Document:

Exhibit 4.63

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

SCEPTER PACIFIC LIMITED

 

JUPAI HOLDINGS LIMITED

 

E-HOUSE (CHINA) CAPITAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LTD.

 

and

 

RECKON CAPITAL LIMITED

 

dated as of

 

April 3, 2015

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
1.
    	
Purchase and Sale of Ordinary Shares; Closing
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
1.1
    	
Purchase and Sale of Ordinary Shares
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
1.2
    	
Closing; Delivery
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
1.3
    	
Treatment of Company Options
    	
2
    
	
2.
    	
Representations and Warranties of the Company and   the Sellers
    	
3
    
	
 
    	
2.1
    	
Organization, Good Standing and Qualification
    	
3
    
	
 
    	
2.2
    	
Capitalization
    	
3
    
	
 
    	
2.3
    	
Group Companies
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
2.4
    	
Authorization
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
2.5
    	
Non-Contravention
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
2.6
    	
Corporate Books and   Records
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
2.7
    	
Financial Statements
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
2.8
    	
No Undisclosed Liabilities
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
2.9
    	
Governmental Consents and Filings
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
2.10
    	
Absence of Certain Changes
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
2.11
    	
Litigation
    	
8
    
	
 
    	
2.12
    	
Compliance with Laws
    	
8
    
	
 
    	
2.13
    	
Material Contracts
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
2.14
    	
Intellectual Property
    	
10
    
	
 
    	
2.15
    	
Title to Property and Assets
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
2.16
    	
Employee Benefit Plans; Employees
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
2.17
    	
Labor Agreements and Actions
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
2.18
    	
Taxes
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
2.19
    	
PRC Taxes and Subsidies
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
2.20
    	
Related-Party Transactions
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
2.21
    	
Accounts Receivable
    	
14
    
	
3.
    	
Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
3.1
    	
Authorization
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
3.2
    	
Conflicts; Consents of Third Parties
    	
14
    
	
4.
    	
Pre-Closing Covenants
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
4.1
    	
Conduct of the Company
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
4.2
    	
Access to Information
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
4.3
    	
Management Arrangement
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
4.4
    	
Notices of Certain Matters
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
4.5
    	
Public Announcements
    	
18
    
	
5.
    	
Conditions of the Purchaser’s Obligations at Closing
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
5.1
    	
Representations and Warranties
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
5.2
    	
Performance
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
5.3
    	
No MAE
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
5.4
    	
Officer’s Certificate
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
5.5
    	
Approvals and Consents
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
5.6
    	
No Injunction
    	
19
    

 

i

 

	
 
    	
5.7
    	
Legal Representative of WFOE
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
5.8
    	
Completion of IPO
    	
19
    
	
6.
    	
Conditions of the Company’s and the Sellers’   Obligations at Closing
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
6.1
    	
Representations and Warranties
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
6.2
    	
Performance
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
6.3
    	
Completion of IPO
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
6.4
    	
No MAE
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
6.5
    	
Approvals and Consents
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
6.6
    	
No Injunctions
    	
20
    
	
7.
    	
Post-Closing Covenants
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
7.1
    	
Transitional Support
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
7.2
    	
Assumption of ESOP Options
    	
20
    
	
8.
    	
Indemnity
    	
21
    
	
9.
    	
Miscellaneous
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
9.1
    	
Survival
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
9.2
    	
Defined Terms Used in this Agreement
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
9.3
    	
Termination
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
9.4
    	
Transaction Fees and Expenses
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
9.5
    	
Transfer; Successors and Assigns
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
9.6
    	
Governing Law
    	
28
    
	
 
    	
9.7
    	
Counterparts
    	
28
    
	
 
    	
9.8
    	
Titles and Subtitles
    	
28
    
	
 
    	
9.9
    	
Requests and Notices
    	
28
    
	
 
    	
9.10
    	
Amendments and Waivers
    	
28
    
	
 
    	
9.11
    	
Severability
    	
29
    
	
 
    	
9.12
    	
Delays or Omissions
    	
29
    
	
 
    	
9.13
    	
Entire Agreement
    	
29
    
	
 
    	
9.14
    	
Dispute Resolution
    	
29
    

 

INDEX OF SCHEDULES

 

SCHEDULE I — COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

 

SCHEDULE II — PURCHASER DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

 

SCHEDULE III — REQUIRED CONSENTS

 

SCHEDULE IV — KEY EMPLOYEES

 

SCHEDULE V — DOMESTIC ENTITIES

 

ii

 

SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This Share Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of the 3rd day of April, 2015 by and among Scepter Pacific Limited, a company established under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (the “Company” or “Scepter”), E-House (China) Capital Investment Management Ltd., a company established under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“E-House”), Reckon Capital Limited, a company established under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Reckon”, together with E-House, the “Sellers” and each a “Seller”) and Jupai Holdings Limited, an exempted company established under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Purchaser”).

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the issued and outstanding shares of share capital of the Company consists of 5,000,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.0002 per share, of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”), 2,550,000 of which are held by E-House and 2,450,000 of which are held by Reckon.

 

WHEREAS, the parties contemplate a transaction pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Sellers will sell to the Purchaser and the Purchaser will purchase from the Sellers, at the Closing, a total 5,000,000 Ordinary Shares, representing 100% of the total issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, for the purchase price as set forth herein.

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements, and to prescribe certain conditions, with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, as well as other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and accepted, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Purchase and Sale of Ordinary Shares; Closing.

 

1.1                               Purchase and Sale of Ordinary Shares.  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Purchaser agrees to purchase from E-House and Reckon, and E-House and Reckon each, severally but not jointly, agrees to sell to the Purchaser, at the Closing, 2,550,000 and 2,450,000 Ordinary Shares, respectively (collectively, the “Purchased Shares”), representing 100% of the total issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, in consideration of the Consideration Shares, 51% of which to be paid to E-House with the remainder to be paid to Reckon, to be issued as provided in Section 1.2 hereof.

 

1.2                               Closing; Delivery. The closing of the transactions contemplated by Section 1.1 hereof (the “Closing”) shall take place at a venue mutually decided by the parties, at 10:00 a.m. Hong Kong time, as soon as possible, but in no event later than five Business Days, after fulfillment or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Articles 5 and 6 (other than those conditions which are to be satisfied only on the Closing Date), or at such other time and date as the Sellers and the Purchaser mutually agree in writing (the “Closing Date”). At the Closing:

 

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(i)                   the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser one or more certificates bearing the appropriate legends herein provided for and free and clear of all Liens representing the Purchased Shares;

 

(ii)                the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser all necessary authorization approving the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of all obligations of the Company thereunder;

 

(iii)             the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser certified copies of (A) the register of members of the Company reflecting the Purchaser as the sole owner of the Purchased Shares (as fully paid and non-assessable) and (B) the register of directors or the equivalent registration document of each Group Company reflecting individuals appointed by the Purchaser as directors of each Group Company;

 

(iv)            the Purchaser shall deliver to E-House one or more certificates bearing the appropriate legends herein provided for and free and clear of all Liens representing 51% of the Consideration Shares and shall deliver to Reckon one or more certificates bearing the appropriate legends herein provided for and free and clear of all Liens representing 49% of the Consideration Shares;

 

(v)               the Purchaser shall deliver to the Sellers all necessary authorization approving the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of all obligations of the Purchaser thereunder;

 

(vi)            the Purchaser shall deliver to each of E-House and Reckon certified copy of the register of members of the Purchaser reflecting E-House and Reckon as the owner of 51% and 49%, respectively, of the Consideration Shares (as fully paid and non-assessable); and

 

(vii)         each of the Sellers shall deliver to the Purchaser all necessary authorization approving the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of all obligations of the respective Seller thereunder.

 

1.3                               Treatment of Company Options.

 

(a)              Each option granted by the Company under the Company Share Incentive Plan that is outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the IPO of the Purchaser, whether vested or unvested, shall, at the Closing, be assumed by the Purchaser and be replaced by the Purchaser with options granted under the then effective share incentive plan(s) of the Purchaser. Each such option granted by the Company shall be exercisable for that number of whole shares of the ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share, of the Purchaser (rounded down to the nearest whole share) equal to the product of (x) the number of Ordinary Shares of the Company issuable upon exercise of such option and (y) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per ordinary share of the Purchaser (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the exercise price per share of the options granted by the Company by (y) the Exchange Ratio. Each such option assumed by the Purchaser shall continue to have, and shall be subject to, the same terms and conditions as applied to the option immediately prior to

 

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the Closing (but taking into account any changes thereto provided for in the Company Share Incentive Plan, any award agreement, or any other contract or agreement, including by reason of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby).

 

(b)              Unless otherwise determined by the Purchaser, the Company Share Incentive Plan shall terminate as of the Closing.  The Company shall take all actions necessary to (i) effect the measures contemplated in this Section 1.3, including but not limited to the adoption of any plan amendments, obtain board approvals and/or necessary consents by the option holders and (ii) to ensure that from and after the Closing, the Purchaser shall not be required to issue Ordinary Shares of the Company or any other consideration to any Person pursuant to or in settlement of the options assumed by it pursuant to this Section 1.3 or any other awards granted under the Company Share Incentive Plan.

 

2.                                      Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Sellers.  Except as disclosed (i) in the Designated SEC Reports (excluding, in each case, any disclosures contained or referenced therein under the caption “Forward Looking Statements” and any other disclosures contained or referenced in the Designated SEC Reports relating to information, factors or risks that are predictive, cautionary or forward-looking in nature), provided, however, that any disclosure in any Designated SEC Report shall be deemed to qualify any representation or warranty set forth in this Article 2 only to the extent that the subject matter of such representation or warranty is with respect to E-House and the relevance of any disclosed event, item or occurrence would be reasonably apparent to a Person unfamiliar with the business, as to matters and items that are the subject of such representation or warranty, other than any matters required to be disclosed for purposes of Section 2.7 or (ii) in Schedule I attached hereto (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”) (it being understood that any information set forth in one section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to apply and qualify the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds in number and each other section or subsection of this Agreement to the extent that it is reasonably apparent to the Purchaser that such information is relevant to such other section or subsection), the Company and the Sellers hereby represent and warrant as of the date hereof and as of the Closing (except to the extent made only as of a specified date, in which case as of such date) to the Purchaser, jointly and severally, that:

 

2.1                               Organization, Good Standing and Qualification.  Each of the Sellers and the Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and has all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to own, lease and operate the assets and properties it now owns, leases and operates, and to carry on its business as presently conducted or proposed to be conducted.  The Company is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it engages in material business activities.  The Company is permitted by the laws of the British Virgin Islands to carry on business outside the British Virgin Islands.  The Company has furnished or made available to the Purchaser, prior to the date hereof, a true, correct and complete copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company in effect as of the date hereof.

 

2.2                               Capitalization.  As of the date hereof and immediately prior to Closing, the authorized share capital of the Company consists of 50,000,000 Ordinary Shares, of which

 

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5,000,000 are issued and outstanding, with 2,550,000 and 2,450,000 held by E-House and Reckon, respectively, free and clear of all Liens. As of the date hereof, options to purchase  455,000 Ordinary Shares have been granted and are outstanding under the Company Share Incentive Plan, of which none will become vested and exercisable by the holders thereof as of the Closing. Immediately after the Closing, the authorized share capital of the Company consists of 50,000,000 Ordinary Shares, of which 5,000,000 are issued and outstanding and held by the Purchaser.  All of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized, validly issued and fully paid in accordance with applicable Laws, non-assessable and free of preemptive rights, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof.  Except as set forth in this Section 2.2, as of the date hereof, no Securities were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding and no securities of any of its subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any Securities were issued or are outstanding.  From the date hereof to the Closing, there will be no issuances by the Company of any Securities. Other than this Agreement, the Company does not have and is not bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, repurchase rights, commitments, or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of, or securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any Ordinary Shares.

 

2.3                               Group Companies.

 

(a)              Section 2.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct corporate structure chart containing the name, the place of organization and the shareholder(s) of each Group Company as well as each such shareholder’s equity ownership percentage in such Group Company.  Each of the Group Companies (other than the Company) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing with its business license and articles of association in full force and effect under, and in compliance with, the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.  As of the Closing, all outstanding equity interests of each of the Group Companies are owned or effectively controlled, directly or indirectly, by contractual arrangement or otherwise, by the Company.  No equity security of any Group Company is or may be required to be issued by reason of any option, warrant, preemptive right, right to subscribe to, call or commitment of any character whatsoever relating to, or security or right convertible into, any equity interest of such Group Company.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock (or equivalent interests) of each Group Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company free and clear of all Liens.  Each of the Group Companies (other than the Company) has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it conducts a material portion of its business.  Except in respect of the Group Companies, the Company does not own beneficially, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of any class of equity securities or similar interests of any corporation, bank, business trust, association or similar organization, and is not, directly or indirectly, a partner in any partnership or party to any joint venture.

 

(b)              None of the Group Companies is a party to any right of first refusal, right of first offer, proxy, voting agreement, voting trust, registration rights agreement, or shareholders agreement with respect to the sale or voting of any securities of any Group Company.

 

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(c)               The registered capital of each of the Domestic Entities are set forth opposite their respective names on Section 2.3(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.  The registered capital of the Domestic Entities are fully paid in accordance with the applicable Laws.

 

(d)              Each Group Company has all material franchises, permits, licenses, approvals, authorizations and any similar governmental authority or registration with any Governmental or Regulatory Authority necessary for the conduct of the business of such Group Company (the “Material Licenses”).  Section 2.3(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and correct list of all Material Licenses and the termination date of each such Material License.  The Material Licenses are in full force and effect and to the Company’s Knowledge, will remain in effect except if terminated or expired in the Ordinary Course of Business.  None of the Group Companies is in default in any material respect under any of its Material Licenses and has not received any written notice relating to the suspension, revocation or modification of any such Material Licenses.  To the Company’s Knowledge, no other license is necessary for, or otherwise material to, the conduct of the business by any Group Company.

 

(e)               Section 2.3(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all currently effective (i) approval letters and Foreign Investment Enterprise Approval Certificate issued by the PRC Ministry of Commerce or the relevant local officers to any Group Company which is a wholly foreign owned enterprise or Sino-foreign joint venture or Sino-foreign co-operative joint venture (collectively, the “FIEs”) with respect to the establishment and change of such FIEs (including changes in registered capital, shareholding, business scope and equity interest, etc.), (ii) approval letters issued by the PRC National Development and Reform Commission or its relevant local offices to any Group Company on the establishment of such Group Company or its operations or other project constructions, if any, (iii) business licenses issued by the PRC State Administration of Industry and Commerce and any local administration for industry and commerce to any Group Company, (iv) registrations with the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange or its local counterparts (“SAFE”) on the round-trip investment by any Shareholders who are PRC residents or the Domestic Entities, (v) tax registration certificates of the Domestic Entities, (vi) Capital Verification Reports of the Domestic Entities with respect to its establishment and change of registered capital, (vii) valuation reports of the shareholders’ contribution in kind (if any) issued by a qualified PRC asset valuation institute, (viii) Foreign Exchange Registration Certificates of any FIEs, and (ix) Organization Code Certificates of the Domestic Entities.

 

(f)                All business licenses of the Domestic Entities with the relevant AIC authorities in the PRC are valid and reflect the current registered address of such Group Companies.

 

2.4                               Authorization.  All corporate actions on the part of the Sellers and the Company, their respective officers, directors and shareholders necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of all obligations of the Company and the Sellers hereunder, including the sale of the Purchased Shares to the Purchaser, have been duly taken or will be taken prior to the Closing.  This Agreement has been or will be at the Closing, as applicable, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the Sellers (as applicable) and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Purchaser and

 

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the other parties thereto, constitute or will constitute, as applicable, valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and the Sellers (as applicable), enforceable against the Company and the Sellers (as applicable) in accordance with their respective terms except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, or other Laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or (ii) as limited by Laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.

 

2.5                               Non-Contravention.  The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by the parties thereto (other than the Purchaser) and by each Group Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) result in any violation of, be in conflict with, require a consent under, or constitute a default under, with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice or otherwise, (A) any provision of the business license, memorandum of association or articles of association, as appropriate, or equivalent constitutive documents of any Group Company as in effect at the Closing, (B) any provision of any Order to which E-House (China) Holdings Ltd., any of the Sellers, or any Group Company is a party or by which it is bound, (C) any Material Contract or any other contract that E-House (China) Holdings Ltd. or any of the Sellers is a party or by which it is bound, or (D) any Law applicable to the Sellers or any Group Company, except, in the case of clauses (B), (C) and (D), as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) accelerate or constitute an event entitling the holder of any Indebtedness of any Group Company to accelerate the maturity of any such Indebtedness or to increase the rate of interest presently in effect with respect to such Indebtedness; (iii) cause any Group Company to be in default of its obligations under any Indebtedness agreement; (iv) result in the creation of any encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of any Group Company; or (v) result in the termination or revocation of any of the Material Licenses.

 

2.6                               Corporate Books and Records.  The Group Companies have made and kept (and given the Purchaser access to) business records, financial books and records, minute books and stock record books (the “Books and Records”) which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the activities of the Group Companies in all material respects.  None of the Group Companies has engaged in any material transaction, maintained any bank account or used any corporate funds except as reflected in its normally maintained Books and Records.

 

2.7                               Financial Statements.  The Company has delivered to the Purchaser the audited financial statements (including balance sheet, statement of cash flow and income statement) of the Group Companies (on a consolidated basis) as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014(the “Financial Statements”). The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis and fairly present the financial condition and operating results of the Group Companies (on a consolidated basis) as of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments.

 

2.8                               No Undisclosed Liabilities.  Except as set forth in the Financial Statements, none of the Group Companies has any material Indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of any kind (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to become due),

 

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other than (i) liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business after December 31, 2014 (the “Reference Date”) (and which, if individually are greater than US$1,000,000, are set forth on Section 2.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedule), and (ii) obligations under applicable Law and contracts and commitments incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business and not required under U.S. GAAP to be reflected in the Financial Statements which, in both cases, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to the financial condition or operating results of the Group Companies, taken as a whole.

 

2.9                               Governmental Consents and Filings.  Except as set out in Section 2.9 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no consent, approval, order or authorization of, or notification, registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any federal, state or local governmental authority is required on the part of any Group Company or either of the Sellers in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for filings pursuant to applicable British Virgin Islands, U.S. state and federal law.  None of the assets of any Group Company constitute “state-owned assets” under the PRC Laws and, accordingly, are not required to undergo any form of valuation under applicable law in the PRC governing the transfer of state-owned assets prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein.

 

2.10                        Absence of Certain Changes.  Except for the execution and performance of this Agreement and the discussions and transactions related thereto, since the Reference Date, the Group Companies have conducted its business in all material respects in the Ordinary Course of Business, and there has not been:

 

(a)              any event, occurrence, fact, condition, change, development or effect that, individually or in the aggregate, has or would become or result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)              any waiver or compromise by any Group Company of a valuable right or of a material debt owed to it or any satisfaction or discharge of any Lien or payment of any obligation by any Group Company, except in the Ordinary Course of Business and the satisfaction or discharge of which would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)               any material change to a material contract or agreement to which any Group Company is a party or any of its assets is subject;

 

(d)              any material change in any compensation arrangement or agreement with any Key Employees, officer, director or shareholder of any Group Company other than the adoption of the Company Share Incentive Plan and the share-based awards granted thereunder;

 

(e)               any resignation or termination of employment of any officer or executive of any Group Company;

 

(f)                any Lien, created by any Group Company, with respect to any of its properties or assets, except statutory Liens for taxes not yet due or payable and Liens that arise in the Ordinary Course of Business and do not materially impair such Group Company’s ownership or use of such property or assets;

 

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(g)               any loans or guarantees made by any Group Company to or for the benefit of its employees, officers or directors, or any members of their immediate families, other than travel advances and other advances made in the ordinary course of its business;

 

(h)              any declaration, setting aside or payment or other distribution in respect of any of the share capital of any Group Company, or any direct or indirect redemption, purchase, or other acquisition of any of such share capital by any Group Company;

 

(i)                  any sale, assignment, license, transfer or other disposition of any Group Company IP outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(j)                 made any capital expenditure or commitment for any capital expenditure in excess of US$1,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in another currency) individually or US$5,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in another currency) in the aggregate; or

 

(k)              any arrangement or commitment by any Group Company to do any of the things described in this Section 2.10.

 

2.11                        Litigation.  There is no claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, complaint, charge or investigation pending against any Group Company or, to the Company’s Knowledge, currently threatened against any Group Company or any officer, director or employee of any Group Company (in their capacity as such).  None of the Group Companies or their officers or directors is a party or is named as subject to the provisions of any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any Governmental or Regulatory Authority (in the case of officers or directors, such as would affect any Group Company).  There is no (i) action, suit or proceeding by any Group Company pending or which any Group Company intends to initiate, or (ii) disputes with or claims against any Governmental or Regulatory Authority whether in respect of taxes, fines, penalties, administrative action, or otherwise.

 

2.12                        Compliance with Laws.

 

(a)              Since January 1, 2012, each Group Company has been and currently is, in compliance in all material respects with all Laws and Orders, including without limitation the laws and regulations relating to labor, welfare, tax and foreign exchanges, that are applicable to it or to the conduct or operation of the business of the Group Companies as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted or the ownership or use of any of their respective assets.

 

(b)              No event has occurred or circumstance exists that (with or without notice or lapse of time) (i) may constitute or result in a violation by any Group Company of, or a failure on the part of such Group Company to comply with, any Law or Order or (ii) to the Company’s Knowledge, 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.

 

(c)               None of the Group Companies has received any notice or other communication (whether oral or written) from any Governmental or Regulatory Authority regarding (i) any actual, alleged, possible, or potential violation of, or failure to comply with, any

 

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Law or Order or (ii) any actual, alleged, possible, or potential obligation on the part of such Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature.

 

(d)              None of the Group Companies nor any director, officer, agent, employee, or any other Person associated with or acting for or on behalf of such Group Company, has, directly or indirectly (i) violated any Anticorruption Laws, (ii) made, offered, authorized or promised to make any contribution, gift, bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback, or other payment to any Person, regardless of form, whether in money, property, or services (A) to obtain favorable treatment in securing business, (B) to pay for favorable treatment for business secured or (C) to obtain special concessions or for special concessions already obtained, for or in respect of such Group Company in violation of any Law where any Group Company does business or (iii) established or maintained any fund or asset that has not been recorded in the Books and Records of such Group Company.

 

(e)               None of the Group Companies is in material violation of its business license, memorandum of association or articles of association, as appropriate, or equivalent constitutive documents as in effect.

 

2.13                        Material Contracts.

 

(a)              Except as disclosed in Section 2.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no Group Company is a party to or subject to any material contract, arrangement or obligation which (i) involves payments (or a series of payments), contingent or otherwise, of US$1,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in another currency) or more individually or in the aggregate with respect to a series of related agreements, in cash, property or services by or to any Group Company; (ii) is with an Affiliate of any Group Company (other than a Group Company); or (iii) (A) relates to material acquisitions or dispositions of substantial assets owned by a Group Company (including spin-offs), restructurings or reorganizations, including any disclosure schedules attached to such agreements, if any, (B) is with a financial advisor, if any, (C) is a joint venture, partnership or similar agreement, if any.

 

(b)              Each Material Contract is a valid and binding agreement of the Group Company that is a party thereto, the performance of which does not and will not violate any applicable Law or Order, is in full force and effect, and such Group Company has duly performed all of its obligations under each Material Contract to the extent that such obligations to perform have accrued, and no breach or default, alleged breach or alleged default, or event which would (with the passage of time, notice or both) constitute a breach or default thereunder by such Group Company or any other party or obligor with respect thereto, has occurred, or as a result of this Agreement or performance hereof will occur.  No Group Company has given notice (whether or not written) that it intends to terminate a Material Contract or that any other party thereto has breached, violated or defaulted under any Material Contract.  No Group Company has received any notice (whether or not written) that (i) it has breached, violated or defaulted under any Material Contract or (ii) any other party thereto intends to terminate such Material Contract.

 

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(c)               For purposes hereof, “Material Contract” means any currently effective agreement, written or otherwise (other than this Agreement), to which a Group Company is a party that (i) has been disclosed in the Company Disclosure Schedule pursuant to Section 2.13(a), (ii) is with a Governmental or Regulatory Authority, (iii) materially limits or materially restricts any Group Company’s ability to compete or otherwise conduct its business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted in any manner, time or place, or that contains any exclusivity provision, (iv) grants a power of attorney, agency or similar authority, (v) relates to Indebtedness for money borrowed, provides for an extension of credit of US$1,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in another currency) or more, provides for indemnification or any guaranty of US$1,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in another currency) or more, or provides for a “keep well” or other agreement to maintain any financial statement condition of another Person, (vi) (A) includes a license of Intellectual Property, other than “shrink-wrap” or “off-the-shelf” software commercially available on non-discriminating pricing terms, (B) is with any independent firms, consultants, or contractors for product research and development, or (C) provides for any purchases or other acquisitions of Intellectual Property by any Group Company, (vii) is a lease on real or personal property, including operating leases (but excluding agreements relating exclusively to Intellectual Property), (viii) is an insurance policy, (ix) grants the right to market or sells its products to any other Person, (x) contains any outstanding guarantee or warranty obligations of any Group Company, (xi) which will be terminated or which require the consent of a third party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (xii) is otherwise material to any Group Company or is an agreement on which any Group Company is substantially dependent.

 

(d)              For the purpose of subsection (c) above, all Indebtedness, liabilities, agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts and proposed transactions involving the same Person (including Persons the Company has reason to believe are affiliated with that Person) shall be aggregated for the purposes of meeting the individual minimum dollar amounts of each such subsection.

 

2.14                        Intellectual Property.

 

(a)              Each Group Company owns or possesses sufficient legal rights to all Intellectual Property used in connection with the business of such Group Company as now conducted (the “Group Company IP”), without any conflict with, or infringement of, the rights of others.  A Group Company is the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title and interest in and to all Group Company IP and, other than with respect to commercially available software products under standard end-user object code license agreements, there are no outstanding options, licenses, agreements, claims, encumbrances or shared ownership interests of any kind relating to any Group Company IP, nor is any Group Company bound by or a party to any options, licenses or agreements of any kind with respect to the Intellectual Property and processes of any other Person. No Group Company has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any right in Intellectual Property of any third party, and none of the Group Companies has received any communications alleging that any Group Company has violated or, by conducting its business, would violate any of the Intellectual Property or processes of any other Person.  To the Company’s Knowledge, no third party is violating or infringing any Group Company IP.  The Group Companies have taken reasonable measures to protect the proprietary nature of the Group

 

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Company IP.  Section 2.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete list of all registered Intellectual Property of each Group Company.

 

(b)              Neither the execution or delivery of this Agreement, nor the carrying on of a Group Company’s business by the employees of such Group Company, nor the conduct of such Group Company’s business as proposed, will conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions, or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any contract, covenant or instrument under which any such employee is now obligated.

 

(c)               Except as disclosed in Section 2.14(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each Key Employee has executed a confidential information, invention assignment, non-compete and non-solicitation agreement in a form which has been provided to the Purchaser.

 

2.15                        Title to Property and Assets.  The property and assets (excluding Group Company IP) that each Group Company owns are free and clear of all Liens, except for statutory Liens for the payment of current taxes that are not yet delinquent and Liens that arise in the Ordinary Course of Business and do not materially impair ownership or use of such property or assets by the Group Companies.  With respect to the property and assets it leases, each Group Company is in compliance with such leases, holds a valid leasehold interest free of any Liens other than those of the lessors of such property or assets and such leases have been registered with the relevant Governmental or Regulatory Authority in the PRC (which registrations are valid and in force).  All properties and assets of each Group Company are in a good state of repair and in good working condition other than any normal wear and tear.  None of the assets of any Group Company is a state-owned asset, and inasmuch, none of the assets of any Group Company is required by applicable Law to undergo any form of valuation procedure prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  No Group Company owns title to any real property.

 

2.16                        Employee Benefit Plans; Employees.

 

(a)              The Company has made available to the Purchaser copies of standard form employment contracts entered into with employees of the Group Companies.

 

(b)              Section 2.16(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth in respect of any for any Group Company (i) copies of any Social Insurance and Welfare Registrations or Vouchers for Social Insurance and Welfare, (ii) a description of the social insurance payments and housing fund payments for the employees and all the relevant supporting documents, (iii) copies of Housing Fund Contribution Registrations, and (iv) latest receipts for the payments of social insurance and housing fund.

 

(c)               The Company has made available to the Purchaser copies of (i) all employment, “change in control”, severance, retirement, retention or consulting agreements or arrangements with the directors, officers, Key Employees and consultants of the Group Companies, (ii) separation or termination agreements with former directors, officers or management employees, (iii) indemnification agreements or arrangements for officers, directors

 

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and consultants, (iv) outstanding loans to employees (including all executive officers) or directors.

 

(d)              Section 2.16(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth the outstanding compensatory stock options and other forms of equity-based compensation awarded by the Company.

 

(e)               Section 2.16(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth copies of all non-equity based incentive compensation plans or agreements (e.g., annual bonus plans, special bonus, long-term incentives, profit-sharing, etc.), including summaries of related performance goals and targets.

 

(f)                The Domestic Entities have been and currently are, in compliance with the relevant PRC laws relating to social insurance and housing fund, including without limitation, all required social insurance and housing fund registrations of the Domestic Entities with each relevant Governmental or Regulatory Authority in the PRC have been filed and are valid and in force.

 

(g)               To the Company’s Knowledge, currently none of the Key Employees is an officer, employee, director or consultant of, or works for or provides services to, any Person other than a Group Company.

 

2.17                        Labor Agreements and Actions.  None of the Group Companies is bound by or subject to (and none of its assets or properties is bound by or subject to) any written or oral, express or implied, contract, commitment or arrangement with any labor union, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no labor union has requested or has sought to represent any of the employees, representatives or agents of any Group Company.  There is no strike or other labor dispute involving any Group Company pending or threatened, nor is any Group Company aware of any labor organization activity involving its employees.  Each Group Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable employment Laws and with other Laws related to employment.  Except as stated in Section 2.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no employee of any Group Company has been granted the right to continued employment by such Group Company or to any compensation following termination of employment with such Group Company.  None of the Group Companies is aware that any officer, Key Employee or group of employees intends to terminate his, her or their employment with any Group Company, nor does any Group Company have a present intention to terminate the employment of any officer, Key Employee or group of employees.  None of the Group Companies has made any representations regarding equity incentives to any officer, employees, director or consultant that are inconsistent with the share amounts and terms set forth in such Group Company’s Books and Records.  All terminations of any employees by the Group Companies have been in material compliance with the PRC Laws.

 

2.18                        Taxes.

 

(a)              All Tax Returns that are required to be filed by any Group Company have been prepared and filed when due in accordance with all applicable Laws and such Tax

 

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Returns were true and complete in all material respects. None of the Group Companies has been granted any extension or waiver of the statute of limitations period applicable to any Tax Return, which period (after giving effect to such extension or waiver) has not yet expired.

 

(b)              Except to the extent of any charges, accruals and reserves for Taxes contested in good faith and which are reflected on any Group Company’s books, all Taxes that are due and payable under any applicable law have been timely paid, or withheld and remitted, to the appropriate taxing authority.

 

(c)               The charges, accruals and reserves for Taxes reflected on any Group Company’s books are adequate to cover Tax liabilities accruing through the end of the last period for which the relevant Group Company ordinarily records items on its books, and since the end of the last period for which any Group Company ordinarily records items on its books, none of the Group Companies has engaged in any transaction, or taken any other action, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, that would materially impact any Tax Asset or Tax liability of any Group Company.

 

(d)              There is no claim, audit, action, suit, proceeding or investigation now pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or with respect to any Group Company in respect of any Tax or Tax Asset.  No adjustment that would increase the Tax liability or reduce any Tax Asset of any Group Company had been proposed or made by a Taxing Authority which would reasonably be expected to be threatened, proposed or made in an audit of any Tax period ending on or following date of Closing.

 

(e)               No election with respect to Tax has been made by any Group Company with any taxing authority.

 

2.19                        PRC Taxes and Subsidies.

 

(a)              Section 2.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth all documentation of subsidies, preferential Tax treatments, state aids or grants of whatever kind received or applied for by the Domestic Entities as well as any repayment obligations.

 

(b)              None of the Domestic Entities have the benefit of any Tax holidays under PRC Tax law.  Section 2.19(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth the approvals or other documents granting the preferential tax rate to the Domestic Entities.

 

(c)               No filings are required pursuant to PRC Guo Shui Han [2009] No. 698 in connection with the transactions contemplated under this Agreement.

 

2.20                        Related-Party Transactions.

 

(a)              Except with respect to those contracts set forth in Section 2.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the Group Companies is a party to any transaction (other than with respect to any employment or director relationships solely with a Group Company) with any Affiliate of the Company.

 

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(b)              Section 2.20(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete schedule of (i) any and all loans or other extensions of credit made or guaranteed by any Group Company to or for the benefit of any director, officer, stockholder, or employee of any Group Company or any of their Affiliates (other than advances of business expenses in the Ordinary Course of Business, which advances do not exceed US$20,000 (or the equivalent thereof in another currency), individually or in the aggregate) and (ii) any and all loans, guarantees, or other extensions of credit of any amount made to or for the benefit of any Group Company by any of such Persons.  For the avoidance of doubt, entertainment expenses shall not be considered as business expenses incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

2.21                        Accounts Receivable.  Except as set forth in Section 2.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all accounts receivable of the Group Companies, whether reflected on the Financial Statements or otherwise, including all advances to merchants, (a) represent the actual amounts incurred by the applicable account debtors, (b) arose from bona fide transactions in the Ordinary Course of Business, (c) are not subject to valid counterclaims or set offs and (d) are fully collectible.  Since the Reference Date, there have not been any write-offs as uncollectible of any customer accounts receivable of the Group Companies, except for non-material write-offs in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

3.                                      Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser.  Except as set forth in Schedule II attached hereto (the “Purchaser Disclosure Schedule”) (it being understood that any information set forth in one section or subsection of the Parent Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to apply and qualify the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds in number and each other section or subsection of this Agreement to the extent that it is reasonably apparent to the Sellers that such information is relevant to such other section or subsection), the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing (except to the extent made only as of a specified date, in which case as of such date) to the Sellers that:

 

3.1                               Authorization.  All corporate actions on the part of the Purchaser, its officers, directors and shareholders necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of all obligations of the Purchaser hereunder have been duly taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. This Agreement has been or will be at the Closing, as applicable, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Purchaser and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Company and the other parties thereto, constitute or will constitute, as applicable, valid and legally binding obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its respective terms except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, or other Laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or (ii) as limited by Laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.

 

3.2                               Conflicts; Consents of Third Parties.

 

(a)              None of the execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, or compliance by the Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof will breach or conflict with, or result in any violation

 

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of or default under (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), any provision of (i) the memorandum and articles of association of the Purchaser; or (ii) any Order or Law applicable to the Purchaser, except, in the case of (ii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect the ability of the Purchaser to carry out its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(b)              No consent, waiver, approval, Order or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any government authority or any other Person is required on the part of the Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the compliance by the Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except such consent, waiver, approval, Order, declaration, filing or notification the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.                                      Pre-Closing Covenants.

 

4.1                               Conduct of the Company.  Except for matters expressly contemplated and required by this Agreement or as otherwise consented to in advance by the Purchaser (which consent will not unreasonably be withheld), from the date hereof until the earlier of termination of this Agreement or the date of the Closing, the Company shall, and shall cause each of the other Group Companies to, conduct its business in the Ordinary Course of Business and use its reasonable best efforts to (i) preserve intact its present business organization, (ii) maintain in effect all of its authorizations or permits from Governmental or Regulatory Authorities necessary to conduct its business in the Ordinary Course of Business, (iii) keep available the services of its directors, officers and Key Employees, and (iv) maintain satisfactory relationships with its customers, lenders, suppliers and others having material business relationships with it.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except for matters expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as otherwise consented to in advance by the Purchaser (which consent will not unreasonably be withheld), the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the other Group Companies to:

 

(a)              amend its memorandum and articles of association, bylaws or other similar organizational documents (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise);

 

(b)              (i) split, combine or reclassify any shares of share capital of any Group Company or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or any of its other securities, (ii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of, or convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any share capital of any Group Company, (iii) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire or offer to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any shares of share capital or (iv) take any action that would result in any amendment, modification or change of any material term of any Indebtedness;

 

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(c)               (i) issue, deliver or sell, or authorize the issuance, delivery or sale of, any shares of share capital or other equity interests, or (ii) amend any term of any shares of share capital or other equity interests (in each case, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise);

 

(d)              adopt a plan or agreement of, or resolutions providing for or authorizing, any complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization;

 

(e)               make any capital expenditures or incur any liabilities in respect thereof, in each case in excess of US$1,000,000, except for those contemplated in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(f)                acquire (i) any business or Person or division thereof (whether by purchase of stock, purchase of assets, merger, consolidation, or otherwise), or (ii) any other material assets (other than assets acquired in the Ordinary Course of Business);

 

(g)               (i) sell, lease, license or otherwise transfer any of the Group Company’s assets, securities, properties, interests or businesses, including any Group Company IP outside the Ordinary Course of Business, or (ii) create any Lien with respect to any of its properties or assets of any Group Company, except statutory Liens for taxes not yet due or payable and Liens that arise in the Ordinary Course of Business and do not materially impair such Group Company’s ownership or use of such property or assets;

 

(h)              (i) make any material change in any compensation arrangement or agreement with any employee, officer, director or shareholder of any Group Company, or (ii) establish, adopt, enter into or amend any employee benefit plan or agreement (other than offer letters that contemplate “at will” employment without severance benefits) or collective bargaining agreement;

 

(i)                  hire any employee at or above mid-level management personnel or whose annualized compensation exceeds RMB1,000,000;

 

(j)                 (i) repurchase, prepay or incur any Indebtedness, including by way of a guarantee, or any issuance or sale of debt securities or any merger, business combination or other acquisition, or issue and sell options, warrants, calls or other rights to acquire any debt securities of any Group Company, or (ii) make any loans or guarantees made by any Group Company to or for the benefit of its employees, officers or directors, or any members of their immediate families, other than travel advances and other advances made in the ordinary course of its business;

 

(k)              terminate or make any material change to a contract or agreement to which any Group Company is a party or any of its assets is subject, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(l)                  waive or compromise any valuable right or of a material debt owed to any Group Company;

 

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(m)          any satisfaction or discharge of any Lien or payment of any obligation by any Group Company, except in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(n)              make any change in any method of accounting principles, method or practices, except for any such change required by generally accepted accounting principles or applicable law (in each case following consultation with the Company’s independent auditor);

 

(o)              make or change any Tax election, change any annual tax accounting period, adopt or change any method of Tax accounting, amend in any material respect any Tax Returns or file claims for material Tax refunds, enter into any closing agreement, settle any material tax claim, audit or assessment, surrender any right to claim a material Tax refund, offset or other reduction in Tax liability, or consent to any extension or waiver of the limitations period applicable to any Tax claim or assessment;

 

(p)              institute, settle, or agree to settle any legal proceedings pending or threatened before any arbitrator, court or other Governmental or Regulatory Authority;

 

(q)              enter into any new line of business; or

 

(r)                 authorize, resolve, commit or agree to do any of the things described in this Section 4.1.

 

4.2                               Access to Information.  From the date hereof until the date of the Closing, each of the Sellers and the Company will (i) give, and will cause each other Group Company to give, the Purchaser, its counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives full access during reasonable hours and upon reasonable notice to the offices, properties, books and records of the Group Companies, (ii) furnish, and will cause each other Group Company to furnish, to the Purchaser, its counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives such financial and operating data and other information relating to the Group Companies as such Persons may reasonably request, (iii) instruct the employees, counsel and financial advisors of the Group Companies to cooperate with the Purchaser in its investigation of the Group Companies, (iv) provide information regarding human resources department and financial department for the purpose of ensuring a smooth transition before and after Closing, to the extent such actions are commercially reasonable, and (v) take action to prepare for the integration of the Company’s financial and accounting systems with those of the Purchaser, to the extent such actions are commercially reasonable.  Any information furnished pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be deemed to be “Confidential Information” pursuant to the terms of the Non-Disclosure Agreement, as amended by Section 9.13.  Any investigation pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of the Group Companies.  No investigation by the Purchaser or other information received by the Purchaser shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by the Company hereunder.

 

4.3                               Management Arrangement. Prior to Closing, the Company and the Purchaser shall discuss in good faith with Ms. Qimin Wu, the existing chief executive officer of the Company, about her continued services as a management member of the Purchaser after the 

 

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Closing and, upon confirmation of such management arrangement, the Purchaser shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to enter into an written employment agreement with Ms. Wu, a form of which as set forth in Exhibit C attached hereto, effective immediately upon Closing.

 

4.4                               Notices of Certain Matters.  Prior to the Closing, (i) the Company shall give prompt written notice to the Purchaser of the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event known to the Company the occurrence or non-occurrence of which would reasonably be expected to cause any representation or warranty contained in Article 2 to be materially untrue, or of the failure of the Company to comply with or satisfy any covenant or agreement under this Agreement, and (ii) the Purchaser shall give prompt written notice to the Company of the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event known to the Purchaser the occurrence or non-occurrence of which would reasonably be expected to cause any representation or warranty contained in Article 3 to be materially untrue, or of the failure of the Purchaser to comply with or satisfy any covenant or agreement under this Agreement; provided that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 4.4 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving that notice.

 

4.5                               Public Announcements.  The Purchaser and the parent company of E-House shall be entitled make appropriate filings and disclosures to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  The parties agree to consult with each other before issuing any press release or making any public statement with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and, except for any press releases and public statements the making of which may be required by applicable law, regulation or requirement of any Governmental or Regulatory Authority or any listing agreement with any securities exchange, in which case the party required to make the press release or public statement shall use reasonable efforts to allow the other party hereto reasonable time to comment on such release or announcement in advance of such issuance (it being understood that the final form and content of any such release or announcement, as well as the timing of any such release or announcement, shall be at the final discretion of the disclosing party) will not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation.

 

5.                                      Conditions of the Purchaser’s Obligations at Closing.  The obligations of the Purchaser to the Company to purchase the Purchased Shares under this Agreement at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing, of each of the following conditions, unless otherwise waived in writing by the Purchaser:

 

5.1                               Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of the Company and the Sellers contained in Article 2 shall be true and correct (disregarding all qualifications or limitations as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or other similar qualifiers set forth therein) in all respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing (except to the extent such representations and warranties are made as of a specified date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respect as of such date), except where the failure of any such representations and warranties to be so true and correct has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.2                               Performance.  The Company and the Sellers shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

 

5.3                               No MAE.  Since the date hereof, no event, occurrence, change, effect or condition of any character shall have occurred following the date hereof that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.4                               Officer’s Certificates.  The chief executive officers of the Company and the authorized representatives of the Sellers shall have jointly delivered to the Purchaser a duly executed certificate reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser, dated as of the Closing Date certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 have been satisfied as of the Closing.

 

5.5                               Approvals and Consents. All authorizations, approvals, consents or permits of (a) any competent Governmental or Regulatory Authority or (b) any authorizations, approvals or consents of any third party identified as a “Required Consent” set forth in Schedule III attached hereto and that are required to be obtained by any Group Company or Shareholders before the Closing in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including but not limited to those related to the lawful sale of the Purchased Shares), including without limitation any waivers for rights of first refusal, preemptive rights, put or call rights, or other rights triggered, if any, shall have been duly obtained and effective as of the Closing.

 

5.6                               No Injunction.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the Sellers nor the consummation by the Company and the Sellers of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, conflicts with any applicable statute or administrative regulation, or any order, writ, injunction, stop order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction or relevant governmental authority or of any arbitration award to which the Company or such Seller is a party or by which the Company or such Seller is bound.

 

5.7                               Legal Representative of WFOE.  The legal representative of the WFOE shall have been changed to a person designated by or acceptable to the Purchaser.

 

5.8                               Completion of IPO.  The Purchaser shall have completed its IPO.

 

6.                                      Conditions of the Company’s and the Sellers’ Obligations at Closing.  The obligations of the Company and the Sellers to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing, of each of the following conditions, unless otherwise waived by the Company or the Sellers, as applicable:

 

6.1                               Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Article 3 shall be true and correct (disregarding all qualifications or limitations as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or other similar qualifiers set forth therein) in all respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing (except to the extent such 

 

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representations and warranties are made as of a specified date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respect as of such date), except where the failure of any such representations and warranties to be so true and correct has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.2                               Performance.  All covenants, agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement to be performed by the Purchaser on or prior to the Closing shall have been performed or complied with in all material respects.

 

6.3                               Completion of IPO.  The Purchaser shall have completed its IPO.

 

6.4                               No MAE.  Since the date hereof, no event, occurrence, change, effect or condition of any character shall have occurred following the date hereof that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.5                               Approvals and Consents.  All authorizations, approvals, consents or permits of (a) any competent Governmental or Regulatory Authority or (b) any authorizations, approvals or consents of any third party that are required to be obtained by the Purchaser before the Closing in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including but not limited to those related to the lawful sale of the Consideration Shares), including without limitation any waivers for rights of first refusal, preemptive rights, put or call rights, or other rights triggered, if any, shall have been duly obtained and effective as of the Closing.

 

6.6                               No Injunctions.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser nor the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereunder, conflicts with any applicable statute or administrative regulation, or any order, writ, injunction, stop order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction or relevant governmental authority or of any arbitration award to which the Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser is bound.

 

7.                                      Post-Closing Covenants.

 

7.1                               Transitional Support.  E-House shall use commercially reasonable actions, as reasonably requested by the Purchaser, to cooperate with and assist the Purchaser, at the Purchaser’s expense for any third party costs or fees, to ensure that (a) the Group Companies’ financial and accounting systems is fully integrated with those of the Purchaser and (b) all financial data of the Group Companies are transferred to the Purchaser after the Closing.

 

7.2                               Assumption of ESOP Options. E-House shall use commercially reasonable actions to facilitate the Purchaser’s assumption of all outstanding options and other equity incentives granted under the Company Share Incentive Plan pursuant to Section 1.3.

 

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8.                                      Indemnity.

 

8.1                               From and after the Closing, each of the Sellers and the Company (each, an “Indemnifying Party” and collectively, the “Indemnifying Parties”) agrees jointly and severally to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and its Affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors, partners, members, managers and agents (each, an “Indemnified Party”, and collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all actions, suits, claims, proceedings, costs, losses, liabilities, damages, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements), amounts paid in settlement and other costs (collectively, “Losses”) arising out of or resulting from (a) any inaccuracy in or breach of the representations or warranties made by the Company or the Sellers in Article 2 of this Agreement or in any certificate delivered by or on behalf of the Company or the Sellers pursuant to this Agreement or (b) any breach of agreements or covenants made by the Company or the Sellers respectively in this Agreement.

 

8.2                               An Indemnified Party shall give written notice to the Indemnifying Parties of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification promptly after the discovery by such Indemnified Party of any matters giving rise to a claim for indemnification; provided that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve any Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article 8 unless and to the extent that such Indemnifying Party shall have been actually prejudiced by the failure of such Indemnified Party to so notify such Indemnifying Party.  Such notice shall describe in reasonable detail such claim.  In case any such action, suit, claim or proceeding is brought against an Indemnified Party, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to hire, at the cost and expense of the Indemnifying Parties, counsel and participate in the defense thereof.  If an Indemnifying Party participates in the defense of any claim, all Indemnified Parties shall thereafter deliver to such Indemnifying Party copies of all notices and documents (including court papers) received by the Indemnified Parties relating to the claim, and shall cooperate in the defense or prosecution of such claim.  Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon such Indemnifying Party’s request) the provision to the Indemnifying Party of records and information that are reasonably relevant to such claim, and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder.  None of the Indemnifying Parties shall be liable for any settlement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding effected without its written consent; provided, however, that each Indemnifying Party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent.  Each Indemnifying Party further agrees that it will not, without the Indemnified Party’s prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), settle or compromise any claim or consent to entry of any judgment in respect thereof in any pending or threatened action, suit, claim or proceeding in respect of which indemnification has been sought hereunder unless such settlement or compromise includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action, suit, claim or proceeding.

 

8.3                               For purposes of the indemnity contained in Section 8.1(a), all qualifications and limitations set forth in the parties’ representations and warranties as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” and words of similar import, shall be disregarded in determining the amount of Losses in respect of any breach of any representation or warranty 

 

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under this Agreement, except to the extent such “materiality” qualifier or word of similar import is used for the express purpose of listing any information on the Company Disclosure Schedule rather than qualifying a statement.

 

8.5                               The obligations of the Indemnifying Parties under this Article 8 shall survive the transfer or redemption of the Purchased Shares, or the Closing or termination of this Agreement; provided that in the event of any transfer of the Purchased Shares to a third party that is not an Affiliate of the Purchaser, the Indemnifying Parties shall have no obligations under this Article 8 to such transferee.

 

8.6                               With the exception of claims based upon Fraud or willful misconduct, resort to indemnification under Article 8 will be the exclusive right and remedy of Indemnified Parties from and after the Closing Date for Losses or other damages under this Agreement (it being understood that nothing in this Section 8.6 or elsewhere in this Agreement will affect the Purchaser’s rights to equitable remedies to the extent available).  None of the parties hereto shall, in any event, be liable or otherwise responsible to any other party hereto (or any of its Affiliates) for any consequential or punitive damages of such other party (or any of its Affiliates) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the performance or breach hereof. The indemnification rights contained in this Article 8 are not limited or deemed waived by any investigation or knowledge by the Indemnified Parties prior to Closing.

 

9.                                      Miscellaneous.

 

9.1                               Survival.  The covenants of parties hereto contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing up to and until the latest date a claim may arise and/or be brought with respect to any breach of such covenant under applicable Laws.  Each of the representations and warranties contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing but only for a period of thirty-six (36) months following the Closing Date; provided that each Fundamental Representation shall survive the Closing up to and until the latest date a claim may arise and/or be brought with respect to any breach of such Fundamental Representation under applicable Laws.

 

9.2                               Defined Terms Used in this Agreement.  In addition to the terms defined above, the following terms used in this Agreement shall be construed to have the meanings set forth or referenced below:

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such Person.  For purposes of this definition, “control”(including with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to cause the direction of management and/or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Anticorruption Laws” means Laws relating to anti-bribery or anticorruption (governmental or commercial), which apply to the business and dealings of any Group Company, including, without limitation, the PRC Law on Anti-Unfair Competition 

 

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adopted on September 2, 1993, the Interim Rules on Prevention of Commercial Bribery issued by the PRC State Administration of Industry and Commerce on November 15, 1996 and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practice Act of 1977, as amended from time to time.

 

“Business Day” means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the PRC or the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are authorized or required by applicable law to close.

 

“Company Share Incentive Plan” means a 2014 Share Incentive Plan of the Company, as adopted by its board of directors on August 8, 2014.

 

“Consideration Shares” means such number of newly issued ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share, of the Purchaser that represents twenty (20) per cent equity interest in the Purchaser after giving effect to (i) the issuance of the Consideration Shares and (ii) the issuance of ordinary shares of the Purchaser upon exercise of all outstanding options of the Purchaser as of the closing of the IPO.

 

“Current Assets” means all current assets of the Group Companies that would be reflected as current assets on a consolidated balance sheet of the Group Companies prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and in a manner consistent with the preparation of the Financial Statements, including, cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable net of provision, advances to merchants net of provision, prepayments and deposits, other receivables and inventory, but excluding, deferred income Taxes.

 

“Current Liabilities” means all current liabilities of the Group Companies that would be reflected as current liabilities on a consolidated balance sheet of the Group Companies prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and in a manner consistent with the preparation of the Financial Statements, including without limitation, accounts payable, accrued expenses, accrued compensation, deferred revenues, other payables, but excluding the Intercompany Loan.

 

“Designated SEC Reports” means the Annual Report on Form 20-F filed by E-House (China) Holdings Ltd. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and each Current Report on Form 6-K filed by E-House (China) Holdings Ltd. after the filing date of such Annual Report on Form 20-F and before the date hereof.

 

“Domestic Entities” means, collectively, the entities’ listed Schedule V hereto, including, but not limited to, the WFOE and the VIE.

 

“Exchange Ratio” means five (5).

 

“Fraud” means actual fraud involving a knowing and intentional misrepresentation and omission of a fact material to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement made with the intent of inducing any other party hereto to enter into this Agreement and upon which such other party has relied (as opposed to any fraud claim based on constructive knowledge, negligent misrepresentation or omission or a similar theory) under applicable tort laws.

 

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“Fully-Diluted” means, with respect to the Ordinary Shares, all outstanding Ordinary Shares and all Ordinary Shares issuable in respect of securities convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares, all share appreciation rights, options, warrants, share entitlements and other rights to purchase or subscribe for Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares.

 

“Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Company and the Sellers contained in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4.

 

“Governmental or Regulatory Authority” means any nation or government or any province or state or any other political subdivision thereof, or any entity, authority or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including any government authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality or any political subdivision thereof, any court, tribunal or arbitrator, and any self-regulatory organization.

 

“Group Companies” means the Company and its subsidiaries and consolidated Affiliates that are not a natural person, and the Domestic Entities (each, a “Group Company”).

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, (i) all indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services, (iii) all other indebtedness of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures, finance leases or other similar instruments, (iv) all indebtedness of others referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above guaranteed directly or indirectly in any manner by such Person.

 

“Intellectual Property” means any and all (i) patents, all patent rights and all applications therefor and all 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, author’s rights and works of authorship (including artwork of any kind and software of all types in whatever medium, inclusive of computer programs, source code, object code and executable code, 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 for parts and devices, quality assurance and control procedures, design tools, manuals, research data concerning historic and current research and development efforts, including the results of successful and unsuccessful designs, databases and proprietary data, (vi) trade names, trade dress, trademarks, domain names, and service marks, and registrations and applications therefor, (vii) the goodwill of the business symbolized or represented by the foregoing, customer lists and other proprietary information and common-law rights and (viii) any other intellectual property or proprietary rights.

 

“IPO” means an initial public offering of the ordinary shares, par value US$0.0005 per share, of the Purchaser in the form of American depositary shares.

 

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“Key Employees” means the persons whose names are listed on Schedule IV attached hereto.

 

“Knowledge” including the phrase “to the Company’s Knowledge” shall mean the actual knowledge of any of the directors or officers of the Sellers or any of the Group Companies after due inquiry of the relevant employees of the Sellers or any of the Group Companies.

 

“Law” means any constitutional provision, statute or other law, rule, regulation, official policy or interpretation of any Governmental or Regulatory Authority.

 

“Lien” means any lien, adverse right or claim, charge, option, pledge, covenant, title defect, security interest or other encumbrances of any kind.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means any effect, change, fact, event, occurrence, development or circumstance that is or would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on or change in the business, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, financial condition, property or results of operations of the Group Companies, taken as a whole; provided, however, that the following shall not be deemed to constitute, and shall not be taken into account in determining whether there has been a “Material Adverse Effect”: (a) any adverse changes, event or effect to the extent resulting from changes in the general business, political or economic conditions or the financial, credit or securities markets, including any change, event or effect relating to any war, acts of terrorism or similar events, unless any of the foregoing disproportionately affects the Group Companies (in which case the incremental disproportionate impact or impacts may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect); (b) any adverse change, event or effect to the extent arising from the Group Companies’ customer’s reaction or response to the transactions contemplated hereby, due solely to the identity of the Purchaser (including any loss of or adverse change in the relationship of any of the Group Companies’ with its employees, contractors, clients, partners, or suppliers related thereto); (c) any action taken by the Purchaser or its representatives, or taken by the Group Companies on or after the date of this Agreement at the written request of the Purchaser or any of its representatives or as required by this Agreement; (d) any adverse change, event or effect generally affecting the industry in which the Group Companies provide services and products, unless any of the foregoing disproportionately affects the Group Companies (in which case the incremental disproportionate impact or impacts may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect); and/or (e) changes in the applicable Laws by any Governmental or Regulatory Authority or changes in accounting rules applicable to the Group Companies, in each case, proposed, adopted or enacted after the date hereof.

 

“Order” means any injunction, judgment, decree, order, ruling, assessment or writ of any Governmental or Regulatory Authority.

 

“Ordinary Course of Business” means the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.  Without limiting the foregoing, Ordinary Course of Business with respect to a Group Company shall include (a) actions taken (i) as expressly contemplated in or 

 

25

 

expressly permitted by this Agreement, (ii) in connection with necessary or prudent repairs due to breakdown or casualty, or other actions taken in response to a business emergency or other unforeseen operational matters, (iii) as required by Laws or Orders, or (iv) as contemplated by financing agreements or other contracts that have been entered into by a Group Company; and (b) participating in regulatory proceedings in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or other entity.

 

“PRC” means People’s Republic of China but solely for purposes of this Agreement, excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and the island of Taiwan.

 

“Securities” means any Ordinary Shares or any equity interest of, or shares of any class in the share capital (ordinary, preferred or otherwise) of, the Company and any convertible securities, options, warrants and any other type of equity or equity-linked securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for any such equity interest or shares of any class in the share capital of the Company.

 

“Shareholders” means all Persons holding shares of the Company and listed in the register of members of the Company.

 

“Tax” or “Taxes” means (i) any tax, duty, custom, fee, assessment charge, or other levy separately or jointly due or payable to, or levied or imposed by any Governmental or Regulatory Authority, including income, gross receipts, license, wages, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duty, capital, capital gains, capital stock, goods and services, franchise, profits, withholding, social security, unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, transaction, registration, value added, alternative/add-on minimum, estimated or other tax, duty, charge, custom, governmental fee, assessment or other levy of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, fine or addition thereto, and any interest with respect to such addition or penalty, and (ii) any liability for the payment of any amounts described in clause (i) for or to any other Person as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group, or as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise, including as a result of an express or implied obligation to indemnify any other Person with respect to the payment of any amounts described in clause (i).

 

“Tax Asset” means any net operating loss, net capital loss, foreign tax credit, or any other credit or tax attribute that could be carried forward or back to reduce Taxes.

 

“Tax Return” means any return, statement, report, election, declaration, disclosure, schedule or form relating to Taxes that is filed or required to be filed with any taxing authority.

 

“U.S. GAAP” has the meaning as ascribed to it under Section 2.7 hereof.

 

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“Variable Interest Entity” or “VIE” means Shanghai E-Cheng Asset Management Co., Ltd., a Limited Liability company incorporated under laws of the People’s Republic of China.

 

“WFOE” means Baoyi Investment consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise organized and existing under the laws of the PRC.

 

9.3                               Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing: (a) by mutual written agreement of the parties hereto; (b) by any party hereto, if there shall be any applicable law or requirement of any Governmental or Regulatory Authority that shall have become final and non-appealable that makes consummation of the Closing illegal or otherwise prohibited, or enjoins the consummation of the Closing; (c) by the Purchaser, if a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of the Company or the Sellers set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Article 5 not to be satisfied and is incapable of being cured by the Company or the Sellers (as applicable) or, if capable of being cured by the Company or the Sellers (as applicable) through the exercise of reasonable efforts, the Company or the Sellers (as applicable) does not cure such breach or failure within 30 days after its receipt  of written notice thereof from the Purchaser; or (d) by the Company or either Seller, if a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any covenant or agreement, on the part of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Article 6 not to be satisfied and is incapable of being cured by the Purchaser or, if capable of being cured by the Purchaser through the exercise of reasonable efforts, the Purchaser does not cure such breach or failure within 30 days after its receipt of written notice thereof from the Company or either Seller.  If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 9.3, this Agreement (other than Articles 8 and 9) shall become void and of no effect without liability of any party to each other party hereto; provided that if such termination shall result from the willful or intentional (i) failure of any party to fulfill a condition to the performance of the obligations of any other party, or (ii) failure of any party to perform a covenant hereof not waived by the other party, such party shall be fully liable for any and all liabilities and damages incurred or suffered by any other party as a result of such failure.  The provisions of Articles 8 and 9 shall survive any termination hereof pursuant to this Section 9.3.

 

9.4                               Transaction Fees and Expenses.

 

(a)              In the event the Closing occurs, each party shall be responsible for its own fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement.

 

(b)              In the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.3, each party shall be responsible for its own fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement.

 

9.5                               Transfer; Successors and Assigns.  The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties.  Neither party may assign or delegate this Agreement, or any of the rights or obligations hereunder, in whole or in part, nor voluntarily or by operation of law,

 

27

 

without the prior written consent of the other party which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

9.6                               Governing Law.  This Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

 

9.7                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, including counterparts delivered by facsimile transmission or in scanned format through e-mail, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

9.8                               Titles and Subtitles.  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.

 

9.9                               Requests and Notices.  Any request or notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficient upon delivery, when delivered personally or by overnight courier or sent by email or by fax (upon customary confirmation of receipt), or 48 hours after being deposited as certified or registered mail, with postage prepaid, addressed to the party to be notified at such party’s address as set forth on the signature page hereto, or as subsequently modified by written notice, and

 

	
(a)
    	
if to the Company   before Closing, or to the Sellers:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
E-House (China) Holdings Ltd.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
11/F, Qiushi Building,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
No. 383 Guangyan Road,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Shanghai,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
People’s Republic of China
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Attention: Li-Lan Cheng, Chief Operating Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
(b)
    	
if to the Company after Closing, or to the Purchaser:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Jupai Holdings Limited
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
10/F Jinsui Building,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
No. 379 South Pudong Road,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Pudong District, Shanghai,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
People’s Republic of China
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Attn: Tianxiang Hu
    

 

9.10                        Amendments and Waivers.  Any term of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the written consent of the parties hereto.

 

28

 

9.11                        Severability.  If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate such provision in good faith.  In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (a) such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement, (b) the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto and (c) the balance of the Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.  The parties further agree to use good faith efforts to replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.

 

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.  All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

9.13                        Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, and the documents referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof, and any and all other written or oral agreements relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties hereto are expressly canceled;

 

9.14                        Dispute Resolution.

 

(a)              Negotiation Between Parties; Mediations.  The parties agree to negotiate in good faith to resolve any dispute between them regarding this Agreement.  If the negotiations do not resolve the dispute to the reasonable satisfaction of both parties, then each party that is a company shall nominate one authorized officer as its representative.  The parties or their representatives, as the case may be, shall, within 30 days of a written request by either party to call such a meeting, meet in person and shall attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute.  If the disputes cannot be resolved by such senior managers in such meeting, the parties agree that they shall, if requested in writing by either party, meet within 30 days after such written notification for one day with an impartial mediator and consider dispute resolution alternatives other than formal arbitration.  If an alternative method of dispute resolution is not agreed upon in the one day mediation, either party may begin formal arbitration proceedings to be conducted in accordance with subsection (b) below.  This procedure shall be a prerequisite before taking any additional action hereunder.

 

29

 

(b)              Arbitration.  In the event the parties are unable to settle a dispute between them regarding this Agreement in accordance with subsection (a) above, subject to subsection (c) below, such dispute shall be referred to and finally settled by arbitration at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (the “UNCITRAL Rules”) in effect, which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference into this subsection (b), subject to the following: (i) the arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators to be appointed according to the UNCITRAL Rules; and (ii) the language of the arbitration shall be English.  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.

 

(c)               Specific Performance.  The parties hereto agree that the Purchaser would suffer irreparable damage if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Purchaser shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

30

 

The parties have executed this Shares Purchase Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
COMPANY:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
SCEPTER PACIFIC LIMITED
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Xin Zhou
    
	
 
    	
Name: Xin Zhou
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

 

	
 
    	
PURCHASER:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
JUPAI HOLDINGS LIMITED
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Tianxiang Hu
    
	
 
    	
Name: Tianxiang Hu
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

 

	
 
    	
SELLERS:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
E-HOUSE (CHINA) CAPITAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT   LTD.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Xin Zhou
    
	
 
    	
Name: Xin Zhou
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

 

	
 
    	
RECKON CAPITAL LIMITED
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Xin Zhou
    
	
 
    	
Name: Xin Zhou
    
	
 
    	
Title:Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

 

 

This SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of April 22, 2016 (the “Agreement”) by and among Guidance Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each of the parties listed on Exhibit A hereto (each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).  The Company and the Investors are referred to herein as the “Parties.”

 

WHEREAS, the Investors beneficially own the number of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) listed on Exhibit A hereto;

 

WHEREAS, on March 30, 2016, the Company filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nominating and recommending for election six director candidates (the “Company Proxy Statement”) for election to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) at the Company’s 2016 annual meeting of stockholders (including any adjournment thereof, the “2016 Annual Meeting”); and

 

WHEREAS, on March 30, 2016, Shawn H. McCreight, John P. Colbert, Jonathan R. Mather, Michael J. McConnell and Roberto Medrano (the “Participants”) filed a definitive proxy statement with the SEC nominating and recommending for election five director candidates (the “McCreight Proxy Statement”) for election to the Board at the 2016 Annual Meeting.

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Investors have reached an agreement with respect to certain matters related to the 2016 Annual Meeting, including the Company Proxy Statement and the McCreight Proxy Statement and certain other matters, as provided in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.        Settlement Covenants.

 

(a)        Resignation of Directors.  The Investors and Company hereby acknowledge and agree Christopher Poole and Shawn McCreight will resign, effective immediately, from the Board.

 

(b)        Election of New Directors.  The Investors and the Company hereby acknowledge and agree that, immediately following the events described in Section 1(a) above, John P. Colbert and Michael J. McConnell (such nominees or any replacement nominees nominated by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement, the “Investor Nominees”) will (i) promptly submit director and officer questionnaires to the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating Committee”), the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B; the Nominating Committee will promptly review such questionnaires; promptly following such review, the Nominating Committee will nominate the Investor Nominees to serve as members of the Board; and promptly following such nomination, the Board will elect the

 

 

Investor Nominees to the Board seats vacated pursuant to Section 1(a) above to serve as members of the Board and (ii) elect one of the Investor Nominees to serve on each committee of the Board existing on the date hereof or formed following the date hereof but before the 2018 Annual Meeting; provided, however, that no nomination or election of a particular Investor Nominee shall be required if the Board reasonably determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that such Investor Nominee would not qualify as “independent” under applicable NASDAQ rules or Rule 10A-3(b) of the Exchange Act, has been involved in any of the events enumerated in Items 2(d) or (e) of Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act or Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act or is subject to any order, decree or judgment of any governmental authority prohibiting service as a director of any public company, in which case the Investors shall withdraw the designation of such Investor Nominee and shall designate another individual as an Investor Nominee, which replacement will also be subject to the requirements of this Section 1(b).  The Investors will take all necessary action to cause any Investor Nominee to consent to such reference and background checks and to provide such information (including information necessary to determine such Investor Nominee’s independence status as well as information necessary to determine any disclosure obligations of the Company) as the Board or its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may reasonably request in connection with the Company’s disclosure obligations or in connection with the Company’s legal, regulatory or stock exchange requirements (collectively, the “Nomination Information”), which requests shall be of the same type and scope as the Company requests of all other nominees to the Board.

 

(c)        Nomination Rights.  Subject to compliance by the Investor Nominees with Section 1(b) above, the Company agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including with respect to any standard of conduct required of directors under Delaware law), to include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board (or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board) for election at the Company’s 2017 annual meeting of stockholders (including any adjournment thereof, the “2017 Annual Meeting”), the Investor Nominees, and to nominate, recommend and use its reasonable best efforts to solicit the vote of stockholders of the Company to elect to the Board such slate of directors (which efforts shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, include the inclusion in any proxy statement prepared, used, delivered or publicly filed by the Company to solicit the vote of its stockholders in connection with any such meeting and the recommendation of the Board that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the slate of directors, including the Investor Nominee(s)).

 

(d)       Vacancies.  Subject to compliance by the Investor Nominees with Section 1(b) above, prior to the Company’s 2018 annual meeting of stockholders (including any adjournment thereof, the “2018 Annual Meeting”), the Investors shall have the exclusive right to designate nominees to fill any and all vacancies created by reason of the death, resignation or removal (in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation) of any Investor Nominee; provided, such replacement nominees may not be Shawn McCreight or any family member of Shawn McCreight, and, subject to compliance with Section 1(b) above and the approval of the Board (not to be unreasonably withheld), the Board will promptly elect such nominees to the Board to serve for the remainder (if any) of the term of such prior Investor Nominees who vacated such Board seats.

 

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(e)        Proxy Solicitation.  The Investors and the Company hereby acknowledge and agree that immediately following the execution hereof, the Investors will stop soliciting proxies for any purpose, including in support for the McCreight Proxy Statement, and will publicly announce that they are supporting the election of the directors nominated by the Board.

 

(f)        Litigation.  The Investors and the Company hereby acknowledge and agree that, pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement, immediately following the execution hereof, any active or pending litigation and/or arbitration between Investors and/or their Affiliates and the Company and/or its Affiliates will be dismissed with prejudice.

 

(g)        Pursuit of Strategic Alternatives.  The Investors and the Company hereby acknowledge and agree that the Board is currently searching for an appropriate advisor to provide advice to the Board related to strategic alternatives and that upon retention of such advisor, the Board will consider such strategic alternatives in accordance with their duties as members of the Board.

 

(h)        Director Fiduciary Duties; Duty of Confidentiality.  The Investors understand and acknowledge that the Investor Nominees, in their capacity as directors of the Company, will (i) owe fiduciary duties to the Company and its stockholders and (ii) be subject to corporate governance guidelines and other policies of general application to all directors, which duties and policies include a duty of confidentiality.

 

(i)         Expenses.  The Company will reimburse the Investors for their documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their nomination of director candidates and related matters, in an amount not to exceed $650,000, within 3 business days hereof.

 

Section 2.        2016 and 2017 Annual Meetings.

 

(a)        The Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to hold the 2016 Annual Meeting on May 11, 2016.

 

(b)        The Investors agree to vote by proxy and vote all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each Investor (i) at the 2016 Annual Meeting, on the white proxy card, for each proposal as recommended by the Board in the Company Proxy Statement, (ii) at the 2017 Annual Meeting, in favor of a new equity incentive plan to be approved by the Company’s stockholders, provided that such plan will not provide in excess of 2,000,000 shares to be issued pursuant to such plan, or, in the event that such Plan provides for more than 2,000,000 but less than or equal to 3,000,000 shares to be issued pursuant to such Plan, the Investors agree to abstain from voting either for or against such plan and (iii) at the 2017 Annual Meeting, in favor of any “say-on-pay” proposals voted on at such meeting.  Such proxy will be voted in accordance with this Agreement as soon as practicable with respect to the 2016 Annual Meeting.

 

Section 3.        Standstill.

 

(a)        Each Investor agrees that, from the date of this Agreement until the expiration of the Standstill Period, neither it nor any of its Affiliates or Associates will, and it

 

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will cause each of its Affiliates and Associates not to, directly or indirectly, in any manner, acting alone or in concert with others:

 

(i)         submit any shareholder proposal (pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise) or any notice of nomination or other business for consideration, or nominate any candidate for election to the Board (including by way of Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A), other than as expressly permitted by this Agreement;

 

(ii)        engage in, directly or indirectly, any “solicitation” (as defined in Rule 14a-1 of Regulation 14A) of proxies (or written consents) or otherwise become a “participant in a solicitation” (as such term is defined in Instruction 3 of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act) in opposition to the recommendation or proposal of the Board, or recommend or request or induce or attempt to induce any other person to take any such actions, or seek to advise, encourage or influence any other person with respect to the voting of the Common Stock (including any withholding from voting) or grant a proxy with respect to the voting of the Common Stock or other voting securities to any person other than to the Board or persons appointed as proxies by the Board;

 

(iii)       seek to call, or to request the call of, a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders, or make a request for a list of the Company’s stockholders or for any books and records of the Company;

 

(iv)       form, join in or in any other way participate in a “partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Common Stock or deposit any shares of Common Stock in a voting trust or similar arrangement or subject any shares of Common Stock to any voting agreement or pooling arrangement, other to the extent such a group may be deemed to result with the Company or any of its Affiliates of Associates as a result of this Agreement;

 

(v)        vote for any nominee or nominees for election to the Board, other than those nominated or supported by the Board;

 

(vi)       except as specifically provided in Section 1(a) of this Agreement, seek to place a representative or other Affiliate, Associate or nominee on the Board or seek the removal of any member of the Board or a change in the size or composition of the Board;

 

(vii)      other than at the direction of the Board, seek, propose, or make any statement, in each case publicly, with respect to, or solicit, negotiate with, or provide any information to any person, in each case publicly, with respect to, a merger, consolidation, acquisition of control or other business combination, tender or exchange offer, purchase, sale or transfer of assets or securities, dissolution, liquidation, reorganization, change in structure or composition of the Board, change in the executive officers of the Company, change in capital structure, recapitalization, dividend, share repurchase or similar transaction involving the Company, its subsidiaries or its business, whether or not any such transaction involves a change of control of the Company;

 

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(viii)     acquire, announce an intention to acquire, offer or propose to acquire, or agree to acquire, directly or indirectly, by purchase or otherwise, beneficial ownership of any (A) interests in any of the Company’s indebtedness or (B) Common Stock of the Company representing in the aggregate (amongst the Investors and their Affiliates and Associates) in excess of 29.7% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock; provided, however, nothing herein shall prevent the Investors from confidentially seeking a waiver to acquire in excess of 29.7% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock;

 

(ix)       commence, encourage or support any derivative action in the name of the Company or any class action or other litigation against the Company with respect to any facts or events occurring or arising prior to the date hereof or relating to any potential strategic transactions pursued by the Company;

 

(x)        disclose publicly, or privately in a manner that could reasonably be expected to become public, any intention, plan or arrangement inconsistent with the foregoing;

 

(xi)       take any action challenging the validity or enforceability of any provisions of this Section 3; or

 

(xii)      enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding concerning any of the foregoing (other than this Agreement) or encourage or solicit any person to undertake any of the foregoing activities.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, including this Section 3, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit any Investor from (A) voting for or against (1) any acquisition of any material assets or businesses of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (2) any tender offer or exchange offer, merger, acquisition or other business combination involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (3) any recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (B) communicating privately with the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company regarding any matter, (C) making any public statement or announcement with respect to a transaction as described in clause (A) of this paragraph proposed by the Company that requires a vote of the stockholders and that is publicly announced by the Company after the date of this Agreement, or (D) other than as provided by Section 2(a), voting for or against any matter requiring shareholder approval.

 

(b)        As used in this Agreement:

 

(i)         the terms “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act;

 

(ii)        the terms “beneficial owner” and “beneficial ownership” shall have the same meanings as set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act;

 

(iii)       the terms “person” or “persons” shall mean any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization or other entity of any kind or nature; and

 

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(iv)       the term “Standstill Period” shall mean the period commencing on the date of this Agreement, and ending on the commencement of the director nomination window for the 2018 Annual Meeting.

 

Section 4.        Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company represents and warrants to the Investors that (a) the Company has the corporate power and authority to execute the Agreement and to bind it thereto, (b) this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, constitutes a valid and binding obligation and agreement of the Company, and is enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and subject to general equity principles and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company does not and will not violate or conflict with (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to it, or (ii) result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both could become a default) under or pursuant to, or result in the loss of a material benefit under, or give any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any organizational document, or any material agreement, contract, commitment, understanding or arrangement to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

Section 5.        Representations and Warranties of the Investors.  Each Investor, on behalf of itself, represents and warrants to the Company that (a) as of the date hereof, such Investor beneficially owns only the number of shares of Common Stock as described opposite its name on Exhibit A and Exhibit A includes all Affiliates of any Investors that own any securities of the Company beneficially or of record, (b) this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by such Investor, and constitutes a valid and binding obligation and agreement of such Investor, enforceable against such Investor in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and subject to general equity principles, (c) such Investor has the authority to execute the Agreement on behalf of itself and the applicable Investor associated with that signatory’s name, and to bind such Investor to the terms hereof and (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Investor does not and will not violate or conflict with (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to it, or (ii) result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both could become a default) under or pursuant to, or result in the loss of a material benefit under, or give any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any organizational document, agreement, contract, commitment, understanding or arrangement to which such member is a party or by which it is bound.

 

Section 6.        Mutual Non-Disparagement.

 

(a)        Each Investor agrees that, during the Standstill Period, it will not, and it will cause each of its Affiliates and Associates not to, directly or indirectly, in any capacity or manner, make, express, transmit speak, write, verbalize or otherwise communicate in any way (or cause, further, assist, solicit, encourage, support or participate in any of the foregoing), any remark, comment, message, information, declaration, communication or other statement of any

 

6

 

kind, whether verbal, in writing, electronically transferred or otherwise, (i) publicly, or in the case of any of the foregoing with customers, stockholders or employees of the Company, publicly or privately, that might reasonably be construed to be derogatory or critical of, or negative toward, the Company or any of its directors, officers, Affiliates, subsidiaries, employees, agents or representatives (collectively, the “Company Representatives”), or (ii) that reveals, discloses, incorporates, is based upon, discusses, includes or otherwise involves any confidential or proprietary information of the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates, or (iii) publicly, or in the case of any of the foregoing with customers, stockholders or employees of the Company, publicly or privately, to malign, harm, disparage, defame or damage the reputation or good name of the Company, its business or any of the Company Representatives.

 

(b)        The Company hereby agrees that, during the Standstill Period, it will not, and it will cause each of its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, in any capacity or manner, make, express, transmit, speak, write, verbalize or otherwise communicate in any way (or cause, further, assist, solicit, encourage, support or participate in any of the foregoing), any remark, comment, message, information, declaration, communication or other statement of any kind, whether verbal, in writing, electronically transferred or otherwise, (i) publicly, or in the case of any of the foregoing with customers, stockholders or employees of the Company, publicly or privately, that might reasonably be construed to be derogatory or critical of, or negative toward, any Investor or any of its agents or representatives (collectively, the “Investor Representatives”), or (ii) that reveals, discloses, incorporates, is based upon, discusses, includes or otherwise involves any confidential or proprietary information of any Investor or its subsidiaries or Affiliates, or (iii) publicly, or in the case of any of the foregoing with customers, stockholders or employees of the Company, publicly or privately, to malign, harm, disparage, defame or damage the reputation or good name of any Investor or Investor Representatives.

 

(c)        Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall prohibit any Party from making any statement or disclosure required under the federal securities laws or other applicable laws; provided, that such Party must provide written notice to the other Parties at least two business days prior to making any such statement or disclosure required by under the federal securities laws or other applicable laws that would otherwise be prohibited the provisions of this Section 6, and reasonably consider any comments of such other Parties.

 

Section 7.        Cross Releases.

 

(a)        Each Investor, for the benefit of the Company and each of the Company’s controlling persons, officers, directors, stockholders, agents, affiliates, employees, attorneys, advisors and assigns, past and present, in their capacity as such (the Company and each such person being a “Company Released Person”), hereby forever fully waives, discharges and releases, and covenants not to sue, any of the Company Released Persons for any and all claims, causes of action, actions, judgments, liens, debts, contracts, indebtedness, damages, losses, liabilities, rights, interests and demands of whatsoever kind or character (collectively, “Claims”) based on any event, fact, act, omission, or failure to act by the Company Released Persons, whether known or unknown, occurring or existing prior to the execution of this Agreement; provided, however, this waiver and release and covenant not to sue shall not include any Claims arising out of or related to any obligations under, or breach of, this Agreement.

 

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(b)        The Company, for the benefit of each Investor and Participant and their respective controlling persons, officers, directors, stockholders, agents, affiliates, employees, attorneys, advisors and assigns, past and present, in their capacity as such (each such person being a “Investor Released Person”), hereby forever fully waives, discharges and releases and covenants not to sue, for any Claim based on any event, fact, act, omission or failure to act by such Investor Released Person, whether known or unknown, occurring or existing prior to the execution of this Agreement; provided, however, this waiver and release and covenant not to sue shall not include any Claims arising out of or related to any obligations under, or breach of, this Agreement or the Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release of All Claims, dated January 15, 2016, by and between Shawn McCreight and the Company, other than Section 9(d) thereof, which is explicitly superseded by Section 6 of this Agreement.

 

(c)        It is the intention of the parties that the foregoing release set forth above in subsections (a) and (b) of this paragraph shall be effective as a bar to all matters released herein.  In furtherance and not in limitation of such intention, the release described herein shall be, and shall remain in effect as, a full and complete release, notwithstanding the discovery or existence of any additional or different facts or claims.  It is expressly understood and agreed that this Agreement is intended to cover and does cover not only all known facts and/or claims but also any further facts and/or claims not now known or anticipated, but which may later develop or should be discovered, including all the effects and consequences thereof. To further effectuate this intention, each party hereto acknowledges its awareness of California Civil Code Section 1542, which reads as follows:

 

“A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him or her must have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor.”

 

It is the intention of each party hereto to waive their respective rights under that section and any statute, rule, and legal doctrine of similar import for any and all matters released herein.  In waiving the provisions or Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, each party hereto expressly acknowledges and understands that it may hereafter discover facts in addition to or different from those which it now believes to be true with respect to the subject matter of the matters released herein, but expressly agrees that it has taken these possibilities into account in electing to participate in this Agreement, and that the release given herein shall be and remain in effect as a full and complete release notwithstanding the discovery or existence of any such additional or different facts, as to which each party hereto expressly assumes the risk.

 

Section 8.        Company Policies. By the 2016 Annual Meeting, each of the Investor Nominees will have reviewed the Company’s policies, procedures, and guidelines applicable to members of the Board and will have agreed to abide by the provisions thereof during his service as a director of the Company, including, without limitation, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Insider Trading Policy, Board Confidentiality Policy, Reg. FD Policy, and the Company’s Governance Guidelines.

 

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Section 9.        Compensation. Each of the Investor Nominees shall be compensated for his services as a director and shall be reimbursed for his expenses on the same basis as all other non-employee directors of the Company and shall be eligible to be granted equity-based compensation on the same basis as all other non-employee directors of the Company.

 

Section 10.      Indemnification and Insurance. Each of the Investor Nominees shall be entitled to the same rights of indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage as the other non-employee directors of the Company as such rights may exist from time to time.  The form indemnification agreement for directors is attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

Section 11.      Demand Letters.  Immediately following the execution hereof, the Investors shall be deemed to have withdrawn their demand letters sent to the Company on February 16, 2016, April 7, 2016 and April 12, 2016.

 

Section 12.      Public Filings.

 

(a)        The Investors shall promptly file and amendment to the Schedule 13D reporting entry into this agreement, amending applicable items to conform to their obligations hereunder and appending or incorporating by reference this Agreement as an exhibit thereto. The Investors shall provide the Company with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such amendment in advance of filing, and shall consider in good faith any such comments of the Company with respect thereto.

 

(b)        The Company shall provide the Investors with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on (i) any Form 8-K with respect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto and (ii) any Section 14 filings with respect to the 2016 Annual Meeting or the 2017 Annual Meeting, in each case in advance of such filing, and shall consider in good faith any such comments of the Investors with respect thereto.

 

Section 13.      Public Announcements.  Promptly following the execution of this Agreement, the Company and the Investors shall jointly issue a mutually agreeable press release (the “Press Release”) announcing this Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.  Prior to the issuance of the Press Release, neither the Company nor the Investors shall issue any press release or public announcement regarding this Agreement or take any action that would require public disclosure thereof without the prior written consent of the other Party.  No Party or any of its Affiliates shall make any public statement (including, without limitation, in any filing required under the Exchange Act) concerning the subject matter of this Agreement inconsistent with the Press Release.

 

Section 14.      Specific Performance.  Each of the Investors, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, acknowledges and agrees that irreparable injury to the other Party hereto may occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached and that such injury would not be adequately compensable in monetary damages.  It is accordingly agreed that the Investors or any Investor, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand (the “Moving Party”), shall each be entitled to specific enforcement of, and injunctive or other equitable relief to prevent any violation of, the terms hereof, and the other party hereto will not take action, directly or

 

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indirectly, in opposition to the Moving Party seeking such relief on the grounds that any other remedy or relief is available.

 

Section 15.      Notice.  Any notices, consents, determinations, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one (1) business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:

 

To the Company:

 

	
Guidance   Software, Inc.
    
	
1055 E. Colorado   Blvd.
    
	
Pasadena, CA
    
	
Fax:
    	
(626) 316-5922
    
	
Attn:
    	
Alfredo Gomez, General Counsel
    
	
 
    
	
with a copy to   (which shall not constitute notice):
    
	
 
    
	
Latham &   Watkins LLP
    
	
350 South Grand   Avenue
    
	
Los Angeles, CA   90017
    
	
E-mail:   julian.kleindorfer@lw.com
    
	
Attention: Julian   Kleindorfer
    

 

To the Investors:

 

	
Shawn   H. McCreight
    
	
3060   San Pasqual Street
    
	
Pasadena,   CA 91107
    
	
Email: Shawn@McCreights.net
    

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Morrison & Foerster

	
425   Market Street
    
	
San   Francisco, CA 94105
    
	
Fax:   (415)268-7522
    
	
Attn: Murray Indick, Esq.
    

 

 

Section 16.      Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Law of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles thereof.

 

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Section 17.      Exclusive Jurisdiction.  Each Party to this Agreement (i) irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the personal jurisdiction of the state courts of the State of Delaware and the federal courts of the United States of America located in the State of Delaware, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, (iii) agrees that any actions or proceedings arising in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be brought, tried and determined only in the state and federal courts for or in the State of Delaware, (iv) waives any claim of improper venue or any claim that those courts are an inconvenient forum and (v) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereunder in any court other than as specified in clause (iii) of this Section 17.

 

Section 18.      Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED AND UNDERSTANDS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 18.

 

Section 19.      Receipt of Adequate Information; No Reliance; Representation by Counsel.  Each Party acknowledges that it has received adequate information to enter into this Agreement, that is has not relied on any promise, representation or warranty, express or implied not contained in this Agreement and that it has been represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement.  Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would provide any party with a defense to the enforcement of the terms of this Agreement against such party shall have no application and is expressly waived.  The provisions of the Agreement shall be interpreted in a reasonable manner to effect the intent of the Parties.

 

Section 20.      Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree shall remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.  The Parties further agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the purposes of such invalid or unenforceable provision.

 

Section 21.      Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties relating to the matters contemplated hereby and supersede any other

 

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agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Affiliates relating to the matters contemplated hereby.  No representations, warranties, covenants, understandings, agreements, oral or otherwise, relating to the matters contemplated by this Agreement exist between the parties except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.  For avoidance of doubt, Section 6 of this Agreement supersedes Section 9(d) of the Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release of All Claims, dated January 15, 2016, by and between Shawn McCreight and the Company.

 

Section 22.      Amendment.  This Agreement may be modified, amended or otherwise changed only in a writing signed by all of the Parties.

 

Section 23.      Legend Removal.  The Company covenants that, upon request by any Investor to remove the restrictive legends from shares of Common Stock of the Company held by the Investors and receipt of an opinion of reputable counsel of such Investor that such Investor is not an Affiliate of the Company (it being understood that Morrison & Foerster LLP will be acceptable to the Company for such purposes), the Company will promptly deliver any required legal opinions and instructions to the transfer agent to remove legends on shares of Common Stock of the Company held by the Investors.

 

Section 24.      Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement shall bind the successors and permitted assigns of the Parties, and inure to the benefit of any successor or permitted assign of any of the parties; provided, however, that no party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties.  No provision of this Agreement is intended to confer any rights, benefits, remedies, obligations, or liabilities hereunder upon any person other than the Parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

Section 25.      Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.  This Agreement shall become effective when each Party hereto shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by the other Parties hereto.  Counterparts delivered by electronic transmission shall be deemed to be originally signed counterparts.

 

(Signature page follows)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have duly executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	
 
    	
GUIDANCE   SOFTWARE, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Patrick Dennis
    
	
 
    	
Name:   Patrick Dennis
    
	
 
    	
Title:   CEO
    

 

 

INVESTORS:

 

	
 
    	
MCCREIGHT   LIVING TRUST UA 31-MAR-06
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By
    	
:/s/   Shawn H. McCreight
    
	
 
    	
Name:   Shawn H. McCreight
    
	
 
    	
Title:   Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
SHAWN   H. MCCREIGHT
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Shawn H. McCreight
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
JENNIFER   MCCREIGHT
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Jennifer McCreight
    

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

	
Investor
    	
 
    	
Shares of Common Stock
   Beneficially Owned
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
McCreight   Living Trust UA 31-Mar-06
    Shawn   H. McCreight
    Jennifer   McCreight
    	
 
    	
9,086,384
    

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

D&O Questionnaire attached

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

Form Indemnification Agreement attached

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

Press Release attached

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