March 4, 1999
E-mail: [email protected]
(212) 912-7646
VIA EDGAR
- ---------
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: China Energy Resources Corporation - Preliminary Proxy Materials
----------------------------------------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of China Energy Resources Corporation ("CERC"), a
corporation organized under the International Business Companies Act of the
British Virgin Islands, attached for filing pursuant to Rule 14a-6 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is the following solicitation
materials (collectively, the "Solicitation Materials"):
(i) Letter to shareholders;
(ii) Notice of annual meeting; and
(iii) Proxy Statement.
The Solicitation Materials are to be furnished to the
shareholders of CERC in connection with the annual meeting of the shareholders
at which they will be asked to consider and vote upon the matters specified in
the enclosed Solicitation Materials.
Questions or comments regarding the Solicitation Materials
should be directed to Kofi Appenteng at (212) 912-7418 or Stephanie A. Hand at
(212) 912-7646.
Sincerely,
/s/ Stephanie A. Hand
----------------------------
Stephanie A. Hand
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
240.14a-12
CHINA ENERGY RESOURCES CORPORATION
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the
amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
<PAGE>
[LETTERHEAD OF CERC]
March 19, 1999
Dear Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of China Energy Resources Corporation, to be held on March 31, 1999, at 9:00
A.M., at the New York Marriott Financial Center, 85 West Street, New York, New
York. Your Board of Directors and management look forward to personally greeting
those shareholders able to attend.
This year, in addition to electing directors and ratifying the
appointment of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, as independent accountants for the
Company, you are being asked to consider and approve the offer and sale by the
Company of 5,000,000 shares of the Company's ordinary share capital, par value
$0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), and a warrant to purchase 5,000,000 shares
of Common Stock to the America Orient Group, Inc. ("AOG"), a Maryland
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of China Orient Group Industries,
Inc., a private sector conglomerate in the Peoples Republic of China, or its
assignee. The transaction and its effects are more fully described in the
accompanying Proxy Statement, which you are urged to read carefully. As of
January 25, 1999, the record date, there were 3,259,294 shares of the Company's
Common Stock outstanding, of which 2,009,294 shares are entitled to vote (the
"Voting Shares").
Whether or not you plan to attend, you can assure that your shares are
represented and voted at the Annual Meeting by promptly completing, signing,
dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided.
Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.
Sincerely,
/s/ Bill H. Zhao
----------------------------
Bill H. Zhao
Chairman of the Board
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHINA ENERGY RESOURCES CORPORATION
c/o America Orient Group, Inc.
971-B Russell Avenue
Russell Office Park
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
March 31, 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of China
Energy Resources Corporation (the "Company") will be held on March 31, 1999, at
9:00 A.M., at the New York Marriott Financial Center, 85 West Street, New York,
New York, for the following purposes:
1. To elect directors of the Company for the ensuing year.
2. To approve the offer and sale by the Company of 5,000,000
shares of the Company's ordinary share capital, par value
US$0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), and a warrant to
purchase 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company to
America Orient Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation, which will
result in a change in control of the Company.
3. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte Touche Thomatsu as
independent accountants for the Company for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 1998.
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before
the meeting and any adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on January 25,
1999 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice
of and to vote at the meeting and at any adjournments thereof.
As of the record date, there were 3,259,294 shares of the Company's
Common Stock outstanding, of which 2,009,294 shares are entitled to vote (the
"Voting Shares").
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO BE PRESENT PERSONALLY, PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE
ENCLOSED PROXY, WHICH IS BEING SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND RETURN
IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Bill H. Zhao
--------------------------
Bill H. Zhao
Chairman of the Board
March 19, 1999
<PAGE>
CHINA ENERGY RESOURCES CORPORATION
c/o AMERICA ORIENT GROUP, INC.
971-B RUSSELL AVENUE
RUSSELL OFFICE PARK
GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND 20879
------------------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON
MARCH 31, 1999
------------------------------------
The accompanying proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the Board of
Directors of China Energy Resources Corporation (the "Company") to be used at
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the New York Marriott Financial
Center, 85 West Street, New York, New York on March 31, 1999, at 9:00 A.M., and
any adjournments thereof (the "Meeting").
When the accompanying irrevocable proxy is properly executed and
returned, the shares of ordinary share capital of the Company, par value $0.01
per share (the "Common Stock"), it represents will be voted at the Meeting in
accordance with any directions noted thereon and, if no direction is indicated,
the shares it represents will be voted: (1) FOR the election of the nominees for
directors of the Company set forth below, (2) FOR the approval of the offer and
sale by the Company of 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock and a warrant to
purchase 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company (see "Proposed Offer
and Sale of Common Stock and Change in Control" herein (the "Proposed
Transaction")) and (3) FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu as independent accountants for the Company for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 1998.
This Proxy is being mailed on or about March 19, 1999 to the holders of
record of the Common Stock of the Company at the close of business on January
25, 1999. The costs of this proxy solicitation are being borne by the Company.
VOTING RIGHTS
Only holders of record of shares of Common Stock at the close of
business on January 25, 1999 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. On that date, there were outstanding 3,259,294 shares of Common
Stock, the holders of which are entitled to one vote per share on each matter to
come before the Meeting. Voting rights are not cumulative. As of the record
date, there were 3,259,294 shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding, of
which 2,009,294 shares are entitled to vote (the "Voting Shares").
The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the
outstanding Voting Shares will constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business at the Meeting. Directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting by a
plurality of the votes cast.
1
<PAGE>
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") does not know of
any other matters to be brought before the Meeting. If any other matters not
mentioned in the Proxy Statement are properly brought before the meeting,
including matters incident to the conduct of the meeting or related to the
adjournment thereof, the person named in the enclosed proxy intends to vote such
proxy in accordance with his best judgment on such matters.
VOTING SECURITIES
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
ownership of Common Stock of the Company as of January 25, 1999 by (i) all
persons who own more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock and (ii) all officers and directors of the Company as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF PERCENT
TITLE OF CLASS IDENTITY OF PERSON OR GROUP SHARES OWNED OF CLASS
- -------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock Hualong Holding Co. Ltd. 1,250,000(1) 38%
Common Stock Rana Energy Investment Ltd. 734,444 23%
Common Stock All officers and directors as a group -- 0%
</TABLE>
(1) Includes 1,250,000 shares which are held in escrow pursuant to an Escrow
Agreement dated November 15, 1996, all of which shares are non-voting during the
term of the escrow.
On February 13, 1999, the American Orient Group, Inc. ("AOG"), a
Maryland corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Orient Group
Industries, Inc. ("COG"), a private sector conglomerate in the Peoples Republic
of China, loaned the Company US$24,160 for working capital purposes in exchange
for a convertible note (the "AOG Convertible Note") and a warrant to purchase
120,800 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of US$.20 per share. Based
on a conversion price of US$.20 per share, the AOG Convertible Note was
convertible at the time of issuance into 120,800 shares of Common Stock.
As of January 25, 1999, there were 3,259,294 shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding. In the event that (i) the holders of the outstanding
convertible notes of the Company in the aggregate principal amount of
US$3,237,500 (the "Convertible Notes") exercise their right to convert the
principal amount and accrued interest at the floor price of US$3.50 per share
(representing 1,069,917 shares of Common Stock), (ii) AOG exercises its right to
convert the AOG Convertible Note at the conversion price of US$.20 per share
(representing 120,800 shares of Common Stock) and (iii) all the Company's
warrant and option holders exercise their purchase rights (representing
2,186,950 shares of Common Stock), the result would be a total of 6,636,961
shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. Dilution to the existing
shareholders, would be approximately 49.0%.
Assuming full conversion (in the case of the Convertible Notes and the
AOG Convertible Note) or exercise (in the case of the 2,186,950 warrants and
options) of the outstanding Convertible
2
<PAGE>
Notes, the AOG Convertible Note, warrants and options, the following table sets
forth information regarding ownership of the Common Stock on a fully diluted
basis by (i) all persons who own more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock and (ii) all officers and directors of the Company as a
group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF PERCENT
TITLE OF CLASS IDENTITY OF PERSON OR GROUP SHARES OWNED OF CLASS
- -------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock Hualong Holding Co. Ltd. 1,250,000(1) 19%
Common Stock Rana Energy Investment Ltd. 734,444 11%
Common Stock All officers and directors as a group -- 0%
</TABLE>
(1) Includes 1,250,000 shares which are held in escrow pursuant to an Escrow
Agreement dated November 15, 1996, all of which shares are non-voting during the
term of the escrow.
PROPOSED OFFER AND SALE OF COMMON STOCK
AND CHANGE IN CONTROL
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED TRANSACTION
- -----------------------------------
The Company is proposing to issue 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the
"Purchase Shares") and a warrant, exercisable within a five year period, to
purchase an additional 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Warrant") to AOG.
The definitive agreements (the "Definitive Agreements") include a Stock and
Warrant Purchase Agreement dated December 3, 1998 (the "Stock Purchase
Agreement"), the Warrant substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the Stock
Purchase Agreement to be executed at the closing of the Proposed Transaction and
a Registration Rights Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the
Stock Purchase Agreement to be executed at the closing of the Proposed
Transaction (the "Registration Rights Agreement").
The Stock Purchase Agreement provides that AOG will purchase the
Purchase Shares and the Warrant from the Company for an aggregate purchase price
of US$1,000,000. The Warrant is exercisable at any time after the later of the
closing date or January 1, 1999 (the "Exercise Date") in the five years
following the Exercise Date, in whole or in part, at the lower of (a) 75% of the
average closing price of the Common Stock for the 30 days immediately prior to
such exercise, or (b) as follows: US$0.75 per share in 1999; US$1.00 per share
in 2000: US$1.50 per share in 2001; US $2.00 per share in 2002; and US$3.00 per
share in 2003 (subject to adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends or
similar transactions).
BACKGROUND
- ----------
CERC has experienced operating losses and a decrease in working capital
in its most recent fiscal years. The Company has determined that it needs to
raise additional sources of working capital as well as change the current
management structure of the Company. The Company's interest in AOG's investment
in the Company grew out of the Company's high regard for AOG's management and
COG'S operating experience in the Chinese provinces in which the Company also
operates. For
3
<PAGE>
a fuller discussion regarding the Company's current operations please see the
Company's Report on Form 6-K for the nine months ended September 30, 1998.
THE CLOSING OF THE STOCK AND WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT
- -------------------------------------------------------
The closing of the Proposed Transaction is expressly subject to, among
other items: approval of the Proposed Transaction by the Company's Board and
shareholders; completion of satisfactory due diligence by AOG; an agreement
satisfactory to AOG with the holders of the Convertible Notes; continued listing
of the Company's Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX"); no
action, suit, or proceeding against the Company which would have a material
adverse effect shall be pending or threatened; the delivery to AOG by the
Company of certain corporate certificates; the continued operation of the
Company in the normal and ordinary course of business; the Company having a
positive cash position on the closing date of at least $1.00; the Company having
provided to AOG a copy of all documentation for payments made in the period from
the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement to the closing date; the Company having
received, in writing, approval from AOG for all payments in excess of $2,000;
the Company and its subsidiaries having received all necessary authorizations,
consents, and approvals of governments and governmental agencies; AOG having
received a copy of a letter from Cornerstone Financial Corporation addressed to
the Company that none of the Company or its subsidiaries is obligated to pay a
fee to Cornerstone Financial Corporation in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Definitive Agreements; the Company having furnished to AOG a
favorable opinion of its United States, British Virgin Islands and Peoples
Republic of China counsel acceptable to AOG and the Company having listed the
Purchase Shares and the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the
Warrant on the AMEX.
The Stock Purchase Agreement may be terminated: (1) by AOG and the
Company by mutual written consent at any time prior to the closing date; (2) by
AOG if: (a) the Company has breached any material representation, warranty, or
covenant contained in the Stock Purchase Agreement in any material respect and
the breach has continued without cure for a period of 30 days after the notice
of breach from AOG or (b) the closing shall not have occurred on or before June
1, 1999, by reason of the failure of any condition precedent to the obligation
of AOG to close under Section 6(a) of the Stock Purchase Agreement (unless the
failure results primarily from AOG itself breaching any representation,
warranty, or covenant contained in the Stock Purchase Agreement) or (3) by the
Company if (a) AOG has breached any material representation, warranty, or
covenant contained in the Stock Purchase Agreement in any material respect and
the breach has continued without cure for a period of 30 days, after the notice
of breach from the Company or (b) the closing shall not have occurred on or
before June 1, 1999, by reason of the failure of any condition precedent to the
obligation of the Company to close under Section 6(b) of the Stock Purchase
Agreement (unless the failure results primarily from the Company itself
breaching any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in the Stock
Purchase Agreement). In the event the Company or AOG terminates the Stock
Purchase Agreement, all rights and obligations of the Company and AOG under the
Stock Purchase Agreement shall terminate without any liability of any party to
any other party (except for any liability of any party then in breach). The
Company is liable to AOG for a termination fee in the amount of US$100,000 in
the event that (a) the Company takes affirmative actions toward a financing or
business combination transaction in breach of Section 2 of Part Two of the
Letter of Intent dated November 23, 1998 and (b) within six months after the
date of such breach or the date of delivery of such written notice, as the case
may be, the Company or any of its subsidiaries signs
4
<PAGE>
a letter of intent or other agreement relating to the acquisition of a material
portion of the Common Stock or of the Company or its subsidiaries, their assets,
or business, in whole or in part, whether directly or indirectly, through
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise (other than sales of inventory or
immaterial portion of the Company's or its subsidiaries' assets in the ordinary
course) and such transaction is ultimately consummated. This termination fee is
not the exclusive remedy available to AOG under the Stock Purchase Agreement in
the event of a breach by the Company.
In addition to the appointment of Mr. Bill Zhao, from and after the
closing date of the Proposed Transaction, designees of AOG shall assume
management of the Company and its subsidiaries and joint ventures. AOG has
designated Guoliang Guan as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of
the Company, Mr. Bill H. Zhao as President, Chief Operating Officer and a
Director of the Company, and Messrs. Fred F. Jin, Hongru Liu and Stephen Lange
Ranzini as Directors of the Company. See "Recent Developments."
INFORMATION REGARDING AMERICA ORIENT GROUP, INC.
- ------------------------------------------------
AOG, a Maryland corporation based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, was
incorporated in 1994. AOG is a wholly owned subsidiary of COG, a private sector
conglomerate in The People's Republic of China based in Harbin, Northeast China.
COG presently owns, controls and manages more than 40 enterprises with total
assets of approximately U.S. $865 million in various sectors including financial
services, capital construction, manufacturing, trade and commerce, real estate
development and management and seaport facilities. COG's subsidiaries include
The Orient Group, Inc., a publicly traded company that is listed on the Shanghai
Stock Exchange, Orient Finance Co., a non-bank financial institution located in
The People's Republic of China, Jinzhou Port Co., a seaport facility located at
Bohai Bay in Liaoning Province, and New China Life Insurance Co., an insurance
company located in The People's Republic of China.
AOG serves as the holding company for four wholly-owned U.S. based
subsidiaries, which include: Seven Corners Apartments, LLC, a Virginia limited
liability company, which owns residential real estate in Fairfax, Virginia; US
Trans. Inc., a Maryland corporation, which owns commercial and residential real
estate in Rockville and Gaithersburg, Maryland; US Export & Import, Inc., a
Maryland corporation, which conducts a U.S.-China trading business; and CAFEDA
International Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation, which provides
investment and financing services to COG. AOG and its subsidiaries hold total
assets having a value of approximately US$15 million, which primarily consist of
residential and commercial real estate. AOG also makes investments in the United
States on behalf of COG. Hongwei Zhang is the Chairman of the Board, CEO and
President of AOG. He is also the founding Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
President of COG. Guoliang Guan is the Executive Director and Senior Vice
President of AOG. He is also the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and a member of the board of directors of COG. Bill Zhao is the
Executive Vice President and a member of the board of directors of AOG. He is
also the Assistant to the President and a member of the board of directors of
COG.
In the event the Proposed Transaction is consummated, AOG will examine
the Company's assets and liabilities and develop a long-term strategy aimed at
increasing the Company's profitability.
5
<PAGE>
RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board believes the Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby are fair to, and in the best interest of, the
stockholders and the Company and recommends that the stockholders approve the
Proposed Transaction.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On March 3 1999, C.T. Yeh resigned from his positions as Acting
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Chairman and
Director of China Coal Mining (B.V.I.) Co. Ltd., and Legal Representative,
Chairman and Director of Mishan Hua Xing Coke Limited. On the same day, the
Board appointed Bill H. Zhao as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company, Chairman and Director of China Coal Mining (B.V.I.) Co. Ltd.,
and Legal Representative, Chairman and Director of Mishan Hua Xing Coke Limited.
Mr. Zhao will serve the Company in each of these positions until consummation of
the Proposed Transaction, and he will be paid a salary of US$120,000 per annum
pursuant to his employment agreement with the Company, dated March 3, 1999. See
"Business Experience Director Nominees -- Mr. Bill H. Zhao."
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this Proxy Statement constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 (the "Reform Act"). Such forward looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include,
among other things, the following: general economic and business conditions;
competition; technological advances; ability to obtain rights to technology;
ability to obtain and enforce patents; ability to commercialize and manufacture
products; results of research and development activities; business abilities and
judgment of personnel; availability of qualified personnel; changes in, or
failure to comply with, governmental regulations; and the ability to obtain
adequate financing in the future.
DILUTION
In the event the Proposed Transaction is consummated, the following
table sets forth information regarding ownership of the Common Stock immediately
following the sale of the Purchase Shares and assuming that AOG does not
exercise the Warrant at the closing on a fully diluted basis by (i) all persons
who own more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
and (ii) all officers and directors of the Company as a group:
6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF PERCENT
TITLE OF CLASS IDENTITY OF PERSON OR GROUP SHARES OWNED OF CLASS
- -------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock Hualong Holding Co. Ltd. 1,250,000(1) 11%
Common Stock America Orient Group, Inc. 5,241,600 45%
Common Stock Rana Energy Investment Ltd. 734,444 6%
Common Stock All officers and directors as a group -- 0%
</TABLE>
(1) Includes, 1,250,000 shares which are held in escrow pursuant to an Escrow
Agreement dated November 15, 1996, all of which shares are non-voting during the
term of the escrow.
Dilution to the existing shareholders resulting from the sale and
issuance of the Purchase Shares to AOG would be approximately 61%.
In the event the Proposed Transaction is consummated, the following
table sets forth information regarding ownership of the Common Stock immediately
following the closing and assuming that AOG exercises the Warrant at the closing
on a fully diluted basis by (i) all persons who own more than ten percent (10%)
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and (ii) all officers and directors of
the Company as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF PERCENT
TITLE OF CLASS IDENTITY OF PERSON OR GROUP SHARES OWNED OF CLASS
- -------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock Hualong Holding Co. Ltd. 1,250,000(1) 8%
Common Stock America Orient Group, Inc. 10,241,600 62%
Common Stock Rana Energy Investment Ltd. 734,444 4%
Common Stock All officers and directors as a group -- 0%
</TABLE>
(1) Includes 1,250,000 shares which are held in escrow pursuant to an Escrow
Agreement dated November 15, 1996, all of which shares are non-voting during the
term of the escrow.
Dilution to the existing shareholders resulting from the sale and
issuance of the Purchase Shares to AOG and Exercise of the Warrant by AOG would
be approximately 75%.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board to be elected at the Meeting consists of four members. Votes
made at the Meeting will be for the election as directors of the nominees
described below, to serve for the ensuing year and until their successors are
elected and qualified. The four nominees who receive a plurality of the votes
cast by written consent prior to the Meeting and at the Meeting shall be
elected. Each of the nominees is presently a member of the Board.
7
<PAGE>
NOMINEES
Name Age Nominated Position with Company
- ---- --- -------------------------------
Bill H. Zhao 44 Director
Luan Jixiang 52 Director
Wu Chunlai 58 Director
Zhang Geng Xin 45 Director
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
OF DIRECTOR NOMINEES
MR. BILL H. ZHAO is a Director and Executive Vice President of AOG,
positions he has held since 1994. He is also a Director and Assistant President
of COG, positions he has held since 1995. He is a member of the Board of
Directors of the Alliance Bank Corporation, a Virginia state chartered
commercial bank in Fairfax, Virginia. Before his affiliation with AOG, Mr. Zhao
was Advisor to the Executive Director for China of the World Bank from 1992 to
1994. He was Division Chief of the External Financial Department and World Bank
Department of Ministry of Finance of China from 1987 to 1992, and Assistant to
the Executive Director for China of the World Bank from 1984 to 1986.
MR. LUAN JIXIANG graduated from Heilongjiang Mineral and Metallurgy
College in 1988 and obtained a diploma from Jixing Coal College. Mr. Luan
previously held the position of General Manager of the Electromechanic Plant of
Qitaihe Coal Mine. He also previously held the position of assistant General
Manager of Huachuan Coal Mine. For the last five years, Mr. Luan has been
General Manager of the Coal Preparation Plant of Qitaihe Fuel Company, which
became QCCF in September, 1995 as an operating plant of MHXC. Mr. Luan has
served as a Director of the Company since April, 1997.
MR. WU CHUNLAI graduated from Beijing Petroleum Institute. He also
holds an advanced degree from the Beijing Research Institute of Coal Chemistry.
For the last five years, Mr. Wu has been a professor at the Shandong, Mineral
Institute, a Director of China Coal Research Institute, a Director and professor
at the Beijing Research Institute of Coal Chemistry and Chairman of Clean Coal
Technology Committee of UNESCO. Previously, he held several positions at the
Beijing Research Institute of Coal Chemistry, specifically in the coking and
coal liquidification area. Mr. Wu has been engaged in the coal industry for over
thirty years. Mr. Wu has served as a Director of the Company since April, 1997.
MR. ZHANG GENG XIN graduated from Mudanjiang Agriculture Administration
Bureau Engineering College. Since August, 1997, Mr. Zhang has been a
representative of the Mishan Municipality to MXHC. Prior to that he was General
Manager of the Mishan Xinguang Textile Plant for over four years. Mr. Zhang also
held positions as a Technical Specialist at the Mishan City Textile Plant and as
a Deputy Plant Manager at the Mishan General Textile Factory. Mr. Zhang has
served as a Director of the Company since April, 1998.
8
<PAGE>
INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES
- --------------------------------------------------
The Board did not meet during the 1997 fiscal year and met once during
the 1998 fiscal year. The Board has an Audit Committee. There is no standing
compensation committee, finance committee or nominating committee. Messrs. Wu
and Zhang serve on the Audit Committee, which meets as necessary with financial
management, the internal auditors and independent auditors to review internal
accounting controls and accounting, auditing, and financial reporting matters.
The Audit Committee did not meet during fiscal 1997.
EFFECT OF PROPOSED TRANSACTION
ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In the event that the Proposed Transaction is consummated, the Board
will be expanded to include the designees of AOG. Each of the persons listed
below are proposed designees of AOG:
DESIGNEES
Name Age Nominated Position With Company
- ---- --- -------------------------------
Guoliang Guan 38 Director
Fred F. Jin 33 Director
Hongru Liu 68 Director
Stephen Lange Ranzini 33 Director
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE OF DIRECTOR DESIGNEES
MR. GUOLIANG GUAN is a Director and Senior Vice President of America
Orient Group, Inc. ("AOG"), positions he has held since 1994. AOG's principal
business is making investments in North America for China Orient Group
Industries, Inc. ("COG"), a private sector conglomerate in the People's Republic
of China ("PRC") and the parent company of AOG. Mr. Guan is also a Director and
Vice President of COG, positions he has held since 1992. He is a Certified
Public Accountant in China. Mr. Guan is presently Executive Director of the
Board of Directors and General Manager of Orient Group Co. Ltd., a partially
owned subsidiary of COG listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, which is engaged
in civil engineering, construction, real estate development and management,
commerce and trade, and light manufacturing. He is a member of the Board of
Directors of Jhinzhou Harbor (Group) Co. Ltd., a partially owned subsidiary of
COG listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, which is an international commerce
seaport facility operating in Jinzhou, Liaoning Province (PRC). Mr. Guan is
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orient Finance Company, a wholly owned
finance company of COG. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of New
China Life Insurance Co. Ltd., a partially owned insurance company of COG with
operations in China. Mr. Guan is also Vice Chairman of the Heilongjiang
Provincial Entrepreneurs Association, and Executive Director of the Heilongjiang
Provincial Finance and Banking Society. Before his affiliation with COG, Mr.
Guan was Section Chief of the Department of Finance, Heilongjiang Provincial
Government (PRC), from 1983 to 1987, and Domestic Business Department Director
of the Public Accountants, Heilongjiang Province (PRC), from 1987 to 1992.
9
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MR. FRED F. JIN is Assistant General Manager of Orient Finance Co.
Ltd., a position he has held since 1997. Before his affiliation with COG, Mr.
Jin was Division Chief of International Organizations, International Cooperation
Department or the State Economic and Trade Commission of China, from 1992 to
1997.
MR. HONGRU LIU is presently a professor at the Graduate School of the
Institute of Finance and Banking of the People's Bank of China, a position he
has held since 1995 when he retired from civil service in the Chinese
government. Prof. Liu is Vice Chairman of the Chinese National Society of
Finance and Banking, and Vice Chairman of the Chinese National Society of
Philanthropy. He was the founder and Chairman of the Chinese Securities
Regulatory Commission in 1992 and continued in the capacity until 1995. Prof.
Liu was the First Deputy Chairman of the State Counsel's Securities Committee.
He was Vice Minister of the State Reform Commission from 1989 to 1992, and Vice
Governor of the People's Bank of China from 1980 to 1989. Prof. Liu was Division
Chief and Department Director in the People's Bank of China from 1959 to 1980.
MR. STEPHEN LANGE RANZINI is a Director, President and CEO of
University Bancorp, Inc. ("UBI"), a bank holding company which is listed on the
Nasdaq Stock Market. Mr. Ranzini is also a Director, President and CEO of
University Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of UBI based in Ann Arbor, Michigan
positions he has held since 1988. He is a Director of Michigan Business and
Industrial Development Company, Inc., a merchant banking company, and a Director
of Northern Michigan Foundation, a non-profit development corporation. Mr.
Ranzini is also a Director of CityFed Financial Corp., a financial services
holding company, a Director of Municipal Bankers Corporation, a Canadian company
listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and a Director of Pinnacle Underwriting
Management Associates, an insurance company based in Michigan.
In the event the Proposed Transaction is consummated, an Audit
Committee will include the following directors: Mr. Bill H. Zhao, Mr. Hongru Liu
and Mr. Stephen L. Ranzini. Both Messrs. Liu and Ranzini will be independent
directors.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Long-term compensation
---------------------------------------------------------
Annual compensation Award Payouts
----------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
Other annual Restricted Securities All other
Name and principal Salary Bonus compensation stock underlying LTIT compensation
position Year ($) ($) ($) award(s) options/SARs payouts ($)
- ----------------------- ---- ---------- ------- ------------- ----------------- ------------ ------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
C.T. Yeh, CEO (1) 1998 96,000 (2) 0 0 15,000 shares (3) 120,000 (4) 0 0
</TABLE>
(1) No compensation was granted to the directors of the Company for serving on
the Board, except that Board members may receive reimbursement of reasonable
expenses incurred in attending Meetings.
(2) Mr. Yeh's annual salary for 1998 was US$96,000, however Mr. Yeh only
received US$9,000 for the approximately two and one-half months he served as CEO
in 1998. Mr. Yeh resigned his positions as CEO, Chairman of the Board and
Director of the Company on March 3, 1999. On
10
<PAGE>
March 3, 1999, Mr. Zhao entered into an employment agreement with the Company on
March 3, 1999, and he will receive US$120,000 per annum in connection with his
employment as CEO, Chairman of the Board and Director of the Company.
(3) The fair market value of the shares at the time of issuance was
approximately US$7,500.
(4) Mr. Yeh was granted options to purchase 120,000 shares of Common Stock at
US$1.00 per share. The options are exercisable within five years from the date
of issuance.
Executive bonuses, if any, shall be determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company in its sole discretion.
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Board has selected Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, the Company's auditors
for the past fiscal year, as the auditors of the Company for the current fiscal
year. A representative of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is expected to be present at
the Meeting. He will have the opportunity to make a statement if he so desires
and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
ANNUAL MEETING
This Proxy Statement relates to the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of the Company. Information regarding the financial condition of the Company for
the 1998 fiscal year however, has been included in this Proxy Statement to
assure that the stockholders of the Company have the most recent publicly
available information regarding the financial condition of the Company. The
Company will hold the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company on a
future date subsequent to the closing of the Proposed Transaction if approved.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholders of the Company who intend to submit proposals relating to
the next annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company must submit such
proposals to the Company, China Energy Resources Corporation, c/o America Orient
Group, Inc., 971-B Russell Avenue, Russell Office Park, Gaithersburg, Maryland
20879.
ANNUAL REPORT
The Company's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, and the third quarter report for the nine months ended September 30, 1998,
are being mailed together with this Proxy Statement to shareholders of record as
of January 25, 1999. This Proxy Statement incorporates by reference the
Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F and bi-annual report on Form 6K for the
quarter ended September 30, 1998, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,
11
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the financial statements, supplementary financial information and managements'
discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations
contained therein.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Bill H. Zhao
----------------
Bill H. Zhao
Chairman of the Board
Dated: March 19, 1999
12
<PAGE>
EXECUTION COPY
STOCK AND WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CHINA ENERGY RESOURCES CORPORATION
AND
AMERICA ORIENT GROUP, INC.
DECEMBER 3, 1998
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<S> <C> <C>
1. Definitions..............................................................................................1
2. Purchase and Sale of the Shares and Warrants.............................................................5
(a) Basic Transaction...............................................................................5
(b) Purchase Price..................................................................................5
(c) The Closing.....................................................................................5
(d) Deliveries at the Closing.......................................................................5
3. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Transaction................................................6
(a) Representations and Warranties of the Buyer.....................................................6
4. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Company and Its Subsidiaries...............................8
(a) Organization, Qualification, and Corporate Power................................................8
(b) Capitalization..................................................................................8
(c) Noncontravention................................................................................9
(d) Brokers' Fees...................................................................................9
(e) Title to Assets.................................................................................9
(f) Subsidiaries....................................................................................9
(g) Financial Statements...........................................................................10
(h) Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End...............................................10
(i) Undisclosed Liabilities........................................................................12
(j) Legal Compliance...............................................................................12
(k) Tax Matters....................................................................................12
(l) Real Property..................................................................................15
(m) Intellectual Property..........................................................................17
(n) Tangible Assets................................................................................19
(o) Inventory......................................................................................19
(p) Contracts......................................................................................20
(q) Notes and Accounts Receivable..................................................................20
(r) Powers of Attorney.............................................................................20
(s) Insurance......................................................................................20
(t) Litigation.....................................................................................21
(u) Product Warranty...............................................................................21
(v) Product Liability..............................................................................22
(w) Employees......................................................................................22
(x) Employee Benefits..............................................................................22
(y) Guaranties.....................................................................................22
(z) Environmental, Health and Safety...............................................................22
(aa) Certain Business Relationships with the Company or Its Subsidiaries............................23
(bb) Disclosure.....................................................................................23
5. Pre-Closing Covenants...................................................................................23
(a) General........................................................................................23
</TABLE>
(i)
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
(b) Notices and Consents...........................................................................23
(c) Operation of Business..........................................................................23
(d) Preservation of Business.......................................................................24
(e) Full Access....................................................................................24
(f) Notice of Developments.........................................................................24
(g) Exclusivity....................................................................................24
(h) Intentionally Omitted..........................................................................24
(i) Listing of Shares and Approval by the Company's Shareholders...................................24
(j) Management of the Subsidiaries.................................................................24
6. Post-Closing Covenants..................................................................................25
(a) General........................................................................................25
(b) Litigation Support.............................................................................25
(c) Debt in Default................................................................................25
(d) Capital Expansion..............................................................................25
(e) Office.........................................................................................25
(f) Confidentiality................................................................................25
7. Conditions to Obligation to Close.......................................................................26
(a) Conditions to Obligation of the Buyer..........................................................26
(b) Conditions to Obligation of the Company........................................................28
8. Remedies for Breaches of This Agreement.................................................................29
(a) Survival of Representations and Warranties.....................................................29
(b) Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Buyer............................................29
(c) Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Company..........................................29
(d) Matters Involving Third Parties................................................................30
(e) Determination of Adverse Consequences..........................................................31
(f) Other Indemnification Provisions...............................................................31
9. Tax Matters.............................................................................................31
(a) Tax Sharing Agreements.........................................................................31
(b) Certain Taxes..................................................................................31
10. Termination.............................................................................................32
(a) Termination of Agreement.......................................................................32
(b) Effect of Termination..........................................................................32
(c) Termination Fee................................................................................32
11. Miscellaneous...........................................................................................33
(a) Press Releases and Public Announcements........................................................33
(b) No Third Party Beneficiaries...................................................................33
(c) Entire Agreement...............................................................................33
(d) Succession and Assignment......................................................................33
(e) Counterparts...................................................................................33
</TABLE>
(ii)
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
(f) Headings.......................................................................................33
(g) Notices........................................................................................33
(h) Governing Law..................................................................................34
(i) Amendments and Waivers.........................................................................34
(j) Severability...................................................................................34
(k) Expenses.......................................................................................34
(l) Construction...................................................................................35
(m) Incorporation of Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules...............................................35
(n) Specific Performance...........................................................................35
(o) Submission to Jurisdiction.....................................................................35
</TABLE>
Exhibit A--Form of Warrant
Exhibit B--Form of Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit C--Historical Financial Statements
Exhibit D--Holders of Convertible Notes and Terms of Amendment of the
Convertible Notes
Exhibit E--Forms of Side Agreements
Exhibit F--Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Company
Disclosure Schedule--Exceptions to Representations and Warranties Concerning the
Company and Its Subsidiaries
(iii)
<PAGE>
STOCK AND WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This STOCK and WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into on December 3, 1998, between America Orient Group, Inc., a
Maryland corporation, or its designee (the "Buyer"), and China Energy Resources
Corporation, a corporation organized under the International Business Companies
Act of the British Virgin Islands (the "Company"). The Buyer and the Company are
referred to together herein as the "Parties".
The Company is offering for sale 5,000,000 shares of its common stock
(the "Common Stock") par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares") and a warrant to
purchase 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A (the "Warrant," together with the Common Stock, the "Securities").
This Agreement contemplates a transaction in which the Buyer will
purchase from the Company, and the Company will issue and sell to the Buyer, the
Securities.
Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
promises herein made, and in consideration of the representations, warranties,
and covenants herein contained, the Parties agree as follows.
1. DEFINITIONS.
"ACCREDITED INVESTOR" has the meaning set forth in Regulation D
promulgated under the Securities Act.
"ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES" means material actions, suits, proceedings,
hearings, investigations, charges, complaints, claims, demands, injunctions,
judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, damages, dues, penalties, fines, costs,
amounts paid in settlement, Liabilities, obligations, Taxes, liens, losses,
expenses, and fees, including court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses arising from the foregoing.
"AFFILIATE" has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act.
"AFFILIATED GROUP" means any affiliated group within the meaning of
Code ss.1504 or any similar group defined under a similar provision of state,
local or foreign law.
"AMEX" has the meaning set forth in Section ss.7(a) below.
"APPLICABLE RATE" means the corporate base rate of interest announced
from time to time by Citibank N.A. plus 2% per annum.
"BASIS" means any past or present fact, situation, circumstance,
status, condition, activity, practice, plan, occurrence, event, incident,
action, failure to act, or transaction that forms or could form the basis for
any specified consequence.
"BUYER" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
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"CLOSING" has the meaning set forth in ss.2(c) below.
"CLOSING DATE" has the meaning set forth in ss.2(c) below.
"CODE" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
"COMMON STOCK" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
"COMPANY" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
"CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" means any information concerning the
businesses and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries that is not already
generally available to the public.
"CONTROLLED GROUP OF CORPORATIONS" has the meaning set forth in Code
ss.1563 or any similar provision of any tax law of any other jurisdiction.
"CONVERTIBLE NOTES" has the meaning set forth in ss.7(a).
"DEFINITIVE AGREEMENTS" means this Agreement, the Warrant and the
Registration Rights Agreement.
"DEFERRED INTERCOMPANY TRANSACTION" has the meaning set forth in Treas.
Reg. ss.1.1502-13 or any similar provision of any tax law of any other
jurisdiction.
"DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE" has the meaning set forth in ss.4 below.
"EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN" means any (a) nonqualified deferred
compensation or retirement plan or arrangement which is an Employee Pension
Benefit Plan, (b) qualified defined contribution retirement plan or arrangement
which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan, (c) qualified defined benefit
retirement plan or arrangement which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan, (d)
Employee Welfare Benefit Plan or material fringe benefit plan or program, or (e)
any Multiemployer Plan.
"EMPLOYEE PENSION BENEFIT PLAN" has the meaning set forth in
ERISA ss.3(2).
"EMPLOYEE WELFARE BENEFIT PLAN" has the meaning set forth in
ERISA ss.3(1).
"ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS" means all laws (including
rules, regulations, codes, plans, injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees,
rulings, and charges thereunder) of federal, state, local, and foreign
governments (and all agencies thereof) concerning pollution or protection of the
environment, public health and safety, or employee health and safety, including
laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases, or threatened releases of
pollutants, contaminants, or chemical, industrial, hazardous, or toxic materials
or wastes into ambient air, surface water, ground water, or lands or otherwise
relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport, or handling of pollutants, contaminants, or chemical,
industrial, hazardous, or toxic materials or wastes.
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<PAGE>
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
"EXCESS LOSS ACCOUNT" has the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg.
ss.1.1502-19 or any similar provision of any tax law of any other jurisdiction.
"FIDUCIARY" has the meaning set forth in ERISA ss.3(21).
"FINANCIAL STATEMENT" has the meaning set forth in ss.4(g) below.
"GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles as
in effect from time to time.
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY" has the meaning set forth in ss.8(d) below.
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY" has the meaning set forth in ss.8(d) below.
"INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" means (a) all inventions (whether patentable or
unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto,
and all patents, patent applications, and patent disclosures, together with all
reissuances, continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions, and
reexaminations thereof, (b) all trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos,
trade names, and corporate names, together with all translations, adaptations,
derivations, and combinations thereof and including all goodwill associated
therewith, and all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection
therewith, (c) all copyrightable works, all copyrights, and all applications,
registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (d) all mask works and all
applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (e) all trade
secrets and confidential business information (including ideas, research and
development, know-how, formulas, compositions, manufacturing and production
processes and techniques, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications,
customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and
marketing plans and proposals), (f) all computer software (including data and
related documentation), (g) all other proprietary rights, and (h) all copies and
tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium).
"KNOWLEDGE" means actual knowledge after reasonable investigation.
"LETTER OF INTENT" means the Letter Agreement, dated November 23, 1998,
between the Buyer and the Company.
"LIABILITY" means any material liability (whether known or unknown,
whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued
or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become
due), including any liability for Taxes.
"MOST RECENT BALANCE SHEET" means the balance sheet contained within
the Most Recent Financial Statements.
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<PAGE>
"MOST RECENT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" has the meaning set forth in
ss.4(g) below.
"MOST RECENT FISCAL MONTH END" has the meaning set forth in ss.4(g)
below.
"MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR END" has the meaning set forth in ss.4(g)
below.
"MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" has the meaning set forth in ERISA ss.3(37).
"ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS" means the ordinary course of business
consistent with past custom and practice (including with respect to quantity and
frequency).
"PARTY" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
"PERSON" means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an
association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated
organization, or a governmental entity (or any department, agency, or political
subdivision thereof).
"PROHIBITED TRANSACTION" has the meaning set forth in ERISA ss.406 and
Code ss.4975 or any similar provision of any tax law of any other jurisdiction.
"PURCHASE PRICE" has the meaning set forth in ss.2(b) below.
"REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT" means the Registration Rights Agreement
between the Company and the Buyer in the form attached as Exhibit B.
"RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE" has the meaning set forth in
ss.3(a) below.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"SECURITIES" means the Common Stock and the Warrant.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"SECURITY INTEREST" means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance,
charge, or other security interest, other than (a) mechanic's, materialmen's,
and similar liens, (b) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or for Taxes that
the taxpayer is contesting in good faith through appropriate proceedings, (c)
purchase money liens and liens securing rental payments under capital lease
arrangements, and (d) other liens arising in the Ordinary Course of Business and
not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money.
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<PAGE>
"SHARES" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
"SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation with respect to which a specified
Person (or a Subsidiary thereof) owns a majority of the common stock or has the
power to vote or direct the voting of sufficient securities to elect a majority
of the directors.
"TAX" means any British Virgin Islands or other federal, state, local,
or foreign income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise,
severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental
(including taxes under Code ss.59A) (or any similar provision of any tax law of
any other jurisdiction), customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits,
withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real
property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added,
alternative or add-on minimum, estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever,
including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
"TAX RETURN" means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund,
or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
"TERMINATION DATE" means the date on which either Party provides the
other Party with written notice that this Agreement is terminated.
"THIRD PARTY CLAIM" has the meaning set forth in ss.8(d) below.
"WARRANT" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
2. PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE SHARES AND WARRANTS.
(a) BASIC TRANSACTION. On and subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, the Buyer agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company
agrees to sell to the Buyer, the Securities for the consideration specified
below in this ss.2.
(b) PURCHASE PRICE. The Buyer agrees to pay to the Company at the
Closing $1,000,000 (the "Purchase Price") by delivery of cash payable by wire
transfer or delivery of other immediately available funds.
(c) THE CLOSING. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of Thacher Proffitt &
Wood in New York, New York, commencing by no later than January 23, 1999, or
such other date as the parties may mutually determine (the "Closing Date").
(d) DELIVERIES AT THE CLOSING. At the Closing, (i) the Company will
deliver to the Buyer the various certificates, instruments, and documents
referred to in ss.7(a) below, (ii) the Buyer will deliver to the Company the
various certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in ss.7(b) below,
(iii) the Company will deliver to the Buyer stock certificates and a warrant
representing all
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of the Securities and (iv) the Buyer will deliver to the Company the
consideration specified in ss.2(b) above.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE TRANSACTION.
(a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER. The Buyer represents
and warrants to the Company that the statements contained in this ss.3(a) are
correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and
complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing
Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this ss.3(a)).
(i) ORGANIZATION OF THE BUYER. The Buyer is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation.
(ii) AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSACTION. The Buyer has full power
and authority (including full corporate power and authority) to execute
and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder.
This Agreement constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of
the Buyer, enforceable in accordance with its terms and conditions. The
Buyer need not give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any
authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental
agency in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(iii) NONCONTRAVENTION. Neither the execution and the delivery
of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, will (A) violate any constitution, statute,
regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge,
or other restriction of any government, governmental agency, or court
to which the Buyer is subject or any provision of its charter or bylaws
or (B) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default
under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to
accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any notice under
any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other
arrangement to which the Buyer is a party or by which it is bound or to
which any of its assets is subject.
(iv) BROKERS' FEES. The Buyer has no Liability or obligation
to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement for which
the Company could become liable or obligated.
(v) REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. The Buyer understands that the
Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or any
other applicable securities laws, and that the sale provided for in
this Agreement is being made pursuant to the exemption provided in
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and that the reliance of the Company
on such exemption is predicated in part on the Buyer's representations
set forth herein, and none of the Securities may be offered, sold,
pledged or otherwise transferred except in compliance with the
registration requirements of the Securities Act and other applicable
securities laws, pursuant to an exemption therefrom or in a transaction
not subject thereto and, in each case, in compliance with the
conditions for transfer set forth in ss.3(a)(vii) below.
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(vi) ACCREDITED INVESTOR. The Buyer is not, and has not been,
an "affiliate" (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the
Company or acting on behalf of the Company, and the Buyer is an
Accredited Investor.
(vii) INVESTMENT. The Buyer is acquiring the Securities for
the Buyer's own account, for investment, and not with a view to, or for
offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation
of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws, subject to
any requirement of law that the disposition of its property be at all
times within its control and subject to its ability to resell such
Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act or any exemption from registration available under the
Securities Act; and it agrees on its own behalf, and each subsequent
holder of the Securities by its acceptance thereof will be deemed to
agree, to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Securities prior to
the date which is two years after the later of the original issuance
date thereof and the last date on which the Company or any "affiliate"
of the Company was the owner of such Securities (the "Resale
Restriction Termination Date") only (a) to the Company, (b) pursuant to
a registration statement which has been declared effective under the
Securities Act, or (c) pursuant to any other available exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act, subject in each of
the foregoing cases to any requirement of law that the disposition of
its property be at all times within its control and to compliance with
any applicable state securities laws; it being understood further that
the Company reserves the right prior to any offer, sale or other
transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date pursuant to
clause (c) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel,
certifications and other information satisfactory to the Company. The
Buyer acknowledges that any certificate evidencing the Securities will
contain a legend substantially to the following effect:
THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
"SECURITIES ACT") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED
HEREBY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE
REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR
OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO,
SUCH REGISTRATION.
(viii) RULE 144. The Buyer understands that the Securities may
not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of without registration
under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom and that in the
absence of an effective registration statement covering the Securities
or an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act,
the Securities must be held indefinitely. The benefits of Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act are not presently available to the
Buyer and the Company has not covenanted to make the benefits of such
rule available.
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4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE COMPANY AND ITS
SUBSIDIARIES. The Company represents and warrants to the Buyer that the
statements contained in this ss.4 are correct and complete as of the date of
this Agreement and will be correct and complete as of the Closing Date (as
though made then and as though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of
this Agreement throughout this ss.4), except as set forth in the disclosure
schedule delivered by the Company to the Buyer on the date hereof and initialed
by the Parties (the "Disclosure Schedule"). Nothing in the Disclosure Schedule
shall be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or
warranty made herein, unless the Disclosure Schedule identifies the exception
with reasonable particularity and describes the relevant facts in reasonable
detail. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, with the exception of
the Company's Form 20F and 6K filings with the SEC dated July 15, 1998 and
September 29, 1998, respectively, the mere listing (or inclusion of a copy) of a
document or other item shall not be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to
a representation or warranty made herein (unless the representation or warranty
has to do with the existence of the document or other item itself). The
Disclosure Schedule will be arranged in paragraphs corresponding to the lettered
and numbered paragraphs contained in this ss.4.
(a) ORGANIZATION, QUALIFICATION, AND CORPORATE POWER. Each of the
Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation or an equity joint venture company
duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its formation. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly
authorized to conduct business and is in good standing under the laws of each
jurisdiction where such qualification is required. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has full corporate or equity joint venture power and authority and
all licenses, permits, and authorizations necessary to carry on the businesses
in which it is engaged and in which it presently proposes to engage and to own
and use the properties owned and used by it. ss.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedule
lists the directors and officers of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
The Company has delivered to the Buyer correct and complete copies of the
charter and bylaws of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as amended to
date). The minute books (containing the records of meetings of the stockholders,
the board of directors, and any committees of the board of directors), the stock
certificate books, and the stock record books of each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries are correct and complete. None of the Company or its Subsidiaries
is in default under or in violation of any provision of its charter or bylaws.
(b) CAPITALIZATION. The entire authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 3,248,494 shares of
Common Stock are issued and outstanding and no shares of Common Stock are held
in treasury and 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which no shares of
preferred stock are issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding
shares have been duly authorized, are validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable, and are held of record by the respective holders as set forth in
ss.4(b) of the Disclosure Schedule. There are no outstanding or authorized
options, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights,
exchange rights, or other contracts or commitments that could require the
Company to issue, sell, or otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its
capital stock. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation,
phantom stock, profit participation, or similar rights with respect to the
Company. There are no voting trusts, proxies, or other agreements or
understandings with respect to the voting of the capital stock of the Company.
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<PAGE>
(c) NONCONTRAVENTION. Neither the execution and the delivery of this
Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will
(i) violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment,
order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government,
governmental agency, or court to which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries
is subject or any provision of the articles of association or memorandum of
association of any of the Company or joint venture agreements of its
Subsidiaries or (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default
under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to
accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any notice under any
agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other arrangement to which
any of the Company or its Subsidiaries is a party or by which they are bound or
to which their assets are subject (or result in the imposition of any Security
Interest upon any of their assets). None of the Company and the Subsidiaries
needs to give any notice to, make any filing with, (except for filings with the
SEC or AMEX) or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government
or governmental agency in order for the Parties to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) BROKERS' FEES. None of the Company and Subsidiaries has any
Liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or
agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) TITLE TO ASSETS. The Company and its Subsidiaries have valid and
legal title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the properties and assets used
by them, located on their premises, or shown on the Most Recent Balance Sheet or
acquired after the date thereof, free and clear of all Security Interests,
except for properties and assets disposed of in the Ordinary Course of Business
since the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet.
(f) SUBSIDIARIES. ss.4(f) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth for
each Subsidiary of the Company (i) its name and jurisdiction of formation, (ii)
the number of shares of authorized capital stock of each class of its capital
stock, (iii) the number of issued and outstanding shares of each class of its
capital stock, the names of the holders thereof, and the number of shares held
by each such holder, and (iv) the number of shares of its capital stock held in
treasury. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each
Subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and are validly issued,
fully paid, and nonassessable. One of the Company and its Subsidiaries holds of
record and owns beneficially all of the outstanding shares of each Subsidiary of
the Company, free and clear of any restrictions on transfer (other than
restrictions under the Securities Act and state securities laws), Taxes,
Security Interests, options, warrants, purchase rights, contracts, commitments,
equities, claims, and demands. There are no outstanding or authorized options,
warrants, purchase rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, or other
contracts or commitments that could require any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries to sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any capital stock of any
of its Subsidiaries or that could require any Subsidiary of the Company to
issue, sell, or otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its own capital
stock. There are no outstanding stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit
participation, or similar rights with respect to any Subsidiary of the Company.
There are no voting trusts, proxies, or other agreements or understandings with
respect to the voting of any capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company.
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<PAGE>
None of the Company and its Subsidiaries controls directly or indirectly or has
any direct or indirect equity participation in any corporation, partnership,
trust, or other business association which is not a Subsidiary of the Company.
(g) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Attached hereto as Exhibit C are the
following financial statements (collectively the "Financial Statements"): (i)
audited consolidated and unaudited consolidating balance sheets and statements
of income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flow as of and for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997(the "Most Recent Fiscal Year End")
for the Company and its Subsidiaries; and (ii) unaudited consolidated and
consolidating balance sheets and statements of income, changes in stockholders'
equity, and cash flow (the "Most Recent Financial Statements") as of and for the
9 months ended September 30, 1998 (the "Most Recent Fiscal Month End") for the
Company and its Subsidiaries. The Financial Statements (including the notes
thereto) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent
basis throughout the periods covered thereby, present fairly the financial
condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of such dates and the results
of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such periods, are correct
and complete, and are consistent with the books and records of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (which books and records are correct and complete), PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Most Recent Financial Statements are subject to normal
year-end adjustments (which will not be material individually or in the
aggregate) and lack footnotes and other presentation items.
(h) EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR END. Since the Most
Recent Fiscal Year End, there has not been any adverse change in the business,
financial condition, operations, results of operations, or future prospects of
any of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, since that date:
(i) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has sold, leased,
transferred, or assigned any of its assets, tangible or intangible,
other than for a fair consideration in the Ordinary Course of Business.
(ii) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has entered into
any agreement, contract, lease, or license (or series of related
agreements, contracts, leases, and licenses) either involving more than
$50,000 or outside the Ordinary Course of Business.
(iii) No party (including any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries) has accelerated, terminated, modified, or cancelled any
agreement, contract, lease, or license (or series of related
agreements, contracts, leases, and licenses) involving more than
$50,000 to which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a party or
by which any of them is bound.
(iv) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has imposed any
Security Interest upon any of its assets, tangible or intangible.
(v) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has made any
capital expenditure (or series of related capital expenditures) either
involving more than $50,000 or outside the Ordinary Course of Business.
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<PAGE>
(vi) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has made any
capital investment in, any loan to, or any acquisition of the
securities or assets of, any other Person (or series of related capital
investments, loans, and acquisitions) either involving more than
$50,000 or outside the Ordinary Course of Business.
(vii) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has issued any
note, bond, or other debt security or created, incurred, assumed, or
guaranteed any indebtedness for borrowed money or capitalized lease
obligation either involving more than $10,000 singly or $50,000 in the
aggregate.
(viii) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has delayed or
postponed the payment of accounts payable and other Liabilities outside
the Ordinary Course of Business.
(ix) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has cancelled,
compromised, waived, or released any right or claim (or series of
related rights and claims) either involving more than $50,000 or
outside the Ordinary Course of Business.
(x) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has granted any
license or sublicense of any rights under or with respect to any
material Intellectual Property.
(xi) There has been no change made or authorized in the
charter or bylaws of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(xii) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has issued,
sold, or otherwise disposed of any of its capital stock, or granted any
options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or obtain (including
upon conversion, exchange, or exercise) any of its capital stock.
(xiii) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has declared,
set aside, or paid any dividend or made any distribution with respect
to its capital stock (whether in cash or in kind) or redeemed,
purchased, or otherwise acquired any of its capital stock.
(xiv) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has experienced
any material damage, destruction, or loss (whether or not covered by
insurance) to its material property.
(xv) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has made any
loan to, or entered into any other transaction with, any of its
directors, officers, and employees outside the Ordinary Course of
Business.
(xvi) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has entered
into any employment contract or collective bargaining agreement,
written or oral, or modified the terms of any existing such contract or
agreement.
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<PAGE>
(xvii) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has granted
any increase in the base compensation of any of its directors,
officers, and employees outside the Ordinary Course of Business.
(xviii) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has adopted,
amended, modified, or terminated any bonus, profit-sharing, incentive,
severance, or other plan, contract, or commitment for the benefit of
any of its directors, officers, and employees (or taken any such action
with respect to any other Employee Benefit Plan).
(xix) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has made any
other change in employment terms for any of its directors, officers,
and employees outside the Ordinary Course of Business.
(xx) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has made or
pledged to make any charitable or other capital contribution outside
the Ordinary Course of Business.
(xxi) There has not been any other material occurrence, event,
incident, action, failure to act, or transaction outside the Ordinary
Course of Business involving any of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(xxii) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has committed
to any of the foregoing.
(i) UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries
has any Liability (and there is no Basis for any present or future action, suit,
proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand against
any of them giving rise to any Liability), except for (i) Liabilities set forth
on the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes thereto)
and (ii) Liabilities (limited to the Knowledge of the Company with respect to
the Subsidiaries) which have arisen after the Most Recent Fiscal Month End in
the Ordinary Course of Business (none of which results from, arises out of,
relates to, is in the nature of, or was caused by any breach of contract, breach
of warranty, tort, infringement, or violation of law).
(j) LEGAL COMPLIANCE. Each of the Company, its Subsidiaries, and their
respective predecessors and Affiliates has complied with all applicable laws
(including rules, regulations, codes, plans, injunctions, judgments, orders,
decrees, rulings, and charges thereunder) of federal, state, local, and foreign
governments (and all agencies thereof) if any, and no action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, demand, or notice has been
filed or commenced against any of them alleging any failure so to comply.
(k) TAX MATTERS.
(i) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed all Tax
Returns that it was required to file. All such Tax Returns were correct
and complete in all respects. All Taxes owed by any of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been
paid (except as described in ss.4(k)(vii) below). None of the Company
and its Subsidiaries currently is the beneficiary of any extension of
time within which to file any
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Tax Return. No claim has ever been made by an authority in a
jurisdiction where any of the Company and its Subsidiaries does not
file Tax Returns that any of it or its Subsidiaries is or may be
subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There are no Security
Interests on any of the assets of any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries that arose in connection with any failure (or alleged
failure) to pay any Tax.
(ii) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has withheld and
paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection
with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor,
creditor, stockholder, or other third party.
(iii) Neither the Company or its Subsidiaries expects any
authority to assess any additional Taxes for any period for which Tax
Returns have been filed. There is no dispute or claim concerning any
Taxes of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries either (A) claimed or
raised by any authority in writing or (B) as to which any of the
Company and its Subsidiaries has Knowledge based upon personal contact
with any agent of such authority. ss.4(k) of the Disclosure Schedule
lists all British Virgin Islands or other federal, state, local, and
foreign income Tax Returns filed with respect to any of the Company and
its Subsidiaries for taxable periods ended on or after December 31,
1991, indicates those Tax Returns that have been audited, and indicates
those Tax Returns that currently are the subject of audit. The Company
has delivered to the Buyer correct and complete copies of all British
Virgin Islands or other federal income Tax Returns, examination
reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to
by any of the Company and its Subsidiaries since December 31, 1996.
(iv) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has waived any
statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension
of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
(v) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed a
consent under Code ss.341(f) concerning collapsible corporations (or
any similar provision of British Virgin Islands or other federal,
state, local, or foreign law). None of the Company and its Subsidiaries
has made any payments, is obligated to make any payments, or is a party
to any agreement that under certain circumstances could obligate it to
make any payments that will not be deductible under Code ss.280G (or
any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law). None of the
Company and its Subsidiaries has been a United States real property
holding corporation within the meaning of Code ss.897(c)(2) during the
applicable period specified in Code ss.897(c)(1)(A)(ii). Each of the
Company and its Subsidiaries has disclosed on its British Virgin
Islands or other federal (or similar) income Tax Returns all positions
taken therein that could give rise to a substantial understatement of
federal income Tax within the meaning of Code ss.6662 (or any similar
provision of British Virgin Islands or other federal, state, local, or
foreign law). None of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a party to
any Tax allocation or sharing agreement. None of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (A) has been a
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<PAGE>
member of an Affiliated Group filing a consolidated federal income Tax
Return (other than a group the common parent of which was the Company)
or (B) has any Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any of
the Company and its Subsidiaries) under Treas. Reg. ss.1.1502-6 (or any
similar provision of British Virgin Islands or other federal, state,
local, or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or
otherwise.
(vi) ss.4(k) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the
following information with respect to each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (or, in the case of clause (B) below, with respect to each
of the Subsidiaries) as of the most recent practicable date (as well as
on an estimated pro forma basis as of the Closing giving effect to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby): (A) the basis of
the Company or Subsidiary in its assets; (B) the basis of the
stockholder(s) of the Subsidiary in its stock (or the amount of any
Excess Loss Account); (C) the amount of any net operating loss, net
capital loss, unused investment or other credit, unused foreign tax,
excess charitable contribution, excess loss account, or earnings and
profits allocable to the Company or Subsidiary, as well as the methods
of accounting of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (D) the
amount of any deferred gain or loss allocable to the Company or
Subsidiary arising out of any Deferred Intercompany Transaction and the
amount of overall foreign losses of the Affiliated Group filing a
consolidated return of which the Company is the common parent allocable
to the Company and its Subsidiaries under Treas. Reg. ss. 1.1502-9 (or
any similar provision of British Virgin Islands or other federal,
state, local, or foreign law) and subject to recapture; and (E) the
amount of investment tax credit of the Company and its Subsidiaries
subject to recapture and the aggregate amount of ordinary losses on
"section 1231(b) property" (in each case under the Code or similar
British Virgin Islands or other federal, state, local, or foreign law)
that has been deducted by the Company and the Subsidiaries.
(vii) The unpaid Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries (A)
did not, as of the Most Recent Fiscal Month End, exceed the reserve for
Taxes owed (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to
reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on
the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes
thereto, and prepared in accordance with the generally accepted
accounting principles of the jurisdiction imposing the tax) and (B) do
not exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through the
Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of the
Company and its Subsidiaries in filing their Tax Returns.
(viii) All elections with respect to Taxes affecting the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof are set forth on
ss.4(k) of the Disclosure Schedule. Except as set forth on ss.4(k) of
the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has
made an election, and none are required, to treat any asset of the
Company or its Subsidiaries as owned by another person or as
"tax-exempt bond financed property" or "tax-exempt use property" within
the meaning of section 168 of the Code (or any similar provision of
British Virgin Islands or other federal, state, local, or foreign law).
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<PAGE>
(ix) Except as set forth on ss.4(k) of the Disclosure
Schedule, none of the Company and its Subsidiaries has made or will
make a deemed dividend election under Treas. Reg. ss.1.1502-32(f)(2)
(or any similar provision of British Virgin Islands or other federal,
state, local, or foreign law), or a consent dividend election under
section 565 of the Code (or any similar provision of British Virgin
Islands or other federal, state, local, or foreign law).
(x) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has agreed, or is
required, to make any adjustment under section 481(a) of the Code (or
any similar provision of British Virgin Islands or other federal,
state, local, or foreign law), by reason of a change in accounting
method or otherwise.
(xi) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a party to
any joint venture, partnership, or other arrangement or contract which
has been treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax
purposes (or any similar provision of British Virgin Islands or other
federal, state, local or foreign laws).
(xii) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries is subject to
any Tax imposed on net income in any jurisdiction or by any taxing
authority other than as set forth on ss.4(k) of the Disclosure
Schedule.
(xiii) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has engaged
in, participated in or otherwise cooperated with any boycott
transactions or received boycott requests, as described in section 999
of the Code (or any similar provision of British Virgin Islands or
other federal, state, local, or foreign law).
(xiv) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has ever had
any "subpart F income" within the meaning of section 952 of the Code,
or income that would be "subpart F income" if any of the Company or it
Subsidiaries were "controlled foreign corporations" within the meaning
of section 957 of the Code, other than as set forth on ss.4(k) of the
Disclosure Schedule.
(l) REAL PROPERTY.
(i) ss.4(l)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule lists and describes
briefly all real property for which any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries owns land use rights. With respect to each such parcel of
real property:
(A) the identified owner has valid and legal title to
the land use rights, free and clear of any Security Interest,
and other restrictions which do not impair the current use,
occupancy or value of the property subject thereto;
(B) there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Company and its Subsidiaries threatened condemnation
proceedings, lawsuits, or administrative actions relating to
the property or other matters affecting materially and
adversely the current use, occupancy, or value thereof;
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<PAGE>
(C) all facilities have received all approvals of
governmental authorities (including licenses and permits)
required in connection with the operation thereof and have
been operated and maintained in accordance with applicable
laws, rules, and regulations;
(D) there are no leases, subleases, licenses,
concessions, or other agreements, written or oral, granting to
any party or parties the right of use or occupancy of any
portion of such property; and
(E) all facilities located on the parcel of real
property are supplied with utilities and other services
necessary for the operation of such facilities, including gas,
electricity, water, telephone, sanitary sewer, and storm
sewer, all of which services are adequate in accordance with
all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations and
are provided via public roads or via permanent, irrevocable,
appurtenant easements benefitting the parcel of real property.
(ii) ss.4(l)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule lists and
describes briefly all real property for which the land use rights have
been leased or subleased to any of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
The Company has delivered to the Buyer correct and complete copies of
the leases and subleases listed in ss.4(l)(ii) of the Disclosure
Schedule (as amended to date). With respect to each lease and sublease
listed in ss.4(l)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule:
(A) the lease or sublease is legal, valid,
binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect;
(B) the lease or sublease will continue to be legal,
valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect on
identical terms following the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby;
(C) no party to the lease or sublease is in breach or
default, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse
of time, would constitute a breach or default or permit
termination, modification, or acceleration thereunder;
(D) no party to the lease or sublease has repudiated
any provision thereof;
(E) there are no disputes, oral agreements, or
forbearance programs in effect as to the lease or sublease;
(F) with respect to each sublease, the
representations and warranties set forth in subsections (A)
through (E) above are true and correct with respect to the
underlying lease;
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(G) none of the Company and its Subsidiaries has
assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in trust,
or, to the Knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
encumbered any interest in the leasehold or subleasehold;
(H) all facilities leased or subleased thereunder
have received all approvals of governmental authorities
(including licenses and permits) required in connection with
the operation thereof and have been operated and maintained in
accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations;
(I) all facilities leased or subleased thereunder are
supplied with utilities and other services necessary for the
operation of said facilities; and
(J) the owner of the facility leased or subleased has
valid and legal title to the parcel of real property, free and
clear of any Security Interest, and other restrictions which
do not impair the current use, occupancy, or value of the
property subject thereto.
(m) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
(i) The Company and to its Knowledge, its Subsidiaries own or
have the right to use pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement, or
permission all Intellectual Property necessary or desirable for the
operation of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as
presently conducted. To the Knowledge of the Company, each item of
Intellectual Property owned or used by any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Closing hereunder will be owned
or available for use by the Company or the Subsidiary on identical
terms and conditions immediately subsequent to the Closing hereunder.
Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has taken all necessary and
desirable action to maintain and protect each item of Intellectual
Property that it owns or uses.
(ii) None of the Company and to its Knowledge, its
Subsidiaries has interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated, or
otherwise come into conflict with any Intellectual Property rights of
third parties, and none of the Company and the directors and officers
(and employees with responsibility for Intellectual Property matters)
of the Company and its Subsidiaries has ever received any charge,
complaint, claim, demand, or notice alleging any such interference,
infringement, misappropriation, or violation (including any claim that
any of the Company and its Subsidiaries must license or refrain from
using any Intellectual Property rights of any third party). To the
Knowledge of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries, no third party
has interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise come
into conflict with any Intellectual Property rights of any of the
Company and its Subsidiaries.
(iii) ss.4(m)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule identifies each
patent or registration which has been issued to any of the Company and
its Subsidiaries with respect to any of its Intellectual Property,
identifies each pending patent application or application for
registration
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which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries has made with respect to
any of its Intellectual Property, and identifies each license,
agreement, or other permission which any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has granted to any third party with respect to any of its
Intellectual Property (together with any exceptions). The Company have
delivered to the Buyer correct and complete copies of all such patents,
registrations, applications, licenses, agreements, and permissions (as
amended to date) and have made available to the Buyer correct and
complete copies of all other written documentation evidencing ownership
and prosecution (if applicable) of each such item. ss.4(m)(iii) of the
Disclosure Schedule also identifies each trade name or unregistered
trademark used by any of the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection
with any of its businesses. With respect to each item of Intellectual
Property required to be identified in ss.4(l)(iii) of the Disclosure
Schedule:
(A) the Company and its Subsidiaries possess all
right, title, and interest in and to the item, free and clear
of any Security Interest, license, or other restriction;
(B) the item is not subject to any outstanding
injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge;
(C) no action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand is pending
or, to the Knowledge of any of the Company and the directors
and officers (and employees with responsibility for
Intellectual Property matters) of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, is threatened which challenges the legality,
validity, enforceability, use, or ownership of the item; and
(D) none of the Company and its Subsidiaries has ever
agreed to indemnify any Person for or against any
interference, infringement, misappropriation, or other
conflict with respect to the item.
(iv) ss.4(m)(iv) of the Disclosure Schedule identifies, with
the exception of computer software, each item that any third party owns
and that any of the Company and its Subsidiaries uses pursuant to
license, sublicense, agreement, or permission. The Company have
delivered to the Buyer correct and complete copies of all such
licenses, sublicenses, agreements, and permissions (as amended to
date). With respect to each item of Intellectual Property required to
be identified in ss.4(m)(iv) of the Disclosure Schedule:
(A) the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission
covering the item is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and
in full force and effect;
(B) the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission
will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in
full force and effect on identical terms following the
Closing;
(C) no party to the license, sublicense, agreement,
or permission is in breach or default, and no event has
occurred which with notice or lapse of time
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would constitute a breach or default or permit termination,
modification, or acceleration thereunder;
(D) no party to the license, sublicense, agreement,
or permission has repudiated any provision thereof;
(E) with respect to each sublicense, the
representations and warranties set forth in subsections (A)
through (D) above are true and correct with respect to the
underlying license;
(F) the underlying item of Intellectual Property is
not subject to any outstanding injunction, judgment, order,
decree, ruling, or charge;
(G) no action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand is pending
or, to the Knowledge of the Company and the directors and
officers (and employees with responsibility for Intellectual
Property matters) of the Company and its subsidiaries, is
threatened which challenges the legality, validity, or
enforceability of the underlying item of Intellectual
Property; and
(H) none of the Company and its Subsidiaries has
granted any sublicense or similar right with respect to the
license, sublicense, agreement, or permission.
(v) To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company and its
Subsidiaries will not interfere with, infringe upon, misappropriate, or
otherwise come into conflict with, any Intellectual Property rights of
third parties as a result of the continued operation of its business as
presently conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted.
(vi) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has any
Knowledge of any new products, inventions, procedures, or methods of
manufacturing or processing that any competitors or other third parties
have developed which reasonably could be expected to supersede or make
obsolete any product or process of any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
(n) TANGIBLE ASSETS. The Company and its Subsidiaries own or lease all
buildings, machinery, equipment, and other tangible assets necessary for the
conduct of their businesses as presently conducted and as presently proposed to
be conducted). Each such tangible asset is free from defects (patent and
latent), has been maintained in accordance with normal industry practice, is in
good operating condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear), and is
suitable for the purposes for which it presently is used and presently is
proposed to be used. The fair market value of all tangible assets owned by the
Company located in the United States, which consists solely of certain computer
equipment and software, does not exceed $20,000.
(o) INVENTORY. The inventory of the Company and its Subsidiaries
consists of raw materials and supplies, manufactured and purchased parts, goods
in process, and finished goods, all of which is merchantable and fit for the
purpose for which it was procured or manufactured, and
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none of which is slow-moving, obsolete, damaged, or defective, subject only to
the reserve for inventory writedown set forth on the face of the Most Recent
Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes thereto) as adjusted for the passage of
time through the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of
the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(p) CONTRACTS. ss.4(p) of the Disclosure Schedule lists the contracts
and other agreements (i) executed by the Company and (ii) executed by the
Subsidiaries and in the possession of the Company.
The Company will deliver to the Buyer by December 4, 1998, a correct
and complete copy of each written agreement either (i) executed by the Company
or (ii) in the possession of the Company, which is listed in ss.4(p) of the
Disclosure Schedule and a written summary setting forth the terms and conditions
of each oral agreement of the Company. The Company will use its best efforts to
deliver to the Buyer a correct and complete copy of each written agreement
executed by its Subsidiaries but not in the Company's possession and a written
summary setting forth the terms and conditions of each oral agreement of its
Subsidiaries. With respect to each such agreement: (A) the agreement is legal,
valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect; (B) the agreement
will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and
effect on identical terms following the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby; (C) no party is in breach or default, and no event has
occurred which with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or
default, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration, under the
agreement; (D) no party has repudiated any provision of the agreement and (E)
none of such agreements individually or in the aggregate provides for
compensation or other payments that are non-deductible under ss.280G of the
Code.
(q) NOTES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. All notes and accounts receivable of
the Company and its Subsidiaries are reflected properly on their books and
records, are valid receivables subject to no setoffs or counterclaims, are
current and collectible, and will be collected in accordance with their terms at
their recorded amounts, subject only to the reserve for bad debts set forth on
the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes thereto) as
adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in accordance with the
past custom and practice of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(r) POWERS OF ATTORNEY. There are no outstanding powers of attorney
executed on behalf of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(s) INSURANCE. ss.4(s) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the
following information with respect to each insurance policy (including policies
providing property, casualty, liability, and workers' compensation coverage and
bond and surety arrangements) to which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries
has been a party, a named insured, or otherwise the beneficiary of coverage at
any time within the past 10 years:
(i) The name, address, and telephone number of the agent.
(ii) The name of the insurer, the name of the policyholder,
and the name of each covered insured.
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(iii) The policy number and the period of coverage.
(iv) The scope (including an indication of whether the
coverage was on a claims made, occurrence, or other basis) and amount
(including a description of how deductibles and ceilings are calculated
and operate) of coverage.
(v) A description of any retroactive premium adjustments or
other loss-sharing arrangements.
With respect to each such insurance policy: (A) the policy is legal, valid,
binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect; (B) the policy will continue
to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect on
identical terms following the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby; (C) neither any of the Company and its Subsidiaries nor any other party
to the policy is in breach or default (including with respect to the payment of
premiums or the giving of notices), and no event has occurred which, with notice
or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit
termination, modification, or acceleration, under the policy; and (D) no party
to the policy has repudiated any provision thereof. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has been covered during the past 2 years by insurance in scope and
amount customary and reasonable for the businesses in which it has engaged
during the aforementioned period. ss.4(s) of the Disclosure Schedule describes
any self-insurance arrangements affecting any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
(t) LITIGATION. ss.4(t) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth each
instance in which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) is subject to any
outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge or (ii) is a
party or, to the Knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries is threatened to
be made a party to any action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or investigation of,
in, or before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any
federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator. None of
the actions, suits, proceedings, hearings, and investigations set forth in
ss.4(t) of the Disclosure Schedule could result in any adverse change in the
business, financial condition, operations, results of operations, or future
prospects of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries. None of the Company and
its Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that any such action, suit,
proceeding, hearing, or investigation may be brought or threatened against any
of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(u) PRODUCT WARRANTY. Each product manufactured, sold, leased, or
delivered by any of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been in conformity with
all applicable contractual commitments and all express and implied warranties,
and none of the Company and its Subsidiaries has any Liability (and there is no
Basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand against any of them giving
rise to any Liability) for replacement or repair thereof or other damages in
connection therewith, subject only to the reserve for product warranty claims
set forth on the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes
thereto) as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in
accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. No product manufactured, sold, leased, or delivered by any of the
Company and its Subsidiaries is subject to any guaranty, warranty, or other
indemnity beyond the applicable standard terms and conditions of sale or lease.
ss.4(u) of the Disclosure Schedule includes copies of the standard terms and
conditions of sale or lease
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for each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (containing applicable guaranty,
warranty, and indemnity provisions).
(v) PRODUCT LIABILITY. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has any
Liability (and there is no Basis for any present or future action, suit,
proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand against
any of them giving rise to any Liability) arising out of any injury to
individuals or property as a result of the ownership, possession, or use of any
product manufactured, sold, leased, or delivered by any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
(w) EMPLOYEES. To the Knowledge of any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, no executive, key employee, or group of employees has any plans to
terminate employment with any of the Company and its Subsidiaries. None of the
Company and its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining
agreement, nor has any of them experienced any strikes, grievances, claims of
unfair labor practices, or other collective bargaining disputes. None of the
Company and its Subsidiaries has committed any unfair labor practice. None of
the Company and its Subsidiaries has any Knowledge of any organizational effort
presently being made or threatened by or on behalf of any labor union with
respect to employees of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company and
its Subsidiaries have only one employee in the United States and have never had
more than one employee working in the United States in the past.
(x) EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. ss.4(x) of the Disclosure Schedule lists each
Employee Benefit Plan that any of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains or
to which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries contributes. The Company and
its Subsidiaries do not have any Employee Benefit Plan for the benefit of the
Company's sole employee in the United States.
None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, and the other members of the
Controlled Group of Corporations that includes the Company and its Subsidiaries
contributes to, ever has contributed to, or ever has been required to contribute
to any Multiemployer Plan or has any Liability (including withdrawal Liability)
under any Multiemployer Plan.
(y) GUARANTIES. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a guarantor
or otherwise is liable for any Liability or obligation (including indebtedness)
of any other Person.
(z) ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY.
(i) Each of the Company, its Subsidiaries, and their
respective predecessors and Affiliates has complied with all
Environmental, Health and Safety Laws, and no action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, demand, or notice has
been filed or commenced against any of them alleging any failure so to
comply. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, each
of the Company, its Subsidiaries, and their respective predecessors and
Affiliates has obtained and been in compliance with all of the terms
and conditions of all permits, licenses, and other authorizations which
are required under, and has complied with all other limitations,
restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions, requirements,
obligations, schedules, and timetables which are contained in, all
Environmental, Health and Safety Laws.
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(ii) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has any
Liability (and none of the Company, its Subsidiaries, and their
respective predecessors and Affiliates has handled or disposed of any
substance, arranged for the disposal of any substance, exposed any
employee or other individual to any substance or condition, or owned or
operated any property or facility in any manner that could form the
Basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand against any of the
Company and its Subsidiaries giving rise to any Liability) for damage
to any site, location, or body of water (surface or subsurface), for
any illness of or personal injury to any employee or other individual,
or for any reason under any Environmental, Health and Safety Law.
(iii) All properties and equipment used in the business of the
Company, its Subsidiaries, and their respective predecessors and
Affiliates have been free of asbestos, PCB's, methylene chloride,
trichloroethylene, 1,2-trans-dichloroethylene, dioxins, and
dibenzofurans.
(aa) CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMPANY OR ITS
SUBSIDIARIES. None of the stockholders of the Company or their Affiliates has
been involved in any business arrangement or relationship with any of the
Company and its Subsidiaries within the past 12 months, and none of the
stockholders of the Company or their Affiliates owns any asset, tangible or
intangible, which is used in the business of any of the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
(bb) DISCLOSURE. The representations and warranties contained in this
ss.4 do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements and information
contained in this ss.4 not misleading.
5. PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS. The Parties agree as follows with respect to
the period between the execution of this Agreement and the Closing.
(a) GENERAL. Each of the Parties will use its reasonable best efforts
to take all action and to do all things necessary, proper, or advisable in order
to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including satisfaction, but not waiver, of the closing conditions set forth in
ss.7 below).
(b) NOTICES AND CONSENTS. The Company will and will use its best
efforts to cause its Subsidiaries to give any notices to third parties, and the
Company will cause each of the Company and its Subsidiaries to use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain any third party consents, that the Buyer
reasonably may request in connection with the matters referred to in ss.4(c)
above. Each of the Parties will give any notices to, make any filings with, and
use its reasonable best efforts to obtain any authorizations, consents, and
approvals of governments and governmental agencies in connection with the
matters referred to in ss.3(a)(ii) and ss.4(c) above.
(c) OPERATION OF BUSINESS. The Company will not, and will use its best
efforts to cause its Subsidiaries to not engage in any practice, take any
action, or enter into any transaction outside the Ordinary Course of Business.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company and
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the Subsidiaries will not (i) declare, set aside, or pay any dividend or make
any distribution with respect to its capital stock or redeem, purchase, or
otherwise acquire any of its capital stock, or (ii) otherwise engage in any
practice, take any action, or enter into any transaction of the sort described
in ss.4(h) above. The Company shall provide the Buyer a copy of all payments,
complete with documentation of the reason for such payments made by the Company
to third parties. The Company shall have received in writing approval from the
Buyer of all payments in excess of $2,000.
(d) PRESERVATION OF BUSINESS. The Company and its Subsidiaries will
keep its business and properties substantially intact, including its present
operations, physical facilities, working conditions, and relationships with
lessors, licensors, suppliers, customers, and employees.
(e) FULL ACCESS. The Company will permit, and the Company will use its
best efforts to cause each of its Subsidiaries to permit, representatives of the
Buyer to have full access to all premises, properties, personnel, books, records
(including Tax records), contracts, and documents of or pertaining to each of
the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(f) NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENTS. The Company will give prompt written notice
to the Buyer of any material adverse development causing a breach of any of the
representations and warranties in ss.4 above. The Buyer will give prompt written
notice to the Company of any material adverse development causing a breach of
any of its own representations and warranties in ss.3 above. No disclosure by
any Party pursuant to this ss.5(f), however, shall be deemed to amend or
supplement the Disclosure Schedule or to prevent or cure any misrepresentation,
breach of warranty, or breach of covenant.
(g) EXCLUSIVITY. Until the later of the Closing Date or the Termination
Date, the Company will (and the Company will use its best efforts to cause or
permit any of its Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly, through any
representative or otherwise,) (i) solicit, initiate, or encourage the submission
of any proposal or offer from any Person relating to the acquisition of any
capital stock or other voting securities, or any portion of the assets of, any
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including any acquisition structured as a
merger, consolidation, or share exchange) or (ii) participate in any discussions
or negotiations regarding, furnish any information with respect to, assist or
participate in, or facilitate in any other manner any effort or attempt by any
Person to do or seek any of the foregoing. The Company will notify the Buyer
immediately if any Person makes any proposal, offer, inquiry, or contact with
respect to any of the foregoing.
(h) INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.
(i) LISTING OF SHARES AND APPROVAL BY THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS. The
Company will take or cause to be taken all action necessary to obtain the
listing of the Shares on the AMEX and the approval by the Company's Shareholders
to the issuance of the Securities.
(j) MANAGEMENT OF THE SUBSIDIARIES. The Company will take or cause to
be taken all corporate and joint venture actions necessary to enable the Buyer's
designees to assume management of the Company's Subsidiaries.
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6. POST-CLOSING COVENANTS. The Parties agree as follows with respect to
the period following the Closing.
(a) GENERAL. In case at any time after the Closing any further action
is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, each of
the Parties will take such further action (including the execution and delivery
of such further instruments and documents) as any other Party reasonably may
request, all at the sole cost and expense of the requesting Party (unless the
requesting Party is entitled to indemnification therefor under ss.8 below). The
Company acknowledges and agrees that from and after the Closing the Buyer will
be entitled to possession of all documents, books, records (including Tax
records), agreements, and financial data of any sort relating to the Company and
its Subsidiaries.
(b) LITIGATION SUPPORT. In the event and for so long as any Party
actively is contesting or defending against any action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand in connection with
(i) any transaction contemplated under this Agreement or (ii) any fact,
situation, circumstance, status, condition, activity, practice, plan,
occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act, or transaction on or prior
to the Closing Date involving any of the Company and its Subsidiaries, the other
Party will cooperate with it and its counsel in the contest or defense, make
available their personnel, and provide such testimony and access to their books
and records as shall be necessary in connection with the contest or defense, all
at the sole cost and expense of the contesting or defending Party (unless the
contesting or defending Party is entitled to indemnification therefor under ss.8
below).
(c) DEBT IN DEFAULT. The Buyer will use its best efforts to restructure
the $1.8 million currently in default on loans made to the Subsidiaries.
(d) CAPITAL EXPANSION. The Buyer will use its best efforts to increase
the Company's assets by at least (i) $5 million in 1999 and (ii) an additional
$10 million in 2000 through equity and/or debt financing, which will include the
Buyer exercising its rights pursuant to the Warrants to the extent necessary to
bolster the capital base of the Company.
(e) OFFICE. As soon as practical after the Closing Date, the Company's
representative office will be relocated to the Buyer's primary office place at
971-B Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland. The Company will compensate the
Buyer at market rates for office space and office support and supplies provided
by the Buyer.
(f) CONFIDENTIALITY. Except as and to the extent required by law, the
Buyer will not disclose or use, and will direct its representatives not to
disclose or use to the detriment of the Company and its Subsidiaries, any
Confidential Information (as defined below) with respect to the Company and its
Subsidiaries furnished, or to be furnished, by the Company and its Subsidiaries
or their respective representatives to the Buyer or its representatives at any
time or in any manner other than in connection with its evaluation of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement. For purposes of this paragraph,
"Confidential Information" means any information about the Company and its
Subsidiaries stamped "confidential" or identified in writing as such to the
Buyer by the Company promptly following its disclosure, unless (a) such
information is already known to the
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Buyer or its representatives or to others not bound by a duty of confidentiality
or such information becomes publicly available through no fault of the Buyer or
its representatives (b) the use of such information is necessary or appropriate
in making any filing or obtaining any consent or approval required for the
consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Agreement, or (c) the
furnishing or use of such information is required by or necessary or appropriate
n connection with legal proceedings. Upon the written request of the Company,
the Buyer will either promptly return to the Company such Confidential
Information or destroy any Confidential Information in its possession and
certify in writing to the Company that it has done so.
7. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE.
(a) CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE BUYER. The obligation of the Buyer
to consummate the transactions to be performed by it in connection with the
Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) The representations and warranties set forth in ss.3(a)
and ss.4 above shall be true and correct in all material respects at
and as of the Closing Date.
(ii) The Company shall have performed and complied with all of
its covenants hereunder in all material respects through the Closing.
(iii) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have procured all
of the third party consents specified in ss.5(b) above.
(iv) No action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or, to
the Company's Knowledge, threatened before any court or quasi-judicial
or administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or foreign
jurisdiction or before any arbitrator wherein an unfavorable
injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would (A)
prevent consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (B) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement to be rescinded following consummation, (C) affect adversely
the right of the Buyer to own the Company Shares and to control the
Company and its Subsidiaries, or (D) affect adversely the right of any
of the Company and its Subsidiaries to own its assets and to operate
its businesses (and no such injunction, judgment, order, decree,
ruling, or charge shall be in effect).
(v) The Company shall have delivered to the Buyer a
certificate to the effect that each of the conditions specified above
in ss.7(a)(i)-(iv) is satisfied in all respects.
(vi) The Buyer shall have completed a satisfactory due
diligence examination of the Company.
(vii) The Company shall have continued to operate in the
normal and ordinary course of business until the Closing Date,
including, maintaining its listing on the American Stock Exchange
("AMEX"); AMEX officials shall not have notified the Company of their
determination to delist the Company from AMEX.
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(viii) The holders of the Convertible Notes as set forth in
Exhibit D (the "Convertible Notes") attached hereto shall have agreed
to amend the terms of the Convertible Notes as set forth in Exhibit D.
(ix) The Company's cash position on the Closing Date shall be
at least $1.00, free and clear of any fees, bills, invoices outstanding
and unpaid, unless the Buyer waives this condition in writing on or
before the Closing Date.
(x) The Company shall have provided to the Buyer a copy of all
payments, complete with documentation of the reason for such payments,
made by the Company to third parties. The Company shall have received
in writing approval from the Buyer of all payments in excess of $2,000.
(xi) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have received all
other authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments and
governmental agencies referred to in ss.3(a)(ii) and ss.4(c) above.
(xii) The relevant parties shall have entered into side
agreements in form and substance as set forth in Exhibits E-1 through
E-2 attached hereto and the same shall be in full force and effect.
(xiii) The Buyer shall have received the resignations,
effective as of the Closing, of each director and officer of the
Company and its Subsidiaries other than those whom the Buyer shall have
specified in writing at least five business days prior to the Closing
and the Buyer's 3 director nominees shall have been appointed to the
board of directors of the Company.
(xiv) The Buyer shall have received a copy of a letter from
Cornerstone Financial Corporation addressed to the Company that none of
the Company or its Subsidiaries is obligated to pay a fee to
Cornerstone Financial Corporation in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(xv) The Company shall have furnished to the Buyer a favorable
opinion of Pavia & Harcourt dated the Closing Date substantially in the
form attached as Exhibit F hereto, as well as opinions from BVI counsel
to the Company and counsel in China for the Subsidiaries in form and
scope satisfactory to the Buyer and from counsel acceptable to Buyer.
(xvi) All actions to be taken by the Company in connection
with consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and all
certificates, opinions, instruments, and other documents required to
effect the transactions contemplated hereby will be satisfactory in
form and substance to the Buyer.
(xvii) The Company shall have listed the Shares and the shares
of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the Warrant on the AMEX.
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The Buyer may waive any condition specified in this ss.7(a) if it executes a
writing so stating at or prior to the Closing.
(b) CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY. The obligation of the
Company to consummate the transactions to be performed by them in connection
with the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) The representations and warranties set forth in ss.4 above
shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the
Closing Date.
(ii) The Buyer shall have performed and complied with all of
its covenants hereunder in all material respects through the Closing.
(iii) No action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or
threatened before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency
of any federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any
arbitrator wherein an unfavorable injunction, judgment, order, decree,
ruling, or charge would (A) prevent consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (B) cause any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded following
consummation (and no such injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling,
or charge shall be in effect).
(iv) The Buyer shall have delivered to the Company a
certificate to the effect that each of the conditions specified above
in ss.7(b)(i)-(iii) is satisfied in all respects.
(v) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have received all
other authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments and
governmental agencies referred to in ss.3(a)(ii) and ss.4(c) above.
(vi) The relevant parties shall have entered into side
agreements in form and substance as set forth in Exhibits E-1 and E-2
and the same shall be in full force and effect.
(vii) All actions to be taken by the Buyer in connection with
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and all
certificates, opinions, instruments, and other documents required to
effect the transactions contemplated hereby will be reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Company.
(viii) Approval of the transactions contemplated herein by the
Company's board of directors and shareholders.
The Company may waive any condition specified in this ss.7(b), except
ss.7(b)(viii), if the Company executes a writing so stating at or prior to the
Closing.
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8. REMEDIES FOR BREACHES OF THIS AGREEMENT.
(a) SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
All of the representations and warranties of the Parties
contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing hereunder (even
if the damaged Party knew or had reason to know of any
misrepresentation or breach of warranty at the time of Closing) and
continue in full force and effect forever thereafter (subject to any
applicable statutes of limitations).
(b) INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS FOR BENEFIT OF THE BUYER.
(i) In the event the Company breaches (or in the event any
third party alleges facts that, if true, would mean the Company has
breached) any of its representations, warranties, and covenants
contained herein (other than the covenants in ss.2(a) above and the
representations and warranties in ss.3(a) above), and, if there is an
applicable survival period pursuant to ss.8(a) above, provided that the
Buyer makes a written claim for indemnification against the Company
pursuant to ss.11(h) below within such survival period, then the
Company agrees to indemnity the Buyer from and against the entirety of
any Adverse Consequences the Buyer may suffer through and after the
date of the claim for indemnification (including any Adverse
Consequences the Buyer may suffer after the end of any applicable
survival period) resulting from, arising out of, relating to, in the
nature of, or caused by the breach (or the alleged breach).
(ii) The Company agrees to indemnify the Buyer from and
against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences the Buyer may suffer
resulting from, arising out of, relating to, in the nature of, or
caused by any Liability of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries (x)
for any Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to any
Tax year or portion thereof ending on or before the Closing Date (or
for any Tax year beginning before and ending after the Closing Date to
the extent allocable (determined in a manner consistent with ss.9(c))
to the portion of such period beginning before and ending on the
Closing Date): to the extent such Taxes are not reflected in the
reserve for Taxes owed (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes
established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income)
shown on the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any
notes thereto, and prepared in accordance with the generally accepted
accounting principles of the jurisdiction imposing the tax), as such
reserve is adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in
accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company and its
Subsidiaries in filing their Tax Returns.
(iii) The Company agrees to indemnify the Buyer from and
against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences the Buyer may suffer
resulting from, arising out of, relating to, in the nature of, or
caused by the purchase by the Buyer of the Securities.
(c) INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS FOR BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY. In the event
the Buyer breaches (or in the event any third party alleges facts that, if true,
would mean the Buyer has
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breached) any of its representations, warranties, and covenants contained
herein, and, if there is an applicable survival period pursuant to ss.8(a)
above, provided that any of the Company makes a written claim for
indemnification against the Buyer within such survival period, then the Buyer
agrees to indemnify each of the Company from and against the entirety of any
Adverse Consequences the Company may suffer through and after the date of the
claim for indemnification (including any Adverse Consequences the Company may
suffer after the end of any applicable survival period) resulting from, arising
out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the breach (or the alleged
breach).
(d) MATTERS INVOLVING THIRD PARTIES.
(i) If any third party shall notify any Party (the
"Indemnified Party") with respect to any matter (a "Third Party Claim")
which may give rise to a claim for indemnification against any other
Party (the "Indemnifying Party") under this ss.8, then the Indemnified
Party shall promptly notify each Indemnifying Party thereof in writing;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no delay on the part of the Indemnified Party
in notifying any indemnifying Party shall relieve the Indemnifying
Party from any obligation hereunder unless (and then solely to the
extent) the Indemnifying Party thereby is prejudiced.
(ii) Any Indemnifying Party will have the right to defend the
Indemnified Party against the Third Party Claim with counsel of its
choice reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party so long as (A)
the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party in writing within
15 days after the Indemnified Party has given notice of the Third Party
Claim that the Indemnifying Party will indemnify the Indemnified Party
from and against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences the
Indemnified Party may suffer resulting from, arising out of, relating
to, in the nature of, or caused by the Third Party Claim, (B) the
Indemnifying Party provides the Indemnified Party with evidence
reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party that the indemnifying
Party will have the financial resources to defend against the Third
Party Claim and fulfill its indemnification obligations hereunder, (C)
the Third Party Claim involves only money damages and does not seek an
injunction or other equitable relief, (D) settlement of, or an adverse
judgment with respect to, the Third Party Claim is not, in the good
faith judgment of the Indemnified Party, likely to establish a
precedential custom or practice materially adverse to the continuing
business interests of the Indemnified Party, and (E) the Indemnifying
Party conducts the defense of the Third Party Claim actively and
diligently.
(iii) So long as the Indemnifying Party is conducting the
defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance with ss.8(d)(ii) above,
(A) the Indemnified Party may retain separate co-counsel at its sole
cost and expense and participate in the defense of the Third Party
Claim, (B) the Indemnified Party will not consent to the entry of any
judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to the Third Party
Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party (not
to be withheld unreasonably), and (C) the Indemnifying Party will not
consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with
respect to the
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Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Party (not to be withheld unreasonably).
(iv) In the event any of the conditions in ss.8(d)(ii) above
is or becomes unsatisfied, however, (A) the Indemnified Party may
defend against, and consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into
any settlement with respect to, the Third Party Claim in any manner it
reasonably may deem appropriate (and the Indemnified Party need not
consult with, or obtain any consent from, any Indemnifying Party in
connection therewith), (B) the Indemnifying Parties will reimburse the
Indemnified Party promptly and periodically for the costs of defending
against the Third Party Claim (including reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses), and (C) the Indemnifying Parties will remain responsible for
any Adverse Consequences the Indemnified Party may suffer resulting
from, arising out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the
Third Party Claim to the fullest extent provided in this ss.8.
(e) DETERMINATION OF ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES. The Parties shall take into
account the true cost of money (using the Applicable Rate as the discount rate)
in determining Adverse Consequences for purposes of this Section 8. All
indemnification payments under this Section 8 shall be deemed adjustments to the
Purchase Price.
(f) OTHER INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS. The foregoing indemnification
provisions are in addition to, and not in derogation of, any statutory,
equitable, or common law remedy any Party may have for breach of representation,
warranty, or covenant; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Buyer shall not institute any
action against the Acting Chairman of the Company personally based upon any such
breach, so long as the Acting Chairman did not have any actual knowledge of the
facts or circumstances giving rise to the breach and did not commit any fraud.
9. TAX MATTERS. The following provisions shall govern the allocation to
the Company for certain tax matters following the Closing Date:
(a) TAX SHARING AGREEMENTS. All tax sharing agreements or similar
agreements with respect to or involving the Company and its Subsidiaries shall
be terminated as of the Closing Date and, after the Closing Date, the Company
and its Subsidiaries shall not be bound thereby or have any liability
thereunder.
(b) CERTAIN TAXES. All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp,
registration and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and
interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement, shall be paid by the
Company when due, and the Company will, at their own expense, file all necessary
Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such transfer,
documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other Taxes and fees, and, if
required by applicable law, Buyer will, and will cause its affiliates to, join
in the execution of any such Tax Returns and other documentation.
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<PAGE>
10. TERMINATION.
(a) TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. The Parties may terminate this Agreement
as provided below:
(i) The Buyer and the Company may terminate this Agreement by
mutual written consent at any time prior to the Closing.
(ii) The Buyer may terminate this Agreement by giving written
notice to the Company on or before the close of the 61st day following
the date of this Agreement if the Buyer is not satisfied with the
results of its continuing business, legal, and accounting due diligence
regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries; (A) in the event the
Company has breached any material representation, warranty, or covenant
contained in this Agreement in any material respect, the Buyer has
notified the Company of the breach, and the breach has continued
without cure for a period of 30 days after the notice of breach or (B)
if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before June 1, 1999, by
reason of the failure of any condition precedent under ss.7(a) hereof
(unless the failure results primarily from the Buyer itself breaching
any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement).
(iii) The Company may terminate this Agreement by giving
written notice to the Buyer on or before the close of the 61st day
following the date of this Agreement (A) in the event the Buyer has
breached any material representation, warranty, or covenant contained
in this Agreement in any material respect, of the Company has notified
the Buyer of the breach, and the breach has continued without cure for
a period of 30 days after the notice of breach or (B) if the Closing
shall not have occurred on or before June 1, 1999, by reason of the
failure of any condition precedent under ss.7(b) hereof (unless the
failure results primarily from the Company itself breaching any
representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement).
(b) EFFECT OF TERMINATION. If any Party terminates this Agreement
pursuant to ss.10(a) above, all rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder
shall terminate without any Liability of any Party to any other Party (except
for any Liability of any Party then in breach).
(c) TERMINATION FEE. If (a) the Company breaches Section 2 of Part Two
of the Letter of Intent or the Company provides the Buyer with written notice
that negotiations toward the Definitive Agreements are terminated, and (b)
within six months after the date of such breach or the date of delivery of such
written notice, as the case may be, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries signs
a letter of intent or other agreement relating to the acquisition of a material
portion of the Common Stock or of the Company or its Subsidiaries, their assets,
or businesses, in whole or in part, whether directly or indirectly, through
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise (other than sales of inventory or
immaterial portion of the Company or its Subsidiaries; assets in the ordinary
course) and such transaction is ultimately consummated, then, immediately upon
the closing of such transaction, the Company will pay, or cause its Subsidiaries
to pay, to the Buyer the sum of $100,000. This fee will not serve as the
exclusive remedy to the Buyer under this Agreement in the event of a breach by
the Company of Section 5(g), and the Buyer will be entitled to all other rights
and remedies provided by law or in equity.
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11. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) PRESS RELEASES AND PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. No Party shall issue any
press release or make any public announcement relating to the subject matter of
this Agreement prior to the Closing without the prior written approval of the
other Party; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any Party may make any public disclosure it
believes in good faith is required by applicable law or any listing or trading
agreement concerning its publicly-traded securities (in which case the
disclosing Party will use its best efforts to advise the other Party prior to
making the disclosure).
(b) NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement shall not confer any
rights or remedies upon any Person other than the Parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
(c) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (including the documents referred
to herein) constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties and supersedes any
prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the Parties,
written or oral, to the extent they related in any way to the subject matter
hereof.
(d) SUCCESSION AND ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Parties named herein and their respective successors
and permitted assigns. No Party may assign either this Agreement or any of his
or its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written
approval of the other Party; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Buyer may (i) assign
any or all of its rights and interests hereunder to one or more of its
Affiliates and (ii) designate one or more of its Affiliates to perform its
obligations hereunder (in any or all of which cases the Buyer nonetheless shall
remain responsible for the performance of all of its obligations hereunder).
(e) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
(f) HEADINGS. The section headings contained in this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
(g) NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other
communications hereunder will be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim,
or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly given if (and then two
business days after) it is sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth
below:
IF TO THE COMPANY: COPY TO:
C.T. Yeh Nicolas J. Puro, Esq.
c/o Nicolas J. Puro, Esq. Pavia & Harcourt
Pavia & Harcourt 600 Madison Avenue
600 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10022
New York, New York 10022 Phone: (212) 980-3500
Fax: (212) 980-3185
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<PAGE>
and
Howard H. Jiang,Esq.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
101 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10148
Phone: (212) 309-7078
Fax: (212) 309-6273
If to the Buyer: Copy to:
---------------- --------
Bill Zhao Kofi Appenteng, Esq.
America Orient Group, Inc. Thacher Proffitt & Wood
971-B Russell Avenue Two World Trade Center
Russell Office Park New York, New York 10048
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879 Phone: (212) 912-7418
Phone: (301) 670-8880 Fax: (212) 912-7751
Fax: (301) 670-4721
Any Party may send any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication
hereunder to the intended recipient at the address set forth above using any
other means (including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger service,
telecopy, telex, ordinary mail, or electronic mail), but no such notice,
request, demand, claim, or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly
given unless and until it actually is received by the intended recipient. Any
Party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands, claims, and
other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other Parties
notice in the manner herein set forth.
(h) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the domestic laws of the State of New York without giving effect
to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New
York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of
any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
(i) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. No amendment of any provision of this
Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the
Buyer and the Company. No waiver by any Party of any default, misrepresentation,
or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, shall
be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation, or
breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising
by virtue of any prior or subsequent such occurrence.
(j) SEVERABILITY. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is
invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or
the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other
situation or in any other jurisdiction.
(k) EXPENSES. The Company will bear its own costs and expenses
(including legal fees and expenses and broker's or finder's fees and the
expenses of its representatives) and the Buyer's costs and expenses (including
legal fees and expenses and broker's or finder's fees and the expenses
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of its representatives) incurred at any time in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, prior to Closing,
if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to ss.10 above prior to Closing, each
Party shall bear all of their own costs and expenses.
(l) CONSTRUCTION. The Parties have participated jointly in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or
question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed
as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall
arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of
the provisions of this Agreement. Any reference to any federal, state, local, or
foreign statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The
word "including" shall mean including without limitation. The Parties intend
that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein shall have
independent significance. If any Party has breached any representation,
warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there
exists another representation, warranty, or covenant relating to the same
subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which the
Party has not breached shall not detract from or mitigate the fact that the
Party is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
(m) INCORPORATION OF EXHIBITS, ANNEXES AND SCHEDULES. The Exhibits,
Annexes, and Schedules identified in this Agreement are incorporated herein by
reference and made a part hereof.
(n) SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees
that the other Parties would be damaged irreparably in the event any of the
provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific
terms or otherwise are breached. Accordingly, each of the Parties agrees that
the other Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent
breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically this
Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof in any action instituted in any
court of the United States or any state thereof having jurisdiction over the
Parties and the matter (subject to the provisions set forth in ss.10(o) below),
in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled, at law or in
equity.
(o) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. Each of the Parties submits to the
jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in New York, New York, in any
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and agrees
that all claims in respect of the action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in any such court. Each Party also agrees not to bring any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court. Each
of the Parties waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of
any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety, or other
security that might be required of any other Party with respect thereto. Any
Party may make service on any other Party by sending or delivering a copy of the
process to the Party to be served at the address and in the manner provided for
the giving of notices in ss.10(h) above. Nothing in this ss.10(o), however,
shall affect the right of any Party to bring any action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court or to serve legal
process in any other manner permitted by law or at equity. Each Party agrees
that a final judgment in any action or proceeding so brought shall be conclusive
and may be enforced by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by
law or at equity.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
December 3, 1998.
AMERICA ORIENT GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Guoliang Guan
-------------------------------------
Name: Guoliang Guan
Title: Senior Vice President
CHINA ENERGY RESOURCES
CORPORATION
By: /s/ C.T. Yeh
------------------------------------
Name: C.T. Yeh
Title: President, Chief Executive Officer
and Acting Chairman
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