Document:

EX-4.51

	 	 	 
	
	 	Exhibit 4.51

DATED 6 SEPTEMBER 2009

CHINA UNICOM (HONG KONG) LIMITED

AND

TELEFÓNICA S.A.

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

 

 

CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Clause	 	Page
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	1.
	 	Interpretation	 	 	1	 
	2.
	 	Acquisition of Shares in China Unicom and Telefónica	 	 	5	 
	3.
	 	Conditions Precedent to Completion	 	 	6	 
	4.
	 	Completion	 	 	7	 
	5.
	 	Telefónica's Board Representation	 	 	9	 
	6.
	 	China Unicom Warranties	 	 	9	 
	7.
	 	Telefónica Warranties	 	 	9	 
	8.
	 	Additional China Unicom Undertakings	 	 	9	 
	9.
	 	Additional Telefónica Undertakings	 	 	9	 
	10.
	 	Acknowledgements	 	 	10	 
	11.
	 	Announcements	 	 	10	 
	12.
	 	Entire Agreement and Non-Reliance	 	 	11	 
	13.
	 	General	 	 	11	 
	14.
	 	Notices	 	 	12	 
	15.
	 	Governing Law and Dispute Resolution	 	 	12	 
	16.
	 	Counterparts	 	 	13	 
	Schedule 1 Completion Requirements	 	 	14	 
	Schedule 2 Telefónica Warranties	 	 	17	 
	Schedule 3 China Unicom Warranties	 	 	19	 

 

 

THIS AGREEMENT is made on 6 September 2009

BETWEEN:

	(1)	 	CHINA UNICOM (HONG KONG) LIMITED, a company incorporated in Hong Kong and having its
registered office at 75th Floor, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong (“China
Unicom”); and
	 
	(2)	 	TELEFÓNICA, S.A., a company incorporated in Spain, whose registered office is at Gran Via 28,
28013 Madrid, Spain (“Telefónica”).

WHEREAS:

	(A)	 	China Unicom is a leading company in the global telecommunications providing full service
telecommunications services in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) and is listed on the
New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Through its Affiliates, China
Unicom is engaged in GSM and WCDMA cellular business in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and
municipalities in the PRC, the provision of international and domestic long distance calls,
domestic telephone services, Internet services, data communications, and other related
value-added telecommunications services. China Unicom has also established business
organisations engaging in related international businesses in Hong Kong, the United States,
Japan and Europe.
	 
	(B)	 	Telefónica is a leading integrated telecommunications company providing fixed and mobile
services with presence in 25 countries and is listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange, the New
York Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange, the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Buenos Aires
Stock Exchange, the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange and the Lima Stock Exchange.
	 
	(C)	 	The parties are entering into a strategic alliance agreement on the date hereof.
	 
	(D)	 	In order to strengthen such strategic alliance between China Unicom and Telefónica, the
parties desire to acquire shares in each other. This Agreement sets out:

	 	(i)	 	the terms on which Telefónica is willing to subscribe for, and China Unicom is
willing to issue, the China Unicom Shares; and
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the terms on which China Unicom is willing to acquire or subscribe for, and
Telefónica is willing to transfer or issue, the Telefónica Shares.

	(E)	 	Apart from making mutual investment in the shares of each other, this Agreement also sets out
the terms of certain rights to be mutually granted by China Unicom and Telefónica.

THE PARTIES AGREE as follows:

	1.	 	INTERPRETATION
	 
	1.1	 	In this Agreement:
	 
	 	 	“Affiliate” means, with respect to a Party, any person which directly or indirectly
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such party, where “control” means
the power to direct the management and policies of the controlled person through the holding
of the majority of the voting rights of the controlled person or the ability to appoint more
than half of the members of the board of directors (or its equivalent) of the controlled
person;
	 
	 	 	“Alternative A” means the subscription by China Unicom of the Telefónica Shares and the
subscription by Telefónica of the China Unicom Shares, in each case for cash consideration,
as described in Clause 2.2;

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	 	 	“Alternative A China Unicom’s Contribution” means EUR702,197,879, being an amount equivalent
to US Dollars one billion (US$1,000,000,000), converted at the Exchange Rate;
	 
	 	 	“Alternative A Telefónica’s Contribution” means HK$7,751,000,000, being an amount equivalent
to US Dollars one billion (US$1,000,000,000), converted at the Exchange Rate;
	 
	 	 	“Alternative B” means the subscription by Telefónica of China Unicom Shares through the
contribution by Telefónica of the Telefónica Shares to China Unicom, as described in Clause
2.3;
	 
	 	 	“Alternative B Telefónica’s Contribution” means the contribution in kind, being such number
of Telefónica Treasury Shares resulting from dividing the Alternative A China Unicom’s
Contribution by the Telefónica Price Per Share (subject to the adjustments as provided in
Clause 2.4.1), and the adjustments as provided in Clause 2.4.2;
	 
	 	 	“Approvals” means all approvals, licences, consents, registrations, permits and
authorisations from any Authority and any third party;
	 
	 	 	“Authority” means any relevant government, administrative or regulatory body or court,
tribunal, arbitrator or governmental agency or authority or department;
	 
	 	 	“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in Hong Kong,
Beijing or Madrid;
	 
	 	 	“China Unicom Board” means the board of directors of China Unicom from time to time;
	 
	 	 	“China Unicom Group” means China Unicom and its subsidiaries from time to time;
	 
	 	 	“China Unicom Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of HK$0.10 each in the capital of
China Unicom and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange;
	 
	 	 	“China Unicom Price Per Share” means HK$11.17, being the arithmetic average of the official
closing prices on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange per China Unicom Ordinary Share, computed to
two decimal places, as shown on the Bloomberg Screen by the ticker “762 HK Equity HP” for
the 30 consecutive days in which the China Unicom Ordinary Shares are traded on the Hong
Kong Stock Exchange ending 28 August 2009, subject to the adjustments as provided in Clause
2.4.1;
	 
	 	 	“China Unicom Securities Account” has the meaning given to it in paragraph 2.4 of Schedule
1;
	 
	 	 	“China Unicom Shares” means 693,912,264 new China Unicom Ordinary Shares to be subscribed
for by Telefónica pursuant to Alternative A or Alternative B, which is arrived at by
dividing the Alternative A Telefónica’s Contribution by the China Unicom Price Per Share (as
may be adjusted in accordance with Clause 2.4.1), subject to the adjustments as provided in
Clause 2.4.2 and rounded down to the closest whole number, representing approximately 2.92%
of the issued share capital of China Unicom as at the date hereof and approximately 2.84% of
the issued share capital of China Unicom as enlarged by the issuance of the China Unicom
Shares as at the Completion Date;
	 
	 	 	“China Unicom Threshold Percentage” means 5% of the issued share capital of China Unicom
from time to time;
	 
	 	 	“China Unicom Warranty” means a statement contained in Clause 6.1 and Schedule 3 and
“China Unicom Warranties” means all those statements;
	 
	 	 	“Completion” means the completion of the acquisition of shares in each other in accordance
with Clause 4;

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	 	 	“Completion Date” means the fifth Business Day following the date on which the last
Condition has been satisfied or waived by the relevant Party, as the case may be, in
accordance with Clause 3.6 or Clause 3.7 (or such other date as the Parties may agree in
writing);
	 
	 	 	“Condition” means a condition set out in Clause 3.1 or Clause 3.2 and “Conditions” means
all those conditions;
	 
	 	 	“Dispute” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 15.2;
	 
	 	 	“Encumbrance” means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, option, restriction, right of first
refusal, right of pre-emption, third party right or interest, other encumbrance or security
interest of any kind, or another type of agreement or arrangement having similar effect;
	 
	 	 	“EUR” and “€” means Euro, the single currency of member states of the European Communities
that adopt or have adopted the Euro as their lawful currency under the legislation of the
European Community for Economic Monetary Union;
	 
	 	 	“Exchange Rate” means, as applicable: (i) the exchange rate of US$1.00 to HK$7.7510, being
the arithmetic average rate for the purchase of HK$ with US$, computed to four decimal
places, as shown on Reuters HKDFIX= (published by Treasury Market Association of Hong Kong)
at 11:15 a.m. Hong Kong time for the ten consecutive trading days ending 28 August 2009; or
(ii) the exchange rate of EUR1.00 to US$1.4241, being the arithmetic average rate for the
daily fixing of EUR with US$, computed to four decimal places, as published by European
Central Bank and shown on “Reuters Screen ECB 37” at or about 14:00 hours (CET) time for the
ten consecutive trading days ending 28 August 2009;
	 
	 	 	“General Mandate” means the general mandate granted by the shareholders of China Unicom to
the directors of China Unicom at its annual general meeting on 26 May 2009 to issue up to
4,753,585,064 new China Unicom Ordinary Shares;
	 
	 	 	“HK$” means Hong Kong dollars, the lawful currency of Hong Kong;
	 
	 	 	“Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC;
	 
	 	 	“Hong Kong Stock Exchange” means The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
	 
	 	 	“Listing Rules” means the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of
Hong Kong Limited, as amended from time to time;
	 
	 	 	“Long Stop Date” means 7 November 2009, or such other date as the Parties may agree in
writing;
	 
	 	 	“Material Adverse Change” means any event, circumstance, effect, occurrence or state of
affairs or any combination thereof which has, or is reasonably likely to have, a Material
Adverse Effect;
	 
	 	 	“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on the business, operations,
property, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Telefónica or China Unicom (as
the case may be);
	 
	 	 	“Notice” means a notice to be given pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall be
construed in accordance with Clause 14;
	 
	 	 	“Parties” means China Unicom and Telefónica and “Party” means either of them;
	 
	 	 	“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
	 
	 	 	“SFO” means the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong);

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	 	 	“Spanish Stock Exchange” means the Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia Stock Exchanges as
connected through Spanish Continuous Market (Mercado Continuo);
	 
	 	 	“Strategic Alliance Agreement” means the strategic alliance agreement to be entered into
between China Unicom and Telefónica on the date hereof;
	 
	 	 	“Surviving Clauses” means Clause 1 (Interpretation), Clause 5 (Telefónica’s Board
Representation), Clause 10 (Acknowledgement), Clause 11 (Announcements), Clause 13
(General), Clause 14 (Notices) and Clause 15 (Governing Law and Dispute Resolution);
	 
	 	 	“Telefónica Board” means the board of directors of Telefónica from time to time;
	 
	 	 	“Telefónica Group” means Telefónica and its subsidiaries from time to time;
	 
	 	 	“Telefónica Nominee Director” has the meaning given to that term in Clause 5.1;
	 
	 	 	“Telefónica Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of EUR1.00 each in the capital of
Telefónica and listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange;
	 
	 	 	“Telefónica Price Per Share” means EUR17.24, being the arithmetic average of the official
closing prices on Madrid Stock Exchange per Telefónica Ordinary Share, computed to two
decimal places, as shown on the Bloomberg Screen by the ticker “TEF SM Equity HP” for the 30
consecutive days in which the Telefónica Ordinary Shares are traded on the Madrid Stock
Exchange ending 28 August 2009, subject to the adjustments as provided in Clause 2.4.1;
	 
	 	 	“Telefónica Shares” means 40,730,735 Telefónica Ordinary Shares to be issued or the
40,730,735 Telefónica Treasury Shares to be transferred to China Unicom pursuant to Clause
2.2 in the event that Telefónica elects to proceed with Alternative A, or pursuant to
Clause 2.3 in the event that Telefónica elects to proceed with Alternative B, as the case
may be. The aforesaid number of Telefónica Shares is arrived at by dividing the Alternative
A China Unicom’s Contribution by the Telefónica Price Per Share (as may be adjusted in
accordance with Clause 2.4.1), subject to the adjustments as provided in Clause 2.4.2, and
rounded down to the closest whole number, representing approximately 0.892% of the issued
share capital of Telefónica as at the date hereof and approximately 0.885% of the issued
share capital of Telefónica as enlarged by the issuance of the Telefónica Shares, if
applicable, as at the Completion Date, in both cases such percentages assume the completion
of the cancellation of one hundred and forty one million (141,000,000) Telefónica Ordinary
Shares agreed by the Telefónica shareholders meeting held on 23 June 2009;
	 
	 	 	“Telefónica Treasury Shares” means Telefónica Ordinary Shares repurchased by and held in
treasury by Telefónica itself;
	 
	 	 	“Telefónica Warranty” means a statement contained in Clause 7 and Schedule 2 and
“Telefónica Warranties” means all those statements; and
	 
	 	 	“US$” means United States dollars, the lawful currency of the United States of America.

	1.2	 	In this Agreement, a reference to:

	 	1.2.1	 	a “person” includes, without limitation, a reference to any individual, firm,
company, corporation or other body corporate, government, state or agency of a state or
any joint venture, association or partnership, trade union or employee representative
body (whether or not having a separate legal personality);
	 
	 	1.2.2	 	a “Party” includes a reference to that Party’s legal personal representatives
or successors;
	 
	 	1.2.3	 	a “Clause” or “Schedule”, unless the context otherwise requires, is a
reference to a clause of, or a schedule to, this Agreement;

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	 	1.2.4	 	unless the context otherwise requires, the singular shall include the plural
and vice versa; and
	 
	 	1.2.5	 	any legal term under the laws of Hong Kong for any action, remedy, method of
judicial proceeding, legal document, legal status, court, official or any legal concept
or thing shall in respect of any jurisdiction other than Hong Kong be deemed to include
what most nearly approximates in that jurisdiction to the Hong Kong legal term and a
reference to any Hong Kong statute or ordinance shall be construed so as to include
equivalent or analogous laws of any other jurisdiction.

	1.3	 	For the purposes of this Agreement, a company shall be deemed to be a subsidiary of another
company if that second-mentioned company owns over 50 per cent. of the total issued shares in
the first-mentioned company, or holds or controls the exercise of over 50 per cent. of the
voting rights in the first-mentioned company or has the right to appoint or remove over 50 per
cent. of the first-mentioned company’s board of directors, or the first-mentioned company is a
subsidiary of any company which is the second-mentioned company’s subsidiary.
	 
	1.4	 	The Schedules form part of this Agreement and shall have effect accordingly.
	 
	1.5	 	The headings in this Agreement do not affect its interpretation.

			
	2.	 	ACQUISITION OF SHARES IN CHINA UNICOM AND TELEFÓNICA

	2.1	 	The Parties agree that upon the terms and subject to the conditions set out herein, each
Party shall acquire shares in the other Party free and clear of all Encumbrances and with all
rights attaching thereto with effect from Completion, and that such acquisition of shares
shall be effected through Alternative A or through Alternative B, as contemplated in this
Agreement, at Telefónica’s discretion, which shall be communicated by Telefónica to China
Unicom within 15 Business Days after the date hereof. In the absence of communication by
Telefónica to China Unicom within the aforesaid period, it shall be understood for all
purposes herein that Telefónica has elected to proceed in accordance with the Alternative A.

	2.2	 	ALTERNATIVE A

	 	2.2.1	 	The China Unicom Board has passed a resolution approving the allotment and
issuance of the China Unicom Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances pursuant to the
General Mandate, to be subscribed for by Telefónica (directly or through any of its
subsidiaries) and to be paid up by means of the Alternative A Telefónica’s Contribution
in cash upon the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Agreement.
	 
	 	2.2.2	 	Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Agreement, and
simultaneously with or as soon as possible and no later than 15 Business Days after the
communication by Telefónica to China Unicom (expressly or implicitly) of its election
to proceed in accordance with Alternative A, the Telefónica Board shall pass a
resolution increasing its capital stock in an amount in Euros equal to the aggregate
par value corresponding to the Telefónica Shares, through the issuance of the
Telefónica Shares free and clear of all Encumbrances, to be subscribed for by China
Unicom (directly or through any of its subsidiaries) and to be paid up by means of the
Alternative A China Unicom’s Contribution in cash.

	2.3	 	ALTERNATIVE B

	 	2.3.1	 	The China Unicom Board has passed a resolution approving the allotment and
issuance of the China Unicom Shares free and clear of all Encumbrances pursuant to the
General Mandate, to be subscribed for by Telefónica (directly or through any of its
subsidiaries) and to be paid up by means of the Alternative B Telefónica’s
Contribution upon the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Agreement.

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	 	2.3.2	 	Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Agreement, and
simultaneously with or as soon as possible and no later than 15 Business Days after the
communication by Telefónica to China Unicom of its election to proceed in accordance
with Alternative B, the Telefónica Board shall pass a resolution approving the transfer
of the Telefónica Shares free and clear of all Encumbrances to China Unicom (or any of
its subsidiaries) as consideration for Telefónica’s subscription for the China Unicom
Shares.

	2.4	 	ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CHINA UNICOM PRICE PER SHARE AND/OR TELEFÓNICA PRICE PER SHARE AND THE
NUMBER OF CHINA UNICOM SHARES AND/OR TELEFÓNICA SHARES

	 	2.4.1	 	In the event that any dividends and/or other distributions are made or paid by
China Unicom and/or Telefónica, as the case may be, to its shareholders after the date
of this Agreement but before the Completion Date, the China Unicom Price Per Share
and/or the Telefónica Price Per Share, as the case may be, shall be reduced by the
amount of such dividends and/or other distributions corresponding to the China Unicom
Ordinary Shares and/or the Telefónica Ordinary Shares, as the case may be, in each case
on a per share basis.
	 
	 	2.4.2	 	If, from the date of this Agreement until the Completion Date, there occurs
any change in the issued share capital of China Unicom, or Telefónica, as the case may
be, by reason of share splits, share consolidation, exchange of all the Telefónica or
China Unicom shares, or similar events, the number of the China Unicom Shares or the
number of the Telefónica Shares, as the case may be, shall be adjusted appropriately so
that Telefónica or China Unicom, as the case may be, shall receive such equivalent
number of China Unicom Shares or Telefónica Shares, as the case may be, after taking
into consideration the effects of such event on the number of shares comprised in the
share capital or the capital stock of China Unicom or Telefónica, as the case may be.
	 
	 	2.4.3	 	Each Party shall inform the other Party promptly should any adjustment be
required to be made to the China Unicom Price Per Share and/or the Telefónica Price Per
Share pursuant to Clause 2.4.1 and/or to the number of China Unicom Shares and/or the
Telefónica Shares pursuant to Clause 2.4.2, by providing details of the relevant
adjustment events and the adjustment to be made pursuant to Clause 2.4.1 and/or Clause
2.4.2, as the case may be. The final adjustment, if applicable, shall be confirmed by
both Parties before Completion and shall be recorded in a certificate to be delivered
by the relevant Party whose per share price and/or the number of shares is adjusted to
the other Party at Completion.

			
	3.	 	CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO COMPLETION

	3.1	 	Completion of the acquisition of the Telefónica Shares (either through subscription for new
Telefónica Ordinary Shares or acquisition of the Telefónica Treasury Shares in exchange for
the China Unicom Shares as provided in Clause 2.1) by China Unicom is conditional on the
following Conditions being fulfilled (or, if applicable, waived) on or before the Long Stop
Date:

	 	3.1.1	 	the Telefónica Board having passed a resolution either to increase the
Telefónica’s capital and to issue the Telefónica Shares (in the event Telefónica elects
to proceed with Alternative A) or to contribute in kind the Telefónica Shares to China
Unicom in exchange for the China Unicom Shares (in the event Telefónica elects to
proceed with Alternative B);
	 
	 	3.1.2	 	all Telefónica Warranties being true and accurate as at the date of this
Agreement and remaining so as at the Completion Date as if made on that date; and
	 
	 	3.1.3	 	there not having been any Material Adverse Change in respect of Telefónica or
the Telefónica Group, and Telefónica having operated its business and the Telefónica
Group’s business in the ordinary course of business, since the date of the last
published consolidated accounts of Telefónica; and

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	 	3.1.4	 	all the Conditions set out in Clause 3.2 having been satisfied, or waived by
Telefónica, as the case may be, in accordance with Clause 3.7.

	3.2	 	Completion of the subscription for the China Unicom Shares by Telefónica is conditional on
the following Conditions being fulfilled (or, if applicable, waived) on or before the Long
Stop Date:

	 	3.2.1	 	the listing of, and permission to deal in, all the China Unicom Shares having
been granted by the Listing Committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and such listing
and permission not subsequently being revoked prior to the Completion Date;
	 
	 	3.2.2	 	all China Unicom Warranties being true and accurate as at the date of this
Agreement and remaining so as at the Completion Date as if made on that date;
	 
	 	3.2.3	 	there not having been any Material Adverse Change in respect of China Unicom
or the China Unicom Group, and China Unicom having operated its business and the China
Unicom Group’s business in the ordinary course of business, since the last published
consolidated accounts of China Unicom; and
	 
	 	3.2.4	 	all the Conditions set out in Clause 3.1 having been satisfied, or waived
(other than the Condition set out in Clause 3.1.1) by China Unicom, as the case may
be, in accordance with Clause 3.6.

	3.3	 	Telefónica shall use all reasonable endeavours to achieve satisfaction of the Condition set
out in Clause 3.1.1 as soon as possible and in any event before the Long Stop Date.
	 
	3.4	 	China Unicom shall use all reasonable endeavours to achieve satisfaction of the Condition set
out in Clause 3.2.1 as soon as possible and in any event before the Long Stop Date.
	 
	3.5	 	If, at any time, either Party becomes aware of a fact or circumstance that might prevent a
Condition to which it is under an obligation to satisfy from being satisfied, it shall
immediately inform the other Party.
	 
	3.6	 	At any time on or before the Long Stop Date, China Unicom may waive, in whole or in part, the
Conditions set out in Clauses 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 by notice to Telefónica at its sole
discretion.
	 
	3.7	 	At any time on or before the Long Stop Date, Telefónica may waive, in whole or in part, the
Conditions set out in Clauses 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 by notice to China Unicom at its sole
discretion.
	 
	3.8	 	If the Conditions are not fulfilled or, in the case of those Conditions set out in Clauses
3.1.2 and 3.1.3, waived in writing by China Unicom, or in the case of those Conditions set
out in Clauses 3.2.2 and 3.2.3, waived in writing by Telefónica, on or before the Long Stop
Date, this Agreement shall automatically terminate with immediate effect except that:

	 	3.8.1	 	this Clause 3.8, together with the Surviving Clauses shall continue to apply;
and
	 
	 	3.8.2	 	termination shall not affect a Party’s rights and obligations which have
accrued as at the date of termination although each Party’s further rights and
obligations shall cease immediately on termination.

			
	4.	 	COMPLETION

	4.1	 	Subject to the Conditions having been fulfilled or waived by China Unicom or Telefónica (as
the case may be) in accordance with Clause 3.6 or Clause 3.7, respectively, Completion shall
take place on the Completion Date at 4:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time).

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	4.2	 	At Completion, China Unicom and Telefónica shall do all those things respectively required of
them as set out in Schedule 1, and:

	 	4.2.1	 	China Unicom is not obliged to complete Alternative A or Alternative B, as
appropriate, and China Unicom’s rights and obligations under Clause 9 will not come
into effect, unless:

	 	(a)	 	Telefónica complies with all its obligations under Schedule 1 to
be complied with as at the Completion Date;
	 
	 	(b)	 	the subscription for or acquisition of, all the Telefónica Shares
is completed simultaneously; and
	 
	 	(c)	 	the subscription for all the China Unicom Shares is completed
simultaneously;

	 	4.2.2	 	Telefónica is not obliged to complete Alternative A or Alternative B, as
appropriate, and Telefónica’s rights and obligations under Clause 8 will not come into
effect, unless:

	 	(a)	 	China Unicom complies with all its obligations under Schedule 1
to be complied with as at the Completion Date;
	 
	 	(b)	 	the subscription for all the China Unicom Shares is completed
simultaneously;
	 
	 	(c)	 	under Alternative A, the Telefónica Board issues a report on the
proposed increase of Telefónica’s capital and the auditor nominated by the
Madrid Commercial Registry issues on the Completion Date a report stating that
the Telefónica Shares are being issued according to the fair market value of the
Telefónica Ordinary Shares, in accordance with article 159.2 of the Spanish
Corporation Act; and
	 
	 	(d)	 	the subscription for or acquisition of, all the Telefónica
Shares, is completed simultaneously.

	4.3	 	If Completion does not take place on the Completion Date because either Party fails to comply
with any of its respective obligations under Schedule 1 (whether such failure by either Party
amounts to a repudiatory breach or not), the Party not in default may by notice in writing to
the Party in default elect:

	 	4.3.1	 	to proceed to Completion to the extent practicable; or
	 
	 	4.3.2	 	to postpone Completion to a date not later than the Long Stop Date; or
	 
	 	4.3.3	 	to terminate this Agreement.

	4.4	 	If either Telefónica or China Unicom postpones Completion to another date in accordance with
Clause 4.3.2, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply as if that other date is the
Completion Date.
	 
	4.5	 	If either Telefónica or China Unicom terminates this Agreement pursuant to Clause 4.3.3,
each Party’s further rights and obligations (other than those under the Surviving Clauses)
shall cease immediately upon termination, but termination shall not affect a Party’s rights
and obligations under the Surviving Clauses and any accrued rights and obligations at the date
of termination.

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	5.	 	TELEFÓNICA’S BOARD REPRESENTATION

	5.1	 	Subject to the Telefónica Group holding in aggregate, directly or indirectly, not less than
the China Unicom Threshold Percentage and to the extent not prohibited under applicable law,
the articles of association of China Unicom and the Listing Rules, Telefónica shall be
entitled to nominate one representative to the China Unicom Board (the “Telefónica Nominee
Director”).
	 
	5.2	 	Telefónica shall ensure that the Telefónica Nominee Director possesses the necessary
qualifications and experience to act as a director of China Unicom as required under
applicable rules and regulations, including the Listing Rules.

			
	6.	 	CHINA UNICOM WARRANTIES

	6.1	 	As at the date of this Agreement, China Unicom warrants to Telefónica that each China Unicom
Warranty as set out in Schedule 3 is true, accurate, complete and not misleading.
	 
	6.2	 	Immediately before Completion, China Unicom is deemed to warrant to Telefónica that each
China Unicom Warranty as set out in Schedule 3 is true, accurate, complete and not misleading
by reference to the facts and circumstances as at Completion. For this purpose only, where
there is an express or implied reference in a China Unicom Warranty to the “date of this
Agreement”, that reference is to be construed as a reference to the Completion Date.

			
	7.	 	TELEFÓNICA WARRANTIES

	7.1	 	As at the date of this Agreement, Telefónica warrants to China Unicom that each Telefónica
Warranty as set out in Schedule 2 is true, accurate, complete and not misleading.
	 
	7.2	 	Immediately before Completion, Telefónica is deemed to warrant to China Unicom that each
Telefónica Warranty as set out in Schedule 2 is true, accurate, complete and not misleading
by reference to the facts and circumstances as at Completion. For this purpose only, where
there is an express or implied reference in a Telefónica Warranty to the “date of this
Agreement”, that reference is to be construed as a reference to the Completion Date.

			
	8.	 	ADDITIONAL CHINA UNICOM UNDERTAKINGS

	8.1	 	From the date of this Agreement, China Unicom shall use its best endeavours to maintain a
listing for all the issued China Unicom Ordinary Shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
	 
	8.2	 	With effect from Completion, and for so long as the Strategic Alliance Agreement is in
effect, China Unicom shall not (i) offer, issue or sell any significant number of China Unicom
Ordinary Shares (including those held in treasury by China Unicom itself, if any), or any
securities convertible into or other rights to subscribe for or purchase a significant number
of China Unicom Ordinary Shares (including those held in treasury by China Unicom itself, if
any), to any current major competitor of Telefónica or (ii) make any significant investment,
directly or indirectly, in any current major competitor of Telefónica.
	 
	8.3	 	China Unicom undertakes to Telefónica that for a period of one year from the Completion Date,
it shall not, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer or dispose of any of the Telefónica
Ordinary Shares or Telefónica Treasury Shares held, directly or indirectly, by the China
Unicom Group, save for any transfer of such shares to any member of the China Unicom Group.

			
	9.	 	ADDITIONAL TELEFÓNICA UNDERTAKINGS

	9.1	 	From the date of this Agreement, Telefónica shall use its best endeavours to maintain a
listing for all the issued Telefónica Ordinary Shares on the Spanish Stock Exchange.

- 9 -

 

	9.2	 	With effect from Completion, and for so long as the Strategic Alliance Agreement is in
effect, Telefónica shall not (i) offer, issue or sell any significant number of Telefónica
Ordinary Shares or Telefónica Treasury Shares, or any securities convertible into or other
rights to subscribe for or purchase a significant number of Telefónica Ordinary Shares or
Telefónica Treasury Shares, to any current major competitor of China Unicom or (ii) make any
significant investment, directly or indirectly, in any current major competitor of China
Unicom.
	 
	9.3	 	Telefónica undertakes to China Unicom that for a period of one year from the Completion Date,
it shall not, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer or dispose of any of the China Unicom
Ordinary Shares held, directly or indirectly, by the Telefónica Group, save for any transfer
of such shares to any member of the Telefónica Group.
	 
	9.4	 	Telefónica shall not take any action, including the acquisition of China Unicom Ordinary
Shares to such an extent, which will affect the listing status of China Unicom or the ability
of China Unicom to maintain the minimum public float in the China Unicom Ordinary Shares.

			
	10.	 	ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

	10.1	 	China Unicom agrees and acknowledges that at the time of the execution of this Agreement and
as at Completion, it is aware that Telefónica is a person connected with China Unicom and is
or may be in possession of relevant information (as defined in Parts XIII and XIV of the SFO)
by virtue of it having one representative on the China Unicom Board.
	 
	10.2	 	Each of China Unicom and Telefónica agrees and acknowledges that it is not, and will not, at
any time be engaged in insider dealing for the purposes of the SFO in connection with the
acquisition contemplated herein and the related transactions entered into or to be entered
into pursuant to this Agreement; it has not taken and will not take and none of its Affiliates
and any person acting on its or their behalf or under its or their control has taken or will
take, directly or indirectly, any action designed or which was designed, or which constitutes
or has constituted or might reasonably be or have been expected to cause or result in,
stabilisation or manipulation of the price of any China Unicom Ordinary Shares or any other
securities of China Unicom.
	 
	10.3	 	Each of China Unicom and Telefónica acknowledges that the China Unicom Shares and the
Telefónica Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or under any state
securities laws of the United States. Neither China Unicom nor Telefónica, nor any of its
respective Affiliates, nor any person acting on their or their respective Affiliates’ behalf
has taken, or will take, any actions that would result in the sale of the China Unicom Shares
or the Telefónica Shares under this Agreement requiring registration under the Securities Act.
China Unicom undertakes that it will not sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Telefónica
Shares and Telefónica undertakes that it will not sell or otherwise dispose of any of the
China Unicom Shares, except in compliance with the registration requirements or exemption
provisions of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws of the United
States.

			
	11.	 	ANNOUNCEMENTS

	11.1	 	Subject to Clause 11.2, no announcement or communication concerning the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be made or issued by either Party without the prior
written consent of the other Party.
	 
	11.2	 	Clause 11.1 does not apply to an announcement or communication:

	 	11.2.1	 	previously consented to, which may be repeated by either Party provided that the
prevailing facts and circumstances in respect of the announcement or communication
previously consented to were not materially different; or

- 10 -

 

	 	11.2.2	 	required by law, by a rule of a stock exchange or by a governmental authority or
other authority with relevant powers to which a Party is subject or submits, whether or
not the requirement has the force of law, provided that such announcement or
communication shall, so far as is practicable, be made after consultation with the
other Party and after taking into account the other Party’s reasonable requirements as
to its timing, content and manner of making or despatch.

			
	12.	 	ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND NON-RELIANCE

	12.1	 	This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes any previous agreements
between the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.
	 
	12.2	 	Nothing in this Clause 12 shall have the effect of restricting or limiting any liability
arising as a result of any fraud, wilful misrepresentation, wilful concealment or wilful
misconduct.

			
	13.	 	GENERAL

	13.1	 	This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed and
delivered is an original and all of which together evidence the same agreement.
	 
	13.2	 	A variation of this Agreement is only valid if it is in writing and signed by or on behalf of
each Party.
	 
	13.3	 	The failure to exercise or delay in exercising a right or remedy provided by this Agreement
or by law does not impair or constitute a waiver of the right or remedy or an impairment of or
a waiver of other rights or remedies. No single or partial exercise of a right or remedy
provided by this Agreement or by law prevents further exercise of the right or remedy or the
exercise of another right or remedy.
	 
	13.4	 	Either Party’s rights and remedies contained in this Agreement are cumulative and are not
exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
	 
	13.5	 	Except to the extent that they have been performed and except where this Agreement expressly
provides otherwise, the warranties, representations, obligations and undertakings contained in
this Agreement remain in force after Completion.
	 
	13.6	 	The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement does not
affect the continuation in force of the remainder of this Agreement.
	 
	13.7	 	This Agreement shall be binding upon and enure to the benefit of each Party and its or any
subsequent successors.
	 
	13.8	 	Each Party agrees to take all such action or procure that all such action be taken as is
reasonable in order to implement the terms of this Agreement or any transaction, matter or
thing contemplated by this Agreement.
	 
	13.9	 	Each Party shall pay its own costs relating to the negotiation, preparation, execution and
performance by it of this Agreement and of each document referred to in it.
	 
	13.10	 	Any taxes (including stamp duties) arising as a consequence of the capital increase of
Telefónica as provided for in this Agreement shall be borne by Telefónica. Any taxes arising
as a consequence of the capital increase of China Unicom as provided for in this Agreement
shall be borne by China Unicom.
	 
	13.11	 	A Party shall, on reasonable request from the other Party, do and execute or cause to be
done and executed all such further acts, deeds, things and documents as may be necessary to
give effect to the terms of this Agreement.

- 11 -

 

	13.12	 	Each Party may not, without the prior written consent of the other Party, assign, transfer,
declare a trust for the benefit of or in any other way alienate any of its obligations or
rights under this Agreement whether in whole or in part except that Telefónica or China
Unicom, as the case may be, may designate any of its subsidiaries to be the registered holder
of the China Unicom Shares or the Telefónica Shares, as the case may be, to be issued or
transferred to it hereunder provided always that such Party shall remain fully liable for all
obligations, covenants and undertakings set out herein.

			
	14.	 	NOTICES

	14.1	 	A Notice under or in connection with this Agreement shall be:

	 	14.1.1	 	in writing and in English; and
	 
	 	14.1.2	 	delivered personally, sent by fax with confirmation receipt followed by mail posted
within 24 hours or sent by courier to the Party due to receive the Notice at the
address referred to in Clause 14.2 or such other address as a Party may specify by
notice in writing to the other Party received before the Notice was despatched.

	14.2	 	For the purposes of this Clause 14.2, a Notice shall be sent to the addresses and for the
attention of those persons set out below:

	 	14.2.1	 	in the case of China Unicom:

	 	Address: 	 	21 Jin Rong Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100140, PRC
	 	Fax Number: 	 	+86 10 6625 9510
	 	Attention: 	 	Qi Ming Qiu

	 	14.2.2	 	in the case of Telefónica:

	 	Address: 	 	Gran Via 28, 28013 Madrid, Spain
	 	Fax Number: 	 	+34 91 727 1405
	 	Attention: 	 	Ramiro Sánchez de Lerín García-Ovies
Group General Counsel

	 	 	or to such other address or fax number as the relevant Party may have notified to the other
by not less than seven (7) days’ written notice to the other Party before the Notice was
despatched.

	14.3	 	Unless there is evidence that it was received earlier, a Notice is deemed given if:

	 	14.3.1	 	delivered personally, when left at the address referred to in Clause 14.1; or
	 
	 	14.3.2	 	sent by courier, five (5) Business Days after posting it; or
	 
	 	14.3.3	 	sent by fax, when confirmation of its transmission has been recorded on the sender’s
fax machine.

			
	15.	 	GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

	15.1	 	This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Hong
Kong.
	 
	15.2	 	Any dispute, controversy or claim arising from, out of or in connection with this Agreement,
including any question regarding its existence, validity, interpretation, breach or
termination (a “Dispute”) shall be determined in accordance with this Clause.

- 12 -

 

	15.3	 	Any Dispute shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the UNCITRAL
Arbitration Rules (the “Rules”) which Rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference into
this Clause and as may be amended by the rest of this Clause.
	 
	15.4	 	The seat of arbitration shall be Hong Kong and the appointing authority shall be the Hong
Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “HKIAC”). The language to be used in the
arbitration proceedings shall be English.
	 
	15.5	 	The arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators, one of whom shall be appointed
by Telefónica, the other of whom shall be appointed by China Unicom and the third presiding
arbitrator shall be appointed by China Unicom and Telefónica jointly, or failing agreement
between the Parties within 20 Business Days, by the HKIAC.
	 
	15.6	 	No person shall be nominated or appointed as an arbitrator under Clause 15.5 unless that
person has substantial experience in the conduct of commercial disputes and is fluent in
English.
	 
	15.7	 	The arbitration award shall be final and binding on the Parties from the day it is made and
the Parties agree to be bound thereby and to act accordingly.
	 
	15.8	 	Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitral tribunal may be entered in, and application
for judicial confirmation, recognition or enforcement of the award may be made by or in, any
court of competent jurisdiction, and each of the Parties irrevocably submits to the
jurisdiction of such court for the purposes of this Clause 15 and for the confirmation,
recognition or enforcement of any award rendered by the arbitral tribunal, whether in
accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign
Arbitral Awards 1958 or otherwise.

			
	16.	 	COUNTERPARTS

	 	 	This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed
and delivered is an original and all of which together evidence the same agreement.

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SCHEDULE 1

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

			
	1.	 	TELEFÓNICA’S OBLIGATIONS

	1.1	 	At Completion:

	 	1.1.1	 	Telefónica shall deliver to China Unicom each of the following documents:

	 	(a)	 	a written confirmation duly signed by a director of Telefónica or
the Secretary of the Telefónica Board certifying that all Telefónica Warranties
set out in Schedule 2 are true and accurate in all respects as at the date of
this Agreement and as at the Completion Date;
	 
	 	(b)	 	copies (certified as true copies by the secretary of the
Telefónica Board) of each of the following documents:

	 	(i)	 	resolutions of the Telefónica Board approving the
execution by Telefónica of this Agreement and performance of all of its
obligations contemplated hereunder;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	resolutions of the Telefónica Board approving the
issuance of the Telefónica Shares to China Unicom (or such subsidiary as
China Unicom may designate) for cash consideration and the subscription
for the China Unicom Shares by Telefónica for cash consideration in the
event that Telefónica elects to proceed with Alternative A, or approving
the contribution in kind of the Telefónica Shares to China Unicom in
exchange for the China Unicom Shares, in the event that Telefónica
elects to proceed with Alternative B; and
	 
	 	(iii)	 	the report of the Telefónica Board and the
auditors’ report referred to in Clause 4.2.2(c); and

	 	(c)	 	if applicable, a certificate duly signed by an officer of
Telefónica confirming the adjustment that is required to be made to the
Telefónica Price Per Share and the resultant number of Telefónica Shares to be
delivered to China Unicom (or any of its subsidiaries as it may designate) in
accordance with Clause 2.4.1 and/or Clause 2.4.2.

	1.2	 	If Telefónica elects to proceed in accordance with Alternative A:

	 	1.2.1	 	at Completion, Telefónica shall transfer the Alternative A Telefónica’s
Contribution in immediately available funds to a bank account designated by China
Unicom in writing at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Completion Date;
	 
	 	1.2.2	 	Telefónica shall record the resolution adopted by the Telefónica Board under
paragraph 1.1.1(b)(ii) above in a public deed granted by a Spanish Notary and shall
file for registration such public deed with the Madrid Mercantile Registry as soon as
practicable but no later than one Business Day after Completion and Telefónica shall
use its best efforts to obtain the registration of such public deed with the Madrid
Mercantile Registry as soon as possible and in any case no later than five Business
Days after Completion;

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	 	1.2.3	 	no later than one Business Day after registration of the Telefónica’s capital
increase deed with the Madrid Mercantile Registry, Telefónica shall file an
authorised copy of such deed with the Spanish Registration, Clearing and Settlement
System (Iberclear) and apply for the admittance to listing of the Telefónica Shares
on the Spanish Stock Exchange. Telefónica shall use its best efforts to obtain the
listing of the Telefónica Shares on the Spanish Stock Exchange as soon as possible
and in any case no later than nine Business Days after Completion; and
	 
	 	1.2.4	 	immediately after registration of the Telefónica Shares with the Spanish
Registration, Clearing and Settlement System (Iberclear), Telefónica shall instruct
that the Telefónica Shares are deposited in the China Unicom’s Securities Account.

	1.3	 	If Telefónica elects to proceed with the Alternative B, Telefónica shall on the date of
Completion instruct that the Telefónica Shares are deposited in the China Unicom’s Securities
Account.

			
	2.	 	CHINA UNICOM’S OBLIGATIONS

	2.1	 	At Completion:

	 	2.1.1	 	At Completion China Unicom shall deliver to Telefónica the following documents:

	 	(a)	 	a copy of the listing approval referred to in Clause 3.2.1;
	 
	 	(b)	 	a written confirmation duly signed by a director of China Unicom
certifying that all China Unicom Warranties set out in Schedule 3 are true and
accurate in all respects as at the date of this Agreement and as at the
Completion Date;
	 
	 	(c)	 	copies (certified as true copies by an officer of China Unicom)
of each of the following documents:

	 	(i)	 	resolutions of the China Unicom Board approving the
execution by China Unicom of this Agreement and performance of all of its
obligations contemplated hereunder;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	resolutions of the China Unicom Board approving the
allotment and issuance of the China Unicom Shares to Telefónica (or such
subsidiary as Telefónica may designate) for cash consideration pursuant
to the General Mandate and the subscription for the Telefónica Shares for
cash consideration in the event that Telefónica elects to proceed with
Alternative A or, in the event that Telefónica elects to proceed with
Alternative B, approving the acquisition of the Telefónica Shares in
exchange for the China Unicom Shares to be issued pursuant to the General
Mandate; and

	 	(d)	 	if applicable, a certificate duly signed by an officer of China
Unicom confirming the adjustment that is required to be made to the China Unicom
Price Per Share and the resultant number of China Unicom Shares to be delivered
to Telefónica (or any of its subsidiaries as it may designate) in accordance
with Clause 2.4.1 and/or Clause 2.4.2.

	2.2	 	If Telefónica elects to proceed with Alternative A at Completion, China Unicom shall transfer
the Alternative A China Unicom’s Contribution in immediately available funds to a bank account
designated by Telefónica in writing at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Completion
Date.

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	2.3	 	At Completion, China Unicom shall issue and allot to Telefónica the China Unicom Shares and
shall promptly procure the registration (without registration fee) of Telefónica (or such
subsidiary as Telefónica may designate) as the registered holder(s) of the China Unicom
Shares and deliver or cause to be delivered to Telefónica definitive share certificate(s) in
respect of the China Unicom Shares in the name of Telefónica (or such subsidiary as
Telefónica may designate).
	 
	2.4	 	China Unicom shall open a securities account with a Spanish entity authorized to render
investment services in accordance with Spanish Law (the “China Unicom’s Securities Account”)
and provide details of the China Unicom’s Securities Account to Telefónica at least five (5)
Business Days prior to the Completion Date.

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SCHEDULE 2

TELEFÓNICA WARRANTIES

			
	1.	 	CAPACITY AND AUTHORITY

	1.1	 	Telefónica is a company duly established under the laws of Spain and has been in continuous
existence since incorporation.
	 
	1.2	 	Telefónica (whether directly or through its subsidiaries) has the power and authority to own
its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted and is lawfully qualified to do
business in those jurisdictions in which business is conducted by it.
	 
	1.3	 	Save for the Telefónica Board approval as contemplated in Clause 3.1.1, Telefónica has full
corporate power, authority and capacity, has taken all actions necessary, to enter into,
execute, deliver, exercise its rights and perform its obligations under this Agreement and
each document to be executed at or before Completion and to carry out the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.
	 
	1.4	 	No action or thing is required to be taken, fulfilled or done and no Approvals, filings or
notifications are required for Telefónica to enter into, execute, deliver, exercise its rights
and perform its obligations under this Agreement, or in relation to the subscription for the
China Unicom Shares or the issue or transfer of the Telefónica Shares, or the carrying out of
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as the case may be, except for:

	 	(a)	 	the approval by the Telefónica Board as contemplated in Clause 3.1.1 and the
reports referred to in Clause 4.2.2(c);
	 
	 	(b)	 	the actions provided in paragraphs 1.2.2 to 1.2.3 of Schedule 1, including
the approval for the listing of the Telefónica Shares from the Spanish Stock Exchange;
and
	 
	 	(c)	 	the public disclosure regarding the execution of this Agreement, the issuance
or transfer of the Telefónica Shares and the subscription for the China Unicom Shares,
as required under the securities regulations of Spain or any other relevant
jurisdictions.

	1.5	 	Telefónica’s obligations under this Agreement and each document to be executed at or before
Completion constitutes, or when the relevant document is executed will constitute, valid,
legal and binding obligations of Telefónica enforceable in accordance with their respective
terms.

			
	2.	 	SHARES

	2.1	 	Telefónica has existing authority to issue or transfer the Telefónica Shares in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.
	 
	2.2	 	The issuance or transfer of the Telefónica Shares will comply with all statutory requirements
and all relevant laws of Spain, and with the rules and regulations of the Spanish Stock
Exchange, including all disclosure requirements in respect of the issue or transfer of
Telefónica Shares.
	 
	2.3	 	The issuance or transfer of the Telefónica Shares pursuant to this Agreement will not cause
any breach of any agreement to which Telefónica and/or any of its subsidiaries is a party or
by which it is or any of them is bound and will not infringe or exceed any limits on, powers
of, or restrictions on or the terms of any contract, obligation or commitment whatsoever of,
Telefónica and/or any of its subsidiaries.
	 
	2.4	 	The issuance or transfer of the Telefónica Shares will not be subject to any pre-emptive or
similar rights or restrictions on voting and transfers.

- 17 -

 

	2.5	 	The Telefónica Shares will be issued or transferred pursuant to this Agreement free from all
Encumbrances and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Telefónica Ordinary
Shares, together with all rights and entitlements accruing after the date of Completion and
the right to receive all dividends or other distributions declared, paid or made or proposed
to be made on such Telefónica Shares after the date of Completion, and no Telefónica Shares
are subject to purchase from or issuance by Telefónica pursuant to presently existing rights,
options, warrants, agreements or convertible securities.

			
	3.	 	EFFECT OF AGREEMENT AND SUBSCRIPTION

	 	 	Neither this Agreement nor the issuance or transfer of the Telefónica Shares will:
	 
	3.1	 	constitute or give rise to a breach of or default under: (a) any law, rule, regulation,
judgment, order, authorisation or decree of any government, governmental or regulatory body,
arbitrator, administrative agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over
Telefónica or its properties or assets; or (b) the constitutional documents of Telefónica; or
	 
	3.2	 	give rise to any rights of any third party in respect of any assets of Telefónica.

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SCHEDULE 3

CHINA UNICOM WARRANTIES

			
	1.	 	CAPACITY AND AUTHORITY

	1.1	 	China Unicom is a company duly established under the laws of Hong Kong and has been in
continuous existence since incorporation.
	 
	1.2	 	China Unicom (whether directly or through its subsidiaries) has the power and authority to
own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted and is lawfully qualified to
do business in those jurisdictions in which business is conducted by it.
	 
	1.3	 	China Unicom has full corporate power, authority and capacity, and has taken all actions
necessary, to enter into, execute, deliver, exercise its rights and perform its obligations
under this Agreement and each document to be executed at or before Completion, and to carry
out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
	 
	1.4	 	No action or thing is required to be taken, fulfilled or done and no Approvals, filings or
notifications are required for China Unicom to enter into, execute, deliver, exercise its
rights and perform its obligations under this Agreement, or in relation to the issue of the
China Unicom Shares, or the subscription for or acquisition of the Telefónica Shares, or the
carrying out of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as the case may be,
except for:

	 	(a)	 	the approval of the Listing Committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for the
listing of, and permission to deal in, the China Unicom Shares;
	 
	 	(b)	 	filings to be made with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong
Companies Registry; and
	 
	 	(c)	 	the public disclosure regarding the execution of this Agreement, the issue of
the China Unicom Shares and the subscription for or acquisition of the Telefónica
Shares as required under the Listing Rules.

	1.5	 	China Unicom’s obligations under this Agreement and each document to be executed at or before
Completion constitutes, or when the relevant document is executed will constitute, valid,
legal and binding obligations of China Unicom enforceable in accordance with their respective
terms.

			
	2.	 	SHARES

	2.1	 	China Unicom has existing authority to allot and issue the China Unicom Shares pursuant to
the General Mandate in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
	 
	2.2	 	The creation, allotment and issuance of the China Unicom Shares will comply with all
statutory requirements, including the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 32 of the Laws of Hong
Kong), and with the rules and regulations of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, including the
disclosure requirements under the Listing Rules in respect of the issue of the China Unicom
Shares.
	 
	2.3	 	Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph 2.2 above, the China Unicom Shares will be
allotted and issued by the directors of China Unicom to Telefónica pursuant to the General
Mandate which is a valid, unconditional and subsisting mandate duly given by the shareholders
of China Unicom at the annual general meeting held on 26 May to the China Unicom Board, and
China Unicom has reserved out of its authorised but unissued share capital such number of
China Unicom Shares as would be required to be issued in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.

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	2.4	 	The creation of the China Unicom Shares and their allotment and issuance pursuant to this
Agreement will not cause any breach of any agreement to which China Unicom and/or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which it is or any of them is bound and will not infringe or
exceed any limits on, powers of, or restrictions on or the terms of any contract, obligation
or commitment whatsoever of, China Unicom and/or any of its subsidiaries.
	 
	2.5	 	The issuance of the China Unicom Shares will not be subject to any pre-emptive or similar
rights or restrictions on voting and transfers.
	 
	2.6	 	The China Unicom Shares will be allotted and issued pursuant to this Agreement free from all
Encumbrances and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing China Unicom Ordinary
Shares together with all rights and entitlements accruing after the date of Completion and the
right to receive all dividends or other distributions declared, paid or made or proposed to be
made on such China Unicom Ordinary Shares after the date of Completion, and no China Unicom
Shares are subject to purchase from or issuance by China Unicom pursuant to presently existing
rights, options, warrants, agreements or convertible securities.

			
	3.	 	EFFECT OF AGREEMENT AND SUBSCRIPTION

	 	 	Neither this Agreement nor the allotment and issuance of the China Unicom Shares will:
	 
	3.1	 	constitute or give rise to a breach of or default under: (a) any law, rule, regulation,
judgment, order, authorisation or decree of any government, governmental or regulatory body,
arbitrator, administrative agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over
China Unicom or any of its properties or assets; or (b) the constitutional documents of China
Unicom; or
	 
	3.2	 	give rise to any rights of any third party in respect of any assets of China Unicom.

- 20 -

 

EXECUTED by the Parties on the date and year stated above

	 	 	 
	SIGNED
by Chang Xiaobing
	)	 
	for and on behalf of
	)	 
	CHINA UNICOM (HONG KONG) LIMITED
	)	/s/ Chang Xiaobing
	 
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	SIGNED
by César Alierta
	)	 
	for and on behalf of
	)	 
	TELEFÓNICA S.A.
	)	/s/ César Alierta

- 21 -EX-4.52

	 	 	 
	
	 	Exhibit 4.52

DATED 6 SEPTEMBER 2009

CHINA UNICOM (HONG KONG) LIMITED

AND

TELEFÓNICA S.A.

 

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AGREEMENT

 

 

 

THIS
AGREEMENT is made on 6 September 2009

BETWEEN:

	(1)	 	CHINA UNICOM (HONG KONG) LIMITED, a company incorporated in Hong Kong and having its
registered office at 75th Floor, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong (“China
Unicom”); and
	 
	(2)	 	TELEFÓNICA S.A., a company incorporated in Spain and having its registered office at Gran Via
28, Madrid (Spain) (“Telefónica”).

WHEREAS:

	(A)	 	China Unicom is a leading company in the global telecommunications providing full service
telecommunications services in the People’s Republic of China and is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Through its Affiliates, China Unicom is
engaged in GSM and WCDMA cellular business in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and
municipalities in the People’s Republic of China, the provision of international and domestic
long distance calls, domestic telephone services, Internet services, data communications, and
other related value-added telecommunications services. China Unicom has also established
business organisations engaging in related international businesses in Hong Kong, the United
States, Japan and Europe.
	 
	(B)	 	Telefónica is a leading integrated telecommunications company providing fixed and mobile
services with presence in 25 countries. Telefónica is listed on the main international stock
exchanges and its total customer base exceeds 261 million globally.
	 
	(C)	 	As at the date of this Agreement, Telefónica owns 1,278,403,444 shares in China Unicom,
representing approximately 5.38% of China Unicom’s issued share capital.
	 
	(D)	 	China Unicom and Telefónica have conducted a series of business co-operation, and
co-operative efforts in business personnel exchange, broadband Internet, roaming, mobile
services and applications, 3G network roll-outs, international voice and data communications,
national engineering laboratory projects, new product innovation and joint procurement which
have been particularly effective and entered into a Business Co-operation Framework Agreement
on 30 January 2009.
	 
	(E)	 	In order to strengthen the cooperation between China Unicom and Telefónica, apart from making
mutual investment in the shares of each other, China Unicom and Telefónica also intend to
agree on a co-operation and synergy program which is aimed at strengthening the business of
each other by co-operation based on the network, business model and experience of each other.
	 
	(F)	 	China Unicom and Telefónica have agreed to enter into this Agreement in order to
establish a strategic alliance and to set out certain terms and conditions relating to the
implementation of such strategic alliance.
	 
	1.	 	INTERPRETATION
	 
	1.1	 	In this Agreement:
	 
	 	 	“Affiliate” means, with respect to either Party, any company that directly or indirectly,
through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by such Party or is under direct
or indirect common Control with such Party;

- 2 -

 

	 	 	“Agreement” shall mean this Strategic Alliance Agreement, as amended or supplemented from time
to time;
	 
	 	 	“Applicable Laws” means, with respect to any person, any laws, rules, regulations, guidelines,
directives, treaties, judgments, decrees, orders, decisions, rulings or notices of any
Authority that are applicable to such person, and including without limitation, the Listing
Rules;
	 
	 	 	“Area of Co-operation” means each of the areas listed in Clauses 2.1.1(a) to 2.1.1(g), 2.1.2
and 2.1.3, and any additional area agreed between the Parties pursuant to Clause 2.1.6;
	 
	 	 	“Authority” means with respect to any person, the relevant government, administrative or
regulatory body (including the Hong Kong Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange or
securities quotation system), any commission (including the Hong Kong Securities and Futures
Commission) or court, tribunal, arbitrator or governmental agency or authority or department
which has jurisdiction over such person, in each case whether federal, state, provincial,
local or foreign;
	 
	 	 	“Board” means the board of directors of the relevant Party;
	 
	 	 	“Business Day” means a day other than Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays in Hong Kong,
Beijing or Madrid;
	 
	 	 	“China Unicom Group” means China Unicom and its subsidiaries from time to time, and “China
Unicom Group Company” means any member of the China Unicom Group;
	 
	 	 	“China Unicom Information” means the information, data, know-how and other materials provided
by China Unicom to Telefónica for the purposes of this Agreement;
	 
	 	 	“Confidential Information” has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.1;
	 
	 	 	“Control” means the exercise or control of the exercise, whether directly or indirectly, of 30
per cent or more of the voting rights of a company at general meetings or the power to control
the composition of a majority of the board of directors (or its equivalent) of a company and
“Controlled” and “Controls” shall be construed accordingly;
	 
	 	 	“Co-operation Agreement” has the meaning given to it in Clause 2.2;
	 
	 	 	“Defaulting Party” has the meaning given to it in Clause 7.4;
	 
	 	 	“Disclosing Party” has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.1;
	 
	 	 	“Dispute” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.2;
	 
	 	 	“HKIAC” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.4;
	 
	 	 	“Hong Kong Stock Exchange” means The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
	 
	 	 	“ICT Services” means information and communication technology services;
	 
	 	 	“Implementation Plan” has the meaning given to it in Clause 3.1;

- 3 -

 

	 	 	“Intellectual Property Rights” shall include all rights in and in relation to any patent,
trade mark, service mark, trade name, trade dress, domain name, design right, utility model,
copyright (including without limitation computer software), layout design (topography) right,
trade secrets, confidential information or all other intellectual proprietary, industrial or
commercial right, whether registered or unregistered, and all applications for such rights,
extensions, variations and renewals thereof in any part of the world;
	 
	 	 	“Listing Rules” means the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange;
	 
	 	 	“MNCs” means a multinational customer, being a corporation with activity and interest in ICT
Services in more than one country, being at least one of those countries within China Unicom’s
footprint or Telefónica’s footprint;
	 
	 	 	“Parties” means China Unicom and Telefónica, and “Party” means either of them;
	 
	 	 	“PRC” means the People’s Republic of China;
	 
	 	 	“Project Leaders” has the meaning given to it in Clause 3.1;
	 
	 	 	“R&D” means research and development;
	 
	 	 	“Receiving Party” has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.1;
	 
	 	 	“RFP” means request for proposal;
	 
	 	 	“Rules” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.3;
	 
	 	 	“Steering Committee” has the meaning given to it in Clause 3.2;
	 
	 	 	“Subscription Agreement” means the Subscription Agreement dated the date hereof entered into
between the Parties relating to the investment in shares by each Party in the other;
	 
	 	 	“Telefónica Group” means Telefónica and its subsidiaries from time to time, and “Telefónica
Group Company” means any member of the Telefónica Group; and
	 
	 	 	“Telefónica Information” means the information, data, know-how and other materials provided by
Telefónica to China Unicom for the purposes of this Agreement.
	 
	1.2	 	In this Agreement, a reference to:

	 	1.2.1	 	a person includes a reference to a physical individual or a legal entity;
	 
	 	1.2.2	 	a person includes a reference to that person’s legal personal representatives,
successors and permitted assigns;
	 
	 	1.2.3	 	words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa; and
	 
	 	1.2.4	 	a Clause or Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires, is a reference to a
clause of or schedule to this Agreement.

	1.3	 	The headings in this Agreement shall not affect its interpretation.

- 4 -

 

	2.	 	CO-OPERATION AND SYNERGY PROGRAM
	 
	2.1	 	Subject to Applicable Laws and to agreements entered into with third parties, China Unicom
and Telefónica desire to co-operate in the following areas in order to achieve synergies in
the operations of China Unicom and Telefónica (each, an “Area of Co-operation”):

	 	2.1.1	 	Cooperation and Synergies:

	 	(a)	 	Procurement: China Unicom and Telefónica shall evaluate
the possibility of developing joint procurement initiatives including: (i)
identifying equipment, products and services which can be managed by common
procurement by sharing detailed information on models, descriptions, volumes,
prices, timing and vendors; (ii) implementing single buying events for
equipment, products and services, where applicable; (iii) aligning price and
terms and conditions so as to put common offers to selected vendors; (iv)
aligning procurement calendars and portfolios, where feasible; (v) jointly
approaching selected vendors on areas such as the granting of exclusive rights
over selected devices and aggregating minimum volume requirements and (vi)
defining common specifications (marketing and technical) for sourced equipment,
products and services.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Mobile service platforms: China Unicom and Telefónica
will explore opportunities in order to: (i) create a single global platform for
developers to encourage the creation of a wide range of mobile widgets; (ii)
facilitate common mobile widget specifications, easy to use developers’ kits,
distribution and payment mechanisms to ensure developers can roll out their
products to customers in all of China Unicom’s and Telefónica’s respective
footprint; (iii) share application folders and jointly work on evolving towards
a single service delivery platform; (iv) create an open/collaborative
environment to foster R&D for small applications that could generate high volume
demand in the mobile and web spaces; (v) share information on business model and
service strategy as an open platform provider; and (vi) align common strategies
with respect to the mobile operating systems.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Service to MNCs: China Unicom and Telefónica will (i)
grant each other the status of “Preferred Partner” for the provision of services
to MNCs; (ii) analyze the possibility of jointly approaching identified MNCs for
the provision of international services and intend to prescribe each other’s
services locally, subject to such cooperation being technically feasible,
competitive pricing and each Party’s service capability being comparable to
other competitors in the relevant market; (iii) share information on global MNC
customers and on services and products roadmap for MNCs; (iv) enter into
discussions in order to jointly approach global RFPs for the provision of fixed
and mobile services for MNCs and ensure best commercial and operational terms
and conditions between Telefónica and China Unicom; and (v) in order to speed up
the response time to the final MNC customers, designate a specific department
which will be in charge of analyzing and setting up procedures to optimize
pre-sales (quotations and service configuration), sales (joint negotiation with
the customer) and post-sales (service management, trouble-ticketing, service
provisioning);

- 5 -

 

	 	(d)	 	Wholesale carriers: China Unicom and Telefónica will jointly explore
mechanisms aimed at (i) sharing detailed information on international voice
traffic, including volumes, routes and providers; (ii) increasing traffic
exchange in each other’s network (internalization of traffic); (iii) increasing
revenue and lowering costs of international voice traffic by aggregating
traffic in third parties’ network (hubbing); (iv) sharing detailed information
on both Parties’ global network footprint and roll out plans; (v) optimizing
networks and correspondent costs through capacity swaps and joint investment,
where applicable, and optimizing existing routes; and (vi) performing common
purchase of capacity by aggregating both Parties’ demand for capacity in order
to achieve price reduction.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Roaming: China Unicom and Telefónica will: (i) grant each
other the status of “Preferred Roaming Partner”; (ii) consider the possibilities
of maximizing the outbound traffic sent to each other’s network by means of
traffic steering tools; (iii) exploit areas of cooperation in order to enhance
the roaming services portfolio, and in particular, advanced value added services
in GSM and WCDMA and consider developing the products that can fulfil the
demands of the global markets; (iv) analyze joint approaches to third parties in
order to increase geographical coverage and service portfolio; (v) consider
jointly approaching and negotiating with other operators by aggregating both
Parties’ offer and demand for roaming services; (vi) share information with each
other on global roaming partners; and (vii) analyze ways to implement best
practices concerning business processes and roaming business model, including
subsequent processes, service offering and relevant operations.
	 
	 	(f)	 	Technology/R&D: China Unicom and Telefónica will analyze
the possibility of co-operating in developing joint R&D initiatives. The Parties
shall undertake reasonable efforts in order to perform joint approaches and
technology strategies to future network standards and such other technology as
China Unicom and Telefónica may agree from time to time, including future high
speed networks and the future mobile generations, aimed at reaching a leading
position in them. In addition, China Unicom and Telefónica will co-operate in
order to (i) develop and promote joint specifications; (ii) establish working
groups for sharing information on network structure, deployment roadmap and
operating model; (iii) identify and share best practices for improving network
efficiency, including thorough analysis both Parties’ key performance
indicators; (iv) align technical specifications to maximize opportunities for
saving in joint purchasing; (v) license, where advisable, to the other Party on
a limited basis intellectual property rights developed by a Party; (vi) share
results of finalized projects; and (vii) perform joint primary R&D projects.
	 
	 	(g)	 	International Business Development: China Unicom and
Telefónica will further discuss the feasibility of co-operating in joint
international business development.

	 	2.1.2	 	Co-operation and Sharing of Best Practices:
	 
	 	 	 	China Unicom and Telefónica intend to share their respective best practices in
relation to their operations, the benchmarking of their operation efficiency in
product innovation, marketing and technology and analysis of opportunities for
aligning product and services roadmaps, and any other areas as agreed between China
Unicom and Telefónica from time to time in order to drive both efficiency improvement
and revenue enhancement.

- 6 -

 

	 	(a)	 	The benchmark exercise to drive efficiency will be based on a
like-for-like comparison of identified business areas and related operational
processes and their underlying cost structures, with the objective of
identifying best efficiency practices, potential areas of learning and
subsequent improvement.
	 
	 	(b)	 	In order to drive revenue generation, the benchmarking of product
innovation, marketing and technology and analysis of opportunities for aligning
product and services roadmaps set out in Clause 2.1.2 will be based on the
sharing of detailed products and services roadmaps, with the objective of
identifying and implementing initiatives that enhance revenue generation for
either or both of the Parties.

	 	2.1.3	 	Strategic Projects:
	 
	 	 	 	China Unicom and Telefónica will consider the opportunity of sharing and developing
service strategies and potential joint execution of strategic projects, strengthen
each other’s position towards network evolution, and jointly participating in
international alliances and forums regarding the provision of telecommunications
services and applications, such as standards and handsets, in order to enhance each
other’s market influence.
	 
	 	2.1.4	 	Senior Management Exchange Program:
	 
	 	 	 	Each Party will send their respective mid to senior management personnel to the other
Party to undertake appropriate tasks and duties as may be agreed between the Parties
from time to time in order to enhance the mutual understanding and communication of
each other’s operational practices and systems, management philosophy and innovation
techniques.
	 
	 	2.1.5	 	Employee Training Program:
	 
	 	 	 	Each Party will send employees to the other Party to participate in training programs
as may be agreed between the Parties from time to time to communicate skills and
experience.
	 
	 	2.1.6	 	Others
	 
	 	 	 	In addition to the Areas of Co-operation identified above, China Unicom and
Telefónica will co-operate in such other areas of operations as may be agreed between
China Unicom and Telefónica from time to time.

	2.2	 	Subject to Applicable Laws, China Unicom and Telefónica shall use reasonable efforts to
negotiate in good faith and enter into definitive co-operation agreement(s) in relation to
certain of the Areas of Co-operation to be agreed between the Parties (each, a “Co-operation
Agreement”) in accordance with the Implementation Plan as agreed between the Parties pursuant
to Clause 3.1.
	 
	3.	 	IMPLEMENTATION OF CO-OPERATION AND SYNERGY PROGRAM
	 
	3.1	 	Project Leaders and Implementation Plan:
	 
	 	 	Each of China Unicom and Telefónica will appoint a project leader for each Area of
Co-operation in Clause 2.1 (“Project Leaders”). The Project Leaders for each Area of
Co-operation shall meet as and when required and enter into good faith discussions aimed at
agreeing the implementation plan of such Area of Co-operation (the “Implementation Plan”) and
establishing working groups to implement the Implementation Plan.

- 7 -

 

	3.2	 	Steering Committee: The Parties will establish a steering committee (“Steering Committee”)
comprising one (1) senior management executive nominated by each Party who will meet as and
when required to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of each Area of Co-operation.
	 
	3.3	 	Chairmen Meetings: The Chairman of each of China Unicom and Telefónica will meet on a
regular basis to review the cooperation between China Unicom and Telefónica.
	 
	3.4	 	Joint Ventures:
	 
	3.4.1	 	China Unicom and Telefónica will consider the appropriateness for the formation of joint
ventures for feasible projects in connection with the implementation of certain Areas of
Co-operation.
	 
	3.4.2	 	In the event that the formation of any joint venture or the execution of any Co-operation
Agreement and/or any agreement ancillary thereto requires any governmental, regulatory and/or
shareholders’ approval on the part of either Party under the Applicable Laws, the Parties
shall promptly consult with each other and shall cooperate in order to obtain the relevant
governmental, regulatory and/or shareholders’ approval required under the Applicable Laws as
soon as practicable.
	 
	4.	 	EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
	 
	4.1	 	Telefónica agrees to provide the Telefónica Information to China Unicom and China Unicom
agrees to provide the China Unicom Information to Telefónica for the purposes of the
implementation of the co-operation contemplated in this Agreement in sufficient level of
detail and within the timeline agreed in the Implementation Plan.
	 
	4.2	 	China Unicom agrees that the Intellectual Property Rights in all Telefónica Information
remain vested in Telefónica or its licensor(s), as the case may be.
	 
	4.3	 	Telefónica agrees that the Intellectual Property Rights in all China Unicom Information
remain vested in China Unicom or its licensor(s), as the case may be.
	 
	4.4	 	China Unicom represents and warrants that the China Unicom Information does not infringe any
third party rights, and shall indemnify Telefónica against any liability incurred by
Telefónica arising out of the proper use by Telefónica of the China Unicom Information.
	 
	4.5	 	Telefónica represents and warrants that the Telefónica Information does not infringe any
third party rights, and shall indemnify China Unicom against any liability incurred by China
Unicom arising out of the proper use by China Unicom of the Telefónica Information.
	 
	5.	 	CONFIDENTIALITY
	 
	5.1	 	In this Clause 5.1, “Confidential Information” means all confidential information related to
the subject matter of this Agreement disclosed (whether in writing, orally or by another means
and whether directly or indirectly) by a Party (the “Disclosing Party”) to the other Party
(the “Receiving Party”) whether before or after the date of this Agreement including, without
limitation, the Telefónica Information, the China Unicom Information and information relating
to the Disclosing Party’s products, operations, processes, plans or intentions, product
information, know-how, design rights, trade secrets, market opportunities and business
affairs.

- 8 -

 

	5.2	 	The Receiving Party shall keep strictly secret and confidential, and under no circumstances shall it
use or disclose to or allow the use by any person or entity any Confidential Information unless
disclosure or use of such information is expressly permitted under this Agreement or by the prior
written consent of the Disclosing Party, provided that the Receiving Party shall be liable to the
Disclosing Party for any breach of the confidentiality obligations provided for herein by the Receiving
Party or by any person to whom the Receiving Party discloses the Confidential Information, including
but not limited to the persons referred to in Clause 5.3.2.
	 
	5.3	 	Notwithstanding Clause 5.2, the confidentiality obligation shall not apply to:
	 
	5.3.1	 	any Confidential Information to the extent that it is in the public domain or came into the
possession of the Receiving Party through an independent third party (other than by reason of
a breach of this Clause 5.3.1 or any Applicable Law);
	 
	5.3.2	 	disclosure of Confidential Information to the Receiving Party’s Affiliates, agents,
officers, professional advisers, consultants and employees, provided that such disclosure is
on a “need to know” basis for the purpose of the performance and exercise of the Receiving
Party’s obligations under this Agreement, and provided that the Receiving Party shall procure
that each person to whom such disclosure is made is aware of the existence of this
confidentiality obligation and complies with all the Receiving Party’s obligations of
confidentiality under this Agreement as if it were a party to this Agreement;
	 
	5.3.3	 	the disclosure or making public (by way of announcement or otherwise) of Confidential
Information by the Receiving Party to the extent required by any Authority; or
	 
	5.3.4	 	the disclosure or making public (by way of announcement or otherwise) of Confidential
Information by the Receiving Party to the extent required by Applicable Laws,
	 
	 	 	provided that, in relation to a disclosure to relevant Authorities pursuant to Clause 5.3.3 or
5.3.4, the Receiving Party shall immediately notify the Disclosing Party upon receipt of a
notice from the relevant Authority requiring disclosure (unless it is prohibited by law from
doing so) and disclosure shall be limited only to the extent needed for compliance with such
requirement.
	 
	5.4	 	Upon request of the Disclosing Party, within one month of the termination of this Agreement,
the Receiving Party shall, and shall procure all third parties to whom the Receiving Party has
disclosed Confidential Information relating to the Disclosing Party to, deliver to the
Disclosing Party all Confidential Information relating to the Disclosing Party and all copies
of all or any part of them (including electronic files) or destroy or delete such Confidential
Information, and shall certify in writing to the Disclosing Party that none of the
Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party and no copies or reproductions of all or part
of them (including electronic files) have been retained by the Receiving Party or another
person to whom such Confidential Information has been disclosed by the Receiving Party.
	 
	5.5	 	The confidentiality obligations provided for herein shall last until the first anniversary
after the termination of this Agreement.
	 
	6.	 	UNDERTAKINGS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
	 
	6.1	 	Each Party hereby undertakes, represents and warrants to the other Party that:
	 
	6.1.1	 	it has the full power, legal capacity and authority to enter into and perform its
obligations under this Agreement; and

- 9 -

 

	6.1.2	 	the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement does not and will not result
in a material breach of any provision in its memorandum or articles of association or other
constitutional documents.
	 
	7.	 	EFFECTIVENESS
	 
	7.1	 	This Agreement shall come into effect from the date of signing of this Agreement by the
Parties and, subject to Clauses 7.2 to 7.5, shall terminate on the third anniversary of the
date of this Agreement, provided however that this Agreement shall be automatically renewed
for one-year term unless either Party gives at least six months’ prior written notice to the
other Party regarding its decision to terminate this Agreement.
	 
	7.2	 	This Agreement may be terminated by China Unicom in the event the Telefónica Group, directly
or indirectly, sells, contracts to sell or otherwise disposes of shares in China Unicom that
result in the Telefónica Group holding, directly or indirectly, in aggregate less than 5% of
the issued share capital of China Unicom from time to time, by giving not less than 30 days’
prior written notice of termination to Telefónica.
	 
	7.3	 	This Agreement may be terminated by Telefónica in the event the China Unicom Group, following
the completion of China Unicom’s acquisition of shares in Telefónica pursuant to the
Subscription Agreement, directly or indirectly, sells, contracts to sell or otherwise disposes
of shares in Telefónica that result in the China Unicom Group holding, directly or indirectly,
in aggregate less than 0.5% of the issued share capital of Telefónica from time to time, by
giving not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of termination to China Unicom.
	 
	7.4	 	This Agreement may be terminated by one Party giving not less than 30 days’ prior written
notice of termination to the other Party (the “Defaulting Party”) where:

	 	(a)	 	the Defaulting Party commits a material breach of this Agreement and either (i) the
breach is not capable of being remedied or (ii) where the breach is capable of being
remedied, the Defaulting Party does not remedy that breach within 30 days of the other
Party sending it written notice requiring it to remedy the breach; or
	 
	 	(b)	 	the Defaulting Party commits a material breach of the Subscription Agreement.

	7.5	 	This Agreement shall terminate with immediate effect when there occurs a change of Control of
China Unicom, other than through an internal group restructuring.
	 
	7.6	 	The rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement shall lapse upon termination
and be of no further effect, provided that termination of this Agreement shall be without
prejudice to the rights of either Party accrued prior to termination.
	 
	7.7	 	This Agreement sets out the framework upon which both Parties will continue to carry on
discussions regarding the implementation of business co-operation between both Parties.

- 10 -

 

	7.8	 	The Parties acknowledge that in the event the implementation of any Area of Co-operation, or
the execution of any Co-operation Agreement or any transaction or series of transactions to be
entered into between any China Unicom Group Company with any Telefónica Group Company pursuant
to the co-operation contemplated herein will subject either Party to any governmental,
regulatory and/or shareholders’ approval requirements under the Applicable Laws, each Party
shall promptly consult the other Party and both Parties shall use their all reasonable
endeavours to obtain the necessary governmental, regulatory and/or shareholders’ approval as
soon as practicable in order to further the implementation of the co-operation contemplated
herein to the greatest extent possible.
	 
	8.	 	GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
	 
	8.1	 	This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Hong
Kong.
	 
	8.2	 	Any dispute, controversy or claim arising from, out of or in connection with this Agreement,
including any question regarding its existence, validity, interpretation, breach or
termination (a “Dispute”) shall be determined in accordance with this Clause.
	 
	8.3	 	Any Dispute shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the UNCITRAL
Arbitration Rules (the “Rules”) which Rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference into
this Clause and as may be amended by the rest of this Clause.
	 
	8.4	 	The seat of arbitration shall be Hong Kong and the appointing authority shall be the Hong
Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “HKIAC”). The language to be used in the
arbitration proceedings shall be English.
	 
	8.5	 	The arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators, one of whom shall be appointed
by Telefónica, the other of whom shall be appointed by China Unicom and the third presiding
arbitrator shall be appointed by China Unicom and Telefónica jointly, or failing agreement
between the Parties within 20 Business Days, by the HKIAC.
	 
	8.6	 	No person shall be nominated or appointed as an arbitrator under Clause 8.5 unless that
person has substantial experience in the conduct of commercial disputes and is fluent in
English.
	 
	8.7	 	The arbitration award shall be final and binding on the Parties from the day it is made and
the Parties agree to be bound thereby and to act accordingly.
	 
	8.8	 	Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitral tribunal may be entered in, and application
for judicial confirmation, recognition or enforcement of the award may be made by or in, any
court of competent jurisdiction, and each of the Parties irrevocably submits to the
jurisdiction of such court for the purposes of this Clause 8 and for the confirmation,
recognition or enforcement of any award rendered by the arbitral tribunal, whether in
accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign
Arbitral Awards 1958 or otherwise.
	 
	9.	 	COSTS
	 
	 	 	Each Party shall pay its own costs relating to the negotiation, preparation, execution and
performance by it of this Agreement.

- 11 -

 

	10.	 	GENERAL
	 
	10.1	 	If at any time any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement is or becomes illegal,
invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the Applicable Laws of any jurisdiction, neither
the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof nor the legality,
validity or enforceability of such provision under the Applicable Laws of any other
jurisdiction, shall in any way be affected or impaired.
	 
	10.2	 	Nothing in this Agreement shall constitute or establish or be construed as constituting or
establishing a partnership or a joint venture between the Parties for any purpose whatsoever.
	 
	10.3	 	Nothing in this Agreement shall constitute or establish or be construed as constituting or
establishing any concert party relationship (within the meaning of the Hong Kong Code on
Takeovers and Mergers) between China Unicom and its Affiliates and Telefónica and its
Affiliates in respect of China Unicom.
	 
	10.4	 	This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed and
delivered is an original and all of which together evidence the same agreement.
	 
	11.	 	NOTICES
	 
	 	 	All notices required or contemplated by this Agreement from either of the Parties shall be in
writing and in English. All notices delivered by airmail or facsimile shall be addressed to
the Parties at their addresses set forth in this Clause, which addresses may be changed from
time to time by notice delivered in accordance with this Clause.

	 	 	 
	China Unicom:
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	Address:

	 	21 Jin Rong Street

Xicheng District

Beijing 100140

PRC
	 
	 	 
	Attention:

	 	Qi Ming Qiu
	 
	 	 
	Fax:

	 	+86 10 6625 9510
	 
	 	 
	Telefónica:
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	Address:

	 	24/F, North Tower, Kerry Centre

No.1 Guanghua Road

Chaoyang District

Beijing

PRC
	 
	 	 
	Attention:

	 	Mario Martin Gonzalez
	 
	 	 
	Fax:

	 	+86 10 8529 6865

- 12 -

 

	12.	 	ASSIGNMENT
	 
	 	 	This Agreement is personal to the Parties. Neither Party may assign or transfer or purport to
assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement except with the prior
written consent of the other Party.
	 
	13.	 	GOVERNING LANGUAGE
	 
	 	 	This Agreement is drawn up in the English language and translated into the Chinese language.
The Chinese language version of this Agreement is attached as Schedule 1 for reference only.
In construing the intention of the Parties, the English version of this Agreement shall
prevail over the Chinese language version.

- 13 -

 

SCHEDULE 1 : CHINESE TRANSLATION OF THIS AGREEMENT

- 14 -

 

EXECUTED by the Parties on the date and year stated above

	 	 	 	 	 
	SIGNED
by Chang Xiaobing

	 	 	)	/s/ Chang Xiaobing
	for and on behalf of

	 	 	)	 
	CHINA UNICOM (HONG KONG) LIMITED

	 	 	)	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	SIGNED
by César Alierta

	 	 	)	 
	for and on behalf of

	 	 	)	 
	TELEFÓNICA S.A.

	 	 	)	/s/ César Alierta

- 15 -

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