EX-99.3 4 d403701dex993.htm EX-3 EX-3

Exhibit 3

FORM OF WARRANT

WARRANT

NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (AS AMENDED, THE “ACT”) OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT, (B) COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144 OR RULE 144A PROMULGATED UNDER THE ACT (OR A SUCCESSOR RULE THERETO), (C) AN EXEMPTION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OR (D) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. ANY ATTEMPT TO TRANSFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS SECURITY IN VIOLATION OF THESE RESTRICTIONS SHALL BE VOID.

 

Warrant Certificate No.: []

   Original Issue Date: August 24, 2012

[] Warrants

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ChinaCast Education Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies that [], a [], or its registered assigns (the “Holder”) is the owner of the number of warrants specified above, each of which entitles the Holder to purchase from the Company one duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock at a purchase price per share of U.S.$0.40 (subject to adjustment as provided herein, the “Exercise Price”), all subject to the terms, conditions and adjustments set forth below in this Warrant. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 1 hereof.

This Warrant has been issued pursuant to the terms of one or more of the following agreements, as applicable, between the Company, the Holder and the other parties thereto: (a) the Notes and Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2012, (b) the Borrowing Notice and Acknowledgement, dated as of May 18, 2012, and (c) the Notes and Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2012 (each such agreement, a “Purchase Agreement”).

1. Definitions. As used in this Warrant, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

Aggregate Exercise Price” means an amount equal to the product of (a) the number of Warrant Shares in respect of which this Warrant is then being exercised pursuant to Section 3 hereof, multiplied by (b) the Exercise Price in effect as of the Exercise Date in accordance with the terms of this Warrant.

Approved Stock Plan” means any employee benefit plan or other issuance, employment agreement or option grant or similar agreement which has been approved by the Board of the Company, pursuant to which the Company’s securities may be issued to any employee, consultant, officer or director for services provided to the Company.

Bloomberg” means Bloomberg Financial Markets.

Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day” means any day, except a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, on which banking institutions in the city of New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.


Closing Bid Price” and “Closing Sale Price” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing bid price and last closing trade price, respectively, for such security on all domestic securities exchanges on which the Common Stock at the time may be listed, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if such securities exchanges begin to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing bid price or the closing trade price, as the case may be, then the last bid price or the last trade price, respectively, of such security prior to 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.). If the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price, as the case may be, of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during the applicable calculation period.

Common Stock” means the common stock, U.S.$0.0001 par value per share, of the Company, and any capital stock into which such Common Stock shall have been converted, exchanged or reclassified following the date hereof.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Convertible Securities” means any securities (directly or indirectly) convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, but excluding Options.

Excluded Securities” means: (i) capital stock, Options or Convertible Securities issued to directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company in connection with their service as directors of the Company, their employment by the Company or their retention as consultants by the Company pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan, (ii) shares of Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exercise of Options or Convertible Securities that were issued and outstanding on the date immediately preceding the Original Issue Date, provided such securities are not amended after the Original Issue Date to increase the number of shares of Common Stock issuable thereunder or to lower the exercise or conversion price thereof, (iii) securities issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and securities issued upon the exercise or conversion of those securities, (iv) shares of Common Stock issued or issuable by reason of a dividend, stock split or other distribution on shares of Common Stock (but only to the extent that such a dividend, split or distribution results in an adjustment in the Warrant Price pursuant to the other provisions of this Warrant), and (v) capital stock, Options or Convertible Securities issued as consideration for an acquisition or strategic transaction approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company, provided that any such issuance shall only be a Person (or to the equityholders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall provide to the Company additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not, for the purposes of this clause (v), include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities.

Exercise Date” means, for any given exercise of this Warrant, the date on which the conditions to such exercise as set forth in Section 3 shall have been satisfied at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day, including, without limitation, the receipt by the Company of the Exercise Notice, the Warrant and the Aggregate Exercise Price.

Exercise Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(i).

Exercise Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.

Exercise Price” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

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Fair Market Value” means, as of any particular date: (a) the volume weighted average of the closing sales prices of the Common Stock for such day on all domestic securities exchanges on which the Common Stock may at the time be listed; (b) if there have been no sales of the Common Stock on any such exchange on any such day, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Stock on all such exchanges at the end of such day; (c) if on any such day the Common Stock is not listed on a domestic securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Common Stock as quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or similar quotation system or association for such day; or (d) if there have been no sales of the Common Stock on the OTC Bulletin Board or similar quotation system or association on such day, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Stock quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or similar quotation system or association at the end of such day; in each case, averaged over twenty (20) consecutive Business Days ending on the Business Day immediately prior to the day as of which “Fair Market Value” is being determined; provided, that if the Common Stock is listed on any domestic securities exchange, the term “Business Day” as used in this sentence means Business Days on which such exchange is open for trading. If at any time the Common Stock is not listed on any domestic securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or similar quotation system or association, the “Fair Market Value” of the Common Stock shall be the fair market value per share as determined jointly by the Board and the Holder; provided, that if the Board and the Holder are unable to agree on the fair market value per share of the Common Stock within a reasonable period of time (not to exceed 10 Business Days from the Company’s receipt of the Exercise Notice), such fair market value shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment bank, accounting or valuation firm mutually agreed upon by the Board and the Company. The determination of such firm shall be final and conclusive, and the fees and expenses of such firm shall be borne equally by the Company and the Holder.

Holder” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Options” means any warrants or other rights or options to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

Option Value” means the value of an Option based on the Black and Scholes Option Pricing model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the day prior to the public announcement of the applicable Option for pricing purposes and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the applicable Option as of the applicable date of determination, (ii) an expected volatility equal to the greater of (a) 100% and (b) the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of the day immediately following the public announcement of the issuance of the applicable Option, (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest Fair Market Value of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the day prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the issuance of the applicable Option and the public announcement of such issuance and (iv) a 360 day annualization factor.

Original Issue Date” means August 24, 2012.

OTC Bulletin Board” means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. OTC Bulletin Board.

Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, trust, incorporated organization or government or department or agency thereof.

Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Required Holders” means, as of any date, the holders of at least a majority of the Warrants outstanding as of such date.

Trading Day” means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the domestic securities exchanges on which the Common Stock is at the time listed; provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock are scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock are suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time).

 

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Warrant” means this Warrant and all warrants issued upon division or combination of, or in substitution for, this Warrant.

Warrant Shares” means the shares of Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company then purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant.

2. Term of Warrant. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, at any time or from time to time after the date hereof and prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of the date hereof or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day (the “Exercise Period”), the Holder of this Warrant may exercise this Warrant for all or any part of the Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder (subject to adjustment as provided herein).

3. Exercise of Warrant.

(a) Exercise Procedure. This Warrant may be exercised from time to time on any Business Day during the Exercise Period, for all or any part of the unexercised Warrant Shares, upon:

(i) surrender of this Warrant to the Company at its then principal executive offices (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Warrant in the case of its loss, theft or destruction), together with an Exercise Notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (each, an “Exercise Notice”), duly completed (including specifying the number of Warrant Shares to be purchased) and executed; and

(ii) payment to the Company of the Aggregate Exercise Price in accordance with Section 3(b).

(b) Payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price. Payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price shall be made, at the option of the Holder as expressed in the Exercise Notice, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Company, in the amount of such Aggregate Exercise Price.

(c) Cashless Exercise. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if a registration statement covering the Warrant Shares that are the subject of the Exercise Notice (the “Unavailable Warrant Shares”), or an exemption from registration, is not available for the resale of such Unavailable Warrant Shares, the Holder may, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the “Net Number” of shares of Common Stock determined according to the following formula (a “Cashless Exercise”):

Net Number = (A x B) - (A x C)

B

For purposes of the foregoing formula:

A = the total number of shares with respect to which this Warrant is then being exercised.

 

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  B = the arithmetic average of the Closing Sale Prices of the shares of Common Stock for the five (5) consecutive Trading Days ending on the date immediately preceding the date of the Exercise Notice.

 

  C = the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.

(i) Rule 144. For purposes of Rule 144(d) promulgated under the Securities Act, as in effect on the date hereof, assuming the Holder is not an affiliate of the Company, it is intended that the Warrant Shares issued in a Cashless Exercise shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Holder, and the holding period for the Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have commenced, on the date this Warrant was originally issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

(d) Disputes. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall promptly issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares that are not disputed.

(e) Delivery of Stock Certificates. Upon receipt by the Company of the Exercise Notice, surrender of this Warrant and payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price (in accordance with Section 3(a) or 3(c) hereof), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, and in any event within 10 Business Days thereafter, execute (or cause to be executed) and deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, together with cash in lieu of any fraction of a share, as provided in Section 3(g) hereof. The stock certificate or certificates so delivered shall be, to the extent possible, in such denomination or denominations as the exercising Holder shall reasonably request in the Exercise Notice and shall be registered in the name of the Holder or, subject to compliance with Section 5 below, such other Person’s name as shall be designated in the Exercise Notice. This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised and such certificate or certificates of Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and the Holder or any other Person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such Warrant Shares for all purposes, as of the Exercise Date.

(f) Company’s Failure to Timely Deliver Securities. If the Company shall fail for any reason or for no reason to issue to the Holder within three (3) Business Days of the Exercise Date a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or to credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise of this Warrant, and if on or after such Trading Day the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise that the Holder anticipated receiving from the Company (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall, within three (3) Business Days after the Holder’s written request and in the Holder’s discretion, pay cash to the Holder (for costs incurred either directly by such Holder or on behalf of a third party) the amount by which the total purchase price paid for Common Stock as a result of the Buy-In (including brokerage commissions, if any) exceeds the proceeds received by such Holder as a result of the sale to which such Buy-In relates. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In, which notice shall be final and binding on the Company and such Holder, absent manifest error.

(g) Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue a fractional Warrant Share upon exercise of any Warrant. As to any fraction of a Warrant Share that the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall pay to such Holder an amount in cash (by wire transfer of immediately available funds) equal to the product of (i) such fraction multiplied by (ii) the Fair Market Value of one Warrant Share on the Exercise Date.

 

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(h) Delivery of New Warrant. Unless the purchase rights represented by this Warrant shall have expired or shall have been fully exercised, the Company shall, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing the Warrant Shares being issued in accordance with Section 3(e) hereof, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unexpired and unexercised Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant. Such new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical to this Warrant.

(i) Valid Issuance of Warrant and Warrant Shares; Payment of Taxes. With respect to the exercise of this warrant, the Company hereby represents, covenants and agrees:

(i) This Warrant is, and any Warrant issued in substitution for or replacement of this Warrant shall be, upon issuance, duly authorized and validly issued.

(ii) All Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant pursuant to the terms hereof shall be, upon issuance, and the Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that such Warrant Shares are, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free and clear of all taxes, liens and charges.

(iii) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that all such Warrant Shares are issued without violation by the Company of any applicable law or governmental regulation or any requirements of any domestic securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares may be listed at the time of such exercise (except for official notice of issuance which shall be immediately delivered by the Company upon each such issuance).

(iv) The Company shall pay all expenses in connection with, and all taxes and other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to, the issuance or delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant; provided, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed with respect to any applicable withholding or the issuance or delivery of the Warrant Shares to any Person other than the Holder, and no such issuance or delivery shall be made unless and until the Person requesting such issuance has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

(j) Reservation of Shares. During the Exercise Period, the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock or other securities constituting Warrant Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon the exercise of this Warrant, the maximum number of Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant, and the par value per Warrant Share shall at all times be less than or equal to the applicable Exercise Price. The Company shall not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, and shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant.

 

 

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4. Adjustment of Exercise Price and Number of Warrant Shares. The Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares shall be adjusted from time to time as follows:

(a) Adjustment upon Issuance of shares of Common Stock. If and whenever on or after the Original Issue Date, the Company issues or sells, or in accordance with this Section 4 is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock (including the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company, but excluding shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued by the Company in connection with any Excluded Securities (the “Additional Shares”)) for a consideration per share (the “New Issuance Price”) less than a price (the “Applicable Price”) equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such issue or sale or deemed issuance or sale (the foregoing a “Dilutive Issuance”), then immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Exercise Price then in effect shall be reduced to a price determined as follows:

Adjusted Exercise Price = (A x B) + D

  A+C

where

 

  A = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, including the Additional Shares deemed to be issued hereunder, immediately preceding the Dilutive Issuance;

 

  B = the Exercise Price in effect immediately preceding such Dilutive Issuance;

 

  C = the number of Additional Shares issued or deemed issued hereunder as a result of the Dilutive Issuance; and

 

  D = the aggregate consideration, if any, received or deemed to be received by the Company upon such Dilutive Issuance.

For purposes of determining the adjusted Exercise Price under this Section 4(a), the following shall be applicable:

(i) Issuance of Options. If the Company in any manner grants any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the granting or sale of such Option for such price per share. For purposes of this Section 4(a)(i), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon exercise of such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option” shall be equal to the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of the Option, upon exercise of the Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option less any consideration paid or payable by the Company with respect to such one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option. No further adjustment of the Exercise Price or number of Warrant Shares shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities upon the exercise of such Options or upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

 

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(ii) Issuance of Convertible Securities. If the Company in any manner issues or sells any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities for such price per share. For the purposes of this Section 4(a)(ii), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof” shall be equal to the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of the Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security less any consideration paid or payable by the Company with respect to such one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of such Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security. No further adjustment of the Exercise Price or number of Warrant Shares shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities, and if any such issue or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of this Warrant has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 4(a), no further adjustment of the Exercise Price or number of Warrant Shares shall be made by reason of such issue or sale.

(iii) Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion. If the purchase price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time, the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 4(a)(iii), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the date of issuance of this Warrant are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 4(a) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Exercise Price then in effect or a decrease in the number of Warrant Shares.

(iv) Calculation of Consideration Received. In case any Option is issued in connection with the issue or sale of other securities of the Company, together comprising one integrated transaction, (x) the Options will be deemed to have been issued for the Option Value of such Options and (y) the other securities issued or sold in such integrated transaction shall be deemed to have been issued for the difference of (I) the aggregate consideration received by the Company less any consideration paid or payable by the Company pursuant to the terms of such other securities of the Company, less (II) the Option Value. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration received therefor will be deemed to be the net amount received by the Company therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Company will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company will be the Closing Sale Price of such security on the date of receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor will be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be. The fair value of any consideration other than cash or securities will be determined jointly by the Company and the Required Holders. If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation (the “Valuation Event”), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Trading Days after the tenth (10th) day following the Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Company and the Required Holders. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Company.

 

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(v) Record Date. If the Company takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase, as the case may be.

(b) Adjustment to Exercise Price and Number of Warrant Shares Upon Dividend, Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock. If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, (i) pay a dividend or make any other distribution upon the Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company payable in shares of Common Stock or in Options or Convertible Securities, or (ii) subdivide or reclassify (in either case by any stock split, recapitalization or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to any such dividend, distribution or subdivision shall be proportionately reduced and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately increased. If the Company at any time combines or reclassifies (in either case by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately increased and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately decreased. Any adjustment under this Section 4 shall become effective at the close of business on the date the dividend, subdivision or combination becomes effective.

(c) Certificate as to Adjustment.

(i) As promptly as reasonably practicable following any adjustment of the Exercise Price, but in any event not later than 10 Business Days thereafter, the Company shall furnish to the Holder a certificate of an executive officer setting forth in reasonable detail such adjustment and the facts upon which it is based and certifying the calculation thereof.

(ii) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the receipt by the Company of a written request by the Holder, but in any event not later than 5 Business Days thereafter, the Company shall furnish to the Holder a certificate of an executive officer certifying the Exercise Price then in effect and the number of Warrant Shares or the amount, if any, of other shares of stock, securities or assets then issuable upon exercise of the Warrant.

(d) Notices. In the event:

(i) that the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of the Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution, to vote at a meeting (or by written consent), to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other security; or

(ii) of any capital reorganization of the Company, any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company, any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another Person, or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another Person; or

(iii) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company;

 

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then, and in each such case, the Company shall send or cause to be sent to the Holder at least 15 days prior to the applicable record date or the applicable expected effective date, as the case may be, for the event, a written notice specifying, as the case may be, (A) the record date for such dividend, distribution, meeting or consent or other right or action, and a description of such dividend, distribution or other right or action to be taken at such meeting or by written consent, or (B) the effective date on which such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is proposed to take place, and the date, if any is to be fixed, as of which the books of the Company shall close or a record shall be taken with respect to which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon exercise of the Warrant) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to the Warrant and the Warrant Shares.

5. Transfer of Warrant. Subject to the transfer conditions referred to in the legend endorsed hereon, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, by the Holder without charge to the Holder, upon surrender of this Warrant to the Company at its then principal executive offices with a properly completed and duly executed Assignment in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, together with funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes described in Section 3(i)(iv) in connection with the making of such transfer. Upon such compliance, surrender and delivery and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees and in the denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant, if any, not so assigned and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled.

6. Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder; Limitations on Liability. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares to which the Holder is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of shares of capital stock of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

7. Replacement on Loss; Division and Combination.

(a) Replacement of Warrant on Loss. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and upon delivery of an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it (it being understood that a written indemnification agreement or affidavit of loss of the Holder shall be a sufficient indemnity) and, in case of mutilation, upon surrender of such Warrant for cancellation to the Company, the Company at its own expense shall execute and deliver to the Holder, in lieu hereof, a new Warrant of like tenor and exercisable for an equivalent number of Warrant Shares as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed; provided, that, in the case of mutilation, no indemnity shall be required if this Warrant in identifiable form is surrendered to the Company for cancellation.

(b) Division and Combination of Warrant. Subject to compliance with the applicable provisions of this Warrant as to any transfer or other assignment which may be involved in such division or combination, this Warrant may be divided or, following any such division of this Warrant, subsequently combined with other Warrants, upon the surrender of this Warrant or Warrants to the Company at its then principal executive offices, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the respective Holders or their agents or attorneys. Subject to compliance with the applicable provisions of this Warrant as to any transfer or assignment which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall at its own expense execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants so surrendered in accordance with such notice. Such new Warrant or Warrants shall be of like tenor to the surrendered Warrant or Warrants and shall be exercisable in the aggregate for an equivalent number of Warrant Shares as the Warrant or Warrants so surrendered in accordance with such notice.

 

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8. Compliance with the Act.

(a) Agreement to Comply with the Act; Legend. The Holder, by acceptance of this Warrant, agrees to comply in all respects with the provisions of this Section 8 and the restrictive legend requirements set forth on the face of this Warrant and further agrees that such Holder shall not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of this Warrant or any Warrant Shares to be issued upon exercise hereof except under circumstances that will not result in a violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act”). This Warrant and all Warrant Shares issued upon exercise of this Warrant (unless registered under the Act) shall be stamped or imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (AS AMENDED, THE “ACT”) OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT, (B) COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144 OR RULE 144A PROMULGATED UNDER THE ACT (OR A SUCCESSOR RULE THERETO), (C) AN EXEMPTION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OR (D) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. ANY ATTEMPT TO TRANSFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS SECURITY IN VIOLATION OF THESE RESTRICTIONS SHALL BE VOID.”

9. No Impairment. The Company shall not, by amendment of its certificate of incorporation or through any consolidation, merger, reorganization, transfer of assets, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the Holder of this Warrant against dilution or other impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (a) not permit the par value of any shares of stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant to exceed the amount payable therefor upon such exercise, (b) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of stock on the exercise of the Warrants from time to time outstanding and (c) not take any action which results in any adjustment of the Exercise Price if the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable after the action upon the exercise of all of the Warrants would exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock then authorized by the Company’s certificate of incorporation and available for the purpose of issuance upon such exercise.

10. Exercise Price Dispute Resolution. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations via facsimile within two (2) Business Days of receipt of the Exercise Notice giving rise to such dispute, as the case may be, to the Holder. If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation of the Exercise Price or the Warrant Shares within three Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Holder, then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Exercise Price to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company’s independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause the investment bank or the accountant, as the case may be, to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten Business Days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or calculations. The prevailing party in any dispute resolved pursuant to this Section 10 shall be entitled to the full amount of all reasonable expenses, including all costs and fees paid or incurred in good faith, in relation to the resolution of such dispute. Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation, as the case may be, shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.

 

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11. Warrant Register. The Company shall keep and properly maintain at its principal executive offices books for the registration of the Warrant and any transfers thereof. The Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name the Warrant is registered on such register as the Holder thereof for all purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, except any assignment, division, combination or other transfer of the Warrant effected in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant.

12. Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given: (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient; or (d) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the addresses indicated below (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10).

 

  If to the Company:   

ChinaCast Education Corporation

Room 701A, Building A, Golden Eagle Mansion

80 Hanxiao Road, Pudong

Shanghai 200437 China

Attention: Doug Woodrum

Fax: +(86) 21 6105 3354*8004

            
 

with a copy to (which shall

not constitute notice):

  

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson

9th Floor, Gloucester Tower, The Landmark,

15 Queen’s Road Central

Hong Kong

Attention: Doug Freeman

Fax: +(852) 3760 3611

            
  If to the Holder:   

[]

Facsimile:[]

E-mail: []

Attention: []

            
  with a copy to:   

[]

Facsimile: []

E-mail: []

Attention: []

            

13. Cumulative Remedies. Except to the extent expressly provided in Section 6 to the contrary, the rights and remedies provided in this Warrant are cumulative and are not exclusive of, and are in addition to and not in substitution for, any other rights or remedies available at law, in equity or otherwise.

14. Equitable Relief. Each of the Company and the Holder acknowledges that a breach or threatened breach by such party of any of its obligations under this Warrant would give rise to irreparable harm to the other party hereto for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy and hereby agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by such party of any such obligations, the other party hereto shall, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies that may be available to it in respect of such breach, be entitled to equitable relief, including a restraining order, an injunction, specific performance and any other relief that may be available from a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

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15. Entire Agreement. This Warrant, together with the applicable Purchase Agreements the Holder is party to, constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Warrant with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Warrant and the applicable Purchase Agreements the Holder is party to, the statements in the body of this Warrant shall control.

16. Successor and Assigns. This Warrant and the rights evidenced hereby shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and the Holder and the successors of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of the Holder. Such successors and/or permitted assigns of the Holder shall be deemed to be a Holder for all purposes hereunder.

17. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Warrant is for the sole benefit of the Company and the Holder and their respective successors and, in the case of the Holder, permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever, under or by reason of this Warrant.

18. Headings. The headings in this Warrant are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Warrant.

19. Amendment and Modification; Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Warrant may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by the Company and the Holder, the successors of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of the Holder. No waiver by the Company or the Holder of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and signed by the party so waiving. No waiver by any party shall operate or be construed as a waiver in respect of any failure, breach or default not expressly identified by such written waiver, whether of a similar or different character, and whether occurring before or after that waiver. No failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, any rights, remedy, power or privilege arising from this Warrant shall operate or be construed as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.

20. Severability. If any term or provision of this Warrant is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Warrant or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.

21. Governing Law, Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Each of the Company and the Holder irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in New York County and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the Company and the Holder irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each of the Company and the Holder irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE HOLDER WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT.

22. Counterparts. This Warrant may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Warrant delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Warrant.

 

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23. No Strict Construction. This Warrant shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this Warrant on the Original Issue Date.

 

CHINACAST EDUCATION CORPORATION
By:    

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF EXERCISE NOTICE]

CHINACAST EDUCATION CORPORATION

WARRANT DATED AUGUST 24, 2012

The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase              shares of Common Stock (Warrant Shares) of ChinaCast Education Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), evidenced by the attached Warrant to purchase Common Stock (the “Warrant”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

1. Form of Exercise Price. The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as:

                     a Cash Exercise with respect to                      Warrant Shares; and/or

                     a Cashless Exercise with respect to                      Warrant Shares.

2. Payment of Exercise Price. In the event that the holder has elected a Cash Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the holder shall pay the Aggregate Exercise Price in the sum of $            to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

3. Delivery of Warrant Shares. The Company shall deliver to the holder                      Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant and, after delivery of such Warrant Shares,                      Warrant Shares remain subject to the Warrant.

 

Dated:                                 ,                     Name of Holder:
    (Print)    
    By:    
    Name:    
    Title:    
    (Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of the Warrant)

 

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EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT]

CHINACAST EDUCATION CORPORATION

WARRANT ORIGINALLY ISSUED AUGUST 24, 2012

WARRANT NO. [•]

(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to purchase shares.)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to

 

Name:  

 

  (Please Print)
Address:  

 

  (Please Print)
Dated:             ,               
Holder’s Signature:                              
Holder’s Address:                              

NOTE: The signature to this Form of Assignment must correspond with the name as it appears on the face of the Warrant, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing Warrant.

 

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