company or any Affiliate’s assets or business; or (f) any other corporate act or proceeding by the Company or any Affiliate. No Participant, Beneficiary or any other person shall have any claim under any Award or Award Agreement against any member of the Board or the Administrator, or the Company or any employees, officers or agents of the Company or any Affiliate, as a result of any such action.
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7.16 Other Company Compensation or Benefit Programs. Payments and other benefits received by a Participant under an Award made pursuant to this Plan shall not be deemed a part of a Participant’s compensation for purposes of the determination of benefits under any other employee welfare or benefit plans or arrangements, if any, provided by the Company or any Affiliate, except where the Administrator or the Board expressly otherwise provides or authorizes in writing. Awards under this Plan may be made in addition to, in combination with, as alternatives to or in payment of grants, awards or commitments under any other plans or arrangements of the Company or any Affiliate.
8. DEFINITIONS.
“Administrator” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.1.
“Affiliate” means (a) any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of the determination, each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain, or (b) any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the determination, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
“Award” means an award of any Option, SAR or Share Award, or any combination thereof, whether alternative or cumulative, authorized by and granted under this Plan.
“Award Agreement” means any writing, approved by the Administrator, setting forth the terms of an Award that has been duly authorized and approved.
“Award Date” means the date upon which the Administrator took the action granting an Award or such later date as the Administrator designates as the Award Date at the time of the grant of the Award.
“Beneficiary” means the person, persons, trust or trusts designated by a Participant, or, in the absence of a designation, entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution, to receive the benefits specified in the Award Agreement and under this Plan if the Participant dies, and means the Participant’s executor or administrator if no other Beneficiary is designated and able to act under the circumstances.
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“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cause” with respect to a Participant means (unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, or another applicable contract with the Participant that defines such term for purposes of determining the effect that a “for cause” termination has on the Participant’s Awards) a termination of employment or service based upon a finding by the Company or any of its Affiliates, acting in good faith and based on its reasonable belief at the time, that the Participant:
(a) | has been negligent in the discharge of his or her duties to the Company or any Affiliate, has refused to perform stated or assigned duties or is incompetent in or (other than by reason of a disability or analogous condition) incapable of performing those duties; |
(b) | has been dishonest or committed or engaged in an act of theft, embezzlement or fraud, a breach of confidentiality, an unauthorized disclosure or use of inside information, customer lists, trade secrets or other confidential information; |
(c) | has breached a fiduciary duty, or willfully and materially violated any other duty, law, rule, regulation or policy of the Company or any of its Affiliates; or has been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or misdemeanor (other than minor traffic violations or similar offenses); |
(d) | has materially breached any of the provisions of any agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates; |
(e) | has engaged in unfair competition with, or otherwise acted intentionally in a manner injurious to the reputation, business or assets of, the Company or any of its Affiliates; or |
(f) | has improperly induced a vendor or customer to break or terminate any contract with the Company or any of its Affiliates or induced a principal for whom the Company or any Affiliate acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship. |
A termination for Cause shall be deemed to occur (subject to reinstatement upon a contrary final determination by the Administrator) on the date on which the Company or any Affiliate first delivers written notice to the Participant of a finding of termination for Cause.
“Change in Control Event” means any of the following:
(a) | Approval by shareholders of the Company (or, if no shareholder approval is required, by the Board alone) of the complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company, other than in the context of a Business Combination that does not constitute a Change in Control Event under paragraph (c) below; |
(b) | The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (a “Person”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either (1) the then-outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Ordinary Shares”) or (2) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this paragraph (b), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control Event; (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate or a successor, (D) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a Business Combination, (E) any acquisition by a Person described in and satisfying the conditions of Rule 13d-1(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or (F) any acquisition by a Person who is the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the Outstanding Company Ordinary Shares and/or the Outstanding Company Voting Securities on the Effective Date (or an affiliate, heir, descendant, or related party of or to such Person); |
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(c) | Consummation of a reorganization, amalgamation, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any other entity a majority of whose outstanding voting shares or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company (a “Subsidiary”), a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or shares of another entity by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Ordinary Shares and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding ordinary or common shares and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets directly or through one or more subsidiaries (a “Parent”)), and (2) no Person (excluding any individual or entity described in clauses (C), (E) or (F) of paragraph (b) above) beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then-outstanding ordinary or common shares of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity, except to the extent that the ownership in excess of 50% existed prior to the Business Combination; |
provided, however, that a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control Event if it is in connection with the underwritten public offering of the Company’s securities.
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Company” means BELITE BIO, INC, an exempted company organized under the Companies Law, Cap 22 (Law 3 of 1961, as consolidated and revised) of the Cayman Islands, and its successors.
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“Effective Date” means the date the Board approved this Plan.
“Eligible Person” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3 of this Plan.
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“Fair Market Value,” for purposes of this Plan and unless otherwise determined or provided by the Administrator in the circumstances, means as follows:
(a) | If the Ordinary Shares are listed or admitted to trade on the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange (the “Exchange”), the Fair Market Value shall equal the closing price of an Ordinary Share as reported on the composite tape for securities on the Exchange for the date in question, or, if no sales of Ordinary Shares were made on the Exchange on that date, the closing price of an Ordinary Share as reported on said composite tape for the next preceding day on which sales of Ordinary Shares were made on the Exchange. The Administrator may, however, provide with respect to one or more Awards that the Fair Market Value shall equal the closing price of an Ordinary Share as reported on the composite tape for securities listed on the Exchange on the last trading day preceding the date in question or the average of the high and low trading prices of an Ordinary Share as reported on the composite tape for securities listed on the Exchange for the date in question or the most recent trading day. |
(b) | If the Ordinary Shares are not listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, the Fair Market Value shall be the value as reasonably determined by the Administrator for purposes of the Award in the circumstances (with the expectation being that, in the case of a valuation as of a transaction in which Ordinary Shares or similar securities are being sold or exchanged, such determination by the Administrator will be principally based on the value of the consideration received by the holders of the securities sold or exchanged in such transaction). |
The Administrator also may adopt a different methodology for determining Fair Market Value with respect to one or more Awards if a different methodology is necessary or advisable to secure any intended favorable tax, legal or other treatment for the particular Award(s) (for example, and without limitation, the Administrator may provide that Fair Market Value for purposes of one or more Awards will be based on an average of closing prices (or the average of high and low daily trading prices) for a specified period preceding the relevant date).
Any determination as to Fair Market Value made pursuant to this Plan shall be made without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and shall be conclusive and binding on all persons with respect to Awards granted under this Plan.
“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is designated and intended as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, the award of which contains such provisions (including but not limited to the receipt of shareholder approval of this Plan, if the award is made prior to such approval) and is made under such circumstances and to such persons as may be necessary to comply with that section.
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“Nonqualified Option” means an Option that is not an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and includes any Option designated or intended as a Nonqualified Option and any Option designated or intended as an Incentive Stock Option that fails to meet the applicable legal requirements thereof.
“Option” means an option to purchase Ordinary Shares granted under Section 5 of this Plan. The Administrator will designate any Option granted to an employee of the Company or an Affiliate as a Nonqualified Option or an Incentive Stock Option and may also designate any Option as an Early Exercise Option.
“Ordinary Shares” means the Company’s Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, and such other securities or property as may become the subject of Awards, or become subject to Awards, pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 7.3.1 of this Plan.
“Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been granted and holds an Award under this Plan.
“Personal Representative” means the person or persons who, upon the disability or incompetence of a Participant, has acquired on behalf of the Participant, by legal proceeding or otherwise, the power to exercise the rights or receive benefits under this Plan by virtue of having become the legal representative of the Participant.
“Plan” means this BELITE BIO, INC Share Incentive Plan, as it may hereafter be amended from time to time.
“Public Offering Date” means the date the Ordinary Shares are first registered under the Exchange Act and listed or quoted on a recognized national securities exchange.
“Restricted Shares” means Ordinary Shares awarded to a Participant under this Plan, subject to payment of such consideration and such conditions on vesting (which may include, among others, the passage of time, specified performance objectives or other factors) and such transfer and other restrictions as are established in or pursuant to this Plan and the related Award Agreement, to the extent such remain unvested and restricted under the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.
“Restricted Share Award” means an award of Restricted Shares.
“SAR” means a share appreciation right, representing the right, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, to receive a payment, in cash (subject to compliance with Section 457A of the Code) and/or Ordinary Shares (in each case, as specified in the applicable Award Agreement), equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share on the date the SAR is exercised over the “base price” of the SAR, which base price shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
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“Severance Date” with respect to a particular Participant means, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement:
(a) | if the Participant is an Eligible Person under clause (a) of Section 3 and the Participant’s employment by the Company or any of its Affiliates terminates (regardless of the reason), the last day that the Participant is actually employed by the Company or such Affiliate (unless, immediately following such termination of employment, the Participant is a member of the Board or, by express written agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates, continues to provide other services to the Company or any Affiliate as an Eligible Person under clause (c) of Section 3, in which case the Participant’s Severance Date shall not be the date of such termination of employment but shall be determined in accordance with clause (b) or (c) below, as applicable, in connection with the termination of the Participant’s other services); |
(b) | if the Participant is not an Eligible Person under clause (a) of Section 3 but is an Eligible Person under clause (b) thereof, and the Participant ceases to be a member of the Board (regardless of the reason), the last day that the Participant is actually a member of the Board (unless, immediately following such termination, the Participant is an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates or, by express written agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates, continues to provide other services to the Company or any Affiliate as an Eligible Person under clause (c) of Section 3, in which case the Participant’s Severance Date shall not be the date of such termination but shall be determined in accordance with clause (a) above or (c) below, as applicable, in connection with the termination of the Participant’s employment or other services); |
(c) | if the Participant is not an Eligible Person under clause (a) or clause (b) of Section 3 but is an Eligible Person under clause (c) thereof, and the Participant ceases to provide services to the Company or any of its Affiliates as determined in accordance with Section 7.4.4 (regardless of the reason), the last day that the Participant actually provides services to the Company or such Affiliate as an Eligible Person under clause (c) of Section 3 (unless, immediately following such termination, the Participant is an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates or is a member of the Board, in which case the Participant’s Severance Date shall not be the date of such termination of services but shall be determined in accordance with clause (a) or (b) above, as applicable, in connection with the termination of the Participant’s employment or membership on the Board). |
“Share Award” means an award granted under Section 6 of this Plan. A Share Award may include: (a) Restricted Shares, share bonuses, performance shares, share units, phantom shares, dividend equivalents, or similar rights to purchase or acquire Ordinary Shares, whether at a fixed or variable price or ratio related to the Ordinary Shares, upon the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions, or any combination thereof; or (b) any similar securities with a value derived from the value of or related to the Ordinary Shares and/or returns thereon.
“Total Disability” means a “total and permanent disability” within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and, with respect to Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, such other disabilities, infirmities, afflictions, or conditions as the Administrator may include.
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Exhibit 10.3
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into on __________ by and between Belite Bio, Inc, a Company incorporated in the Cayman Islands (the “Company” and, together with all of its direct or indirect parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, or subsidiaries or affiliates of its parent companies, collectively referred to as the “Company Group”), and [ ], an individual, a [ ] citizen with [his/her] passport number being [ ] (the “Executive”).
RECITALS
THE PARTIES ENTER THIS AGREEMENT on the basis of the following facts, understandings and intentions:
A. The Company desires that the Executive be employed by the Company to carry out the duties and responsibilities described below, all on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
B. The Executive desires to accept such employment on such terms and conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals incorporated herein and the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby expressly acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. | Retention and Duties. |
1.1 | Retention. The Company does hereby hire, engage and employ the Executive for the Period of Employment (as defined in Section 2) on the terms and conditions expressly set forth in this Agreement. The Executive does hereby accept and agree to such hiring, engagement and employment, on the terms and conditions expressly set forth in this Agreement. The Executive agrees to commence active employment with the Company on or before [Date] (the first day of such employment is referred to as the “Employment Commencement Date”). |
1.2 | Duties. During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall serve the Company as its [position] and shall have such powers, duties and obligations consistent with such position as the Company shall determine from time to time. The duties of the Executive include, among others, (i) [Duties]; and (ii) [Duties]. The Executive shall be subject to such directives of the Board and comply with the corporate policies of the Company and the Company Group as they are in effect from time to time throughout the Period of Employment (including, without limitation, the Company’s business conduct and ethics policies, as amended from time to time). During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall report to [the Chairman/CEO and/or the Board of the Company]/[the Board of the Company]. |
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1.3 | No Other Employment; Minimum Time Commitment. During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall (i) devote substantially all of the Executive’s business time, energy and skill to the performance of the Executive’s duties for the Company and Company Group, and (ii) hold no other employment, except for (in the case of (i)) or by (in the case of (ii)) one or more other companies in the Company Group or, in each case of (i) and (ii), as instructed or otherwise permitted by the Company in writing. The Executive’s service on the boards of directors (or similar body) of business entities other than the Company Group is subject to the approval of the Board [of the Company]. The Company shall have the right to require the Executive to resign from any board [of directors] or similar body which he may then serve if the Board [of the Company] reasonably determines in writing that the Executive’s service on such board or body interferes with the effective discharge of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or that any business related to such service is then in competition with any business of the Company or any of its affiliates, successors or assigns. |
1.4 | No Breach of Contract. The Executive hereby represents to the Company that: (i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Executive and the Company and the performance by the Executive of the Executive’s duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of, or otherwise contravene, the terms of any other agreement or policy to which the Executive is a party or otherwise bound; (ii) that the Executive has no information (including, without limitation, confidential information and trade secrets) relating to any other person or entity which would prevent, or be violated by, the Executive entering into this Agreement or carrying out his duties hereunder; (iii) that the Executive is not bound by any confidentiality, trade secret or similar agreement (other than this Agreement) with any other person or entity. |
2. | Period of Employment. The “Period of Employment” shall be the period commencing on the Employment Commencement Date and ending at the close of business on the date this Agreement is terminated by the Executive or the Company. [The Executive’s employment with the Company is “at will.” Either the Executive or the Company is entitled to terminate the employment at any time for any reason, with or without cause and with 3-monthnotice, without liability.] |
3. | Compensation. |
3.1 | Base Salary and Bonus. The Executive’s base salary (the “Base Salary”) during the Period of Employment shall be [determined by the Company as specified in a separate agreement between the Executive and the Company’s designated subsidiary or affiliate (the “Subsidiary Employment Agreement”). During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall be eligible to receive a bonus as determined in the Subsidiary Employment Agreement.] / [paid in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices in effect from time to time, but not less frequently than in monthly installments. The Executive’s Base Salary of the Period of Employment shall be at an annualized rate of US$ [ ]. During the Period of Employment, the Executive will be eligible to a base bonus of 10% of his/her annual base salary by year end based on the number of month that the Executive works at the Company in that year. Performance Bonuses [,within 5%-10% of his/her annual base salary] will be payable against milestones discussed and agreed between the Executive and the Chairman/CEO and/or the Board of the Company. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Executive must be employed by the Company through the last day of the period to which a Bonus relates in order to be eligible for a Bonus (or portion thereof) with respect to that period (and, if the Executive is not so employed at such time, in no event shall he have been considered to have “earned” any Bonus with respect to such period). Any Bonus will be paid, subject to applicable tax withholding, as soon as practicable after the end of the period to which such bonus relates. The Company will review the Executive’s Base Salary and Bonuses at least annually.] |
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3.2 | Intentionally Left Blank |
3.3 | Intentionally Left Blank |
3.4 | Intentionally Left Blank |
4. | Benefits. |
4.1 | Retirement, Welfare and Fringe Benefits. During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee pension and welfare benefit plans and programs, and fringe benefit plans and programs if made available by the Company to the Company’s employees generally, in accordance with the eligibility and participation provisions of such plans and as such plans or programs may be in effect from time to time. [The Company will reimburse 100% of the insurance premiums of the Executive and the dependents of the Executive.] / [The Company will, pursuant to the relevant requirements under applicable laws and regulations, make necessary arrangements for the Executive to participate in the labor insurance program, the national health insurance program, and any other statutory insurance program.] |
4.2 | Reimbursement of Business Expenses. The Executive is authorized to incur reasonable expenses in carrying out the Executive’s duties for the Company under this Agreement and reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses the Executive incurs during the Period of Employment in connection with carrying out the Executive’s duties for the Company, subject to the Company’s expense reimbursement policies in effect from time to time. |
4.3 | Vacation and Other Leave. During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall accrue and be entitled to take paid vacation days in accordance with the Company’s vacation policies in effect from time to time, including the Company’s policies regarding vacation accruals; provided that the Executive's rate of vacation accrual during the Period of Employment shall be no less than the number of days per year as determined in the Subsidiary Employment Agreement.. The Executive shall also be entitled to all other holiday and leave pay generally available to other executives of the Company. The Executive may choose to cash out unused annual leave entitlements per year at the year end at the rate of his base salary by submitting an annual leave cash out agreement or accrue the unused annual leave entitlements to the following year. Any accrued but unused and unpaid annual leave will be paid out at termination of employment at the rate of his base salary upon termination. |
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5. Termination. [This Agreement may be terminated at any time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto. This Agreement may also be terminated by either party pursuant to the relevant provisions of applicable law.]
5.1 | [Termination at will. The Executive’s employment by the Company, and the Period of Employment, may be terminated at any time by the Company or by the Executive [with 3-month notice].] / [Intentionally Left Blank] |
5.2 | Benefits Upon Termination. If the Executive’s employment by the Company is terminated for any reason, upon the date that the Executive’s employment by the Company terminates (the “Severance Date”), [the Company shall have no further obligation to make or provide to the Executive, and the Executive shall have no further right to receive or obtain from the Company, any payments or benefits except as follows] / [in addition to any statutory severance payment to which the Executive is entitled]: |
(a) The Company shall pay the Executive (or, in the event of [his/her] death, the Executive’s estate) any Accrued Obligations (as defined in Section 5.4); and
(b) [Subject to applicable laws, if/If] a Change of Control (as defined in Section 5.4) occurs any time during the Period of Employment and on or within six months following such Change of Control, the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates as a result of an Involuntary Termination (as defined in Section 5.4), the Executive shall be entitled to [(i) a severance payment in the amount equals to the then applicable Base Salary rate of the Executive for a six-month period, such amount to be paid to the Executive in the month following the month in which the Executive’s Separation from Service occurs; and (ii)] the accelerated vesting of any then-outstanding and unvested portion of the grants of the Company’s stock options granted to the Executive so that such outstanding stock options shall become vested in full as of the Severance Date.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.2, if the Executive breaches [his/her] obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement at any time, from and after the date of such breach and not in any way in limitation of any right or remedy otherwise available to the Company, the Executive will no longer be entitled to, and the Company will no longer be obligated to pay, any remaining unpaid severance amount contemplated by Section 5.2[; provided that, if the Executive provides the release contemplated by Section 5.3, in no event shall the Executive be entitled to benefits pursuant to Section 5.2(b) of less than US$5,000 (or the amount of such benefits, if less than US$5,000), which amount the parties agree is good and adequate consideration, in and of itself, for the Executive’s release contemplated by Section 5.3].
(d) The foregoing provisions of this Section 5.2 shall not affect: [(i) the Executive’s receipt of benefits otherwise due to terminated employees under group insurance coverage consistent with the terms of the applicable Company welfare benefit plan; (ii) the Executive’s rights under COBRA to continue health coverage; or (iii) the Executive’s receipt of benefits otherwise due in accordance with the terms of the Company’s 401(k) plan (if any).] / [the Executive's receipt of benefits otherwise due to terminated employees under insurance coverage consistent with the terms of the applicable Company labor insurance program, national health insurance program, or any other statutory insurance program;]
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5.3 | Release; Exclusive Remedy. |
(a) This Section 5.3 shall apply notwithstanding anything else contained in this Agreement or any stock option or other equity-based award agreement to the contrary. As a condition precedent to any Company obligation to the Executive pursuant to Section 5.2(b) or any other obligation to accelerate vesting of any equity-based award in connection with the termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall, upon or promptly following [his/her] last day of employment with the Company (and in all events within twenty-one (21) days after [his/her] last day of employment with the Company), execute and deliver to the Company a valid general release of claims (the “General Release”) in a form acceptable to the Board and such release agreement shall have not been revoked by the Executive pursuant to any revocation rights afforded by applicable law. |
(b) The Executive agrees that [in addition to any statutory severance payment to which the Executive is entitled,] the payments contemplated by Section 5.2 (and any applicable acceleration of vesting of an equity-based award in accordance with the terms of such award in connection with the termination of the Executive’s employment) shall constitute the exclusive and sole remedy for any termination of [his/her] employment and the Executive covenants not to assert or pursue any other remedies, at law or in equity, with respect to any termination of employment. The Company and Executive acknowledge and agree that there is no duty of the Executive to mitigate damages under this Agreement. All amounts paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 5.2 shall be paid without regard to whether the Executive has taken or takes actions to mitigate damages. |
5.4 | Certain Defined Terms. |
(a) As used herein, “Accrued Obligations” means:
(i) any Base Salary that had accrued but had not been paid (including accrued and unpaid vacation time) on or before the Severance Date; and
(ii) any reimbursement due to the Executive pursuant to Section 4.2 for expenses incurred by the Executive on or before the Severance Date.
(b) As used herein, “Cause” shall mean, as reasonably determined by the Board of the Company (excluding the Executive, if he is then a member of the Board of the Company), (i) any act of personal dishonesty taken by the Executive in connection with [his/her] responsibilities as an employee of the Company which is intended to result in substantial personal enrichment of the Executive and is reasonably likely to result in material harm to the Company, (ii) the Executive’s conviction of a crime which the Board of the Company reasonably believes has had or will have a material detrimental effect on the Company’s reputation or business, (iii) a willful act by the Executive which constitutes misconduct and is materially injurious to the Company, or (iv) continued violations by the Executive of the Executive’s obligations to the Company after there has been delivered to the Executive a written demand for performance from the Company which describes the basis for the Company’s belief that the Executive has violated [his/her] obligations to the Company.
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(c) As used herein, “Change of Control” shall mean (x) a merger, amalgamation or consolidation of the Company or Parent, in one or a series of related transactions, as a result of which the shareholders of the Company or Parent, as applicable, do not control fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the surviving entity (other than a transaction, the sole purpose of which is to effect the reincorporation of the Company or Parent in a different jurisdiction), or (y) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company or Parent’s assets in one or a series of related transactions in liquidation or dissolution of the Company or Parent .
(d) As used herein, “Constructive Termination” shall mean a resignation by the Executive within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of any of the following [events, subject to applicable law] (in each case, without the Executive’s prior written consent): (i) a material reduction of the Executive’s duties, authority or responsibilities relative to the Executive’s duties, position or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (ii) a material reduction by the Company of the Executive’s Base Salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; or (iii) the relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment with the Company to a facility or a location more than fifty (50) miles from [his/her] current location; provided, however, that any such condition or conditions, as applicable, shall not constitute grounds for Constructive Termination unless both (x) the Executive provides written notice to the Company of the condition claimed to constitute grounds for Constructive Termination within thirty (30) days of the initial existence of such condition(s) (such notice to be delivered in accordance with Section 17), and (y) the Company fails to remedy such condition(s) within thirty (30) days of receiving such written notice thereof; and provided, further, that in all events the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company shall not constitute a Constructive Termination unless such termination occurs not more than ninety (90) days following the initial existence of the condition claimed to constitute grounds for Constructive Termination.
(e) As used herein, “Disability” shall mean a physical or mental impairment which, as reasonably determined by the Board of the Company, renders the Executive unable to perform the essential functions of [his/her] employment with the Company, even with reasonable accommodation that does not impose an undue hardship on the Company, for more than 180 days in any 12-month period, unless a longer period is required by applicable law, in which case that longer period would apply.
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(f) As used herein, “Involuntary Termination” shall mean a Constructive Termination or a termination of the Executive by the Company without Cause. For purposes of clarity, the term Involuntary Termination does not include a termination of the Executive’s employment due to the Executive’s death or Disability.
(g) [As used herein, a “Separation from Service” occurs when the Executive dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with the Company that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1), without regard to the optional alternative definitions available thereunder.] / [Intentionally Left Blank]
6. | Confidentiality; Inventions; Non-Solicitation. |
6.1 | Confidential Information. |
(a) Company Information. The Executive hereby agrees that at all times during the Period of Employment and thereafter, to hold in strictest confidence, and not to use, except for the benefit of the Company Group, or to disclose to any person, firm or corporation without written authorization of an officer of the Company Group (other than the Executive), any Confidential Information, except under a non-disclosure agreement duly authorized and executed by the Company. The Executive understands that “Confidential Information” means any non-public information of the Company that relates to its actual or anticipated business or research and development, or to its technical data, trade secrets or know-how. “Confidential Information” includes, without limitation, research, product plans or other information regarding products or services and markets therefor, developments, inventions, processes, formulas, designs, drawings, technology, research and clinical data, chemical structures and formulations, software, protocols, algorithms, engineering, hardware configuration information, customer lists and customers (including, but not limited to, customers of the Company on whom the Executive called or with whom the Executive became acquainted during the Period of Employment), marketing, finances or other business information of the Company. The Executive further understands that Confidential Information does not include any of the foregoing items that have become publicly known and made generally available through no wrongful act (or failure to act) of the Executive or of others who were under confidentiality obligations as to the item or items involved or improvements or new versions thereof. The Executive acknowledges that, as between he and the Company, all Confidential Information shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company and its assigns.
(b) Company Property. The Executive understands that all documents (including computer records, facsimile and e-mail) and materials created, received or transmitted in connection with [his/her] work or using the facilities of the Company Group are property of the Company Group and subject to inspection by the Company Group, at any time. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company (or at any other time when requested by the Company), the Executive will promptly deliver to the Company all documents and materials of any nature pertaining to [his/her] work with the Company and will provide written certification of [his/her] compliance with this Agreement. Under no circumstances will the Executive have, following [his/her] termination, in [his/her] possession any property of the Company Group, or any documents or materials or copies thereof containing any Confidential Information. In the event of the termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive hereby agrees to sign and deliver the “Termination Certification” attached hereto as Exhibit B.
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(c) Former Employer Information. The Executive hereby agrees that [he/she] will not, during the Period of Employment, improperly use or disclose any proprietary information (including, but not limited to, software, source and object code, developments, techniques, inventions, processes, technology, designs and drawings) or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer or other person or entity and that [he/she] will not bring onto the premises of the Company Group any unpublished document or proprietary information belonging to any such employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by such employer, person or entity and by an officer of the Company (other than the Executive). The Executive hereby agrees to indemnify the Company Group and hold it harmless from all claims, liabilities, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs for resolving disputes, arising out of or in connection with any violation or claimed violation of a third party’s rights resulting from any use by the Company Group of such proprietary information or trade secrets improperly used or disclosed by the Executive.
(d) Third Party Information. The Executive recognizes that the Company Group has received and in the future will receive from third parties their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Company Group’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. The Executive hereby agrees to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person, firm or corporation or to use it except as necessary in carrying out [his/her] work for the Company consistent with the Company Group’s agreement with such third party.
6.2 | Inventions. |
(a) Inventions Retained and Licensed. The Executive has attached hereto, as Exhibit C, a list describing all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, improvements, trade secrets, and IC layout designs/mask works which were made by the Executive prior to [his/her] employment with the Company which belong to the Executive, which relate to the Company Group’s proposed or current business, products or research and development, and which are not assigned to any member of the Company Group hereunder (collectively referred to as “Prior Inventions”); or, if no such list is attached, The Executive hereby represents that there are no such Prior Inventions. The Executive hereby agrees that he or she will not incorporate any Prior Inventions into any products, processes or machines of the Company Group; provided, however, that if in the course of the Executive’s employment with the Company, he or she incorporates into a product, process or machine of the Company Group a Prior Invention owned by the Executive or in which he or she has an interest, the Executive hereby represents that he or she has all necessary rights, powers and authorization to use such Prior Invention in the manner it is used and such use will not infringe any right of any company, entity or person and, in such a circumstance, each member of the Company Group is hereby granted and shall have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, transferable, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention as part of or in connection with such product, process or machine. The Executive hereby agrees to indemnify the Company Group and hold it harmless from all claims, liabilities, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs for resolving disputes, arising out of or in connection with any violation or claimed violation of a third party’s rights resulting from any use, sublicensing, modification, transfer, or sale by the Company Group of such Prior Invention.
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(b) Assignment of Inventions. The Executive hereby agrees that he or she will promptly make full written disclosure to the Company and the Company Group, will hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of the Company and the Company Group, and hereby assign to the Company and the Company Group, or their respective designee, all of [his/her] right, title, and interest in and to any and all inventions, ideas, information, designs, original works of authorship, processes, formulas, computer software programs, databases, mask works, developments, concepts, improvements or trade secrets, whether or not patentable or registrable under patent, copyright, circuit layout design or similar laws or anywhere else in the world, which he or she may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the Period of Employment (whether or not during business hours) that are either related to the scope of [his/her] employment with the Company or make use, in any manner, of the resources of the Company Group (collectively referred to as “Inventions”). The Executive hereby acknowledges that the Company or the Company Group shall be the sole owner of all rights, title and interest in the Inventions created hereunder. In the event the foregoing assignment of Inventions to the Company or the Company Group is ineffective for any reason, each member of the Company Group is hereby granted and shall have a [exclusive] royalty-free, sublicensable, transferable, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, use, and sell such Inventions as part of or in connection with any product, process or machine. Such exclusive license shall continue in effect for the maximum term as may now or hereafter be permissible under applicable law. Upon expiration, such license, without further consent or action on the Executive’s part, shall automatically be renewed for the maximum term as is then permissible under applicable law, unless, within the six-month period prior to such expiration, the Company and the Executive have agreed that such license will not be renewed. The Executive also hereby forever waives and agrees never to assert any and all rights he or she may have in or with respect to any Inventions even after termination of [his/her] employment with the Company. The Executive hereby further acknowledges that all Inventions created by him or her (solely or jointly with others) are, to the extent permitted by applicable law, “works made for hire” or “inventions made for hire,” as those terms are defined in the applicable laws and regulations], respectively in the relevant jurisdiction, and all titles, rights and interests in or to such Inventions are or shall be vested in the Company.
(c) Maintenance of Records. The Executive hereby agrees to keep and maintain adequate and current written records of all Inventions. The records will be in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, and any other format that may be specified by the Company. The records will be available to and remain the sole property of the Company at all times.
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(d) Patent and Copyright Registrations. The Executive hereby agrees to assist the Company, or its respective designees, at the expense of the Company, in every proper way to secure the Company’s rights in the Inventions in any and all countries, to further evidence, record and perfect any grant or assignment by the Executive of the Inventions hereunder and to perfect, obtain, maintain, enforce and defend any rights so granted or assigned, including the disclosure to the Company of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary in order to apply for and obtain such rights and in order to assign and convey to the Company, its successors, assigns and nominees the sole and exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions. The Executive hereby further agrees that [his/her] obligations to execute or cause to be executed, when it is in [his/her] power to do so, any such instrument or papers shall continue after the termination of this Agreement. The Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in the Executive’s behalf and stead to execute and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the foregoing with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.
6.3 | Conflicting Employment. The Executive hereby agrees that, during Period of Employment, he or she will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity related to the business in which the Company Group is now involved or becomes involved during Period of Employment, nor will the Executive engage in any other activities that conflict with [his/her] obligations to the Company except by, for or on behalf of one or more other companies within the Company Group, or as instructed or otherwise permitted by the Company with a prior written consent. |
6.4 | Notification of New Employer. In the event that the Executive leaves the employment of the Company, the Executive hereby grants consent to notification by the Company to [his/her] new employer about [his/her] rights and obligations under this Agreement. |
6.5 | Non-Solicitation of Employees. The Executive hereby agrees that, during the Period of Employment and for a period of one (1) year immediately following the termination of [his/her] relationship with the Company for any reason, whether with or without cause, he or she shall not either directly or indirectly solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any employees of the Company Group to leave their employment, or attempt to solicit, induce, recruit, or encourage employees of the Company Group to leave their employment |
6.6 | Non-Interference with Customers. The Executive hereby agrees that, during the Period of Employment and [for a period of one (1) year immediately following the termination of [his/her] relationship with the Company for any reason, whether with or without cause, the Executive] / [thereafter, he/she] will not, directly or indirectly through any other person, use any of the Company Group’s trade secrets to influence or attempt to influence customers, vendors, suppliers, licensors, lessors, joint venturers, associates, consultants, agents, or partners of any entity within the Company Group to divert their business away from such entity, and the Executive will not otherwise use the Company Group’s trade secrets to interfere with, disrupt or attempt to disrupt the business relationships, contractual or otherwise, between any entity within the Company Group, on the one hand, and any of its or their customers, suppliers, vendors, lessors, licensors, joint venturers, associates, officers, employees, consultants, managers, partners, members or investors, on the other hand. |
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6.7 | Understanding of Covenants. The Executive acknowledges that, in the course of [his/her] employment with the Company Group members and their predecessors, he has become familiar, or will become familiar, with the Company Group members’ and their predecessors’ trade secrets and with other confidential and proprietary information concerning the Company Group members and their respective predecessors and that [his/her] services have been and will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company Group. The Executive agrees that the foregoing covenants set forth in this Section 6 (together, the “Restrictive Covenants”) are reasonable and necessary to protect the Company Group’s trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary information, good will, stable workforce, and customer relations. |
6.8 | Enforcement. The Executive agrees that the Executive's services are unique and that he has access to Confidential Information. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that a breach by the Executive of any of the covenants in this Section 6 would cause immediate and irreparable harm to the Company that would be difficult or impossible to measure, and that damages to the Company for any such injury would therefore be an inadequate remedy for any such breach. Therefore, the Executive agrees that in the event of any breach or threatened breach of any provision of this Section 6, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to and without limitation upon all other remedies the Company may have under this Agreement, at law or otherwise, to obtain specific performance, injunctive relief and/or other appropriate relief (without posting any bond or deposit) in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions of this Section 6, or require the Executive to account for and pay over to the Company all compensation, profits, moneys, accruals, increments or other benefits derived from or received as a result of any transactions constituting a breach of this Section 6 if and when final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction [or arbitrator], as applicable, is so entered against the Executive. The Executive further agrees that the applicable period of time any Restrictive Covenant is in effect following the Severance Date, as determined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 6, such period of time shall be extended by the same amount of time that Executive is in breach of any Restrictive Covenant. |
7. | Withholding Taxes. Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, the Company may withhold (or cause there to be withheld, as the case may be) from any amounts otherwise due or payable under or pursuant to this Agreement such national, provincial, local or any other income, employment, or other taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. |
8. | Assignment. This Agreement is personal in its nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder; provided, however, that in the event of a merger, consolidation, or transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company with or to any other individual(s) or entity, this Agreement shall, subject to the provisions hereof, be binding upon and inure to the benefit of such successor and such successor shall discharge and perform all the promises, covenants, duties, and obligations of the Company hereunder. |
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9. | Number and Gender. Where the context requires, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular, and any gender shall include all other genders. |
10. | Section Headings. The section headings of, and titles of paragraphs and subparagraphs contained in, this Agreement are for the purpose of convenience only, and they neither form a part of this Agreement nor are they to be used in the construction or interpretation thereof. |
11. | Governing Law[; Venue]. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [the State of California] without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than [the State of California]. [Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be exclusively referred to [ ].] |
12. | Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Agreement which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications and to this end the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be severable. |
13. | Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the documents referred to herein, embodies the entire agreement of the parties hereto respecting the matters within its scope. This Agreement supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements of the parties hereto that directly or indirectly bears upon the subject matter hereof (including, without limitation, any offer letter or previous employment agreement). Any prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, proposals or understandings relating to the subject matter hereof shall be deemed to have been merged into this Agreement, and to the extent inconsistent herewith, such negotiations, correspondence, agreements, proposals, or understandings shall be deemed to be of no force or effect. There are no representations, warranties, or agreements, whether express or implied, or oral or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof, except as expressly set forth herein. |
14. | Modifications. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or changed (in whole or in part), except by a formal, definitive written agreement expressly referring to this Agreement, which agreement is executed by both of the parties hereto. |
15. | Waiver. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of a party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver. |
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16. | [Arbitration; Waiver of Jury Trial. The Executive and the Company agree that any controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement, its enforcement or interpretation, or because of an alleged breach, default, or misrepresentation in connection with any of its provisions, or any other controversy arising out of the Executive’s employment shall be submitted to arbitration in the United States, before a sole arbitrator (the “Arbitrator”) as the exclusive forum for the resolution of such dispute; provided, however, that provisional injunctive relief may, but need not, be sought by either party to this Agreement in a court of law while arbitration proceedings are pending, and any provisional injunctive relief granted by such court shall remain effective until the matter is finally determined by the Arbitrator. Final resolution of any dispute through arbitration may include any remedy or relief which the Arbitrator deems just and equitable, including any and all remedies provided by applicable statutes. At the conclusion of the arbitration, the Arbitrator shall issue a written decision that sets forth the essential findings and conclusions upon which the Arbitrator's award or decision is based. Any award or relief granted by the Arbitrator hereunder shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction. The parties acknowledge and agree that they are hereby waiving any rights to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim brought by either of the parties against the other in connection with any matter whatsoever arising out of or in any way connected with this Agreement or the Executive’s employment. The parties agree that each party shall pay its own attorneys’ fees and other expenses.] / [Intentionally Left Blank] |
17. | Notices. |
(a) All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and made if (i) delivered by hand, (ii) otherwise delivered against receipt therefor, or (iii) sent by internationally recognized courier with next-day or second-day delivery. Any notice shall be duly addressed to the parties as follows:
(i) if to the Company:
Address:
Attention:
Email:
(ii) if to the Executive:
Email: |
[Attention:]
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(b) Any party may alter the address to which communications or copies are to be sent by giving notice of such change of address in conformity with the provisions of this Section 17 for the giving of notice. Any communication shall be effective when delivered by hand, when otherwise delivered against receipt therefor, or three (3) business days after being sent in accordance with the foregoing.
18. | Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories. Photographic copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose. |
19. | Legal Counsel; Mutual Drafting. Each party recognizes that this is a legally binding contract and acknowledges and agrees that they have had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel of their choice. Each party has cooperated in the drafting, negotiation and preparation of this Agreement. Hence, in any construction to be made of this Agreement, the same shall not be construed against either party on the basis of that party being the drafter of such language. The Executive agrees and acknowledges that he has read and understands this Agreement, is entering into it freely and voluntarily, and has been advised to seek counsel prior to entering into this Agreement and has had ample opportunity to do so. |
20. | Intentionally Left Blank |
[The remainder of this page has intentionally been left blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this Agreement as of date first written above.
“Belite Bio, Inc” |
By: |
Name: | Tom Lin | |
Title: | Director |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
“EXECUTIVE” |
Name: |
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EXHIBIT A
Intentionally Left Blank
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EXHIBIT B
TERMINATION CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that I do not have in my possession, nor have I failed to return, any Confidential Information belonging to Belite Bio, Inc (the “Company”), its subsidiaries, parent companies, affiliates, successors or assigns (together, the “Company Group”). For purposes of this Termination Certificate, the term “Confidential Information” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in my Employment Agreement with the Company, dated on or about ___________ (the “Agreement”).
I further certify that I have complied with all the terms of the Agreement signed by me, including all of the provisions of Section 6 of the Agreement.
I further agree that, in compliance with the Agreement, I will preserve as confidential all Confidential Information.
I further agree that for one (1) year from this date, I will not either directly or indirectly solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any employees of the Company or the Company Group to leave their employment, or take away such employees, or attempt to solicit, induce, recruit, encourage or take away employees of the Company or the Company Group and/or any suppliers, customers or consultants of the Company or the Company Group, either for myself or for any other person or entity.
Date: |
Signature | |
Print Name |
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EXHIBIT C
LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS
Title | Date | Identifying Number or Brief Description |
______ No inventions or improvements
______ Additional Sheets Attached
Signature of Employee:
Print Name of Employee:
Date:
|
Exhibit 10.4
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of ____________, by and between Belite Bio, Inc, an exempted company with limited liability duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), and __________(Passport/ID Number ____________) (the “Indemnitee”), a [director/an executive officer] of the Company.
WHEREAS, the Indemnitee has served or has agreed to serve as a director/an executive officer of the Company and in such capacity will render valuable services to the Company; and
WHEREAS, in order to induce and encourage highly experienced and capable persons such as the Indemnitee to serve as directors/an executive officer of the Company, the Board of Directors has determined that this Agreement is not only reasonable and prudent, but necessary to promote and ensure the best interests of the Company and its shareholders;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, including, without limitation, the service of the Indemnitee, the receipt of which hereby is acknowledged, and in order to induce the Indemnitee to serve as a director/an executive officer of the Company, the Company and the Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:
(a) “Board of Directors” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
(b) “Change in Control” shall mean a change in control of the Company of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar or successor schedule or form) promulgated under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Act”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred (irrespective of the applicability of the initial clause of this definition) if (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act, but excluding any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities pursuant to an employee benefit or welfare plan or employee share plan of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or any entity organized, appointed, established or holding securities of the Company with voting power for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the Continuing Directors (as defined below) in office immediately prior to such person’s attaining such interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which Continuing Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company (or any successor entity) thereafter; or (iii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (including for this purpose any new director whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period) (such directors being referred to herein as “Continuing Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.
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(c) “Disinterested Director” with respect to any request by the Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder shall mean a director of the Company who neither is nor was a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification or advancement is being sought by the Indemnitee.
(d) The term “Expenses” shall mean, without limitation, expenses of Proceedings, including attorneys’ fees, disbursements and retainers, accounting and witness fees, expenses related to the preparation or service as a witness, travel and deposition costs, expenses of investigations, judicial or administrative proceedings and appeals, amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding by or on behalf of the Indemnitee, costs of attachment or similar bonds, any expenses of attempting to establish or establishing a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses, under this Agreement, the Company’s Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association as currently in effect (the “Articles”), applicable law or otherwise, and reasonable compensation for time spent by the Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense or appeal of a Proceeding or action for indemnification for which the Indemnitee is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. The term “Expenses” shall not include the amount of judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually levied against or sustained by the Indemnitee to the extent sustained after final adjudication.
(e) The term “Independent Legal Counsel” shall mean any firm of attorneys reasonably selected by the Board of Directors of the Company, so long as such firm has not represented the Company, the Company’s subsidiaries or affiliates, the Indemnitee, any entity controlled by the Indemnitee, or any party adverse to the Company, within the preceding five (5) years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Legal Counsel” shall not include any person who, under applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement, the Company’s Articles, applicable law or otherwise.
(f) The term “Proceeding” shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, or any other proceeding (including, without limitation, an appeal therefrom), formal or informal, whether brought in the name of the Company or otherwise, whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, and whether by, in or involving a court or an administrative, other governmental or private entity or body (including, without limitation, an investigation by the Company or its Board of Directors), by reason of (i) the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director/an executive officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, whether or not the Indemnitee is serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or reimbursement is to be provided under this Agreement, (ii) any actual or alleged act or omission or neglect or breach of duty, including, without limitation, any actual or alleged error or misstatement or misleading statement, which the Indemnitee commits or suffers while acting in any such capacity, or (iii) the Indemnitee attempting to establish or establishing a right to indemnification or advancement of Expenses pursuant to this Agreement, the Company’s Articles, applicable law or otherwise.
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(g) The phrase “serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise” or any similar terminology shall mean, unless the context otherwise requires, serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit or welfare plan or other enterprise, foreign or domestic. The phrase “serving at the request of the Company” shall include, without limitation, any service as a director/an executive officer of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director/an executive officer with respect to the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, affiliates, employee benefit or welfare plans, such plan’s participants or beneficiaries or any other enterprise, foreign or domestic. In the event that the Indemnitee shall be a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit or welfare plan or other enterprise, foreign or domestic, 50% or more of the ordinary shares, combined voting power or total equity interest of which is owned by the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, then it shall be presumed conclusively that the Indemnitee is so acting at the request of the Company.
2. Services by the Indemnitee. The Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director of the Company under the terms of the Indemnitee’s agreement with the Company for so long as the Indemnitee is duly elected and qualified, appointed or until such time as the Indemnitee tenders a resignation in writing or is removed as a director; provided, however, that the Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or other obligation imposed by operation of law).
3. Proceeding Other Than a Proceeding by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee if the Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding (other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company), by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director/an executive officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, against all Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, and excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such a Proceeding, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; provided, however, that any settlement of a Proceeding must be approved in advance in writing by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld).
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4. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee if the Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director/an executive officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, against all Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, and excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such a Proceeding, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct involved was unlawful; except that no indemnification under this section shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudicated by final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Company for willful misconduct in the performance of his/her duty to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such amounts which such other court shall deem proper.
5. Indemnification for Costs, Charges and Expenses of Witness or Successful Party. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (except as set forth in subparagraph 9(a)hereof), and without a requirement for determination as required by Paragraph 8 hereof, to the extent that the Indemnitee (a) has prepared to serve or has served as a witness in any Proceeding in any way relating to (i) the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, affiliates, employee benefit or welfare plans or such plan’s participants or beneficiaries or (ii) anything done or not done by the Indemnitee as a director/an executive officer of the Company or in connection with serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, or (b) has been successful, in whole or in part, in defense of any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, on the merits or otherwise, including the dismissal of a Proceeding without prejudice or the settlement of a Proceeding without an admission of liability, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection therewith to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. If the Indemnitee has been wholly unsuccessful in defense of any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection therewith to the extent the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct involved was unlawful.
6. Partial Indemnification. If the Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for a portion of the Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in the investigation, defense, appeal or settlement of any Proceeding, but not, however, for the total amount of the Indemnitee’s Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for the portion of such Expenses, judgments, fines, interest penalties or excise taxes to which the Indemnitee is entitled.
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7. Advancement of Expenses. The Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in any Proceeding shall be paid promptly by the Company in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding at the written request of the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; provided, however, that the Indemnitee shall set forth in such request reasonable evidence that such Expenses have been incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding, a statement that such Expenses do not relate to any matter described in subparagraph 9(a) of this Agreement, and an undertaking in writing to repay any advances if it is ultimately determined as provided in subparagraph 8(b) of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement.
8. Indemnification Procedure; Determination of Right to Indemnification.
(a) Promptly after receipt by the Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall, if a claim for indemnification or advancement of Expenses in respect thereof is to be made against the Company under this Agreement, notify the Company of the commencement thereof in writing. The omission to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability which the Company may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement unless the Company shall have lost significant substantive or procedural rights with respect to the defense of any Proceeding as a result of such omission to so notify.
(b) The Indemnitee shall be conclusively presumed to have met the relevant standards of conduct, if any, as defined by applicable law, for indemnification pursuant to this Agreement and shall be absolutely entitled to such indemnification, unless a determination is made that the Indemnitee has not met such standards by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) If a claim for indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement is not paid by the Company within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of written notice thereof, the rights provided by this Agreement shall be enforceable by the Indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such judicial proceeding shall be made de novo. The burden of proving that indemnification or advances are not appropriate shall be on the Company. Neither the failure of the directors or shareholders of the Company or Independent Legal Counsel to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification or advancement of Expenses is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, if any, nor an actual determination by the directors or shareholders of the Company or Independent Legal Counsel that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct shall be a defense to an action by the Indemnitee or create a presumption for the purpose of such an action that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself (i) create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company and/or its shareholders, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful or (ii) otherwise adversely affect the rights of the Indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement, except as may be provided herein. The Company further agrees to stipulate in any such judicial proceeding that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement and is precluded from making any assertion to the contrary.
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(d) The Company’s obligations to indemnify the Indemnitee hereunder are primary in nature as to any other right to indemnification that the Indemnitee may be entitled to. The Company shall process Indemnitee’s request for indemnification or advancement for Expenses immediately in accordance with the procedures set out herein and shall not decline a claim from the Indemnitee on the basis that the Indemnitee may have the right to seek indemnification under arrangements other than those contained hereunder.
(e) If a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the Indemnitee is entitled to any indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder, the Company shall pay all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such adjudication (including, but not limited to, any appellate proceedings). The Indemnitee’s Expenses incurred in connection with any Proceeding concerning the Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or advancement of Expenses in whole or in part pursuant to this Agreement shall also be indemnified by the Company, regardless of the outcome of such a Proceeding, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Company’s Articles.
(f) With respect to any Proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of Expenses is requested, the Company will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense and, except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it may wish, the Company may assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to the Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of a Proceeding, the Company will not be liable to the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any Expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof, other than as provided below. The Company shall not settle any Proceeding in any manner which would impose any penalty or limitation on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee’s written consent. The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his own counsel in any Proceeding, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense of the Proceeding shall be at the expense of the Indemnitee, unless (i) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company, (ii) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of a Proceeding, or (iii) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of a proceeding, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of the Indemnitee’s counsel shall be advanced by the Company. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which the Indemnitee has reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee.
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9. Limitations on Indemnification. No payments pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by the Company:
(a) To indemnify or advance funds to the Indemnitee for Expenses with respect to (i) Proceedings initiated or brought voluntarily by the Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except with respect to Proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under this Agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under applicable law or (ii) Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with preparing to serve or serving, prior to a Change in Control, as a witness in cooperation with any party or entity who or which has threatened or commenced any action or proceeding against the Company, or any director, officer, employee, trustee, agent, representative, subsidiary, parent corporation or affiliate of the Company, but such indemnification or advancement of Expenses in each such case may be provided by the Company if the Board of Directors finds it to be appropriate;
(b) To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, and sustained in any Proceeding for which payment is actually made to the Indemnitee under a valid and collectible insurance policy carried out by the Company, except in respect of any excess beyond the amount of payment under such insurance;
(c) To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties sustained in any Proceeding for an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by the Indemnitee of securities of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Act or similar provisions of any foreign or United States federal, state or local statute or regulation;
(d) To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, for which the Indemnitee is fully indemnified by the Company otherwise than pursuant to this Agreement;
(e) To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses (including without limitation any Expenses relating to a Proceeding attempting to enforce this Agreement), judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, on account of the Indemnitee’s conduct if such conduct shall be finally adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct, including, without limitation, breach of the duty of loyalty;
(f) If a court of competent jurisdiction finally determines that any indemnification hereunder is unlawful;
(g) To indemnify the Indemnitee in connection with Indemnitee’s personal tax matter; or
(h) To indemnify the Indemnitee with respect to any claim related to any dispute or breach arising under any contract or similar obligation between the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and such Indemnitee.
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10. Contribution in the Event of Joint Liability.
(a) To the fullest extent not prohibited by (and not merely to the extent affirmatively permitted by) law, if the indemnification rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable to the Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, in respect of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with the Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), the Company, in lieu of indemnifying the Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by the Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, without requiring the Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against the Indemnitee.
(b) The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with the Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against the Indemnitee.
(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate the Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company (other than the Indemnitee) who may be jointly liable with the Indemnitee.
11. Continuation of Indemnification. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period that the Indemnitee is a director/an executive officer of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, foreign or domestic), regardless of whether the Indemnitee was appointed before or after the date of this Agreement and shall continue thereafter so long as the Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee was a director/an executive officer of the Company or serving in any other capacity referred to in this Paragraph 11.
12. Indemnification Hereunder Not Exclusive. The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may be entitled under the Company’s Articles, any agreement, vote of shareholders or vote of Disinterested Directors, provisions of applicable law, or otherwise, both as to action or omission in the Indemnitee’s official capacity and as to action or omission in another capacity on behalf of the Company while holding such office.
13. Successors and Assigns.
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the Indemnitee and the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, whether or not the Indemnitee has ceased to be a director/an executive officer, and the Company and its successors and assigns. Upon the sale of all or substantially all of the business, assets or share capital of the Company to, or upon the merger of the Company into or with, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other person, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon both the Indemnitee and such purchaser or successor person. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party hereto.
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(b) If the Indemnitee is deceased and is entitled to indemnification under any provision of this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee’s estate and the Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns against, and the Company shall, and does hereby agree to assume, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or for the Indemnitee or the Indemnitee’s estate, in connection with the investigation, defense, appeal or settlement of any Proceeding. Further, when requested in writing by the spouse of the Indemnitee, and/or the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, the Company shall provide appropriate evidence of the Company’s agreement set out herein to indemnify the Indemnitee against and to itself assume such Expenses.
14. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
15. Severability. Each and every paragraph, sentence, term and provision of this Agreement is separate and distinct so that if any paragraph, sentence, term or provision thereof shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable for any reason, such invalidity, unlawfulness or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, unlawfulness or enforceability of any other paragraph, sentence, term or provision hereof. To the extent required, any paragraph, sentence, term or provision of this Agreement may be modified by a court of competent jurisdiction to preserve its validity and to provide the Indemnitee with the broadest possible indemnification permitted under applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to a court order or decision, to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement.
16. Savings Clause. If this Agreement or any paragraph, sentence, term or provision hereof is invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee as to any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are incurred with respect to any Proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by any (a) applicable paragraph, sentence, term or provision of this Agreement that has not been invalidated or (b) applicable law.
17. Interpretation; Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed as a whole and in accordance with its fair meaning and any ambiguities shall not be construed for or against either party. Headings are for convenience only and shall not be used in construing meaning. This Agreement shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
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18. Amendments. No amendment, waiver, modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. The indemnification rights afforded to the Indemnitee hereby are contract rights and may not be diminished, eliminated or otherwise affected by amendments to the Company’s Articles, or by other agreements, including directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies, of the Company.
19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other.
20. Notices. Any notice required to be given under this Agreement shall be directed to Belite Bio, Inc at 5820 Oberlin Drive, Suite 101, San Diego, CA 92121, and to the Indemnitee at ________________________________ or to such other address as either shall designate to the other in writing.
[Signatures on the Next Page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Indemnification Agreement as of the date first written above.
INDEMNITEE | ||
Name: | ||
Belite Bio, Inc | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to the Indemnification Agreement]
Exhibit 10.5
SERIES A PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AND NOTE CONVERSION AGREEMENT
THIS SERIES A PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into on January 21, 2020 by and among:
1. | Belite Bio, Inc, an exempted company organized under the Laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), |
2. | each of the Persons listed in Schedule I attached hereto (each, a “Note Holder” and collectively, the “Note Holders”), and |
3. | each of the Persons listed on Schedule II attached hereto (each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”). |
Each of the parties to this Agreement is referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.
RECITALS
A. | The Company is engaged in the business of drug development (the “Business”). The Company seeks expansion capital to grow the Business and, correspondingly, seeks to secure an investment from the Investors, on the terms and conditions set forth herein. |
B. | The Note Holders hold the Notes and seek to convert the unpaid principal and interest accrued thereon into Series A Preferred Shares (as defined below) pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement. |
C. | The Investors wish to invest in the Company by subscribing for Series A Preferred Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and the Company wishes to issue and sell Series A Preferred Shares to the Investors pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement. |
D. | The Parties desire to enter into this Agreement and make the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein on the terms and conditions set forth herein. |
WITNESSETH
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties intending to be legally bound hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
1.1 Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them below:
“Accounting Standards” means International Financial Reporting Standards as promulgated from time to time by the International Accounting Standards Board (the “IASB”) (including, without limitation, standards and interpretations approved by the IASB and International Accounting Principles issued under previous constitutions thereof), together with the IASB’s pronouncements thereon from time to time, applied on a consistent basis.
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“Action” means any charge, claim, action, complaint, petition, investigation, appeal, suit, litigation, grievance, inquiry or other proceeding, whether administrative, civil, regulatory or criminal, whether at law or in equity, or otherwise under any applicable Law, and whether or not before any mediator, arbitrator or Governmental Authority.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such Person. In the case of an Investor, the term “Affiliate” also includes (v) any Controlling shareholder of the Investor, (w) any of such shareholder's or Investors’ general partners or limited partners, (x) the fund manager managing such shareholder or Investor (and general partners, limited partners and officers thereof) and other funds managed by such fund manager, and (y) trusts controlled by or for the benefit of any such Person referred to in (v), (w) or (x).
“Associate” means, with respect to any Person, (1) a corporation or organization (other than the Group Companies) of which such Person is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the record or beneficial owner of ten (10) percent or more of any class of Equity Securities of such corporation or organization, (2) any trust or other estate in which such Person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar capacity, or (3) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse.
“Benefit Plan” means any employment Contract, deferred compensation Contract, bonus plan, incentive plan, profit sharing plan, mandatory provident scheme, occupational retirement scheme, retirement Contract or other employment compensation Contract or any other plan which provides or provided benefits for any past or present employee, officer, consultant, and/or director of a Person or with respect to which contributions are or have been made on account of any past or present employee, officer, consultant, and/or director of such a Person.
“Board” or “Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday or other day on which commercial banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in the PRC, Taiwan, or the United States.
“CFC” means a controlled foreign corporation as defined in the Code.
“Charter Documents” means, with respect to a particular legal entity, the articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, formation or registration (including, if applicable, certificates of change of name), memorandum of association, articles of association, bylaws, articles of organization, limited liability company agreement, trust deed, trust instrument, operating agreement, joint venture agreement, business license, or similar or other constitutive, governing, or charter documents, or equivalent documents, of such entity.
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“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company Owned IP” means all Intellectual Property owned by, purported to be owned by, or exclusively licensed to, the Group Companies.
“Company Registered IP” means all Intellectual Property for which registrations are owned by or held in the name of, or for which applications have been made in the name of, any Group Company.
“Consent” means any consent, approval, authorization, release, waiver, permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, exemption or order of, registration, certificate, declaration or filing with, or report or notice to, any Person, including any Governmental Authority.
“Contract” means a contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, loan, instrument, lease, mortgage, franchise, license, commitment, purchase order, and other legally binding arrangement, whether written or oral.
“Control” of a given Person means the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise; provided, that such power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person. The terms “Controlled” and “Controlling” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Conversion Shares” means Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of any Shares.
“Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person that is a legal entity, any and all shares of capital stock, membership interests, units, profits interests, ownership interests, equity interests, registered capital, and other equity securities of such Person, and any right, warrant, option, call, commitment, conversion privilege, preemptive right or other right to acquire any of the foregoing, or security convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for any of the foregoing.
“FCPA” means Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of the United States of America, as amended from time to time.
“Governmental Authority” means any government of any nation, federation, province or state or any other political subdivision thereof, any entity, authority or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including any governmental authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality of the PRC or any other country, or any political subdivision thereof, any court, tribunal or arbitrator, and any self-regulatory organization.
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“Governmental Order” means any applicable order, ruling, decision, verdict, decree, writ, subpoena, mandate, precept, command, directive, consent, approval, award, judgment, injunction or other similar determination or finding by, before or under the supervision of any Governmental Authority.
“Group Company” means the Company, together with its Subsidiary of any of the foregoing, and “Group” refers to all of Group Companies collectively.
“Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, each of the following of such Person: (i) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business), (iii) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (iv) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced that are incurred in connection with the acquisition of properties, assets or businesses, (v) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (vi) all obligations that are capitalized (including capitalized lease obligations), (vii) all obligations under banker’s acceptance, letter of credit or similar facilities, (viii) all obligations to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise acquire for value any Equity Securities of such Person, (ix) all obligations in respect of any interest rate swap, hedge or cap agreement, and (x) all guarantees issued in respect of the Indebtedness referred to in clauses (i) through (ix) above of any other Person, but only to the extent of the Indebtedness guaranteed.
“Intellectual Property” means any and all (i) patents, patent rights and applications therefor and reissues, reexaminations, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, and patent term extensions thereof, (ii) inventions (whether patentable or not), discoveries, improvements, concepts, innovations and industrial models, (iii) registered and unregistered copyrights, copyright registrations and applications, mask works and registrations and applications therefor, author’s rights and works of authorship (including artwork, software, computer programs, source code, object code and executable code, firmware, development tools, files, records and data, and related documentation), (iv) URLs, web sites, web pages and any part thereof, (v) technical information, know-how, trade secrets, drawings, designs, design protocols, specifications, proprietary data, customer lists, databases, proprietary processes, technology, formulae, and algorithms and other intellectual property, (vi) trade names, trade dress, trademarks, domain names, service marks, logos, business names, and registrations and applications therefor, and (vii) the goodwill symbolized or represented by the foregoing.
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“Key Employee” means all employees of the Group Companies listed on Schedule IV.
“Knowledge” means, with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of any of the Key Employees, and that knowledge which should have been acquired by each such individual after making such due inquiry and exercising such due diligence as a prudent business person would have made or exercised in the management of his or her business affairs.
“Law” or “Laws” means any and all provisions of any applicable constitution, treaty, statute, law, regulation, ordinance, code, rule, or rule of common law, any governmental approval, concession, grant, franchise, license, agreement, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority, in each case as amended, and any and all applicable Governmental Orders.
“Liabilities” means, with respect to any Person, all liabilities, obligations and commitments of such Person of any nature, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to become due.
“Lien” means any claim, charge, easement, encumbrance, lease, covenant, security interest, lien, option, pledge, rights of others, or restriction (whether on voting, sale, transfer, disposition or otherwise), whether imposed by Contract, understanding, law, equity or otherwise.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any (i) event, occurrence, fact, condition, change or development that has had, has, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or together with other events, occurrences, facts, conditions, changes or developments, a material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, employees, operations, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, assets or liabilities of the Group taken as a whole, (ii) material impairment of the ability of any Party (other than the Investors) to perform the material obligations of such party under any Transaction Documents, or (iii) material impairment of the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document against any Party hereto or thereto (other than the Investors).
“Memorandum and Articles” means the amended and restated memorandum of association of the Company and the amended and restated articles of association of the Company attached hereto as Exhibits A-1 and Exhibit A-2, respectively, to be adopted in accordance with applicable Law on or before the Closing.
“MOFCOM” means the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC or, with respect to any matter to be submitted for examination and approval by the Ministry of Commerce, any Governmental Authority which is delegated or authorized by the Ministry of Commerce to examine and approve such matter under the laws of the PRC.
“Note Purchase Agreement” means all the note purchase agreement between the Company and the Note Holders, as listed in Schedule I.
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“Note” means all the convertible promissory notes issued by the Company pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, as listed in Schedule I.
“Ordinary Shares” means the Company’s ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share.
“Permitted Liens” means (i) Liens for Taxes not yet delinquent or the validity of which are being contested in good faith and for which there are adequate reserves on the applicable financial statements, and (ii) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business, which (x) do not individually or in the aggregate materially detract from the value, use, or transferability of the assets that are subject to such Liens, and (y) were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, association, limited liability company, firm, trust, estate or other enterprise or entity.
“PFIC” means a passive foreign investment company as defined in the Code.
“PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, but solely for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, excluding Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and the islands of Taiwan.
“Prohibited Person” means any Person that is (1) a national or resident of any U.S. embargoed or restricted country, (2) included on, or Affiliated with any Person on, the United States Commerce Department’s Denied Parties List, Entities and Unverified Lists; the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals, Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers or Specially Designated Terrorists, or the Annex to Executive Order No. 13224; the Department of State’s Debarred List; UN Sanctions, (3) a member of any PRC military organization, or (4) a Person with whom business transactions, including exports and re-exports, are restricted by a U.S. Governmental Authority, including, in each clause above, any updates or revisions to the foregoing and any newly published rules.
“Public Official” means any executive, official, or employee of a Governmental Authority, political party or member of a political party, political candidate; executive, employee or officer of a public international organization; or director, officer or employee or agent of a wholly owned or partially state-owned or controlled enterprise.
“Related Party” means any Affiliate, officer, director, supervisory board member, employee, or holder of any Equity Security of any Group Company, and any Affiliate or Associate of any of the foregoing.
“SAFE” means the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC.
“SAMR” means the State Administration for Market Regulation of the PRC or, with respect to the issuance of any business license or filing or registration to be effected by or with the State Administration for Market Regulation, any Governmental Authority which is similarly competent to issue such business license or accept such filing or registration under the laws of the PRC.
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“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended and interpreted from time to time.
“Series A Preferred Shares” means the Series A Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share, with the rights and privileges as set forth in the Memorandum and Articles.
“Shareholders Agreement” means the Shareholders Agreement to be entered into by and among the parties named therein on or prior to the Closing, which shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
“Shares” means the Series A Preferred Shares issued to the Investors and Note Holders hereunder.
“Social Insurance” means any form of social insurance required under applicable Laws, including without limitation, the PRC national and local contributions for pensions, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, work-related injury insurance, pregnancy benefits, and housing accumulation funds.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any given Person, any other Person that is Controlled directly or indirectly by such given Person.
“Tax” means (i) in the PRC: (a) any national, provincial, municipal, or local taxes, charges, fees, levies, or other assessments, including, without limitation, all net income (including enterprise income tax and individual income withholding tax), turnover (including value-added tax, business tax, and consumption tax), resource (including urban and township land use tax), special purpose (including land value-added tax, urban maintenance and construction tax, and additional education fees), property (including urban real estate tax and land use fees), documentation (including stamp duty and deed tax), filing, recording, social insurance (including pension, medical, unemployment, housing, and other social insurance withholding), tariffs (including import duty and import value-added tax), and estimated and provisional taxes, charges, fees, levies, or other assessments of any kind whatsoever, (b) all interest, penalties (administrative, civil or criminal), or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Authority in connection with any item described in clause (a) above, and (c) any form of transferee liability imposed by any Governmental Authority in connection with any item described in clauses (a) and (b) above and (ii) in any jurisdiction other than the PRC: all similar liabilities as described in clause (i)(a) and (i)(b) above.
“Tax Return” means any return, report or statement showing Taxes, used to pay Taxes, or required to be filed with respect to any Tax (including any elections, declarations, schedules or attachments thereto, and any amendment thereof), including any information return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated or provisional Tax.
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“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, the Memorandum and Articles, and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing.
“U.S. real property holding corporation” has the meaning as defined in the Code.
1.2 Other Defined Terms. The following terms shall have the meanings defined for such terms in the Sections set forth below:
Agreement | Preamble |
Arbitration Notice | Section 9.4(i) |
Annual Statement Date | Section 3.10 |
Balance Sheet | Section 3.10 |
Business | Preamble |
Closing | Section 2.3(i) |
Company | Preamble |
Company IP | Section 3.15(i) |
Compliance Laws | Section 3.13(i) |
Disclosure Schedule | Section 3 |
Dispute | Section 9.4(i) |
ESOP | Section 3.2(i) |
Financial Statements | Section 3.10 |
HKIAC | Section 9.4(ii) |
HKIAC Rules | Section 9.4(ii) |
Investor/Investors | Preamble |
Licenses | Section 3.15(v) |
Party/Parties | Preamble |
Principal | Preamble |
Purchase Price | Section 2.1 |
Representatives | Section 3.13(i) |
SEC | Section 4.3 |
Shares | Section 2.1 |
Statement Date | Section 3.10 |
2. Purchase and Sale of Shares.
2.1 Conversion of Notes and Issuance of the Series A-1 Preferred Shares at Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing (as defined below), the Note Holders have elected, and the Company agrees, to convert the Notes, with total outstanding principal amount of US$2,000,000 and accrued but unpaid interest thereon of US$ 13,835.62 as of January 31, 2020 into a total number of 543,750 Series A Preferred Shares, with each Note Holder converting all Notes held thereby into such number of Series A Preferred Shares as set forth opposite to such Note Holder’s name in Schedule I attached hereto.
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2.2 Sale and Issuance of the Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing (as defined below), each Investor, severally and not jointly, agrees to subscribe for and purchase, and the Company agrees to issue and sell to such Investor, that number of Series A Preferred Shares set forth opposite such Investor’s name on Schedule II attached hereto, with each Investor to pay as consideration for such Shares the aggregate purchase price set forth opposite such Investor’s name on Schedule II attached hereto (the “Purchase Price”).
2.3 Closing.
(i) Closing. The consummation of the sale and issuance of the Shares pursuant to Section 2.1 (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures as soon as practicable, but in no event later than three (3) Business Days after all closing conditions specified in Section 6 and Section 7 hereof have been waived or satisfied (other than those conditions to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver thereof at the Closing), or at such other time and place as the Company and the Investors and the Note Holders shall mutually agree in writing.
(ii) Deliveries by the Company at Closing. At the Closing, in addition to any items the delivery of which is made an express condition to the Investor’s and the Note Holders’ obligations at the Closing pursuant to Section 6, the Company shall deliver to each Investor and each Note Holder (a) a scanned copy of the updated register of members of the Company, reflecting the issuance of Shares, and (b) a copy of duly executed certificate or certificates issued in the name of such Investor and Note Holder representing the Shares being purchased by such Investor and Note Holder at the Closings. Within ten (10) Business Days after the Closing, the Company shall deliver to the Investors and the Note Holders the original share certificates representing the Shares being purchased by such Investors and the Note Holders.
(iii) Deliveries by the Investors at Closing. At the Closing, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions set forth in Section 6 below, each Investor shall pay the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds in U.S. dollars to the bank account as set forth in Schedule V attached hereto or any other bank account designated by the Company in writing.
(iv) Deliveries by the Note Holders at Closing. At the Closing, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions set forth in Section 6 below, each Note Holder shall immediately surrender all Notes held by such Note Holder, or in case of a lost note, an affidavit of loss, damage or mutilation and agreement to indemnify the Company pursuant to section 10 of each Note, to the Company for cancellation. Upon update of register of members of the Company in consideration for surrender and cancellation of the Notes, (i) all obligations of the Company in favor of the Note Holders pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes shall be deemed fully discharged and the Note Purchase Agreement shall be terminated and (ii) the Note Holders shall have no further rights or claims under or in respect of such Notes. Immediately following the Closing, whether or not surrendered, the Notes shall be deemed to be null and void; provided that a Note which was not surrendered at the Closing shall continue to represent the right to receive the shares that the Note Holder is entitled to receive upon surrender of such Note which have not otherwise been issued in respect of such Note.
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(v) If, at the Closing, any Investor shall fail to perform its obligations to fund its Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.3(iii), or any Note Holder shall fail to surrender all the Notes held thereby pursuant to Section 2.3(iv) and Section 7.4, the Closing shall take place with respect to the other Investors and Note Holders. The closing with respect to such Investor or Note Holder shall take place until such time they have fulfilled their obligations hereunder but in any event no later than January 31, 2020 (the “Long Stop Date”) unless otherwise mutually agreed by the Company and such investor. The Company shall not be obliged to proceed with the closing with any such investor or note holder after the Long Stop Date.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. Subject to such exceptions as may be specifically set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to the Investors and the Note Holders as of the date hereof and attached hereto as Schedule VI (the “Disclosure Schedule”) which forms part of the representation and warranties herein, the Company represents and warrants to the Investors and the Note Holders that the following statements are true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing:
3.1 Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each Group Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (or equivalent status in the relevant jurisdiction) under, and by virtue of, the Laws of the place of its incorporation or establishment and has all requisite power and authority to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, and to perform each of its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. Each Group Company is qualified to do business and is in good standing (or equivalent status in the relevant jurisdiction) in each jurisdiction where failure to be so qualified would be a Material Adverse Effect. Each Group Company has a valid business license issued by the relevant Government Authorities, and has, since its establishment, carried on its Business materially in compliance with the business scope set forth in its business license.
3.2 Capitalization and Voting Rights.
(i) Company. The authorized share capital of the Company is and immediately prior to the Closing shall be US$50,000 divided into (a) a total of 497,500,000 authorized Ordinary Shares, 8,840,321 of which are issued and outstanding, and 1,960,080 of which have been reserved for issuance to officers, directors, employees, consultants or service providers of the Company pursuant to an equity incentive plan of the Company (the “ESOP”); and (b) a total of 2,500,000 authorized Series A Preferred Shares, none of which are issued and outstanding. Section 3.2(i) of the Disclosure Schedule set forth the capitalization table of each Group Company as of immediately prior to the Closing, and immediately after the Closing, in each case reflecting all the outstanding and authorized Equity Securities of such Group Company, the record and beneficial holders thereof, the issuance date, and the terms of any vesting applicable thereto.
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(ii) No Other Securities. Except for (a) the conversion privileges of the Series A Preferred Share, and (b) certain rights provided in the Memorandum and Article and the Shareholders Agreement, (1) there are no and at the Closing there shall be no other authorized or outstanding Equity Securities of any Group Company; (2) no Equity Securities of any Group Company are subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase such Equity Securities or any other rights with respect to such Equity Securities, and (3) no Group Company is a party or subject to any Contract that affects or relates to the voting or giving of written consents with respect to, or the right to cause the redemption, or repurchase of, any Equity Security of such Group Company. Except as set forth in the Shareholders Agreement, the Company has not granted any registration or information rights to any other Person, nor is the Company obliged to list, any of the Equity Securities of any Group Companies on any securities exchange. Except as contemplated under the Transaction Documents, there are no voting or similar agreements which relate to the share capital or registered capital of any Group Company.
(iii) Issuance and Status. All share capital or registered capital, as the case may be, of each Group Company have been duly and validly issued, are fully paid (or subscribed for) and nonassessable, and are and as of the Closing shall be free of any and all Liens (except for any restrictions on transfer under the Shareholders Agreement and applicable Laws). Except as contemplated under the Transaction Documents, there are no (a) resolutions pending to increase the share capital or registered capital of any Group Company or cause the liquidation, winding up, or dissolution of any Group Company, nor has any distress, execution or other process been levied against any Group Company, (b) dividends which have accrued or been declared but are unpaid by any Group Company, (c) obligations, contingent or otherwise, of any Group Company to repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any Equity Securities, or (d) outstanding or authorized equity appreciation, phantom equity, equity plans or similar rights with respect to any Group Company. All dividends (if any) or distributions (if any) declared, made or paid by each Group Company, and all repurchases and redemptions of Equity Securities of each Group Company (if any), have been declared, made, paid, repurchased or redeemed, as applicable, in accordance with its Charter Documents and all applicable Laws.
(iv) Title. Each Group Company is the sole record and beneficial holder of all of the Equity Securities set forth opposite its name on Section 3.2(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, free and clear of all Liens of any kind other than those arising under applicable Law or as set forth in the Transaction Documents.
3.3 Corporate Structure; Subsidiaries. Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete structure chart showing Group Companies, and indicating the ownership and Control relationships among all Group Companies, the nature of the legal entity which each Group Company constitutes, the jurisdiction in which each Group Company was organized, and each jurisdiction in which each Group Company is required to be qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign Person. No Group Company owns or Controls, or has ever owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, any Equity Security, interest or share in any other Person or is or was a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement. No Group Company is obligated to make any investment in or capital contribution in or on behalf of any other Person.
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3.4 Authorization. The Company has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to carry out and perform its obligations thereunder. The authorization, issuance (or reservation for issuance), sale and delivery of the Shares and the reservation for issuance the Conversion Shares, has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing or at the Closing, as applicable. Each Transaction Document, when executed and delivered, constitutes valid and legally binding obligations of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other Laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) as limited by Laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.
3.5 Valid Issuance of Shares. The Shares, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for the consideration expressed herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free from any Liens (except for any restrictions on transfer under applicable Laws and under the Shareholders Agreement). The Conversion Shares will be reserved at Closing for issuance and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Memorandum and Articles, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free from any Liens (except for any restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws and under the Shareholders Agreement). The issuance of the Shares and the Conversion Shares will not be subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights other than those that have been or will be duly waived prior to or at the Closing, as applicable.
3.6 Consents; No Conflicts. All Consents from or with any Governmental Authority or any other Person required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents by the Company, have been duly obtained or completed (as applicable) and are in full force and effect. The execution, delivery and performance of each Transaction Document by the Company do not, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby will not, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, (i) result in any violation of, be in conflict with, or constitute a default under any provision of any Charter Document of the Company, or (ii) result in any violation of, be in conflict with, or constitute a default under, in any material respect, any Governmental Order or any applicable Law.
3.7 Offering. Subject in part to the accuracy of the Investors’ representations and the Note Holders’ representations set forth in Section 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the offer, sale and issuance of the Shares are, and the issuance of the Conversion Shares will be, exempt from the qualification, registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities Laws.
3.8 Compliance with Laws; Consents.
(i) Each Group Company is, and has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws. To the Company’s Knowledge, no event has occurred and no circumstance exists that (with or without notice or lapse of time) (a) may constitute or result in a violation by any Group Company of, or a failure on the part of such entity to comply with, any applicable Laws in any material respect, or (b) may give rise to any obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature. None of the Group Companies has received any notice from any Governmental Authority regarding any of the foregoing. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Group Company is under investigation with respect to a material violation of any Law.
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(ii) All material Consents from or with the relevant Governmental Authority required in respect of the due and proper establishment and operations of each Group Company as now conducted, including but not limited to the Consents from or with authorities, product registration authorities, and health regulatory authorities and the local counterpart thereof, as applicable (or any predecessors thereof, as applicable), have been duly obtained or completed in accordance with all applicable Laws.
(iii) None of the Group Companies is in default in any material respect under any required Governmental Consent. No Group Company has received any letter or other written communication from any Governmental Authority threatening or providing notice of revocation of any Required Governmental Consent issued to any Group Company or the need for compliance or remedial actions in respect of the activities carried out directly or indirectly by any Group Company.
3.9 Tax Matters.
(i) Each Group Company (a) has timely filed all income and other material Tax Returns that are required to have been filed by it with any Governmental Authority, (b) has timely paid all Taxes owed by it which are due and payable (whether or not shown on any Tax Return), except to the extent any failure to timely pay such Taxes would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Each Tax Return referred to in paragraph (i) above was properly prepared in compliance with applicable Law and was (and will be) true, correct and complete in all material respects. No reporting position was taken on any such Tax Return which has not been disclosed to the appropriate Tax authority or in such Tax Return, as may be required by Law. All records relating to such Tax Returns or to the preparation thereof required by applicable Law to be maintained by applicable Group Company have been duly maintained. No written claim has been made by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the Group does not file Tax Returns that any Group Company is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
(iii) There is no pending dispute with, or notice from, any Tax authority relating to any of the Tax Returns filed by any Group Company, and to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no proposed Liability for a deficiency in any Tax to be imposed upon the properties or assets of any Group Company.
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(iv) No Group Company has been the subject of any examination or investigation by any Tax authority relating to the conduct of its business or the payment or withholding of Taxes that has not been resolved or is currently the subject of any examination or investigation by any Tax authority relating to the conduct of its business or the payment or withholding of Taxes.
(v) [Intentionally Left Blank]
(vi) The Company is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
3.10 Financial Statements. Section 3.10 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the unaudited consolidated balance sheet and statements of operations for the Group as of and for the twelve-months ending December 31, 2018 (the “Annual Statement Date”) and the unaudited consolidated balance sheet (the “Balance Sheet”) and statements of operations for the Group as of and for the 10-month period ending October 31, 2019 (the “Statement Date”) (collectively, the financial statements referred to above, the “Financial Statements”). The Financial Statements (a) have been prepared in accordance with the books and records of the Group, (b) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and position of the Group as of the dates indicated therein and the results of operations of the Group for the periods indicated therein, except in the case of unaudited financial statements for the omission of notes thereto and normal year-end audit adjustments that are not expected to be material, and (c) were prepared in accordance with the Accounting Standards applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.
3.11 Actions. There is no material Action pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting any Group Company or any of its officers, directors or employees with respect to its businesses or proposed business activities, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any officers, directors or employees of any Group Company in connection with such person’s respective relationship with such Group Company. There is no judgment or award unsatisfied against any Group Company, nor is there any Governmental Order in effect and binding on any Group Company or their respective assets or properties. There is no material Action pending by any Group Company against any third party nor does any Group Company intend to commence any such Action. No Governmental Authority has at any time challenged or questioned in writing the legal right of any Group Company to conduct in any material respect its business as presently being conducted.
3.12 Liabilities. No Group Company has any Liabilities of the type required to be disclosed on a balance sheet except for (i) liabilities set forth in the Balance Sheet that have not been satisfied since the Statement Date, and (ii) current liabilities, including payables to vendors, incurred since the Statement Date in the ordinary course of the Group’s business consistent with its past practices and which do not exceed US$4,237,450.78 in the aggregate. Except for the Notes and as set forth in Section 3.12 of the Disclosure Schedule and except for Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of the Group’s business consistent with its past practices, none of the Group Companies has any outstanding Indebtedness. None of the Group Companies is a guarantor or indemnitor of any Liabilities of any other Person (other than a Group Company).
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3.13 Anti-Bribery, Anti-Corruption, Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions; Absence of Government Interests.
(i) Each Group Company and to the Knowledge of the Company, their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and other persons acting on their behalf (collectively, “Representatives”) are and have been in material compliance with all applicable Laws relating to anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, record keeping and internal control laws (collectively, the “Compliance Laws”) including the FCPA as if it were a U.S. Person. Furthermore, no Public Official (i) holds an ownership or other economic interest, direct or indirect, in any of the Group Companies or in the contractual relationship formed by this Agreement, or (ii) serves as an officer, director or employee of any Group Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, neither any Group Company nor any Representative has, directly or indirectly, offered, authorized, promised, condoned, participated in, consummated, or received notice of any allegation of,
(a) the making of any gift or payment of anything of value to any Public Official by any Person to obtain any improper advantage, affect or influence any act or decision of any such Public Official, or assist any Group Company in obtaining or retaining business for, or with, or directing business to, any Person.
(b) the taking of any action by any Person which (i) would violate the FCPA, if taken by an entity subject to the FCPA, or (ii) could reasonably be expected to constitute a violation of any applicable Compliance Law, or
(c) the making of any false or fictitious entries in the books or records of any Group Company by any Person, or
(d) the using of any assets of any Group Company for the establishment of any unlawful or unrecorded fund of monies or other assets, or the making of any unlawful or undisclosed payment.
(ii) No Group Company or any of its Representatives has ever been found by a Governmental Authority to have violated any criminal or securities Law or is subject to any indictment or any government investigation for bribery. None of the beneficial owners of any Equity Securities or other interest in any Group Company or the current or former Representatives of any Group Company are or were Public Officials.
(iii) No Group Company or any of its Representatives is a Prohibited Person, and no Prohibited Person will be given an offer to become an employee, officer, consultant or director of any Group Company. No Group Company has conducted or agreed to conduct any business, or entered into or agreed to enter into any transaction with a Prohibited Person.
(iv) If the Group Companies have beneficial owners or Representatives who are Public Officials, to the Knowledge of the Company, no such Public Official has been involved on behalf of a Governmental Authority in decisions as to whether any Group Company or the Investors or the Note Holders would be awarded business or that otherwise could benefit any Group Company or the Investors or the Note Holders, or in the appointment, promotion, or compensation of persons who will make such decisions.
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3.14 Related Party Transactions. Other than as set forth in Section 3.14 of the Disclosure Schedule, no Related Party has any Contract with, or is indebted to, any Group Company or has any direct or indirect interest in any Group Company (other than as set forth in Section 3.2(i) of the Disclosure Schedule), nor is any Group Company indebted (or committed to make loans or extend or guarantee credit) to any Related Party (other than for accrued salaries for the current pay period, reimbursable expenses or other standard employee benefits). No Related Party has any direct or indirect interest in any Person with which a Group Company is affiliated or with which a Group Company has a material business relationship (including any Person which purchases from or sells, licenses or furnishes to a Group Company any goods, intellectual or other property rights or services) or in any Contract to which a Group Company is a party or by which it may be bound or affected, and no Related Party directly or indirectly competes with or has any interest in any Person that directly or indirectly competes with any Group Company (other than ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the stock of publicly traded companies), in each case except for as specifically disclosed in Section 3.14 of the Disclosure Schedule.
3.15 Intellectual Property Rights.
(i) Company IP. Each Group Company owns or otherwise has sufficient rights (including but not limited to the rights of development, maintenance, licensing and sale) to all Intellectual Property necessary and sufficient to conduct its Business (“Company IP”) without any conflict with or infringement of the rights of any other Person. Section 3.15(i) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Company Registered IP for each Group Company.
(ii) IP Ownership. All Company Registered IP is owned by a Group Company, is valid and subsisting and has not been abandoned, and all necessary registration, maintenance and renewal fees with respect thereto and currently due have been satisfied. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Group Company or any of its employees, officers or directors has taken any actions or failed to take any actions that would cause any Company Owned IP to be invalid, unenforceable or not subsisting. No Group Company is or has been a member or promoter of, or contributor to, any industry standards bodies, patent pooling organizations or similar organizations that could require or obligate a Group Company to grant or offer to any Person any license or right to any material Company Owned IP. No Company Owned IP is subject to any proceeding or outstanding Governmental Order or settlement agreement or stipulation that (a) restricts in any manner the use, transfer or licensing thereof, or the making, using, sale, or offering for sale of any Group Company’s products or services, by any Group Company or (b) may affect the validity, use or enforceability of such Company Owned IP. No Group Company has (a) transferred or assigned any material Company Owned IP to any other Person; (b) authorized the joint ownership of other Person in any material Company Owned IP; or (c) permitted the rights of any Group Company in any material Company Owned IP to lapse or enter into the public domain.
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(iii) Infringement, Misappropriation and Claims. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Group Company has misappropriated, or to the Knowledge of the Company, violated, or infringed in any material respect any Intellectual Property of any other Person, nor has any Group Company received any written notice alleging any of the foregoing. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person has violated, infringed or misappropriated any material Company Owned IP of any Group Company, and no Group Company has given any written notice to any other Person alleging any of the foregoing. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person has challenged the ownership or use of any material Company IP by a Group Company. No Group Company has agreed to indemnify any Person for any infringement, violation or misappropriation of any Intellectual Property by such Person.
(iv) Assignments and Prior IP. All material inventions and material know-how conceived by employees of a Group Company related to the Business of such Group Company are currently owned exclusively by a Group Company. All employees, contractors, agents and consultants of a Group Company who are or were involved in the creation of any material Intellectual Property for such Group Company have executed an assignment of inventions agreement that vests in a Group Company exclusive ownership of all right, title and interest in and to such Intellectual Property, to the extent not already provided by Law. All employee inventors of Company Owned IP have received reasonable reward and remunerations from a Group Company for his/her service inventions or service technology achievements in accordance with the applicable laws. To the Knowledge of the Company, it will not be necessary to utilize any Intellectual Property of any such Persons made prior to their employment by a Group Company, except for those that are exclusively owned by a Group Company, and none of such Intellectual Property has been utilized by any Group Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the employees, consultants or independent contractors, currently or previously employed or otherwise engaged by any Group Company, (a) is in violation of any current or prior confidentiality, non-competition or non-solicitation obligations to such Group Company or to any other Persons, including former employers, or (b) is obligated under any Contract, or subject to any Governmental Order, that would interfere with the use of his or her best efforts to promote the interests of the Group Companies or that would conflict with the business of such Group Company as presently conducted.
(v) Licenses. Section 3.15(v) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of the following (collectively, the “Licenses”): (a) all licenses, sublicenses, and other Contracts to which any Group Company is a party and pursuant to which any third party is authorized to use, exercise or receive any benefit from any material Company IP, and (b) all licenses, sublicenses and other Contracts to which any Group Company is a party and pursuant to which such Group Company is authorized to use, exercise, or receive any benefit from any material Intellectual Property of another Person, in each case except for (1) agreements involving “off-the-shelf” commercially available software, and (2) non-exclusive licenses to customers of the Business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
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(vi) Protection of IP. Each Group Company has taken reasonable and appropriate steps to protect, maintain and safeguard material Company Owned IP and made all applicable filings, registrations and payments of fees in connection with the foregoing. Without limiting the foregoing, to the Knowledge of the Company, all current and former officers, employees, consultants and independent contractors of any Group Company and all suppliers, customers, distributors, and other third parties having access to any material Company IP have executed and delivered to such Group Company an agreement requiring the protection of such Company IP. To the extent that any material Company IP has been developed or created independently or jointly by an independent contractor or other third party for any Group Company, or is incorporated into any products or services of any Group Company, such Group Company has a written agreement with such independent contractor or third party and has thereby obtained ownership of, and is the exclusive owner of all such independent contractor’s or third party’s Intellectual Property in such work, material or invention by operation of law or valid assignment.
3.16 Labor and Employment Matters.
(i) Each Group Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws related to labor or employment, including provisions thereof relating to wages, hours, working conditions, benefits, retirement, social welfare, equal opportunity and collective bargaining. There is not pending or to the Knowledge of the Company threatened, and there has not been in the last three (3) years, any Action relating to the violation or alleged violation of any applicable Laws by any Group Company related to labor or employment, including any charge or complaint filed by an employee with any Governmental Authority or any Group Company.
(ii) Section 3.16(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of each Benefit Plan currently or previously adopted, maintained, or contributed to by any Group Company or under which any Group Company has any Liability or under which any employee or former employee of any Group Company has any present or future right to benefits.
3.17 Entire Business. No Group Company provides any facilities, operational services, assets or properties to any other entity which is not a Group Company.
3.18 [Intentionally Left Blank]
4. Representations and Warranties of the Investors. Each Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company, severally and not jointly, that:
4.1 Authorization. Such Investor has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to carry out and perform its obligations thereunder. All action on the part of such Investor (and, as applicable, its officers, directors and shareholders) necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and the performance of all obligations of such Investor thereunder, has been taken or will be taken prior to or at the Closing, as applicable. Each Transaction Document that has been duly executed and delivered by such Investor (to the extent such Investor is a party), constitutes valid and legally binding obligations of such Investor, enforceable against such Investor in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other Laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) as limited by Laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.
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4.2 Purchase for Own Account. The Shares and the Conversion Shares will be acquired for such Investor’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to or in connection with the sale or distribution of any part thereof, and that the Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this Agreement, the Investor further represents that the Investor does not presently have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Shares and the Conversion Shares. The Investor has not been formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares and the Conversion Shares.
4.3 Status of Investor. Such Investor is either (i) an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Rule 501 of Regulation D, as presently in effect, under the Securities Act, or (ii) not a “U.S. person” as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S of the Securities Act. Such Investor has the knowledge, sophistication and experience necessary to make an investment decision like that involved in the purchase of the applicable Shares and can bear the economic risk of its investment in the Shares. Such Investor represents that by reason of its, or of its management’s, business or financial experience, such Investor has the capacity to protect its own interests in connection with the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents. Further, such Investor is aware of no publication of any advertisement in connection with the transactions contemplated in the Agreement.
4.4 Disclosure of Information. Such Investor has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. Such Investor has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.
4.5 Restricted Securities. Such Investor understands that the Shares and the Conversion Shares are restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act; and that the Shares and the Conversion Shares are not registered or listed publicly and must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered or listed publicly or an exemption from such registration or listing is available. Such Investor understands that the Company has no present intention of registering the Shares or the Conversion Shares. Such Investor also understands that there is no assurance that any exemption from registration under the Securities Act will be available and that, even if available, such exemption may not allow the Investor to transfer all or any portion of the Shares or the Conversion Shares under the circumstances, in the amounts or at the times the Investor might propose.
4.6 No Brokers. Neither such Investor nor any of its Affiliates has any Contract with any broker, finder or similar agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by any of the Transaction Documents, and none of them has incurred any Liability for any brokerage fees, agents’ fees, commissions or finders’ fees in connection with any of the Transaction Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein.
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4.7 Legends. Such Investor understands that the Shares and the Conversion Shares, may be notated with one or all of the following legends:
(i) “THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”
(ii) Any legend set forth in, or required by, the other Transaction Agreements.
(iii) Any legend required by the securities laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Shares and the Conversion Shares represented by the certificate, instrument, or book entry so legended.
4.8 No General Solicitation. Neither the Investor, nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, stockholders or partners has either directly or indirectly, including, through a broker or finder (a) engaged in any general solicitation, or (b) published any advertisement in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
4.10 Residence. If the Investor is an individual, then the Investor resides in the state or province identified in the address of Investor set forth on Schedule III; if the Investor is a partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity, then the office or offices of Investor in which its investment decision was made is located at the address or addresses of the Investor set forth on Schedule III.
4.11 Transfer Restrictions. Each Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares and, if issued, the Conversion Shares are subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Shareholders Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of the Note Holders. Each Note Holder hereby represents and warrants to the Company, severally and not jointly, that:
5.1 Authorization. Such Note Holder has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to carry out and perform its obligations thereunder. All action on the part of such Note Holder (and, as applicable, its officers, directors and shareholders) necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and the performance of all obligations of such Note Holder thereunder, has been taken or will be taken prior to or at the Closing, as applicable. Each Transaction Document that has been duly executed and delivered by such Note Holder (to the extent such Note Holder is a party), constitutes valid and legally binding obligations of such Note Holder, enforceable against such Note Holder in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other Laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) as limited by Laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.
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5.2 Purchase for Own Account. The Shares and the Conversion Shares will be acquired for such Note Holder ’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to or in connection with the sale or distribution of any part thereof, and that the Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this Agreement, the Note Holder further represents that the Note Holder does not presently have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Shares and the Conversion Shares. The Note Holder has not been formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares and the Conversion Shares.
5.3 Status of Note Holder. Such Note Holder is either (i) an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Rule 501 of Regulation D, as presently in effect, under the Securities Act, or (ii) not a “U.S. person” as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S of the Securities Act. Such Note Holder has the knowledge, sophistication and experience necessary to make an investment decision like that involved in the purchase of the applicable Shares and can bear the economic risk of its investment in the Shares. Such Note Holder represents that by reason of its, or of its management’s, business or financial experience, such Note Holder has the capacity to protect its own interests in connection with the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents. Further, such Note Holder is aware of no publication of any advertisement in connection with the transactions contemplated in the Agreement.
5.4 Disclosure of Information. Such Note Holder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. Such Note Holder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.
5.5 Restricted Securities. Such Note Holder understands that the Shares and the Conversion Shares are restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act; and that the Shares and the Conversion Shares are not registered or listed publicly and must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered or listed publicly or an exemption from such registration or listing is available. Such Note Holder understands that the Company has no present intention of registering the Shares or the Conversion Shares. Such Note Holder also understands that there is no assurance that any exemption from registration under the Securities Act will be available and that, even if available, such exemption may not allow the Note Holder to transfer all or any portion of the Shares or the Conversion Shares under the circumstances, in the amounts or at the times the Note Holder might propose.
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5.6 No Brokers. Neither such Note Holder nor any of its Affiliates has any Contract with any broker, finder or similar agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by any of the Transaction Documents, and none of them has incurred any Liability for any brokerage fees, agents’ fees, commissions or finders’ fees in connection with any of the Transaction Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein.
5.7 Legends. Such Note Holder understands that the Shares and the Conversion Shares, may be notated with one or all of the following legends:
(i) “THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”
(ii) Any legend set forth in, or required by, the other Transaction Agreements.
(iii) Any legend required by the securities laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Shares and the Conversion Shares represented by the certificate, instrument, or book entry so legended.
5.8 No General Solicitation. Neither the Note Holder, nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, stockholders or partners has either directly or indirectly, including, through a broker or finder (a) engaged in any general solicitation, or (b) published any advertisement in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
5.10 Residence. If the Note Holder is an individual, then the Note Holder resides in the state or province identified in the address of Note Holder set forth on Schedule III; if the Note Holder is a partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity, then the office or offices of Note Holder in which its investment decision was made is located at the address or addresses of the Note Holder set forth on Schedule III.
5.11 Transfer Restrictions. Each Note Holder acknowledges and agrees that the Shares and, if issued, the Conversion Shares are subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Shareholders Agreement.
5.12 Consent to Promissory Note Conversion and Termination. Each Note Holder, hereby agrees that the entire amount owed to such Note Holder under such note is being tendered to the Company in exchange for the applicable Shares set forth on the Schedule of Note Holders, and effective upon the Company’s and such Note Holder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement, without any further action required by the Company or such Note Holder, such note and all obligations set forth therein shall be immediately deemed repaid in full and terminated in their entirety, including, but not limited to, any security interest effected therein.
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6. Conditions of the Investors’ and Note Holders’ Obligations at the Closing. The obligations of each Investor and the Note Holders to consummate the Closing under Section 2 of this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, to the satisfaction of such Investor or such Note Holder on or prior to the Closing, or waiver by such Investor or such Note Holders, of the following conditions:
6.1 Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3 shall have been true and complete when made and shall be true and complete in all material respects on and as of the Closing with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such Closing, except in either case for those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which representations will have been true and complete as of such particular date.
6.2 Performance. The Company shall have performed and complied with all obligations and conditions contained in the Transaction Documents that are required to be performed or complied with by them on or before the Closing.
6.3 Authorizations. All Consents of any competent Governmental Authority or of any other Person that are required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (including but not limited to those related to the lawful issuance and sale of the Shares, and any waivers of notice requirements, rights of first refusal, preemptive rights, put or call rights), including necessary board and shareholder approvals of the Company, shall have been duly obtained and effective as of the Closing, and evidence thereof shall have been delivered to the Investors and the Note Holders as it may reasonably request.
6.4 Proceedings and Documents. All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions to be completed at the Closing and all documents incident thereto with respect to this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, shall have been completed in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Investors and Note Holders, and each Investor and Note Holder shall have received all such counterpart original or other copies of such documents as it may reasonably request.
6.5 Memorandum and Articles. The Memorandum and Articles, in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2, respectively, shall have been duly adopted by all necessary action of the Board of Directors and/or the members of the Company, and such adoption shall have become effective prior to the Closing with no alternation or amendment as of the Closing.
6.6 Transaction Documents. Each of the parties to the Transaction Documents, other than the Investors and the Note Holders, shall have executed and delivered such Transaction Documents to the Investors and the Note Holders.
6.7 [Intentionally Left Blank]
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7. Conditions of the Company’s Obligations at Closing. The obligations of the Company owed to each Investor and each Note Holder to consummate the Closing under Section 2 of this Agreement, unless otherwise waived in writing by the Company, are subject to the fulfillment on or before the Closing of each of the following conditions:
7.1 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of such Investor contained in Section 4 and 5 shall have been true and complete when made and shall be true and complete on and as of the Closing with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of the Closing, except in either case for those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which representations will have been true and complete as of such particular date.
7.2 Performance. Such Investor shall have performed and complied with all covenants, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by such Investor on or before the Closing.
7.3 Execution of Transaction Documents. Such Investor shall have executed and delivered to the Company the Transaction Documents, to which such Investor is a party.
7.4 Surrender of Notes. Each Note Holder shall have surrendered all Notes held by such Note Holder, or lost note affidavits, to the Company for cancellation.
8. Other Agreements.
8.1 Confidentiality. The terms and conditions of the Transaction Documents (collectively, the “Financing Terms”), including their existence, shall be considered confidential information and shall not be disclosed by any of the Parties to any other Person except that (i) each Party, as appropriate, may disclose any of the Financing Terms to its current or bona fide prospective investors, employees, investment bankers, lenders, accountants and attorneys, in each case only where such Persons are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations; (ii) each Investor may disclose any of the Financing Terms to its fund manager and the employees thereof so long as such Persons are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations; and (iii) if any Party is requested or becomes legally compelled (including without limitation, pursuant to securities Laws) to disclose the existence or content of any of the Financing Terms in contravention of the provisions of this Section, such Party shall promptly provide the other Parties with written notice of that fact so that such other Parties may seek a protective order, confidential treatment or other appropriate remedy and in any event shall furnish only that portion of the information that is legally required and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such information.
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 Further Assurances. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein, each of the Parties hereto agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken all action, to do or cause to be done, to execute such further instruments, and to assist and cooperate with the other Parties hereto in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws or otherwise to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (it being understood that no Party shall be obligated to grant any waiver of any condition or other waiver hereunder).
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9.2 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the Parties hereto whose rights or obligations hereunder are affected by such terms and conditions. This Agreement and the rights and obligations therein may not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the Investors. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any Party other than the Parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
9.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the Laws of Hong Kong, without regard to principles of conflict of Laws thereunder.
9.4 Dispute Resolution.
(i) Any dispute, controversy or claim (each, a “Dispute”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation, breach, termination, validity or invalidity thereof, shall be referred to arbitration upon the demand of either party to the dispute with notice (the “Arbitration Notice”) to the other.
(ii) The Dispute shall be settled by arbitration in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “HKIAC”) in accordance with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules (the “HKIAC Rules”) in force when the Arbitration Notice is submitted in accordance with the HKIAC Rules. There shall be one (1) arbitrator. The HKIAC Council shall select the arbitrator, who shall be qualified to practice law in Hong Kong.
(iii) The arbitral proceedings shall be conducted in English. To the extent that the HKIAC Rules are in conflict with the provisions of this Section, including the provisions concerning the appointment of the arbitrators, the provisions of this Section shall prevail.
(iv) Each party to the arbitration shall cooperate with each other party to the arbitration in making full disclosure of and providing complete access to all information and documents requested by such other party in connection with such arbitral proceedings, subject only to any confidentiality obligations binding on such party.
(v) The award of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding upon the parties thereto, and the prevailing party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award.
(vi) The arbitral tribunal shall decide any Dispute submitted by the parties to the arbitration strictly in accordance with the substantive Laws of Hong Kong (without regard to principles of conflict of Laws thereunder) and shall not apply any other substantive Law.
(vii) Any party to the Dispute shall be entitled to seek preliminary injunctive relief, if possible, from any court of competent jurisdiction pending the constitution of the arbitral tribunal.
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(viii) During the course of the arbitral tribunal’s adjudication of the Dispute, this Agreement shall continue to be performed except with respect to the part in dispute and under adjudication.
9.5 Notices. Any notice required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be given either personally or by sending it by next-day or second-day courier service, fax, electronic mail or similar means to the address of the relevant Party as shown on Schedule III (or at such other address as such Party may designate by fifteen (15) days’ advance written notice to the other Parties to this Agreement given in accordance with this Section). Where a notice is sent by next-day or second-day courier service, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and sending by next-day or second-day service through an internationally-recognized courier a letter containing the notice, with a written confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected at the earlier of (i) delivery (or when delivery is refused) and (ii) expiration of two (2) Business Days after the letter containing the same is sent as aforesaid. Where a notice is sent by fax or electronic mail, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, and sending such notice through a transmitting organization, with a written confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected on the day the same is sent as aforesaid, if such day is a Business Day and if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, otherwise the next Business Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a “with a copy to” address is designated, notice must also be given to such address in the manner above for such notice, request, consent or other communication hereunder to be effective.
9.6 Rights Cumulative; Specific Performance. Each and all of the various rights, powers and remedies of a party hereto will be considered to be cumulative with and in addition to any other rights, powers and remedies which such Party may have at Law or in equity in the event of the breach of any of the terms of this Agreement. The exercise or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy will neither constitute the exclusive election thereof nor the waiver of any other right, power or remedy available to such Party. Without limiting the foregoing, the Parties hereto acknowledge and agree irreparable harm may occur for which money damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
9.7 Fees and Expenses. Each of the parties hereto shall bear its own costs and expenses in connection with the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. If any action at Law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.
9.8 [Intentionally Left Blank]
9.9 Severability. In case any provision of the Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. If, however, any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable under any such applicable Law in any jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be deemed modified to conform to the minimum requirements of such Law, or, if for any reason it is not deemed so modified, it shall be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality, or limitation on enforceability without affecting the remaining provisions of this Agreement, or the validity, legality, or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
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9.10 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended, only with the written consent of each of (i) the Company, and (ii) the Investors and the Note Holders that shall hold at least a majority of Shares immediately after the Closing. Any amendment effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each of the Parties hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the Party against whom such waiver is sought.
9.11 No Waiver. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof will not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor will any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right, power or remedy power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right, power or remedy at any other time or times.
9.12 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting Party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any Party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing.
9.13 No Presumption. The Parties acknowledge that any applicable Law that would require interpretation of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the Party that drafted it has no application and is expressly waived. If any claim is made by a Party relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in the provisions of this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion will be implied because this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of any Party or its counsel.
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9.14 Headings and Subtitles; Interpretation. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement. Unless a provision hereof expressly provides otherwise: (i) the term “or” is not exclusive; (ii) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular; (iii) the terms “herein”, “hereof”, and other similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, subsection, paragraph, clause, or other subdivision; (iv) the term “including” will be deemed to be followed by, “but not limited to”, (v) the masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will each be deemed to include the others; (vi) the terms “shall”, “will”, and “agrees” are mandatory, and the term “may” is permissive; (vii) the term “day” means “calendar day”, and “month” means calendar month, (viii) all references in this Agreement to designated “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Sections and other subdivisions of the body of this Agreement, (ix) all references in this Agreement to designated Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices are to the Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices attached to this Agreement, (x) the phrase “directly or indirectly” means directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediate Persons or through contractual or other arrangements, and “direct or indirect” has the correlative meaning, (xi) references to laws include any such law modifying, re enacting, extending or made pursuant to the same or which is modified, re enacted, or extended by the same or pursuant to which the same is made, (xii) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned under the Accounting Standards, (xiii) pronouns of either gender or neuter shall include, as appropriate, the other pronoun forms, (xiv) references to this Agreement, any other Transaction Documents and any other document shall be construed as references to such document as the same may be amended, supplemented or novated from time to time, and (xv) all references to dollars or to “US$” are to currency of the United States of America and all references to RMB are to currency of the PRC (and each shall be deemed to include reference to the equivalent amount in other currencies).
9.15 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile and e-mailed copies of signatures shall be deemed to be originals for purposes of the effectiveness of this Agreement.
9.16 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Transaction Documents, together with all schedules and exhibits hereto and thereto, constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement among the Parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof, and supersede all other agreements between or among any of the Parties with respect to the subject matters hereof and thereof.
9.17 Use of English Language. This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the English language. Any translation of this Agreement into another language shall have no interpretive effect.
[The remainder of this page has been left intentionally blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
COMPANY: | Belite Bio, Inc | ||
By: | /s/ Tom Lin | ||
Name: | Tom Lin | ||
Title: | Director |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS:
By: | /s/ Cheng-Chao Sung | ||
Name: | Cheng-Chao Sung | ||
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS:
By: | /s/ Sen-Tai Chen | ||
Name: | Sen-Tai Chen | ||
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS:
By: | /s/ Tzu-An Chang | ||
Name: | Tzu-An Chang | ||
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS and NOTE HOLDERS:
By: | /s/ Yun-Ju Huang | ||
Name: | Yun-Ju Huang | ||
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS:
By: | /s/ Cheng-Han Huang | ||
Name: | Cheng-Han Huang | ||
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS:
By: | /s/ Lijie Chen | ||
Name: | Lijie Chen | ||
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS:
By: | /s/ Jingwen Sun | ||
Name: | Jingwen Sun | ||
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS:
By: | /s/ Baiqing Sun | ||
Name: | Baiqing Sun | ||
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
NOTE HOLDERS:
H&D Asset Management Co., Ltd. | |||
By: | /s/ Chu, Ping-Yu | ||
Name: | Chu, Ping-Yu | ||
Title: | Legal Representative | ||
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF NOTE HOLDERS
[Share Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE II
SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS
[Share Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE III
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES
[Share Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE IV
LIST OF KEY EMPLOYEES
[Share Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE V
BANK ACCOUNT
[Share Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE VI
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE
[Share Purchase Agreement]
EXHIBIT A-1
FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
[Share Purchase Agreement]
EXHIBIT A-2
FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
[Share Purchase Agreement]
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
[Share Purchase Agreement]
Exhibit 10.6
SERIES B PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS SERIES B PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into on December 23, 2020 by and among:
1. | Belite Bio, Inc, an exempted company organized under the Laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), and |
2. | each of the Persons listed on Schedule I attached hereto (each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”). |
Each of the parties to this Agreement is referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.
RECITALS
A. | The Company is engaged in the business of drug development (the “Business”). The Company seeks expansion capital to grow the Business and, correspondingly, seeks to secure an investment from the Investors, on the terms and conditions set forth herein. |
B. | The Investors wish to invest in the Company by subscribing for Series B Preferred Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and the Company wishes to issue and sell Series B Preferred Shares to the Investors pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement. |
C. | The Parties desire to enter into this Agreement and make the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein on the terms and conditions set forth herein. |
WITNESSETH
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties intending to be legally bound hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
1.1 Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them below:
“Accounting Standards” means International Financial Reporting Standards as promulgated from time to time by the International Accounting Standards Board (the “IASB”) (including, without limitation, standards and interpretations approved by the IASB and International Accounting Principles issued under previous constitutions thereof), together with the IASB’s pronouncements thereon from time to time, applied on a consistent basis.
“Action” means any charge, claim, action, complaint, petition, investigation, appeal, suit, litigation, grievance, inquiry or other proceeding, whether administrative, civil, regulatory or criminal, whether at law or in equity, or otherwise under any applicable Law, and whether or not before any mediator, arbitrator or Governmental Authority.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such Person. In the case of an Investor, the term “Affiliate” also includes (v) any Controlling shareholder of the Investor, (w) any of such shareholder’s or Investors’ general partners or limited partners, (x) the fund manager managing such shareholder or Investor (and general partners, limited partners and officers thereof) and other funds managed by such fund manager, and (y) trusts controlled by or for the benefit of any such Person referred to in (v), (w) or (x).
“Associate” means, with respect to any Person, (1) a corporation or organization (other than the Group Companies) of which such Person is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the record or beneficial owner of ten (10) percent or more of any class of Equity Securities of such corporation or organization, (2) any trust or other estate in which such Person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar capacity, or (3) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse.
“Benefit Plan” means any employment Contract, deferred compensation Contract, bonus plan, incentive plan, profit sharing plan, mandatory provident scheme, occupational retirement scheme, retirement Contract or other employment compensation Contract or any other plan which provides or provided benefits for any past or present employee, officer, consultant, and/or director of a Person or with respect to which contributions are or have been made on account of any past or present employee, officer, consultant, and/or director of such a Person.
“Board” or “Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday or other day on which commercial banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in the PRC, Taiwan, or the United States.
“CFC” means a controlled foreign corporation as defined in the Code.
“Charter Documents” means, with respect to a particular legal entity, the articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, formation or registration (including, if applicable, certificates of change of name), memorandum of association, articles of association, bylaws, articles of organization, limited liability company agreement, trust deed, trust instrument, operating agreement, joint venture agreement, business license, or similar or other constitutive, governing, or charter documents, or equivalent documents, of such entity.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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“Company Owned IP” means all Intellectual Property owned by, purported to be owned by, or exclusively licensed to, the Group Companies.
“Company Registered IP” means all Intellectual Property for which registrations are owned by or held in the name of, or for which applications have been made in the name of, any Group Company.
“Consent” means any consent, approval, authorization, release, waiver, permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, exemption or order of, registration, certificate, declaration or filing with, or report or notice to, any Person, including any Governmental Authority.
“Contract” means a contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, loan, instrument, lease, mortgage, franchise, license, commitment, purchase order, and other legally binding arrangement, whether written or oral.
“Control” of a given Person means the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise; provided, that such power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person. The terms “Controlled” and “Controlling” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Conversion Shares” means Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of any Shares.
“Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person that is a legal entity, any and all shares of capital stock, membership interests, units, profits interests, ownership interests, equity interests, registered capital, and other equity securities of such Person, and any right, warrant, option, call, commitment, conversion privilege, preemptive right or other right to acquire any of the foregoing, or security convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for any of the foregoing.
“FCPA” means Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of the United States of America, as amended from time to time.
“Governmental Authority” means any government of any nation, federation, province or state or any other political subdivision thereof, any entity, authority or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including any governmental authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality of the PRC or any other country, or any political subdivision thereof, any court, tribunal or arbitrator, and any self-regulatory organization.
“Governmental Order” means any applicable order, ruling, decision, verdict, decree, writ, subpoena, mandate, precept, command, directive, consent, approval, award, judgment, injunction or other similar determination or finding by, before or under the supervision of any Governmental Authority.
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“Group Company” means the Company, together with its Subsidiary of any of the foregoing, and “Group” refers to all of Group Companies collectively.
“Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, each of the following of such Person: (i) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business), (iii) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (iv) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced that are incurred in connection with the acquisition of properties, assets or businesses, (v) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (vi) all obligations that are capitalized (including capitalized lease obligations), (vii) all obligations under banker’s acceptance, letter of credit or similar facilities, (viii) all obligations to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise acquire for value any Equity Securities of such Person, (ix) all obligations in respect of any interest rate swap, hedge or cap agreement, and (x) all guarantees issued in respect of the Indebtedness referred to in clauses (i) through (ix) above of any other Person, but only to the extent of the Indebtedness guaranteed.
“Intellectual Property” means any and all (i) patents, patent rights and applications therefor and reissues, reexaminations, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, and patent term extensions thereof, (ii) inventions (whether patentable or not), discoveries, improvements, concepts, innovations and industrial models, (iii) registered and unregistered copyrights, copyright registrations and applications, mask works and registrations and applications therefor, author’s rights and works of authorship (including artwork, software, computer programs, source code, object code and executable code, firmware, development tools, files, records and data, and related documentation), (iv) URLs, web sites, web pages and any part thereof, (v) technical information, know-how, trade secrets, drawings, designs, design protocols, specifications, proprietary data, customer lists, databases, proprietary processes, technology, formulae, and algorithms and other intellectual property, (vi) trade names, trade dress, trademarks, domain names, service marks, logos, business names, and registrations and applications therefor, and (vii) the goodwill symbolized or represented by the foregoing.
“Key Employee” means all employees of the Group Companies listed on Schedule III.
“Knowledge” means, with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of any of the Key Employees, and that knowledge which should have been acquired by each such individual after making such due inquiry and exercising such due diligence as a prudent business person would have made or exercised in the management of his or her business affairs.
4 | Share Purchase Agreement |
“Law” or “Laws” means any and all provisions of any applicable constitution, treaty, statute, law, regulation, ordinance, code, rule, or rule of common law, any governmental approval, concession, grant, franchise, license, agreement, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority, in each case as amended, and any and all applicable Governmental Orders.
“Liabilities” means, with respect to any Person, all liabilities, obligations and commitments of such Person of any nature, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to become due.
“Lien” means any claim, charge, easement, encumbrance, lease, covenant, security interest, lien, option, pledge, rights of others, or restriction (whether on voting, sale, transfer, disposition or otherwise), whether imposed by Contract, understanding, law, equity or otherwise.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any (i) event, occurrence, fact, condition, change or development that has had, has, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or together with other events, occurrences, facts, conditions, changes or developments, a material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, employees, operations, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, assets or liabilities of the Group taken as a whole, (ii) material impairment of the ability of any Party (other than the Investors) to perform the material obligations of such party under any Transaction Documents, or (iii) material impairment of the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document against any Party hereto or thereto (other than the Investors).
“Memorandum and Articles” means the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company and the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company attached hereto as Exhibits A-1 and Exhibit A-2, respectively, to be adopted in accordance with applicable Law on or before the Closing.
“MOFCOM” means the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC or, with respect to any matter to be submitted for examination and approval by the Ministry of Commerce, any Governmental Authority which is delegated or authorized by the Ministry of Commerce to examine and approve such matter under the laws of the PRC.
“Ordinary Shares” means the Company’s ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share.
“Permitted Liens” means (i) Liens for Taxes not yet delinquent or the validity of which are being contested in good faith and for which there are adequate reserves on the applicable financial statements, and (ii) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business, which (x) do not individually or in the aggregate materially detract from the value, use, or transferability of the assets that are subject to such Liens, and (y) were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, association, limited liability company, firm, trust, estate or other enterprise or entity.
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“PFIC” means a passive foreign investment company as defined in the Code.
“PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, but solely for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, excluding Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and the islands of Taiwan.
“Preferred Shares” means the Series A Preferred Shares and the Series B Preferred Shares.
“Prohibited Person” means any Person that is (1) a national or resident of any U.S. embargoed or restricted country, (2) included on, or Affiliated with any Person on, the United States Commerce Department’s Denied Parties List, Entities and Unverified Lists; the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals, Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers or Specially Designated Terrorists, or the Annex to Executive Order No. 13224; the Department of State’s Debarred List; UN Sanctions, (3) a member of any PRC military organization, or (4) a Person with whom business transactions, including exports and re-exports, are restricted by a U.S. Governmental Authority, including, in each clause above, any updates or revisions to the foregoing and any newly published rules.
“Public Official” means any executive, official, or employee of a Governmental Authority, political party or member of a political party, political candidate; executive, employee or officer of a public international organization; or director, officer or employee or agent of a wholly owned or partially state-owned or controlled enterprise.
“Related Party” means any Affiliate, officer, director, supervisory board member, employee, or holder of any Equity Security of any Group Company, and any Affiliate or Associate of any of the foregoing.
“SAFE” means the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC.
“SAMR” means the State Administration for Market Regulation of the PRC or, with respect to the issuance of any business license or filing or registration to be effected by or with the State Administration for Market Regulation, any Governmental Authority which is similarly competent to issue such business license or accept such filing or registration under the laws of the PRC.
“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended and interpreted from time to time.
“Series A Preferred Shares” means the Series A Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share, with the rights and privileges as set forth in the Memorandum and Articles.
“Series B Preferred Shares” means the Series B Preferred Shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share, with the rights and privileges as set forth in the Memorandum and Articles.
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“Shareholders Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement to be entered into by and among the parties named therein on or prior to the Closing, which shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
“Social Insurance” means any form of social insurance required under applicable Laws, including without limitation, the PRC national and local contributions for pensions, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, work-related injury insurance, pregnancy benefits, and housing accumulation funds.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any given Person, any other Person that is Controlled directly or indirectly by such given Person.
“Tax” means (i) in the PRC: (a) any national, provincial, municipal, or local taxes, charges, fees, levies, or other assessments, including, without limitation, all net income (including enterprise income tax and individual income withholding tax), turnover (including value-added tax, business tax, and consumption tax), resource (including urban and township land use tax), special purpose (including land value-added tax, urban maintenance and construction tax, and additional education fees), property (including urban real estate tax and land use fees), documentation (including stamp duty and deed tax), filing, recording, social insurance (including pension, medical, unemployment, housing, and other social insurance withholding), tariffs (including import duty and import value-added tax), and estimated and provisional taxes, charges, fees, levies, or other assessments of any kind whatsoever, (b) all interest, penalties (administrative, civil or criminal), or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Authority in connection with any item described in clause (a) above, and (c) any form of transferee liability imposed by any Governmental Authority in connection with any item described in clauses (a) and (b) above and (ii) in any jurisdiction other than the PRC: all similar liabilities as described in clause (i)(a) and (i)(b) above.
“Tax Return” means any return, report or statement showing Taxes, used to pay Taxes, or required to be filed with respect to any Tax (including any elections, declarations, schedules or attachments thereto, and any amendment thereof), including any information return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated or provisional Tax.
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, the Memorandum and Articles, and each of the other agreements and documents otherwise required in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing.
“U.S. real property holding corporation” has the meaning as defined in the Code.
1.2 Other Defined Terms. The following terms shall have the meanings defined for such terms in the Sections set forth below:
Agreement | Preamble |
Arbitration Notice | Section 8.4(i) |
Annual Statement Date | Section 3.10 |
Balance Sheet | Section 3.10 |
Business | Preamble |
Closing | Section 2.2(i) |
Company | Preamble |
Company IP | Section 3.15(i) |
Compliance Laws | Section 3.13(i) |
Disclosure Schedule | Section 3 |
Dispute | Section 8.4(i) |
ESOP | Section 3.2(i) |
Financial Statements | Section 3.10 |
HKIAC | Section 8.4(ii) |
HKIAC Rules | Section 8.4(ii) |
Investor/Investors | Preamble |
Licenses | Section 3.15(v) |
Party/Parties | Preamble |
Principal | Preamble |
Purchase Price | Section 2.1 |
Representatives | Section 3.13(i) |
SEC | Section 4.3 |
Shares | Section 2.1 |
Statement Date | Section 3.10 |
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2. Purchase and Sale of Shares.
2.1 Sale and Issuance of the Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing (as defined below), each Investor, severally and not jointly, agrees to subscribe for and purchase, and the Company agrees to issue and sell to such Investor, that number of Series B Preferred Shares set forth opposite such Investor’s name on Schedule I attached hereto (the “Shares”), with each Investor to pay as consideration for such Shares the aggregate purchase price set forth opposite such Investor’s name on Schedule I attached hereto (the “Purchase Price”).
2.2 Closing.
(i) Closing. The consummation of the sale and issuance of the Shares pursuant to Section 2.1 (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures as soon as practicable, but in no event later than three (3) Business Days after all closing conditions specified in Section 5 and Section 6 hereof have been waived or satisfied (other than those conditions to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver thereof at the Closing), or at such other time and place as the Company and the Investors shall mutually agree in writing.
(ii) Deliveries by the Company at Closing. At the Closing, in addition to any items the delivery of which is made an express condition to the Investor’s obligations at the Closing pursuant to Section 5, the Company shall deliver to each Investor (a) a scanned copy of the updated register of members of the Company, reflecting the issuance of Shares, and (b) a copy of duly executed certificate or certificates issued in the name of such Investor representing the Shares being purchased by such Investor at the Closings. Within ten (10) Business Days after the Closing, the Company shall deliver to the Investors the original share certificates representing the Shares being purchased by such Investors.
(iii) Deliveries by the Investors at Closing. At the Closing, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions set forth in Section 5 below, each Investor shall pay the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds in U.S. dollars to the bank account as set forth in Schedule IV attached hereto or any other bank account designated by the Company in writing.
(iv) If, at the Closing, any Investor shall fail to perform its obligations to fund its Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.2(iii), the Closing shall take place with respect to the other Investors. The closing with respect to such Investor shall take place until such time they have fulfilled their obligations hereunder unless otherwise mutually agreed by the Company and such investor.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. Subject to such exceptions as may be specifically set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to the Investors as of the date hereof and attached hereto as Schedule V (the “Disclosure Schedule”) which forms part of the representation and warranties herein, the Company represents and warrants to the Investors that the following statements are true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing:
3.1 Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each Group Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (or equivalent status in the relevant jurisdiction) under, and by virtue of, the Laws of the place of its incorporation or establishment and has all requisite power and authority to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, and to perform each of its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. Each Group Company is qualified to do business and is in good standing (or equivalent status in the relevant jurisdiction) in each jurisdiction where failure to be so qualified would be a Material Adverse Effect. Each Group Company has a valid business license issued by the relevant Government Authorities, and has, since its establishment, carried on its Business materially in compliance with the business scope set forth in its business license.
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3.2 Capitalization and Voting Rights.
(i) Company. The authorized share capital of the Company is and immediately prior to the Closing shall be US$50,000 divided into (a) a total of 492,179,086 authorized Ordinary Shares, 8,840,321 of which are issued and outstanding, and 4,165,310 of which have been reserved for issuance to officers, directors, employees, consultants or service providers of the Company pursuant to an equity incentive plan of the Company (the “ESOP”); (b) 2,377,642 Series A Preferred Shares of par value US$0.0001 each, all of which are issued and outstanding; and (c) 5,443,272 Series B Preferred Shares of par value US$0.0001 each, none of which are issued and outstanding. Section 3.2(i) of the Disclosure Schedule set forth the capitalization table of each Group Company as of immediately prior to the Closing, and immediately after the Closing, in each case reflecting all the outstanding and authorized Equity Securities of such Group Company, the record and beneficial holders thereof, the issuance date, and the terms of any vesting applicable thereto.
(ii) No Other Securities. Except for (a) the conversion privileges of the Preferred Share, and (b) certain rights provided in the Memorandum and Article and the Shareholders Agreement, (1) there are no and at the Closing there shall be no other authorized or outstanding Equity Securities of any Group Company; (2) no Equity Securities of any Group Company are subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase such Equity Securities or any other rights with respect to such Equity Securities, and (3) no Group Company is a party or subject to any Contract that affects or relates to the voting or giving of written consents with respect to, or the right to cause the redemption, or repurchase of, any Equity Security of such Group Company. Except as set forth in the Shareholders Agreement, the Company has not granted any registration or information rights to any other Person, nor is the Company obliged to list, any of the Equity Securities of any Group Companies on any securities exchange. Except as contemplated under the Transaction Documents, there are no voting or similar agreements which relate to the share capital or registered capital of any Group Company.
(iii) Issuance and Status. All share capital or registered capital, as the case may be, of each Group Company have been duly and validly issued, are fully paid (or subscribed for) and nonassessable, and are and as of the Closing shall be free of any and all Liens (except for any restrictions on transfer under the Shareholders Agreement and applicable Laws). Except as contemplated under the Transaction Documents, there are no (a) resolutions pending to increase the share capital or registered capital of any Group Company or cause the liquidation, winding up, or dissolution of any Group Company, nor has any distress, execution or other process been levied against any Group Company, (b) dividends which have accrued or been declared but are unpaid by any Group Company, (c) obligations, contingent or otherwise, of any Group Company to repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any Equity Securities, or (d) outstanding or authorized equity appreciation, phantom equity, equity plans or similar rights with respect to any Group Company. All dividends (if any) or distributions (if any) declared, made or paid by each Group Company, and all repurchases and redemptions of Equity Securities of each Group Company (if any), have been declared, made, paid, repurchased or redeemed, as applicable, in accordance with its Charter Documents and all applicable Laws.
(iv) Title. Each Group Company is the sole record and beneficial holder of all of the Equity Securities set forth opposite its name on Section 3.2(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, free and clear of all Liens of any kind other than those arising under applicable Law or as set forth in the Transaction Documents.
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3.3 Corporate Structure; Subsidiaries. Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete structure chart showing Group Companies, and indicating the ownership and Control relationships among all Group Companies, the nature of the legal entity which each Group Company constitutes, the jurisdiction in which each Group Company was organized, and each jurisdiction in which each Group Company is required to be qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign Person. No Group Company owns or Controls, or has ever owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, any Equity Security, interest or share in any other Person or is or was a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement. No Group Company is obligated to make any investment in or capital contribution in or on behalf of any other Person.
3.4 Authorization. The Company has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to carry out and perform its obligations thereunder. The authorization, issuance (or reservation for issuance), sale and delivery of the Shares and the reservation for issuance the Conversion Shares, has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing or at the Closing, as applicable. Each Transaction Document, when executed and delivered, constitutes valid and legally binding obligations of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other Laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) as limited by Laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.
3.5 Valid Issuance of Shares. The Shares, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for the consideration expressed herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free from any Liens (except for any restrictions on transfer under applicable Laws and under the Shareholders Agreement). The Conversion Shares will be reserved at Closing for issuance and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Memorandum and Articles, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free from any Liens (except for any restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws and under the Shareholders Agreement). The issuance of the Shares and the Conversion Shares will not be subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights other than those that have been or will be duly waived prior to or at the Closing, as applicable.
3.6 Consents; No Conflicts. All Consents from or with any Governmental Authority or any other Person required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents by the Company, have been duly obtained or completed (as applicable) and are in full force and effect. The execution, delivery and performance of each Transaction Document by the Company do not, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby will not, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, (i) result in any violation of, be in conflict with, or constitute a default under any provision of any Charter Document of the Company, or (ii) result in any violation of, be in conflict with, or constitute a default under, in any material respect, any Governmental Order or any applicable Law.
3.7 Offering. Subject in part to the accuracy of the Investors’ representations set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement, the offer, sale and issuance of the Shares are, and the issuance of the Conversion Shares will be, exempt from the qualification, registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities Laws.
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3.8 Compliance with Laws; Consents.
(i) Each Group Company is, and has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws. To the Company’s Knowledge, no event has occurred and no circumstance exists that (with or without notice or lapse of time) (a) may constitute or result in a violation by any Group Company of, or a failure on the part of such entity to comply with, any applicable Laws in any material respect, or (b) may give rise to any obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature. None of the Group Companies has received any notice from any Governmental Authority regarding any of the foregoing. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Group Company is under investigation with respect to a material violation of any Law.
(ii) All material Consents from or with the relevant Governmental Authority required in respect of the due and proper establishment and operations of each Group Company as now conducted, including but not limited to the Consents from or with authorities, product registration authorities, and health regulatory authorities and the local counterpart thereof, as applicable (or any predecessors thereof, as applicable), have been duly obtained or completed in accordance with all applicable Laws.
(iii) None of the Group Companies is in default in any material respect under any required Governmental Consent. No Group Company has received any letter or other written communication from any Governmental Authority threatening or providing notice of revocation of any Required Governmental Consent issued to any Group Company or the need for compliance or remedial actions in respect of the activities carried out directly or indirectly by any Group Company.
3.9 Tax Matters.
(i) Each Group Company (a) has timely filed all income and other material Tax Returns that are required to have been filed by it with any Governmental Authority, (b) has timely paid all Taxes owed by it which are due and payable (whether or not shown on any Tax Return), except to the extent any failure to timely pay such Taxes would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Each Tax Return referred to in paragraph (i) above was properly prepared in compliance with applicable Law and was (and will be) true, correct and complete in all material respects. No reporting position was taken on any such Tax Return which has not been disclosed to the appropriate Tax authority or in such Tax Return, as may be required by Law. All records relating to such Tax Returns or to the preparation thereof required by applicable Law to be maintained by applicable Group Company have been duly maintained. No written claim has been made by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the Group does not file Tax Returns that any Group Company is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
(iii) There is no pending dispute with, or notice from, any Tax authority relating to any of the Tax Returns filed by any Group Company, and to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no proposed Liability for a deficiency in any Tax to be imposed upon the properties or assets of any Group Company.
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(iv) No Group Company has been the subject of any examination or investigation by any Tax authority relating to the conduct of its business or the payment or withholding of Taxes that has not been resolved or is currently the subject of any examination or investigation by any Tax authority relating to the conduct of its business or the payment or withholding of Taxes.
(v) The Company is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
3.10 Financial Statements. Section 3.10 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the unaudited consolidated balance sheet and statements of operations for the Group as of and for the twelve-months ending December 31, 2019 (the “Annual Statement Date”) and the unaudited consolidated balance sheet (the “Balance Sheet”) and statements of operations for the Group as of and for the 11-month period ending November 30, 2020 (the “Statement Date”) (collectively, the financial statements referred to above, the “Financial Statements”). The Financial Statements (a) have been prepared in accordance with the books and records of the Group, (b) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and position of the Group as of the dates indicated therein and the results of operations of the Group for the periods indicated therein, except in the case of unaudited financial statements for the omission of notes thereto and normal year-end audit adjustments that are not expected to be material, and (c) were prepared in accordance with the Accounting Standards applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.
3.11 Actions. There is no material Action pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting any Group Company or any of its officers, directors or employees with respect to its businesses or proposed business activities, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any officers, directors or employees of any Group Company in connection with such person’s respective relationship with such Group Company. There is no judgment or award unsatisfied against any Group Company, nor is there any Governmental Order in effect and binding on any Group Company or their respective assets or properties. There is no material Action pending by any Group Company against any third party nor does any Group Company intend to commence any such Action. No Governmental Authority has at any time challenged or questioned in writing the legal right of any Group Company to conduct in any material respect its business as presently being conducted.
3.12 Liabilities. No Group Company has any Liabilities of the type required to be disclosed on a balance sheet except for (i) liabilities set forth in the Balance Sheet that have not been satisfied since the Statement Date, and (ii) current liabilities, including payables to vendors, incurred since the Statement Date in the ordinary course of the Group’s business consistent with its past practices and which do not exceed US$0 in the aggregate. Except as set forth in Section 3.12 of the Disclosure Schedule and except for Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of the Group’s business consistent with its past practices, none of the Group Companies has any outstanding Indebtedness. None of the Group Companies is a guarantor or indemnitor of any Liabilities of any other Person (other than a Group Company).
3.13 Anti-Bribery, Anti-Corruption, Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions; Absence of Government Interests.
(i) Each Group Company and to the Knowledge of the Company, their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and other persons acting on their behalf (collectively, “Representatives”) are and have been in material compliance with all applicable Laws relating to anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, record keeping and internal control laws (collectively, the “Compliance Laws”) including the FCPA as if it were a U.S. Person. Furthermore, no Public Official (i) holds an ownership or other economic interest, direct or indirect, in any of the Group Companies or in the contractual relationship formed by this Agreement, or (ii) serves as an officer, director or employee of any Group Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, neither any Group Company nor any Representative has, directly or indirectly, offered, authorized, promised, condoned, participated in, consummated, or received notice of any allegation of,
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(a) the making of any gift or payment of anything of value to any Public Official by any Person to obtain any improper advantage, affect or influence any act or decision of any such Public Official, or assist any Group Company in obtaining or retaining business for, or with, or directing business to, any Person.
(b) the taking of any action by any Person which (i) would violate the FCPA, if taken by an entity subject to the FCPA, or (ii) could reasonably be expected to constitute a violation of any applicable Compliance Law, or
(c) the making of any false or fictitious entries in the books or records of any Group Company by any Person, or
(d) the using of any assets of any Group Company for the establishment of any unlawful or unrecorded fund of monies or other assets, or the making of any unlawful or undisclosed payment.
(ii) No Group Company or any of its Representatives has ever been found by a Governmental Authority to have violated any criminal or securities Law or is subject to any indictment or any government investigation for bribery. None of the beneficial owners of any Equity Securities or other interest in any Group Company or the current or former Representatives of any Group Company are or were Public Officials.
(iii) No Group Company or any of its Representatives is a Prohibited Person, and no Prohibited Person will be given an offer to become an employee, officer, consultant or director of any Group Company. No Group Company has conducted or agreed to conduct any business, or entered into or agreed to enter into any transaction with a Prohibited Person.
(iv) If the Group Companies have beneficial owners or Representatives who are Public Officials, to the Knowledge of the Company, no such Public Official has been involved on behalf of a Governmental Authority in decisions as to whether any Group Company or the Investors would be awarded business or that otherwise could benefit any Group Company or the Investors, or in the appointment, promotion, or compensation of persons who will make such decisions.
3.14 Related Party Transactions. Other than as set forth in Section 3.14 of the Disclosure Schedule, no Related Party has any Contract with, or is indebted to, any Group Company or has any direct or indirect interest in any Group Company (other than as set forth in Section 3.2(i) of the Disclosure Schedule), nor is any Group Company indebted (or committed to make loans or extend or guarantee credit) to any Related Party (other than for accrued salaries for the current pay period, reimbursable expenses or other standard employee benefits). No Related Party has any direct or indirect interest in any Person with which a Group Company is affiliated or with which a Group Company has a material business relationship (including any Person which purchases from or sells, licenses or furnishes to a Group Company any goods, intellectual or other property rights or services) or in any Contract to which a Group Company is a party or by which it may be bound or affected, and no Related Party directly or indirectly competes with or has any interest in any Person that directly or indirectly competes with any Group Company (other than ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the stock of publicly traded companies), in each case except for as specifically disclosed in Section 3.14 of the Disclosure Schedule.
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3.15 Intellectual Property Rights.
(i) Company IP. Each Group Company owns or otherwise has sufficient rights (including but not limited to the rights of development, maintenance, licensing and sale) to all Intellectual Property necessary and sufficient to conduct its Business (“Company IP”) without any conflict with or infringement of the rights of any other Person. Section 3.15(i) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Company Registered IP for each Group Company.
(ii) IP Ownership. All Company Registered IP is owned by a Group Company, is valid and subsisting and has not been abandoned, and all necessary registration, maintenance and renewal fees with respect thereto and currently due have been satisfied. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Group Company or any of its employees, officers or directors has taken any actions or failed to take any actions that would cause any Company Owned IP to be invalid, unenforceable or not subsisting. No Group Company is or has been a member or promoter of, or contributor to, any industry standards bodies, patent pooling organizations or similar organizations that could require or obligate a Group Company to grant or offer to any Person any license or right to any material Company Owned IP. No Company Owned IP is subject to any proceeding or outstanding Governmental Order or settlement agreement or stipulation that (a) restricts in any manner the use, transfer or licensing thereof, or the making, using, sale, or offering for sale of any Group Company’s products or services, by any Group Company or (b) may affect the validity, use or enforceability of such Company Owned IP. No Group Company has (a) transferred or assigned any material Company Owned IP to any other Person; (b) authorized the joint ownership of other Person in any material Company Owned IP; or (c) permitted the rights of any Group Company in any material Company Owned IP to lapse or enter into the public domain.
(iii) Infringement, Misappropriation and Claims. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Group Company has misappropriated, or to the Knowledge of the Company, violated, or infringed in any material respect any Intellectual Property of any other Person, nor has any Group Company received any written notice alleging any of the foregoing. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person has violated, infringed or misappropriated any material Company Owned IP of any Group Company, and no Group Company has given any written notice to any other Person alleging any of the foregoing. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person has challenged the ownership or use of any material Company IP by a Group Company. No Group Company has agreed to indemnify any Person for any infringement, violation or misappropriation of any Intellectual Property by such Person.
(iv) Assignments and Prior IP. All material inventions and material know-how conceived by employees of a Group Company related to the Business of such Group Company are currently owned exclusively by a Group Company. All employees, contractors, agents and consultants of a Group Company who are or were involved in the creation of any material Intellectual Property for such Group Company have executed an assignment of inventions agreement that vests in a Group Company exclusive ownership of all right, title and interest in and to such Intellectual Property, to the extent not already provided by Law. All employee inventors of Company Owned IP have received reasonable reward and remunerations from a Group Company for his/her service inventions or service technology achievements in accordance with the applicable laws. To the Knowledge of the Company, it will not be necessary to utilize any Intellectual Property of any such Persons made prior to their employment by a Group Company, except for those that are exclusively owned by a Group Company, and none of such Intellectual Property has been utilized by any Group Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the employees, consultants or independent contractors, currently or previously employed or otherwise engaged by any Group Company, (a) is in violation of any current or prior confidentiality, non-competition or non-solicitation obligations to such Group Company or to any other Persons, including former employers, or (b) is obligated under any Contract, or subject to any Governmental Order, that would interfere with the use of his or her best efforts to promote the interests of the Group Companies or that would conflict with the business of such Group Company as presently conducted.
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(v) Licenses. Section 3.15(v) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of the following (collectively, the “Licenses”): (a) all licenses, sublicenses, and other Contracts to which any Group Company is a party and pursuant to which any third party is authorized to use, exercise or receive any benefit from any material Company IP, and (b) all licenses, sublicenses and other Contracts to which any Group Company is a party and pursuant to which such Group Company is authorized to use, exercise, or receive any benefit from any material Intellectual Property of another Person, in each case except for (1) agreements involving “off-the-shelf” commercially available software, and (2) non-exclusive licenses to customers of the Business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
(vi) Protection of IP. Each Group Company has taken reasonable and appropriate steps to protect, maintain and safeguard material Company Owned IP and made all applicable filings, registrations and payments of fees in connection with the foregoing. Without limiting the foregoing, to the Knowledge of the Company, all current and former officers, employees, consultants and independent contractors of any Group Company and all suppliers, customers, distributors, and other third parties having access to any material Company IP have executed and delivered to such Group Company an agreement requiring the protection of such Company IP. To the extent that any material Company IP has been developed or created independently or jointly by an independent contractor or other third party for any Group Company, or is incorporated into any products or services of any Group Company, such Group Company has a written agreement with such independent contractor or third party and has thereby obtained ownership of, and is the exclusive owner of all such independent contractor’s or third party’s Intellectual Property in such work, material or invention by operation of law or valid assignment.
3.16 Labor and Employment Matters.
(i) Each Group Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws related to labor or employment, including provisions thereof relating to wages, hours, working conditions, benefits, retirement, social welfare, equal opportunity and collective bargaining. There is not pending or to the Knowledge of the Company threatened, and there has not been in the last three (3) years, any Action relating to the violation or alleged violation of any applicable Laws by any Group Company related to labor or employment, including any charge or complaint filed by an employee with any Governmental Authority or any Group Company.
(ii) Section 3.16(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of each Benefit Plan currently or previously adopted, maintained, or contributed to by any Group Company or under which any Group Company has any Liability or under which any employee or former employee of any Group Company has any present or future right to benefits.
3.17 Entire Business. No Group Company provides any facilities, operational services, assets or properties to any other entity which is not a Group Company.
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4. Representations and Warranties of the Investors. Each Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company, severally and not jointly, that:
4.1 Authorization. Such Investor has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to carry out and perform its obligations thereunder. All action on the part of such Investor (and, as applicable, its officers, directors and shareholders) necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and the performance of all obligations of such Investor thereunder, has been taken or will be taken prior to or at the Closing, as applicable. Each Transaction Document that has been duly executed and delivered by such Investor (to the extent such Investor is a party), constitutes valid and legally binding obligations of such Investor, enforceable against such Investor in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other Laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) as limited by Laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.
4.2 Purchase for Own Account. The Shares and the Conversion Shares will be acquired for such Investor’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to or in connection with the sale or distribution of any part thereof, and that the Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this Agreement, the Investor further represents that the Investor does not presently have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Shares and the Conversion Shares. The Investor has not been formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares and the Conversion Shares.
4.3 Status of Investor. Such Investor is either (i) an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Rule 501 of Regulation D, as presently in effect, under the Securities Act, or (ii) not a “U.S. person” as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S of the Securities Act. Such Investor has the knowledge, sophistication and experience necessary to make an investment decision like that involved in the purchase of the applicable Shares and can bear the economic risk of its investment in the Shares. Such Investor represents that by reason of its, or of its management’s, business or financial experience, such Investor has the capacity to protect its own interests in connection with the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents. Further, such Investor is aware of no publication of any advertisement in connection with the transactions contemplated in the Agreement.
4.4 Disclosure of Information. Such Investor has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. Such Investor has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.
4.5 Restricted Securities. Such Investor understands that the Shares and the Conversion Shares are restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act; and that the Shares and the Conversion Shares are not registered or listed publicly and must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered or listed publicly or an exemption from such registration or listing is available. Such Investor understands that the Company has no present intention of registering the Shares or the Conversion Shares. Such Investor also understands that there is no assurance that any exemption from registration under the Securities Act will be available and that, even if available, such exemption may not allow the Investor to transfer all or any portion of the Shares or the Conversion Shares under the circumstances, in the amounts or at the times the Investor might propose.
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4.6 No Brokers. Neither such Investor nor any of its Affiliates has any Contract with any broker, finder or similar agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by any of the Transaction Documents, and none of them has incurred any Liability for any brokerage fees, agents’ fees, commissions or finders’ fees in connection with any of the Transaction Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein.
4.7 Legends. Such Investor understands that the Shares and the Conversion Shares, may be notated with one or all of the following legends:
(i) “THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”
(ii) Any legend set forth in, or required by, the other Transaction Agreements.
(iii) Any legend required by the securities laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Shares and the Conversion Shares represented by the certificate, instrument, or book entry so legended.
4.8 No General Solicitation. Neither the Investor, nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, stockholders or partners has either directly or indirectly, including, through a broker or finder (a) engaged in any general solicitation, or (b) published any advertisement in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
4.10 Residence. If the Investor is an individual, then the Investor resides in the state or province identified in the address of Investor set forth on Schedule II; if the Investor is a partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity, then the office or offices of Investor in which its investment decision was made is located at the address or addresses of the Investor set forth on Schedule II.
4.11 Transfer Restrictions. Each Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares and, if issued, the Conversion Shares are subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Shareholders Agreement.
5. Conditions of the Investors’ Obligations at the Closing. The obligations of each Investor to consummate the Closing under Section 2 of this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, to the satisfaction of such Investor on or prior to the Closing, or waiver by such Investor, of the following conditions:
5.1 Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3 shall have been true and complete when made and shall be true and complete in all material respects on and as of the Closing with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such Closing, except in either case for those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which representations will have been true and complete as of such particular date.
5.2 Performance. The Company shall have performed and complied with all obligations and conditions contained in the Transaction Documents that are required to be performed or complied with by them on or before the Closing.
5.3 Authorizations. All Consents of any competent Governmental Authority or of any other Person that are required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (including but not limited to those related to the lawful issuance and sale of the Shares, and any waivers of notice requirements, rights of first refusal, preemptive rights, put or call rights), including necessary board and shareholder approvals of the Company, shall have been duly obtained and effective as of the Closing, and evidence thereof shall have been delivered to the Investors as it may reasonably request.
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5.4 Proceedings and Documents. All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions to be completed at the Closing and all documents incident thereto with respect to this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, shall have been completed in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Investors, and each Investor shall have received all such counterpart original or other copies of such documents as it may reasonably request.
5.5 Memorandum and Articles. The Memorandum and Articles, in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2, respectively, shall have been duly adopted by all necessary action of the Board of Directors and/or the members of the Company, and such adoption shall have become effective prior to the Closing with no alternation or amendment as of the Closing.
5.6 Transaction Documents. Each of the parties to the Transaction Documents, other than the Investors, shall have executed and delivered such Transaction Documents to the Investors.
6. Conditions of the Company’s Obligations at Closing. The obligations of the Company owed to each Investor to consummate the Closing under Section 2 of this Agreement, unless otherwise waived in writing by the Company, are subject to the fulfillment on or before the Closing of each of the following conditions:
6.1 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of such Investor contained in Section 4 shall have been true and complete when made and shall be true and complete on and as of the Closing with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of the Closing, except in either case for those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which representations will have been true and complete as of such particular date.
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6.2 Performance. Such Investor shall have performed and complied with all covenants, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by such Investor on or before the Closing.
6.3 Execution of Transaction Documents. Such Investor shall have executed and delivered to the Company the Transaction Documents, to which such Investor is a party.
7. Other Agreements.
7.1 Confidentiality. The terms and conditions of the Transaction Documents (collectively, the “Financing Terms”), including their existence, shall be considered confidential information and shall not be disclosed by any of the Parties to any other Person except that (i) each Party, as appropriate, may disclose any of the Financing Terms to its current or bona fide prospective investors, employees, investment bankers, lenders, accountants and attorneys, in each case only where such Persons are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations; (ii) each Investor may disclose any of the Financing Terms to its fund manager and the employees thereof so long as such Persons are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations; and (iii) if any Party is requested or becomes legally compelled (including without limitation, pursuant to securities Laws) to disclose the existence or content of any of the Financing Terms in contravention of the provisions of this Section, such Party shall promptly provide the other Parties with written notice of that fact so that such other Parties may seek a protective order, confidential treatment or other appropriate remedy and in any event shall furnish only that portion of the information that is legally required and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such information.
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8. Miscellaneous.
8.1 Further Assurances. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein, each of the Parties hereto agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken all action, to do or cause to be done, to execute such further instruments, and to assist and cooperate with the other Parties hereto in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws or otherwise to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (it being understood that no Party shall be obligated to grant any waiver of any condition or other waiver hereunder).
8.2 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the Parties hereto whose rights or obligations hereunder are affected by such terms and conditions. This Agreement and the rights and obligations therein may not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the Investors. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any Party other than the Parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
8.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the Laws of Hong Kong, without regard to principles of conflict of Laws thereunder.
8.4 Dispute Resolution.
(i) Any dispute, controversy or claim (each, a “Dispute”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation, breach, termination, validity or invalidity thereof, shall be referred to arbitration upon the demand of either party to the dispute with notice (the “Arbitration Notice”) to the other.
(ii) The Dispute shall be settled by arbitration in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “HKIAC”) in accordance with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules (the “HKIAC Rules”) in force when the Arbitration Notice is submitted in accordance with the HKIAC Rules. There shall be one (1) arbitrator. The HKIAC Council shall select the arbitrator, who shall be qualified to practice law in Hong Kong.
(iii) The arbitral proceedings shall be conducted in English. To the extent that the HKIAC Rules are in conflict with the provisions of this Section, including the provisions concerning the appointment of the arbitrators, the provisions of this Section shall prevail.
(iv) Each party to the arbitration shall cooperate with each other party to the arbitration in making full disclosure of and providing complete access to all information and documents requested by such other party in connection with such arbitral proceedings, subject only to any confidentiality obligations binding on such party.
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(v) The award of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding upon the parties thereto, and the prevailing party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award.
(vi) The arbitral tribunal shall decide any Dispute submitted by the parties to the arbitration strictly in accordance with the substantive Laws of Hong Kong (without regard to principles of conflict of Laws thereunder) and shall not apply any other substantive Law.
(vii) Any party to the Dispute shall be entitled to seek preliminary injunctive relief, if possible, from any court of competent jurisdiction pending the constitution of the arbitral tribunal.
(viii) During the course of the arbitral tribunal’s adjudication of the Dispute, this Agreement shall continue to be performed except with respect to the part in dispute and under adjudication.
8.5 Notices. Any notice required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be given either personally or by sending it by next-day or second-day courier service, fax, electronic mail or similar means to the address of the relevant Party as shown on Schedule II (or at such other address as such Party may designate by fifteen (15) days’ advance written notice to the other Parties to this Agreement given in accordance with this Section). Where a notice is sent by next-day or second-day courier service, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and sending by next-day or second-day service through an internationally-recognized courier a letter containing the notice, with a written confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected at the earlier of (i) delivery (or when delivery is refused) and (ii) expiration of two (2) Business Days after the letter containing the same is sent as aforesaid. Where a notice is sent by fax or electronic mail, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, and sending such notice through a transmitting organization, with a written confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected on the day the same is sent as aforesaid, if such day is a Business Day and if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, otherwise the next Business Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a “with a copy to” address is designated, notice must also be given to such address in the manner above for such notice, request, consent or other communication hereunder to be effective.
8.6 Rights Cumulative; Specific Performance. Each and all of the various rights, powers and remedies of a party hereto will be considered to be cumulative with and in addition to any other rights, powers and remedies which such Party may have at Law or in equity in the event of the breach of any of the terms of this Agreement. The exercise or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy will neither constitute the exclusive election thereof nor the waiver of any other right, power or remedy available to such Party. Without limiting the foregoing, the Parties hereto acknowledge and agree irreparable harm may occur for which money damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
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8.7 Fees and Expenses. Each of the parties hereto shall bear its own costs and expenses in connection with the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. If any action at Law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.
8.8 Severability. In case any provision of the Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. If, however, any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable under any such applicable Law in any jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be deemed modified to conform to the minimum requirements of such Law, or, if for any reason it is not deemed so modified, it shall be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality, or limitation on enforceability without affecting the remaining provisions of this Agreement, or the validity, legality, or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
8.9 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended, only with the written consent of each of (i) the Company, and (ii) the Investors that shall hold at least a majority of Shares immediately after the Closing. Any amendment effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each of the Parties hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the Party against whom such waiver is sought.
8.10 No Waiver. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof will not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor will any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right, power or remedy power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right, power or remedy at any other time or times.
8.11 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting Party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any Party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing.
8.12 No Presumption. The Parties acknowledge that any applicable Law that would require interpretation of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the Party that drafted it has no application and is expressly waived. If any claim is made by a Party relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in the provisions of this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion will be implied because this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of any Party or its counsel.
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8.13 Headings and Subtitles; Interpretation. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement. Unless a provision hereof expressly provides otherwise: (i) the term “or” is not exclusive; (ii) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular; (iii) the terms “herein”, “hereof”, and other similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, subsection, paragraph, clause, or other subdivision; (iv) the term “including” will be deemed to be followed by, “but not limited to”, (v) the masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will each be deemed to include the others; (vi) the terms “shall”, “will”, and “agrees” are mandatory, and the term “may” is permissive; (vii) the term “day” means “calendar day”, and “month” means calendar month, (viii) all references in this Agreement to designated “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Sections and other subdivisions of the body of this Agreement, (ix) all references in this Agreement to designated Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices are to the Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices attached to this Agreement, (x) the phrase “directly or indirectly” means directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediate Persons or through contractual or other arrangements, and “direct or indirect” has the correlative meaning, (xi) references to laws include any such law modifying, re enacting, extending or made pursuant to the same or which is modified, re enacted, or extended by the same or pursuant to which the same is made, (xii) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned under the Accounting Standards, (xiii) pronouns of either gender or neuter shall include, as appropriate, the other pronoun forms, (xiv) references to this Agreement, any other Transaction Documents and any other document shall be construed as references to such document as the same may be amended, supplemented or novated from time to time, and (xv) all references to dollars or to “US$” are to currency of the United States of America and all references to RMB are to currency of the PRC (and each shall be deemed to include reference to the equivalent amount in other currencies).
8.14 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile and e-mailed copies of signatures shall be deemed to be originals for purposes of the effectiveness of this Agreement.
8.15 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Transaction Documents, together with all schedules and exhibits hereto and thereto, constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement among the Parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof, and supersede all other agreements between or among any of the Parties with respect to the subject matters hereof and thereof.
8.16 Use of English Language. This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the English language. Any translation of this Agreement into another language shall have no interpretive effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
COMPANY: | Belite Bio, Inc |
By: | /s/ Tom Lin |
Name: | Tom Lin | |
Title: | Director |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS:
Lin Bioscience International Ltd. |
By: | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Name: | Tom Lin | |
Title: | Director |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS:
By: | /s/ Cheng-Chao Sung | |
Name: | Cheng-Chao Sung | |
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS:
By: | /s/ Tian-Ren Huang | |
Name: | Tian-Ren Huang | |
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement on the date and year first above written.
INVESTORS:
By: | /s/ Ching-Yu Peng | |
Name: | Ching-Yu Peng | |
ID: | ######## |
[Share Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS
[Share Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE II
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES
[Share Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE III
LIST OF KEY EMPLOYEES
[Share Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE IV
BANK ACCOUNT
[Share Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE V
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE
[Share Purchase Agreement]
EXHIBIT A-1
FORM OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
[Share Purchase Agreement]
EXHIBIT A-2
FORM OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
[Share Purchase Agreement]
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
[Share Purchase Agreement]
Exhibit 10.7
CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, MARKED BY [***], HAS BEEN OMITTED BECAUSE IT IS NOT MATERIAL AND WOULD LIKELY CAUSE COMPETITIVE HARM TO THE COMPANY IF PUBLICLY DISCLOSED
EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated September 13, 2016 (the “Effective Date”), between THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, a New York corporation (“Columbia”), and Lin Biosciences, Inc., a Taiwanese corporation (“Company”).
WHEREAS, Columbia possesses intellectual property rights related to the Patents, Materials, and Technical Information as defined herein;
WHEREAS, Company desires to license such intellectual property rights to pursue the development of Products as defined herein;
WHEREAS, Columbia is the recipient of NIH Grant Award U01NS074476 entitled “SMALL MOLECULE DRUGS FOR TREATMENT OF DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION’ and directed by Columbia’s employee Konstantin Petrukhin (the “Investigator”) (the “Grant”) under which such grant significant resources are being brought to bear to advance the Products through early clinical development;
1. | Definitions. |
a. “Affiliate” shall mean any corporation or other entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, another corporation or entity. Control means direct or indirect ownership of, or other beneficial interest in, more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock, other voting interest, or income of a corporation or other entity.
b. “Generic Product” refers to a product having the same or substantially same active pharmaceutical ingredient of the Patent Product that obtained a marketing approval by means of a procedure for establishing equivalence to the Patent Product under a 21 U.S.C. Section 355(b)(2) filing in the United States or any substantially equivalent procedures in any foreign countries.
c. “Cover” or “Covered By” shall mean (i) infringes, in the case of a claim in an issued patent, or (ii) would infringe the claim if it existed in an issued patent, in the case of a claim in a pending application provided however if a pending application has not been granted within five (5) years of the first substantive patent office action considering the patentability of any claim by the relevant patent office in the country or territory in which such application is pending (after which time such pending application shall cease to Cover a product or service for purposes of this Agreement and shall have no impact under this Agreement unless and until such former pending application becomes an issued application).
d. “Designee” shall mean a corporation or other entity that is employed by, under contract to, or in partnership with (i) Company, (ii) a Sublicensee, (iii) an Affiliate of Company or (iv) an Affiliate of a Sublicensee, wherein such corporation or other entity is granted the right to make, use, sell, promote, distribute, market, import, or export Products.
e. “Field” shall mean all uses including all ocular indications except diabetic retinopathy, which shall included but is not limited to Dry Age Related Macular Degeneration and Stargardt Disease. Columbia will notify Company within twelve months of the Effective Date whether diabetic retinopathy could be added to the Field.
f. “License Year” shall mean the one year period from the Effective Date of this Agreement or an anniversary thereof to the next anniversary of the Effective Date.
g. “Materials” shall mean the tangible physical material, if any, delivered to Company hereunder, any progeny thereof developed by Company, its Affiliates or Sublicensees, and any derivatives thereof developed by Company, its Affiliates or Sublicensees that are not Covered By the Patents. Any Materials delivered to Company hereunder shall be listed in Exhibit B hereto.
h. “Net Sales” shall mean the greater of the gross invoice or contract price charged to Third Party customers for the Product or the actual consideration paid by Third Party customers for the Product. For all Products used or consumed by any Third Party, Company shall be entitled to deduct [***] from Net Sales in lieu of all other deductions such as taxes, shipping charges, allowances, and the like prior to calculating royalties due. The intent of this definition of Net Sales is to allow Columbia to derive a royalty on the end sale of a Product to the first Third Party.
If a Product is sold as part of a Combination Product, the Net Sales of such Product for the purpose of calculating royalties and sales-based milestones owed under this Agreement for sales of such Product, shall be determined as follows: first, Company shall determine the actual Net Sales of such Combination Product (using the above provisions) and then such amount shall be multiplied by the fraction A/(A+B), where A is the invoice price of such Product, if sold separately, and B is the aggregate invoice price of each other drug, device, or biological product in the Combination Product, if sold separately. If any other drug, device, or biological product in the Combination Product is not sold separately in a country, Net Sales for such country shall be calculated by multiplying actual Net Sales in such country of such Combination Product by a fraction A/C where A is the invoice price of such Product if sold separately, and C is the invoice price of the Combination Product. If neither Product nor any other drug, device, or biological product in the Combination Product is sold separately, the adjustment to Net Sales shall be determined by the Parties in good faith to reasonably reflect the fair market value of the contribution of such Product in the Combination Product to the total fair market value of such Combination Product. Combination Product” means: (a) a product consisting of one or more products that are separately sold that are packaged together with a Product and after such packaging are sold as a single package or as a unit for a single price; or (b) a drug, device or biological product packaged and sold separately that is sold as a unit with a Product for a single price.
2
In the case of transfers of Products between any of Company, Sublicensees, Designees, and Affiliates of any of the foregoing, for subsequent sale, rental, lease or other transfer of such Products to Third Parties, Net Sales shall be the greater of (i) the actual amount charged for the transfer of the Product between any of Company, Sublicensees, Designees, and Affiliates of any of the foregoing and (ii) the gross invoice or contract price charged to the Third Party customer for that Product in an arms-length transaction.
The transfer of Products between any of Company, Sublicensees, Designees, and Affiliates of any of the foregoing, for humanitarian or compassionate use or for use in clinical trials or research whereby Company, Sublicensees, Designees, and Affiliates of any of the foregoing will not receive any monetary value for such Product will not be included in the calculation of Net Sales.
i. “Other Product” shall mean any product or service (or component thereof), other than a Patent Product, the discovery, development, manufacture, use, sale, offering for sale, importation, exportation, distribution, rental or lease of uses or incorporates, in whole or in part, of Materials or Technical Information.
j. “Patent” or “Patents” shall mean: (i) the United States and foreign patents and/or patent applications listed in Exhibit A hereto; (ii) any non-provisional patent applications that claim priority to any provisional patent applications listed in Exhibit A hereto; (iii) any and all claims of continuation-in-part applications that claim priority to the United States patent applications listed in Exhibit A, but only where such claims are directed to inventions disclosed in the manner provided in the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. Section 112 in the United States patent applications listed in Exhibit A and such claims in any patents issuing from such continuation-in-part applications; (iv) any and all foreign patent applications, foreign patents or related foreign patent documents that claim priority to the patents and/or patent applications listed in Exhibit A; (v) any and all divisionals, continuations, reissues, re-examinations, renewals, substitutions, and extensions of the foregoing; and (vi) any and all patents issuing from the foregoing. Notwithstanding the preceding definition, Patent and Patents shall not include any patents or patent applications based on research conducted after the Effective Date, except as otherwise agreed in a separate writing.
k. “Patent Product” shall mean any product or service (or component thereof) the discovery, development, manufacture, use, sale, offering for sale, importation, exportation, distribution, rental or lease of which is Covered By a claim of a Patent.
l. “Phase I” shall mean, with respect to a clinical trial conducted pursuant to an IND, any controlled human clinical trial conducted in the United States as required under and pursuant to 21 C.F.R. §312.21(a), or, with respect to a jurisdiction other than the United States, a similar clinical study.
m. “Phase II” shall mean, with respect to a clinical trial conducted pursuant to an IND, any controlled human clinical trial conducted in the United States as required under and pursuant to 21 C.F.R. §312.21(b), or, with respect to a jurisdiction other than the United States, a similar clinical study.
n. “Phase III” shall mean, with respect to a clinical trial conducted pursuant to an IND, any controlled human clinical trial conducted in the United States as required under and pursuant to 21 C.F.R. §312.21(c), or, with respect to a jurisdiction other than the United States, a similar clinical study.
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o. Priority Review Voucher” means a priority review voucher for a Product awarded by FDA pursuant to Section 524 or Section 529 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FFDCA”).
p. “Priority Review Voucher Revenue” means any consideration actually received by Company or its Affiliates or a Sublicensee from a Third Party solely as consideration for a Priority Review Voucher Sale to such Third Party,
q. “Priority Review Voucher Sale” means the sale by the Company or Sublicensee or an Affiliate or Designee of the foregoing of a Priority Review Voucher to a Third Party where such sale is not in connection with the sale or transfer of other assets relating to a Product or as part of a Change of Control of Company or its Affiliates.
r. “Product” or “Products” shall mean a Patent Product and/or an Other Product.
s. “Regulatory Approval” shall mean approval by the FDA of (i) a New Drug Application as described in 21 C.F.R. § 314.50 et seq., or (ii) a 510(k) or PMA application (each as described in 21 C.F.R. § 800 et seq.) or an equivalent approval in a jurisdiction outside of the United States.
t. “Regulatory Exclusivity Product” shall mean, with respect to a Product in a country in the Territory, that Company has been granted the exclusive legal right by a regulatory authority in such country to market and sell the Product in such country.
u. “Sublicensee” shall mean any third party to whom Company has granted a sublicense pursuant to this Agreement. An Affiliate of Company exercising rights hereunder shall not be considered a Sublicensee.
vu. “Technical Information” shall mean any know-how, technical information and data developed by Columbia by Dr. Petrukhin prior to the Effective Date and provided to Company by Columbia, which know-how, technical information and data are necessary or useful for the discovery, development, manufacture, use, sale, offering for sale, importation, exportation, distribution, rental or lease of a Product, including, without limitation, (i) any know-how, technical information and data disclosed in any Patent or (ii) any reports or disclosures concerning research or inventions provided or disclosed to, or otherwise received by, Company. Technical Information shall include, but is not limited to, the information set forth in Exhibit C hereto.
w. “Territory” shall mean worldwide.
x. “Third Party” shall mean any entity or person other than Company, Sublicensees, Designees, or their Affiliates.
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2. | License Grant. |
a. Columbia grants to the Company and any Affiliate thereof, upon and subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including Section 3 hereof):
(i) an exclusive license under the Patents to discover, develop, manufacture, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, have sold, import, export, distribute, rent or lease Products in the Field and throughout the Territory;
(ii) an exclusive license to use Technical Information to discover, develop, manufacture, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, have sold, import, export, distribute, rent or lease Products in the Field and throughout the Territory until such time as Technical Information is published or otherwise publicly distributed and, thereafter, the license granted hereunder shall automatically convert to a non-exclusive license; provided however, that Columbia and its faculty and employees shall have the right to publish, disseminate or otherwise disclose the Technical Information; and
(iii) an exclusive license to use Materials to discover, develop, manufacture, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, have sold, import, export, distribute, rent or lease Products in the Field and throughout the Territory.
b. Columbia grants to Company the right to grant sublicenses after completion of [***] of a Product, provided that: (i) the Sublicensee agrees to abide by and be subject to all the terms and provisions of this Agreement applicable to the Company; (ii) the Sublicensee shall have no further right to grant sublicenses under this Agreement; (iii) in the event any Sublicensee (or any entity or person acting on its behalf) initiates any proceeding or otherwise asserts any claim challenging the validity or enforceability of any Patent in any court, administrative agency or other forum, Company shall, upon written request by Columbia, terminate forthwith the sublicense agreement with such Sublicensee, (provided such is a legally available remedy) and the sublicense agreement shall provide for such right of termination by Company (provided such is a legally available remedy); (iv) the sublicense agreement shall provide that, in the event of any inconsistency between the sublicense agreement and this Agreement, this Agreement shall control; (v) the Sublicensee will submit quarterly reports to Company consistent with the reporting provision of Section 5a herein; (vi) Company remains fully liable for the performance of its and its Sublicensee’s obligations hereunder; (vii) Company notifies Columbia of any proposed grant of a sublicense and provides to Columbia, upon request, a copy of any sublicense agreement thirty (30) business days after the execution thereof, which agreement shall be confidential information of the Company; and (viii) no such sublicense or attempt to obtain a sublicensee shall relieve Company of its obligations under Section 6 hereof to exercise its own commercially reasonable efforts, directly or through a sublicense, to discover, develop and market Products, nor relieve Company of its obligations to pay Columbia any and all license fees, royalties and other payments due under the Agreement, including but not limited to under Sections 4, 5 and 11 of the Agreement.
c. Company hereby agrees and covenants, in consideration of the rights granted to it under this Agreement, not to sue, or otherwise claim or seek to enforce any of the Patents against the Third Party sponsoring research at Columbia utilizing the Patents in the field of diabetic retinopathy (“Authorized Third Party”), with respect to Authorized Third Party’s development, manufacture, use, sale, import, distribution, rental, lease or any other practice of the compounds disclosed and claimed in the Patents in the field of diabetic retinopathy.
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d. All rights and licenses granted by Columbia to Company under this Agreement are subject to (i) any limitations imposed by the terms of any government grant, government contract or government cooperative agreement applicable to the technology that is the subject of this Agreement, and (ii) applicable requirements of 35 U.S.C. Sections 200 et seq., as amended, and implementing regulations and policies. Without limitation of the foregoing, Company agrees that, to the extent required under 35 U.S.C. Section 204, any Product used, sold, distributed, rented or leased by Company, Sublicensees, Designees, and their Affiliates in the United States will be manufactured substantially in the United States. In addition, Company agrees that, to the extent required under 35 U.S.C. Section 202(c)(4), the United States government is granted a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable, paid-up license to practice or have practiced for or on behalf of the United States any Patent throughout the world.
e. All rights not specifically granted herein are reserved to Columbia. Except as expressly provided under this Section 2, no right or license is granted (expressly or by implication or estoppel) by Columbia to Company or its Affiliates or Sublicensees under any tangible or intellectual property, materials, patent, patent application, trademark, copyright, trade secret, know-how, technical information, data or other proprietary right.
3. | Reservation of Rights for Research Purposes; Freedom of Publication. |
a. Columbia reserves the right to practice the Patents and use Materials, to the extent Patents and Materials are exclusively licensed hereunder, for academic research and educational purposes in the Field and to permit other non-profit entities or individuals to practice and use such Patents and Materials for academic research and educational purposes in the Field provided that in no event shall such Technical Information, Materials or Patents be used in connection with any research sponsored by a third party commercial entity entered into after the Effective Date. Company acknowledges that as of the Effective Date, the Authorized Third Party is sponsoring research at Columbia utilizing the Patents and Materials in the field of diabetic retinopathy. Columbia shall obtain from all entities or individuals who are given permission to practice and use such Patents and Materials an agreement in writing to limit such use to academic research and educational purposes. Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted to limit in any way the right of Columbia and its faculty or employees to practice and use such Patents and Materials for any purpose outside the Field or to license or permit such use outside the Field by third parties.
b. Company acknowledges that Columbia is dedicated to free scholarly exchange and to public dissemination of the results of its scholarly activities. Columbia and its faculty and employees shall have the right to publish, disseminate or otherwise disclose any information relating to its research activities, including Technical Information.
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4. | Fees, Royalties and Payment. |
a. Importance of Technical Information and Materials. Company has requested, and Columbia has agreed, to grant certain rights to Technical Information and Materials. Company requires these rights in order to develop and commercialize the technology licensed hereunder. Because of the importance of Technical Information and Materials, Company has agreed to pay certain royalties to Columbia on Other Products, as specified herein, even if it is not Covered By a Patent, in order to obtain rights to Technical Information and Materials. Company has agreed to these payments because of the commercial value of Technical Information and Materials, separate and distinct from the commercial value of the Patents. Company acknowledges that it would not have entered into this Agreement without receiving the rights to the Technical Information and Materials specified in Section 2. Company further acknowledges that licenses to Technical Information, Materials, and each patent and application within the definition of Patents were separately available from a license to the Patents, and that for convenience and because of the preference of Company, the parties executed a combined license to the Patents, Technical Information, and Materials.
b. In consideration of the licenses granted under Section 2a of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Columbia as follows:
(i) License Fee: A nonrefundable, non-recoverable and non-creditable license fee in the sum of $2,500,000.00, payable within ninety days after execution of this Agreement
(ii) Royalties:
(A) With respect to sales of Products by Company or Sublicensee, their Designees or their Affiliates, in the Territory, a nonrefundable and non-recoverable royalty of:
(1) | [***] on Net Sales of Patent Products; and |
(2) | [***] on Net Sales of Regulatory Exclusive Products; and |
(3) | [***] on Net Sales of Other Products. |
In the event that a Generic Product is available in a certain country, the royalties set forth in Section 4b will be reduced to [***] in such country for the Product referenced by the Generic Product.
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, commencing on the second anniversary of the commercial launch of any Product, the Company shall pay to Columbia a nonrefundable and non-recoverable minimum royalty payment as follows: (i) [***], payable annually within [***] following the [***] of the first bona fide commercial sale of a Product by Company, a Sublicensee, a Designee, or any of their Affiliates, to a Third Party customer (the “First Commercial Sale”), and (ii) [***] payable [***] on the first business day of [***] following the [***] anniversary of the First Commercial Sale and every anniversary thereafter until the end of the royalty term as specified in Section 16b. Each such minimum royalty payment will be credited against earned royalties accrued during the same calendar year in which the minimum royalty payment is due and payable. To the extent minimum royalty payments exceed the earned royalties accrued during the same calendar year, this excess amount cannot be carried over to any other year, either to decrease the earned royalties due in that year or to decrease the minimum royalty payments due in that year.
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c. In consideration of Company’s right to sublicense third parties granted under Section 2b of this Agreement, Company shall pay to Columbia the following nonrefundable, non-recoverable and non-creditable amounts (the intention of the parties being that Columbia shall receive consideration equivalent to a full pass-through royalty on all sales of Products by Sublicensees as set forth in Section 4b(ii)(A)):
(i) Other Payments: [***] of any and all other gross revenues (excluding royalties), fees, payments and consideration (including a portion of any equity securities of any cross-licensing rights granted by Sublicensee to Company), including without limitation, any upfront, milestone or lump sum payments, received by Company from Sublicensees, their Designees or their Affiliates as full or partial consideration for the grant of any sublicense by Company pursuant to Section 2b of this Agreement but shall not include (a) for research and development conducted as agreed with the Sublicensee and conducted after the date on which the Sublicensee actually signed the sublicense agreement and which payments are not in excess of Company’s fully burdened costs, fees, expenses, and royalties related to performing any research and development relating to the Products, (b) any consideration received for an equity interest in, extension of credit to or other investment in Company or its Affiliates to the extent such consideration does not exceeds [***] of fair market value of the equity or other interest received as determined by agreement of the parties or by an independent appraiser mutually agreeable to the parties, or (c) the receipt of any equipment or the use of any real estate where such equipment or real estate is used for the mutual benefit of the Sublicensee and the Company or where the Company pays fair market value for such equipment or real estate.
(ii) Company will pay Columbia an amount equal to [***] of Priority Review Voucher Revenue. If Company has not sold the Priority Review Voucher [***]of receipt of the Priority Review Voucher, royalties due under Section 3b(ii)(A)1 shall [***] of Net Sales of Patent Products.
d. Development Milestone Payments: In the event that the Company, Sublicensees, or their Affiliates (collectively “Developer”) develops a Product for commercial sale in the Territory, the following nonrefundable, non-recoverable and non-creditable milestone payments shall be made by Company to Columbia with respect to the first Product as follows:
Milestone | Payment | |
[***] | [***] | |
[***] | [***] | |
[***] | [***] | |
[***] | [***] | |
[***] | [***] |
The above milestone payment shall be paid on the first Product and first indication only.
e. Duration of Other Product Royalties. Royalties on Other Products shall be payable on a country-by-country and product-by-product basis for the longer of [***] years after the first bona fide commercial sale of an Other Product in a country or expiration of any market exclusivity period granted by a regulatory agency
f. Highest Royalty Due. If a Product is covered by both the definition of Patent Product, Regulatory Exclusivity Product and Other Product, but not a Generic Product, Columbia shall be entitled to the Patent Product royalty rate on the Product. Columbia shall not be entitled to more than one royalty payment on the same Product sale under Section 4. To the extent a Product ceases being a Patent Product, but is still an Other Product, Columbia shall be entitled to the Other Product royalty rate on the Product, but only for such time as specified in Section 4e. By way of example, but not by way of limitation, if the manufacture of a Product is Covered by the claim of a Patent, and the manufacture of that Product also incorporates in part Technical Information, Company must pay the royalty specified in Section 4b(ii)(A)(1). If, after some period of time (for example, five years) of paying the royalties specified in Section 4b(ii)(A)(1) on the Product, the Product ceases to be a Patent Product, Company must continue to pay royalties on the Product pursuant to Section 4b(ii)(A)(3) for the duration specified in Section 4e measured from the first bona fide commercial sale of the Patent Product on a country-by-country and product-by-product basis.
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g. No Non-Monetary Consideration. Without Columbia’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, Company, Sublicensees, Designees, and Affiliates of the foregoing, shall not solicit or accept any consideration for the sale of any Product other than as will be accurately reflected in Net Sales. Furthermore, Company shall not enter into any transaction with any Affiliate that would circumvent its monetary or other obligations under this Agreement.
h. Rate Adjustment on Challenge; Payment of Costs and Expenses.
(i) In the event Company (or any entity or person acting on its behalf) initiates any proceeding any claim challenging the validity or enforceability of any Patent in any court, administrative agency or other forum (“Challenge”), all royalty rates, minimum royalties, and other payment rates set forth in Sections 4b(ii) and 4c shall be automatically [***] on and after the date of such challenge for the remaining term of this Agreement.
(ii) Company shall pay all costs and expenses incurred by Columbia (including actual attorneys’ fees) in connection with defending a Challenge. Columbia may bill Company on a quarterly basis with respect to such costs and expenses, and Company shall make payment within [***] days after receiving an invoice from Columbia.
(iii) In the event at least one claim of a Patent that is subject to a Challenge survives the Challenge by not being found invalid or unenforceable, regardless of whether the claim is amended as part of the Challenge, all royalty rates, minimum royalties, and other payment rates set forth in Sections 4b(ii) and 4c shall be [***] on and after the date of such finding for the remaining term of this Agreement.
Company acknowledges and agrees that the provisions set forth in this Section 4h reasonably reflect the value derived from the Agreement by Company in the event of a Challenge. In addition, Company acknowledges and agrees that any payments made under this Section 4h shall be nonrefundable and non-recoverable for any reason whatsoever.
i. Sale Below Fair Market Value. In the event that Company, Sublicensees, Designees or their Affiliates sell Product to a Third Party for subsequent sale, rental, lease or other transfer to whom it also sells other products, the price for Licensed Product shall not be established such that Net Sales is below fair market value with the intent of increasing market share for other products sold by Company, Sublicensees, Designees or their Affiliates to such Third Party or for the purpose of reducing the amount of royalties payable on the Net Sales of Product. If the sale of Product under such circumstances results in Net Sales below the fair market value of Product, then the Net Sales of Product in such transaction shall be deemed to be the fair market value for purposes of calculating payments owed to Columbia under this Agreement. These provisions will not apply to the transfer of Product to a Third Party for humanitarian or compassionate use or for use in clinical trials or research whereby Company, Sublicensee or any Designee or Affiliate of any of the foregoing will not receive any monetary value for such Product.
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5. Reports and Payments.
a. Within [***] days after the first business day of each [***] of each License Year of this Agreement, Company shall submit to Columbia a written report with respect to the preceding [***] (the “Payment Report”) stating:
(i) Gross and Net Sales of Products by Company, Sublicensees, Designees and their Affiliates during such [***], together with detailed information sufficient to permit Columbia to verify the accuracy of reported Net Sales, including Product names, country where manufactured, country where sold, actual selling price, units sold ;
(ii) Amounts accruing to, and amounts received by, Company from its Sublicensees during such [***] together with the respective payment reports received by Company from any Sublicensees; and
(iii) A calculation under Section 4 of the amounts due to Columbia, making reference to the applicable subsection thereof.
b. Simultaneously with the submission of each Payment Report, Company shall make payments to Columbia of the amounts due for the [***] covered by the Payment Report. Payment shall be by check payable to The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York and sent to the following address:
The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia Technology Ventures
P.O. Box 1394
New York, NY 10008-1394
or to such other address as Columbia may specify by notice hereunder, or if requested by Columbia, by wire transfer of immediately available funds by Company to:
[***]
(This is the bank's address, not Columbia University’s.
Do not use this address for correspondence to Columbia University.)
[***]
or to such other bank and account identified by notice to Company by Columbia. Company is required to send the [***] royalty statement whether or not royalty payments are due.
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c. Within [***] days after the date of termination or expiration of this Agreement, Company shall pay Columbia any and all amounts that are due pursuant to this Agreement as of the date of such termination or expiration, together with a Payment Report for such payment in accordance with Section 5a hereof, except that such Payment Report shall cover the period from the end of the last [***] prior to termination or expiration to the date of termination or expiration. Nothing in the foregoing shall be deemed to satisfy any of Company’s other obligations under this Agreement upon termination or expiration.
d. Minimum royalty payments are payable in accordance with Section 4b(ii)(B).
e. With respect to revenues obtained by Company in foreign countries, Company shall make royalty payments to Columbia in the United States in United States Dollars. Royalty payments for transactions outside the United States shall first be determined in the currency of the country in which they are earned, and then converted to United States dollars using the buying rates of exchange quoted by The Wall Street Journal (or its successor) in New York, New York for the last business day of the [***] in which the royalties were earned. Any and all loss of exchange value, taxes, or other expenses incurred in the transfer or conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars, and any income, remittance, or other taxes on such royalties required to be withheld at the source shall be the exclusive responsibility of Company, and shall not be used to decrease the amount of royalties due to Columbia. Royalty statements shall show sales both in the local currency and US dollars, with the exchange rate used clearly stated.
f. Company shall maintain at its principal office usual books of account and records showing its actions under this Agreement, and sufficient to determine Company’s compliance with its obligations hereunder. Upon reasonable notice, but not more than [***] per calendar year, Columbia may have an independent national certified public accountant or auditor, (to whom Company has no reasonable objection) inspect and copy such books and records for purposes of verifying the accuracy of the amounts paid under this Agreement. The review may cover a period of not more than [***] years before the first day of the [***] in which the review is requested. In the event that such review shows that Company has underpaid royalties by [***] or more with respect to any [***], or if such underpayment is in excess of [***] for any [***], or an aggregate of [***] for any [***], Company shall pay, within [***] days after demand by Columbia, the costs and expenses of such review (including the fees charged by Columbia’s accountant and attorney involved in the review), in addition to amount of any underpayment and any interest thereon. Company agrees to cooperate fully with the independent accountant or auditor and Columbia’s in house attorney in connection with any such review. For the sake of clarity, the audit will be performed by the independent accountant or auditor. During the review, Company shall provide Columbia’s accountant or auditor and in-house attorney to audit and test for completeness, including without limitation, with information relating to sales, inventory, manufacturing, purchasing, transfer records, customer lists, invoices, purchase orders, sales orders, shipping documentation, third-party royalty reports, cost information, pricing policies, and agreements with third parties (including Sublicensees, Designees, Affiliates of Company, Sublicensees and Designees, and customers) (collectively, “Company Documentation”). Columbia agrees that all Company Documentation will be reviewed by the independent accountant or auditor and Columbia’s in house attorney only.
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g. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (including Section 15b), and without limiting any of Columbia’s rights and remedies hereunder, any payment required hereunder that is made late (including unpaid portions of amounts due) shall bear interest, compounded monthly, either at the rate of [***] per annum, or in Columbia’s sole discretion, at the U.S. prime rate plus [***] as published by the Wall Street Journal on the last day of the applicable billing period. Any interest charged or paid in excess of the maximum rate permitted by applicable New York State Law shall be deemed the result of a mistake and interest paid in excess of the maximum rate shall be credited or refunded (at the Company’s option) to Company.
h. Company shall reimburse Columbia for any costs and expenses incurred in connection with collecting on any arrears of Company with respect to its payment and reimbursement obligations under this Agreement (such as Section 11b of this Agreement), including the costs of engaging any collection agency for such purpose.
6. Diligence.
a. Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to research, discover, develop and market a Products for commercial sale and distribution in the Field and throughout the Territory, and to such end, such efforts will include the following:
(i) | Investigational New Drug Application (IND) |
· | File IND [***] of receiving final study report on GLP toxicity studies (Company as Sponsor) |
(ii) | Phase I Clinical Trials | |
· | MAD Phase trial (normal volunteers) completed [***] |
· | Phase Ib trial in Stargardt patients and/or elderly individuals completed [***] (may be combined with Phase II for Starbardt disease) |
(iii) | Phase II/III Clinical Trials |
· | Complete recruitment of [***] |
· | Complete [***] Phase II/III in Stargardt Disease [***] |
· | Complete recruitment of Phase II clinical trial in Dry AMD [***] |
· | Complete Phase II clinical trial in Dry AMD [***] |
· | Complete recruitment of Phase III clinical trial in Dry AMD [***] |
· | Complete Phase III clinical trial in Dry AMD [***] |
(iv) | Regulatory Approval |
· | Obtain Regulatory Approval in Stargardt Disease [***] |
· | Obtain Regulatory Approval in Dry AMD [***] |
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b. In the event that Company is unable to achieve a particular milestone set forth in Section 6a, Company will notify Columbia and upon payment of a [***] fee, Columbia will agree to a [***] extension of the due date for such milestone. In the event after completion of Phase I Trials (as per Section 6a(ii)) there are unforeseen changes in clinical or regulatory development that Company believes would affect the timely achievement of any milestone, Company may request an extension from Columbia for such milestone, which will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, failure to achieve any of Company’s diligence obligations under this Section shall result in Columbia having the option of terminating all of the licenses granted under Section 2 in accordance with Section 16 of this Agreement, or converting any or all of such exclusive licenses to non-exclusive licenses with no right to sublicense and no right to initiate legal proceedings pursuant to Section 11.
i. No less often than every six (6) months after the Effective Date of this Agreement, Company shall report in writing to Columbia on progress made toward the diligence objectives set forth above.
7. Confidentiality.
a. Except to the extent required to discover, develop, manufacture, use, sell, have sold, distribute, rent or lease Products in the Field, each Party will treat as confidential any Confidential Information disclosed hereunder, and will not disclose or distribute the same to any third party without the discloser’s written permission.
b. The obligations of confidentiality under this Section 7 do not apply to any Confidential Information that Company can demonstrate:
(i) was known to recipient prior to receipt thereof from discloser;
(ii) was or becomes a matter of public information or publicly available through no act or failure to act on the part of recipient;
(iii) is acquired by recipient from a third party not bound by a confidentiality obligation with respect to the Discloser’s Confidential Information; or
(iv) Recipient discovers, develops independently without reference to or use of such Confidential Information, as evidenced by contemporaneous written records.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, either Party to this Agreement shall have the right to disclose such Confidential Information pursuant to (i) a judicial order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) other valid and binding court ordered discovery, (iii) lawful governmental order or (iv) law, regulation or rule (including, without limitation, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or any foreign equivalent) or the rules of any applicable exchange on which any shares are listed, but only to the extent so ordered, provided, however, that in each case the Party so ordered or obligated shall notify the other Party to this Agreement, in writing, of such pending action to compel disclosure or such order in sufficient time to permit adequate time for response by the affected Party. The Recipient shall provide all reasonable assistance, at the Disclosing Party's expense and direction, in opposing such disclosure order.
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8. Disclaimer of Warranty; Limitations of Liability.
a. COLUMBIA IS LICENSING THE PATENTS, MATERIALS, TECHNICAL INFORMATION, AND THE SUBJECT OF ANY OTHER LICENSE HEREUNDER, ON AN “AS IS” BASIS. COLUMBIA MAKES NO WARRANTIES EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED OF ANY KIND, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR GUARANTEES OF ANY KIND AS TO THE PATENTS, MATERIALS, TECHNICAL INFORMATION, PRODUCTS AND/OR ANYTHING DISCOVERED, DEVELOPED, MANUFACTURED, USED, SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, IMPORTED, EXPORTED, DISTRIBUTED, RENTED, LEASED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNDER ANY LICENSE GRANTED HEREUNDER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, TITLE, FITNESS, ADEQUACY OR SUITABILITY FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, USE OR RESULT; ANY WARRANTIES AS TO THE VALIDITY OF ANY PATENT; AND ANY WARRANTIES OF FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT OF ANY DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, TRADE SECRETS OR OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHTS OF ANY PARTY.
b. In no event shall Columbia, or its trustees, officers, faculty members, students, employees and agents, have any liability to Company, Sublicensees, Designees, or Affiliates of the foregoing, or any Third Party arising out of the use, operation or application of the Patents, Technical Information, Materials, Products, or anything discovered, developed, manufactured, used, sold, offered for sale, imported, exported, distributed, rented, leased or otherwise disposed of under any license granted hereunder by Company, Sublicensees, Designees or Affiliates of the foregoing, or any Third Party for any reason, including but not limited to, the unmerchantability, inadequacy or unsuitability of the Patents, Materials, Technical Information, Products and/or anything discovered, developed, manufactured, used, sold, offered for sale, imported, exported, distributed, rented, leased or otherwise disposed of under any license granted hereunder for any particular purpose or to produce any particular result, or for any latent defects therein except in the case where such liability is the direct result of Columbia’s gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
c. In no event will Columbia, or its trustees, officers, faculty members, students, employees and agents, be liable to the Company, Sublicensees, Designees or Affiliates of the foregoing, or any Third Party, for any consequential, incidental, special or indirect damages (including, but not limited to, from any destruction to property or from any loss of use, revenue, profit, time or good will) based on activity arising out of or related to this Agreement, whether pursuant to a claim of breach of contract or any other claim of any type except in the case where such damages are the direct result of Columbia’s gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
d. In no event shall Columbia’s liability to Company exceed the payments made to Columbia by Company under this Agreement.
e. The parties hereto acknowledge that the limitations and exclusions of liability and disclaimers of warranty set forth in this Agreement form an essential basis of the bargain between the parties.
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9. | Prohibition Against Use of Columbia’s Name. |
Company will not use the name, insignia, or symbols of Columbia, its faculties or departments, or any variation or combination thereof, or the name of any trustee, faculty member, other employee, or student of Columbia for any purpose whatsoever without Columbia’s prior written consent except to state that the patents are licensed from Columbia and as otherwise required by law, regulation, directive, treaty or order or subpoena, including under securities laws or regulations or other rules of any exchange on which securities are traded.
10. | Compliance with Governmental Obligations. |
a. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, Columbia disclaims any obligation or liability arising under the license provisions of this Agreement if Company or its Affiliates is charged in a governmental action for not complying with or fails to comply with governmental regulations in the course of taking steps to bring any Product to a point of practical application.
b. Company and its Affiliates shall comply upon reasonable notice from Columbia with all governmental requests directed to either Columbia or Company or its Affiliates and provide all information and assistance necessary to comply with the governmental requests.
c. Company and its Affiliates shall ensure that research, development, manufacturing and marketing under this Agreement complies with all government regulations in force and effect including, but not limited to, Federal, state, and municipal legislation.
11. | Patent Prosecution and Maintenance; Litigation. |
a. Columbia, by counsel it selects to whom Company has no reasonable objection, in consultation with Company and any counsel appointed by the Company, will prepare, file, prosecute and maintain all Patents in Columbia’s name and in countries designated by the Company. Columbia shall instruct its patent counsel (1) to copy Company on all correspondence related to Patents (including copies of each patent application, office action, response to office action, request for terminal disclaimer, and request for reissue or reexamination of any patent or patent application) and (2) as requested by Company, to provide an update as to the current status of all Patents. The parties agree that consultation between the parties relating to the Patents under this Section 11 shall be pursuant to a common interest in the validity, enforceability and scope of the Patents. Each party shall treat such consultation, along with any information disclosed by each party in connection therewith (including any information concerning patent expenses), on a strictly confidential basis, and shall not disclose such consultation or information to any party without the other party’s prior written consent. If Company seeks to challenge the validity, enforceability or scope of any Patent, Columbia’s consultation obligation under this Section 11a shall automatically terminate; for the avoidance of doubt, any such termination shall not affect Company’s confidentiality and nondisclosure obligations with respect to consultation or disclosure of information prior to such termination, and shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement (including Company’s reimbursement obligation under Section 11b).
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b. Company will reimburse Columbia for the actual fees, costs, and expenses Columbia has incurred prior to [***] not to exceed [***] upon receiving Columbia’s itemized invoices and will pay the actual fees, costs, and expenses that Columbia incurs following [***]in preparing, filing, prosecuting and maintaining the Patents and those past patent expenses Columbia incurred prior to [***] relating to the following patents and patent applications to which Patents claim priority, issue fees, working fees, maintenance fees and renewal charges (collectively “Patent Expenses”). Columbia, using reasonable efforts, estimates that unreimbursed patent expenses incurred through [***] upon receiving Columbia’s itemized invoices under Section 11a in connection with the Patents set forth in Exhibit A are $ [***], and shall be reimbursed in full by Company to Columbia within seven (7) business days after the Effective Date and receiving Columbia’s itemized invoice. Patent Expenses incurred by Columbia after [***] shall be reimbursed to Columbia by Company within fourteen (14) days of receiving Columbia’s itemized invoice. Pursuant to Section 1(e), should the diabetic retinopathy indication be licensed to another party, Columbia agrees to provide a reduction on a pro rata credit basis of the patent expenses to the Company. However, at Columbia’s election, Columbia may require advance payment of a reasonable estimate of future Patent Expenses, and Columbia may require the Company to make such payment up to three months prior to the date Columbia has chosen for the legal work to be completed. In any event, Columbia will give at least 14 days’ notice to the Company prior to the date the advance payment is due. Any unused balance, if any, will be credited towards future Patent Expenses, or upon Company’s written request, returned to the Company. Within fourteen (14) days of receiving an invoice from Columbia for any Patent Expenses incurred in excess of the reasonable estimate, Company shall reimburse Columbia for such excess amount. Upon failure of Company to pay Patenting Expenses for any Patent(s) as required by this Section 11b, Columbia may abandon any said Patent(s) in its sole discretion. In such event, Columbia will provide notice of abandonment to Company.
c. Subject to Sections 11d and 11f, Columbia shall have the sole right to initiate, control, defend and/or settle any proceedings involving the validity, enforceability or infringement of any Patents when in its sole judgment such action may be necessary, proper, and justified.
d. Upon written notice to Columbia, Company may request that Columbia take steps to stop a third party who is selling a product that does or will compete with a Product sold or being developed by Company or any of its Affiliates (but not a Sublicensee, or Sublicensee Affiliate) (“Third Party Infringer”) from infringing an issued patent falling within the definition of Patents by providing Columbia with written evidence demonstrating prima facie infringement of specific claims of such Patent. Company shall have the right to initiate legal proceedings against any such Third-Party Infringer in its own name and at Company’s sole expense, unless Columbia, not later than ninety (90) days after receipt of such notice, either (i) causes such infringement to cease or (ii) initiates legal proceedings against the Third-Party Infringer. Company will provide all assistance reasonably requested by Columbia and will not make any admission or assert any position in any legal or administrative proceeding that is inconsistent with or adverse to any position asserted by Columbia in any proceedings against the Third Party Infringer, without Columbia’s prior written consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Columbia shall have no obligation to assert more than one Patent in one jurisdiction against the Third-Party Infringer. In the event that Columbia does not cause infringement to cease or fails to initiate legal proceedings as set forth above and Company initiates legal proceedings against the Third Party Infringer, Columbia will join the action as a co-plaintiff if the court determines that Columbia is an essential party to the action. Any proposed disposition or settlement of a legal proceeding filed by Company to enforce any issued patent falling within the definition of Patents against any Third-Party Infringer shall be subject to Columbia’s prior written approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Company’s rights under this Section 11d shall apply only to claims of Patents that are exclusively licensed to Company under this Agreement and only in the Field and Territory which are exclusively licensed to Company under this Agreement
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e. Any recovery, whether by way of settlement or judgment, from a third party pursuant to a legal proceeding initiated in accordance with Section 11d shall first be used to reimburse the party initiating such legal proceeding for its actual fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with such proceeding. Any remaining amounts from any such settlement or judgment shall be divided as follows: (A) Columbia shall retain or receive, as applicable, the royalty that it would have otherwise received under Section 4b(ii) had such activities been performed by Company, and (B) all other such amounts (including any punitive or exemplary damages) shall be divided [***] to the party who initiated or carried on the proceedings and [***] to the other party.
f. In the event a party initiates or defends a legal proceeding concerning any Patent pursuant to Section 11, the other party shall cooperate fully with and supply all assistance reasonably requested by the party initiating such proceeding, including without limitation, joining the proceeding as a party if requested. The party that institutes any legal proceeding concerning any Patent pursuant to Section 11 shall have sole control of that proceeding.
12. | Indemnity and Insurance. |
a. Company will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Columbia, its trustees, officers, faculty, employees, students and agents, from and against any and all actions, suits, claims, demands, prosecutions, liabilities, costs, expenses, damages, deficiencies, losses or obligations (including attorneys’ fees) based on, arising out of, or relating to this Agreement, including, without limitation (collectively the “Claims”), (i) the discovery, development, manufacture, packaging, use, sale, offering for sale, importation, exportation, distribution, rental or lease of Products, even if altered for use for a purpose not intended, (ii) the use of Patents, Materials or Technical Information by Company, Sublicensees, Designees, or their Affiliates or customers, (iii) any representation made or warranty given by Company, Sublicensees, Designees, or their Affiliates with respect to Products, Patents, Materials or Technical Information, (iv) any infringement claims relating to Products, Patents, Materials or Technical Information, and (v) any asserted violation of the Export Laws (as defined in Section 14 hereof) by Company, Sublicensees, Designees, or their Affiliates, except that Company shall not be required to indemnify Columbia if the Claims are the direct result of Columbia’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Company shall reimburse Columbia for the actual fees, costs, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) that it may incur in enforcing this provision.
b. Company shall maintain, during the term of this Agreement, commercial general liability insurance (including product liability and contractual liability insurance applicable to Company’s indemnity obligations under Section 12a) with reputable and financially secure insurance carriers reasonably acceptable to Columbia to cover the activities of Company, Sublicensees, Designees, and their Affiliates, for minimum limits of [***] combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage per occurrence and in the aggregate. Such insurance shall include Columbia, its trustees, faculty, officers, employees and agents as additional insureds. Company shall furnish a certificate of insurance evidencing such coverage, with thirty days’ written notice to Columbia of cancellation or material change in coverage. The minimum amounts of insurance coverage required herein shall not be construed as creating any limitation on the Company’s indemnity obligation under Section 12a of this Agreement.
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c. Company’s insurance shall be primary coverage; any insurance Columbia may purchase shall be excess and noncontributory. The Company’s insurance shall be written to cover claims incurred, discovered, manifested, or made during or after the expiration of this Agreement.
d. Company shall at all times comply with all statutory workers’ compensation and employers’ liability requirements covering its employees with respect to activities performed under this Agreement.
13. | Marking. |
Prior to the issuance of patents falling within the definition of Patents, Company shall mark all Patent Products, where reasonably practicable, made, sold, offered for sale, imported, or otherwise disposed of by Company under the license granted in this Agreement with the words “Patent Pending,” and following the issuance of one or more patents, with the numbers of such patents. The Company shall cause its Affiliates, and its Sublicensees and Designees and their Affiliates, to comply with the marking requirements of this Section 13 where reasonably practicable.
14. | Export Control Laws. |
Company agrees to comply with U.S. export laws and regulations pertaining to the export of technical data, services and commodities, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 C.F.R. § 120 et seq.), the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. § 730 et seq.), the regulations administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (31 C.F.R. § 500, et seq.), and the Anti-Boycott Regulations (15 C.F.R. § 760). The parties shall cooperate with each other to facilitate compliance with these laws and regulations.
Company understands that sharing controlled technical data with non-U.S. persons is an export to that person’s country of citizenship that is subject to U.S. export laws and regulations, even if the transfer occurs in the United States. Company shall obtain any necessary U.S. government license or other authorization required pursuant to the U.S. export control laws and regulations for the export or re-export of any commodity, service or technical data covered by this Agreement, including technical data acquired from Columbia pursuant to this Agreement and products created as a result of that data.
15. | Breach and Cure. |
a. In addition to applicable legal standards, Company shall be deemed to be in material breach of this Agreement for: (i) failure to pay fully and promptly amounts due pursuant to Section 4 (including without limitation, the minimum royalties under subsection b(ii)(B) thereof and any payments required under subsection h thereof) and payable pursuant to Section 5; (ii) failure of Company to meet any of its obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement; (iii) failure to comply with governmental requests directed to Columbia or Company pursuant to Section 10b; (iv) failure to reimburse Columbia for or pay fully and promptly the costs of prosecuting and maintaining Patents pursuant to Section 11; (v) failure to obtain and maintain insurance in the amount and of the type provided for in Section 12; and (vi) failure to comply with the Export Laws under Section 14.
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b. Either party shall have the right to cure its material breach. The cure shall be effected within a reasonable period of time but in no event later than sixty (60) days after notice of any breach given by the non-breaching party.
16. | Term of Agreement. |
a. This Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect until its expiration or termination in accordance with this Section 16.
In addition, upon any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 16c, with respect to: (A) all know-how, technical information and data developed by Company (“Company Technical Information”) during the term of this Agreement, and prior to its termination, to the extent such Company Technical Information is solely and directly related to the Company’s efforts to develop Products; Columbia shall have the right to use such Company Technical Information for any purpose whatsoever on a non-exclusive basis, including the right to sublicense same to future licensees, and Company will provide Columbia (and/or its future licensees) access to any regulatory information filed or authorized by Company with any U.S. or foreign government agency with respect to such Products, and (B) all Company filed patent applications or Company obtained patents, related to any addition, development, modification and/or improvement of Products (“Company Patents”); Company hereby grants Columbia a royalty free, worldwide, non-exclusive license (together with rights to sublicense its future licensees) to make, use and sell Products under such Company Patents. Company agrees upon request, to enter into good faith negotiations with Columbia or Columbia’s future licensee(s), for the purpose of granting exclusive licensing rights (subject to pre-existing licenses) to said Company Patents in a timely fashion and under commercially reasonable terms. In the event that Columbia grants a license to a Third Party to intellectual property that includes Company Technical Information or Company Patents, the Parties will negotiate in good faith Company’s share of any net revenue received by Columbia from such license taking into consideration Company’s contribution to the intellectual property licensed to such Third Party. In the event that this Agreement is terminated by either Party under Section 17, Company will transfer the ownership of the Orphan Drug Designation and Orphan Medicinal Product Designation promptly after the effective date of termination of this Agreement to Columbia.
b. Unless terminated earlier under any provision of this Agreement, the term of the licenses granted hereunder shall extend, on a country-by-country and product-by-product basis, until the later of (i) the date of expiration of the last to expire of the issued patents falling within the definition of Patents, (ii) [***] after the first bona fide commercial sale of a Product in the country in question, or (iii) expiration of any market exclusivity period granted by a regulatory agency.
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c. The licenses granted under this Agreement may be terminated by Columbia or, at Columbia’s option, Columbia has the right to convert any or all of such exclusive licenses granted under this Agreement to nonexclusive licenses, with no right to sublicense, and no right by company to initiate legal proceedings pursuant to Section 11: (i) upon written notice to Company if Columbia elects to terminate in accordance with Section 6b; (ii) upon written notice to Company for Company’s material breach of the Agreement and Company’s failure to cure such material breach in accordance with Section 15b; (iii) in the event Company becomes insolvent or is generally not paying its debts as such debts become due; (iv) in the event Company ceases to conduct business as a going concern; and (v) in the event Company (or any entity or person acting on its behalf) initiates any proceeding challenging the validity or enforceability of any Patent in any court, administrative agency or other forum. Termination under (ii) – (v) shall be effective upon date of notice sent pursuant to Section 17.
d. Upon any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 16c, all sublicenses granted by the Company under it shall be assigned to Columbia, upon request and at Columbia’s discretion, provided that Columbia’s obligations under such sublicense shall be consistent with and not exceed Columbia’s obligations to Company under this Agreement and provided that such sublicense agrees in a writing sent to Columbia to assume all obligations of this Agreement for the benefit of Columbia, including the obligations to make all payments due under this Agreement, including but not limited to those specified in Section 4b, 4c, 4d, 4h and 11b.
e. Sections 4c(ii), 4h, 5c, 5f, 5g, 5h, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16a, 16d, 16e, 16f, 16g, 16h, 17, 19, 22, 23, and 25 will survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement.
f. Any termination of this Agreement shall not adversely affect any rights or obligations that may have accrued to either party prior to the date of termination, including without limitation, Company’s obligation to pay all amounts due and payable under Sections 4 (including the minimum royalties accrued under subsection b(ii)(B) thereof and any payments required under subsection h thereof), 5 and 11 hereof.
g. Upon any termination of this Agreement for any reason other than the expiration of this Agreement under Section 16b or Company’s failure to cure a material breach of this Agreement under Section 16c(ii), Company, Sublicensees, Designees, and their Affiliates shall have the right, for one year or such longer period as the parties may reasonably agree, to dispose of Products or substantially completed Products then on hand, and to complete orders for Products then on hand, and royalties shall be paid to Columbia with respect to such Products as though this Agreement had not terminated. If this Agreement expires under Section 16b, then the Company shall thereafter be free to use the Technical Information and Materials without any further obligation to Columbia.
h. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, to the extent the manufacture of a Product is Covered By an issued patent within the definition of Patents and occurs prior to the expiration of such issued patent, the sale of that Product after the expiration date of the issued patent shall still constitute a royalty-bearing sale under Section 4.
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17. Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and shall be considered given (i) when mailed by certified mail (return receipt requested), postage prepaid, or (ii) on the date of actual delivery by hand or overnight delivery, with receipt acknowledged,
if to Columbia, to: | Executive Director |
Columbia Technology Ventures
Columbia University
80 Claremont Avenue, #4F, Mail Code 9606
New York, NY 10027-5712
copy to: | General Counsel |
Columbia University
412 Low Memorial Library
535 West 116th Street, Mail Code 4308
New York, New York 10027
if to the Company, to:
Chairman & CEO
Tom Lin, MD, PhD
Lin Bioscience, Inc.
12F., No. 68, Sec 5, Zhongxiao E. Road, Xinyi Dist.,
Taipei City 110, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
copy to: | Irene Wang |
12358 Carmel Country Road, A304
San Diego, CA 92130, USA
or to such other address as a party may specify by notice hereunder.
18. Assignment. This Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned by either party without the written consent of the other party except in connection with the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of such party or the division to which this agreement relates. Any attempt to assign without compliance with this provision shall be void.
19. Waiver and Election of Remedies. The failure of any party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party thereafter of the right to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement. All waivers must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the party against which such waiver is being sought. The pursuit by either party of any remedy to which it is entitled at any time or continuation of the Agreement despite a breach by the other shall not be deemed an election of remedies or waiver of the right to pursue any other remedies to which it may be entitled.
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20. Binding on Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns to the extent assignment is permitted under this Agreement.
21. Independent Contractors. It is the express intention of the parties that the relationship of Columbia and the Company shall be that of independent contractors and shall not be that of agents, partners or joint venturers. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to permit or authorize either party to incur, or represent that it has the power to incur, any obligation or liability on behalf of the other party.
22. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement, together with the Exhibits, sets forth the entire agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous agreements, written or oral, concerning such subject matter. This Agreement may be amended only by written agreement duly executed by the parties.
23. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable because it is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreement did not contain the particular provisions held to be unenforceable, unless such construction would materially alter the meaning of this Agreement. By way of example, but not by way of limitation, Sections 4h(i), 4h(ii) and 4h(iii) are intended by Company and Columbia to be severable from each other, such that if one clause is found to be unenforceable, the other clauses remain operative and in effect.
24. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly set forth herein, the parties hereto agree that there are no third-party beneficiaries of any kind to this Agreement.
25. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of New York as applicable to agreements made and wholly performed within the State of New York, and without reference to the conflict or choice of laws principles of any jurisdiction. Unless otherwise separately agreed in writing, the parties agree that any and all claims arising under or related to this Agreement shall be heard and determined only in either the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York or in the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, and the parties irrevocably agree to submit themselves to the exclusive and personal jurisdiction of those courts and irrevocably waive any and all rights any such party may now or hereafter have to object to such jurisdiction or the convenience of the forum.
26. Execution in Counterparts; Facsimile or Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and by facsimile or electronic transmission. This Agreement is not binding on the parties until it has been signed below on behalf of each party.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Columbia and the Company have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the day and year first written above.
THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA | ||
UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | ||
By | /s/ | |
Executive Director, | ||
Columbia Technology Ventures | ||
TTS#49055 |
Lin Bioscience, Inc. | ||
By | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Title | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
23
EXHIBIT A
Patents
[***]
24
Exhibit B
Materials
[***]
25
Exhibit C
Technical Information
[***]
26
Exhibit 10.8
August 15, 2017
Tom Lin, MD, PhD
Lin Bioscience
12F., No. 68, Sec 5, Zhongxiao E. Road, Xinyi Dist.,
Taipei City 110, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
RE: Amendment to the Exclusive Licnese Agreement between Lin Bioscience, Inc. (“Company”) and The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York (“Columbia”), dated September 13, 2016, (“Agreement”)
Dear Dr. Lin:
The above referenced Exclusive License Agreement (“Agreement”) entered into by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York (“Columbia”) and Lin Bioscience,Inc. (“Company”), dated as of September 13, 2016, is hereby amended, pursuant to Section 22 of the Agreement, as follows:
1. | 1.e. Field: The parties agree to delete and replace Section 1e. with the following: |
““Field” shall mean all uses.”
All other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, except as expressly amended herein. If there is any inconsistency or conflict between this Letter and the Agreement, the provisions of this Letter shall govern and control. This Letter shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
Please indicate your agreement to the terms of this Letter by signing where indicated below, and returning a copy to my attention for countersignature.
Very truly yours, | AGREED AND ACKNOWLEDGED: | ||
/s/ Scot Hamilton | Lin Bioscience, Inc. | ||
Scot Hamilton | By: | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Senior Director | Tom Lin | ||
09-07-2017 | Chairman and CEO | ||
TTS# 50909 | Date: | 15 AUGUST 2017 |
Exhibit 10.9
Via Federal Express and electronic mail
May 3, 2018
Chairman & CEO
Tom Lin, MD, PhD
Lin Bioscience, Inc.
12F., No. 68, Sec 5, Zhongxiao E. Road, Xinyi Dist.,
Taipei City 110, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Re: Exclusive License Agreement between The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York ("Columbia") and Lin Bioscience, Inc. ("LBS"), dated September 13, 2016 ("License Agreement")
Dear Dr. Lin,
It is our understanding that LBS is in the process of restructuring and is requesting Columbia's approval for the following assignments of the License Agreement: (i) the assignment by LBS of all of its rights, title, interest, and obligations in and to the License Agreement to its wholly owned Cayman subsidiary Lin BioScience International Ltd ("LBS KY1") (the "First Assignment"), and (ii) the assignment by LBS KY1 of all of its rights, title, interest, and obligations in and to the License Agreement to its wholly owned Cayman subsidiary Lin BioScience Co., Ltd. ("LBS KY2") (the "Second Assignment"). The restructuring and the First Assignment and Second Assignment are illustrated and summarized in Exhibit A hereto, which you have kindly provided to us.
You have advised us that in the First Assignment, LBS KY1 will assume and perform all of LBS's duties, obligations and responsibilities under the License Agreement and that in the Second Assignment, LBS KY2 will assume and perform all of LBS KY1's duties, obligations and responsibilities under the License Agreement.
Columbia hereby consents to the First Assignment and the Second Assignment as described herein. Upon the date that the two subscription agreements for this restructuring are executed, LBS KY2 shall be substituted for LBS in all respects under the License Agreement and LBS KY2 (i) shall assume all duties, obligations and responsibilities under the License Agreement and (ii) shall be entitled to enforce any and all rights and benefits arising under the License Agreement.
Sincerely, | |
/s/ Scot Hamilton | |
Scot Hamilton, Director Columbia Technology Ventures, Pursuant to the Delegation of Authority to Sign Documents on behalf of Columbia University Letter, Dated July 1, 2017, after complying with all requirements therein for exercise of such authority. |
Cc: Irene Wang
LBS restructuring & assignment
Current Structure
LBS restructuring & assignment
Step 1
LBS restructuring & assignment
Step 2
LBS restructuring & assignment
Final Structure
Exhibit 10.10
CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS
DOCUMENT, MARKED BY [***], HAS BEEN OMITTED BECAUSE IT IS NOT
MATERIAL AND WOULD LIKELY CAUSE COMPETITIVE
HARM TO THE
COMPANY IF PUBLICLY DISCLOSED
SECOND AMENDMENT TO EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT
This SECOND AMENDMENT TO EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT (the "Second Amendment") is made and entered into by and between THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK ("Columbia") and BELITE BIO, INC (“Company”). This Second Amendment shall become effective upon the date that this Second Amendment is signed by both Columbia and Company (the “Second Amendment Effective Date”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Columbia and LIN BIOSCIENCE, INC. are parties to that certain Exclusive License Agreement dated September 13, 2016, and amended August 15, 2017 (the “License Agreement”);
WHEREAS, LIN BIOSCIENCE, INC. and LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. entered an agreement dated June 30, 2018 to assign the License Agreement to LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. (the “First Assignment”);
WHEREAS, LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. and Company (formerly known as Lin BioScience Co., Ltd.) entered an agreement dated July 1, 2018 to assign the License Agreement to Company (the “Second Assignment”);
WHEREAS, Columbia provided its consent to the First Assignment and the Second Assignment dated May 3, 2018; and
WHEREAS, Company and the Columbia wish to amend the License Agreement in certain respects to add intellectual property licensed to Company under the License Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. | Except as modified through this Second Amendment, all provisions of the License Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Each capitalized term used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meaning set forth in the License Agreement. |
2. | Exhibit A of the License Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following Patent: |
Invention Report No. | Application | Filing Date | Country |
[***] | [***] | ||
[***] | [***] | [***] |
3. | Except as expressly set forth in this Second Amendment, the License Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If there is any inconsistency or conflict between this Second Amendment and the License Agreement, the provisions of this Second Amendment shall govern and control. This Second Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Second Amendment shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second Amendment to the License Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA | ||
UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | ||
By | /s/ Scot G. Hamilton | |
Name: Scot G. Hamilton | ||
Title: AVP | ||
TTS: 53601 (Original: 49055) | ||
Date: March 27, 2019 | ||
BELITE BIO, INC | ||
By | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Name: Tom Lin | ||
Title: Director | ||
Date: March 28, 2019 |
Exhibit 10.11
CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, MARKED BY [***], HAS BEEN OMITTED BECAUSE IT IS NOT MATERIAL AND WOULD LIKELY CAUSE COMPETITIVE HARM TO THE COMPANY IF PUBLICLY DISCLOSED
THIRD AMENDMENT
TO
EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT
This THIRD AMENDMENT TO EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is made and entered into as of October 24, 2019 (“Third Amendment Effective Date”) by and between Belite Bio, Inc ("Company") and The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York ("Columbia").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Columbia and LIN BIOSCIENCE, INC. are parties to that certain Exclusive License Agreement dated September 13, 2016, and amended on August 15, 2017 (the “License Agreement”);
WHEREAS, LIN BIOSCIENCE, INC. and LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. entered an agreement dated June 30, 2018 to assign the License Agreement to LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. (the “First Assignment”);
WHEREAS, LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. and Company (formerly known as Lin BioScience Co., Ltd.) entered an agreement dated July 1, 2018 to assign the License Agreement to Company (the “Second Assignment”);
WHEREAS, Columbia provided its consent to the First Assignment and the Second Assignment dated May 3, 2018;
WHEREAS, Company and Columbia are parties to the License Agreement, and amended on March 28, 2019 (collectively, the “Agreement”). Each capitalized term used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Company and the Columbia wish to amend the Agreement in certain respects;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. | The first two lines of Section 2b of the Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following: |
“Columbia grants to Company the right to grant sublicenses, provided that (i) the Sublicensee agrees to”
2. | Section 4c(ii) of the Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following: |
“Company or Sublicensee, as applicable, will pay to Columbia an amount equal to [***] of Priority Review Voucher Revenue. If Company or Sublicensee, as applicable, have not sold the Priority Review Voucher [***] receipt of the Priority Review Voucher, royalties due under Section 3b(ii)(A)(1) shall [***] of Net Sales of Patent Products.”
3. | Section 4d shall be amended by adding the following language at the end of the provision: |
“In the event that Company achieves a milestone for a Product without the need to achieve any milestone(s) preceding it, Company will pay Columbia the milestone payment for the achieved milestone and payment(s) due for any preceding milestone(s) not already paid for such Product.”
4. | Except as expressly set forth in this Third Amendment, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If there is any inconsistency or conflict between this Third Amendment and the Agreement, the provisions of this Amendment shall govern and control. This Third Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Third Amendment shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Amendment to the License Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | ||
By | /s/ Scot G. Hamilton |
Name: | Scot G. Hamilton | |
Title: | AVP |
TTs#55016
| ||
BELITE BIO, INC | ||
By | /s/ Tom Lin |
Name: | Tom Lin | |
Title: | Director |
Exhibit 10.12
CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, MARKED BY [***], HAS BEEN OMITTED BECAUSE IT IS NOT MATERIAL AND WOULD LIKELY CAUSE COMPETITIVE HARM TO THE COMPANY IF PUBLICLY DISCLOSED
FOURTH AMENDMENT
TO
EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT
This FOURTH AMENDMENT TO EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is made and entered into as of September 1, 2021 (“Fourth Amendment Effective Date”) by and between Belite Bio, Inc ("Company") and The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York ("Columbia").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Columbia and LIN BIOSCIENCE, INC. are parties to that certain Exclusive License Agreement dated September 13, 2016, and amended on August 15, 2017, March 28, 2019 and October 24, 2019 (collectively, the “License Agreement”);
WHEREAS, LIN BIOSCIENCE, INC. and LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. entered an agreement dated June 30, 2018 to assign the License Agreement to LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. (the “First Assignment”);
WHEREAS, LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. and Company (formerly known as Lin BioScience Co., Ltd.) entered an agreement dated July 1, 2018 to assign the License Agreement to Company (the “Second Assignment”);
WHEREAS, Columbia provided its consent to the First Assignment and the Second Assignment dated May 3, 2018;
WHEREAS, Company and Columbia are parties to the License Agreement as amended (collectively, the “Agreement”). Each capitalized term used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Company and Columbia wish to amend the Agreement in certain respects;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
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1. | Section 6 of the Agreement (Diligence) is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following: |
6. Diligence.
a. | Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to research, discover, develop and market a Products for commercial sale and distribution in the Field and throughout the Territory, and to such end, such efforts will include the following: |
(i) | Investigational New Drug Application (IND) |
· | File IND [***] of receiving final study report on GLP toxicity studies (Company as Sponsor) |
(ii) | Phase I Clinical Trials |
· | MAD Phase I trial (normal volunteers) completed [***] |
· | Complete Phase Ib trial in Stargardt Disease patients [***] (may be combined with Phase II for Stargardt Disease) |
(iii) | Phase II/III Clinical Trials |
· | Start Phase II in Stargardt Disease [***] |
· | Start Phase III in Stargardt Disease [***] |
· | Start Phase II or Phase III clinical trial in Dry AMD [***] |
(iv) | Regulatory Approval |
· | Obtain Regulatory Approval in Stargardt Disease [***] |
· | Obtain Regulatory Approval in Dry AMD [***] |
2. | Company and Columbia acknowledge that Columbia’s employee Dr. Kostantin Petrukhin and Company’s employee(s) Yu-Hsin Tom Lin and Cheng-Chi Irene Wang are inventors on certain patent applications filed by Company, and that such Patents are jointly-owned by Company and Columbia (the “Joint Patent(s)”). Company and Columbia agree that Company will continue to prepare, file and maintain such patent applications and/or patents for the Joint Patents at Company’s sole expense, in consultation with Columbia using counsel reasonably acceptable to Columbia. The following shall be inserted at the end of Section 11(a) (Patent Prosecution and Maintenance; Litigation): |
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“For any Patents jointly-owned by Columbia and Company (“Joint Patent(s)”) filed by or on behalf of Company, Company shall instruct its patent counsel (1) to copy Columbia on all correspondence related to such Patents (including but not limited to copies of each patent application, office action, response to office action, request for terminal disclaimer, and request for reissue or reexamination of any patent or patent application) and (2) as requested by Columbia, to provide an update as to the current status of such Patents.
Company shall not abandon any Joint Patents without giving Columbia sixty (60) days’ written notice. Upon receiving such notice, Columbia shall have the right in its sole discretion to remove such Joint Patents from the Patents exclusively licensed to the Company under this Agreement and to assume complete control of all further patent prosecution in that country at Columbia’s sole expense, and Company will have, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and contract, no further right, title, or interest in that particular patent application or any patent issuing in the applicable country(ies), and will not be entitled to commercialize said Joint Patent(s). Company shall at the request of Columbia freely execute any documents necessary to vest the maximum legally-permissible ownership or control of the applicable patent application(s) or patent(s) in Columbia (e.g., by assignment or exclusive license).”
3. | The parties wish to add the Joint Patents to the exclusive license to Patents granted by Columbia to Company under the Agreement. The following Patents shall be added to Exhibit A: |
Invention Report No. | Application / Patent No. | Filing Date | Country |
[***] | [***] | ||
[***] | [***] | [***] | |
[***] | [***] | [***] | |
[***] | [***] | [***] | |
[***] | [***] | [***] | |
[***] | [***] | [***] | |
[***] | [***] | [***] |
4. | Except as expressly set forth in this Fourth Amendment, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If there is any inconsistency or conflict between this Fourth Amendment and the Agreement, the provisions of this Amendment shall govern and control. This Fourth Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Fourth Amendment shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fourth Amendment to the License Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA | ||
UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | ||
By: | /s/ Scot G. Hamilton | |
Name: Scot G. Hamilton | ||
Title: AVP for CTV at Columbia University | ||
TTS #58759 (Original Agt #49055) | ||
BELITE BIO, INC | ||
By: | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Name: Tom Lin | ||
Title: Director |
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Exhibit 10.13
LBS-008 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Research and Development Services Agreement (this “Agreement”), effective as of July 1, 2021 (“Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Belite Bio, Inc, a Cayman corporation, with contact office located at 12F., No.68, Sec. 5, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City 110, Taiwan (“Belite Inc”) and Lin BioScience, Inc., a Taiwan corporation, located at 12F., No.68, Sec. 5, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City 110, Taiwan (“Lin Inc.”).
BACKGROUND
A. | Lin Inc. is a drug development company specializing in innovative therapies for diseases with unmet medical needs. Its pipeline aimed at treating life-threatening or disabling diseases in oncology, ophthalmology and metabolic disease. |
B. | Belite Inc is the subsidiary of Lin Inc. |
C. | Belite Inc desires to have Lin Inc. perform certain new drug development services based on the terms and conditions set forth below. |
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | DEFINITIONS |
(a) | “Deliverables” shall mean the results to be delivered by Lin Inc. to Belite Inc as set forth in the SOW. |
(b) | “IPR” means patents, copyrights, trade secrets, design rights or any other proprietary rights, applications for any of the foregoing and any other protection of a similar nature throughout the world, whether now existing or hereinafter developed or obtained. |
(c) | “SOW” means the document titled “Statement of Work” that is attached hereto as Exhibit A. |
(d) | “Services” means the services provided by Lin Inc. relating to, including without limitation, conduct or facilitation of research, development or clinical trials for pipeline LBS-008 as set forth in the SOW. |
2. | SERVICES |
Services. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including without limitation the SOW, during the term of this Agreement, Lin Inc. shall provide the Services and deliver the Deliverables to Belite Inc as set forth in the SOW. Subject to the requirements set forth in the SOW, Belite Inc shall have sole discretion and control over the work performed under this Agreement and the manner in which such work is performed and Lin Inc. shall follow Belite Inc’s instruction.
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3. | FEES AND BILLING |
(a) | Fees. Belite Inc shall pay Lin Inc. for the Services for an amount equal to 110 percent of Lin Inc.’s actual costs for its performance of the Services, including its costs of research and development and personnel, provided that Lin Inc. shall provide Belite Inc with relevant invoices and documentation proving such costs are reasonably incurred by Lin Inc. for its performance of the Services. |
(b) | Expenses. Belite Inc will reimburse Lin Inc. for Lin Inc.’s actual expenses for transportation, travel and lodging provided that such expenses are incurred by Lin Inc. for its performance of the Services and will be reimbursed against invoices. |
(c) | Billing and Payment Terms. The fees and expenses set forth in Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 3 are the only payments Belite Inc shall pay to Lin Inc. under this Agreement. |
(d) | Taxes. All payments required by this Agreement are exclusive of any and all sales, value-added, use, or withholding tax on international services. Such taxes, fees and/or duties, except any taxes based on Lin Inc.’s income, will be assumed by Belite Inc without deduction to amounts owed to Lin Inc. |
4. | DELIVERABLES AND IPR |
(a) | Deliverables. Lin Inc. will transfer to Belite Inc the ownership of the Deliverables. |
(b) | IPR. Lin Inc. acknowledges and agrees that Belite Inc is the sole and exclusive owner of all IPR that Lin Inc. directly or indirectly managed, developed or assisted in the performance of the Services. |
5. | CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION |
(a) | Confidential Information. “Confidential Information” means information, including without limitation information concerning or relating to a party’s business, plans, customers, technology, products, and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in any form that may be disclosed by a party hereto (the “Disclosing Party”) to the other party (the “Receiving Party”); provided that it shall be either (a) conspicuously marked “Confidential” or “Proprietary” if disclosed to the Receiving Party in tangible form, or (b) if disclosed orally, is reduced by the Disclosing Party to a writing conspicuously marked “Confidential” or “Proprietary”, given to the Receiving Party within thirty (30) days of such oral disclosure. |
(b) | Exclusions. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Section 5, Confidential Information excludes information that the Receiving Party can demonstrate: (i) is or becomes part of the public domain through no fault or breach of the Receiving Party; (ii) is known to the Receiving Party prior to disclosure thereof; (iii) is subsequently rightfully obtained by the Receiving Party from a third party that has the legal right to disclose such information to the Receiving Party; (iv) is independently developed by the Receiving Party; (v) is disclosed to others without an obligation of confidentiality; and (vi) is required by law to be disclosed by the Receiving Party, provided that the Receiving Party gives the Disclosing Party prompt written notice of such requirement prior to such disclosure. |
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(c) | Use and Disclosure. During the term of this Agreement and for a period of 3 years thereafter, each party agrees that it shall use the Confidential Information of the other party only to the extent reasonably necessary to perform its obligations or exercise its rights under this Agreement and will not disclose, or permit to be disclosed, the same, directly or indirectly, to any third party except as permitted under this Agreement or otherwise approved in writing by the other party. Each party agrees to exercise at least reasonable care in protecting the Confidential Information from unauthorized use and disclosure. |
6. | LIMITATION OF LIABILITY |
IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF USE, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF DATA, DELAY, COST OF COVER, OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND IN CONNECTION WITH, RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE SERVICES OR THE DELIVERABLES, EVEN IF SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
7. | REPRESENTATION & WARRANTIES |
Lin Inc. represents and warrants that the Services, Deliverables, and any other information/materials provided by Belite Bio, LLC to Belite Inc under this Agreement do not and will not infringe or misappropriate any IPR of any third party or constitute unfair competition or trade practices under the laws of any jurisdiction and there are no claims pending against Lin Inc.
8. | INDEMNIFICATION |
Lin Inc. shall defend, indemnify and hold Belite Inc harmless from any and all claims, damages, losses or suits arising out of or in connection with the performance of this Agreement.
9. | TERM AND TERMINATION |
(a) | Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date, and will continue to be in effect until June 30, 2022 unless and until earlier terminated according to the provisions of Section 9(b). |
(b) | Termination. |
(i) | Either party will have the right to terminate this Agreement, or the applicable SOW, if the other party breaches any material term or condition of this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within 30 days after receipt of written notice of such breach. |
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(ii) | Belite Inc shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, or the applicable SOW, for its convenience by providing Lin Inc. with 30-day advance written notice of such termination. |
(iii) | Either party may terminate this Agreement if: (1) the other party becomes the subject of a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or any voluntary proceeding relating to insolvency, receivership, liquidation, or composition for the benefit of creditors; or (2) the other party becomes the subject of an involuntary petition in bankruptcy or any involuntary proceeding relating to insolvency, receivership, liquidation, or composition for the benefit of creditors, if such petition or proceeding is not dismissed within sixty (60) days of filing. |
(c) | Effect of Termination. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement: (i) Lin Inc. may immediately cease providing Services hereunder; and (ii) any and all payment obligations of Belite Inc under this Agreement will become due immediately. Within thirty (30) days after such expiration or termination, each party shall return all tangible embodiments of Confidential Information of the other party in its possession at the time of expiration or termination. |
(d) | Survival. Sections 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement. |
10. | GOVERNING LAW & DISPUTE RESOLUTION |
(a) | Governing Law. The rights and obligations of the parities under this Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of Taiwan (Republic of China, R.O.C., hereinafter Taiwan) without reference to conflict of laws principles. |
(b) | Dispute Resolution. The parties agree that the Taiwan Taipei District Court shall have the exclusive jurisdiction over all questions and controversies arising out of or in connection with the performance or execution of this Agreement. |
11. | MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
(a) | Conflict with Exhibits. In the event that there is any conflict or ambiguity between a provision in this Agreement and that in any of the exhibits hereto this Agreement shall control and have precedence over such exhibit. |
(b) | Force Majeure. Neither party will be liable for any failure or delay in its performance under this Agreement due to any cause beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation act of war, acts of God, earthquake, flood, embargo, riot, sabotage, labor shortage or dispute, governmental act or failure of the internet. |
(c) | Assignment. Neither party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party, except that either party may assign this Agreement in whole as part of a corporate reorganization, consolidation, merger, or sale of substantially all of its assets without any prior consent of the other party. Any attempted assignment or delegation without such consent will be void. This Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit of each party’s successors and permitted assigns. |
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(d) | Notices. Any notice or communication required or permitted to be given hereunder may be delivered by hand, deposited with an overnight courier, sent by confirmed facsimile, or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the parties’ respective address first set forth above, or at such other address as may hereafter be furnished in writing by either party hereto to the other. Such notice will be deemed to have been given as of the date it is delivered, mailed or sent, whichever is earlier. |
(e) | Headings. The section headings and captions contained in this Agreement or its exhibits are included merely for convenience of reference. Such headings and captions are not to be considered part of, or to be used in interpreting, this Agreement and in no way limit or affect any of the contents of this Agreement or its exhibits. |
(f) | Entire Agreement; Counterparts. This Agreement, including the SOW which is incorporated herein by reference, constitutes the complete and exclusive agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes and replaces any and all prior or contemporaneous discussions, negotiations, understandings and agreements, written and oral, regarding such subject matter. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in a writing signed by a duly authorized representative of both parties. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Belite Inc’s and Lin Inc.’s authorized representatives have duly executed this Agreement below to indicate their assent to its terms:
Belite Bio, Inc | Lin BioScience, Inc. | |||
Signature: | /s/ Tom Lin | Signature: | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Print Name: | Tom Lin | Print Name: | Tom Lin | |
Title: | Director | Title: | Chairman |
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EXHIBIT A
Statement of Work
For the research and development of new drug LBS-008, services from Lin Inc. shall be as follows:
LBS-008
Work | |
Clinical | Clinical study management |
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Exhibit 10.14
CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, MARKED BY [***], HAS BEEN OMITTED BECAUSE IT IS NOT MATERIAL AND WOULD LIKELY CAUSE COMPETITIVE HARM TO THE COMPANY IF PUBLICLY DISCLOSED
FIFTH AMENDMENT
TO
EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT
This FIFTH AMENDMENT TO EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is made and entered into as of February 4, 2022 (“Fifth Amendment Effective Date”) by and between Belite Bio, Inc ("Company") and The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York ("Columbia").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Columbia and LIN BIOSCIENCE, INC. are parties to that certain Exclusive License Agreement dated September 13, 2016, and amended on August 15, 2017, March 28, 2019, October 24, 2019 and September 1, 2021 (collectively, the “License Agreement”);
WHEREAS, LIN BIOSCIENCE, INC. and LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. entered an agreement dated June 30, 2018 to assign the License Agreement to LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. (the “First Assignment”);
WHEREAS, LIN BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL LTD. and Company (formerly known as Lin BioScience Co., Ltd.) entered an agreement dated July 1, 2018 to assign the License Agreement to Company (the “Second Assignment”);
WHEREAS, Columbia provided its consent to the First Assignment and the Second Assignment dated May 3, 2018;
WHEREAS, Company and Columbia are parties to the License Agreement as amended (collectively, the “Agreement”). Each capitalized term used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Company and Columbia wish to amend the Agreement in certain respects;
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. | The Parties agree that in the Fourth Amendment they intended to delete and replace only Section 6(a) and did not intend to delete Section 6(b). The following Section 6(b) is hereby restored to the Agreement with effect from September 13, 2016 as though it had never been deleted: |
b. In the event that Company is unable to achieve a particular milestone set forth in Section 6a, Company will notify Columbia, and upon payment of a [***] fee, Columbia will agree to a 6-month extension of the due date for such milestone. In the event after completion of Phase I Trials (as per Section 6a(ii)) there are unforeseen changes in clinical or regulatory development that Company believes would affect the timely achievement of any milestone, Company may request an extension from Columbia for such milestone, which will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, failure to achieve any of Company’s diligence obligations under this Section shall result in Columbia having the option of terminating all of the licenses granted under Section 2 in accordance with Section 16 of this Agreement or converting any or all of such exclusive licenses to non-exclusive licenses with no right to sublicense and no right to initiate legal proceedings pursuant to Section 11.
i. No less often than every [***] months after the Effective Date of this Agreement, Company shall report in writing to Columbia on progress made toward the diligence objectives set forth above.
2. | The parties wish to include the compound [***] in the scope of “Materials.” Such compound shall be added to the table of Compounds in Exhibit B (Materials). |
3. | Section 16(a) shall be deleted and replaced with the following: |
a. This Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect until its expiration or termination in accordance with this Section 16.
(i) | In addition, upon any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 16c, with respect to: (A) all know-how, technical information and data developed by Company (“Company Technical Information”) during the term of this Agreement, and prior to its termination, to the extent such Company Technical Information is solely and directly related to the Company’s efforts to develop Products, Columbia shall have the right to use such Company Technical Information for any purpose whatsoever on a non-exclusive basis, including the right to sublicense same to future licensees, and Company will provide Columbia (and/or its future licensees) access to any regulatory information filed or authorized by Company with any U.S. or foreign government agency with respect to such Products; and (B) all Company filed patent applications or Company obtained patents containing claims which, under a reasonable legal construction, could be interpreted to read on or cover a Product (“Company Patents”), Company hereby grants Columbia a royalty free, worldwide, non-exclusive license (together with rights to sublicense its future licensees) to make, use and sell Products under such Company Patents. The licenses granted in this Section 16(a)(i) are intended, in part, to reduce obstacles to commercialization of Columbia’s Patents together with Company Patents in an effort to promote development and commercialization of federally funded inventions included within Columbia’s Patents. |
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(ii) | Company agrees upon request to enter into good faith negotiations with Columbia or Columbia’s future licensee(s), for the purpose of granting exclusive licensing rights (subject to pre-existing licenses) to said Company Patents in a timely fashion and under commercially reasonable terms. In the event that Columbia grants a license to a Third Party to intellectual property that includes Company Technical Information or Company Patents, the Parties will negotiate in good faith Company’s share of any net revenue received by Columbia from such license, taking into consideration Company’s contribution to the intellectual property licensed to such Third Party. In the event that this Agreement is terminated by either Party under Section 16c, Company will transfer the ownership of the Orphan Drug Designation and Orphan Medicinal Product Designation promptly after the effective date of termination of this Agreement to Columbia. |
4. | The following sentence shall be added to Section 16(c): |
This Agreement may be terminated by Company upon sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to Columbia, provided that Company covenants that it is no longer discovering, developing, manufacturing, using, selling, offering for sale, importing, exporting, distributing, renting or leasing any Patent Products or Other Products, and will not do so in the future.
5. | The following Section 16(i) shall be added to the Agreement: |
i. Pre-expiration Termination. Except as provided in Section 16g, if the Agreement terminates before its expiration as indicated in Section 16b, Company shall i) not use or sell Products discovered, incorporating, or made using the Technical Information or Materials for the remainder of the term indicated in Section 16b and ii) upon Columbia’s request, promptly transfer to Columbia all Material and all written copies of unpublished Technical Information in its possession and delete all the unpublished Technical Information from all computer databases.
6. | Except as expressly set forth in this Fifth Amendment, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If there is any inconsistency or conflict between this Fourth Amendment and the Agreement, the provisions of this Amendment shall govern and control. This Fifth Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Fifth Amendment shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fifth Amendment to the License Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA | ||
UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | ||
By: | /s/ Orin Herskowitz | |
Name: Orin Herskowitz | ||
Title: Exec Dir, CTV | ||
TTS #59587 (Original Agt #49055) | ||
BELITE BIO, INC | ||
By: | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Name: Tom Lin | ||
Title: Director |
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Exhibit 10.15
First
Amendment to lbs-008 research and development
services agreement
This First Amendment to LBS-008 Research and Development Services Agreement (this “Amendment”), effective as of Feb 23, 2022 (“Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Belite Bio, Inc, a Cayman corporation, with contact office located at 5820 Oberlin Drive, Suite 101, San Diego CA, 92121 USA (“Belite Inc”) and Lin BioScience, Inc., a Taiwan corporation, located at 12F., No.68, Sec. 5, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City 110, Taiwan (“Lin Inc.”).
BACKGROUND
A. | The Parties entered into that certain LBS-008 Research and Development Services Agreement, dated July 1st, 2021 (the “Agreement”), whereby Belite Inc and Lin Inc. set forth their agreements with respect to certain services to be provided by Lin Inc. |
B. | In consideration of Taiwan’s laws and regulations, including but not limitation of the qualification of pharmaceutical firms of Pharmaceutical Affairs Act the Parties desire to amend the Agreement to clarify the terms specified herein. |
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | Section 4 of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting all of the current provisions of Section 4 and inserting in lieu thereof the following: |
“Deliverables and IPR”
(a) | Deliverables. Anything discovered, invented, or developed by Lin Inc. or its personnel in the course of the Services (“Inventions”) and all Deliverables, including but not limited to the data, certificate, or designation obtained or received by Lin Inc. in the course of the Services, are and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Belite Inc. Lin Inc. hereby assigns to Belite Inc all Lin Inc.’s right, title and interest in and to any Inventions and Deliverables. Lin Inc. agrees to (1) promptly and fully disclose any Inventions to Belite Inc, (2) assign all of Lin Inc.’s right, title and interest in and to any such Inventions and Deliverables to Belite Inc without other consideration or royalty, except the fees and expenses as prescribed in Section 3, and (3) execute all applications, assignments or other instruments reasonably requested by Belite Inc. |
(b) | IPR. Belite Inc hereby grants Lin Inc. a revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free license (with the right to grant and authorize sublicenses) under Belite Bio’s Retinol Binding Protein 4 (“RBP4”)-related patents in Taiwan, to the extent that is necessary for Lin Inc. to perform the Services. Lin Inc. acknowledges and agrees that Belite Inc is the sole and exclusive owner of all IPR that Lin Inc. will directly or indirectly manage, develop or assist in the performance of the Services. |
2. | The Agreement, as amended herein, is ratified and confirmed. |
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3. | All other terms and conditions of the Agreement remain unchanged and in full force and effect. |
4. | This Amendment may be executed in counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission), all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the Parties, notwithstanding that all such Parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each Party shall become bound by this Amendment immediately upon affixing its signature hereto. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Belite Inc’s and Lin Inc.’s authorized representatives have duly executed this Amendment below to indicate their assent to its terms:
Belite Bio, Inc | Lin BioScience, Inc. | |||
Signature: | /s/ Tom Lin | Signature: | /s/ Tom Lin | |
Print Name: | Tom Lin | Print Name: | Tom Lin | |
Title: | Director | Title: | Chairman |
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Exhibit 21.1
Significant Subsidiaries of the Registrant
Significant Subsidiaries of the Registrant |
Place of Incorporation | |
Belite Bio Holdings Corp. | State of Delaware | |
Belite Bio, LLC | State of Delaware | |
RBP4 Pty Ltd | Australia | |
Belite Bio (HK) Limited | Hong Kong | |
Belite Bio (Shanghai) Limited | China |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement on Form F-1 of our report dated March 15, 2022, with respect to our audits of consolidated financial statements of Belite Bio, Inc and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2021. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the Registration Statement.
/s/ Friedman LLP
New York, New York
April 5, 2022
Exhibit 23.3
中国上海市南京西路 1515 号静安嘉里中心一座 10 层 200040
10/F, Tower 1, Jing An Kerry Centre, 1515 West Nanjing Road, Shanghai 200040, China
电话 Tel: +86 21 6019 2600 传真 Fax: +86 21 6019 2697
网址 Web: www.tongshang.com
April 5, 2022
Belite Bio, Inc
5820 Oberlin Drive, Suite 101
San Diego, CA 92121
Dear Sir/Madam,
We have acted as legal counsel as to the laws of the People’s Republic of China to Belite Bio, Inc (the “Company”), a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, on certain matters covered by our legal opinion in connection with (i) the proposed initial public offering (the “Offering”) by the Company of American Depositary Shares (the “ADSs”), in accordance with the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1, including all amendments or supplements thereto, filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (ii) the Company’s proposed listing of the ADSs on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
We hereby consent to the use and reference of our name under the headings “Risk Factors”, “Legal Matters” and elsewhere, and the filing of this letter and the legal opinion as exhibits to, the Registration Statement.
In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we fall within the category of the person whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Yours sincerely, | |
/s/ Commerce & Finance Law Offices | |
Commerce & Finance Law Offices |
Exhibit 99.1
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
I. PURPOSE
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) contains general guidelines for conducting the business of Belite Bio, Inc, a Cayman Islands company, and its subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entity (collectively, the “Company”) consistent with the highest standards of business ethics, and is intended to qualify as a “code of ethics” within the meaning of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder. To the extent this Code requires a higher standard than required by commercial practice or applicable laws, rules or regulations, we adhere to these higher standards.
This Code is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
· honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
· full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and in other public communications made by the Company;
· compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations;
· prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code; and
· accountability for adherence to the Code.
II. APPLICABILITY
This Code applies to all directors, officers and employees of the Company, whether they work for the Company on a full-time, part-time, consultative or temporary basis (each, an “employee” and collectively, the “employees”). Certain provisions of the Code apply specifically to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, other chief senior officers, senior finance officer, controller, vice presidents and any other persons who perform similar functions for the Company (each, a “senior officer,” and collectively, the “senior officers”).
The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has appointed the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, as the Compliance Officer for the Company (the “Compliance Officer”) . If you have any questions regarding the Code or would like to report any violation of the Code, please contact the Compliance Officer.
III. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Identifying Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an employee’s private interest interferes, or appears to interfere, in any way with the interests of the Company as a whole. An employee should actively avoid any private interest that may impact such employee’s ability to act in the interests of the Company or that may make it difficult to perform the employee’s work objectively and effectively. In general, the following should be considered conflicts of interest:
· Competing Business. No employee may be employed by a business that competes with the Company or deprives it of any business.
· Corporate Opportunity. No employee should use corporate property, information or his or her position with the Company to secure a business opportunity that would otherwise be available to the Company. If an employee discovers a business opportunity that is in the Company’s line of business through the use of the Company’s property, information or position, the employee must first present the business opportunity to the Company before pursuing the opportunity in his or her individual capacity.
· Financial Interests.
(i) No employee may have any financial interest (ownership or otherwise), either directly or indirectly through a spouse or other family member, in any other business or entity if such interest adversely affects the employee’s performance of duties or responsibilities to the Company, or requires the employee to devote time to it during such employee’s working hours at the Company;
(ii) No employee may hold any ownership interest in a privately held company that is in competition with the Company;
(iii) An employee may hold up to 5% ownership interest in a publicly traded company that is in competition with the Company; provided that if the employee’s ownership interest in such publicly traded company increases to more than 5%, the employee must immediately report such ownership to the Compliance Officer;
(iv) No employee may hold any ownership interest in a company that has a business relationship with the Company if such employee’s duties at the Company include managing or supervising the Company’s business relations with that company; and
(v) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Code,
(a) a director or any family member of such director (collectively, “Director Affiliates”) or a senior officer or any family member of such senior officer (collectively, “Officer Affiliates”) may continue to hold his or her investment or other financial interest in a business or entity (an “Interested Business”) that:
(1) was made or obtained either (x) before the Company invested in or otherwise became interested in such business or entity; or (y) before the director or senior officer joined the Company (for the avoidance of doubt, regardless of whether the Company had or had not already invested in or otherwise become interested in such business or entity at the time the director or senior officer joined the Company); or
(2) may in the future be made or obtained by the director or senior officer, provided that at the time such investment or other financial interest is made or obtained, the Company has not yet invested in or otherwise become interested in such business or entity;
provided that such director or senior officer shall disclose such investment or other financial interest to the Board;
(b) an interested director or senior officer shall refrain from participating in any discussion among senior officers of the Company relating to an Interested Business and shall not be involved in any proposed transaction between the Company and an Interested Business; and
(c) before any Director Affiliate or Officer Affiliate (i) invests, or otherwise acquires any equity or other financial interest, in a business or entity that is in competition with the Company; or (ii) enters into any transaction with the Company, the related director or senior officer shall obtain prior approval from the Audit Committee of the Board.
For purposes of this Code, a company or entity is deemed to be “in competition with the Company” if it competes with the Company’s business of researching, developing, manufacturing and commercialization of biopharmaceutical drugs or other therapeutic treatments for age-related metabolic diseases and conditions, including macular degeneration, liver disease and diabetes.
· Loans or Other Financial Transactions. No employee may obtain loans or guarantees of personal obligations from, or enter into any other personal financial transaction with, any company that is a material customer, supplier or competitor of the Company. This guideline does not prohibit arms-length transactions with recognized banks or other financial institutions.
· Service on Boards and Committees. No employee shall serve on a board of directors or trustees or on a committee of any entity (whether profit or not-for-profit) whose interests could reasonably be expected to conflict with those of the Company. Employees must obtain prior approval from the Board before accepting any such board or committee position. The Company may revisit its approval of any such position at any time to determine whether an employee’s service in such position is still appropriate.
The above is in no way a complete list of situations where conflicts of interest may arise. The following questions might serve as a useful guide in assessing a potential conflict of interest situation not specifically addressed above:
· Is the action to be taken legal?
· Is it honest and fair?
· Is it in the best interests of the Company?
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
The Company requires that employees fully disclose any situations that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest. If an employee suspects that he or she has a conflict of interest, or a situation that others could reasonably perceive as a conflict of interest, the employee must report it immediately to the Compliance Officer. Conflicts of interest may only be waived by the Board, or the appropriate committee of the Board, and will be promptly disclosed to the public to the extent required by law and applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Family Members and Work
The actions of family members outside the workplace may also give rise to conflicts of interest because they may influence an employee’s objectivity in making decisions on behalf of the Company. If a member of an employee’s family is interested in doing business with the Company, the criteria as to whether to enter into or continue the business relationship and the terms and conditions of the relationship must be no less favorable to the Company compared with those that would apply to an unrelated party seeking to do business with the Company under similar circumstances.
Employees should report any situation involving family members that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest to their supervisor or the Compliance Officer. For purposes of this Code, “family members” or “members of employee’s family” include an employee’s spouse, siblings, parents, in-laws and children.
IV. GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
The giving and receiving of appropriate gifts may be considered common business practice. Appropriate business gifts and entertainment are welcome courtesies designed to build relationships and understanding among business partners. However, gifts and entertainment should never compromise, or appear to compromise, an employee’s ability to make objective and fair business decisions.
It is the responsibility of employees to use good judgment in this area. As a general rule, employees may give or receive gifts or entertainment to or from customers or suppliers only if the gift or entertainment is in compliance with applicable law, insignificant in amount and not given in consideration or expectation of any action by the recipient. All gifts and entertainment expenses made on behalf of the Company must be properly accounted for on expense reports.
We encourage employees to submit gifts received to the Company.
Bribes and kickbacks are criminal acts, strictly prohibited by law. An employee must not offer, give, solicit or receive any form of bribe or kickback anywhere in the world.
V. FCPA COMPLIANCE
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) prohibits giving anything of value, directly or indirectly, to officials of foreign governments or foreign political candidates in order to obtain or retain business. A violation of FCPA does not only violate the Company’s policy but also constitute a civil or criminal offense under FCPA which the Company is subject to after the Effective Time. No employee shall give or authorize directly or indirectly any illegal payments to government officials of any country. While the FCPA does, in certain limited circumstances, allow nominal “facilitating payments” to be made, any such payment must be discussed with and approved by an employee’s supervisor (in the case of the chief executive officers, by the board of directors) in advance before it can be made.
VI. PROTECTION AND USE OF COMPANY ASSETS
Employees should protect the Company’s assets and ensure their efficient use for legitimate business purposes only. Theft, carelessness and waste have a direct impact on the Company’s profitability. Any use of the funds or assets of the Company, whether for personal gain or not, for any unlawful or improper purpose is strictly prohibited.
To ensure the protection and proper use of the Company’s assets, each employee should:
· Exercise reasonable care to prevent theft, damage or misuse of Company property;
· Promptly report any actual or suspected theft, damage or misuse of Company property;
· Safeguard all electronic programs, data, communications and written materials from unauthorized access; and
· Use Company property only for legitimate business purposes.
Except as approved in advance by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, the Company prohibits political contributions (directly or through trade associations) by any employee on behalf of the Company. Prohibited political contributions include:
· any contributions of the Company’s funds or other assets for political purposes;
· encouraging individual employees to make any such contribution; and
· reimbursing an employee for any political contribution.
VII. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Employees should abide by the Company’s rules and policies in protecting the intellectual property and confidential information, including the following:
· All inventions, creative works, computer software, and technical or trade secrets developed by an employee in the course of performing the employee’s duties or primarily through the use of the Company’s assets or resources while working at the Company shall be the property of the Company.
· Employees should maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them by the Company or the entities with which the Company has business relationships, except when disclosure is authorized or legally mandated. Confidential information includes all non-public information that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to the company or its business associates, if disclosed.
· The Company maintains a strict confidentiality policy. During an employee’s term of employment with the Company, the employee shall comply with any and all written or unwritten rules and policies concerning confidentiality and shall fulfill the duties and responsibilities concerning confidentiality applicable to the employee.
· In addition to fulfilling the responsibilities associated with his or her position in the Company, an employee shall not, without obtaining prior approval from the Company, disclose, announce or publish trade secrets or other confidential business information of the Company, nor shall an employee use such confidential information outside the course of his or her duties to the Company.
· Even outside the work environment, an employee must maintain vigilance and refrain from disclosing important information regarding the Company or its business, business associates or employees.
· An employee’s duty of confidentiality with respect to the confidential information of the Company survives the termination of such employee’s employment with the Company for any reason until such time as the Company discloses such information publicly or the information otherwise becomes available in the public sphere through no fault of the employee.
· Upon termination of employment, or at such time as the Company requests, an employee must return to the Company all of its property without exception, including all forms of medium containing confidential information, and may not retain duplicate materials.
VIII. ACCURACY OF FINANCIAL REPORTS AND OTHER PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Upon the completion of the Company’s initial public offering, the Company will be required to report its financial results and other material information about its business to the public and the SEC. It is the Company’s policy to promptly disclose accurate and complete information regarding its business, financial condition and results of operations. Employees must strictly comply with all applicable standards, laws, regulations and policies for accounting and financial reporting of transactions, estimates and forecasts. Inaccurate, incomplete or untimely reporting will not be tolerated and can severely damage the Company and result in legal liability.
Employees should be on guard for, and promptly report, any possibility of inaccurate or incomplete financial reporting. Particular attention should be paid to:
· Financial results that seem inconsistent with the performance of the underlying business;
· Transactions that do not seem to have an obvious business purpose; and
· Requests to circumvent ordinary review and approval procedures.
The Company’s senior financial officers and other employees working in the finance department have a special responsibility to ensure that all of the Company’s financial disclosures are full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable. Any practice or situation that might undermine this objective should be reported to the Compliance Officer.
Employees are prohibited from directly or indirectly taking any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead or fraudulently influence the Company’s independent auditors for the purpose of rendering the financial statements of the Company materially misleading. Prohibited actions include but are not limited to:
· issuing or reissuing a report on the Company’s financial statements that is not warranted in the circumstances (due to material violations of U.S. GAAP, generally accepted auditing standards or other professional or regulatory standards);
· not performing audit, review or other procedures required by generally accepted auditing standards or other professional standards;
· not withdrawing an issued report when withdrawal is warranted under the circumstances; or
· not communicating matters required to be communicated to the Company’s Audit Committee.
IX. COMPANY RECORDS
Accurate and reliable records are crucial to the Company’s business and form the basis of its earnings statements, financial reports and other disclosures to the public. The Company’s records are a source of essential data that guides business decision-making and strategic planning. Company records include, but are not limited to, booking information, payroll, timecards, travel and expense reports, e-mails, accounting and financial data, measurement and performance records, electronic data files and all other records maintained in the ordinary course of business.
All Company records must be complete, accurate and reliable in all material respects. There is never an acceptable reason to make false or misleading entries. Undisclosed or unrecorded funds, payments or receipts are strictly prohibited. An employee is responsible for understanding and complying with the Company’s record keeping policy. An employee should contact the Compliance Officer if he or she has any questions regarding the record keeping policy.
X. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Each employee has an obligation to comply with the laws of the cities, provinces, regions and countries in which the Company operates. This includes, without limitation, laws covering commercial bribery and kickbacks, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets, information privacy, insider trading, offering or receiving gratuities, employment harassment, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, false or misleading financial information, misuse of corporate assets and foreign currency exchange activities. Employees are expected to understand and comply with all laws, rules and regulations that apply to their positions at the Company. If any doubt exists about whether a course of action is lawful, the employee should seek advice immediately from the Compliance Officer.
XI. DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT
The Company is firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, national origin or any other protected class. For further information, employees should consult the Compliance Officer.
XII. FAIR DEALING
Each employee should endeavor to deal fairly with the Company’s customers, suppliers, competitors and employees. None should take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair-dealing practice.
XIII. HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Company strives to provide employees with a safe and healthy work environment. Each employee has responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for other employees by following environmental, safety and health rules and practices and reporting accidents, injuries and unsafe equipment, practices or conditions. Violence or threats of violence are not permitted.
Each employee is expected to perform his or her duty to the Company in a safe manner, not under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or other controlled substances. The use of illegal drugs or other controlled substances in the workplace is prohibited.
XIV. VIOLATIONS OF THE CODE
All employees have a duty to report any known or suspected violation of this Code, including any violation of laws, rules, regulations or policies that apply to the Company. Reporting a known or suspected violation of this Code by others will not be considered an act of disloyalty, but an action to safeguard the reputation and integrity of the Company and its employees.
If an employee knows of or suspects a violation of this Code, it is such employee’s responsibility to immediately report the violation to the Compliance Officer, who will work with the employee to investigate his or her concern. All questions and reports of known or suspected violations of this Code will be treated with sensitivity and discretion. The Compliance Officer and the Company will protect the employee’s confidentiality to the extent possible, consistent with the law and the Company’s need to investigate the employee’s concern.
It is the Company’s policy that any employee who violates this Code will be subject to appropriate discipline, including termination of employment, based upon the facts and circumstances of each particular situation. An employee’s conduct, if it does not comply with the law or with this Code, can result in serious consequences for both the employee and the Company.
The Company strictly prohibits retaliation against an employee who, in good faith, seeks help or reports known or suspected violations. An employee inflicting reprisal or retaliation against another employee for reporting a known or suspected violation will be subject to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
XV. WAIVERS OF THE CODE
Waivers of this Code will be granted on a case-by-case basis and only in extraordinary circumstances. Waivers of this Code may be made only by the Board, or the appropriate committee of the Board; provided that waiver of this Code for executive officers or directors must be made by the Board, and should be promptly disclosed to the public if so required by and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
XVI. CONCLUSION
This Code contains general guidelines for conducting the business of the Company consistent with the highest standards of business ethics. If employees have any questions about these guidelines, they should contact the Compliance Officer. We expect all employees to adhere to these standards. Each employee is separately responsible for his or her actions. Conduct that violates the law or this Code cannot be justified by claiming that it was ordered by a supervisor or someone in higher management positions. If an employee engages in conduct prohibited by the law or this Code, such employee will be deemed to have acted outside the scope of his or her employment. Such conduct will subject the employee to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
Exhibit 99.2
中国上海市南京西路1515号静安嘉里中心一座10层 200040
10/F, Tower 1, Jing An Kerry Centre, 1515 West Nanjing Road, Shanghai 200040, China
电话 Tel: +86 21 6019 2600 传真 Fax: +86 21 6019 2697
电邮 Email: shanghai@tongshang.com 网址 Web: www.tongshang.com
April 5, 2022
Belite Bio, Inc
Dear Mesdames/Sirs,
1. | We are lawyers qualified in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) and are qualified to issue opinions on the PRC Laws (as defined in Section 3). For the purpose of this legal opinion (this “Opinion”), the PRC does not include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan. |
2. | We act as the PRC counsel to Belite Bio, Inc (the “Company”), a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, on certain matters covered by this opinion in connection with (a) the proposed initial public offering (the “Offering”) by the Company of American Depositary Shares (the “ADSs”), in accordance with the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1, including all amendments or supplements thereto, filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (b) the Company’s proposed listing of the ADSs on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Nasdaq”). |
3. | The following terms as used in this Opinion are defined as follows: |
“Article 177” |
means Article 177 of the Securities Law, which stipulates as follows:
The securities regulatory authority of the State Council may establish cooperative mechanisms in conjunction with the securities regulatory authorities of any other jurisdictions for cross-border supervision and administration.
Overseas securities regulatory authorities shall not directly initiate investigation and obtain evidence within the territory of the PRC. Without the consent of the securities regulatory authority of the State Council and the relevant competent department under the State Council, no entity or individual shall provide overseas the documents and materials relating to securities business activities.
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“Cyber Security Law” |
means the Cyber Security Law of the PRC promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on November 7, 2016, which became effective on June 1, 2017.
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“PRC Laws” |
means any and all officially published laws, regulations, statutes, rules, decrees, notices, and supreme court’s judicial interpretations currently in force and publicly available in the PRC as of the date hereof.
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“PRC Subsidiary” |
means Belite Bio (Shanghai) Limited (倍亮生技医药(上海)有限公司)
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“Prospectus” |
means the prospectus, including all amendments or supplements thereto, that forms part of the registration statement.
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“Securities Law” |
means the Securities Law of the PRC promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on December 28, 2019, which became effective on March 1, 2020.
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4. | In order to issue this opinion, we have reviewed certain matters relating to PRC Laws that are relevant to the Offering (limited to the issues covered by this opinion), and we have examined all documentation and other materials provided to us by the Company and its PRC Subsidiary in relation to the issues covered by this opinion. |
In examining the documents and for the purpose of giving this Opinion, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, chops and seals, the authenticity of all the documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with authentic originals of documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed that the documents from the time they were presented to us up to the date of this legal opinion have remained in full force and effect and that none of the documents has been revoked, amended, varied or supplemented. We have further assumed the accuracy and completeness of all factual statements in the documents. Where important facts were not independently established to us or where important files were not sufficiently provided to us, we have relied upon certificates issued by governmental agents and documents, materials, statements and representations made to us by representatives of the Company and its PRC Subsidiary. We have assumed that no information which is relevant to its Offering and this opinion has been withheld from us by the Company or its PRC Subsidiary, and that all covenants, representations and warranties in the commitment letter or other similar documents provided by the Company, its PRC Subsidiary and/or their senior management are and remain accurate and true in all respects.
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5. | Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set out below, we are of the opinion that: |
(1) | Given that (i) the first paragraph of Article 177 describes the cooperation for cross-border supervision and administration and (ii) the first sentence of the second paragraph of Article 177 stipulates explicitly that the restricted activities for the overseas securities regulatory authorities are activities relating to direct investigation and evidence collection, unless the relevant governmental or regulatory authorities stipulate otherwise separately, the documents and materials described in the second sentence of the second paragraph of Article 177 is with and limited to the context of investigation and evidence collection rather than the documents and materials in connection with customary actions related to the listing application and non-investigative customary regulatory activities of Nasdaq after the listing of the Company. |
(2) | Though the first sentence of the second paragraph of Article 177 prohibits overseas securities regulatory authorities from direct investigation and evidence collection within the territory of the PRC, it doesn’t prohibit overseas securities regulatory authorities from initiating activities relating to investigation and evidence collection outside the territory of the PRC. In addition, instead of direct investigation and evidence collection within the territory of the PRC, overseas securities regulatory authorities may seek for cooperation according to any securities regulatory cooperative agreement or memorandum agreed upon between such overseas securities regulatory authorities and the securities regulatory authority of the State Council of the PRC. |
(3) | There is no specific definition of overseas securities regulatory authority under the Securities Law. In China, China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) is a securities regulatory authority. Based on our understanding of the PRC Laws, if the SEC plays a similar role as CSRC in the securities administration in the United States, it may be deemed an overseas securities regulatory authority. Absent of any definition of overseas securities regulatory authorities in the Securities Law and any implementation rules thereof, it remains unclear whether Nasdaq would be deemed overseas securities regulatory authorities under the Securities Law. |
(4) | As discussed in item (2) above, the Article 177 does not prohibit overseas securities regulatory authorities from initiating activities relating to investigation and evidence collection outside the territory of the PRC. In case of any investigation and evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC, overseas securities regulatory authorities may seek for cooperation according to any securities regulatory cooperative agreement or memorandum agreed upon between such overseas securities regulatory authorities and the securities regulatory authority of the State Council of the PRC. |
(5) | Under the PRC Laws, investigation and evidence collection activities are initiated by securities regulatory authorities for specific reasons and subject to specific conditions, so customary actions related to the listing application and non-investigative customary regulatory activities are not investigation and evidence collection activities. As such, unless the relevant governmental or regulatory authorities stipulate otherwise separately, documents and materials provided to Nasdaq in the context of a listing application or in connection with regulatory requests or inquiries relating to continued listing on the Nasdaq are not investigation and evidence collection activities. |
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(6) | Notwithstanding the analysis above, when providing documents or materials of securities business activities, whether to overseas institutions or institutions inside the PRC, relevant entities and individuals may be subject to other PRC Laws in terms of national security and secrecy. |
(7) | To the best of our knowledge after due inquiries, the Company currently does not have any substantive operations in China. Therefore, we are of the opinion that Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law does not apply to documents and materials submitted to Nasdaq in connection with its application for listing on Nasdaq, nor it requires the Company to obtain the approval from CSRC. |
(8) | As of the date of this Opinion, we have not received any official feedback or comment in connection with the analysis in Section 5(1)-(7) from CSRC. |
(9) | The PRC Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and validly exists as a limited liability company under the PRC Laws. The ownership structure of the PRC Subsidiary as set forth in the Prospectus, both currently and immediately after giving effect to the Offering, will not result in any violation of the PRC Laws. |
(10) | To the best of our knowledge after due inquiries, the Company’s main business operation is not located in the PRC, and its PRC Subsidiary has not had any substantive operation nor has it dealt with important data or significant amounts of personal information as of the date of this Opinion. In addition, as confirmed by the Company, as of the date of this Opinion, it does not have any intention to have its PRC Subsidiary commence substantive operation or deal with important data or significant amounts of personal information in the near future. Therefore, we are of the opinion that Article 37 of the Cyber Security Law does not apply to documents and materials submitted to Nasdaq in connection with the Company’s application for listing on Nasdaq, nor regulatory approval from CSRC or Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) is required to be obtained before the Company’s listing on the Nasdaq. |
(11) | The statements set forth under the caption “Regulations-PRC regulation” and elsewhere in the Prospectus to the extent they constitute summaries of the PRC Laws or legal conclusions in respect of the PRC Laws, are accurate in all material respects. |
6. | This Opinion is subject to the following qualifications: |
(1) | This Opinion relates only to the PRC Laws and we express no opinion as to any other laws and regulations. There is no guarantee that any of the PRC Laws, or the interpretation thereof or enforcement therefor, will not be changed, amended or replaced in the immediate future or in the longer term with or without retrospective effect. |
(2) | The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress shall have the final interpretation right of the Securities Law and the Cyber Security Law, and CSRC and CAC shall have the right to interpret the implementation of the Securities Law and the Cyber Security Law to some extent. There is no guarantee that the relevant governmental or regulatory authorities will not take a view that is contrary to or otherwise different from our Opinion stated above. |
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(3) | This Opinion is intended to be used in the context which is specifically referred to herein and each section should be looked on as a whole regarding the same subject matter and no part shall be extracted for interpretation separately from this Opinion. |
(4) | This Opinion is subject to the effects of (i) certain legal or statutory principles affecting the enforceability of contractual rights generally under the concepts of public interest, national security, good faith and fair dealing, applicable statutes of limitation, and the limitations by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditor’s rights generally; (ii) any circumstance in connection with formulation, execution or performance of any legal documents that would be deemed materially mistaken, clearly unconscionable or fraudulent; (iii) judicial discretion with respect to the availability of injunctive relief, the calculation of damages, and the entitlement of attorneys’ fees and other costs; and (iv) the discretion of any competent PRC legislative, administrative or judicial bodies in exercising their authority in connection with the interpretation, implementation and application of relevant PRC Laws. |
This Opinion is given for the benefit of the addressee hereof, and without our express prior written consent, may not be relied upon by any person or entity other than the addressee. This Opinion is rendered to you for the purpose hereof only and shall not be issued, quoted or disclosed nor shall a copy be given to any person (apart from Nasdaq) for any other purpose without our express prior written consent.
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[Signature Page] | |
Yours sincerely, | |
/s/ Commerce & Finance Law Offices | |
Commerce & Finance Law Offices |
Exhibit 99.3
April 5, 2022
BELITE BIO, INC
5820 Oberlin Drive, Suite 101
San Diego, CA 92121
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, I hereby consent to the reference of my name as a director of BELITE BIO, INC (the “Company”), effective immediately upon the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1 filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sincerely yours, | |
/s/ John M. Longo | |
Name: John M. Longo |
Exhibit 99.4
April 5, 2022
BELITE BIO, INC
5820 Oberlin Drive, Suite 101
San Diego, CA 92121
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, I hereby consent to the reference of my name as a director of BELITE BIO, INC (the “Company”), effective immediately upon the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1 filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sincerely yours, | |
/s/Ita Lu | |
Name: Ita Lu |
Exhibit 99.5
April 5, 2022
BELITE BIO, INC
5820 Oberlin Drive, Suite 101
San Diego, CA 92121
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, I hereby consent to the reference of my name as a director of BELITE BIO, INC (the “Company”), effective immediately upon the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1 filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sincerely yours, | |
/s/ Gary C. Biddle | |
Name: Gary C. Biddle |
Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
F-1
(Form Type)
Belite Bio, Inc
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered Securities
Security Type |
Security Class Title |
Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule |
Amount Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)(2) |
Fee Rate |
Amount of Registration Fee |
|||||||||||||
Fees to Be Paid | Equity | Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.0001 per share(3) | 457(o) | — | — | $ | 46,000,000 | 0.0000927 | $ | 4,264.20 | ||||||||||
Equity | Warrants to purchase Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs issued to the representative of the underwriters (“Representative’s Warrants”) | 457(g) | — | — | — | — | — | (4) | ||||||||||||
Equity | Ordinary Shares underlying Representative’s Warrants | 457(g) | — | — | $ | 1,150,000 | 0.0000927 | $ | 106.61 | |||||||||||
Total Offering Amounts | $ | 47,150,000 | $ | 4,370.81 | ||||||||||||||||
Total Fees Previously Paid | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Total Fee Offsets | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Net Fee Due | $ | 4,370.81 |
(1) Includes ordinary shares that are issuable upon the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional ADSs.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the amount of registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933.
(3) American depositary shares issuable upon deposit of ordinary shares registered hereby will be registered under a separate registration statement on Form F-6 (Registration No. 333- ). Each American depositary share represents one ordinary share.
(4) In accordance with Rule 457(g), the entire registration fee for the warrants is allocated to the common stock underlying the warrants, and no separate fee is payable for the warrants.