Document:

Exhibit 4.3

 

FORM OF

 

YUM CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of [·], 2016

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE I   GOVERNANCE; ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
1.1.
    	
Composition of the Board of   Directors
    	
1
    
	
1.2.
    	
Certificate of Incorporation and   Bylaws
    	
5
    
	
1.3.
    	
Share Repurchases
    	
5
    
	
1.4.
    	
Financing Cooperation
    	
5
    
	
1.5.
    	
Directors’ and Officers’   Indemnification and Insurance
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II   TRANSFERS; STANDSTILL PROVISIONS; COMPLIANCE
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.1.
    	
Investor Transfer Restrictions
    	
6
    
	
2.2.
    	
Standstill
    	
8
    
	
2.3.
    	
Compliance with Laws
    	
10
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III   INFORMATION RIGHTS
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.1.
    	
Financial Statements; Access
    	
11
    
	
3.2.
    	
Confidentiality; Privileged   Information
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV   REGISTRATION RIGHTS
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.1.
    	
Demand Registrations
    	
13
    
	
4.2.
    	
Piggyback Registrations
    	
15
    
	
4.3.
    	
Shelf Registration Statement
    	
16
    
	
4.4.
    	
Withdrawal Rights
    	
17
    
	
4.5.
    	
Holdback Agreements
    	
18
    
	
4.6.
    	
Registration Procedures
    	
18
    
	
4.7.
    	
Registration Expenses
    	
23
    
	
4.8.
    	
Miscellaneous
    	
24
    
	
4.9.
    	
Registration Indemnification
    	
24
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE V   DEFINITIONS
    	
26
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.1.
    	
Defined Terms
    	
26
    
	
5.2.
    	
Terms Generally
    	
35
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VI   MISCELLANEOUS
    	
35
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
6.1.
    	
Term
    	
35
    
	
6.2.
    	
No Inconsistent Agreements
    	
35
    
	
6.3.
    	
Legend
    	
35
    
	
6.4.
    	
Notices
    	
36
    
	
6.5.
    	
Amendment and Waiver
    	
38
    

 

 

	
6.6.
    	
Interpretation
    	
38
    
	
6.7.
    	
Counterparts
    	
38
    
	
6.8.
    	
Entire Agreement; No Third Party   Beneficiaries
    	
38
    
	
6.9.
    	
Governing Law
    	
39
    
	
6.10.
    	
Severability
    	
39
    
	
6.11.
    	
Assignment
    	
39
    
	
6.12.
    	
Submission to Jurisdiction;   Waivers
    	
39
    
	
6.13.
    	
Enforcement
    	
39
    
	
6.14.
    	
Descriptive Headings
    	
40
    
	
6.15.
    	
Mutual Drafting
    	
40
    
	
6.16.
    	
No-Recourse; No Partnership
    	
40
    
	
6.17.
    	
AF Joinder
    	
40
    

 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A                     –      Form of Resignation Letter

Exhibit B                     –      Form of Joinder

Exhibit C                     –      Form of Issuer Agreement

Exhibit D                     –      Form of AF Deed of Adherence

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of [October 31], 2016 (as it may be amended from time to time, this “Agreement”), among (i) Yum China Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), (ii) Pollos Investment L.P., a Cayman Islands Limited Partnership (“PV”), and (iii) API (Hong Kong) Investment Limited (“AF”) (each of AF and PV an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).  The Investors, collectively with the Company, are referred to herein as the “Parties”.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to (i) an Investment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2016, among Yum! Brands, Inc., a North Carolina corporation and former parent of the Company (“Parent”), the Company and PV (as it may be amended from time to time) (the “PV Investment Agreement”) and (ii) an Investment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2016, among Parent, the Company and AF (as it may be amended from time to time) (the “AF Investment Agreement” and, collectively with the PV Investment Agreement, the “Investment Agreements”), the Investors have agreed to purchase and acquire from the Company, and the Company has agreed to issue and sell to Investors, the Investor Shares and will issue the Warrants (as such terms are defined in the Investment Agreements), on such terms and subject to such conditions as are set forth in the Investment Agreements (the “Investment”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Investment Agreements, the Company and the Investors have agreed to execute and deliver this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, each of the Parties hereto wishes to set forth in this Agreement certain terms and conditions regarding the Investment and Investors’ ownership of the Investor Shares and Warrants (and the Warrant Shares), including certain registration rights applicable to such shares, restrictions on the transfer of such securities, restrictions on certain actions relating to the Company, and the governance of the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

GOVERNANCE; ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

 

1.1.                            Composition of the Board of Directors.

 

(a)                                 As of one (1) Business Day after the date hereof, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) shall consist of ten (10) directors designated by Parent, one (1) of which shall be Dr. Fred Hu (“FH”), who shall be appointed as the Company’s initial Chairman; provided, that, and notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 1.1 to the contrary, if FH is unable to serve due to death, disability or incapacity as of such time of appointment, PV shall be entitled to designate another Person to serve as the Investor Designee and a director (who need not be the Chairman) of the Company effective as of one Business Day after the Effective Time, in which event the Board shall consist of ten (10) directors or eleven (11) directors, as

 

 

determined in the Board’s discretion.  FH and any other Investor Designee (as defined below) shall, at the time of his or her appointment to the Board, execute and deliver to the Company an irrevocable conditional letter of resignation in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Resignation Letter”).

 

(b)                                 Following the Effective Time, so long as PV together with its Affiliates Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Company Common Stock that is at least fifty percent (50.0%) of the number of PV Shares as of immediately following the Closing (as defined in the PV Investment Agreement) (but giving effect to any adjustment pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or Section 2.4(c) of the PV Investment Agreement) (the “PV Shareholding Requirement”), PV shall have the right to nominate one (1) Investor Designee who shall be a Qualified Director for election at each meeting of stockholders or action by written consent at which directors are to be elected and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Board shall include such Investor Designee in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board in the Company’s proxy statement (and any related proxy cards); provided, that prior to the third annual meeting of stockholders of the Company after the date hereof, PV shall only have the right to nominate an Investor Designee for election at an annual meeting at which such Investor Designee’s term expires in accordance with the Certificate; provided, further, that prior to the third annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, unless FH is unable to serve due to death, disability, incapacity or retirement or ceases to be employed by PV or any of its Affiliates, the Investor Designee shall be FH.  FH or any person designated to serve as a director by PV pursuant to the foregoing sentence is referred to as the “Investor Designee.”  At such time when the PV Shareholding Requirement is not met, then (x) the conditions set forth in the applicable Investor Designee’s Resignation Letter shall be satisfied and the Board shall be entitled (but not required) to accept such Investor Designee’s resignation (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such Investor Designee’s resignation shall not be effective until accepted by the Board) and (y) in the event the Board accepts such Investor Designee’s resignation, PV’s right to designate the PV Observer (as defined below) in accordance with Section 1.1(f) shall terminate and the PV Observer shall automatically cease to be a Board Observer and shall have no further rights as a Board Observer.  In connection with the election of directors at any annual meeting of stockholders or action by written consent of the Company after the Effective Time, and subject to the terms of this Agreement (including the immediately preceding sentence) and Applicable Law, the Company shall take all actions necessary to provide that the Investor Designee is nominated for election or re-election (including by using substantially the same level of efforts and providing no less than substantially the same level of support as is used and/or provided for the other director nominees of the Company with respect to the applicable meeting of stockholders or action by written consent), as applicable, to the Board at such annual meeting or pursuant to such action by written consent and the remaining directors shall be nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Certificate and the Bylaws, and the Company shall solicit proxies for such Investor Designee to the same extent as it does for any of its other nominees to the Board.  For the avoidance of doubt, failure of the stockholders of the Company to elect such Investor Designee provided for in this Section 1.1(b) to the Board shall not affect the right of PV to nominate a director for election in any future election of directors.  The Company shall take all actions necessary to provide that, upon his appointment to the Board, FH is included as a “Class III” director as such term is used in the Certificate.

 

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(c)                                  PV shall have the right to designate, subject to Section 1.1(b), any replacement for the Investor Designee, who shall be a Qualified Director, upon the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office of any such Investor Designee and the Board shall take all necessary action to appoint such replacement Investor Designee, subject in all cases to (i) compliance with the Certificate, the Bylaws, Applicable Law and applicable stock exchange rules and (ii) the execution, delivery and acceptance of a Resignation Letter to the Company.

 

(d)                                 For purposes of this Agreement, a “Qualified Director” shall mean a director who (i) qualifies as an Independent Director and (ii) is otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Board (as determined by a majority of the directors not including any Investor Designee); provided, that no Person shall be a Qualified Director if such Person Engages in a Competing Business.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (x) if at any time an Investor Designee Engages in a Competing Business, then the conditions set forth in such Investor Designee’s Resignation Letter shall be satisfied (and the Board shall be entitled (but not required) to accept such Investor Designee’s resignation (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such Investor Designee’s resignation shall not be effective until accepted by the Board)), and (y) if at any time from and after the Effective Time, PV or any of its Affiliates Engages in a Competing Business, then, PV shall no longer have the right to designate an Investor Designee (provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit PV from seeking a waiver from the Company with respect to this subclause (y), which waiver may be given or withheld at the Company’s sole discretion).

 

(e)                                  For so long as an Investor Designee is serving on the Board, the Company shall not implement or maintain any trading policy or similar guideline or policy with respect to the trading of securities of the Company that is targeted at PV or its Affiliates (including a policy that limits, prohibits, restricts Investor or its Affiliates from entering into the hedging or derivative arrangements referenced herein), in each case, other than (i) with respect to the Investor Designee, (ii) with respect to the trading of securities of the Company while in possession of material non-public information concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries, (iii) with respect to compliance with applicable federal securities or other laws, and/or (iv) with respect to compliance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(f)                                   From and after the Effective Time, and for so long as AF together with its Affiliates Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Company Common Stock that is at least fifty percent (50.0%) of the number of AF Shares as of immediately following the Closing (as defined in the AF Investment Agreement) (but giving effect to any adjustment pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or Section 2.4(c) of the AF Investment Agreement), AF shall have the right to designate one (1) non-voting Board observer (the “AF Observer”); provided; that at any time from and after the Effective Time, (A) if AF or any of its Affiliates Engages in a Competing Business, then AF shall immediately cease to have the right to retain the AF Observer, and (B) if the PV Shareholding Requirement ceases to be met, then AF shall cease to have the right to retain the AF Observer following the date that is three years following the date on which the PV Shareholding Requirement ceases to be met (unless such right shall have been previously terminated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement).  From and after the Effective Time, and for so long as the PV Shareholding Requirement is met, subject to the last sentence of Section 2.2(b), PV shall have the right to designate one (1) non-voting Board observer (the “PV

 

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Observer” and each of the PV Observer and the AF Observer, a “Board Observer”).  Each Board Observer (x) must be reasonably acceptable to the Board (as determined by a majority of the directors not including any Investor Designee), (y) cannot be Engaged in a Competing Business and (z) shall enter into a customary confidentiality agreement with the Company.  No Board Observer shall have the right to vote on any matter presented to the Board or any committee thereof but shall have the right to (1) receive the same materials distributed to members of the Board at the same time and in the same manner such materials are distributed to members of the Board, and (2) otherwise fully participate in meetings and discussions of the Board, except for the right to vote, as if he or she were a member of the Board.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Board Observer shall be entitled to receive from the Company or any of its Affiliates any compensation or reimbursement of expenses, costs or any fees in connection with the Board Observer’s attendance at meetings of the Board or otherwise.

 

(g)                                  Each Investor Designee (and any replacement therefor pursuant to Section 1.1(c)) and Board Observer shall, prior to such Investor Designee’s or Board Observer’s nomination or designation, as applicable, provide any and all information as shall be reasonably requested by the Board (including the completion of a customary directors’ and officers’ questionnaire, as well as any information regarding such proposed Investor Designee to the extent reasonably required by the Certificate, the Bylaws, Applicable Law and applicable stock exchange rules).  PV shall direct the Investor Designee and the PV Observer to comply, and AF shall direct the AF Observer to comply, with all policies, procedures, processes, codes, rules, standards and guidelines applicable to Board members generally, including the Company’s code of business conduct and ethics, securities trading policies, anti-hedging policies, Regulation FD-related policies, director confidentiality policies and corporate governance guidelines (collectively, the “Company Policies”); provided that Parent and the Company acknowledge and agree that any share ownership requirement for an Investor Designee serving on the Board will be deemed satisfied by the Investor Shares Beneficially Owned by Investor and/or its Affiliates and under no circumstances shall any of such Company Policies impose any restrictions on Investor’s or Affiliates’ transfers of securities pursuant to ARTICLE IV.

 

(h)                                 Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company reserves the right to withhold any information and to exclude any Board Observer from any meeting or portion thereof if access to such information or attendance at such meeting would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel, or result in disclosure of trade secrets or a conflict of interest.

 

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1.2.                            Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.  Immediately after the Effective Time, and for so long as this Agreement is in effect, (i) the Company and the Investors shall take or cause to be taken all lawful action necessary to ensure at all times as of and following the Effective Time that the provisions of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby are not inconsistent with Applicable Law and (ii) the Company shall take or cause to be taken all lawful action necessary to ensure at all times as of and following the Effective Time that the provisions of the Certificate and Bylaws of the Company are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and the Investment Agreements.

 

1.3.                            Share Repurchases.  The Company shall not, prior to the expiration of the Measurement Period, repurchase, or publicly announce any share repurchase programs relating to, any shares of Company Common Stock.

 

1.4.                            Financing Cooperation.  Upon the request of any Investor or of its Affiliates that it wishes to pledge, hypothecate or grant security interests in any or all of the Investor Shares in connection with one or more Permitted Loans, including to banks or financial institutions as collateral or security for loans, advances or extensions of credit, the Company agrees to use reasonable best efforts to provide to such Investor and its Affiliates, as applicable, such cooperation as may be reasonably necessary to consummate any such pledge, hypothecation or grant, including entry into letter agreements with lenders substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto (each, an “Issuer Agreement”) and, if requested by such Investor or any of its Affiliates (and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement and the Investment Agreements, including Section 3.1(k) of each Investment Agreement and Section 6.3 hereof), instructing the transfer agent to transfer any such Investor Shares subject to the pledge, hypothecation or grant into the facilities of The Depository Trust Company without, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, restrictive legends subject to receipt of an opinion from nationally recognized counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company.  The Company’s obligation to deliver an Issuer Agreement is conditioned on (i) the Investor delivering to the Company (A) at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date of the requested Issuer Agreement, a substantially final draft of the Permitted Loan to which the Issuer Agreement relates, and (B) an executed copy of the Permitted Loan to which the Issuer Agreement relates and (ii) the Investor certifying to the Company in writing that (A) the loan agreement with respect to which the Issuer Agreement is being delivered constitutes a Permitted Loan being entered into in accordance with this Agreement, the Investor has pledged the Investor Shares as collateral to the lenders under such Permitted Loan and the execution of such Permitted Loan and the terms thereof do not violate the terms of this Agreement, (B) an event of default (as described in such loan agreement) constitutes the sole circumstances under which the lenders under the Permitted Loan may foreclose on the Investor Shares and that such provisions do not violate the terms of this Agreement, (C) pursuant to the provisions of such loan agreement, the Investor may sell Investor Shares in order to satisfy a margin call or repay a Permitted Loan, in each case, to the extent necessary to satisfy a bone fide margin call on such Permitted Loan or otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement  and that such provisions do not violate the terms of this Agreement and (D) the Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Company will be relying on such certificate when entering into the Issuer Agreement and any inaccuracy in such certificate will be deemed a breach of this Agreement.  The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the statements and agreements of the Company in an Issuer Agreement are solely for the benefit of the applicable lenders party thereto and that in any dispute between the Company and the

 

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Investor under this Agreement, the Investor shall not be entitled to use the statements and agreements of the Company in an Issuer Agreement against the Company.  The Company agrees and acknowledges that (a) no lender or collateral agent with respect to a Permitted Loan shall become party to this Agreement or be subject to any provision hereunder and (b) that it shall not condition its cooperation under this Section 1.4 on (i) any lender or collateral agent agreeing to become party to this Agreement or becoming subject to any such provision or (ii) any agreement, representation, warranty or obligation by the Investor or any of its Affiliates other than as set forth in this Agreement or in any Issuer Agreement.

 

1.5.                            Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.  Immediately following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall adopt (or, as applicable, maintain in effect) directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that shall extend to the Investor Designee to the same extent applicable to all Company directors.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any indemnification and advancement of expenses and provided in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and/or bylaws to any Investor Affiliated Director and such insurance shall be the insurance of first resort for any Investor Affiliated Director, in each case, in his or her capacity as a director of the Company or its Subsidiaries (such that the Company’s obligations to such indemnitees in their capacities as directors are primary and any obligation of PV or its Affiliates to advance expenses or to provide indemnification or insurance for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by such indemnitees are secondary).  No advancement or payment by PV or its Affiliates on behalf of such indemnitees with respect to any claim for which such indemnitees have sought indemnification, advancement of expenses of insurance from the Company in their capacities as directors shall affect the foregoing, and PV or its Affiliates, as applicable, shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such indemnitees against the Company.  The Company shall indemnify each Board Observer from and against any and all claims, actions, costs, expenses or losses incurred by such Board Observer as a result of such Board Observer being named as a defendant in any lawsuit or other legal action solely in his or her capacity as a Board Observer.

 

ARTICLE II

 

TRANSFERS; STANDSTILL PROVISIONS; COMPLIANCE

 

2.1.                            Investor Transfer Restrictions.

 

(a)                                 Other than in the case of a Permitted Transfer, no Investor shall, and each Investor shall cause its Affiliates not to, Transfer all or any portion of the Investor Shares, Warrants or Warrant Shares owned by such Investor prior to the date that is twelve (12) months after the Effective Time (such period, the “Restricted Period”); provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall cease to apply with respect to the Warrants and Warrant Shares (and any hedging or monetization transactions effected pursuant to Rule 144 that reference Company Common Stock and do not exceed, in the aggregate during the Restricted Period, the number of shares of Company Common Stock underlying the Warrants, each a “Permitted Warrant Hedge”) if the Reference Price is, at any time after the date that is six (6) months after the Effective Time, less than seventy percent (70%) of the Adjusted VWAP Price Per Share.  “Reference Price” with respect to any point in time means the volume weighted average price of a share of Company

 

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Common Stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange over the consecutive ten (10) trading days immediately prior to such time.

 

(b)                                 “Permitted Transfers” means, in each case, so long as such Transfer is in accordance with Applicable Law:

 

(i)                                     a Transfer to a Permitted Transferee of such Investor, so long as such Permitted Transferee, in connection with such Transfer, (A) executes a customary joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B and (B) covenants and agrees in writing, subject to the terms and conditions of any Permitted Loan made to such Permitted Transferee, to Transfer the previously Transferred Investor Shares or Warrants (or Warrant Shares) back to such Investor immediately upon ceasing to be a Permitted Transferee;

 

(ii)                                  a Transfer in connection with an Acquisition Transaction approved by the Board (including if the Board (A) recommends that its stockholders tender in response to a tender or exchange offer that, if consummated, would constitute an Acquisition Transaction, or (B) does not recommend that its stockholders reject any such tender or exchange offer within the ten (10) Business Day period specified in Rule 14e-2(a) under the Exchange Act);

 

(iii)                               a Transfer made pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.4(b) of the applicable Investment Agreement;

 

(iv)                              a Transfer that constitutes a tender into a tender or exchange offer commenced by the Company or any of its Affiliates;

 

(v)                                 a Transfer that constitutes a pledge, hypothecation or other grant of security interest in the Investor Shares, Warrants or Warrant Shares as collateral for a Permitted Loan or Permitted Warrant Hedge; or

 

(vi)                              a Transfer by any Investor to any Person (other than an Affiliate of such Investor) for cash, solely to the extent that all of the net proceeds of such sale are solely used to satisfy a margin call (i.e., posted as collateral) or repay a Permitted Loan to the extent necessary to satisfy a bona fide margin call on such Permitted Loan or avoid a bona fide margin call on such Permitted Loan that is, in the good faith judgment of the Investor or its applicable Affiliate that is the borrower under such Permitted Loans, as applicable, reasonably likely to occur (in each case through no fault of Investor or any of its Affiliates).

 

The Investor shall provide at least five (5) Business Days’ advanced written notice of any proposed Transfer that is a Permitted Transfer pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i) or Section 2.1(b)(v), and shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, provide at least two (2) Business Days’ advanced written notice of any proposed Transfer that is a Permitted Transfer pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(vi).

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, including ARTICLE IV hereof and/or the expiration of the Restricted Period, neither any Investor nor any

 

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of its Affiliates, shall cause, permit, or suffer any Transfer of all or any portion of the Investor Shares, Warrants, or Warrant Shares owned by such Investor or any of its Affiliate (i) if such Transfer would be in violation of any Applicable Laws or breach of any terms and conditions of this Agreement; or (ii) to a Prohibited Person.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sale of the Investor Shares through open market transactions, or through registration rights where the identity of prospective buyers is not known to the selling Investor shall not be subject to Section 2.1(c)(ii).

 

(d)                                 To the extent that any Transfer or attempted Transfer of Investor Shares or Warrants (or the Warrant Shares) by an Investor or any of its Affiliates is in violation of this Section 2.1, (i) such Transfer shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, be null and void ab initio, (ii) the Company shall not, and shall instruct its transfer agent and other third parties not to, record or recognize any such purported Transfer on the share register of the Company, and (iii) the Company shall be entitled to seek, and recover, from such Investor any and all costs, expenses and damages (including reimbursement of any costs and expenses incurred by the Company) incurred or suffered by the Company in connection with any such purported Transfer.

 

(e)                                  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit or otherwise restrict the ability of any lender (or its securities’ affiliate) or collateral agent to foreclose upon and sell, dispose of or otherwise Transfer Investor Shares mortgaged, hypothecated and/or pledged to secure the obligations of the borrower following an event of default under a Permitted Loan and (ii) notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, in the event that any lender or other creditor under a Permitted Loan (including any agent or trustee on their behalf) or any Affiliate of the foregoing exercises any rights or remedies in respect of the Investor Shares or any other collateral for any Permitted Loan, no lender, creditor, agent or trustee on their behalf or Affiliate of any of the foregoing (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, an Investor or any of its Affiliates) or transferee of any of the foregoing (except as permitted under Section 6.11) shall be entitled to any rights or have any obligations, or be subject to any Transfer restrictions or limitations, hereunder (including the rights or benefits provided for in this Section 2.1).

 

(f)                                   Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, a Transfer resulting from (x) any issuance of limited partnership or other investor interests by a Primavera Fund, (y) any Transfer of limited partnership or other interests in a Primavera Fund, or (z) any Transfer of an interest in a Primavera Fund among employees of Primavera Capital GP II Ltd. or its Affiliates, in each case, shall not be deemed a “Transfer” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

2.2.                            Standstill.

 

(a)                                 During the Standstill Period, without the express prior written invitation or consent of the Board, each Investor shall not, and shall cause its respective Affiliates and any representatives acting on such Investor’s or one of such Investor’s Affiliate’s behalf not to, in any manner, directly or indirectly: (i) effect or seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect, or participate in, facilitate or encourage any other Person to effect or seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect, or participate in, (A) any acquisition of any voting securities (or beneficial ownership thereof), or rights or options to acquire any voting securities (including Company Common Stock and any voting debt securities) (or

 

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beneficial ownership thereof) (for the avoidance of doubt, other than an Investor’s exercise of the Warrants in accordance with their respective terms), or any assets, or businesses of the Company, (B) any tender offer or exchange offer, merger or other business combination involving the Company, any of the assets of the Company or the Subsidiaries constituting a material portion of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries, (C) any recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction with respect to the Company or (D) any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the Commission) or consents to vote any voting securities of the Company, including soliciting consents or taking other action with respect to the calling of a special meeting of the Company’s shareholders; (ii) form, join or in any way participate in a “group” (as defined under the Exchange Act) with respect to the Company; (iii) otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to seek representation on or to Control or influence the management, Board or policies of the Company or to obtain representation on the Board of the Company (provided, that this clause (iii) shall in no way limit the activities of the Investor Designee taken in good faith solely in his or her capacity as a director of the Company); (iv) disclose or direct any Person to disclose, any intention, plan or arrangement inconsistent with the foregoing; or (v) advise, assist or encourage, or direct any Person to advise, assist or encourage any other Person in connection with any of the foregoing.  Each Investor also agrees during such period not to request the Company to amend or waive any provision of this Section 2.2(a) (including this sentence).

 

(b)                                 The provisions of Section 2.2(a) shall not, in any manner, limit or prohibit (i) any actions, or the rights or authority of the Investor Designee acting in his or her capacity as a member of the Board or otherwise consistent with his or her fiduciary duties, (ii) the full participation of any Investor Designee in any Board (or Board committee, as applicable) discussions, deliberations, negotiations or determinations, or other actions or matters with respect to which any other members of the Board participate, regarding any Change of Control of the Company or any Acquisition Transaction, (iii) either Investor or any of such Investor’s Affiliates, or any of their respective representatives from communicating privately with the Company’s directors, officers or representatives so long as such communications are not intended to, and would not reasonably be expected to, require any public disclosure of such communications, (iv) Investor or any of its Affiliates’ acquisition or offering to acquire, directly or indirectly, any company or business unit that Beneficially Owns any securities of the Company; provided that, in the event the Investor or any of its Affiliates acquire Control of such company or business unit, the fair market value of such company or business unit’s Beneficial Ownership in the Company (at the time definitive agreements with respect to such acquisition are entered into) shall represent five percent (5%) or less of the total assets of such company or business unit; provided, further, that any Beneficial Ownership in the Company so acquired by Investor or any of its Affiliates shall be taken in account when determining the  Ultimate Standstill Level (as defined below), (v) the activities of any Portfolio Company of any Investor; provided that such Portfolio Company is not acting at the direction of such Investor, (vi) any acquisition by either Investor, such Investor’s Affiliates or any of their respective representatives of any voting securities (or Beneficial Ownership thereof), or rights or options to acquire any voting securities (including Company Common Stock), or the exercise of any rights or options to acquire any voting securities (including Company Common Stock), that does not immediately following the consummation of any such transaction result, directly or indirectly (and taking into account any other Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock including pursuant to the

 

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foregoing clause (iv)), in (x) an aggregate Beneficial Ownership by PV and its Affiliates, collectively, of more than 17.74%, or, (y) an aggregate Beneficial Ownership by AF and its Affiliates, collectively, of more than 2.16%, (in each case of (x) and (y), taking into account, for purposes of such calculation, all Warrant Shares underlying the Warrants that are held by the applicable Investor and have not yet been exercised as of the date of determination, and as the percentages specified in the immediately preceding subsections (x) and (y) may be adjusted by mutual agreement between PV and AF for so long as the sum of such percentages do not exceed 19.9%) of the outstanding amount of any class of voting securities of Company Common Stock; provided, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, nothing in this clause (vi) shall permit PV, AF and their respective Affiliates to Beneficially Own, in the aggregate, more than 19.9% of any voting securities or rights or options to acquire any voting securities of the Company (including Company Common Stock) (the “Ultimate Standstill Level”), or (vii) PV proposing to the Company, at any time after the date that is six (6) months after the Effective Time, that the Company consider increasing the size of the Board by one (1) director and nominating a second Investor Designee selected by PV (in addition to the Investor Designee pursuant to Section 1.1(b)) for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Company at which directors of the Company are to be elected.  Any such proposal made in compliance with clause (vii) of the preceding sentence shall be presented for consideration by the Board at the next regularly-scheduled meeting of the full Board.  PV shall not have the right to designate the PV Observer (and any PV Observer then serving as such shall automatically cease to be a Board Observer and shall have no further rights as a Board Observer) for so long as two or more Investor Designees are directors of the Company.

 

(c)                                  Other than this Agreement, the Company will not (i) enter into any Contract, (ii) amend the Certificate or Bylaws or (iii) amend or adopt any policies, procedures, processes, codes, rules, standards and guidelines, in each case, which in any manner, either directly or indirectly restrict either Investor or any of their respective Affiliates from acquiring, agreeing to acquire, proposing or offering to acquire, or facilitating the acquisition of any class of voting securities of Company Common Stock (including any derivative instruments thereof) not in excess of the Ultimate Standstill Level.

 

2.3.                            Compliance with Laws.  In connection with the applicable Investment Agreement, this Agreement and any of the transactions contemplated thereby and from and after the date hereof, each Investor on behalf of itself and its respective Affiliates (as well as any director or officer of any of the foregoing) and the Company covenants and agrees to comply with and abide by all Applicable Laws.  Without limiting the foregoing, each Investor on behalf of itself and its respective Affiliates (as well as any director or officer of any of the foregoing) and the Company covenants and agrees that it (a) has not made, offered, or promised, and will not make, offer, or promise any unlawful payment, or given, offered to give, or promised to give, and will not give, offer to give, or promise to give anything of value (whether in the form of property or services or in any other form), to any foreign or domestic official or employee of any Governmental Entity (which, for the purposes of this Section 2.3, also includes any political party or candidate), or to any finder, agent, representative or other party acting for, on behalf of, or under the auspices of any official or employee of any Governmental Entity (each, a “Government Official”) for purposes of (i) influencing any act or decision of any Government Official in his or her official capacity, (ii) inducing any Government Official to do or omit to do any act in violation of his or her lawful duty, (iii) securing any improper advantage, or (iv) inducing any Government Official

 

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to influence or affect any act or decision of any Governmental Entity, in each case, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or directing business to any Person; (b) has not used and will not use any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity and (c) has not taken or made, and will not take or make, any other action or omission that would or would reasonably be expected to result in a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any other law of the United States, the People’s Republic of China, or of any other jurisdiction where the Investor or its Affiliates conduct business governing corrupt practices, commercial bribery, money laundering, pay-to-play, anti-bribery or anticorruption or that otherwise prohibits payments to any government or public officials or employees.

 

ARTICLE III

 

INFORMATION RIGHTS

 

3.1.                            Financial Statements; Access.  Subject to Section 3.2, for as long as PV has the right to appoint an Investor Designee pursuant to Section 1.1(b), in the case of PV, and for so long as AF has the right to designate a Board Observer pursuant to Section 1.1(f), in the case of AF, the Company will provide PV and AF, as applicable, with its monthly (as and when such monthly financial statements are furnished to the Board, but only to the extent that they are so furnished), quarterly and annual financial statements, unless such statements are available on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) database of the SEC, in which case such statements shall be deemed delivered to Investors for purposes of this Agreement.  In addition, for as long as PV has the right to appoint an Investor Designee pursuant to Section 1.1(b), in the case of PV, and for so long as AF has the right to designate a Board Observer pursuant to Section 1.1(f), in the case of AF, upon the request of the applicable Investor, no more than four (4) times per year, the Company will cause members of its senior management to meet with PV and AF, as applicable (in person or by conference telephone as agreed by the Parties) to provide PV and AF, as applicable, with an update regarding developments relating to the Company’s business and to respond to questions from the Investors; provided, that any costs and expenses incurred by PV or AF in connection with such meetings shall be borne solely by PV of AF, as applicable.

 

3.2.                            Confidentiality; Privileged Information.

 

(a)                                 Each Investor and Board Observer expressly acknowledge that Confidential Information obtained or received by such Investor is confidential and that the disclosure of such Confidential Information, either publicly or privately to other parties, would cause irreparable injury to the Company.  Except with the prior written consent of the Company, no Investor or Board Observer shall (and each Investor and Board Investor shall instruct their respective representatives not to) disclose any such Confidential Information to a third party, and PV, AF and any Board Observer shall use the same level of efforts utilized by PV and AF and their respective Affiliates, and the Board Observer’s principal organization, respectively, in the protection of such organization’s own confidential information to preserve the confidentiality of such Confidential Information (and each Investor and Board Observer shall cause its representatives to do the same).  The obligations of each Investor and any Board Observer under this Section 3.2 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for a period of five (5) years;

 

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provided, that with respect to any trade secret, such obligations shall continue to apply to such trade secret for so long as such trade secret remains a trade secret.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Investors, any Board Observer and their respective Affiliates shall not be bound by the confidentiality obligations of this Section 3.2 with respect to any Confidential Information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Applicable Law; provided, that in such case, such Investor, any Board Observer or the respective Affiliate of such Investor or Board Observer shall disclose only that portion of such Confidential Information that is required to be disclosed and, to the extent reasonably practicable provide advance notice to the Company of such disclosure and provide the Company a reasonable amount of time and opportunity to seek a protective order or similar remedy, and to reasonably cooperate (at the Company’s sole expense) with the seeking of such protective order or similar remedy.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, and for the avoidance of doubt, (A) an Investor or Board Observer may disclose Confidential Information to (x) their respective Affiliates and their respective representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Agreements (or their rights and obligations hereunder), (y) to any direct or indirect, actual or potential shareholder, member, partner or other investor in such Investor or Board Observer’s principal organization, in each case of subclauses (x) and (y) so long as such Persons are informed of the confidential nature of such information and are directed to treat such information confidentially and (z) solely with respect to PV, any potential financing source and their respective representatives in connection with a Permitted Loan; provided, that such financing sources shall enter into customary confidentiality agreements with respect to any Confidential Information to be provided thereunder, and (B) any Investor Designee and Board Observer may disclose to PV, AF or any of their respective Affiliates any information obtained or received by such Investor Designee or Board Observer in his or her capacity as such.  Each Investor, on behalf of itself and its respective Affiliates and respective Board Observer, hereby acknowledges and agrees that such Investor shall be responsible for any failure of any of the Persons enumerated in this Section 3.2 to whom it discloses Confidential Information to treat such information as required by the terms of this Section 3.2.

 

(b)                                 Nothing contained in this Section 3.2 will require the Company to take any action that would, after consultation with outside counsel, constitute a waiver of the attorney-client or similar privilege or violate any Applicable Law or confidentiality obligations owing to third parties, including under any material Contract.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding anything in the Confidentiality Agreements or the Investment Agreements to the contrary, from and after the date hereof, (x) any disclosure of information (other than any information relating to the Parent or its Subsidiaries (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company and its Subsidiaries)) that is not prohibited by this Section 3.2 shall not be deemed to be a breach of Section 5.8 of the Investment Agreements or of the Confidentiality Agreements, and (y) any action that is not prohibited by Section 2.2 shall not be deemed to be a breach of the standstill obligations of the Investors solely in respect of the Company set forth in the seventh paragraph of the Confidentiality Agreements.

 

(d)                                 This Section 3.2 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE IV

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

4.1.                            Demand Registrations.

 

(a)                                 Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement (including ARTICLE II), from and after the first anniversary of the Effective Time, subject to the terms and conditions hereof (x) solely during any period that the Company is then-ineligible under Applicable Law to register Registrable Securities on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 4.3 or, if the Company is so eligible but has failed to comply with its obligations under Section 4.3 or (y) following the expiration of the Company’s obligation to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective pursuant to Section 4.3(b), but only if there is no Shelf Registration Statement then in effect, the Investors shall be entitled to make no more than two (2) written requests of the Company in any given calendar year and no more than four (4) in the aggregate (each, a “Demand”) for registration under the Securities Act of an amount of Registrable Securities then held by the Investors that equals or is greater than the Registrable Amount (a “Demand Registration”).  Thereupon the Company will, subject to the terms of this Agreement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to permit or facilitate the offer, sale and distribution of the securities specified in such Demand as promptly as reasonably practicable under the Securities Act of:

 

(i)                                     the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the Investors for disposition in accordance with the intended method of disposition stated in such Demand; and

 

(ii)                                  all shares of Company Common Stock which the Company may elect to register in connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 4.1, but subject to limitation as provided in Section 4.1(g); all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof) of the Registrable Securities and the additional shares of Company Common Stock, if any, to be so registered.

 

(b)                                 A Demand shall specify: (i) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered in such Demand Registration; and (ii) the intended method(s) of disposition in connection with such Demand Registration.

 

(c)                                  A Demand Registration shall not be deemed to have been effected (i) unless a registration statement with respect thereto has become effective and has remained effective for a period of at least (A) one hundred eighty (180) days or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Demand Registration have actually been sold thereunder (provided, that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the holder of Registrable Securities refrains from selling any securities included in such registration statement at the request of the Company or the lead managing underwriter(s) pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) or (B) in connection with a Demand Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, such longer period as, in the opinion of counsel for the lead managing underwriter, a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer, or (ii) if, (A) after it has become effective and prior to the sale of all Registrable Securities included therein, such Demand Registration becomes subject, prior to one hundred eighty (180) days after effectiveness, to any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other Governmental

 

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Entity, other than by reason of any act or omission by the Investors or (B) in connection with a Demand Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the conditions specified in the underwriting agreement or similar agreement entered into in connection with such registration are not satisfied, other than as the result of a wrongful act, misrepresentation or breach of such agreement by the Investors.

 

(d)                                 Demand Registrations shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission as shall be selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Investors.

 

(e)                                  The Company shall not be obligated to (i) subject to the proviso of Section 4.1(c), maintain the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities Act filed pursuant to a Demand Registration, for a period longer than one hundred eighty (180) days or (ii) effect any Demand Registration (A) within six (6) months of a “firm commitment” Underwritten Offering in which the Investors were offered “piggyback” rights pursuant to Section 4.2 (subject to Section 4.2(b)) and at least 50% of the number of Registrable Securities requested by the Investors to be included in such Demand Registration were included and were actually sold thereunder, (B) within six (6) months of the completion of any other Demand Registration (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement) or (C) if, in the Company’s reasonable judgment, it is not feasible for the Company to proceed with the Demand Registration because of the unavailability of audited or other required financial statements of the Company; provided, that the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such financial statements as promptly as practicable.

 

(f)                                   The Company shall be entitled to postpone (upon written notice to the Investors) the filing or the effectiveness of a registration statement or to require the Investors to suspend the use of the prospectus for sales of Registrable Securities in respect of any Demand Registration in the event of a Blackout Period under clause (ii) of the definition thereof until the expiration of such Blackout Period.  In the event of such Blackout Period, the Company shall deliver to the Investors a certificate signed by either the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the Board, the conditions described in clause (ii) of the definition of Blackout Period have been met.  Such certificate shall contain, to the extent practicable, an approximation of the anticipated duration of such Blackout Period.

 

(g)                                  If, in connection with a Demand Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advise(s) the Company that, in its (their) opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities sought to be registered in connection with such Demand Registration would adversely affect the success thereof, then the Company shall include in such registration statement only such securities as the Company is advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such adverse effect as follows and in the following order of priority: (i) first, up to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration by the Investors, which, in the opinion of the lead managing underwriter(s), can be sold without adversely affecting the success thereof; and (ii) second, the securities the Company proposes to sell.

 

(h)                                 Any time that a Demand Registration involves an Underwritten Offering, the Investors shall select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) that will serve as managing

 

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underwriters (including which such managing underwriters will serve as lead or co-lead) and underwriters with respect to the offering of such Registrable Securities; provided, that such investment banker(s) and manager(s) shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

4.2.                            Piggyback Registrations.

 

(a)                                 Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement (including ARTICLE II), from and after the first anniversary of the Effective Time, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, whenever the Company proposes to register any Company Common Stock under the Securities Act (other than a registration by the Company (i) on Form S-4 or any successor form thereto, (ii) on Form S-8 or any successor form thereto, (iii) on a Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) pursuant to Section 4.1 (a “Piggyback Registration”)), whether for its own account or for the account of others, the Company shall give the Investors prompt written notice thereof (but not less than ten (10) days prior to the filing by the Company with the Commission of any registration statement with respect thereto).  Such notice (a “Piggyback Notice”) shall specify the number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be registered, the proposed date of filing of such registration statement with the Commission, the proposed means of distribution, the proposed managing underwriter(s) (if any) and a good faith estimate by the Company of the proposed minimum offering price of such shares of Company Common Stock, in each case, to the extent then known.  Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Company shall include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities held by the Investors with respect to which the Company has received written requests (which written requests shall specify the number of Registrable Securities requested to be disposed of by the Investors) for inclusion therein within five (5) days after such Piggyback Notice is received by the Investors.

 

(b)                                 If, in connection with a Piggyback Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advises the Company that, in its (their) opinion, the inclusion of all the shares of Company Common Stock sought to be included in such Piggyback Registration would adversely affect the success thereof, then the Company shall include in the registration statement applicable to such Piggyback Registration only such shares of Company Common Stock as the Company is so advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such an effect and in the following order of priority: (i) first, the securities the Company proposes to sell; and (ii) up to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration by the Investors, which, in the opinion of the lead managing underwriter(s), can be sold without adversely affecting the success thereof.

 

(c)                                  For clarity, in connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Section 4.2 for the Company’s account, the Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of the Investors in the Underwritten Offering unless the Investors accept the terms of the underwriting agreement (which shall be in customary form) as agreed upon between the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s), which shall be selected by the Company.

 

(d)                                 If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any shares of Company Common Stock as set forth in this Section 4.2 and prior to the time the registration statement filed in connection with such Piggyback Registration is declared effective, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register such shares of Company Common

 

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Stock, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Investors and thereupon shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such particular withdrawn or abandoned Piggyback Registration; provided, that the Investors may elect to require the Company to continue the registration as a Demand Registration pursuant to the terms of Section 4.1.

 

(e)                                  Any time that a Piggyback Registration involves an Underwritten Offering, the Company shall select (in its sole discretion) the investment banker(s) and manager(s) that will serve as managing underwriters (including which such managing underwriters will serve as lead or co-lead) and underwriters with respect to the offering of such Registrable Securities.

 

4.3.                            Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(a)                                 Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement (including ARTICLE II), from and after the first anniversary of the Effective Time, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, and further subject to the eligibility of the Company to file a registration statement on Form S-3 or any successor form thereto (“Form S-3”), the Investors may by written notice delivered to the Company require the Company to file as soon as reasonably practicable, and to its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective by the Commission, if applicable, as soon as reasonably practicable after such filing date, a Form S-3 providing for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act to permit or facilitate the offer, sale and distribution, from time to time, of an amount of Registrable Securities then held by the Investors that equals or is greater than the Registrable Amount (the “Shelf Registration Statement”).  To the extent the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), the Company shall file the Shelf Registration Statement in the form of an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) or any successor form thereto.

 

(b)                                 Subject to Section 4.3(c), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective (including by filing amendments thereto or replacement registration statements thereof) until the earlier of (i) five (5) years after the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective; (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold thereunder in accordance with the plan and method of distribution disclosed in the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement, or otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities; and (iii) the date on which the Investors no longer hold Registrable Securities that represent at least two percent (2.0%) of the Total Voting Power of Company Common Stock in the aggregate.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if so advised by the Company in writing (which shall describe the reason for the Blackout Period and, to the extent practicable, an approximation of the anticipated duration of such Blackout Period), the Investors shall be required to suspend the use of the prospectus for sales of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement during any Blackout Period.  In the event such Blackout Period is of the type described in clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Company shall (i) deliver to the Investors a certificate signed by either the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the

 

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Board, the conditions described in clause (ii) of the definition of Blackout Period have been met.  After the expiration of any Blackout Period and without any request or demand from the Investors, the Company to the extent necessary shall as promptly as reasonably practicable prepare and file a post-effective amendment or supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus, or any document incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference, or any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included therein, the prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(d)                                 At any time that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, if the Investors deliver a notice to the Company (a “Take-Down Notice”) (which Take-Down Notices shall not total more than two (2) in the aggregate during any calendar year) stating that the Investors intend to sell all or part of their Registrable Securities included on the Shelf Registration Statement (a “Shelf Offering”), then, the Company shall amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus as may be necessary in order to enable such Registrable Securities to be distributed pursuant to the Shelf Offering.  In connection with any Shelf Offering that is an Underwritten Offering and where the offering of the securities includes a customary “road show” (including an “electronic road show”) or other substantial marketing effort by the Company and the underwriters (a “Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering”), if the lead managing underwriter(s) advises the Company and the Investors that, in its opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities sought to be sold in connection with such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering would adversely affect the success thereof, then there shall be included in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering only such securities as the Investors are advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such adverse effect.  Except as otherwise expressly specified in this Section 4.3, any Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering shall be subject to the same requirements, limitations and other provisions of this ARTICLE IV as would be applicable to a Demand Registration (i.e., as if such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering were a Demand Registration), including Section 4.1(g).

 

4.4.                            Withdrawal Rights.  The Investors, after having notified or directed the Company to include any or all of their Registrable Securities in a registration statement under the Securities Act, shall have the right to withdraw any such notice or direction with respect to any or all of the Registrable Securities designated by it for registration by giving written notice to such effect to the Company.  In the event of any such withdrawal, the Company shall not include such Registrable Securities in the applicable registration (or shall withdraw them from the applicable registration) and such Registrable Securities shall continue to be Registrable Securities for all purposes of this Agreement (subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement).  No such withdrawal shall affect the obligations of the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities not so withdrawn; provided, however, that in the case of a Demand Registration, if such withdrawal shall reduce the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included in such registration below the Registrable Amount, then the Company shall as promptly as practicable give the Investors notice to such effect and, within ten (10) days following the mailing of such notice, the Investors shall, by written notice to the Company, elect to register additional Registrable Securities to satisfy the Registrable Amount or elect that such registration statement not be filed or, if theretofore filed, be withdrawn.  During such ten (10) day period, the Company

 

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shall not file such registration statement if not theretofore filed or, if such registration statement has been theretofore filed, the Company shall not seek, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent, the effectiveness thereof.

 

4.5.                            Holdback Agreements.  The Investors agree to enter into customary agreements restricting the public sale or distribution of Equity Securities of the Company (including sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to the extent required by the lead managing underwriter(s) with respect to an applicable Underwritten Offering during the period commencing on the date of the request (which shall be no earlier than fourteen (14) days prior to the expected “pricing” of such Underwritten Offering) and continuing for not more than ninety (90) days after the date of the “final” prospectus (or “final” prospectus supplement if the Underwritten Offering is made pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement), pursuant to which such Underwritten Offering shall be made.

 

If any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering involves an Underwritten Offering, the Company will not effect any public sale or distribution of any common equity (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common equity) (other than a registration statement on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto) for its own account, within sixty (60) days (plus an extension period as may be proposed by the lead managing underwriter(s) for such Underwritten Offering to address FINRA regulations regarding the publication of research, or such shorter periods as such lead managing underwriter(s) may agree to with the Company), after the effective date of such registration except as may otherwise be agreed between the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s) of such Underwritten Offering.

 

4.6.                            Registration Procedures.

 

(a)                                 If and whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Section 4.1, Section 4.2 or Section 4.3, the Company shall as expeditiously as reasonably practicable:

 

(i)                                     prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement to effect such registration in accordance with the Investors’ intended method or methods of distribution of such securities and thereafter use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective pursuant to the terms of this ARTICLE IV; provided, however, that the Company may discontinue any registration of securities which are not Registrable Securities at any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement relating thereto; provided, further, however, that at least ten (10) days before filing such registration statement or any amendment, supplement or exhibit thereto or prospectus included therein, the Company will furnish to the Investors, their counsel and the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review and reasonable comment of the Investors and their counsel, and other documents reasonably requested by the Investors and their counsel, including any comment letters or other communications from the Commission, and, if requested by the Investors and/or their counsel, provide the Investors and their counsel reasonable opportunity to participate in

 

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the preparation of such registration statement, amendment, supplement, exhibit and each prospectus included therein;

 

(ii)                                  prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, supplements and exhibits to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to make and to keep such registration statement effective pursuant to the terms of this ARTICLE IV, and comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;

 

(iii)                               if requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, or the Investors, promptly include in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, or the Investors may reasonably request in order to permit or facilitate the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received such request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 4.6(a)(iii) that are not, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, in compliance with Applicable Law;

 

(iv)                              furnish to the Investors and each underwriter, if any, of the securities being sold by the Investors such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto and document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein, such number of copies of the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus) and each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) (a “Free Writing Prospectus”) utilized in connection therewith and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as the Investors and each underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to permit or facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by the Investors;

 

(v)                                 use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Investors, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities laws or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the Investors and any underwriter of the securities being sold by the Investors shall reasonably request, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such registration statement is required to be kept effective and take any other action which may be necessary or reasonably advisable to enable the Investors and underwriters to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by the Investors, except that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this Section 4.6(a)(v) be obligated to be so qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;

 

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(vi)                              use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

(vii)                           use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other Governmental Entities as may be reasonably necessary to enable the Investors to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(viii)                        use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

 

(ix)                              enter into an underwriting agreement (in form, scope and substance as is customary in Underwritten Offerings) and use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all such other actions reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), if any) to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten Offering, (A) make such representations and warranties to the holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the registration statement, prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in Underwritten Offerings, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested, (B) if an underwriting agreement has been entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures substantially to the effect set forth in Section 4.9 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to such Section and (C) deliver such documents and certificates as reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold, their counsel and the lead managing underwriters(s), if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to this Section 4.6(a)(ix) and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company.  The foregoing shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder;

 

(x)                                 in connection with an Underwritten Offering, use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver or arrange for the delivery to the Investors and each underwriter(s) (A) opinions of counsel for the Company, in the customary form and scope and covering the matters customarily covered in opinions delivered in Underwritten Offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by the Investors and such underwriter(s) and (B) “comfort” letters and updates thereof (or, in the case of any such Person which does not satisfy the conditions for receipt of a “comfort” letter specified in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72, an “agreed upon procedures” letter) signed by the independent public accountant who has certified the Company’s

 

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financial statements included in such registration statement, covering the matters customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with Underwritten Offerings;

 

(xi)                              make available for inspection by the Investors, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained in connection with such offering by the Investors or such underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), financial and other records, corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably requested, to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, attorney, agent or accountant in connection with such registration statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to provide any information under this Section 4.6(a)(xi) if (A) the Company believes, after consultation with counsel for the Company, that to do so would cause the Company to forfeit an attorney-client privilege that was applicable to such information or (B) if either (1) the Company has requested and been granted from the Commission confidential treatment of such information contained in any filing with the Commission or documents provided supplementally or otherwise or (2) the Company reasonably determines in good faith that such Records are confidential and so notifies the Inspectors in writing; unless prior to furnishing any such information with respect to clause (1) or (2) the Investors requesting such information enters into, and causes each of its Inspectors to enter into, a confidentiality agreement on customary terms; provided, further, however, that the Investors agree that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction or by another Governmental Entity, give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action seeking to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;

 

(xii)                           as promptly as practicable notify in writing the Investors and the underwriters, if any, of the following events: (A) the filing of the registration statement, any amendment or supplement thereto, the prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the registration statement or any Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection therewith, and, with respect to the registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; (B) any request by the Commission or any other Governmental Entity for amendments or supplements to the registration statement or the prospectus or for additional information; (C) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (D) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose; and (E) unless a Blackout Period is then in effect, upon the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such registration statement or related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such registration statement, prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the registration statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required

 

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to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that, in the case of the prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, at the request of the Investors, promptly prepare and furnish to the Investors a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such registration statement or prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(xiii)                        use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction as promptly as reasonably practicable, except that, subject to the requirements of Section 4.6(a)(v), the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (xiii) be obligated to be so qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;

 

(xiv)                       cooperate with the Investors and the lead managing underwriter(s) to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates, if any (which shall not bear any restrictive legends unless required under Applicable Law) representing securities sold under any registration statement, and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the lead managing underwriter(s) or the Investors may request and keep available and make available to the Company’s transfer agent prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement a supply of such certificates;

 

(xv)                          cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and

 

(xvi)                       have appropriate officers of the Company prepare and make presentations at a reasonable number of “road shows” and before analysts and other information meetings reasonably organized by the underwriters, and otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate, cooperate with and participate in, as reasonably requested by the Investors and the underwriters in the offering, the marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities.

 

(b)                                 The Company may require the Investors and each underwriter, if any, to furnish the Company in writing such information regarding the Investors or underwriter and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as may be required to complete or amend the information required by such registration statement.

 

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(c)                                  The Investors agree that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in clauses (B), (C), (D), and (E) of Section 4.6(a)(xii), the Investors shall forthwith discontinue the Investors’ disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the applicable registration statement and prospectus relating thereto until the Investors’ receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4.6(a)(xii), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus; provided, however, that the Company shall extend the time periods under Section 4.1(c) with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a registration statement must be maintained by the amount of time the holder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.

 

(d)                                 With a view to making available to the holders of Registrable Securities the benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit a holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3 (or any successor form), the Company shall:

 

(i)                                     use its commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

 

(ii)                                  use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act, at any time when the Company is subject to such reporting requirements; and

 

(iii)                               furnish to the Investors so long as the Investors own Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and of the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed or furnished by the Company with the Commission as the Investors may reasonably request in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities without registration (in each case to the extent not readily publicly available).

 

4.7.                            Registration Expenses.  All fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of its obligations under this ARTICLE IV, including (a) all registration and filing fees, including all fees and expenses of compliance with securities and “blue sky” laws (including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 4.6(a)(v)) and all fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with FINRA (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” as such term is defined in FINRA Rule 5121), (b) all printing (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by a holder of Registrable Securities) and copying expenses, (c) all messenger,

 

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telephone and delivery expenses, (d) all fees and expenses of the Company’s independent certified public accountants and counsel (including with respect to “comfort” letters and opinions) and counsel for the Investors, and (e) expenses of the Company incurred in connection with any “road show”, shall be borne solely by the Company whether or not any registration statement is filed or becomes effective.  In connection with the Company’s performance of its obligations under this ARTICLE IV, the Company will pay its internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties and the expense of any annual audit) and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange and included in each established over-the-counter market on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or traded.  The Investors shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale of the Investors’ Registrable Securities pursuant to any registration.

 

4.8.                            Miscellaneous. (a) Not less than ten (10) Business Days before the expected filing date of each registration statement pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall notify the Investors of the information, documents and instruments from such holder that the Company or any underwriter reasonably requests in connection with such registration statement, including a questionnaire, custody agreement, power of attorney, lock-up letter and underwriting agreement.

 

(b) From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Investors, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would allow such holder or prospective holder to (i) require the Company to effect a registration or (ii) include any securities in any registration filed under Section 4.1, Section 4.2 or Section 4.3 hereof unless, in each case, under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the inclusion of such securities will not diminish the amount of Registrable Securities that are included in such registration.

 

4.9.                            Registration Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 The Company agrees, without limitation as to time, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Investors and their Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees, managers, partners, accountants, attorneys and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Investors or such other indemnified Person and the officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees, managers, partners, accountants, attorneys and agents of each such controlling Person, each underwriter, if any, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such underwriter, from and against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, the “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of, caused by, resulting from or relating to (A) any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus prepared pursuant to this Agreement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,

 

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(B) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of any federal, state or common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification, compliance or sale, or (C) any failure to register or qualify Registrable Securities in any state where the Company or its agents have affirmatively undertaken or agreed in writing that the Company (the undertaking of any underwriter being attributed to the Company) will undertake such registration or qualification on behalf of the Investors of such Registrable Securities (provided, that in such instance the Company shall not be so liable if it has undertaken its commercially reasonable efforts to so register or qualify such Registrable Securities), and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 4.9(a)) will reimburse, as incurred, the Investors, each of their Affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees, managers, partners, accountants, attorneys and agents and each such Person who Controls the Investors or each of their Affiliates and the officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees, managers, partners, accountants, attorneys and agents of each such controlling Person, each such underwriter and each such Person who Controls any such underwriter, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, Loss, damage, liability or action, except insofar as the same is caused by any information furnished in writing to the Company expressly for inclusion therein by Investor or any underwriter.

 

(b)                                 In connection with any registration statement in which the Investors are participating, the Investors shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of, caused by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 4.9(b)) will reimburse the Company, its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, Loss, damage, liability or action, in each case, solely to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company expressly for inclusion therein by the Investors; provided, however, that the aggregate liability of the Investors hereunder shall be limited to the gross proceeds after underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Investors upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

(c)                                  Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall give prompt written notice to the indemnifying Party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification; provided, however, the failure to give such notice shall not release the indemnifying Party from its obligation, except to the extent that the indemnifying Party has been actually prejudiced by such failure to provide such notice on a timely basis.

 

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(d)                                 In any case in which any such action is brought against any indemnified Party, and it notifies an indemnifying Party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying Party will be entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent that it may wish, to assume and control the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified Party, and after notice from the indemnifying Party to such indemnified Party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and acknowledging the obligations of the indemnifying Party with respect to such proceeding, the indemnifying Party will not (so long as it shall continue to have the right to defend, contest, litigate and settle the matter in question in accordance with this paragraph) be liable to such indemnified Party hereunder for any legal or other expense subsequently incurred by such indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof (unless (i) such indemnified Party reasonably objects to such assumption on the grounds that, based on advice of counsel, there may be defenses available to it which are different from or in addition to the defenses available to such indemnifying Party and, as a result, a conflict of interest exists or (ii) the indemnifying Party shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and the indemnified Party is or would reasonably be expected to be materially prejudiced by such delay, in either event the indemnified Party shall be promptly reimbursed by the indemnifying Party for the expenses incurred in connection with retaining one separate legal counsel (for the avoidance of doubt, for all indemnified parties in connection therewith)).  For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding any such assumption by an indemnifying Party, the indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such matter and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified Party except as provided in the previous sentence.  An indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of an action or claim effected without its consent.  No matter shall be settled by an indemnifying Party without the consent of the indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless such settlement (x) includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation, (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified Party and (z) is settled solely for cash for which the indemnified Party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

(e)                                  The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall survive the Transfer of the Registrable Securities and the termination of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V

 

DEFINITIONS

 

5.1.                            Defined Terms.  Capitalized terms when used in this Agreement have the meanings set forth in this Agreement or, when so indicated, in the applicable Transaction Agreement.  As used in this Agreement:

 

“Acquisition Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions involving: (i) (a) any acquisition (whether direct or indirect, including by way of merger, share exchange, consolidation, business combination or other similar transaction) or purchase from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in any Person or Group Beneficially

 

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Owning fifty percent (50%) or more in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (measured by voting power or economic interest), or (b) any tender offer, exchange offer or other secondary acquisition that would result in any Person or Group Beneficially Owning fifty percent (50%) or more in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (measured by voting power or economic interest), or (c) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in the stockholders of the Company immediately preceding such transaction Beneficially Owning less than fifty percent (50%) in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities in the surviving or resulting entity of such transaction (measured by voting power or economic interest); provided, that this clause (c) shall not apply if such transaction or series of related transactions is an acquisition by the Company effected, in whole or in part, through the issuance of Equity Securities of the Company; (ii) any sale or lease or exchange, transfer, license or disposition of a business, deposits or assets that constitute fifty percent (50%) or more of the consolidated assets, business, revenues, net income, assets or deposits of the Company; or (iii) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

“Adjusted VWAP Price Per Share” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“AF” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“AF Investment Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“AF Observer” has the meaning set for in Section 1.1(f).

 

“AF Shares” has the meaning ascribed to “Investor Shares” as set forth in the AF Investment Agreement.

 

“Affiliate” means (except as specifically otherwise defined), when used with respect to a specified Person, a Person that, directly or indirectly, through one (1) or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is Under common Control with, such specified Person; provided that (x) from and after the date hereof, (a) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be considered an Affiliate of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or of any Affiliate of Parent or its Subsidiaries; and (b) neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be considered an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of any Affiliate of the Company or its Subsidiaries and (y) no Portfolio Company of PV shall be deemed an Affiliate of PV.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to AF, “Affiliate” shall mean (i) Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd., or (ii) a Person that, directly or indirectly, through one (1) or more intermediaries, is Controlled by Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd., but in any event excluding the Persons listed in Annex B of the AF Investment Agreement and their respective controlled Persons; provided, that solely for purposes of Section 2.2 hereof, the first two Persons set forth on Annex B shall only be excluded to the extent such Persons would not otherwise by deemed to be an Affiliate under this definition.  For purposes of this definition, “Portfolio Company of PV” shall mean any Person in which any pooled investment fund or managed account managed and/or advised by Primavera Capital GP II Ltd. and/or its Affiliates has made an investment (including without limitation direct or indirect

 

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investments in shares, debentures, convertible loan stock, options, swaps, forward contracts, other derivative contracts, guarantees, warrants, debt instruments and loans (whether secured, unsecured or subordinated) other than such Person in which the Fund and other Affiliates of the Fund are the sole non-management investors.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Applicable Law” means any applicable national, supranational, federal, state, provincial, local or similar law (including common law), statute, code, order, ordinance, rule, regulation, treaty (including any income tax treaty), license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, decree, injunction, binding judicial or administrative interpretation or other requirement, in each case, enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a Governmental Entity.

 

“Beneficially Own” with respect to any securities shall mean having “beneficial ownership” of such securities (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing.

 

“Blackout Period” means (i) any regular quarterly period during which directors and executive officers of the Company are not permitted to trade under the insider trading policy of the Company then in effect and (ii) in the event that the Company determines in good faith that the registration or offering would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect or materially interfere with any bona fide material financing of the Company or any material transaction under consideration by the Company or would require disclosure of information that has not been, and is not otherwise required to be, disclosed to the public, the premature disclosure of which would adversely affect the Company, a period of up to sixty (60) days; provided, that a Blackout Period described in this clause (ii) may not occur more than once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months.

 

“Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(a).

 

“Board Observer” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(f).

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law to close in the cities of New York, New York, Dallas, Texas, Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai, China.

 

“Bylaws” means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.

 

“Certificate” means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.

 

“Change of Control” means any transaction or series of related transactions involving: (i) (a) any acquisition (whether direct or indirect, including by way of merger, share exchange, consolidation, business combination or other similar transaction) or purchase from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in any Person or Group Beneficially Owning fifty percent (50%) or more in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (measured by voting power or economic interest), or (b) any tender offer, exchange offer or other secondary acquisition that would result in any Person or Group

 

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Beneficially Owning fifty percent (50%) or more in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (measured by voting power or economic interest), or (c) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in the stockholders of the Company immediately preceding such transaction (the “Pre-Transaction Stockholders”) Beneficially Owning less than fifty percent (50%) in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities in the surviving or resulting entity of such transaction (measured by voting power or economic interest); provided, that this clause (c) shall not apply if (1) such transaction or series of related transactions is an acquisition by the Company effected, in whole or in part, through the issuance of Equity Securities of the Company and (2) the Pre-Transaction Stockholders continue to Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Equity Securities (measured by voting power and economic interest); (ii) any sale or lease or exchange, transfer, license or disposition of a business, deposits or assets that constitute fifty percent (50%) or more of the consolidated assets, business, revenues, net income, assets or deposits of the Company; or (iii) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

“China Division” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Closing” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency administering the Securities Act.

 

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Company Common Stock” means shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

“Company Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(h).

 

“Competing Business” has the meaning set forth in Schedule 1.1 to the PV Investment Agreement.

 

“Confidential Information” means all information (irrespective of the form of communication, and irrespective of whether obtained prior to or after the date hereof) provided to any Investor or its representatives by or on behalf of the Company or its respective representatives, other than information which (i) was or becomes available to the public other than as a result of (A) a breach of this Agreement by any Investor or any of its representatives or (B) improper or unlawful action on the part of any Investor or any of its representatives, (ii) was or becomes available to an Investor or any of its representatives on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or its representatives; provided that the source thereof is not known by such Investor or such of its representatives to be bound by an obligation of confidentiality to the Company in respect of such information, (iii) is independently developed by an Investor or such of its representatives without the use of any such information that would otherwise be Confidential Information hereunder.  Subject to clauses (i)-(iii) above, Confidential Information also includes all non-public information previously provided by the Company or its representatives under the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement.

 

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“Confidentiality Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Contract” has the meaning given to it in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Control” means (including, with its correlative meanings “Controlled by” and “Under common Control with”), when used with respect to any specified Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other ownership interests, by contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment, undertaking or otherwise.

 

“Demand” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

 

“Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

 

“Distribution” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Engages” and “Engaged” has the meaning set forth in Schedule 1.1 to the PV Investment Agreement.

 

“Equity Securities” means any and all (i) shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock or other voting securities of a corporation, any and all equivalent or analogous ownership (or profit) or voting interests in a Person (other than a corporation), (ii) securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock or voting securities of (or other ownership or profit or voting interests in) such Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing, whether voting or nonvoting, and, in each case, whether or not such shares, interests, participations, equivalents, securities, warrants, options, rights or other interests are authorized or otherwise existing on any date of determination.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations thereunder, as in effect from time to time.

 

“Executive Committee” means an executive committee of the Board or any committee performing the functions of an executive committee of the Board.

 

“FH” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(a).

 

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

“Form S-3” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

“Free Writing Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a)(iv).

 

“Fund” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Government Official” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

30

 

“Governmental Entity” means any supranational, national, federal, state, municipal, local or foreign government, any instrumentality, subdivision, court, agency, department, board, tribunal, commission or other authority thereof, any public international organization, any arbitral tribunal, or any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory, taxing, importing or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority.

 

“Group” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

 

“Independent Director” means a member of the Board who qualifies, as of the date of such member’s appointment and as of any other date on which the determination is being made, (a) as an “Independent Director” under the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, as amended from time to time, and (b) as an “Independent Director” under Rule 10(A)-3 under the Exchange Act as well as any other requirements of the U.S. securities laws which are then applicable to the Company.

 

“Inspectors” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a)(xi).

 

“Investment” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“Investment Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“Investor” and “Investors” have the meanings set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Investor Designee” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(b).

 

“Investor Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Issuer Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4.

 

“Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).

 

“Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(d).

 

“Measurement Period” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Non-Liable Persons” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.16.

 

“Parent” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Permitted Loan” means any bona fide loans or other extensions of credit entered into by an Investor or any of its Affiliates with one or more financial institutions and secured by a pledge, hypothecation or other grant of security interest in the Investor Shares, Warrants, Warrant Shares, any other shares of Company Common Stock and/or related assets and/or cash, cash equivalents and/or letters of credit.

 

“Permitted Transferee” means any Affiliate (other than any individual) of an Investor; provided, that such Transferee would continue to qualify as a Permitted Transferee of such

 

31

 

Investor, as applicable if such Transfer were to take place as of any time of determination (and, in the event that such Transferee would no longer so qualify, such Transferee shall immediately Transfer back the Transferred securities to such Investor, as applicable, and such initial Transfer shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be null and void ab initio, and the Company shall no longer, and shall instruct its transfer agent and other third parties to no longer, record or recognize such initial Transfer on the share register of the Company).

 

“Permitted Transfers” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

 

“Permitted Warrant Hedge” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

 

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an association, an unincorporated organization, or another entity or group (as defined in the Exchange Act), including any Governmental Entity.

 

“Piggyback Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).

 

“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).

 

“Plan of Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Portfolio Company” of an Investor means, (i) with respect to PV, any Person in which a Primavera Fund has made a Portfolio Investment, and (ii) with respect to AF, any Person in which AF or any of its Affiliates has made a Portfolio Investment.

 

“Portfolio Investment” means an investment made by a Primavera Fund or AF, as applicable, including (but not limited to) direct or indirect investments in shares, debentures, convertible loan stock, options, swaps, forward contacts, other derivative contracts, guarantees, warrants, debt instruments and loans (whether secured, unsecured or subordinated).

 

“Primavera Fund” means any pooled investment fund or managed account which is managed and/or advised by Primavera Capital GP II Ltd. and/or its Affiliates.

 

“Prohibited Person” means any Person that appears on any list issued by an applicable Governmental Entity or the United Nations with respect to money laundering, terrorism financing, drug trafficking, or economic or arms embargoes or is a Competing Business.

 

“PV” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“PV Investment Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“PV Observer” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(f).

 

“PV Shareholding Requirement” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(b).

 

“PV Shares” has the meaning ascribed to “Investor Shares” set forth in the PV Investment Agreement.

 

“Qualified Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(d).

 

32

 

“Records” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a)(xi).

 

“Reference Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

 

“Registrable Amount” means an amount of Registrable Securities having an aggregate value of at least $150 million (based on the anticipated offering price (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Company)), without regard to any underwriting discount or commission, or such lesser amount of Registrable Securities as would result in the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities Beneficially Owned by the Investors; provided, that such lesser amount shall have an aggregate value of at least $50 million (based on the anticipated offering price (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Company)), without regard to any underwriting discount or commission.

 

“Registrable Securities” means (i) the Investor Shares, (ii) the Warrant Shares; (iii) any other stock or securities that the Investors may be entitled to receive, or will have received, pursuant to the Investors’ ownership of the Investor Shares, in lieu of or in addition to the Investor Shares, or (iv) any Equity Securities issued or issuable directly or indirectly with respect to the securities referred to in the foregoing clauses by way of conversion or exchange thereof or by share dividend or share split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, amalgamation, arrangement, consolidation or other reorganization.  As to any particular securities constituting Registrable Securities, such securities will cease to be Registrable Securities when (x) they have been registered pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with such registration statement, (y) they have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 145 or other exemption from registration under the Securities Act, or (z) they cease to be owned by the Investors or a Permitted Transferee.

 

“Regulation FD” means Regulation FD as promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act and Exchange Act.

 

“Resignation Letter” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(a).

 

“Restricted Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

 

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any successor or similar rule as may be enacted by the Commission from time to time, as in effect from time to time.

 

“Rule 145” means Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor or similar rule as may be enacted by the Commission from time to time, as in effect from time to time.

 

“Rule 415” means Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor or similar rule as may be enacted by the Commission from time to time, as in effect from time to time.

 

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations thereunder, as in effect from time to time.

 

33

 

“Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(d).

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

“Standstill Period” means the period from the execution of this Agreement until the date that is six (6) months after the date on which no Investor Designee serves as a director on the Board and PV either no longer has any rights under this Agreement to designate an Investor Designee to serve on the Board or has irrevocably waived, in writing, any such rights; provided that the Standstill Period shall terminate upon the occurrence of a Change of Control.

 

“Subsidiary” means, when used with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership of which such Person (i) Beneficially Owns, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of (A) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities, (B) the total combined equity interests, or (C) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership, or (ii) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors of such Person.  Unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to a “Subsidiary” of the Company shall be a reference to a Subsidiary of the Company after giving effect to the Plan of Reorganization.

 

“Take-Down Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(d).

 

“Total Voting Power” at any time shall mean the total combined voting power in the general election of directors of all the Equity Securities then outstanding.

 

“Transaction Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Transfer” means (i) any direct or indirect offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), either voluntary or involuntary, or entry into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock or Equity Security or (ii) in respect of any capital stock, interest in any capital stock, or Equity Security, to enter into any swap or any other agreement, transaction or series of transactions that hedges or transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of such capital stock, interest in capital stock, or Equity Security, whether any such swap, agreement, transaction or series of transactions is to be settled by delivery of securities, in cash or otherwise. “Transferee” means a Person to whom a Transfer is made or is proposed to be made.

 

“Ultimate Standstill Level” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

 

“Underwritten Offering” means a sale of securities of the Company to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public.

 

“Warrant Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

“Warrants” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreements.

 

34

 

5.2.                            Terms Generally.  The words “hereby,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to the specific section, paragraph or clause in which such word appears.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”.  The definitions given for terms in this ARTICLE V and elsewhere in this Agreement shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  References herein to any agreement or letter (including the Investment Agreements) shall be deemed references to such agreement or letter as it may be amended, restated or otherwise revised from time to time.  Whenever a reference is made to the business being operated “in the ordinary course consistent with past practice” such reference shall refer to the business of the China Division.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

6.1.                            Term.  This Agreement will be effective as of the date hereof (or, if the Closing contemplated by the AF Investment Agreement shall not have occurred on the date hereof, then this Agreement will be effective as of the date hereof only with respect to the Company and PV, and will become effective with respect to AF in accordance with Section 6.17), and will continue in effect thereafter until the earliest of (a) the written consent of all Parties hereto or their respective successors in interest, (b) except for those provisions of this Agreement that terminate as of a date specified in such provisions, which provisions shall terminate in accordance with the terms thereof, the date on which neither Investor holds any shares of, or any other securities of the Company convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Company Common Stock, (c) a Change of Control or (d) the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company.

 

6.2.                            No Inconsistent Agreements.  The Company will not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the Investors in this Agreement.

 

6.3.                            Legend.

 

(a)                                 If and to the extent shares of Company Common Stock, Warrants or Warrant Shares are in certificate form, all certificates representing the shares of Company Common Stock held by each shareholder shall bear a legend substantially in the following form:

 

“The securities evidenced by this certificate have been issued and sold without registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any other foreign, federal, state, local or other jurisdiction (a “Foreign or State Act”).  The securities evidenced by this certificate cannot be sold, assigned or otherwise transferred unless such sale, assignment or other transfer is (i) made pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in accordance with

 

35

 

each applicable Foreign or State Act or (ii) exempt from, or not subject to, the Securities Act (including pursuant to Regulation S thereunder) and each applicable Foreign or State Act.  If the proposed sale, assignment or other transfer will be made pursuant to clause (ii) above, the holder must, prior to such sale, assignment or other transfer, furnish to the issuer such certifications, legal opinions and other information as the issuer may reasonably require to determine that such sale, assignment or other transfer is being made in accordance with such clause.

 

The securities evidenced by this certificate are subject to restrictions on transfer set forth in the Shareholders Agreement dated [·], 2016, among the Company and certain other parties thereto (a copy of which is on file with the Secretary of the Company).”

 

(b)                                 Upon the permitted sale of any shares of Company Common Stock, Warrants or Warrant Shares pursuant to (i) an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to Rule 144, or (ii) another exemption from registration under the Securities Act or upon the termination of this Agreement, the certificates, if any, representing such shares of Company Common Stock shall be replaced, at the expense of the Company, with certificates or instruments not bearing the legends required by this Section 6.3; provided that the Company may condition such replacement of certificates under the foregoing clause (ii) upon the receipt of an opinion of securities counsel retained by each Investor at each Investor’s expense and reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

 

6.4.                            Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, (b) upon confirmation of receipt if delivered by telecopy or telefacsimile, (c) on the second Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier service, or (d) on the date received if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid.  All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the Party to receive such notice:

 

if to the Company, to:

 

Yum China Holdings, Inc.

16/F Two Grand Gateway 

3 Hongqiao Road 

Shanghai 200030 

The People’s Republic of China 

Attention:                             Shella Ng, Chief Legal Officer

Facsimile:                             +86-21-2407-7898

 

36

 

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

 

Sidley Austin LLP

One South Dearborn Street 

Chicago, Illinois 60603 

Attention:                             Paul L. Choi 

Beth E. Flaming 

Facsimile:                             (312) 853-7036

 

and

 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 

51 West 52nd Street 

New York, New York 10019 

Attention:                             Benjamin M. Roth

Facsimile:                             (212) 403-2000

 

if to PV, to:

 

Pollos Investment L.P.

c/o Primavera Capital Limited

28th Floor, 28 Hennessy Road

Hong Kong

Attention: Ena Leung

Facsimile: +852-3767-5001

 

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

 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Patrick J. Naughton

Facsimile: +1-212-455-2502

 

if to AF, to:

 

API (Hong Kong) Investment Limited

c/o Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd.

Block B, Dragon Times Plaza, 18 Wantang Road, Xihu District

Hangzhou, China 310099

Attention:  Jason Zhu 

Facsimile:  +86-571-8163-5410

 

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

 

Legal Department

c/o Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd.

 

37

 

Block B, Dragon Times Plaza, 18 Wantang Road, Xihu District

Hangzhou, China 310099

Facsimile:  +86-571-8163-5410

 

and

 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Patrick J. Naughton

Facsimile:  +1-212-455-2502

 

or to such other persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the Party to receive such notice as provided above.

 

6.5.                            Amendment and Waiver.  This Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or changed, and any provision hereof cannot be waived, except by an instrument in writing making specific reference to this Agreement signed on behalf of each of the Parties hereto.  The failure of any Party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of those rights.

 

6.6.                            Interpretation.  When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to a Section of or Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

6.7.                            Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of more than one Party, but all such counterparts taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

6.8.                            Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

(a)                                 This Agreement, and the Exhibits and Schedules hereto and the other agreements and instruments of the Parties delivered in connection herewith and therewith, when executed, constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

(b)                                 Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer any rights upon any Person other than the Parties and each such Party’s respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns, all of whom shall be third party beneficiaries of this Agreement; provided, that the Persons indemnified under ARTICLE IV are intended third party beneficiaries of ARTICLE IV.  For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any holder of Parent common stock or any other voting securities of Parent, in each case, in their capacity as such, have any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

38

 

6.9.                            Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (without giving effect to choice of law principles thereof).

 

6.10.                     Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, and the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to which it has been held invalid and unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby.  Upon any such determination, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon a suitable and equitable substitute provision to effect, as closely as possible, the original intent of the Parties.

 

6.11.                     Assignment.  This Agreement shall not be assignable by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties, except that (i) any Investor may assign all or any of its rights and obligations under ARTICLE IV to a transferee in a Permitted Transfer, and (ii) any Investor may assign all or any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Permitted Transferee.  Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.  Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 6.11 shall be void and of no effect.

 

6.12.                     Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers.  Each of PV, AF and the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery (or if, (but only if) the Delaware Court of Chancery shall be unavailable, any other court of the State of Delaware or any federal court sitting in the State of Delaware), with respect to any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and further agree that service of any process, summons, notice or document by registered mail to the addresses set forth on this Agreement shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding brought against any such Party in any such court.  Each of PV, AF, and the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in the Delaware Court of Chancery (or if, (but only if) the Delaware Court of Chancery shall be unavailable, any other court of the State of Delaware or any federal court sitting in the State of Delaware), and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.  EACH OF PV, AF, PARENT AND THE COMPANY HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY AND/OR ANY DEFENSES BASED UPON THE VENUE, THE INCONVENIENCE OF THE FORUM, OR THE LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION IN ANY ACTION OR SUIT ARISING FROM SUCH DISPUTE WITH JURISDICTION AND/OR VENUE SO SELECTED.

 

6.13.                     Enforcement.  Each Party hereto acknowledges that money damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the covenants or agreements in this Agreement are not performed in accordance with its terms, and it is therefore agreed that in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, the non-breaching Party will have the right to an injunction, temporary restraining order or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any such breach and enforcing specifically the terms and

 

39

 

provisions hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Investor will have any right to an injunction to prevent the filing or effectiveness of the Form 10 and the consummation of the Distribution in connection therewith.

 

6.14.                     Descriptive Headings.  The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

6.15.                     Mutual Drafting.  This Agreement shall be deemed to be the joint work product of PV, AF, and the Company and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable.

 

6.16.                     No-Recourse; No Partnership.  Only the Parties shall have any obligation or liability under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, no recourse under this Agreement, shall be had against any current or future Affiliate of any Investor, any current or future direct or indirect shareholder, member, general or limited partner, controlling Person or other Beneficial Owners of any Investor, or any such Affiliate, any of their respective representatives or any of the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, “Non-Liable Persons”), whether by enforcement of any assessment or any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other Applicable Law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any Non-Liable Person for any obligation of an Investor under this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any Non-Liable Person who becomes a party to this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute a partnership among any of the Parties hereto.

 

6.17.                     AF Joinder.  In the event that the Closing (as defined in the AF Investment Agreement) shall not have occurred on the date hereof, then, upon the occurrence of the Closing (as defined in the AF Investment Agreement), AF shall execute and deliver a deed of adherence, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D, to the Company and PV, whereupon AF will be joined as a party hereto and shall have the rights and be subject to the obligations hereunder from and after the date of delivery of such deed of adherence; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no provision of this Agreement shall be operative with respect to AF until AF becomes a party to this Agreement.

 

40

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.

 

	
 
    	
YUM CHINA   HOLDINGS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]

 

 

	
 
    	
POLLOS   INVESTMENT L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]

 

 

	
 
    	
API (HONG   KONG) INVESTMENT LIMITED
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

[Signature Page to Shareholders Agreement]Exhibit 10.1

 

MASTER LICENSE AGREEMENT

 

Dated [           ], 2016

 

Between

 

YUM! RESTAURANTS ASIA PTE. LTD.

 

And

 

YUM RESTAURANTS CONSULTING (SHANGHAI) COMPANY LIMITED

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
1.
    	
DEFINED TERMS
    	
2
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.
    	
GRANT OF LICENSE AND   UNDERTAKING TO DEVELOP
    	
8
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.
    	
FEES, PAYMENTS AND   REQUIRED EXPENDITURES
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.
    	
OWNERSHIP, USE,   PROTECTION AND SUBSTITUTION OF IP
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.
    	
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND   BRAND STANDARDS
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
6.
    	
SUBLICENSES
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.
    	
LEGAL COMPLIANCE
    	
24
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
8.
    	
RECORDKEEPING AND   REPORTING
    	
25
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
9.
    	
CONFIDENTIALITY
    	
26
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
10.
    	
NON-COMPETITION
    	
26
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
11.
    	
INDEMNIFICATION AND   INSURANCE
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.
    	
ASSIGNMENT
    	
28
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
13.
    	
TERM AND RENEWAL
    	
29
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
14.
    	
BREACH
    	
29
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
15.
    	
ADDITIONAL REMEDIES
    	
33
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
16.
    	
POST-TERM OBLIGATIONS
    	
34
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
17.
    	
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
    	
35
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
18.
    	
REPRESENTATIONS AND   WARRANTIES
    	
37
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
19.
    	
GENERAL PROVISIONS
    	
38
    

 

	
EXHIBITS
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Exhibit A
    	
—
    	
Brands and Brand Owners
    
	
Exhibit A-1
    	
—
    	
Taco Bell Brand   Development Initiative
    
	
Exhibit B
    	
—
    	
Categories and Sources   of Brand Standards
    
	
Exhibit C
    	
—
    	
Cross Licensed IP
    
	
Exhibit D
    	
—
    	
Licensor Purchase Right   Procedures
    
	
Exhibit E
    	
—
    	
Guaranty
    

 

i

 

MASTER LICENSE AGREEMENT

 

THIS MASTER LICENSE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into this [   ] day of [       ], 2016 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Yum! Restaurants Asia Pte. Ltd., a private limited company organized and existing under the laws of Singapore, having its offices at 99 Bukit Timah Road, #06-00, Singapore 229835 as “master licensee” (for purposes of this Agreement, “Licensor”), and Yum Restaurants Consulting (Shanghai) Company Limited, a company organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, having its offices at 16/F Two Grand Gateway, 3 Hongqiao Road, Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China as “master sublicensee” (for purposes of this Agreement, “Licensee”).  Licensor and Licensee are sometimes referred to in this Agreement individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                   Prior to the Effective Date, the business division of Yum! Brands, Inc. (“Yum”), known as Yum! Restaurants China (“YumChina”), has been primarily responsible for the conduct of the Brand Restaurant Businesses within the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), and YumChina, by virtue of its status as a business division of Yum and the various International Franchise Agreements entered into from time to time, has been entitled to use certain trademarks and other IP of Yum and its Subsidiaries in connection with such business activities.

 

B.                                   Prior to or on the Effective Date, the businesses and assets of, and the Subsidiaries of Yum included in, YumChina will be contributed, assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered to Yum China Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“SpinCo”) and on or about the Effective Date, Yum will distribute to its stockholders the shares of SpinCo owned by Yum, making SpinCo a separate public company, independent from Yum.

 

C.                                   In connection with such contribution, assignment, transfer, conveyance, delivery and distribution, the Parties desire to enter into a license of and to certain trademarks and other IP of Yum and its remaining Subsidiaries, as further described in this Agreement, in order for SpinCo and its Subsidiaries to continue the operation of the Brand Restaurant Businesses in the Territory.

 

D.                                   Licensor is a wholly-owned indirect Subsidiary of Yum and has the right to license the trademarks and other IP of Yum and its Subsidiaries necessary for SpinCo and its Subsidiaries to continue to operate the Brand Restaurant Businesses in the Territory; Licensee is a wholly-owned indirect Subsidiary of SpinCo and the entity through which SpinCo intends to continue to operate the Brand Restaurant Businesses in the Territory from and after the Effective Date.

 

E.                                    SpinCo shall guarantee the obligations of Licensee under this Agreement by executing the form of Guaranty set forth in Exhibit E.

 

F.                                     The Parties desire that the scope of the license granted pursuant to this Agreement will include trademarks and other IP of Yum and its Subsidiaries used by YumChina in the conduct of the Brand Restaurant Businesses prior to the Effective Date, and will also include, as expressly set out in this Agreement, certain additional trademarks and other IP of Yum and its Subsidiaries that may come into existence after the Effective Date and during the Term.

 

In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and consideration set forth herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Licensor and Licensee agree as follows:

 

 

1.                                     DEFINED TERMS As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth below. Additional terms used in this Agreement are defined as they appear in the body of this Agreement and are referenced in the chart at the end of this Section.

 

“Additional Brands” means any brand, other than the Brands, that Licensor may, in the future, develop, own or control and for which there exists a branded Restaurant System.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any named person or entity, any other person or entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the named person or entity.  As used in this Agreement, unless expressly noted otherwise, each applicable Affiliate of Licensor after giving effect to the separation of YumChina from Yum shall be deemed as included in the definition of Licensor for each provision where Licensor is granting rights pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof or where Licensor is acknowledged or agreed to be the owner of IP.

 

“Annual Strategic Plan” means Licensee’s annual plan for the Brands in the Territory during the upcoming calendar year.  Topics for the Annual Strategic Plan should include:  (i) material changes to existing Brand Standards or Brand Products; (ii) an overview of proposed advertising and marketing programs for each Brand; (iii) development plans for new Restaurants; (iv) an overview of third party sublicensing for the Brands; (v) any recommendations or proposals from Licensee regarding New Business Opportunities and/or Additional Brands, subject to Section 2.4 (and in each case, the terms upon which it may, in Licensor’s sole discretion, be licensed to Licensee); and (vi) Licensee’s progress with respect to the Taco Bell Brand Development Initiative..

 

“Anti-Terrorism Laws” means Executive Order 13224 issued by the President of the U.S., the Terrorism Sanctions Regulations (Title 31, Part 595 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations), the Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations (Title 31, Part 597 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations), the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (Title 31, Part 515 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations), the USA PATRIOT Act, and all other present and future laws, policies, lists and any other requirements of any Governmental Authority (including the United States Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control and any government agency outside the U.S.) addressing or in any way relating to terrorist acts and/or acts of war.

 

“Benchmark Year” means each calendar year immediately preceding the corresponding Measurement Period. To illustrate, the first Benchmark Year is January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 (corresponding to the first Measurement Period of January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2021) and the second Benchmark Year is January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 (corresponding to the second Measurement Period of January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2022).

 

“Brand” means individually each, and “Brands” means collectively all, of the branded Restaurant Systems identified in Exhibit A, and which are primarily known by their respective brand and business names (“Brand Names”) currently known separately as “KFC” (or “Kentucky Fried Chicken”), “Pizza Hut” including its icon, “the Red Roof”, and “Taco Bell” including its icon, “the Bell” (including the Mandarin language equivalents and derivatives thereof).

 

“Brand Business IP” means the IP, other than the Core Brand IP, used in connection with the conduct of the Brand Restaurant Businesses.

 

“Brand Owners” means the entities that own the Brands as set forth in Exhibit A.

 

“Brand Restaurant Businesses” means the full range of business activities performed in the licensing and/or operation of businesses conducted through Restaurants, including all the related

 

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development, promotional, and support activities.  “Brand Restaurant Business” means any of the Brand Restaurant Businesses relating to a Brand.

 

“Brand Standards” means the standards, specifications and requirements for the commercial use of the Brand System IP in the conduct of the Brand Restaurant Businesses and in the development and operation of the Restaurants under the Brands (including Brand Trademark usage, maintenance and registration standards; food safety and other quality assurance processes; governance protocols; and Restaurant design, inspection and maintenance processes) as established by Licensor, all subject to updating and amendment, from time to time, as specified in Section 5.3.  Exhibit B includes a list of categories of Brand Standards and the source of each.

 

“Brand System IP” means the collection of IP of Yum and its Subsidiaries used in connection with the conduct of the Brand Restaurant Businesses, comprised of the Core Brand IP, together with that portion of the Brand Business IP existing as of the Effective Date.

 

“Business Days” means all days that are not weekends or national holidays under the laws of the country in which the Party obligated to make the referenced payment, give the referenced notice, exercise the referenced right, or perform the referenced obligation resides.

 

“Change of Control” of Licensee or SpinCo means the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

 

(1)                                Licensee ceases to be a wholly-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of SpinCo;

 

(2)                                any direct or indirect, voluntary or involuntary, sale, lease, assignment, conveyance, gift, pledge, mortgage, encumbrance or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of Licensee or SpinCo, determined together with its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, or a material portion of such assets related to any of the Brands, to any person or entity that is a Competitor or to any group of related persons or entities (as the term group is interpreted for purposes of Section 13(d) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (a “Group”)) where any member of such Group is a Competitor;

 

(3)                                the consummation of any plan of merger, consolidation, share exchange, tender offer or combination (any such transaction, a “Business Combination”) directly or indirectly involving Licensee or SpinCo and any Competitor;

 

(4)                                any person, entity or Group, alone or together with its Affiliates, is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of capital stock or other securities of SpinCo representing twenty percent (20%) or more of SpinCo’s then outstanding common stock or twenty percent (20%) or more of SpinCo’s then outstanding capital stock or other securities having general voting rights and such person or entity, or any member of such Group, is a Competitor; or

 

(5)                                any person, entity or Group, alone or together with its Affiliates, has the power, directly or indirectly, to direct the business, management, operations or policies of Licensee or SpinCo, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and such person or entity, or any member of such Group, is a Competitor.

 

“Competing Business” means (a) any business that offers for sale as a principal food product for consumption by consumers any food product (including pizza, pasta, ready-to-eat chicken and Mexican-style food) that is substantially similar to any of the Brand Products and any business that grants franchises, licenses or similar arrangements to others to operate such a business (as used in this definition, a product is a “principal food product” if the sale of such product generates more than twenty percent (20%) of all product revenues of the business either in the Territory or in the world) and (b) the following

 

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businesses:  McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, Papa John’s Pizza, Chick-fil-A, Dicos, Little Caesars Pizza, Burger King, Chipotle, Subway, Olive Garden Italian Kitchen, and Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen.  Licensor may reasonably update the list of Competing Businesses in (b) to reflect changes in Competing Businesses, but not more than once each calendar year during the Term, and provided, that no update which adds a new Competing Business shall be deemed to prohibit an interest in such Competing Business that pre-dates such update.

 

“Competitor” means a person or entity that is directly or indirectly Engaged in a Competing Business or is an Affiliate of a person or entity that is directly or indirectly Engaged in a Competing Business. In this context “Engaged” or “Engages” means to engage in, maintain, operate, assist, be occupied or associated with, have any financial or beneficial interest in, or otherwise participate in a specified business or activity, whether as an owner, stockholder, member, partner, lender, director, manager, officer or employee, licensor, advisor or consultant, or otherwise.

 

“Confidential Information” means trade secrets, know-how, and other proprietary knowledge or confidential information of a Party and its Affiliates, including (i) with respect to Licensor and its Affiliates, the Brand System IP and all confidential knowledge and information concerning the Restaurant Systems operating under the Brands or necessary or useful to the development or operation of Restaurants, including technology, designs, concepts, ideas, information, formulas, recipes, studies, plans, reports, analyses, compilations, strategies, programs, data, methods, techniques or processes regarding each Brand’s services, products, methods of doing business, markets, customer data, profits, sales, or other financial information that derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and (ii) with respect to Licensee and its Affiliates, all confidential information related to its operation of the Brand Restaurant Businesses (other than information constituting Confidential Information of Licensor). Confidential Information does not include information which: (i) the non-disclosing Party can demonstrate became known to the Party by proper means before the disclosure thereof by the disclosing Party or its Affiliates, (ii) at or after the time of such disclosure, had become or later becomes a part of the public domain other than in breach of this Agreement or any Sublicense, or (iii) the non-disclosing Party receives through proper publication or communication from an independent third party having the right to disclose the same.

 

“Core Brand IP” means the following IP of Yum and its Subsidiaries, including, for periods prior to the Effective Date, Subsidiaries of Yum which subsequently become Subsidiaries of SpinCo: (i) the “Brand Trademarks”, which are comprised of the Brand Names, and versions thereof, incorporating all or a portion of a Brand Name, together with all trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, logos, commercial symbols and all other source indicators and other similar rights, whether registered or unregistered, authorized by Licensor now and in the future for use in connection with the conduct of the Brand Restaurant Businesses; (ii) the “Brand Marketing Materials”, which are comprised of all the advertising, marketing, promotional and public relations materials in every medium, used directly or indirectly to promote the Brand Restaurant Businesses; (iii) the “Brand Products”, which are comprised of all products (and associated know-how, including recipes, cooking methods and restaurant equipment modifications or customizations developed or commissioned for the production of products) and services authorized for sale or promotion at Restaurants; and (iv) the “Brand Restaurant Designs”, which are comprised of the prototypical architectural plans, designs, layouts, design concepts, drawings and specifications for Restaurants. Core Brand IP includes Future Core IP.

 

“Customer Data” means (i) any information or data  identifying, describing, concerning or generated by prospective, actual or past customers, website visitors or other social media contacts of any of the Brand Restaurant Businesses operating in the Territory, including all other customer information in any database, regardless of the source thereof, and (ii) any information or data related to any of the foregoing (including customer lists, reports, forms, methodologies, segmentations and statistical data,

 

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whether individually or in the aggregate). For the purpose of this Agreement, Customer Data shall include only information or data that has been collected, generated, or used by a Brand Restaurant Business.  The term “Customer Data” shall not include any customer information or data, including general market or customer insight research, that is generated, collected, or used by the Licensee for purposes other than as described in the preceding sentence, above.

 

“Future Brand Business IP” means Brand Business IP, other than the Brand System IP, that is developed or acquired by Licensee or any of its Affiliates or any of the Sublicensees after the Effective Date for use in the conduct of the Brand Restaurant Businesses and that is an extension, derivative or new version of existing Brand System IP or is useable in the commercialization of the Core Brand IP.

 

“Future Core IP” means additional IP of the types described in clauses (i) through (iv) in the definition of Core Brand IP for use in the conduct of the Brand Restaurant Businesses that is modified, developed or acquired after the Effective Date.

 

“Good Standing” means that Licensee is in full compliance with all of its obligations under Applicable Laws, this Agreement, and each other agreement between Licensee and Licensor or any of its Affiliates (including all payment obligations), that each of Licensee’s Affiliates is in full compliance with all of its obligations under Applicable Laws, each Sublicense and each agreement between such Affiliate and Licensor or any of its Affiliates, and that all such obligations have been satisfied on a timely basis.

 

“Governmental Authority” means any national, federal, provincial, state, county, municipal or local governmental and quasi-governmental agency, commission or authority, including any taxing authority.

 

“IP” means all trademarks, service marks, trade dress, look and feel rights, copyrights, database rights, patents, trade secrets, domain names, know-how, show-how and proprietary information and Confidential Information, tangible and intangible, including all legally cognizable versions of any such intellectual property such as derivative works, colorable imitations, extensions, modifications, improvements, derivations, adaptations, localizations, translations, transliterations, or compilations of any kind.

 

“Lists” means the lists prepared by the U.S. government identifying those persons with whom U.S. parties are prohibited from doing business, including, and as they may change from time to time: (i) the Specially Designated Nationals List (http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn/sdnlist.txt); (ii) Executive Order 13324 (http://www.treasury.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/ terror/terror.pdf); (iii) Executive Order 13382 (http://www.state.gov/t/isn/c22080.htm); and (iv) Executive Order 12938 (http://www.state.gov/t/isn/c15233.htm).

 

“Measurement Period” means each rolling five (5) calendar year period throughout the Term, beginning January 1, 2017. To illustrate, the first Measurement Period is January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2021 and the second Measurement Period is January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2022.

 

“Prime Rate” shall mean the rate that Bloomberg displays as “Prime Rate by Country United States” at http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/PRIME:IND or on a Bloomberg terminal at PRIMBB Index or, in the absence of Bloomberg displaying such rate, such other rate as Licensor may reasonably determine as the equivalent rate.

 

“Restaurant” means each of the retail restaurant facilities that is primarily identified by a Brand Name and/or uses Brand System IP and that conducts the offer and sale of authorized products and services through dine-in, carry-out, catering, delivery, kiosk, on-line methods of distribution, centralized

 

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kitchens/commissaries, and such other methods of distribution as the Parties may mutually agree, including the offer of premiums, and all other related promotional activities (but does not include the sale of any products for resale).

 

“Restaurant System” means the collection of procedures, policies, standards, specifications and other distinguishing elements, created or acquired in connection with the development and operation of a restaurant concept, but expressly excluding any test concept.

 

“Sublicense” means any agreement between Licensee and any Affiliate or third party (including any development agreement, trademark license contract or franchise agreement), granting such Affiliate or third party the right to operate one or more Restaurants under the applicable Brand in the Territory, including the Existing Sublicenses and the Future Sublicenses.  Each Sublicense must be Brand-specific.

 

“Sublicensee” means any Affiliate of Licensee or any third party that is or becomes a party to an Existing Sublicense or a Future Sublicense.

 

“Sublicensee Change of Control” means, as to any Sublicensee, the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

 

(1)                               any direct or indirect, voluntary or involuntary, sale, lease, assignment, conveyance, gift, pledge, mortgage, encumbrance or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of such Sublicensee, determined together with its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, or a material portion of such assets related to any of the Brands, to any person or entity that is a Competitor or to any Group where any member of such Group is a Competitor;

 

(2)                               the consummation of any Business Combination directly or indirectly involving such Sublicensee and any Competitor;

 

(3)                               any person, entity or Group, alone or together with its Affiliates, is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of capital stock or other securities of such Sublicensee representing twenty percent (20%) or more of such Sublicensee’s then outstanding common stock (or other equity ownership interests) or twenty percent (20%) or more of such Sublicensee’s then outstanding capital stock or other securities having general voting rights and such person or entity, or any member of such Group, is a Competitor; or

 

(4)                               any person, entity or Group, alone or together with its Affiliates, has the power, directly or indirectly, to direct the business, management, operations or policies of such Sublicensee, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and such person or entity, or any member of such Group, is a Competitor.

 

“Subsidiary” means with respect to any entity, any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture, partnership or other entity, of which such first entity (a) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 50% of (i) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities, (ii) the total combined equity interests, or (iii) the capital or profit interests, or (b) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.

 

“Taco Bell Brand Development Initiative” means the specific development initiative for the Taco Bell Brand in the Territory set forth in Exhibit A-1, as such exhibit may be supplemented over time by agreement of the Parties in connection with the Annual Strategic Consultation, taking into consideration

 

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new Taco Bell Restaurant development in comparable markets, projected Taco Bell Brand growth, the market environment and demand for the Taco Bell Brand in the Territory, and current Taco Bell performance in the Territory.

 

“Tax Matters Agreement” means the Tax Matters Agreement to be entered into by and between Yum and SpinCo in connection with the separation of YumChina from Yum and the distribution to Yum’s stockholders of the shares of SpinCo owned by Yum.

 

“Taxes” means all taxes (including value added taxes), levies, imposts, duties, charges or fees, in each case in the nature of a tax and imposed by any Governmental Authority, whether collected by withholding or otherwise, and any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

“Territory” means the PRC, as geographically constituted on the Effective Date, excluding Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan.

 

“Term” means, collectively, the “Initial Term” and any “Renewal Term” as described in Sections 13.1 and 13.2.

 

“Transfer” means to sell, assign, convey, give away, pledge, mortgage, grant a security interest in or lien against, license, or otherwise transfer or encumber, or any sale, assignment, conveyance, gift, pledge, mortgage, grant of security interest, lien, license, or other transfer or encumbrance.

 

The following terms are defined in the referenced Section, paragraph, or Recital of this Agreement:

 

	
Defined Term
    	
 
    	
Section
    
	
Administered Rules
    	
 
    	
17.3
    
	
Advertising Assessment
    	
 
    	
3.2
    
	
Agreement
    	
 
    	
Preamble
    
	
Annual Strategic Consultation
    	
 
    	
5.4
    
	
Appeal Procedure
    	
 
    	
17.3.7
    
	
Applicable Laws
    	
 
    	
7.1
    
	
Arbitration Request
    	
 
    	
17.3
    
	
Assigned Payments
    	
 
    	
6.1.2
    
	
Bank
    	
 
    	
14.1.6.B
    
	
Clearance Activities
    	
 
    	
4.3.1
    
	
CPR
    	
 
    	
17.2.2
    
	
Cross Licensed IP
    	
 
    	
4.1.1
    
	
Effective Date
    	
 
    	
Preamble
    
	
Enforcement Activities
    	
 
    	
4.3.1
    
	
Existing Sublicenses
    	
 
    	
6.1
    
	
Future Sublicenses
    	
 
    	
6.2
    
	
Governmental Approvals
    	
 
    	
6.3.5
    
	
Grace Period
    	
 
    	
3.4.1
    
	
Gross Revenue
    	
 
    	
3.1
    
	
Indemnitees
    	
 
    	
11.1
    
	
Initial Term
    	
 
    	
13.1
    
	
Late Payment
    	
 
    	
14.1.6.B
    
	
Letter of Credit
    	
 
    	
14.1.6.B
    
	
Licensee
    	
 
    	
Preamble
    

 

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Licensee Releasing Parties
    	
 
    	
4.1.2.B
    
	
Licensor
    	
 
    	
Preamble
    
	
Licensor Purchase Right
    	
 
    	
15.4.5
    
	
Licensor Released Parties
    	
 
    	
4.1.2.B
    
	
New Business Opportunity
    	
 
    	
2.4
    
	
Non-Restated Sublicense
    	
 
    	
6.1
    
	
Original Award
    	
 
    	
17.3.7
    
	
Party(ies)
    	
 
    	
Preamble
    
	
Payment Default
    	
 
    	
14.1.6.A
    
	
Payment Dispute Notice
    	
 
    	
14.1.6.C
    
	
PRC
    	
 
    	
Recital A
    
	
Registration Activities
    	
 
    	
4.3.1
    
	
Renewal Term
    	
 
    	
13.2
    
	
Restated Sublicense
    	
 
    	
6.1
    
	
ROFR Agreement
    	
 
    	
2.4.1
    
	
ROFR Notice
    	
 
    	
2.4.1
    
	
SGM Breach
    	
 
    	
2.1.3.A
    
	
SGM Calculation Statement
    	
 
    	
2.1.3.A
    
	
SGM Report
    	
 
    	
2.1.3.A
    
	
Sales Growth Metric
    	
 
    	
2.1.3
    
	
Secured Amount
    	
 
    	
14.1.6.B
    
	
SpinCo
    	
 
    	
Recital B
    
	
Transaction Tax
    	
 
    	
3.5.3
    
	
Underpayment
    	
 
    	
14.1.6.B
    
	
Yum
    	
 
    	
Recital A
    
	
YumChina
    	
 
    	
Recital A
    

 

2.                                     GRANT OF LICENSE AND UNDERTAKING TO DEVELOP

 

2.1                              Grant of IP Licenses.  Licensor hereby grants Licensee the exclusive right and license, and Licensee hereby assumes the obligation, to use the Brand System IP to operate Brand Restaurant Businesses in the Territory, inclusive of the right to sublicense the Brand System IP needed in order to operate the Restaurants to Sublicensees under Sublicenses for the sole purpose of operating Restaurants in the Territory, provided that, except for Licensee’s right to operate a limited number of Restaurants for test purposes in compliance with the terms of the form Sublicense as if Licensee were the Sublicensee and Licensor were the Sublicensor under such Sublicense, (i) Restaurants may be operated only by Sublicensees under Sublicenses; and (ii) only those Affiliates of Licensee that are Sublicensees have the right to use the Brand System IP and then only in compliance with the applicable Sublicense.

 

2.1.1                    The license granted hereunder is separable as to each of the Brands, as identified by each separate Brand Name used to identify each of the Brand Restaurant Businesses, and the license for each Brand and the associated Brand System IP may be separately assigned, modified, renewed, terminated and enforced by Licensor, in all cases subject to the terms herein.

 

2.1.2                    Licensee shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to increase the revenues of the Brand Restaurant Businesses during the Term.

 

2.1.3                    Without limitation of Section 2.1.2, subject to Sections 2.1.3.A, through 2.1.3.E, Licensee shall cause the average annual Gross Revenue for each Brand Restaurant Business for

 

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each Measurement Period to exceed the Gross Revenue of such Brand Restaurant Business for the applicable Benchmark Year (“Sales Growth Metric”).

 

A.                                   Within sixty (60) days after the beginning of each calendar year during the Term, Licensee shall calculate the average annual Gross Revenue for the relevant Measurement Period and the Gross Revenue for the relevant Benchmark Year for each Brand Restaurant Business and prepare and deliver to Licensor a written statement setting forth in reasonable detail its determination of the average annual Gross Revenue for the relevant Measurement Period and the Gross Revenue for the relevant Benchmark Year with respect to each Brand Restaurant Business (each, an “SGM Calculation Statement”).  In the event Licensee’s SGM Calculation Statement indicates a Brand Restaurant Business has failed to meet the Sales Growth Metric (an “SGM Breach”), Licensee may include with the SGM Calculation Statement a report setting forth specific factors, if any, beyond its reasonable control as the predominant cause for such SGM Breach (the “SGM Report”).

 

B.                                   Without limitation of Licensor’s rights under Section 8.3, Licensor and its representatives shall have the right to inspect Licensee’s books and records with respect to each Brand Restaurant Business, upon reasonable prior notice to Licensee and for purposes reasonably related to the verification of the SGM Calculation Statement, the SGM Report, if any, and any additional information relating to the Sales Growth Metric.

 

C.                                   In the event the SGM Calculation Statement indicates that the Sales Growth Metric has been satisfied and Licensor agrees with the SGM Calculation Statement, Licensor shall provide written notice to Licensee confirming that the Sales Growth Metric has been satisfied for that particular Measurement Period within thirty (30) days after receipt of the SGM Calculation Statement.

 

D.                                   In the event an SGM Breach has occurred and Licensee has not included an SGM Report with the SGM Calculation Statement, Licensor shall provide written notice to Licensee confirming such SGM Breach within thirty (30) days after receipt of the SGM Calculation Statement.  Failure to submit an SGM Report with the SGM Calculation Statement shall be deemed a waiver of Licensee’s right to submit an SGM Report for the relevant Measurement Period.

 

E.                                    In the event an SGM Breach has occurred and Licensee has included an SGM Report with the SGM Calculation Statement, Licensor shall consider the SGM Report in good faith, while also taking into account factors within Licensee’s control, such as Licensee’s use of free cash and the amount of capital investments for Brand development, judged on both an historical and competitive basis.  If Licensor, in its reasonable discretion, determines that the SGM Breach was predominantly caused by factors beyond Licensee’s reasonable control, Licensor shall waive the SGM Breach with respect to the relevant Brand Restaurant Business and shall provide written notice to Licensee so indicating within thirty (30) days after receipt of the SGM Calculation Statement.  If Licensor, in its reasonable discretion, determines that the SGM Breach was not predominantly caused by factors beyond Licensee’s reasonable control, Licensor shall provide written notice to Licensee confirming that an SGM Breach has occurred within thirty (30) days after receipt of the SGM Calculation Statement.

 

In the event of two (2) consecutive SGM Breaches for a Brand Restaurant Business, Licensor shall be entitled to exercise its rights under Section 15.4.4.

 

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2.2                              Territorial Protections.  During the Term and provided that Licensee and its Affiliates remain in Good Standing (including in compliance with Sections 2.1.2 and 2.1.3), Licensor shall not establish or operate, or grant any other person or entity the right to establish or operate, a Brand Restaurant Business in the Territory or any rights to use the Brand System IP in Restaurants in the Territory.

 

2.3                              Licensor’s Reserved Rights.  Licensee acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement grants Licensee only the right to operate the Brand Restaurant Businesses in the Territory during the Term. Licensor and its Affiliates have and retain all rights not granted to Licensee under this Agreement and may, without notice to Licensee: (a) establish and operate, or grant any person or entity the right to establish and operate, Brand Restaurant Businesses, and use the Brand System IP, outside the Territory or after the Term, and (b) engage in any business in the Territory provided the conduct of the business is not in conflict with the provisions of Section 2.2 and Section 2.4.

 

2.4                              Licensee’s Rights of First Refusal.  Notwithstanding Section 2.3, if during the Term, (i) Licensor proposes to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business in the Territory unrelated to the Brand Restaurant Businesses but utilizing all or any part of the Core Brand IP (a “New Business Opportunity”), or (ii) Licensor develops or acquires an Additional Brand, then Licensor shall offer Licensee a right of first refusal in accordance with this Section 2.4.

 

2.4.1                    Within a reasonable period of time following the occurrence of an event described in Section 2.4.(i) or (ii) (regardless of whether Licensor proposes to act on a unilateral voluntary basis or in response to an approach or offer from a third party) and subject to the conditions in Section 2.4.2, Licensor shall notify Licensee in writing of the New Business Opportunity or the Additional Brand (the “ROFR Notice”). The ROFR Notice will offer Licensee the first opportunity, on an exclusive basis, to negotiate rights to the New Business Opportunity or the Additional Brand in the Territory. Licensee shall accept or reject the offer to negotiate in writing within thirty (30) days following the date of the ROFR Notice. Licensee’s failure to accept or reject the offer in writing within the stated time period shall be deemed to be a rejection of the offer. If Licensee accepts the offer to negotiate rights to the New Business Opportunity or the Additional Brand in the Territory, Licensor and Licensee will negotiate the applicable business terms on an exclusive basis for a period of ninety (90) days following the date of Licensee’s written acceptance notice, any such terms to be evidenced by a separate agreement between the Parties or their designees (a “ROFR Agreement”). If the Parties have not entered into a ROFR Agreement for the New Business Opportunity or Additional Brand within the ninety (90) day exclusivity period, then, unless the Parties mutually agree in writing to extend the exclusive negotiation period before the expiration of such exclusivity period, Licensee’s rights with respect to the New Business Opportunity or Additional Brand in the Territory shall terminate and Licensor shall have the right directly, or indirectly through its Affiliates or third parties, to operate the New Business Opportunity or Additional Brand in the Territory, without any further obligation to Licensee.

 

2.4.2                    Licensee’s right of first refusal shall be applicable: (i) only during such time that Licensee and its Affiliates are in Good Standing; (ii) on terms and conditions no less favorable to Licensee than those then offered by Licensor to other third parties, excluding, however (but, nonetheless, fully disclosing to Licensee on a timely basis for its overall appraisal) any one time “development incentives,” such as for market entry, new units, test concepts or other forms of growth initiatives which may be offered, from time to time, for limited periods less than the full term of the applicable franchise or license grant; and (iii) with respect to any Additional Brand, only after the business of the Additional Brand is deemed by Licensor, using its reasonable

 

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judgment, to be tested and fully operational.  In the event Licensee believes Licensor has failed to provide the ROFR Notice in a timely manner, Licensee’s sole remedy shall be to provide written notice to Licensor of such alleged failure.  For the convenience of the Parties, the Parties will endeavor to discuss any applicable right of first refusal primarily during the Annual Strategic Consultation.

 

3.                                     FEES, PAYMENTS AND REQUIRED EXPENDITURES

 

3.1                              Royalty.  In consideration for the license granted under Section 2.1, Licensee shall pay to Licensor a continuing royalty fee in an amount equal to three percent (3%) of the Gross Revenue of any kind derived from the operation of the Restaurants in the Territory. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Gross Revenue” shall mean the total of all cash or other payments (including the fair value of an exchange and all payments by check, credit, or charge account, regardless of whether the checks, credits, or charge accounts are ultimately paid) paid or payable at the Restaurant level for the sale or use of any products, goods, or services that are sold at or from any Restaurant in the Territory, excluding value added taxes and governmental surcharges imposed with respect to such sales by Governmental Authorities, and then only if the amount of such value added taxes or governmental surcharges is taken into account in the selling price and is actually paid to the appropriate Governmental Authority (for this purpose, treating value added taxes validly offset against input credits as actually paid to the appropriate Governmental Authority).  Royalty fee payments are due on the fifteenth (15th) day of the month with respect to Gross Revenue during the preceding month and, unless otherwise agreed by Licensor, are payable by Licensee to Licensor regardless of collection or non-collection by Licensee from the Sublicensees.

 

3.2                              Required Advertising Expenditures. Annually, during the Term, Licensee shall collect and spend all Advertising Assessments to market, advertise and promote each of the Brands in the Territory in accordance with the Advertising and Marketing Standards set out in the Brand Standards; provided, that up to one percent (1%) of the Gross Revenue may be spent for Restaurant asset upgrades, menu board upgrades, directional signage, premiums, and limited-time offer discount promotion subsidies lasting for twelve (12) weeks or less.  Licensee may allocate the Advertising Assessment between national and local store marketing and advertising initiatives and activities in its reasonable discretion.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Advertising Assessment” means a minimum advertising fee or contribution under each Sublicense in an amount equal to four percent (4%) of Gross Revenue (including the one percent (1%) of Gross Revenue that may be spent for Restaurant asset upgrades, menu board upgrades, directional signage, premiums, and limited-time offer discount promotion subsidies lasting for twelve (12) weeks or less).  The Parties acknowledge and agree that the nature of advertising is evolving and will continue to evolve during the Term.  Therefore, upon request by either Party, the other Party will consider in good faith prospective adjustments to the Advertising Assessment, taking into consideration Brand sales, competitor marketing spend rates and trends, and marketing effectiveness (e.g., the availability of other channels or platforms of marketing promotion, such as social media and digital advertising, that may provide for reduced cost and equal or greater consumer reach and conversion) and the resulting impact on sales growth.

 

3.3                              Other Payments.  In addition to the royalty fees described in Section 3.1, Licensee shall pay to Licensor and to Licensor’s Affiliates and to all third party suppliers promptly when due all other fees, charges and reimbursable amounts payable under this Agreement or other agreements between Licensee and Licensor, Licensor’s Affiliates, or such third party suppliers.  Such payments shall be made at such times and in such manner as may be specified in this Agreement or such other agreements and, in the absence of any specified time and manner of payment, as invoiced.

 

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3.4                             Payment Terms; Currency.  All payments made by Licensee to Licensor under this Agreement shall be sent by electronic wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account designated by Licensor in writing from time to time.

 

3.4.1                    Any payment not actually received within five (5) days after the date on which such payment was due (“Grace Period”) shall accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus three percent (3%) or the maximum rate permitted by Applicable Laws, whichever is less, from the end of the Grace Period until paid.  Such interest charges are in addition to any other remedies available to Licensor.  Additionally, during the first year of the Term, the Grace Period shall be extended to ten (10) days.

 

3.4.2                   Licensee shall not be entitled to withhold payments due to Licensor or its Affiliates on grounds of alleged nonperformance by Licensor or its Affiliates, nor shall Licensee be entitled to set off any amounts that may be owed by Licensor or any of its Affiliates to Licensee or any of its Affiliates against amounts owed by Licensee or any of its Affiliates to Licensor or any of its Affiliates under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any designation Licensee might make, Licensor has sole discretion to apply any of Licensee’s payments to any of Licensee’s past due indebtedness to Licensor or its Affiliates.  Licensor has the right to set off any amounts Licensee owes to Licensor or any of Licensor’s Affiliates against any amounts Licensor or any of its Affiliates may owe to Licensee or any of Licensee’s Affiliates.

 

3.4.3                   All amounts payable to Licensor under this Agreement shall be paid in Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB).

 

3.4.4                   If any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over any of the Brand Restaurant Businesses or the Parties imposes restrictions on the transfer of funds or currencies to places outside the Territory and such restrictions result in Licensor not receiving payments in accordance with this Agreement in a timely fashion, Licensee shall cooperate with Licensor and use commercially reasonable efforts to effect such payments in a timely fashion by the transfer of funds in alternate currencies as Licensor may designate and/or the funding of such payments from sources outside the Territory, to the extent legally permissible.  If, after thirty (30) days, such efforts fail to result in full payment to Licensor, then Licensor shall have the right at any time thereafter to the extent legally permissible to direct the deposit of any or all payments (including accumulated amounts) required hereunder into such accounts in the Territory as Licensor may designate.  Nothing herein shall relieve Licensee from the obligation to pay to Licensor the amounts due hereunder.

 

3.5                             Taxes.  Licensee shall promptly pay when due all Taxes levied or assessed against Licensee by any Governmental Authority.

 

3.5.1                     Any and all payments by Licensee to Licensor pursuant to this Agreement shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Laws.  If Applicable Laws require Taxes to be withheld or deducted from any payment to Licensor pursuant to this Agreement, Licensee shall withhold or deduct and pay to the applicable Governmental Authority the amount required to be withheld or deducted and shall promptly deliver to Licensor, at least annually or as otherwise reasonably requested by Licensor, receipts and tax forms issued by the applicable Governmental Authority showing that all Taxes were properly withheld or deducted and remitted in compliance with Applicable Laws.  Without limiting the foregoing, Licensee shall cooperate with Licensor in any manner Licensor reasonably requires to facilitate Licensor in its efforts to obtain applicable tax credits based on such

 

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withholdings or deductions, or to obtain any reduction in the amount of such withholding or deduction.

 

3.5.2                     Except as otherwise provided in the Tax Matters Agreement, in the event of any bona fide dispute between Licensee or any of its Affiliates and any Governmental Authority as to liability for Taxes assessed, Licensee or such Affiliate may contest the validity or the amount of the Tax in accordance with procedures of the Governmental Authority or Applicable Laws; provided, however, that, to the extent within the control of Licensee, in no event shall Licensee or such Affiliate permit a tax sale or seizure by levy of execution or similar writ or warrant, or attachment by a creditor, to occur against the premises of any Restaurant, any improvements thereon, or any assets of Licensee or such Affiliate that are part of the Brand Restaurant Businesses or contain the Brand Trademarks.

 

3.5.3                   Licensee bears sole and exclusive responsibility for the reporting, withholding and payment of all Taxes imposed upon it by any jurisdiction, including the responsibility to report to the applicable Governmental Authorities any payment made to Licensor to the extent required by Applicable Laws.  The Parties acknowledge that Licensee may be responsible now or in the future to collect and remit sales tax, use tax, excise tax, withholding income tax, value added tax, franchise fee tax, governmental surcharges, stamp tax or consumer tax (“Transaction Tax”) with respect to payments made by Licensee to Licensor pursuant to Section 3.1.  Any such Transaction Taxes shall be borne by Licensor and such amounts shall not be added to any amounts payable by Licensee pursuant to Section 3.1.

 

3.5.4                    If Licensee receives any refund or credit in respect of any Taxes withheld or deducted from, or any Transaction Tax paid by Licensor in respect of, any payment made to Licensor pursuant to this Agreement, Licensee shall promptly pay to Licensor an amount equal to the amount of such refund or credit, net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of Licensee with respect to the receipt of such refund or credit.  For purposes of this Section 3.5.4, Licensee’s ordinary course application of a value added tax credit against value added tax withheld from any payment made to Licensor pursuant this Agreement shall not be treated as a credit received by Licensee, provided, however, that any credit against value added tax obtained by Licensee as a result of a redetermination of the amount of value added tax due with respect to any such payment to Licensor shall be treated as a credit received by Licensee and payable to Licensor pursuant to this Section 3.5.4.

 

4.                                     OWNERSHIP, USE, PROTECTION AND SUBSTITUTION OF IP

 

4.1                             Ownership.  Licensee represents and warrants to Licensor that, prior to the Effective Date, Licensee and YumChina have provided to Licensor and Yum all agreements and other documents relating to any and all Brand System IP licensed, used, or owned (or purported to be owned) by YumChina, SpinCo or any of their Affiliates, including Licensee.  Licensor hereby represents that the scope of the license for the Brand System IP is expressly designed to include the IP of Yum and its Subsidiaries used to operate the Brand Restaurant Businesses in the Territory prior to the Effective Date, primarily under the direct management of and supervision of YumChina.  To the extent any ambiguity exists in this Agreement concerning the scope of the license grant to the Brand System IP, this representation shall assist the Parties in determining the proper interpretation.  As between Licensor and its Affiliates (as determined upon or after consummation of the separation of YumChina from Yum), on the one hand, and Licensee and its Affiliates and the Sublicensees (as determined upon or after consummation of the separation of YumChina from Yum), on the other hand, Licensee agrees (for itself and on behalf of its Affiliates and the Sublicensees) that the Brand System IP is, and shall remain, the sole property of Licensor.  Licensor and Licensee (for itself and on behalf of its Affiliates and the

 

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Sublicensees) further agree that any modification, development or acquisition of the IP of Yum and its Subsidiaries occurring prior to the Effective Date by or for Licensee or any of its Affiliates or any of the Sublicensees, whether by itself or in conjunction with Licensor or third parties, shall be deemed to have been commissioned by and for the benefit of Licensor, and Licensee has done or shall do at Licensor’s request, all acts (including execution and delivery to Licensor of any and all such documentation) required in order to evidence, secure or perfect the vesting in Licensor of all rights, title and interest in and to such IP or any other Brand System IP or to otherwise give full effect to this Section 4.1 and shall cause its Affiliates and the Sublicensees and, to the extent commercially reasonable, its contractors and other third parties, to do so.  The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree to the existence and sufficiency of consideration for the foregoing commissioning arrangements; such consideration including the right of YumChina to use certain IP of Yum and its Subsidiaries in connection with YumChina’s business activities prior to the Effective Date. Nothing contained in this Agreement is, or shall be construed as, an assignment of any of the Brand System IP to Licensee or any other person or entity or as a grant to Licensee or any other person or entity of any right, title, or interest in or to any of the Brand System IP except for the express license granted to Licensee to use the Brand System IP under Section 2.1. Except for such license, Licensee acquires no right, title or interest in any of the Brand System IP or any associated past, present or future goodwill, all of which will inure solely to the benefit of Licensor and the Brand Owners.

 

4.1.1                    Licensee represents and warrants to Licensor that, prior to the Effective Date, YumChina has not licensed or authorized the use of any of the Brand System IP by any person or entity other than Sublicensees under the Existing Sublicenses, and has only issued cross licensing rights for some of the Brand System IP to certain businesses of YumChina as set forth in Exhibit C (the “Cross Licensed IP”).  During the Term, Licensee shall not provide any further cross licensing rights and shall cause the cross licensing rights to the current Cross Licensed IP to terminate within three (3) years after the Effective Date at Licensee’s sole cost and expense and shall provide Licensor evidence of such termination(s) satisfactory to Licensor.

 

4.1.2                    Other than as set forth in this Section 4.1, Licensee acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the Brand System IP is being licensed “as-is” and without any further representations or warranties by Licensor or any of its Affiliates, including regarding the status, strength, validity, or enforceability of any of the Brand System IP in the Territory (including the status, strength, validity, or enforceability of any registrations or applications to register the Brand Trademarks or any other Brand System IP in the Territory).  Licensee further acknowledges and agrees that:

 

A.                                   Licensee shall not make any demand, assert any claim, or file any action against Licensor or any of its Affiliates (and that neither Licensor nor any of its Affiliates has any obligation to indemnify Licensee or any of its Affiliates or the Sublicensees for liability or damages) arising out of or in connection with the use by Licensee or any Sublicensee of the Brand System IP in the Territory, including demands, claims or actions (or liability or damages) based on the actual or threatened cancellations of Brand System IP registrations or refusals to register any of the Brand System IP by any Governmental Authority and any third party demands or claims related to the Brand System IP.

 

B.                                   As of the Effective Date, Licensee, for itself and on behalf of all other persons and entities acting on its behalf or claiming under it (collectively, the “Licensee Releasing Parties”), hereby irrevocably and unconditionally releases, acquits and forever discharges Licensor, its Affiliates and their respective owners, predecessors, successors, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, attorneys, parents and Subsidiaries, past and present, and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with

 

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them or any of them (collectively “Licensor Released Parties”), from all actions, causes of action, suits, debts, liens, obligations, promises, liabilities, claims, rights, demands, damages, controversies, losses, costs, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs actually incurred), known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, fixed or contingent, which they now have, own, hold, claim to have, claim to own, or claim to hold, or at any time heretofore had, owned, held, claimed to have, claimed to own, or claimed to hold against each or any of the Licensor Released Parties arising out of or related to the Brand System IP or any use thereof.

 

C.                                   Without limiting the foregoing acknowledgements, agreements and release, Licensee agrees that the maximum possible remedy to which Licensee and its Affiliates and the Sublicensees may be entitled as a result of (i) any loss or impairment of the Brand System IP (including the Brand Trademarks) in the Territory or (ii) any breach by Licensor of any express or implied warranties related to the Brand System IP, including any technology/technical secrets, patents, or software, is for Licensor to authorize a replacement for the affected Brand System IP, and Licensee expressly acknowledges and agrees that Licensee’s obligations under this Agreement, including its obligation to pay the royalty fees and other amounts due under this Agreement, shall not be relieved, limited, or otherwise modified as a result of any loss or change in the status or value of any of the Brand System IP in the Territory, including losses or changes attributable to actions by Governmental Authorities or third party claims. Licensor also has the right to replace any Brand System IP (including any Brand Trademark) that, in Licensor’s belief, is or may be subject to a claim or determination that Licensor has no right to license such Brand System IP under this Agreement, or that such Brand System IP is or may be cancelled or its use by Licensee prohibited in the Territory, or that such Brand System IP is or may be subject to any ownership or rights challenge or any infringement allegation or action.  Without limiting or altering the provisions set forth above, Licensee may request a review, during the Annual Strategic Consultation, of recent, material adverse changes in the Brand System IP where Licensee believes other types of remedies are more suitable, which suggestions Licensor shall consider and decide, in its sole discretion.

 

4.1.3                    This Agreement expressly contemplates that Licensee (or any of its Affiliates and any of the Sublicensees) may, subsequent to the Effective Date and during the Term and in accordance with the terms hereof and the Brand Standards, develop or acquire Future Core IP and Future Brand Business IP.

 

A.                                   Licensor shall solely own all Future Core IP (and, for the avoidance of doubt, Licensor and Licensee (for itself and on behalf of its Affiliates and the Sublicensees) agree that any modification, development or acquisition of Future Core IP by or for Licensee or any of its Affiliates or any of the Sublicensees, whether by itself or in conjunction with Licensor or third parties, shall be deemed to be commissioned by and for the benefit of Licensor, subject, however, to the right of use by Licensee during the Term for the purposes and in the manner provided in this Agreement). Licensee shall inform Licensor in writing of any such modification, development or acquisition of  Future Core IP.  Licensee shall assign, transfer, and convey, and hereby assigns, transfers, and conveys, to Licensor all rights, title, and interest of Licensee in or to any Future Core IP modified, developed or acquired by or for Licensee and otherwise waives and/or releases all rights of restraint and moral rights therein and thereto, without compensation, recognizing that any Future Core IP modified, developed or acquired by or for Licensee shall simultaneously and by operation of law be included in the Brand System IP licensed

 

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hereunder.  Licensee shall also cause its Affiliates and the Sublicensees and, to the extent commercially reasonable and consistent with the Brand Standards, cause its contractors and other third parties, to assign, transfer, and convey all such rights, title, and interest in and to Future Core IP that may be modified, developed or acquired by or for those parties to Licensor (or its designated Affiliate).  Licensee shall do all acts and execute and deliver to Licensor any and all such documentation required in order to evidence, secure or perfect the vesting in Licensor of all rights, title and interest in and to the Future Core IP or to otherwise give full effect to this Section 4.1.3 and shall cause its Affiliates and the Sublicensees and, to the extent commercially reasonable, its contractors and other third parties, to do so.  If and to the extent any such assignment is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, Licensee hereby grants (and shall cause its Affiliates and the Sublicensees and, to the extent commercially reasonable and consistent with the Brand Standards, its contractors and other third parties to grant) to Licensor (or its designated Affiliate) an exclusive, worldwide, transferable, assignable, sublicensable, irrevocable, perpetual, non-terminable, royalty-free license in and to such Future Core IP.  Neither Licensee nor any of its Affiliates, employees, contractors, or Sublicensees or any other third parties will be entitled to, or have any right or claim against Licensor or the Brand Owners or their respective Affiliates for, any royalty, fee, charge, compensation, or other payment or value of any kind for or in connection with any of the foregoing assignments, transfers, conveyances, or licenses or Licensor’s or any of its Affiliates’ use, utilization, commercialization, license, transfer, or exercise of any right in any such Future Core IP.

 

B.                                   Licensee shall solely own all Future Brand Business IP; provided, that in consideration of the rights granted herein and in order to maintain and enhance Brand integrity and avoid Brand divergence, Licensee hereby grants (and shall cause its Affiliates and the Sublicensees and, to the extent commercially reasonable and consistent with the Brand Standards, its contractors and other third parties to grant) to Licensor a non-exclusive, worldwide (other than in the Territory during the Term), transferable, assignable, irrevocable, perpetual, non-terminable, royalty-free right and license to use any such Future Brand Business IP and to sublicense the use of any such Future Brand Business IP to Licensor’s Affiliates and their licensees and franchisees operating under the Brands.  Upon Licensor’s request, Licensee shall reasonably cooperate with Licensor to effectuate this right and license (including executing all documents reasonably required by Licensor).

 

C.                                   The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree to the existence and sufficiency of consideration for the foregoing commissioning arrangements, assignment, transfer, and conveyance, or license, to Licensor; such consideration including the license to Licensee of the Core Brand IP which may come into existence after the Effective Date and during the Term.

 

4.1.4                    The parties acknowledge that Customer Data is derived, developed, accumulated and used directly through and in connection with Licensee’s use of the Brand System IP, and as such, represents an essential element of the goodwill associated with the Brand System IP and the Brand Trademarks necessary to the operation of the Brand Restaurant Businesses.  Accordingly, in consideration of the foregoing and subject to the limitations in this Section, Licensee (for itself and on behalf of its Affiliates) hereby grants Licensor and each of its Affiliates an unencumbered right to access and use, and a perpetual and sublicensable license in and to, the Customer Data.  Licensor’s right to access, use and sublicense the Customer Data may only be exercised: (i) in accordance with Applicable Laws; (ii) following the expiration, non-renewal, termination, or other winding-down of this Agreement or any Brand license granted hereunder; and (iii) in

 

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connection with the continued operation of the Brand (or Brands) from which the Customer Data was obtained and compiled; provided that in the event of any material breach of this Agreement by Licensee, Licensor and its Affiliates may have the right of access, only, to the Customer Data upon written notice to Licensee, whereupon, Licensee shall provide Licensor with access to the Customer Data of the Brand (or Brands) concerned and/or derivatives thereof, according to such protocols as may be reasonably established for such purpose and set forth in Brand Standards.  For the avoidance of doubt, Licensor may not use any Customer Data in connection with any restaurant system other than the Brand (or Brands) concerned.

 

4.2                              Use. Licensee shall, and shall cause all of the Sublicensees to, use the Brand System IP only as authorized by this Agreement and in accordance with the Brand Standards. Without limitation of the foregoing, Licensee agrees that, during and after the Term, Licensee shall not, and shall cause all the Sublicensees not to:

 

4.2.1                    Engage, directly or indirectly, in any conduct that would dilute, infringe upon, harm, prejudice, bring into disrepute, or interfere with the validity, ownership or enforceability of the rights of Licensor or any of its Affiliates in any of the Brand System IP or the associated goodwill, including any use of the Brand Trademarks in a derogatory, negative, or other inappropriate manner;

 

4.2.2                    Contest the rights of Licensor or any of its Affiliates in any of the Brand System IP or the associated goodwill;

 

4.2.3                    Take, or omit to take, any action that in any way would reflect adversely on, or injure or threaten to injure or diminish the name, image or reputation of, Licensor or any of its Affiliates, the Brand Names, the Brand Trademarks or other Brand System IP, including any action that may invalidate or jeopardize registration of any of the Brand Trademarks or other Brand System IP; or

 

4.2.4                    Take or continue any action which Licensee (or any of the Sublicensees) knows or has reason to know would result in or cause a boycott of any Brand, Brand Product, Licensor, any of the Brand Trademarks, or any product or service bearing or associated with the Brand Trademarks. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, in the event any action taken or continued by Licensee or any of the Sublicensees results, or threatens to result, in any such injury, Licensee shall promptly take, and cause all of the Sublicensees to take, all steps necessary to avoid or stop the occurrence of such injury.

 

4.3                             Trademarks.

 

4.3.1                 Subject to Licensor’s rights and obligations set forth in this Section 4.3 and in Section 4.5, Licensee shall, in accordance with the Trademark Maintenance and Registration Standards set out in the Brand Standards and at Licensee’s expense, conduct the following activities in the Territory with respect to the Brand Trademarks (including those covered by Future Core IP but excluding any Brand Name): (i) select and clear the Brand Trademarks, providing to Licensor or its designee contemporaneous clearance reports and legal opinions in the English language and advising Licensor or its designee when a cleared Brand Trademark may be submitted for registration (collectively, “Clearance Activities”), and (ii) take any and all reasonable actions to police and defend the Brand Trademarks, including issuing any cease and desist demand, filing and prosecuting any administrative action and/or taking legal action, against any infringer or misappropriator, or reasonably suspected infringer or misappropriator, of any of the Brand Trademarks (collectively, “Enforcement Activities”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing,

 

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Licensor shall, in accordance with the Trademark Maintenance and Registration Standards set out in the Brand Standards and at Licensor’s expense, conduct the following activities in the Territory with respect to the Brand Trademarks (including those covered by Future Core IP and including any Brand Trademark containing a Brand Name): (a) review and, after consultation with Licensee, approve or disapprove any Brand Trademark prior to its use, and (b) in the name of Licensor or its designee, apply for, prosecute the application for, register and maintain the registration of, the Brand Trademarks (“Registration Activities”). In addition, Licensor shall, at Licensor’s expense: (x) conduct any and all Clearance Activities with respect to a Brand Trademark that is a Brand Name, (y) join any Enforcement Activities by Licensee under this Section 4.3.1 as necessary under Applicable Laws in the Territory to conduct such Enforcement Activities, and (z) have the right to monitor and participate in (and by written notice to Licensee, assume management or control of) any Clearance Activities and Enforcement Activities conducted by Licensee (or a part thereof, as decided by Licensor in its sole discretion). Licensee shall otherwise not engage in any Clearance Activities, Registration Activities or Enforcement Activities, or assist or be involved in any way with another’s Clearance Activities, Registration Activities or Enforcement Activities, except if and to the extent expressly requested or approved in advance in writing by Licensor to Licensee. To the extent that any trademark license agreements or registered user agreements indicating the right of Licensee or any Sublicensee to use the Brand Trademarks in the Territory, or any confirmation or documentation related thereto, are required to be registered or recorded with any Governmental Authority, Licensee shall promptly file such documentation as provided or approved by Licensor and be responsible for the associated costs.

 

4.3.2                    Licensee shall provide Licensor written notice, as set out in the Brand Standards, of any Brand Trademarks constituting Future Core IP (including changes in color or font or the translation of any of the Brand Trademarks into the local language). Licensee expressly agrees that it shall not use, and shall not permit the Sublicensees to use, any Brand Trademark within the category of Future Core IP (including any such Brand Trademark that includes a Brand Name) until it is approved by Licensor according to the procedures set out in the Brand Standards. Licensee further agrees that it shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and Sublicensees not to, modify any Brand Trademark that includes a Brand Name until such modification is approved by Licensor according to the procedures set out in the Brand Standards. Without limitation of the foregoing, Licensee further expressly acknowledges and agrees that Licensor shall have sole discretion whether or not to approve any newly created or modified Brand Trademark that includes a Brand Name.

 

4.4                             Copyrights and Patents. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that, as between Licensee and its Affiliates and the Sublicensees, on the one hand, and Licensor and its Affiliates, on the other hand, Licensor and its Affiliates own all patents, patent applications, copyrights and other intellectual property and industrial property rights in and to all materials including or evidencing any Brand System IP.  Licensee shall use, and shall cause the Sublicensees to use, proper copyright, patent, and other proprietary notices in accordance with Applicable Laws in the Territory in connection with all such materials. The provisions in Section 4.3.1 regarding Enforcement Activities shall apply to all such Brand System IP materials, including the copyrights, patent rights, and other intellectual property and industrial property rights contained therein. To the extent it is customary and advisable, to register the copyrights and/or patent rights contained in the Brand System IP materials, Licensee shall have the right, at its expense and upon advance written notice to Licensor or its designee, to conduct Registration Activities for such copyrights and patents, acknowledging its agreement that such Registration Activities shall reflect, and shall not alter, the ownership rights set forth herein.

 

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4.5                              Protection. Without limiting Section 4.3.1, Licensee shall (and shall cause its Affiliates and the Sublicensees to) assist Licensor in the protection and defense of the Brand Trademarks and other Brand System IP, including preventing the use of the Brand Trademarks or other Brand System IP by any unauthorized persons, that in the sole judgment of Licensor may be necessary or desirable under any Applicable Law. Licensee shall promptly notify Licensor of any use or infringement of the Brand Trademarks or other Brand System IP of which Licensee or any of its Affiliates or the Sublicensees become aware or any challenge or claim arising out of the use of any Brand Trademark or other Brand System IP by Licensee or the Sublicensees. Except to the extent Licensee will conduct any Enforcement Activities in accordance with Section 4.3.1, Licensor shall control all Enforcement Activities and any litigation and other proceeding related to any challenge to Licensee’s or any Sublicensee’s use of the Brand Trademarks or other Brand System IP (specifically including all Enforcement Activities with respect to any Brand Name), or the use or ownership of any of the Brand Trademarks or other Brand System IP by Licensor or any of its Affiliates. Except to the extent Licensee controls any Enforcement Activities under Section 4.3.1, Licensor shall have the right to determine whether and what Enforcement Activities will be instituted, prosecuted or settled, the terms of settlement and whether any other action will be taken and may prosecute any claims or suits in its own name or join Licensee as a party thereto.  Licensee shall be responsible for the fees and expenses of any Enforcement Activities by Licensee under Section 4.3.1.  Licensor shall be responsible for the fees and expenses with any Enforcement Activities under this Section 4.5, unless the challenge or claim results from misuse of the Brand Trademarks or other Brand System IP by Licensee or any Sublicensee in violation of this Agreement or any of the Sublicenses, in which case Licensee shall reimburse Licensor and the Brand Owners for their respective fees and expenses (including legal fees and expenses).  Upon Licensor’s request, Licensee shall, and shall cause all of the Sublicensees to, promptly execute any summary or shortened agreement reflecting the licenses and rights under this Agreement, any confirmation of such licenses or rights, and any other document, and provide any other reasonable assistance to implement the provisions of this Agreement or as deemed necessary for compliance with Applicable Laws in the Territory, and to assist Licensor with any Registration Activities and any Enforcement Activities, all without compensation and without any right to any portion of amounts collected by Licensor in connection therewith, save and except that, in the event Licensor collects a monetary award, Licensor shall reimburse Licensee’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with such assistance, pro rata with Licensor’s costs and expenses, from such award. Licensee and its Affiliates and the Sublicensees shall not have any rights against Licensor or any of its Affiliates or for damages or other remedy by reason of the failure to prosecute any alleged infringements or imitations by others of any of the Brand Trademarks or for allegedly unauthorized third party use of any of the Brand System IP.

 

4.6                              Substitution. Licensor reserves the right to add to, change or modify the Brand System IP, including the right to substitute different Brand Trademarks at any time. Upon receipt of written notice from Licensor to add, change, modify or substitute any of the Brand System IP (including the Brand Trademarks), Licensee shall implement such changes, using its commercially reasonable best efforts, and shall cause the Sublicensees to do the same.  Licensee shall also have the same opportunity to discuss such changes or modifications with Licensor, as are set forth in the final sentence of Section 4.1.2.C.

 

5.                                     QUALITY ASSURANCE AND BRAND STANDARDS

 

5.1                              Quality and Brand Standards.  Licensee acknowledges the importance to the reputation and goodwill of the Brands of maintaining high standards of quality in connection with the conduct of the Brand Restaurant Businesses and the associated use of Brand System IP.  For that reason, Licensee shall maintain, and shall cause the Sublicensees to maintain: (i) compliance with the Brand Standards, and (ii) a standard of quality that is at least as high as the standard of quality maintained in the Brand Restaurant Businesses up to and upon the Effective Date in the Territory with regard to the goods and services offered and sold under the Brand Trademarks, and in connection with the use of other Brand System IP in

 

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the Brand Restaurant Businesses. Licensee acknowledges that it is aware of this standard of quality and has experience with maintaining this standard of quality for the Brand Restaurant Businesses prior to, and up to, the Effective Date.

 

5.2                             Monitoring Compliance with Brand Standards.  From time to time (as further specified in the Brand Standards), Licensor shall have the right, directly or through its designated representatives, to visit, audit and review the Restaurants and the Brand Restaurant Businesses, including with reasonable advance written notice, market offices, shared services centers and logistics centers, as operated by Licensee and the Sublicensees, for compliance with this Agreement and the Brand Standards, including Brand Standards related to IP compliance, books and records, food safety processes and procedures and standards and governance protocols.  To facilitate any such visit, audit or review, Licensee shall, and shall cause the Sublicensees to:

 

5.2.1                   Allow Licensor or its representatives, with reasonable advance written notice, to sample representative products and services of the Brand Restaurant Businesses in which the Brand Trademarks and other applicable Brand System IP are utilized;

 

5.2.2                   Permit Licensor or its representatives, with reasonable advance written notice, to visit, audit or review, in addition to Restaurants, any training center, test kitchen, and other facilities of the Brand Restaurant Businesses for purposes of compliance with such of the Brand Standards as may apply thereto;

 

5.2.3                   Obtain permissions, consistent with Licensee’s own rights, for Licensor or its representatives to conduct quality control audits or reviews of all vendors and suppliers material to the supply chain supporting the Brand Restaurant Businesses; and

 

5.2.4                   Provide representative samples of the advertising and marketing materials using Brand Trademarks and any of the other Brand System IP in connection with the promotion of the Brand Restaurant Businesses in the prior twenty-four (24) months.

 

Upon written notice from Licensor, Licensee shall promptly remediate any non-compliance with the Brand Standards, and shall cause the Sublicensees to do the same. Licensee further agrees, in addition to the procedures set out in the Brand Standards, that: (a) if an audit (including a visit or review) results in Licensor’s discovery of substantial non-compliance with any of the Brand Standards, Licensor may, without limitation of any other remedy available to it, conduct a re-audit (including a visit or review) within a reasonable time following the initial audit in order to determine whether the deficiencies have been corrected, and Licensee shall reimburse Licensor for all reasonable costs incurred by Licensor in connection with any such re-audit.

 

5.3                              Adaptation of Brand Standards. The Parties recognize and acknowledge the need to periodically update the Brand Standards to maintain the quality and contemporary look and feel of Brand Restaurant Businesses.  Accordingly, Licensor shall review annually the Brand Standards, taking into account its inspections and the monitoring reports, as described in this Agreement.  Following consultation with Licensee, Licensor may publish and implement modifications to the Brand Standards, all of which shall take into account Licensor’s use of the Brand System IP and associated Brand Standards in Brand Restaurant Businesses in regions other than the Territory, including the related costs, resources and standards in the industry.  Following consultation with Licensee, Licensor may also prescribe an implementation schedule for any newly adopted and published Brand Standards, taking into account costs, resources, standards in the industry and conformity with Licensor’s use of the Brand System IP in Brand Restaurant Businesses in regions other than the Territory.  Licensee may also give Licensor written notice of any proposed change to the Brand Standards that Licensee wishes Licensor to

 

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consider in order to adapt the Brand Standards to market conditions in the Territory. Licensor agrees to give good faith consideration to any such request, but Licensor shall have sole discretion whether to approve or disapprove (or approve with modifications) the proposed change. Licensee shall not implement any proposed change to the Brand Standards, and shall cause the Sublicensees not to implement any such change, unless and until Licensor has expressly approved the proposed change in writing.  Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties, Licensee and the Sublicensees shall bear the cost of compliance with existing Brand Standards and implementation of and compliance with any updated Brand Standards, which may include from time-to-time Brand Standards governing Restaurant assets, including requirements with respect to structural modifications and/or replacement of Restaurant furnishings, fixtures, and equipment.

 

5.4                              Annual Strategic Consultation. Annually, unless otherwise re-scheduled by agreement of the Parties, between September 1 and October 31, representatives of Licensor and Licensee, together with senior management personnel of Yum and SpinCo, shall meet in person to review the Brand Restaurant Businesses (but not other businesses owned or operated by Licensee or its Affiliates unrelated to Licensor and its Affiliates), including: (i) Licensee’s Annual Strategic Plan for the upcoming calendar year, (ii) any mutually beneficial opportunities to cross license some or all of each Party’s intellectual property not otherwise  licensed under this Agreement, and (iii) any other subject that the Parties agree is relevant to their continuing relationship (“Annual Strategic Consultation”).  Within the preceding parameters, Licensor and Licensee will mutually agree when each Annual Strategic Consultation will be held. Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, the location of the Annual Strategic Consultations will be at Licensee’s headquarters in the Territory.  Each Party will be responsible for any travel and living expenses incurred by its personnel attending such meetings. A reasonable period of time (not less than thirty (30) calendar days) prior to each Annual Strategic Consultation, Licensee shall provide a draft of Licensee’s Annual Strategic Plan for the upcoming year to Licensor so that the representatives of Licensor may adequately prepare for the meeting. Licensor agrees that all such Annual Strategic Plans are a part of Licensee’s Confidential Information and shall be treated as such in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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6.                                     SUBLICENSES

 

6.1                              Assignment or Restatement of Existing Sublicenses. Prior to the Effective Date, YumChina caused a number of license agreements to be granted to Sublicensees, whether in the form of trademark license agreements, franchise agreements and other similar documents, providing the Sublicensees with the rights to operate Restaurants (or one Restaurant) in the Territory utilizing the Brand System IP (the “Existing Sublicenses”).  Licensor is a party to some or all of the Existing Sublicenses.  Licensee represents and warrants that prior to the Effective Date, (a) Licensee has entered into restated sublicenses, which sublicenses comply with the requirements for Future Sublicenses set forth in Section 6.2 and which shall become effective on the Effective Date (“Restated Sublicenses”), with each of its Affiliates that is a party to an Existing Sublicense for periods prior to the Effective Date (it being understood that references to Existing Sublicenses herein include references to Restated Sublicenses unless the context otherwise requires), and (b) Licensee has used its best efforts to enter into a Restated Sublicense with each third party that is a party to an Existing Sublicense for periods prior to the Effective Date.  For all Existing Sublicenses that are in effect as of the Effective Date and not represented by a Restated Sublicense (a “Non-Restated Sublicense”), Licensor hereby assigns to Licensee all of Licensor’s rights (other than as to amounts owing to Licensor for periods prior to the Effective Date), and Licensee hereby assumes all of Licensor’s obligations, under the Non-Restated Sublicenses (it being understood that references to Existing Sublicenses herein include references to Non-Restated Sublicenses unless the context otherwise requires).  The Parties agree to cooperate (and Licensee shall cause its Affiliates and, to the extent commercially reasonable, all third party Sublicensees to cooperate) in providing any required notice and in executing any documents and taking any other actions that may be necessary or appropriate in connection with such assignment and assumption.

 

6.1.1                    All Existing Sublicenses shall be subject to this Agreement and Licensee shall perform the duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement with respect to the Existing Sublicenses.  Following the Effective Date, Licensee shall use its best efforts to enter into a Restated Sublicense with each third party that is a party to a Non-Restated Sublicense.

 

6.1.2                    All royalty fees and other amounts payable to Licensor under the Existing Sublicenses which accrue from and after the Effective Date (the “Assigned Payments”) shall be the property of Licensee. Any Assigned Payments which come into Licensor’s possession shall be delivered promptly to Licensee, and Licensor agrees to forward to Licensee all original documentation supplied by any Sublicensees under the Existing Sublicenses relating to any taxes withheld by them from the Assigned Payments.

 

6.1.3                    From and after the Effective Date, Licensee shall have the responsibility in the Territory for managing, administering, protecting and enforcing, in accordance with this Agreement, all Sublicenses.

 

6.2                              Grant of Future Sublicenses. Licensee shall be entitled to grant additional Sublicenses for the operation of Restaurants in the Territory during the Term (“Future Sublicenses”); provided, that (i) any Future Sublicense must be evidenced by a written license agreement, franchise agreement or development agreement, the form of which must be approved by Licensor as provided in the last three (3) sentences of this Section 6.2; (ii) no Future Sublicense may reduce or otherwise affect Licensee’s obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) each Future Sublicense shall: (a) include representations and agreements to the effect that neither the Sublicensee nor any of its owners are, or will be, associated with a Competing Business during the term of the Sublicense and for a reasonable period of time following the expiration, termination or transfer of the Sublicense or any interest therein; that neither the Sublicensee nor any of its owners are, or will be, in violation of Section 7.1 of this Agreement (applied mutatis mutandis to the Sublicense); and that the Sublicensee and its owners will adhere to confidentiality

 

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provisions consistent with those in Section 9 of this Agreement, (b) include the obligation to pay the Advertising Assessment, (c) name Licensor a third party beneficiary of the Sublicense with an independent right (but without any obligation) to enforce the Sublicense in the event Licensee fails to do so, (d) grant Licensor an option (but without any obligation) to acquire and assume (directly or through a designee) Licensee’s rights and obligations under the Sublicense upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement or any related interest herein (including any related Brand license granted hereunder), (e) be assignable by Licensee without the Sublicensee’s consent, (f) contain provisions requiring that the Sublicensee and the Restaurants adhere to the Brand Standards, (g) include an immediate right of termination by Licensee upon a Sublicensee Change of Control or prohibited Transfer or a violation of any of the representations and agreements described in Section 6.2(iii)(a) and (h) include provisions regarding Licensor’s ownership of IP consistent with the provisions of this Agreement.  Licensee shall submit to Licensor in advance of its use each form of Future Sublicense (together with a complete and accurate English translation thereof) and Licensor shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to approve, in advance, each such form of Future Sublicense.  Licensee shall not enter into any Future Sublicense that differs from such pre-approved form of Future Sublicense.  Licensee acknowledges and agrees that no such approval by Licensor shall constitute an assurance, representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, that such agreements comply with Applicable Laws.

 

6.3                              Licensee’s Obligations with Respect to the Sublicenses. Licensee shall:

 

6.3.1                    Recruit, screen and evaluate prospective Sublicensees for compliance with the minimum qualifications for Sublicensees operating under the Brands, as authorized from time to time by Licensor.  At Licensor’s request, Licensee shall prepare and submit to Licensor, in the form and at the times required by Licensor, a written report regarding each prospective Sublicensee deemed to be qualified by Licensee and shall retain, and upon Licensor’s written demand produce for Licensor’s inspection, a copy of each Sublicense and all related documents.

 

6.3.2                    Fulfill its obligations under each Sublicense and cause each Sublicensee to operate its Restaurants in compliance with the Sublicense, this Agreement, the Brand Standards and Applicable Laws.

 

6.3.3                    Monitor and enforce prompt and strict compliance by the Sublicensees with all duties and obligations under the Sublicenses. Such enforcement includes (i) delivering prompt written notice of default to any Sublicensee that is in material breach of its Sublicense; (ii) taking all commercially reasonable steps to ensure that the Sublicensee remedies the breach within the applicable cure period (if any); (iii) taking all action necessary to terminate the Sublicense of any Sublicensee that does not remedy the breach; and (iv) initiating and prosecuting (at Licensee’s expense) any legal proceedings necessary to achieve full compliance. Licensee’s failure to perform in a diligent or timely manner any material obligation owed to its Sublicensees or to take such action as may, in the reasonable judgment of Licensor, be necessary to ensure material compliance with the Sublicenses will constitute a material breach of this Agreement.

 

6.3.4                    In addition to the reporting requirements set forth in the Brand Standards, within fifteen (15) Business Days from the end of each quarter, Licensee shall notify Licensor, in writing, of: (i) the execution of each Sublicense; (ii) the opening of each Restaurant under a Sublicense; and (iii) any Sublicensee or Restaurant that ceases to do business for any reason. Licensee also shall promptly provide Licensor such additional information as Licensor may request regarding the Sublicensees, Sublicenses and Restaurants to enable Licensor to reasonably determine that Restaurant operations are being conducted in accordance with the Sublicense, this Agreement, Brand Standards and Applicable Laws.  The Parties agree to cooperate in good faith

 

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to establish the formats for pro forma documents that set forth the information that will be shared for the purpose of reporting and other disclosures between the Parties.

 

6.3.5                  Without limitation of Licensee’s obligations under Section 7, comply with all Applicable Laws relating to the sublicensing of the Brand Trademarks and other Brand System IP, promoting or soliciting the sale of Sublicenses, offering and selling Sublicenses, and terminating or failing to renew any of the Sublicenses; prepare and timely file (if required) any and all documents required to comply with Applicable Laws; and timely obtain at its own cost any and all approvals and/or registrations necessary for the full and proper conduct of the Brand Restaurant Businesses.  At Licensor’s request, Licensee shall provide to Licensor, at Licensee’s expense, copies of all governmental approvals, registrations, or filings required by Applicable Laws (“Governmental Approvals”) and/or other approvals and registrations obtained pursuant to this Section 6.3.5.

 

6.4                              Release and Covenant Not to Sue.  Licensee, for itself and on behalf of all other Licensee Releasing Parties, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally releases, acquits and forever discharges the Licensor Released Parties, from all actions, causes of action, suits, debts, liens, obligations, promises, liabilities, claims, rights, demands, damages, controversies, losses, costs, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs actually incurred), known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, fixed or contingent, which they now have, own, hold, claim to have, claim to own, or claim to hold, or at any time heretofore had, owned, held, claimed to have, claimed to own, or claimed to hold against each or any of the Licensor Released Parties arising out of or related to the Sublicenses or the performance thereof or conduct thereunder prior to the Effective Date, and Licensee’s obligations to administer the Sublicenses under this Agreement.

 

7.                                     LEGAL COMPLIANCE

 

7.1                             Compliance with Applicable Laws.  Licensee shall comply with all Applicable Laws in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including the operation of the Brand Restaurant Businesses.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Applicable Laws” shall mean all applicable common law and all applicable statutes, laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, guidelines, standards, policies and procedures established by any Governmental Authority, including those governing the development, construction, operation and/or promotion of the Restaurants and the safety of the food and other products offered and sold at and from the Restaurants, as in effect on the Effective Date and as may be enacted, modified or amended from time to time thereafter.  Licensee shall also require its Sublicensees, through provisions in the Sublicenses and regular monitoring activities, to comply with all Applicable Laws in the development and operation of the Restaurants and accompanying use of the Brand System IP.  Without limitation of the foregoing, Licensee shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to:

 

7.1.1                   Comply with all Applicable Laws and any multilateral international conventions against corrupt business practices or money laundering or relating to anti-bribery and anti-corruption, as they may be amended from time to time, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 U.S.C. §78dd-2) and any successor statute; and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, not offer, promise or pay any money, gift or any other thing of value to any person for the purpose of influencing official actions or decisions affecting this Agreement, any Sublicense, any Restaurant, or any of the Brand Restaurant Businesses, while knowing or having reason to know that any portion of this money, gift or thing will, directly or indirectly, be given, offered or promised to:  (a) an employee, officer or other person acting in an official capacity for any government or its instrumentality; or (b) any political party, party official or candidate for political office.

 

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7.1.2                   Comply with, and assist Licensor and Licensor’s Affiliates in their efforts to comply with, all Anti-Terrorism Laws.  Licensee certifies, represents, warrants and agrees that: (a) neither Licensee nor any of its Affiliates nor anyone associated with them is included in any of the Lists; (b) Licensee shall not hire or permit any of its Affiliates to hire (or, if already employed, retain) any individual included in any of the Lists; (c) Licensee has no knowledge or information that it, any of its Affiliates, any of their respective management personnel, or anyone associated with any of them has engaged, are engaged or intends to engage in terrorist activities; and (d) neither the property nor interests of Licensee or any of its Affiliates are subject to being “blocked” under any of the Anti-Terrorism Laws.

 

7.1.3                   Execute from time to time, as requested by Licensor, all documentation reasonably required by Licensor to evidence compliance with this Section 7.1.

 

7.2                             Notice Requirements. Licensee shall notify Licensor in writing of any breach of Section 7.1 promptly upon learning of any such breach.  In addition, Licensee shall immediately notify Licensor in writing following knowledge of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding or of the issuance of any order, writ, injunction, award or decree of any court or other Governmental Authority, which may, or does, materially and adversely affect the operation or financial condition of any of the Brand Restaurant Businesses or any of the Restaurants.

 

8.                                     RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING

 

8.1                             Books and Records.  Licensee shall maintain, in a form suitable for prompt audit or review by Licensor, complete and accurate books of account and records regarding the operation of the Brand Restaurant Businesses and shall cause all of the Sublicensees to do the same with respect to all Restaurants operated by them.  Such books and records shall conform to the requirements, and shall be maintained for the period, set forth in the Brand Standards.

 

8.2                             Reports.  In addition to any other reports required under this Agreement, Licensee shall submit to Licensor or its representatives, at Licensee’s expense, all reports (including reports of Gross Revenue and information reasonably deemed necessary by Licensor to determine the success of the Brand Restaurant Businesses or Licensee’s marketing efforts, such as total Restaurant development or customer or transaction counts for the Restaurants) and financial information required by the Brand Standards, at the time and in the form and manner set forth in the Brand Standards. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (a) Licensee acknowledges that Yum’s securities are publicly owned and, accordingly, that Licensor and Yum may disclose the information included in any report or information (or otherwise obtained by Licensor in connection herewith) required by Applicable Law or the rules of any applicable stock exchange and (b) Licensee agrees that Licensor may use any such information for any valid business purpose, subject to the provisions of Article 9 and the foregoing clause (a).

 

8.3                             Audits.  Upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, Licensor or its representatives may conduct an audit or review (and may make copies) of the books and records of the Brand Restaurant Businesses and of any Restaurant. Licensee shall cooperate, and shall require the Sublicensees to cooperate, fully with Licensor in any such audit or review, including reasonable sharing of translation costs.  If an audit or review reveals that Licensee has understated Gross Revenue, then Licensee shall pay Licensor any amount due on the understated Gross Revenue, plus interest at the rate set forth in Section 3.4.1 on any overdue amount from the date payment was due until paid in full.  In addition, if an audit or review reveals that Gross Revenue was understated by two percent (2%) or more, then Licensee shall reimburse Licensor for all costs and expenses incurred by Licensor in connection with the audit or review, including a reasonable allocation for any use of Licensor’s internal audit resources.  Licensor’s receipt and acceptance of any financial statement or report furnished and/or any royalties paid

 

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by Licensee shall not preclude Licensor from questioning the correctness thereof at any time.  The remedies in this Section 8.3 shall be in addition to any other remedies available to Licensor under this Agreement or Applicable Laws.

 

9.                                     CONFIDENTIALITY

 

9.1                             Restrictions on Use of Confidential Information.  Each Party acknowledges that the unauthorized use, publication or disclosure of the other Party’s Confidential Information may cause incalculable and irreparable injury to the other Party. Accordingly, each Party agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep the other Party’s Confidential Information confidential and (except as authorized by this Agreement) not to, directly or indirectly, at any time during or after the Term publish, disclose, use or permit the use of (other than as contemplated in this Agreement) the other Party’s Confidential Information, in whole or in part, or otherwise make the other Party’s Confidential Information available to any unauthorized person without the other Party’s prior written consent, which may be granted or withheld by such other Party in its sole and absolute discretion. Disclosure of Confidential Information in response to a valid order by a court or Governmental Authority which seeks to compel the production of Confidential Information, or as otherwise required by Applicable Law or the rules of any internationally recognized stock exchange on which the securities of Yum or SpinCo are traded, shall not be a breach of this Agreement or a waiver of confidentiality for other purposes; provided, that the Party required to make any such disclosure shall provide prompt written notice to the other Party to enable the other Party to seek a protective order or otherwise prevent such disclosure.

 

9.1.1                   Each Party shall grant its employees and representatives access to the other Party’s Confidential Information only to the extent such employees and representatives need-to-know the Confidential Information in order to discharge the Party’s obligations or exercise the Party’s rights under this Agreement, and shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, prohibit its employees and representatives from communicating, divulging, or using the other Party’s Confidential Information, except as may be required by Applicable Law or authorized by this Agreement.

 

9.1.2                   If a Party has any reason to believe that a violation of its confidentiality obligations set forth herein has occurred, that Party shall promptly notify the other Party and shall cooperate, at its expense, with the other Party in any action or proceeding deemed necessary or reasonably advisable by the other Party to protect itself against infringement or other unlawful use, including the prosecution of any lawsuit.

 

10.                              NON-COMPETITION

 

10.1                      In-Term Exclusive Relationship. Licensee acknowledges that Licensor has entered into this Agreement in consideration of and in reliance upon Licensee’s agreement to deal exclusively with Licensor during the Term in connection with the offer and sale of the categories of food products represented by the Brands.  Licensee therefore agrees that, without Licensor’s prior written consent, during the Term Licensee shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, Engage in any Competing Business located or operating anywhere within (i) the Territory, or (ii) any other country, province, state or other geographic area in which Licensor or any of its Affiliates (a) have used or registered any of the Brand Trademarks (or similar trademarks) or (b) operate or license others to operate under the Brand Trademarks (or similar trademarks).

 

10.2                      Post-Term Restriction on Competition. In order to protect the goodwill and other business interests of Licensor and its Affiliates, Licensee also agrees that for a period of twelve (12) months following the expiration, termination or transfer of this Agreement, and for a period of twelve (12)

 

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months following the expiration, termination or transfer by Licensee of any interest herein (including any Brand license granted hereunder), Licensee shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, Engage in any Competing Business located or operating anywhere within (i) the Territory, or (ii) within a ten (10) mile radius of any Restaurant operating under any Brand (in the case of expiration, termination or transfer of this Agreement) or the applicable Brand (in the case of expiration, termination or transfer of an interest herein) in existence at the time of such expiration, termination, or transfer.

 

10.3                      Ancillary Agreements. Licensee further agrees that:

 

10.3.1            The covenants in Sections 10.1 and 10.2 contain reasonable limitations as to time, geographical area, and scope of activity to be restrained and do not impose a greater restraint than is necessary to protect the goodwill or other business interests of Licensor and its Affiliates.

 

10.3.2            The covenants in Sections 10.1 and 10.2 will be construed as independent of any other covenant or provision of this Agreement and the existence of any claims Licensee may have against Licensor or any of its Affiliates, whether or not arising from this Agreement, will not constitute a defense to the enforcement by Licensor of such covenants.

 

10.3.3            If all or any portion of a covenant in Section 10.1 or Section 10.2 is held unreasonable or unenforceable by a court, arbitrator or agency having valid jurisdiction in an unappealed final decision to which Licensor is a party, (a) Licensee and Licensee’s Affiliates shall be bound by any lesser covenant (including any lesser time period) subsumed within the terms of such covenant that imposes the maximum duty permitted by Applicable Laws, as if the resulting covenant were separately stated in and made a part of this Agreement, and (b) such decision shall not affect the application of the covenants in any jurisdiction to which such decision does not expressly apply. In addition, Licensor has the right, in Licensor’s sole discretion, to reduce the scope of any obligation set forth in Section 10.1 or Section 10.2 without Licensee’s consent, effective immediately upon notice to Licensee and Licensee shall comply, and shall cause Licensee’s Affiliates to comply, with any obligations as so modified.

 

11.                              INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

 

11.1                      Indemnity.  Licensee shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Licensor, its Affiliates (including the Brand Owners), their respective officers, directors, owners, employees, agents, successors, and assigns, and each of them, in their corporate and individual capacities (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from any and all losses, expenses, liabilities and damages any of them may suffer or incur, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, as a result of claims, demands, costs, awards or judgments of any kind or nature, by anyone whomever, and regardless of cause or any concurrent or contributing fault or negligence of  any Indemnitee, arising out of or otherwise connected with:  (i) any of the Sublicenses; (ii) the ownership, development, construction, maintenance, operation or promotion of Restaurants or the Brand Restaurant Businesses in the Territory; (iii) any act of omission or commission by YumChina, Licensee, any of Licensee’s Affiliates, any of the Sublicensees, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, or agents before and after the Effective Date, including any act of omission or commission in connection with the ownership, maintenance, administration, protection and enforcement of the Brand System IP or intellectual property of any kind developed by Licensee or any of its Affiliates or any of the Sublicensees in the Territory on behalf of Licensee, Licensor or any of their respective Affiliates (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such act of omission or commission shall include any act of omission or commission relating to Licensee’s obligation to promptly cause its Affiliates and the Sublicensees and, to the extent commercially reasonable, its contractors and other third parties, to do all acts and execute and deliver to Licensor any and all such documentation required in order to evidence, secure or perfect the vesting in Licensor of all rights, title and interest in and to the Brand System IP or

 

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Future Core IP pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.1.3); (iv) any demands or claims by third parties with respect to the use, licensing or sublicensing of the Brand System IP in the Territory, whether such demands or claims relate to the use, licensing or sublicensing of such Brand System IP before or after the Effective Date, excluding demands or claims arising out of or connected with Licensor’s acts or omissions pursuant to Sections 4.3.1 and 4.5 with respect to Brand Trademarks that include a Brand Name; and (v) any breach of any representation or warranty by Licensee under this Agreement.  Licensee’s obligation to indemnify and the right of the Indemnitees to indemnification under this Section 11.1 shall survive the assignment, transfer, termination or expiration of this Agreement or any interest herein.

 

11.1.1            Licensee shall promptly undertake the defense of any legal action related to any of the matters described in Section 11.1, and shall retain, and notify Licensor not less than forty-eight (48) hours prior to retaining, reputable, competent and experienced counsel to represent the interests of any Indemnitee. Licensor shall have the right to approve any counsel engaged to represent the interests of any Indemnitee but shall not unreasonably withhold or condition that approval.  If Licensee or any of its Affiliates and the Indemnitees (or any one of them) are named as co-defendants, and there is a conflict of interest between them such that they cannot be represented by common counsel, then the Indemnitees may retain separate counsel at Licensee’s expense and Licensee shall promptly reimburse the Indemnitees for all costs and attorneys’ fees incurred upon request and as they are incurred. The Indemnitees also shall have the right to obtain separate counsel at their own expense, and shall have the right to participate in the defense of the action and any discussions regarding compromise or settlement.  No Indemnitee shall be required to seek recovery from any litigant or any other third party to recover its indemnified losses, expenses and other amounts.

 

11.1.2            Licensee shall not settle or compromise any legal action in which Licensor or any other Indemnitee is a defendant without the prior written consent of Licensor, which Licensor may grant or withhold in its sole discretion.

 

11.2                      Insurance.  In addition to the obligations set forth in Section 11.1, at all times during the Term, Licensee shall keep in effect the minimum types and amounts of insurance required by the Brand Standards, all of which shall satisfy the requirements set forth in the Brand Standards.  Licensee shall provide Licensor evidence of such coverage at the times and in the manner set forth in the Brand Standards. Licensee acknowledges that the insurance coverage required by the Brand Standards does not necessarily represent all possible insurable risks or amounts of loss that may arise out of Licensee’s operation of the Brand Restaurant Businesses, and it is Licensee’s responsibility to obtain any other or additional insurance in connection with the operation of the Brand Restaurant Businesses as Licensee determines to be appropriate.

 

12.                              ASSIGNMENT

 

12.1                      By Licensor. Licensor and any of its Affiliates may Transfer to any person or entity, without Licensee’s consent: (i) this Agreement, (ii) all or any part of Licensor’s rights or obligations under this Agreement (including any Brand license granted hereunder), and (iii) with respect to any or all of the Brands, their rights in and to the assets of the Brand(s), including any Brand System IP and/or Brand Business IP; provided, that in all cases Licensee’s rights and obligations as set forth in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect following any such Transfer and, as necessary, will be evidenced by a separate agreement on the same terms and conditions as are in this Agreement.  Without limiting the foregoing, Licensor and any of its Affiliates may offer their securities privately or publicly; may merge with and acquire, or be acquired by, other persons or entities; and may undertake refinancings, recapitalizations, leveraged buyouts or other economic or financial restructurings. The transferee or

 

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assignee shall be solely responsible for the obligations of Licensor arising after the effective date of any such Transfer and Licensor shall be released from any obligations under this Agreement related to the subject of the Transfer that accrue after such date. Licensee agrees promptly to execute any documents reasonably required in connection with any such Transfer. Licensor shall provide advance written notice to Licensee of any such Transfer, as and when such notice is permitted under any applicable legal and contractual restrictions by which Licensor may be bound and, to the extent reasonably possible and permitted by Applicable Laws and any binding commitments imposed by the proposed acquirer, will consult with Licensee in advance regarding any proposed Transfer of any of the Brands if the acquirer is a Competing Business as to the Brand which is the subject of the Transfer.

 

12.2                      By Licensee. Except for Licensee’s right to sublicense the use of the Brand System IP to Sublicensees in accordance with this Agreement, Licensee shall not Transfer any interest in, or rights or obligations under, this Agreement or any Sublicense without Licensor’s prior written consent, nor shall Licensee Transfer to any Competitor any Future Brand Business IP used solely in the development or operation of the Restaurants. Licensor may impose any reasonable condition to the granting of its consent to such a Transfer, and in no event shall Licensor be required to consent to such a Transfer if such conditions are not met. Licensee shall notify Licensor in writing prior to any proposed Transfer of any interest in, or rights or obligations under, this Agreement or any Sublicense and shall provide such information related thereto as Licensor may require. Any such purported Transfer occurring by operation of law or otherwise without Licensor’s prior written consent shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement. Any consent by Licensor to such a Transfer shall be without prejudice to Licensor’s rights against Licensee, or to any right or remedy to which Licensor is entitled by reason of any breach or default that occurred before the Transfer. Without limiting the foregoing, it is expressly agreed that Licensor’s consent to such a Transfer shall not waive (i) any payment or other obligation owed by Licensee to Licensor under this Agreement before the Transfer; or (ii) Licensee’s duty of indemnification and defense as set forth in Section 11.1, whether before or after such Transfer; or (iii) Licensee’s obligation to obtain Licensor’s consent to any subsequent Transfer.

 

13.                              TERM AND RENEWAL

 

13.1                       Initial Term.  This Agreement and each Brand license granted hereunder will become effective on the Effective Date, and, unless sooner terminated as provided in this Agreement, will expire on the fiftieth (50th) anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”).

 

13.2.                    Renewal. Following the expiration of the Initial Term and each subsequent Renewal Term and provided that Licensee is then in Good Standing, this Agreement and each Brand license granted hereunder shall automatically be renewed for additional consecutive successive renewal terms of fifty (50) years each (each, a “Renewal Term”), unless Licensee gives written notice of its intent not to renew not less than thirty-six (36) months or more than sixty (60) months before the end of the then-current Term.

 

14.                              BREACH

 

14.1                       Breach of Agreement. A material breach shall be, as determined by Licensor, in its sole discretion, any failure by Licensee to comply with any term or condition in this Agreement where, due to such failure, there is an actual, likely or imminent and material harm to any of the Brands, the Brand System IP or the financial or other material benefits or rights of Licensor hereunder.  For purposes of clarity, a material breach shall include, though shall not be limited to, any of the events listed in Sections 14.1.1 through 14.1.6.   Upon the occurrence of a material breach by Licensee under this Agreement, Licensor may issue to Licensee a written notice of breach identifying the then-known circumstances giving rise to the breach.  To the extent that Licensor determines in its sole discretion that the applicable

 

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breach is curable (i.e., capable of correction within the time periods set forth in this Agreement or the relevant notice of breach), then Licensor shall provide Licensee an opportunity to cure.  Breaches referred to in Sections 14.1.1 through 14.1.4 are non-curable.  Breaches referred to in Section 14.1.5 may be curable or non-curable as determined by Licensor depending on the circumstances.  The following events shall be deemed a material breach:

 

14.1.1                                     Dissolution or Liquidation. If either Licensee or SpinCo is dissolved or liquidated.

 

14.1.2                                     Insolvency and Bankruptcy. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, if either Licensee or SpinCo becomes insolvent, generally does not pay its debts as they become due, or files a voluntary petition (or consents to an involuntary petition or an involuntary petition is filed and is not dismissed within sixty (60) days) under any bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar law, and Licensee cannot prove that such bankruptcy or insolvency has no material adverse effect on Licensee’s operation of the Brand Restaurant Businesses or Licensor or any of Licensor’s Affiliates or any of the Sublicensees.

 

14.1.3                                     Unauthorized Assignment. If there is a breach of Section 12.2.

 

14.1.4                                     Change of Control.  If Licensee or SpinCo permits or undergoes a Change of Control of Licensee or SpinCo.

 

14.1.5                                     Breaches That May be Curable or Non-Curable.  Licensor may determine in its sole discretion that any breach in Sections 14.1.5.A. though G. is curable or non-curable.

 

A.               Criminal Conviction/Adverse Publicity. If Licensee or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective principal officers is convicted of a felony or other similar crime or offense or engages in a pattern or practice of acts or conduct that, as a result of the attendant adverse publicity, is likely to have or has had a material adverse effect on the Restaurants, any of the Brand Restaurant Businesses, any of the Brand System IP, including any of the Brand Trademarks, or the reputation of any of the Brands, Licensor or any of the Brand Owners;

 

B.          Unauthorized Disclosure of Confidential Information; Violation of Non-Compete. If Licensee or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, or agent of Licensee or any of its Affiliates, discloses, or causes or fails to exercise commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the disclosure of, or otherwise uses in an unauthorized manner, any Confidential Information in breach of this Agreement, or if Licensee or any Affiliate of Licensee breaches any covenant against competition set forth in Section 10.1;

 

C.          Failure to Comply with Brand Standards or Enforce the Sublicenses. Without limiting Licensor’s rights under Section 14.1.5.E., if Licensee or any of the Sublicensees fails to comply with any of the Brand Standards or if Licensee fails to enforce any of the Sublicenses and such failure has, or is reasonably expected to have, a material adverse effect on any of the Brand Restaurant Businesses, any of the Brand Trademarks or other Brand System IP, or the reputation of the Brands, Licensor or any of the Brand Owners;

 

D.          Loss of Rights in Brand System IP. If Licensee, directly or through the Sublicensees, takes any action that causes, or fails to take any action and such failure causes, or in either case is reasonably likely to cause, in whole or in part, the loss, or imminent loss, of a Brand Owner’s ownership rights in all or any part of the Brand System IP that is material to the conduct of the Brand Restaurant Businesses or the operation of the Restaurants

 

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(including any Brand Trademark that includes a Brand Name) and which Licensor has not approved in writing;

 

E.           Threat or Danger to Public Health or Safety. If Licensee or any of the Sublicensees fails to adhere to the Brand Standards, Applicable Laws, or other generally accepted public health and safety standards, and such failure causes, or is reasonably likely to cause, in whole or in part, a threat or danger, or imminent threat or danger, to public health or safety, then, in addition to Licensor’s rights as set forth in this Section 14 and without prejudice to the remedies set forth in Section 15, in the event of such breach and upon written notice from Licensor, which Licensor may give Licensee in its sole discretion, Licensee shall, and shall cause the Sublicensees to, immediately close any affected Restaurant(s), and shall not reopen, or permit the Sublicensees to reopen, such Restaurant(s) until the threat or danger is remedied.  The Parties agree that operation of the Restaurants and the Brand Restaurant Businesses without endangering the public health or safety is the sole responsibility of Licensee. Licensor does not assume and shall not have any responsibility or obligation therefor by reserving or exercising the rights granted to Licensor hereunder;

 

F.            Failure to Meet Sales Growth Metric.  If, consistent with Section 2.1.3, two (2) consecutive SGM Breaches occur (in which case, the Parties rights and remedies shall be subject to the terms set forth in Section 2.1.3); and

 

G.          Failure to Meet the Taco Bell Brand Development Initiative. If Licensee fails to comply with the Taco Bell Brand Development Initiative (in which case, Licensor’s remedy shall be limited to that set forth in Exhibit A-1).

 

14.1.6           Financial Breach.

 

A.        Failure to Pay Amounts Owed.  If Licensee or any of its Affiliates fails to pay any amounts due under this Agreement to Licensor or any of its Affiliates in whole or in part and when such payment becomes due and payable (“Payment Default”), then Licensor may issue a notice of breach to Licensee with respect to such Payment Default.  Licensee shall have twenty (20) Business Days following notice of breach to cure the failure to pay.

 

B.         Chronic Late Payment or Underpayment.  Without limiting Licensor’s other remedies hereunder for any Payment Default, (a) if Licensee fails to make any payment when required under this Agreement (including any applicable Grace Period) (“Late Payment”) (excluding any Late Payment attributable solely to the application of Chinese foreign exchange controls outside Licensee’s control) on three (3) or more occasions during any twenty-four (24) month period, or (b) if any payment made is less than 90% of the amount due (“Underpayment”) on more than one occasion during any twenty-four (24) month period and Licensee fails to comply with Section 14.1.6.C., Licensor may:

 

(i)                                  Exercise any of the remedies set forth in Section 15 in its sole discretion, including terminating this Agreement and all rights granted to Licensee hereunder immediately upon notice to Licensee, regardless of whether Licensee cured the relevant Late Payments or Underpayment.  Should Licensor elect to terminate this Agreement as a result of a Payment Default, all amounts payable under this Agreement then owed and outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by Licensee; or

 

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(ii)                               Upon written notice to Licensee, require Licensee to establish and provide to Licensor an irrevocable standby letter of credit in favor of Licensor and in the form required by Licensor (the “Letter of Credit”) from a financial institution accepted and approved by Licensor in its sole discretion (“Bank”) in the minimum amount of projected fees due and owing for the upcoming twenty-four (24) months (the “Secured Amount”).  Evidence of the establishment of the Letter of Credit must be provided to Licensor within ten (10) days following the date of Licensor’s written notice to Licensee of the requirement to obtain the Letter of Credit.  The term of the Letter of Credit shall be for a period of five (5) years, unless Licensor otherwise agrees in writing to a shorter term, subject to Licensor’s right to require an extension of such term in its reasonable discretion.  Licensor shall be permitted to draw upon the Letter of Credit at any time and from time to time during the Term in the event of a Payment Default lasting ten (10) Business Days after Licensor issues a demand for payment to Licensee and by Licensor submitting to the Bank a dated statement signed by a duly authorized representative or officer of Licensor certifying that Licensee is in default of its payment obligations to Licensor under this Agreement in the amount then-owed as of the date of such statement.  In the event the Letter of Credit is ever drawn upon by Licensor, Licensee shall replenish the amount of such Letter of Credit immediately, so that amount of the Letter of Credit is at all times no less than the Secured Amount.

 

C.        Good Faith Disputes Regarding Amounts Due.  If Licensee, in good faith, disputes any amounts due and payable to Licensor or any of its Affiliates then, on the due date, Licensee shall (i) pay the entire amount owed to Licensor or its Affiliate (without regard to such dispute), and (ii) submit to Licensor a written statement identifying in reasonable detail the basis for the dispute (“Payment Dispute Notice”). If it is finally determined in accordance with this Section 14.1.6.C. and Section 17.3. that Licensee is entitled to all or any portion of the disputed amount, Licensor shall refund such amount within ten (10) Business Days following such final determination. The Parties shall promptly attempt to resolve the dispute and failing resolution within thirty (30) days following the earlier of Licensee’s Payment Dispute Notice or Licensor’s notice of breach, either Party may submit the dispute directly to arbitration pursuant to Section 17.3; provided, that the arbitration shall be limited to a determination of whether the disputed amount is owed, and the arbitration panel shall consist of one (1) accounting professional designated by Licensor, one (1) accounting professional designated by Licensee, and one (1) arbitrator experienced in resolving payment disputes that is appointed by CPR.  If the arbitration panel determines that any or all of the disputed amount is owed to Licensor or any of its Affiliates, then Licensee shall pay the disputed amount determined to be owed, to the extent not previously paid to Licensor (and any past due interest owed thereon) within ten (10) Business Days following the panel’s determination and Licensor shall retain any such disputed amount previously paid to it. If the disputed amount previously paid by Licensee to Licensor exceeds the amount determined by the arbitration panel to be owed to Licensor, such excess shall be repaid by Licensor to Licensee.  If the arbitration panel determines that none of the disputed amount is owed to Licensor or its Affiliates, then Licensee shall not be required to pay the disputed amount and the disputed amount previously paid by Licensee to Licensor shall be repaid by Licensor to Licensee.  If Licensee fails to cure a Payment Default, Licensor may exercise any of the remedies set forth in Section 15.

 

14.2                      Licensee’s Right to Request Early Termination of Brand License.  Licensee may request an early termination of the license for a particular Brand if Gross Revenue for that Brand has declined for each year during any five (5) consecutive year period during the Term, and Licensee can demonstrate with evidence satisfactory to Licensor that such decline was proximately caused by Licensor’s willful

 

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failure to maintain that Brand outside of the Territory, which willful failure results in material, irreparable damage to that Brand in the Territory, or was proximately caused by a materially adverse change in the Applicable Laws.  Licensee must make such request for early termination and provide such evidence in writing to Licensor within ninety (90) days following any such five (5) consecutive year period of Gross Sales declines for the affected Brand.  Licensor shall consider this request for early termination in good faith.  Any early termination pursuant this Section 14.2 shall be subject to Licensee’s obligations under Section 16.1.1 through Section 16.1.6.

 

15.                              ADDITIONAL REMEDIES

 

15.1                       Acknowledgments Regarding Breach, Default, and Remedies Provisions. The Parties acknowledge the importance of the relationship between Licensor and Licensee and the difficulties and complexities associated with unwinding that relationship in the event this Agreement should be terminated. In recognition of the foregoing, the Parties further acknowledge and agree that the provisions related to breaches, defaults and remedies under this Agreement, including Sections 14 and 15, were written in a manner intended to both protect Licensor’s interests in the Brands and the Brand System IP and to preserve the relationship between Licensor and Licensee for the Term, by, among other things, affording Licensor a variety of remedies commensurate with the nature, scope, and severity of a particular breach or default and permitting Licensor to elect alternative remedies to termination in the event of a breach or default by Licensee.  However, the Parties expressly acknowledge and agree that certain breaches and defaults may be so severe that Licensor has no reasonable alternative other than to terminate the entire relationship between the Parties, and that it is the Parties’ express intent that Licensor be afforded such discretion.

 

15.2                       Defaults.  Licensor shall be entitled to give notice of default to Licensee, which shall give rise to the remedies set forth in this Section 15, upon the occurrence of any of the following: (i) any breach by Licensee listed in Sections 14.1.1 through 14.1.4 (as such events are non-curable by their nature); (ii) Licensee’s failure to cure a material breach within the cure period as set forth in the notice of breach; or (iii) Licensor’s determination, prior to the expiration of the applicable cure period, that there exists reasonable evidence that Licensee does not intend to cure, or is unable to cure, the material breach identified in the notice of breach.  Any notice of breach with respect to a curable breach shall set forth an applicable cure period that is reasonably tailored to the applicable breach, provided that the cure period for any SGM Breach shall be at least one (1) year) and in the event that a notice of breach fails to specify a cure period, then the cure period shall be thirty (30) days unless otherwise set forth in this Agreement (for example, as in Section 14.1.6 pertaining to Payment Defaults).

 

15.3                       Brand Specific Enforcement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary and for the avoidance of doubt, Licensor may exercise the rights set forth in Section 14.1 and the remedies set forth in this Section 15 as to one or more, but fewer than all, of the Brand licenses. This includes, without limitation and for illustration purposes only, the right of Licensor to terminate Licensee’s right to operate a particular Brand Restaurant Business for a single Brand, in which event, Licensee would be permitted and required, following the termination, to continue operating the Brand Restaurant Business(es) for the remaining Brand(s) in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  Licensee expressly acknowledges and agrees that Licensee’s obligation to pay the royalty fees and other amounts due for the remaining Brand(s) under this Agreement shall not be relieved, limited, or otherwise modified as a result of the expiration and non-renewal or termination of one or more, but fewer than all, of the Brand licenses.

 

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15.4                      Available Remedies. Upon Licensor giving Licensee a notice of default under Section 15.2, Licensor may, in its sole discretion, terminate this Agreement and all rights granted to Licensee hereunder immediately upon notice to Licensee. Licensor may also, in its sole discretion, exercise any one or more of the following additional remedies:

 

15.4.1           Institute any and all proceedings permitted by Applicable Laws or in equity with respect to such default, including actions for injunctive and/or declaratory relief (including specific performance) and/or damages;

 

15.4.2            Suspend or limit Licensee’s rights to develop any Restaurant or grant any Sublicenses as determined by Licensor its sole discretion until the default is cured;

 

15.4.3            Prohibit any Restaurant from opening or operating until the default is cured;

 

15.4.4            Eliminate or modify the exclusivity granted in Section 2.2 and immediately conduct and further develop the Brand Restaurant Businesses in the Territory or license one or more third parties to do so;

 

15.4.5            (i) Purchase from Licensee and its Affiliates (which purchase right shall be transferable) the Brand Restaurant Businesses, or any of them, at fair market value, less any damages to Licensor and its Affiliates resulting from Licensee’s default and (ii) in connection with such purchase, at Licensor’s option and for no additional consideration, require the assignment by Licensee to Licensor (or its designee) of all rights of Licensee under any or all Sublicenses then in effect, in which case Licensor (or its designee) shall assume all obligations of Licensee arising thereunder after such assignment and Licensee shall promptly terminate and enforce the termination of all Sublicenses which Licensor elects not to acquire (collectively, the “Licensor Purchase Right”).  Licensor and Licensee will attempt in good faith to agree on the purchase price under subsection 15.4.5(i) and terms and procedures for the exercise of Licensor’s rights hereunder, but if they are unable to agree within a reasonable period of time (not to exceed sixty (60) days), the purchase price, terms and procedures will be determined in accordance with Exhibit D.  Licensee shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, effect the transfers and assignments contemplated by this Section 15.4.5 upon such date as Licensor determines, including executing such further documents as may be required; and

 

15.4.6            Submit the matter directly to arbitration in accordance with Section 17.3 for the sole purpose of determining the amount of damages or other relief to which Licensor is entitled as a result of the default.

 

15.5                      Remedies Cumulative.  In addition to the remedies set forth in this Agreement, the Parties may pursue whatever other remedies are available at law or in equity, and all remedies provided under this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of other remedies, unless otherwise expressly stated.

 

16.                              POST-TERM OBLIGATIONS

 

16.1                      Obligations Following Expiration or Termination. Licensee shall comply, and shall cause any Sublicensee as to which Licensor (or its designees) does not assume the Sublicense under Section 15.4.5(ii) to comply, with the following provisions upon the expiration and non-renewal or termination of this Agreement or of any Brand license granted hereunder. If one or more (but fewer than all) of the Brand licenses expire without renewal or are terminated, the provisions set forth below will apply only with respect to those Brands as to which licenses have expired or been terminated.

 

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16.1.1             Licensee’s right to use and sublicense the use of the Brand System IP shall end and Licensee shall (and shall cause the Sublicensees as to which Licensor does not exercise its subrogation rights to) immediately cease all use of the Brand System IP, including the Brand Trademarks.

 

16.1.2             Licensee shall promptly pay to Licensor all fees and other amounts due under this Agreement.

 

16.1.3             Licensee shall (and shall cause the Sublicensees as to which Licensor (or its designees) does not assume the Sublicense under 15.4.5(ii) to) cease representing itself as a licensee of Licensor and shall promptly cancel all trade name or other registrations relating to its use of any Brand Trademark, and shall notify all third parties (including Internet domain name authorities and directory publishers) of the termination or expiration of Licensee’s right to use any listing, Internet domain name, uniform resource locator, website name, electronic mail address, and search engine metatags and keywords associated with the Brand(s), and shall authorize the transfer of the same to Licensor or its designee.

 

16.1.4             Licensee, at its sole expense, shall (and shall cause the Sublicensees as to which Licensor does not exercise its subrogation rights to) immediately return to Licensor any and all written materials incorporating Licensor’s Confidential Information or shall dispose of such materials as directed by Licensor.

 

16.1.5             Licensee shall comply with its confidentiality and other obligations under Section 9, its post-term non-competition obligations under Section 10.2 and all other obligations under this Agreement that expressly or by their nature survive expiration or termination.

 

16.1.6             Licensee and its Affiliates shall not be entitled to receive any compensation or payment from Licensor as a result of the termination or expiration of this Agreement, whether for actual, consequential, indirect, special, incidental or other damages, costs or expenses, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable (including loss of profits, investments or goodwill), any right to which Licensee hereby waives and disclaims. Licensee recognizes that any enhancement of the Brand goodwill or customer base will be primarily attributable to the Brand Trademarks and other Brand System IP and that Licensee has no right to compensation for any contribution it may have made to any such enhancement of goodwill or customer base. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall require Licensee to waive or disclaim any claim which it may have that is derived from a prior breach of this Agreement.

 

16.1.7             Licensor may exercise the Licensor Purchase Right.

 

17.                              DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

17.1                      Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be interpreted and construed under the laws of  the United States of America and the State of Texas, U.S.A. (without regard to, and without giving effect to, their conflict of laws rules).

 

17.2                      Pre-Arbitration Dispute Resolution.  Subject to Section 14.1.6.C.,

 

17.2.1  Prior to submitting any dispute under this Agreement (with the exception of any disputes concerning breaches which Licensor has determined not to be curable) to mediation, arbitration or any court or other tribunal, a Party shall provide written notice of the dispute to the other Party.  Upon

 

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such notice appropriate executives of Licensee and Licensor who have authority to resolve the dispute will meet either in person or by video conference or similar means and shall discuss and use good faith efforts to resolve the dispute. If the dispute cannot be resolved within thirty (30) days of such notice, then the Parties shall submit the claim for resolution to non-binding mediation in accordance with Section 17.2.2.

 

17.2.2  If the Parties are unable to resolve a dispute under this Agreement in accordance with Section 17.2.1, the Parties agree to submit the dispute (with the exception of any disputes concerning breaches which Licensor has determined not to be curable) to non-binding mediation before bringing such dispute to arbitration in accordance with Section 17.3.  The Parties shall select a mediator within twenty (20) days of the date the dispute is submitted to mediation by either Party.  The mediation shall be conducted in English by a mediator mutually and jointly approved by both Parties, and failing agreement of the Parties within the twenty (20) day period, by a mediator appointed by the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (“CPR”) in accordance with its mediation rules. The mediation shall be conducted at a location mutually and jointly selected by both Parties within ten (10) days following the date on which the mediator is appointed, and failing agreement of the Parties within such time period, then the mediation will be held in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.  The costs and expenses of any such mediation, including compensation and expenses of the mediator (and except for the lawyers’ fees incurred by either Party), shall be borne by both Parties equally.

 

17.3                       Arbitration.  If the Parties are unable to resolve a dispute under this Agreement by mediation in accordance with Section 17.2.2, then such dispute and any other controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach hereof, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, shall, upon written request of either Party (the “Arbitration Request”), be determined by arbitration administered by CPR in accordance with the CPR Rules for Administered Arbitration (“Administered Rules”). Subject to Section 14.1.6.C, details of the arbitration are as follows:

 

17.3.1             There shall be three (3) arbitrators.  The panel of three (3) arbitrators will be chosen as follows:  (i) within fifteen (15) days from the date of the receipt of the Arbitration Request, each Party will name an arbitrator; and (ii) the two (2) Party-appointed arbitrators will thereafter name a third, independent arbitrator who will act as chairperson of the arbitral tribunal.  In the event that either Party fails to name an arbitrator within fifteen (15) days following the date of receipt of the Arbitration Request, then upon written application by either Party, that arbitrator shall be appointed pursuant to the Administered Rules.  In the event that, within thirty (30) days from the date on which the second of the two (2) arbitrators was named, the two (2) Party-appointed arbitrators fail to appoint the third, then the third arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to the Administered Rules.

 

17.3.2             The arbitration shall be conducted in English.  Any document that a Party seeks to use that is not in English shall be provided along with an English translation.

 

17.3.3             The place of arbitration shall be Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

 

17.3.4             The arbitrators shall establish procedures under which each Party will be entitled to conduct discovery.

 

17.3.5             The arbitrators shall award to the substantially prevailing party (as determined by the arbitrators) the costs and expenses of the proceeding, including reasonable attorneys’ and experts’ fees.

 

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17.3.6             The arbitrators will issue a reasoned award.

 

17.3.7             Notwithstanding any language herein to the contrary, the Parties agree that the award rendered by the arbitrators (the “Original Award”) may be appealed under the CPR Arbitration Appeal Procedure (“Appeal Procedure”).  Appeals must be initiated within thirty (30) days of receipt of an Original Award, in accordance with Rule 2 of the Appeal Procedure, by filing a written notice with CPR.  The Original Award shall not be considered final until after the expiration of the time for filing the notice of appeal pursuant to the Appeal Procedure.  Following the appeal process,  either (i) the Original Award, if no changes have been made by the appellate Tribunal, or (ii) the appellate award, if the Original Award has been changed by the appellate tribunal, may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.  Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the appeal shall be conducted at the place of the original arbitration.

 

17.3.8             Any award rendered by the arbitrators that is not appealed in accordance with the foregoing provisions or that is not modified by the appeal tribunal, and any award as modified or established by the appeal tribunal, shall be final and judgment may be entered thereon in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

 

17.3.9             Each Party retains the right to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for provisional and/or conservatory relief, including prearbitral attachments or injunctions, and any such request shall not be deemed incompatible with the agreement to arbitrate or a waiver of the right to arbitrate.  In any action or arbitration, the Party who is aggrieved by any actual or threatened breach of this Agreement shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies, and the Parties agree the monetary damages are inadequate compensation for any loss.

 

17.3.10      The existence and content of the arbitral proceedings and any rulings or award shall be kept confidential by the Parties and members of the arbitral tribunal except (i) to the extent that disclosure may be required of a Party to comply with Applicable Laws or the rules of any applicable stock exchange, protect or pursue a contractual right or perform a contractual obligation, or enforce or challenge an award in bona fide legal proceedings before a court or other judicial authority, (ii) with the consent of all Parties, (iii) where needed for the preparation or presentation of a claim or defense in arbitration, (iv) where such information is already in the public domain other than as a result of a breach of this Section, or (v) by order of the arbitral tribunal upon application of a Party.

 

17.4                      Limitations Period.  Any claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by the statute of limitations under the governing law set forth in Section 17.1.

 

17.6                      Enforcement Costs.  Each Party shall bear its own legal costs (including attorneys’ and experts’ fees, and all other expenses) incurred in enforcing this Agreement or in otherwise pursuing, or defending against, a claim, demand, action, or proceeding under or in connection with this Agreement

 

18.                              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

18.1                      By Licensor.  Licensor represents, warrants and covenants that:

 

18.1.1           It has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, to grant the rights granted herein and to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

37

 

18.1.2           Neither its execution of this Agreement nor the performance of its obligations hereunder: (i) violates any provision of Applicable Laws or any judgment, writ, injunction, order, or decree of any court or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or any of its Affiliates; (ii) results in or constitutes a material breach or material default under any indenture, contract, commitment, or restriction to which it or any of its Affiliates is a party or by which it or any of its Affiliates is bound; or (iii) requires any consent, vote, or approval which has not been given or taken.

 

18.2                      By Licensee.  Licensee represents, warrants and covenants that:

 

18.2.1           It has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

18.2.2           Neither its execution of this Agreement nor the performance of its obligations hereunder: (i) violates any provision of Applicable Laws or any judgment, writ, injunction, order, or decree of any court or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or any of its Affiliates; (ii) results in or constitutes a material breach or material default under any indenture, contract, commitment, or restriction to which it or any of its Affiliates is a party or by which it or any of its Affiliates is bound; or (iii) requires any consent, vote, or approval which has not been given or taken.

 

19.                              GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

19.1                      Independent Contractor.  Licensor and Licensee are independent contractors.  Neither Party shall hold itself out as a partner, joint-venturer, affiliate, associate, agent, employee, or legal representative of the other.  Neither Party is authorized (and shall not represent that it has the right) to act for or on behalf of the other, to legally bind the other, or to make any agreement, warranty, covenant, or other representation or create any express or implied obligation on behalf of the other. Without limiting the foregoing, Licensee and the Sublicensees are solely responsible for the hiring, firing, supervision, compensation and training of all employees of the Brand Restaurant Businesses and no employment relationship shall exist between Licensor and any employees of Licensee or any Sublicensee. Licensee and the Sublicensees are solely responsible for collecting and paying when due all applicable employment taxes, workers’ compensation contributions, employment insurance premiums, and all similar taxes and charges arising out of the employment relationship between Licensee or any Sublicensee and its employees.

 

19.2                      Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or by an arbitration panel authorized to make such a determination under Section 17.3 to be void, invalid or unenforceable for any reason, then that provision shall be reformed to the minimum extent required to render it legal, valid, and enforceable and to preserve the Parties’ original intent and the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if reformation is not possible, the void, invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed to be severable and the remainder of this Agreement shall be and remain valid and in full force and effect; provided, that the terms of this Agreement shall be equitably adjusted so as to compensate the appropriate Party for any consideration lost because of the elimination of any such void, invalid or unenforceable provision.  If any provision of this Agreement is susceptible to two or more constructions, one of which would render the provision enforceable and the other or others of which would render the provision unenforceable, then the provision shall be given the meaning that renders it enforceable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any arbitration panel or court or other Governmental Authority determines that one or more provisions is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, and such determination would, in the reasonable opinion of Licensor, frustrate any of the essential purposes of this Agreement as determined by Licensor,

 

38

 

then Licensor may terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice to Licensee.  Without limiting what Licensor may determine to be an essential purpose of this Agreement, each of the following Sections (and any defined term to the extent used in that Section) is agreed to be an essential purpose of this Agreement:  Sections 2.1 (other than 2.1.1), 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 4.1 through 4.6, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 through 6.3, 9, 10, 12.2, 14, 15, 16, and 17.

 

19.3                      Waiver; Consents and Approvals; Discretion. A Party’s waiver of any particular right or breach or default shall not affect or impair that Party’s later exercise of that right or the remedies relating to a breach or default of the same or a different kind, nor shall any delay, forbearance or omission of either Party to exercise any right arising out of this Agreement or any remedies relating to a breach or default, affect or impair that Party’s rights as to the same or any future exercise of that right or breach or default.  A Party’s acceptance of any payment due to it shall not be deemed a waiver of any preceding breach of this Agreement.  Any consent, approval, authorization or waiver granted under this Agreement will be valid only if in writing and signed by the Party to be charged. Licensor makes no warranties or guaranties and assumes no liability or obligation by providing any waiver, approval, or consent under this Agreement, or by reason of any neglect, delay, or denial of any request therefor. Without limitation of the foregoing, Licensor shall have no liability in connection with or related to the products or services offered or sold at and from any of the Restaurants, even if Licensor required, approved or consented to the product or service. Any provision of this Agreement that grants a Party the right to exercise its discretion shall be construed, unless otherwise conditioned or limited, to mean that Party’s sole and absolute discretion.

 

19.4                       Notices and Other Material Communications. Any notice, demand, report or other communication between the Parties with respect to this Agreement or provided for herein must be in writing, in the English language and signed by the Party serving the same and delivered by hand with receipt or by a reputable courier service with tracking capability to the other Party at its address listed on the signature page to this Agreement. Notices will be deemed to have been received if delivered as provided in this Section 19.4. The Party serving the notice shall have the burden of establishing that the notice was received by the other Party, but receipt shall be deemed proven by any third-party carrier’s written verification (including a standard form receipt in paper or electronic form) of its delivery of the notice to the other Party at the address listed on the signature page.  Each Party may change its address by delivering written notice to the other Party identifying the new address.

 

19.5                       Amendments. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement and the Brand licenses granted hereunder may be modified or amended only in writing executed by an authorized representative of each Party.

 

19.6                       Binding Effect. The terms of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each Party and each Party’s permitted successors and assigns.

 

19.7                       Governmental Approvals. If any Governmental Approvals must be obtained to enable the Parties to enter into and perform this Agreement, then Licensee will, at Licensee’s expense and with Licensor’s reasonable assistance (as needed), use its best efforts to obtain any such Governmental Approval, including Government Approvals with respect to the operation of the Brand Restaurant Businesses, payment of amounts required under this Agreement, and the offer and sale of Future Sublicenses.  Neither Party shall apply for any Governmental Approval until the other Party has had an opportunity to review, comment on and consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) to all materials to be filed with any Governmental Authority.  Neither Party shall be obligated to consent to any modification of this Agreement pursuant to or in order to obtain any discretionary Governmental Approval, and the Parties agree that the rights, licenses and privileges granted to Licensee under this Agreement are not meant to be increased or expanded by any Governmental Approval.  If the consequence of any

 

39

 

Governmental Approval is to alter or increase the rights or economic benefits of one Party to the detriment of the other, then the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to amend this Agreement as necessary to restore their respective rights and benefits to the status that existed prior to the implementation of such Governmental Approval.

 

19.8                       Entire Agreement. This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, and information incorporated into this Agreement by reference, collectively constitute the entire agreement between the Parties in respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede all prior understandings or agreements between them in connection with the subject matter of this Agreement.  There are no representations, arrangements, understandings or agreements, oral or written, between the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement except those fully expressed herein and each Party disclaims any reliance on any such representations, arrangements, understandings, or agreements except those expressed herein, and no officer, employee, representative or agent of either Party has been or is authorized to make any representation, warranty, or promise not contained in this Agreement.

 

19.9                       Survival. The limitations and obligations under this Agreement that, expressly or by their terms, extend beyond the transfer, expiration, or termination of this Agreement or any Brand license granted hereunder shall survive that transfer, expiration, or termination, including the obligation to pay all amounts due (including fees and related obligations pursuant to Section 3), and the provisions of Section 9 (confidentiality), Section 10 (non-competition), Section 11.1 (indemnity), Section 14 (breach), Section 15 (additional remedies), Section 16 (post-term obligations), Section 17 (dispute resolution), and Section 19 (general provisions).

 

19.10                Construction.  A reference in this Agreement to “including” (or “include” or like term) will not be construed restrictively but will mean “including (or “include” or like term) without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing” and “including (or “include” or like term) but without limitation”.  The term “shall” is a term of obligation.  References to this Agreement will include any Recitals and Exhibits to it, and references to Sections are (unless otherwise indicated) to the sections of this Agreement.  The headings are for convenience only and will not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires or permits, references to the singular number will include references to the plural number and vice versa; references to a “person” will include any company, limited liability partnership, association, partnership, business trust, unincorporated association or other entity; references to a company will include any company, corporation or any body corporate, wherever incorporated; and words denoting any gender will include all genders.

 

19.11                Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one (1) or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one (1) and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one (1) or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party (it being agreed that delivery of a manual, stamp or mechanical signature, whether in person, by courier, by facsimile or by e-mail in portable document format, shall be effective).

 

19.12                Sublicensees Not Third Party Beneficiaries.  The provisions of this Agreement do not and are not intended to confer upon any Sublicensee any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

40

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Agreement to be effective as of the Effective Date.

 

	
 
    	
LICENSOR:
    
	
 
    	
Yum! Restaurants Asia Pte. Ltd.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Address:
    
	
 
    	
Yum! Restaurants Asia Pte. Ltd.
    
	
 
    	
99 Bukit Timah Road, #06-00
    
	
 
    	
Singapore 229835
    
	
 
    	
Attention:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
LICENSEE:
    
	
 
    	
Yum Restaurants Consulting (Shanghai) Company Limited
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Address:
    
	
 
    	
Yum Restaurants Consulting (Shanghai) Company Limited
    
	
 
    	
16/F Two Grand Gateway, 3 Hongqiao Road
    
	
 
    	
Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China
    
	
 
    	
Attention:
    

 

41

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

BRANDS AND BRAND OWNERS

 

	
Brand
    	
 
    	
Name and Address of
   Brand Owner
    
	
KFC
    	
 
    	
Kentucky Fried Chicken   International Holdings, Inc.
    
	
 
    
	
Pizza Hut

   (including Pizza Hut Dine-In
   and Pizza Hut Home
   Service)
    	
 
    	
Pizza Hut   International, L.L.C.
    
	
 
    
	
Taco Bell
    	
 
    	
Taco Bell Corp.
    

 

 

EXHIBIT A-1 

 

TACO BELL BRAND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

 

The Parties acknowledge and agree that the following provisions regarding the Taco Bell Brand are part of the Master License Agreement (the “Agreement”):

 

1.                                      Notwithstanding anything in the Agreement to the contrary, the license covering the Taco Bell Brand and associated Brand System IP is expressly conditioned on Licensee’s fulfillment of the Taco Bell Brand Development Initiative set forth below:

 

There shall be at least 100 Restaurants open and operating in the Territory under the Taco Bell Brand as of December 31, 2022.

 

2.                                      If Licensee fails to satisfy the Taco Bell Brand Development Initiative set forth in this Exhibit A-1, Licensor may, at its option upon written notice to Licensee, terminate Licensee’s right to enter into new Taco Bell Sublicenses (including new single unit franchise agreements under any then-existing multi-unit development arrangement) and the territorial protections set forth in Section 2.2 of the Agreement with respect to the Taco Bell Brand. However, in such event, Licensee would continue to have the right and obligation to support the Taco Bell Sublicenses in effect as of the effective date of the termination, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and such Sublicenses. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that any multi-unit development rights for Taco Bell Restaurants granted to a Sublicensee shall be expressly contingent upon Licensee’s possession of development rights for Taco Bell Restaurants under the Agreement at the time the Sublicensee seeks to exercise its rights.

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

CATEGORIES AND SOURCES OF BRAND STANDARDS

 

This Exhibit B refers to categories and sources of Brand Standards currently published by Licensor and accessible to Licensee. The Brand Standards may be amended by Licensor from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

·                       Trademark Standards (including Trademark Maintenance and Registration Standards) as set forth in the Brand Standards Manual provided to Licensee by Licensor

·                       Quality Assurance Standards as set forth in the Brand Standards Manual provided to Licensee by Licensor Advertising and Marketing Standards as set forth in the Brand Standards Manual provided to Licensee by Licensor

·                       Asset Standards as set forth in the Brand Standards Manual provided to Licensee by Licensor

·                       Governance Standards as set forth in the Brand Standards Manual provided to Licensee by Licensor

·                       Reports and Financial Information as set forth in the Brand Standards Manual provided to Licensee by Licensor

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

CROSS LICENSED IP

 

	
Trademark
    	
 
    	
Class
    	
 
    	
Registration
   No.
    	
 
    	
Registrant
    	
 
    	
Note
    
	
九珍
    	
 
    	
32
    	
 
    	
4417760
    	
 
    	
Kentucky Fried Chicken International   Holdings, Inc.
    	
 
    	
This mark has been licensed to East Dawning and   Little Sheep. It is subject to the three-year remaining use period.
    
	
安心
    	
 
    	
30
    	
 
    	
6444522
    	
 
    	
Yum! Restaurants Asia Pte Ltd
    	
 
    	
This mark has been licensed to KFC China. It has   just been assigned to East Dawning on July 4, 2016. It is not subject to   the three-year
   remaining use period.
    

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

LICENSOR PURCHASE RIGHT PROCEDURES

 

INITIAL AGREEMENTS

 

1.1                               No Frustration of Purpose. From and after the Effective Date and throughout the Term, Licensee shall not, and shall cause each of its Affiliates not to, take any action that, or fail to take any action if such failure, would adversely affect the ability of any such Person to perform such Person’s obligations under this Exhibit D or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Exhibit D with respect to all or any of the Assets.

 

2.                                      DEFINED TERMS; DESIGNEE; INTERPRETATION

 

2.1                               Defined Terms. As used in this Exhibit D, any terms defined herein have the meanings set forth herein and all other capitalized terms are defined as they appear in the body of the Agreement to which this Exhibit D is attached.

 

2.2                               Designee. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that Licensor shall have the right to designate one or more Persons to exercise any or all of Licensor’s rights pursuant to Section 15.4.5 of the Agreement, pursuant to this Exhibit D or otherwise in respect of the Purchase Right, including to purchase any or all of the Selected Assets. For purposes hereof, “Designee” means the Person or Persons designated by Licensor to exercise any or all of such rights. If the Designee includes more than one Person, when exercising a right of Licensor under the Agreement or under this Exhibit D, such Persons shall act collectively through a designated representative.

 

2.3                               Interpretation. Where any right, determination or other decision of Licensor (or its Designee) is granted, required, authorized or otherwise permitted under this Exhibit D, Licensor (or its Designee) shall have the right to exercise such right, make such determination or decide such matter in its sole and absolute discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, no exercise by Licensor (or its Designee) of the Purchase Right with respect to a default (or subsequent abandonment thereof) shall waive or be deemed to waive any further exercise by Licensor of its rights under Section 15.4.5 of the Agreement in respect of any other default by Licensee or any exercise by Licensor of its rights under any other provision of Section 15.4 of the Agreement in respect of the default that resulted in Licensor’s exercise of the Purchase Right.

 

3.                                      LICENSOR PURCHASE RIGHT

 

3.1                               General. The provisions of this Exhibit D shall apply to establish the purchase price, terms and procedures applicable in the event Licensor (or its Designee) exercises its right to purchase one or more Brand Restaurant Businesses pursuant to Section 15.4.5 of the Agreement (the Brand Restaurant Businesses to be so purchased, the “Selected Brand Restaurant Businesses”) and Licensor (or its Designee) and Licensee are unable to agree upon the purchase price therefor pursuant to Section 15.4.5(i) of the Agreement or the terms and procedures contemplated by Section 15.4.5 of the Agreement on or before the Negotiation End Date. For purposes hereof, the “Negotiation End Date” means the date that is sixty (60) days after Licensor (or its Designee) gives notice to Licensee of Licensor’s (or its Designee’s) exercise of Licensor’s (or its Designee’s) right to purchase the Selected Brand Restaurant Businesses pursuant to Section 15.4.5 of the Agreement.

 

3.2                               Purchase Right. From and after the applicable Negotiation End Date, Licensor (or its Designee) shall have the right (the “Purchase Right”) to purchase, free and clear of any liens (other than

 

 

immaterial liens incurred in the ordinary course of business), all right, title and interest of Licensee and its Affiliates in, to and under all or any of the assets, properties and rights of every kind and nature, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible (including goodwill), wherever located and whether now existing or hereafter acquired, that are used or held for use in connection with, or otherwise related to, the Selected Brand Restaurant Businesses (collectively, the “Assets”). Licensee acknowledges and agrees that Licensor (or its Designee) may, in connection therewith and under this Exhibit D, purchase all or any of the Assets of the Selected Brand Restaurant Businesses, as determined in accordance with this Exhibit D (the Assets to be so purchased, the “Selected Assets”).

 

4.                                      STRUCTURE AND PRICE

 

4.1                               Due Diligence. In addition to the continuing rights to audit and review the books and records of the Brand Restaurant Businesses contemplated by Section 8.1 of the Agreement, the Licensor Parties shall have the right to perform reasonable due diligence on each of the Brand Restaurant Businesses. For purposes hereof, “Licensor Parties” means Licensor and its Affiliates and any of their respective representatives and designees (including any Designee and its representatives). Licensee shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, provide information to, and reasonably cooperate with, the Licensor Parties in connection with such due diligence (including by responding to any due diligence requests and promptly including requested information and documents in a data room, in each case as reasonably requested by any Licensor Party). In furtherance of and without limiting the foregoing, should any Licensor Party at any time request a financial institution to extend credit to it in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Right, and should such financial institution request access to information regarding any of the Brand Restaurant Businesses, then Licensee shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, grant such financial institution the same access to the books and records of the Brand Restaurant Businesses as is granted to Licensor in Section 8.1 of the Agreement and access to the due diligence information responsive to any Licensor Party’s requests under this Section 4.1 of this Exhibit D.

 

4.2                               Structure. Provided that Licensee has complied with its obligations under Section 4.1 of this Exhibit D, Licensor (or its Designee) shall deliver to Licensee within ninety (90) days after the Negotiation End Date written notice (the “Structure Notice”) of Licensor’s (or its Designee’s) determination of the Selected Assets to be purchased in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Right and the structure for the purchase of the Selected Assets, which may be a purchase of shares or other equity interests of Licensee or any of its Affiliates that owns Selected Assets, a purchase of Selected Assets or a combination thereof (the date of delivery of such notice, the “Structure Determination Date”); provided, in the event that Licensee has breached its obligations under Section 4.1 of this Exhibit D, the Structure Determination Date shall be extended by one day for each day Licensee was in breach of such obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, Licensor (or its Designee) may exclude Assets (including contracts or employees), as determined in its sole discretion, and no structure shall require (and Licensee shall not be entitled to require) the purchaser of any Selected Assets to assume or be liable for any Excluded Liabilities. From and after consummation of the purchase of the Selected Assets pursuant to this Exhibit D, Licensee shall indemnify and hold harmless the Licensor Parties from and against all Excluded Liabilities related to the Selected Brand Restaurant Businesses, other than those liabilities (if any) Licensor (or its Designee) agrees to assume in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Right as set forth in the Structure Notice (such liabilities, if any, the “Assumed Liabilities”). For purposes hereof, “Excluded Liabilities” means any and all liabilities, duties, responsibilities, assessments, costs, expenses, losses, expenditures, charges, fees, penalties, fines, contributions, premiums and obligations of any kind of Licensee or any of its Affiliates, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, liquidated or unliquidated, to the extent relating to or arising during any period of time prior to the closing of the purchase of the Selected Assets. As set forth in Section 15.4.5 of the Agreement, as part of the exercise of the Purchase Right, Licensor (or its Designee) may, for no additional consideration, require the assignment by Licensee to Licensor (or its Designee) of all rights of Licensee under any or all Sublicenses

 

 

then in effect, in which case Licensor (or its Designee) shall assume all obligations of Licensee under the Sublicenses so assigned (the “Selected Sublicenses”) to the extent arising after such assignment (which shall be included as Assumed Liabilities) and Licensee shall promptly terminate and enforce the termination of all Sublicenses which Licensor (or its Designee) elects not to have assigned to Licensor (or its Designee).

 

4.3                               No Obligation to Purchase. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this Exhibit D or the Agreement requires any Licensor Party to purchase any or all of the Assets of any Brand Restaurant Business, and any Licensor Party’s obligations to purchase any or all of such Assets shall be contained in, and subject to execution by such Licensor Party of, a definitive purchase agreement, which any such Licensor Party may decline to do at any time for any reason.

 

4.4                               Price Determination.

 

4.4.1                     Each of Licensor (or its Designee) and Licensee shall, within twenty (20) days after the Structure Determination Date, designate (and notify the other of the designation of) an investment banking firm of recognized international standing to determine the Fair Market Value of the Selected Assets (the date on which each of Licensor (or its Designee) and Licensee has notified the other of such designation, the “Banking Firm Appointment Date”) and shall instruct such investment banking firms to jointly designate the Designated Valuation Firm within thirty (30) days after the Banking Firm Appointment Date. For a period of thirty (30) days after the Banking Firm Appointment Date, each investment banking firm shall consult with the other investment banking firm to determine its initial view as to the Fair Market Value of the Selected Assets. For purposes hereof, “Fair Market Value” means the cash price that an unaffiliated third party would pay to acquire the Selected Assets (after giving effect to the assumption by Licensor (or its Designee) of the Assumed Liabilities) in an arm’s-length transaction as an on-going concern; provided, that such determination shall be made (i) assuming Licensor (or its Designee) would be required to pay to an unaffiliated third party a royalty of 3% of gross revenues in order to continue the operation of the Selected Assets and (ii) on the basis of the structure for the purchase designated by Licensor (or its Designee) in the Structure Notice, and “Designated Valuation Firm” means the investment banking firm jointly designated by the investment banking firms initially appointed pursuant to this Section 4.4 of this Exhibit D (or otherwise designated in accordance herewith) to determine the Fair Market Value, which is neither an Affiliate of Licensee or Licensor (or its Designee) nor has performed any significant work for Licensee or Licensor (or its Designee) or any of their respective Affiliates within the prior two (2) years. Notwithstanding the foregoing and the other provisions of this Section 4.4 of this Exhibit D, in the event (x) either Licensor (or its Designee) or Licensee fails to notify the other of its selected investment banking firm within the time period specified in this Section 4.4.1 of this Exhibit D, such Person shall have waived its rights to appoint an investment banking firm and the determination of the Fair Market Value shall be made solely by the investment banking firm of the Party which did appoint an investment banking firm within such time period (which banking firm shall, in such case, constitute the Designated Valuation Firm) or (y) the two investment banking firms selected by Licensor (or its Designee) and Licensee do not appoint the Designated Valuation Firm within thirty (30) days after the Banking Firm Appointment Date, the Designated Valuation Firm shall be selected pursuant to the Administered Rules. Each of Licensee and Licensor (or its Designee) shall execute an engagement letter with the Designated Valuation Firm in customary form reasonably acceptable to Licensee, Licensor (or its Designee) and the Designated Valuation Firm.

 

4.4.2                     Within forty-five (45) days after the Banking Firm Appointment Date, each investment banking firm shall determine its final calculation of the Fair Market Value and shall deliver such final calculation to each of Licensor (or its Designee), Licensee and the Designated Valuation Firm. Upon receipt of such final calculations, the Designated Valuation Firm shall, within fifteen (15) days, determine its final calculation of the Fair Market Value by selecting either the Fair Market Value as

 

 

calculated by the investment banking firm selected by Licensor (or its Designee) or the Fair Market Value as calculated by the investment banking firm selected by Licensee.

 

4.4.3       Licensee shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, provide reasonable access by each of the designated investment banking firms and the Designated Valuation Firm to members of management of Licensee and its Affiliates and to the books and records of the Selected Brand Restaurant Businesses so as to allow such investment banking firms and the Designated Valuation Firm to conduct due diligence examinations in scope and duration as are customary in valuations of this kind.

 

4.4.4       Each of Licensee and Licensor agrees to (and agrees to cause its Affiliates and, with respect to Licensor, its Designee to) cooperate with each of the investment banking firms and the Designated Valuation Firm and to provide to them such information as may reasonably be requested. Costs of the Designated Valuation Firm provided for in this Section 4.4 of this Exhibit D shall be borne equally by Licensee, on the one hand, and Licensor (or its Designee), on the other hand, with each of Licensee and Licensor (or its Designee) bearing the cost of its own selected investment banking firm.

 

5.                                      CERTAIN COVENANTS

 

5.1                               Purchase Agreement.

 

5.1.1                     From and after the Structure Determination Date, Licensee and Licensor (or its Designee) shall each use its commercially reasonable efforts acting in good faith to negotiate and enter into a definitive purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) and other reasonably necessary or appropriate definitive agreements, including assignment agreements, bills of sale and/or other instruments of conveyance and assignment (collectively, with the Purchase Agreement, the “Definitive Agreements”), with regard to the purchase of the Selected Assets. For the avoidance of doubt, the Purchase Agreement shall: (a) contain customary representations, warranties, covenants and conditions, including representations and warranties regarding organization and qualification, authority, no conflicts, consents, financial statements, absence of liabilities, absence of certain changes/events, material contracts, title to the Selected Assets, condition of the Selected Assets, real property, inventory, accounts receivable and payable, insurance, legal proceedings, governmental orders, compliance with laws (including employee-related laws and laws relating to corrupt business practices, money laundering, anti-bribery and anti-corruption), permits, environmental matters, tax matters, employee matters and brokers and, if the purchase involves the purchase of shares or other equity interests, title to equity interests, capitalization and subsidiaries; (b) contain customary provisions regarding the indemnification of the Licensor Parties in respect of the Excluded Liabilities as contemplated by Section 4.2 of this Exhibit D and breaches of representations, warranties and covenants; (c) be governed by the law of the State of Texas, U.S.A.; and (d) be consistent with the provisions of this Exhibit D.

 

5.1.2                     If Licensee and Licensor (or its Designee) are unable to negotiate and enter into the Purchase Agreement within forty-five (45) days after the Structure Determination Date, then Licensor (or its Designee) may either (x) abandon pursuit of its Purchase Right (it being understood that such abandonment shall not waive or be deemed to waive any further exercise by Licensor of its rights under Section 15.4.5 of the Agreement in respect of any other default by Licensee or any exercise by Licensor of its rights under any other provision of Section 15.4 of the Agreement in respect of the default that resulted in Licensor’s exercise of the Purchase Right so abandoned) or (y) have any outstanding provisions within the Definitive Agreements determined by arbitration administered by CPR in accordance with the Administered Rules as modified by the procedures set forth in this Section 5.1 of this Exhibit D as follows:

 

 

(a)                                 If Licensor (or its Designee) elects to have the Definitive Agreements determined by arbitration, it shall so notify Licensee. Within thirty (30) days after the date such notice is given (the date such notice is given, the “Definitive Agreement Arbitration Notice Date”), each of Licensee and Licensor (or its Designee) shall designate (and notify the other of the designation of) an arbitrator and shall instruct such arbitrators to jointly designate the Mutually Designated Arbitrator. In the event that either Licensee or Licensor fails to notify the other of its selected arbitrator within thirty (30) days after the Definitive Agreement Arbitration Notice Date, then upon written application by either Licensee or Licensor (or its Designee), that arbitrator shall be appointed pursuant to the Administered Rules. In the event that the two (2) arbitrators selected as provided in this Section 5.1.2(a) of this Exhibit D fail to appoint the Mutually Designated Arbitrator within forty-five (45) days after Definitive Agreement Arbitration Notice Date, then the Mutually Designated Arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to the Administered Rules. For purposes hereof, “Mutually Designated Arbitrator” means the arbitrator jointly designated by arbitrators initially appointed pursuant to this Section 5.1 of this Exhibit D (or otherwise designated in accordance herewith), which is neither an Affiliate of Licensee or Licensor (or its Designee) nor has performed any significant work for Licensee or Licensor (or its Designee) or any of their respective Affiliates within the prior two (2) years.

 

(b)                                 Licensee and Licensor (or its Designee) shall each have the right to submit for resolution pursuant hereto all (but not less than all) of the Definitive Agreements and may each provide the Mutually Designated Arbitrator copies of the proposed Purchase Agreement and other Definitive Agreements marked to indicate the provisions that are and are not mutually agreed upon as of such date. Such right to submit materials to the Mutually Designated Arbitrator must be exercised by Licensee or Licensor (or its Designee), as applicable, no later than twenty (20) days after the date on which it is notified of the identity of the Mutually Designated Arbitrator (the last date after which either Licensee or Licensor (or its Designee) may submit proposed Definitive Agreements being the “Submission Cutoff Date”). A copy of all materials submitted to the Mutually Designated Arbitrator pursuant to this Section 5.1.2(b) shall be provided by Licensee or Licensor (or its Designee), as applicable, to the other concurrently with submission thereof to the Mutually Designated Arbitrator.

 

(c)                                  The Mutually Designated Arbitrator shall consider the positions of Licensee and Licensor (or its Designee) in any materials submitted prior to the Submission Cutoff Date and shall, within thirty (30) days after the Submission Cutoff Date, deliver to each of Licensee and Licensor (and its Designee) a Purchase Agreement and other Definitive Agreements to govern the purchase of the Selected Assets and which: (i) effectuate the purchase of the Selected Assets in accordance with the Structure Notice, incorporate the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with this Exhibit D), provide for the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities by Licensor (or its Designee) and the retention of the Excluded Liabilities by Licensee and otherwise conform to, and are not inconsistent with, the other mechanisms and principles agreed by the Parties or set forth in this Exhibit D; and (ii) are determined by the Mutually Designated Arbitrator to be otherwise commercially reasonable and to reflect market terms for transactions of a similar nature to the purchase of the Selected Assets. Subject to the foregoing, in determining the Purchase Agreement and other Definitive Agreements, the Mutually Designated Arbitrator may incorporate provisions and documents recommended by Licensor (or its Designee) or by Licensee or other provisions and documents determined to be appropriate by the Mutually Designated Arbitrator.

 

(d)                                 The arbitration shall be conducted in English. Any document that a Party seeks to use that is not in English shall be provided along with an English translation.

 

(e)                                  The place of arbitration shall be Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

 

 

(f)                                   The costs and expenses of any such arbitration, including compensation and expenses of the Mutually Designated Arbitrator (but excluding lawyers’ fees incurred by either Party (or its Designee)), shall be borne by both Licensee and Licensor (or its Designee) equally.

 

(g)                                  The Purchase Agreement and other Definitive Agreements determined by the Mutually Designated Arbitrator in accordance with this Exhibit D shall be final and binding upon Licensee and Licensor (and its Designee), absent manifest error and subject to Section 4.3 of this Exhibit D; provided, that no determination shall, or shall be deemed to, waive (and each of Licensee and Licensor (and its Designee) shall retain, regardless of any determination by the Mutually Designated Arbitrator) the right to seek any and all remedies in the event of any breach by either Party of its covenants set forth in this Exhibit D; provided further, that after any determination, Licensee and Licensor (or its Designee) may (but shall have no right or obligation to) modify the Purchase Agreement or other Definitive Agreements upon mutual agreement.

 

5.2                               Required Consents and Approvals. During and after the negotiation of the Purchase Agreement, Licensee and Licensor (or its Designee) shall each use its commercially reasonable efforts acting in good faith to obtain such governmental and third party consents as may be required in order to consummate the closing of the purchase of the Selected Assets. In the event that a relevant governmental authority or third party refuses to grant any necessary consent, Licensee and Licensor (or its Designee) shall consult with each other and negotiate in good faith an arrangement to provide that the objectives set out in this Exhibit D are met to the fullest extent permissible under Applicable Laws.

 

5.3                               Interim Operations. Subject to compliance with Applicable Laws (as advised in writing by outside counsel), from and after the date on which Licensor (or its Designee) gives notice to Licensee of its exercise of the right to purchase the Selected Brand Restaurant Businesses pursuant to Section 15.4.5 of the Agreement, Licensee shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, engage in any practice, take any action or enter into any transaction outside of the ordinary course of business with respect to the Assets, and Licensee shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve, intact, all of their respective rights with respect to the Assets and the Selected Brand Restaurant Businesses. In furtherance of the foregoing, and subject to compliance with Applicable Laws (as advised in writing by outside counsel), Licensee shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, except with the prior written consent of Licensor (or its Designee): (a) Transfer any material Assets; (b) enter into any material contract, including any material amendment, modification or termination of any existing material contract, with respect to the Assets, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (c) change any customary methods of operation in any material respect; (d) settle or compromise any material legal proceeding or investigation, or enter into any consent, decree, injunction or similar restraint or form of equitable relief in settlement of any material proceeding or investigation, with respect to the Assets, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or (e) impose or permit to be imposed any lien upon any material Assets, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

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