UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D/A
UNDER SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Amendment No. 3)*
KongZhong Corporation
(Name of Issuer)
Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.0000005 per share**
(Title of Class of Securities)
50047P104***
(CUSIP Number)
IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P.
c/o IDG VC Management Ltd.
Unit 5505, The Center
99 Queen’s Road
Central, Hong Kong
+86 10 6526 2400
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
December 1, 2016
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1 (e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box ¨.
Note. Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule §240.13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
* | The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. |
** | Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares each representing 40 ordinary shares. |
*** | This CUSIP applies to the American Depositary Shares, each representing 40 ordinary shares. |
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
CUSIP No. 50047P104 | 13D | Page 2 of 11 Pages |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P. | |||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨ (b) x | ||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
| |||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS OO | |||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e) |
¨ | ||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands | |||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
92,818,000(1) | ||
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
7,591,160(2) | |||
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
92,818,000(1) | |||
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
7,591,160(2) | |||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
100,409,160 | |||
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
|
¨ | ||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.3%(3) | |||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN | |||
(1) By virtue of being the general partner of the Reporting Person and the persons controlling such general partner, IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II Associates L.P., IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd., Chi Sing Ho and Quan Zhou acting together may also be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to these Shares.
(2) IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. is the record owner of these Shares. The Reporting Person and IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. have the same ultimate general partner, IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd. By virtue of this, the Reporting Person may be deemed to be under common control with IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. and thus share voting and dispositive power with respect to these Shares.
(3) Based upon 1,884,133,063 Shares outstanding as of December 1, 2016 as disclosed by the Issuer in the Merger Agreement (excluding 4,686,040 Shares issued to the depositary of the Company and represented by ADSs reserved for issuance and allocation in anticipation of the exercise of the Company stock awards).
CUSIP No. 50047P104 | 13D | Page 3 of 11 pages |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II Associates L.P.
| |||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨ (b) x | ||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
| |||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS OO | |||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e) |
¨ | ||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands | |||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
92,818,000(1) | ||
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
7,591,160(2) | |||
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
92,818,000(1) | |||
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
7,591,160(2) | |||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
100,409,160 | |||
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
|
¨ | ||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.3%(3) | |||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN | |||
(1) By virtue of being the general partner of the Reporting Person and the persons controlling such general partner, IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd., Chi Sing Ho and Quan Zhou acting together may also be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to these Shares.
(2) IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. is the record owner of these Shares. The Reporting Person and IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. have the same ultimate general partner, IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd. By virtue of this, the Reporting Person may be deemed to be under common control with IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. and thus share voting and dispositive power with respect to these Shares.
(3) Based upon 1,884,133,063 Shares outstanding as of December 1, 2016 as disclosed by the Issuer in the Merger Agreement (excluding 4,686,040 Shares issued to the depositary of the Company and represented by ADSs reserved for issuance and allocation in anticipation of the exercise of the Company stock awards).
CUSIP No. 50047P104 | 13D | Page 4 of 11 pages |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd.
| |||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨ (b) x | ||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
| |||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS OO | |||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e) |
¨ | ||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands | |||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
100,409,160(1) | ||
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
0 | |||
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
100,409,160(1) | |||
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 | |||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
100,409,160 | |||
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN |
¨ | ||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.3%(2) | |||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO | |||
(1) Including 92,818,000 Shares of which the record owner is IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P. and 7,591,160 Shares of which the record owner is IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. By virtue of being the ultimate general partner of both record owners, the Reporting Person may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to all these Shares.
(2) Based upon 1,884,133,063 Shares outstanding as of December 1, 2016 as disclosed by the Issuer in the Merger Agreement (excluding 4,686,040 Shares issued to the depositary of the Company and represented by ADSs reserved for issuance and allocation in anticipation of the exercise of the Company stock awards).
CUSIP No. 50047P104 | 13D | Page 5 of 11 pages |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P.
| |||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨ (b) x | ||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
| |||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS OO | |||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)
|
¨ | ||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands | |||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
7,591,160(1) | ||
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
92,818,000(2) | |||
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7,591,160(1) | |||
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
92,818,000(2) | |||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
100,409,160 | |||
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
|
¨ | ||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.3%(3) | |||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN | |||
(1) By virtue of being the general partner of the Reporting Person and the persons controlling such general partner, IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd., Chi Sing Ho and Quan Zhou acting together may also be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to these Shares.
(2) IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P. is the record owner of these Shares. IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P. and the Reporting Person have the same ultimate general partner, IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd. By virtue of this, the Reporting Person may be deemed to be under common control with IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P. and thus share voting and dispositive power with respect to these Shares.
(3) Based upon 1,884,133,063 Shares outstanding as of December 1, 2016 as disclosed by the Issuer in the Merger Agreement (excluding 4,686,040 Shares issued to the depositary of the Company and represented by ADSs reserved for issuance and allocation in anticipation of the exercise of the Company stock awards).
CUSIP No. 50047P104 | 13D | Page 6 of 11 pages |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS Chi Sing Ho
| |||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) o (b) x | ||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
| |||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS OO | |||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e) |
¨ | ||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Canada | |||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 | ||
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
100,409,160(1) | |||
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 | |||
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
100,409,160(1) | |||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
100,409,160 | |||
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
|
¨ | ||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.3%(2) | |||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN | |||
(1) Including 92,818,000 Shares of which the record owner is IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P. and 7,591,160 Shares of which the record owner is IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. The ultimate general partner of both record owners is IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd., of which the Reporting Person and Quan Zhou are directors. By virtue of acting together to direct the management and operations of IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd., the Reporting Person and Quan Zhou may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to all these Shares.
(2) Based upon 1,884,133,063 Shares outstanding as of December 1, 2016 as disclosed by the Issuer in the Merger Agreement (excluding 4,686,040 Shares issued to the depositary of the Company and represented by ADSs reserved for issuance and allocation in anticipation of the exercise of the Company stock awards).
CUSIP No. 50047P104 | 13D | Page 7 of 11 pages |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS Quan Zhou
| |||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨ (b) x | ||
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
| |||
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS OO | |||
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e) |
¨ | ||
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States of America | |||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 | ||
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
100,409,160(1) | |||
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 | |||
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
100,409,160(1) | |||
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
100,409,160 | |||
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
|
¨ | ||
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.3%(2) | |||
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN | |||
(1) Including 92,818,000 Shares of which the record owner is IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P. and 7,591,160 Shares of which the record owner is IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. The ultimate general partner of both record owners is IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd., of which the Reporting Person and Chi Sing Ho are directors. By virtue of acting together to direct the management and operations of IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd., the Reporting Person and Chi Sing Ho may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to all these Shares.
(2) Based upon 1,884,133,063 Shares outstanding as of December 1, 2016 as disclosed by the Issuer in the Merger Agreement (excluding 4,686,040 Shares issued to the depositary of the Company and represented by ADSs reserved for issuance and allocation in anticipation of the exercise of the Company stock awards).
Introductory Note
This Amendment No.3 (this “Amendment No. 3”) amends and supplements the Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 5, 2016, as previously amended and supplemented by amendments to Schedule 13D filed on February 17, 2016 and August 26, 2016 (as so amended, the “Original 13D”). Except as amended and supplemented herein, the information set forth in the Original Schedule 13D remains unchanged. Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings as assigned thereto in the Original Schedule 13D, unless defined herein.
Item 3. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration. |
Item 3 of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
The Reporting Persons anticipate that, at the price of US$7.55 per ADS, or US$0.18875 per Share set forth in the Merger Agreement (as defined and further described in Item 4 below), approximately US$299 million will be expended for the Merger. This amount excludes the estimated transaction costs associated with the Merger.
The Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will be financed with a combination of equity capital contribution to北京五星融诚科技有限责任公司(Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology Ltd.) (“Holdco”) pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letters and the debt financing pursuant to the Debt Commitment Letter.
The information set forth in or incorporated by reference in Item 4 of this Statement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction. |
Item 4 of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
On December 1, 2016, 上海宏流资产管理中心(有限合伙) (Shanghai Trend Asset Management Center (Limited Partnership)) (“Shanghai Trend”) delivered a notice (the “Shanghai Trend Withdrawal Notice”) to the other members of the Consortium and withdrew from the Consortium.
On December 1, 2016, 共青城五疆星耀投资管理合伙企业(有限合伙) (Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Investment Management Partnership (Limited Partnership)) (“Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao”) and 和谐成长二期(义乌)投资中心(有限合伙) (Hexie Chengzhang Phase II (Yiwu) Investment Center (Limited Partnership)) (“Hexie Chengzhang”) each signed an adherence agreement to the Consortium Agreement (respectively, the “Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Adherence Agreement” and the “Hexie Chengzhang Adherence Agreement”), pursuant to which Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao and Hexie Chengzhang joined the Consortium. References to the “Consortium” or “Consortium Members” after December 1, 2016 shall include Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao and Hexie Chengzhang.
Merger Agreement
On December 1, 2016, Linkedsee Limited (“Parent”), Wiseman International Limited (“Merger Sub”) and the Issuer entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Issuer, with the Issuer continuing as the surviving company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, other than (a) the Excluded Shares (as defined below) and (b) the Shares held by shareholders who have validly exercised and not effectively withdrawn or lost their rights to dissent from the Merger in accordance with Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Law, will be cancelled in consideration for the right to receive US$0.18875 in cash per Share without interest. Each ADS issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, other than ADSs
representing the Excluded Shares, will be cancelled in consideration for the right to receive US$7.55 in cash per ADS without interest. “Excluded Shares” means, collectively, (i) the Shares held by the Rollover Shareholders to be contributed to Parent pursuant to the Contribution Agreement; (ii) the Shares held by Parent, the Issuer or any of their subsidiaries; and (iii) the Shares (including ADSs corresponding to such Shares) held by the depositary bank and reserved for issuance and allocation pursuant to the share incentive plan of the Issuer. Each of the Excluded Shares will be cancelled and cease to exist at the effective time of the Merger without payment of any consideration or distribution therefor.
The Merger is subject to various closing conditions, including the approval of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, by the affirmative vote of holders of Shares representing at least two-thirds of the Shares present and voting in person or by proxy as a single class at a meeting of the shareholders of the Issuer.
If the Merger is consummated, the Issuer’s ADSs would be delisted from the NASDAQ Global Select Market, and the Issuer’s obligation to file periodic reports under the Act would terminate. In addition, consummation of the Merger could result in one or more of the actions specified in clauses (a)-(j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D, including the acquisition or disposition of securities of the Issuer, a merger or other extraordinary transaction involving the Issuer, a change to the board of directors of the Issuer (as the surviving company in the Merger), and a change in the Issuer’s memorandum and articles of association to reflect that the Issuer would become a privately held company.
Equity Commitment Letters
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, each of WANG Leiliei, Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao and Hexie Chengzhang (collectively, the “Sponsors”) entered into an equity commitment letter dated December 1, 2016 (each, an “Equity Commitment Letter”) with Holdco, pursuant to which each Sponsor has committed to purchase, or cause the purchase of, for cash, subject to the terms and conditions, equity securities of Holdco.
Debt Commitment Letter
China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., New York Branch (“CMB NY”) issued a debt commitment letter dated December 1, 2016 (the “Debt Commitment Letter”) to Merger Sub, pursuant to which CMB NY committed to provide an aggregate principal amount of up to US$280 million to fund the Merger, subject to various customary terms and conditions contained in the Debt Commitment Letter.
Contribution Agreement
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, WANG Leilei, Right Advance Management Ltd., Chiming Bells International Limited (collectively, the “Rollover Shareholders”) and Parent executed a contribution agreement dated December 1, 2016 (the “Contribution Agreement”), pursuant to which each of the Rollover Shareholders agreed to contribute all Shares owned by it to Parent in connection with the Merger in exchange for newly issued shares of Parent on or prior to the consummation of the Merger.
Voting Agreement
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Rollover Shareholders, IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P., IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P., Parent and the Issuer executed a voting agreement dated December 1, 2016 (the “Voting Agreement”), pursuant to which each of the Rollover Shareholders, IDG Accel China Growth Fund II L.P., and IDG Accel China Investors II L.P. agreed to vote all the Shares owned by it in favor of the Merger at a meeting of the shareholders of the Issuer.
Limited Guaranties
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, each of WANG Leiliei, Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao and Hexie Chengzhang entered into a limited guaranty (each, a “Limited Guaranty”) in favor of the Issuer with respect to a portion of the payment obligations of Parent for the parent termination fee and certain indemnification, reimbursement and expense obligations of Parent under the Merger Agreement that may become payable to the Issuer by Parent under certain circumstances.
The descriptions of the Shanghai Trend Withdrawal Notice, the Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Adherence Agreement, the Hexie Chengzhang Adherence Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Equity Commitment Letters, the Debt Commitment Letter, the Contribution Agreement, the Voting Agreement and the Limited Guaranties set forth above in this Item 4 do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by references to the full text of the Shanghai Trend Withdrawal Notice, the Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Adherence Agreement, the Hexie Chengzhang Adherence Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Equity Commitment Letters, the Debt Commitment Letter, the Contribution Agreement, the Voting Agreement and the Limited Guaranties, which have been filed as exhibits to this Statement, and are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The information set forth in or incorporated by reference in Item 3 of this Statement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Item 6. | Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with respect to Securities of the Issuer. |
Item 6 of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended and supplemented in its entirety as follows:
The information set forth in or incorporated by reference in Item 3 and Item 4 of this Statement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Item 7. | Material to be Filed as Exhibits. |
Item 7 of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
Exhibit 5: Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 1, 2016, by and among Parent, Merger Sub and the Issuer (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to Current Report on Form 6-K filed by the Issuer with the Commission on December 1, 2016).
Exhibit 6: Shanghai Trend Withdrawal Notice, dated December 1, 2016, signed by Shanghai Trend.
Exhibit 7: Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Adherence Agreement, dated December 1, 2016, signed by Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao.
Exhibit 8: Hexie Chengzhang Adherence Agreement, dated December 1, 2016, signed by Hexie Chengzhang.
Exhibit 9: Equity Commitment Letter, dated
December 1, 2016, between WANG Leilei and Holdco.
Exhibit 10: Equity Commitment Letter, dated December 1, 2016, between Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao and Holdco.
Exhibit 11: Equity Commitment Letter, dated December 1, 2016, between Hexie Chengzhang and Holdco.
Exhibit 12: Debt Commitment Letter, dated December 1, 2016, by and among CMB NY, Merger Sub and Wang Leilei.
Exhibit 13: Contribution Agreement, dated December 1, 2016, by and among the Rollover Shareholders and Parent.
Exhibit 14: Voting Agreement, dated December 1, 2016, by and among the Rollover Shareholders, IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P., IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P., Parent and the Issuer.
Exhibit 15: Limited Guaranty, dated December 1, 2016, between WANG Leilei and the Issuer.
Exhibit 16: Limited Guaranty, dated December 1, 2016, between Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao and the Issuer.
Exhibit 17: Limited Guaranty, dated December 1, 2016, between Hexie Chengzhang and the Issuer.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Date: December 2, 2016
IDG-ACCEL CHINA GROWTH FUND II L.P. | ||
By: | /s/ Quan Zhou | |
Name: Quan Zhou | ||
Title: Authorised Signatory | ||
IDG-ACCEL CHINA GROWTH FUND II ASSOCIATES L.P. | ||
By: | /s/ Quan Zhou | |
Name: Quan Zhou | ||
Title: Authorised Signatory | ||
IDG-ACCEL CHINA INVESTORS II L.P. | ||
By: | /s/ Quan Zhou | |
Name: Quan Zhou | ||
Title: Authorised Signatory | ||
IDG-ACCEL CHINA GROWTH FUND GP II ASSOCIATES LTD. | ||
By: | /s/ Quan Zhou | |
Name: Quan Zhou | ||
Title: Authorised Signatory | ||
CHI SING HO | ||
By: | /s/ Chi Sing Ho | |
Name: Chi Sing Ho | ||
QUAN ZHOU | ||
By: | /s/ Quan Zhou | |
Name: Quan Zhou |
Exhibit 6
December 1, 2016
Mr. Leilei Wang
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza
No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street
Beijing, 100044, China
Attention: Mr. Leilei Wang
Right Advance Management Ltd.
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza
No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street
Beijing, 100044, China
Attention: Mr. Leilei Wang
Chiming Bells International Limited
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza
No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street
Beijing, 100044, China
Attention: Mr. Leilei Wang
IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P.
c/o IDG VC Management Ltd.
Unit 5505, The Center
99 Queen’s Road
Central, Hong Kong
Attention: Yi Liu
IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P.
c/o IDG VC Management Ltd.
Unit 5505, The Center
99 Queen’s Road
Central, Hong Kong
Attention: Yi Liu
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Consortium Agreement (the “Consortium Agreement”), dated as of February 5, 2016, by and among each of you and the Adherence Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2016, by and among each of you and the undersigned. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them under the Consortium Agreement.
By delivering this written notice, the undersigned hereby ceases its participation in the Transaction and withdraws from the Consortium pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Consortium Agreement effective as of the date hereof.
[Signature Page Follows]
Sincerely, 上海宏流资产管理中心(有限合伙) (SHANGHAI TREND ASSET MANAGEMENT CENTER (LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)) | ||
By: | /s/ Shiqiong Hu | |
Name: Shiqiong Hu | ||
Title: Executive Partner |
[Signature Page to Withdrawal Notice]
Exhibit 7
ADHERENCE AGREEMENT
THIS ADHERENCE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into on December 1, 2016.
BY: |
Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Investment Management Partnership (Limited Partnership), a limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of PRC with its registered address at Private Equity Fund Park 405-286, Gongqingcheng, Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, PRC (the “New Sponsor”).
RECITALS:
(A) On February 5, 2016, Leilei Wang, Right Advance Management Ltd., Chiming Bells International Limited., IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P. and IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. (the “Existing Parties”) entered into a consortium agreement (the “Consortium Agreement”) and proposed to undertake an acquisition transaction (the “Transaction”) with respect to KongZhong Corporation (the “Target”), a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), pursuant to which the Target would be delisted from NASDAQ and deregistered under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(B) Additional sponsors may be admitted to the Consortium pursuant to Section 1.4(d) of the Consortium Agreement.
(C) The New Sponsor now wishes to participate in the Transaction contemplated under the Consortium Agreement, to sign this Agreement, and to be bound by the terms of the Consortium Agreement as a Sponsor and a Party thereto.
THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES as follows:
1. | DEFINED TERMS AND CONSTRUCTION |
1.1 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Consortium Agreement.
1.2 This Agreement shall be incorporated into the Consortium Agreement as if expressly incorporated into the Consortium Agreement.
2. | UNDERTAKINGS |
2.1 | Assumption of obligations |
The New Sponsor undertakes, to each other party to this Agreement that it will, with effect from the date hereof, perform and comply with each of the obligations of a Sponsor as if it had been a Party to the Consortium Agreement at the date of execution thereof and the Existing Parties agree that where there is a reference to a “Sponsor” or “Party” there it shall be deemed to include a reference to the New Sponsor and with effect from the date hereof, all the rights of a Sponsor provided under the Consortium Agreement will be
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accorded to the New Sponsor as if the New Sponsor had been a Sponsor and a Party under the Consortium Agreement at the date of execution thereof.
3. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
3.1 | The New Sponsor represents and warrants to each of the other Parties as follows: |
3.1.1 | Status |
It is a limited partnership duly organized, established and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction stated in preamble 1 of this Agreement and has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and to conduct the business which it conducts.
3.1.2 | Due Authorization |
It has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the New Sponsor has been duly authorized by all necessary action on behalf of the New Sponsor.
3.1.3 | Legal, Valid and Binding Obligation |
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the New Sponsor and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the New Sponsor, enforceable against it in accordance with the terms hereof.
3.1.4 | Ownership |
As of the date of this Agreement, the New Sponsor does not own, directly or indirectly, any Target Ordinary Shares or any other Securities of Target.
3.1.5 | Reliance |
Each Party acknowledges that the other Parties have entered into this Agreement on the basis of and reliance upon (among other things) the representations and warranties in Sections 3.1.1 to 3.1.4 and have been induced by them to enter into this Agreement.
4. | NOTICE. |
Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be provided hereunder by any Party to another Party shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile, overnight courier or electronic mail, to the address, facsimile number or electronic mail address provided under the other Party’s signature page to the Consortium Agreement, or to any other address, facsimile number or electronic mail address as a Party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other Parties hereto. All such notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of receipt by the
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recipient thereof if received prior to 6:00 p.m. on a Business Day in the place of receipt. Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day in the place of receipt.
5. | GOVERNING LAW. |
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
6. | DISPUTE RESOLUTION. |
Section 9.9 of the Consortium Agreement shall be incorporated by reference herein and deemed to be a part hereof.
7. | SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. |
Each Party acknowledges and agrees that the other Parties would be irreparably injured by a breach of this Agreement by it and that money damages alone are an inadequate remedy for actual or threatened breach of this Agreement. Accordingly, each Party shall be entitled to specific performance or injunctive or other equitable relief (without posting a bond or other security) to enforce or prevent any violations of any provision of this Agreement, in addition to all other rights and remedies available at law or in equity to such Party, including the right to claim money damages for breach of any provision of this Agreement.
[Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Sponsor has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by its respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
共青城五疆星耀投资管理合伙企业 | ||
(有限合伙)(Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Investment Management Partnership (Limited Partnership)) | ||
By: | /s/ Liang Hong | |
Name: | Liang Hong | |
Position: | Executive Partner |
Notice details | |
Address: 3F, Five Stars Capital, Southeast Gate, No. 58 the Worker’s Stadium Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, China | |
Email: hongliang@5starsvc.com | |
Facsimile: |
[Signature Page to Adherence Agreement]
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Exhibit 8
ADHERENCE AGREEMENT
THIS ADHERENCE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into on December 1, 2016.
BY: |
Hexie Chengzhang Phase II (Yiwu) Investment Center (Limited Partnership), a limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of PRC with its registered address at No. 133, Futian Street, Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, PRC (the “New Sponsor”).
RECITALS:
(A) On February 5, 2016, Leilei Wang, Right Advance Management Ltd., Chiming Bells International Limited., IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P. and IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. (the “Existing Parties”) entered into a consortium agreement (the “Consortium Agreement”) and proposed to undertake an acquisition transaction (the “Transaction”) with respect to KongZhong Corporation (the “Target”), a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), pursuant to which the Target would be delisted from NASDAQ and deregistered under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(B) Additional sponsors may be admitted to the Consortium pursuant to Section 1.4(d) of the Consortium Agreement.
(C) The New Sponsor now wishes to participate in the Transaction contemplated under the Consortium Agreement, to sign this Agreement, and to be bound by the terms of the Consortium Agreement as a Sponsor and a Party thereto.
THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES as follows:
1. | DEFINED TERMS AND CONSTRUCTION |
1.1 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Consortium Agreement.
1.2 This Agreement shall be incorporated into the Consortium Agreement as if expressly incorporated into the Consortium Agreement.
2. | UNDERTAKINGS |
2.1 | Assumption of obligations |
The New Sponsor undertakes, to each other party to this Agreement that it will, with effect from the date hereof, perform and comply with each of the obligations of a Sponsor as if it had been a Party to the Consortium Agreement at the date of execution thereof and the Existing Parties agree that where there is a reference to a “Sponsor” or “Party” there it shall be deemed to include a reference to the New Sponsor and with effect from the date hereof, all the rights of a Sponsor provided under the Consortium Agreement will be
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accorded to the New Sponsor as if the New Sponsor had been a Sponsor and a Party under the Consortium Agreement at the date of execution thereof.
3. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
3.1 | The New Sponsor represents and warrants to each of the other Parties as follows: |
3.1.1 | Status |
It is a limited partnership duly organized, established and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction stated in preamble 1 of this Agreement and has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and to conduct the business which it conducts.
3.1.2 | Due Authorization |
It has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the New Sponsor has been duly authorized by all necessary action on behalf of the New Sponsor.
3.1.3 | Legal, Valid and Binding Obligation |
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the New Sponsor and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the New Sponsor, enforceable against it in accordance with the terms hereof.
3.1.4 | Ownership |
As of the date of this Agreement, the New Sponsor does not own, directly or indirectly, any Target Ordinary Shares or any other Securities of Target.
3.1.5 | Reliance |
Each Party acknowledges that the other Parties have entered into this Agreement on the basis of and reliance upon (among other things) the representations and warranties in Sections 3.1.1 to 3.1.4 and have been induced by them to enter into this Agreement.
4. | Notice |
Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be provided hereunder by any Party to another Party shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile, overnight courier or electronic mail, to the address, facsimile number or electronic mail address provided under the other Party’s signature page to the Consortium Agreement, or to any other address, facsimile number or electronic mail address as a Party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other Parties hereto. All such notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of receipt by the
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recipient thereof if received prior to 6:00 p.m. on a Business Day in the place of receipt. Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day in the place of receipt.
5. | GOVERNING LAW. |
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
6. | DISPUTE RESOLUTION. |
Section 9.9 of the Consortium Agreement shall be incorporated by reference herein and deemed to be a part hereof.
7. | SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. |
Each Party acknowledges and agrees that the other Parties would be irreparably injured by a breach of this Agreement by it and that money damages alone are an inadequate remedy for actual or threatened breach of this Agreement. Accordingly, each Party shall be entitled to specific performance or injunctive or other equitable relief (without posting a bond or other security) to enforce or prevent any violations of any provision of this Agreement, in addition to all other rights and remedies available at law or in equity to such Party, including the right to claim money damages for breach of any provision of this Agreement.
[Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Sponsor has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by its respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
和谐成长二期(义乌)投资中心(有限合伙)(Hexie Chengzhang Phase II (Yiwu) Investment Center (Limited Partnership)) | |
By: | /s/ Dongliang Lin |
Name: | Dongliang Lin (林栋梁) |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
Notice details |
Address: Yi Liu, 6/F, Tower A, COFCO Plaza, 8 Jianguomennei Dajie, Beijing, 100005, PRC |
Email: yi_liu@idgvc.com |
Facsimile: (86 10) 6526 0700 |
[Signature Page to Adherence Agreement]
Exhibit 9
December 1, 2016
Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology Ltd.
Room 5291, 5/F, Shenchang Plaza
No. 51 Zhichun Avenue, Haidian District
Beijing, PRC
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Mr. Leilei Wang (the “Sponsor”) is pleased to offer this commitment with respect to the purchase of certain equity interests of Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology Ltd., a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“Holdco”). Holdco has been formed for purposes of acquiring KongZhong Corporation (the “Company”) pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, Linkedsee Limited (“Parent”) and Wiseman International Limited (“Merger Sub”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement (the “Transaction”). Each capitalized term used and not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement. This letter agreement (this “Agreement”) is being delivered together with substantially identical commitment letters, dated as of the date hereof, from Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Investment Management Partnership (Limited Partnership) and Hexie Chengzhang Phase II (Yiwu) Investment Center (Limited Partnership) (the “Other Sponsors”) to Holdco setting forth their respective commitments to purchase, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, certain equity interests of Holdco (the “Other Commitment Letters”).
1. Commitment. The Sponsor hereby commits to purchase equity securities of Holdco at or prior to the Effective Time for an aggregate amount of RMB equivalent to US$40,000,000 (and the RMB equivalents of U.S. dollars shall be determined using the prevailing exchange rate notified by Parent to the Sponsor at least three (3) Business Days prior to funding), on the terms and subject to the conditions specified herein, which commitment, together with the commitments by the Other Sponsors under the Other Commitment Letters, is to be used by Holdco and/or Parent solely for the purpose of (i) funding a portion of the Merger Consideration required to be paid by Parent to consummate the Transactions pursuant to and in accordance with the Merger Agreement and (ii) payment of a portion of the fees and expenses in connection with the Transaction (such commitment, the “Commitment”). The Sponsor will not have any obligation under any circumstances to contribute, directly or indirectly, any capital or money that would be more than the amount of the Commitment to Holdco, Parent, Merger Sub or any other person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. In the event that Holdco and/or Parent does not require an amount equal to the sum of the Commitment plus the amount of the equity commitments of the Other Sponsors under the Other Commitment Letters in order to consummate the Merger, the amount of the Commitment to be funded under this Agreement and the amount of the equity commitment of each Other Sponsor to be funded under its respective Other Commitment Letter shall be reduced by Holdco on a pro rata basis, to the amount that would be sufficient, in combination with the other financing
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arrangements contemplated by the Merger Agreement, for Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Transaction.
2. Conditions. The Sponsor’s Commitment shall be subject to (i) the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, and (ii) the satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) at the Closing of each of the conditions to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations to effect the Closing set forth in Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 of the Merger Agreement (other than any conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing but subject to the prior or substantially concurrent satisfaction of such conditions). The Sponsor may allocate all or a portion of the Commitment to (i) one or more Subsidiaries of the Sponsor or an investment fund managed by the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor, or (ii) subject to the prior written consent of Holdco, other persons, provided that in each case, (a) such allocation shall not relieve the Sponsor of its obligations hereunder if such person to which the Commitment is allocated does not perform, and (b) the Sponsor’s Commitment hereunder will only be reduced by any amounts of capital actually contributed to Holdco by such Subsidiaries, investment funds or other persons (and not returned) at or prior to the Closing Date for the purpose of funding a portion of the Merger Consideration, any other amounts required to be paid pursuant to the Merger Agreement and related fees and expenses pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
3. Limited Guaranty. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Sponsor is executing and delivering to the Company a limited guaranty related to certain of Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations under the Merger Agreement (the “Limited Guaranty”). The parties hereto hereby agree and acknowledge that the Company’s rights pursuant to clause (ii) of the first sentence of Section 5 hereof, the Company’s rights against Parent and Merger Sub pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Company’s right to assert any other Retained Claim (as defined in the Limited Guaranty) against the Non-Recourse Party(ies) (as defined in the Limited Guaranty) against which such Retained Claim may be asserted as set forth in Section 8 of the Limited Guaranty, shall be, and are intended to be, the sole and exclusive direct or indirect remedies available to the Company against the Sponsor or any other Non-Recourse Party in respect of any liabilities or obligations arising under, or in connection with, this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby or the negotiation thereof, including in the event that Parent or Merger Sub breaches its obligations under the Merger Agreement, whether or not such breach is caused by the Sponsor’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement.
4. Parties in Interest; Third Party Beneficiaries. The parties hereto hereby agree that their respective agreements and obligations set forth herein are solely for the benefit of the other party hereto and its successors and permitted assigns in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns any benefits, rights or remedies under or by reason of, or any rights to enforce or cause Holdco to enforce, the obligations set forth herein; provided that the Company is an express third party beneficiary hereof and shall have the enforcement rights provided in Section 5 of this Agreement and no others.
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5. Enforceability. This Agreement may only be enforced by (i) Holdco, or (ii) the Company pursuant to the Company’s right to seek specific performance of Parent’s obligation to enforce the Sponsor’s obligation to fund its Commitment in accordance with the terms hereof, pursuant to, and subject to, and solely in accordance with, the terms and conditions of, Section 9.07 of the Merger Agreement and those set forth herein. No creditor of Holdco, Parent or Merger Sub (other than the Company to the extent provided in this Section 5) shall have any right to enforce this Agreement or to cause Holdco or any other person to seek to enforce this Agreement against the Sponsor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Holdco and the Company hereby confirm and agree that in the event the Commitment of the Sponsor has been performed by Hexie Chengzhang Phase II (Yiwu) Investment Center (Limited Partnership) (“IDG”) in accordance with the terms of the Other Commitment Letter applicable to IDG, the Sponsor shall be relieved from any obligation set forth herein, and neither Holdco nor the Company shall have any right to enforce this Agreement against the Sponsor.
6. No Modification; Entire Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified without the prior written consent of Holdco, the Sponsor and the Company. Together with the Consortium Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Other Commitment Letters, the Limited Guaranty, any other limited guaranties related to certain of Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations under the Merger Agreement, and the Confidentiality Agreement, this Agreement constitutes the sole agreement, and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and statements, written or oral, between the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and Holdco or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that each party and its respective counsel have reviewed this Agreement and that any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.
7. Governing Law; Dispute Resolution. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or other 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. Any disputes, actions and proceedings against any party or arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement shall be submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and resolved in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of HKIAC in force at the relevant time and as may be amended by this Section 7 (the “HKIAC Rules”). The place of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The official language of the arbitration shall be English and the arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators (each, an “Arbitrator”). The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; and a third Arbitrator will be nominated jointly by the first two Arbitrators and shall serve as chairman of the arbitration tribunal. In the event the claimant(s) or respondent(s) or the first two Arbitrators shall fail to nominate or agree the joint nomination of an Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator within the time limits specified by the HKIAC Rules, such Arbitrator shall be appointed promptly by the HKIAC. The arbitration tribunal shall have no
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authority to award punitive or other punitive-type damages. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties. Any party to an award may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award and, for purposes of the enforcement of such award, the parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction and waive any defenses to such enforcement based on lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.
8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile or by pdf delivered via email), each such counterpart when executed being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same agreement.
9. Confidentiality. This Agreement shall be treated as confidential and is being provided to Holdco and the Company solely in connection with the Merger. This Agreement may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to in any document by Holdco or the Company except with the prior written consent of the Sponsor in each instance, provided that no such written consent is required for any disclosure of the existence of this Agreement to (i) the extent required by applicable Law, the applicable rules of any national securities exchange or in connection with any SEC filing relating to the Merger (provided that Holdco or the Company, as applicable, will provide the Sponsor an opportunity to review such required disclosure in advance of such public disclosure being made) or (ii) Holdco’s or the Company’s Affiliates and representatives who need to know of the existence of this Agreement.
10. Termination. The obligation of the Sponsor under or in connection with this Agreement will terminate automatically and immediately upon the earliest to occur of (a) the Closing (at which time all such obligations shall be discharged, but subject to the performance of such obligations), and (b) the termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms (unless the Company shall have previously made a claim under clause (ii) of the first sentence of Section 5 hereof, in which case this Agreement shall terminate upon the final, non-appealable resolution of such action and satisfaction by the Sponsor of any obligations finally determined or agreed to be owed by the Sponsor, consistent with the terms hereof).
11. No Assignment. The Commitment evidenced by this Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by Holdco without the Sponsor’s and the Company’s prior written consent, and the granting of such consent in a given instance shall be solely in the discretion of the Sponsor and, if granted, shall not constitute a waiver of this requirement as to any subsequent assignment, provided that Holdco may assign the Commitment under this Agreement to Parent and/or Merger Sub.
12. Representations and Warranties. The Sponsor hereby represents and warrants with respect to itself to Holdco that (a) it is duly organized, validity existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (b) it has all limited partnership, corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly and validly authorized and approved by all necessary limited
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partnership, corporate or other organizational action by it, (d) this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of it and (assuming due execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, and the Limited Guaranty by all parties hereto and thereto), enforceable against it in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)) and (e) as of the Closing, it has uncalled capital commitments or otherwise has available funds in excess of the sum of the Commitment and all of its other unfunded contractually binding equity commitments that are then outstanding.
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Sincerely, WANG Leilei |
/s/ WANG Leilei |
[Signature Page to Equity Commitment Letter]
Agreed to and accepted: 北京五星融诚科技有限责任公司 (Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology Ltd.) | |
By: | /s/ WANG Leilei |
Name: WANG Leilei | |
Title: Legal Representative |
[Signature Page to Equity Commitment Letter]
Exhibit 10
December 1, 2016
Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology
Ltd.
Room 5291, 5/F, Shenchang Plaza
No. 51 Zhichun Avenue, Haidian District
Beijing, PRC
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Investment Management Partnership (Limited Partnership) (the “Sponsor”) is pleased to offer this commitment with respect to the purchase of certain equity interests of Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology Ltd., a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“Holdco”). Holdco has been formed for purposes of acquiring KongZhong Corporation (the “Company”) pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, Linkedsee Limited (“Parent”) and Wiseman International Limited (“Merger Sub”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement (the “Transaction”). Each capitalized term used and not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement. This letter agreement (this “Agreement”) is being delivered together with substantially identical commitment letters, dated as of the date hereof, from Mr. Leilei Wang and Hexie Chengzhang Phase II (Yiwu) Investment Center (Limited Partnership) (the “Other Sponsors”) to Holdco setting forth their respective commitments to purchase, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, certain equity interests of Holdco (the “Other Commitment Letters”).
1. Commitment. The Sponsor hereby commits to purchase equity securities of Holdco at or prior to the Effective Time for an aggregate amount of RMB equivalent to US$20,000,000 (and the RMB equivalents of U.S. dollars shall be determined using the prevailing exchange rate notified by Parent to the Sponsor at least three (3) Business Days prior to funding), on the terms and subject to the conditions specified herein, which commitment, together with the commitments by the Other Sponsors under the Other Commitment Letters, is to be used by Holdco and/or Parent solely for the purpose of (i) funding a portion of the Merger Consideration required to be paid by Parent to consummate the Transactions pursuant to and in accordance with the Merger Agreement and (ii) payment of a portion of the fees and expenses in connection with the Transaction (such commitment, the “Commitment”). The Sponsor will not have any obligation under any circumstances to contribute, directly or indirectly, any capital or money that would be more than the amount of the Commitment to Holdco, Parent, Merger Sub or any other person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. In the event that Holdco and/or Parent does not require an amount equal to the sum of the Commitment plus the amount of the equity commitments of the Other Sponsors under the Other Commitment Letters in order to consummate the Merger, the amount of the Commitment to be funded under this Agreement and the amount of the equity commitment of each Other Sponsor to be funded under its respective Other Commitment Letter shall be reduced by Holdco on a pro rata basis, to the amount that would be sufficient, in combination with the other financing
1
arrangements contemplated by the Merger Agreement, for Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Transaction.
2. Conditions. The Sponsor’s Commitment shall be subject to (i) the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, and (ii) the satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) at the Closing of each of the conditions to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations to effect the Closing set forth in Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 of the Merger Agreement (other than any conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing but subject to the prior or substantially concurrent satisfaction of such conditions). The Sponsor may allocate all or a portion of the Commitment to (i) one or more Subsidiaries of the Sponsor or an investment fund managed by the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor, or (ii) subject to the prior written consent of Holdco, other persons, provided that in each case, (a) such allocation shall not relieve the Sponsor of its obligations hereunder if such person to which the Commitment is allocated does not perform, and (b) the Sponsor’s Commitment hereunder will only be reduced by any amounts of capital actually contributed to Holdco by such Subsidiaries, investment funds or other persons (and not returned) at or prior to the Closing Date for the purpose of funding a portion of the Merger Consideration, any other amounts required to be paid pursuant to the Merger Agreement and related fees and expenses pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
3. Limited Guaranty. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Sponsor is executing and delivering to the Company a limited guaranty related to certain of Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations under the Merger Agreement (the “Limited Guaranty”). The parties hereto hereby agree and acknowledge that the Company’s rights pursuant to clause (ii) of the first sentence of Section 5 hereof, the Company’s rights against Parent and Merger Sub pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Company’s right to assert any other Retained Claim (as defined in the Limited Guaranty) against the Non-Recourse Party(ies) (as defined in the Limited Guaranty) against which such Retained Claim may be asserted as set forth in Section Error! Reference source not found. of the Limited Guaranty, shall be, and are intended to be, the sole and exclusive direct or indirect remedies available to the Company against the Sponsor or any other Non-Recourse Party in respect of any liabilities or obligations arising under, or in connection with, this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby or the negotiation thereof, including in the event that Parent or Merger Sub breaches its obligations under the Merger Agreement, whether or not such breach is caused by the Sponsor’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement.
4. Parties in Interest; Third Party Beneficiaries. The parties hereto hereby agree that their respective agreements and obligations set forth herein are solely for the benefit of the other party hereto and its successors and permitted assigns in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns any benefits, rights or remedies under or by reason of, or any rights to enforce or cause Holdco to enforce, the obligations set forth herein; provided that the Company is an express third party beneficiary hereof and shall have the enforcement rights provided in Section 5 of this Agreement and no others.
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5. Enforceability. This Agreement may only be enforced by (i) Holdco, or (ii) the Company pursuant to the Company’s right to seek specific performance of Parent’s obligation to enforce the Sponsor’s obligation to fund its Commitment in accordance with the terms hereof, pursuant to, and subject to, and solely in accordance with, the terms and conditions of, Section 9.07 of the Merger Agreement and those set forth herein. No creditor of Holdco, Parent or Merger Sub (other than the Company to the extent provided in this Section 5) shall have any right to enforce this Agreement or to cause Holdco or any other person to seek to enforce this Agreement against the Sponsor.
6. No Modification; Entire Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified without the prior written consent of Holdco, the Sponsor and the Company. Together with the Consortium Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Other Commitment Letters, the Limited Guaranty, any other limited guaranties related to certain of Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations under the Merger Agreement, and the Confidentiality Agreement, this Agreement constitutes the sole agreement, and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and statements, written or oral, between the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and Holdco or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that each party and its respective counsel have reviewed this Agreement and that any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.
7. Governing Law; Dispute Resolution. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or other 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. Any disputes, actions and proceedings against any party or arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement shall be submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and resolved in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of HKIAC in force at the relevant time and as may be amended by this Section 7 (the “HKIAC Rules”). The place of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The official language of the arbitration shall be English and the arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators (each, an “Arbitrator”). The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; and a third Arbitrator will be nominated jointly by the first two Arbitrators and shall serve as chairman of the arbitration tribunal. In the event the claimant(s) or respondent(s) or the first two Arbitrators shall fail to nominate or agree the joint nomination of an Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator within the time limits specified by the HKIAC Rules, such Arbitrator shall be appointed promptly by the HKIAC. The arbitration tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive or other punitive-type damages. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties. Any party to an award may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award and, for
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purposes of the enforcement of such award, the parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction and waive any defenses to such enforcement based on lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.
8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile or by pdf delivered via email), each such counterpart when executed being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same agreement.
9. Confidentiality. This Agreement shall be treated as confidential and is being provided to Holdco and the Company solely in connection with the Merger. This Agreement may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to in any document by Holdco or the Company except with the prior written consent of the Sponsor in each instance, provided that no such written consent is required for any disclosure of the existence of this Agreement to (i) the extent required by applicable Law, the applicable rules of any national securities exchange or in connection with any SEC filing relating to the Merger (provided that Holdco or the Company, as applicable, will provide the Sponsor an opportunity to review such required disclosure in advance of such public disclosure being made) or (ii) Holdco’s or the Company’s Affiliates and representatives who need to know of the existence of this Agreement.
10. Termination. The obligation of the Sponsor under or in connection with this Agreement will terminate automatically and immediately upon the earliest to occur of (a) the Closing (at which time all such obligations shall be discharged, but subject to the performance of such obligations), and (b) the termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms (unless the Company shall have previously made a claim under clause (ii) of the first sentence of Section 5 hereof, in which case this Agreement shall terminate upon the final, non-appealable resolution of such action and satisfaction by the Sponsor of any obligations finally determined or agreed to be owed by the Sponsor, consistent with the terms hereof).
11. No Assignment. The Commitment evidenced by this Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by Holdco without the Sponsor’s and the Company’s prior written consent, and the granting of such consent in a given instance shall be solely in the discretion of the Sponsor and, if granted, shall not constitute a waiver of this requirement as to any subsequent assignment, provided that Holdco may assign the Commitment under this Agreement to Parent and/or Merger Sub.
12. Representations and Warranties. The Sponsor hereby represents and warrants with respect to itself to Holdco that (a) it is duly organized, validity existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (b) it has all limited partnership, corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly and validly authorized and approved by all necessary limited partnership, corporate or other organizational action by it, (d) this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of it and (assuming due execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Merger
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Agreement, and the Limited Guaranty by all parties hereto and thereto), enforceable against it in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)) and (e) as of the Closing, it has uncalled capital commitments or otherwise has available funds in excess of the sum of the Commitment and all of its other unfunded contractually binding equity commitments that are then outstanding.
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Sincerely,
| |
By: | /s/ Liang Hong |
Name: Liang Hong | |
Title: Executive Partner |
[Signature Page to Equity Commitment Letter]
Agreed to and accepted:
| |
By: | /s/ WANG Leilei |
Name: WANG Leilei | |
Title: Legal Representative |
[Signature Page to Equity Commitment Letter]
Exhibit 11
December 1, 2016
Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology
Ltd.
Room 5291, 5/F, Shenchang Plaza
No. 51 Zhichun Avenue, Haidian District
Beijing, PRC
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Hexie Chengzhang Phase II (Yiwu) Investment Center (Limited Partnership) (the “Sponsor”) is pleased to offer this commitment with respect to the purchase of certain equity interests of Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology Ltd., a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“Holdco”). Holdco has been formed for purposes of acquiring KongZhong Corporation (the “Company”) pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, Linkedsee Limited (“Parent”) and Wiseman International Limited (“Merger Sub”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement (the “Transaction”). Each capitalized term used and not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement. This letter agreement (this “Agreement”) is being delivered together with substantially identical commitment letters, dated as of the date hereof, from Mr. Leilei Wang and Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Investment Management Partnership (Limited Partnership) (the “Other Sponsors”) to Holdco setting forth their respective commitments to purchase, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, certain equity interests of Holdco (the “Other Commitment Letters”).
1. Commitment. The Sponsor hereby commits to purchase equity securities of Holdco at or prior to the Effective Time for an aggregate amount of RMB equivalent to US$98,952,229 (and the RMB equivalents of U.S. dollars shall be determined using the prevailing exchange rate notified by Parent to the Sponsor at least three (3) Business Days prior to funding), on the terms and subject to the conditions specified herein, which commitment, together with the commitments by the Other Sponsors under the Other Commitment Letters, is to be used by Holdco and/or Parent solely for the purpose of (i) funding a portion of the Merger Consideration required to be paid by Parent to consummate the Transactions pursuant to and in accordance with the Merger Agreement and (ii) payment of a portion of the fees and expenses in connection with the Transaction (such commitment, the “Commitment”); provided that in the event Mr. Leilei Wang (“Mr. Wang”), as one of the Other Sponsors, fails to contribute the full amount of the commitment to Holdco contemplated by the Other Commitment Letter applicable to Mr. Wang (“Mr. Wang Commitment”), the Commitment of the Sponsor shall automatically increase to an aggregate amount of RMB equivalent to the sum of (x) the Commitment and (y) any deficiency between Mr. Wang Commitment and any amount actually contributed to Holdco pursuant to the Other Commitment Letter applicable to Mr. Wang, in U.S. dollars (and the RMB equivalents of U.S. dollars shall be determined using the prevailing exchange rate notified by Parent to the Sponsor at least three (3) Business Days prior to funding). Subject to the preceding sentence, the Sponsor will not have any
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obligation under any circumstances to contribute, directly or indirectly, any capital or money that would be more than the amount of the Commitment to Holdco, Parent, Merger Sub or any other person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. In the event that Holdco and/or Parent does not require an amount equal to the sum of the Commitment plus the amount of the equity commitments of the Other Sponsors under the Other Commitment Letters in order to consummate the Merger, the amount of the Commitment to be funded under this Agreement and the amount of the equity commitment of each Other Sponsor to be funded under its respective Other Commitment Letter shall be reduced by Holdco on a pro rata basis, to the amount that would be sufficient, in combination with the other financing arrangements contemplated by the Merger Agreement, for Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Transaction.
2. Conditions. The Sponsor’s Commitment shall be subject to (i) the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, and (ii) the satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) at the Closing of each of the conditions to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations to effect the Closing set forth in Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 of the Merger Agreement (other than any conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing but subject to the prior or substantially concurrent satisfaction of such conditions). The Sponsor may allocate all or a portion of the Commitment to (i) one or more Subsidiaries of the Sponsor or an investment fund managed by the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor, or (ii) subject to the prior written consent of Holdco, other persons, provided that in each case, (a) such allocation shall not relieve the Sponsor of its obligations hereunder if such person to which the Commitment is allocated does not perform, and (b) the Sponsor’s Commitment hereunder will only be reduced by any amounts of capital actually contributed to Holdco by such Subsidiaries, investment funds or other persons (and not returned) at or prior to the Closing Date for the purpose of funding a portion of the Merger Consideration, any other amounts required to be paid pursuant to the Merger Agreement and related fees and expenses pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
3. Limited Guaranty. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Sponsor is executing and delivering to the Company a limited guaranty related to certain of Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations under the Merger Agreement (the “Limited Guaranty”). The parties hereto hereby agree and acknowledge that the Company’s rights pursuant to clause (ii) of the first sentence of Section 5 hereof, the Company’s rights against Parent and Merger Sub pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Company’s right to assert any other Retained Claim (as defined in the Limited Guaranty) against the Non-Recourse Party(ies) (as defined in the Limited Guaranty) against which such Retained Claim may be asserted as set forth in Section 8 of the Limited Guaranty, shall be, and are intended to be, the sole and exclusive direct or indirect remedies available to the Company against the Sponsor or any other Non-Recourse Party in respect of any liabilities or obligations arising under, or in connection with, this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby or the negotiation thereof, including in the event that Parent or Merger Sub breaches its obligations under the Merger Agreement, whether or not such breach is caused by the Sponsor’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement.
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4. Parties in Interest; Third Party Beneficiaries. The parties hereto hereby agree that their respective agreements and obligations set forth herein are solely for the benefit of the other party hereto and its successors and permitted assigns in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns any benefits, rights or remedies under or by reason of, or any rights to enforce or cause Holdco to enforce, the obligations set forth herein; provided that the Company is an express third party beneficiary hereof and shall have the enforcement rights provided in Section 5 of this Agreement and no others.
5. Enforceability. This Agreement may only be enforced by (i) Holdco, or (ii) the Company pursuant to the Company’s right to seek specific performance of Parent’s obligation to enforce the Sponsor’s obligation to fund its Commitment in accordance with the terms hereof, pursuant to, and subject to, and solely in accordance with, the terms and conditions of, Section 9.07 of the Merger Agreement and those set forth herein. No creditor of Holdco, Parent or Merger Sub (other than the Company to the extent provided in this Section 5) shall have any right to enforce this Agreement or to cause Holdco or any other person to seek to enforce this Agreement against the Sponsor.
6. No Modification; Entire Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified without the prior written consent of Holdco, the Sponsor and the Company. Together with the Consortium Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Other Commitment Letters, the Limited Guaranty, any other limited guaranties related to certain of Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations under the Merger Agreement, and the Confidentiality Agreement, this Agreement constitutes the sole agreement, and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and statements, written or oral, between the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and Holdco or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that each party and its respective counsel have reviewed this Agreement and that any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.
7. Governing Law; Dispute Resolution. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or other 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. Any disputes, actions and proceedings against any party or arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement shall be submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and resolved in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of HKIAC in force at the relevant time and as may be amended by this Section 7 (the “HKIAC Rules”). The place of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The official language of the arbitration shall be English and the arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators (each, an “Arbitrator”). The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; and a third Arbitrator will be nominated jointly by the first two Arbitrators and shall serve as chairman of the
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arbitration tribunal. In the event the claimant(s) or respondent(s) or the first two Arbitrators shall fail to nominate or agree the joint nomination of an Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator within the time limits specified by the HKIAC Rules, such Arbitrator shall be appointed promptly by the HKIAC. The arbitration tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive or other punitive-type damages. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties. Any party to an award may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award and, for purposes of the enforcement of such award, the parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction and waive any defenses to such enforcement based on lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.
8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile or by pdf delivered via email), each such counterpart when executed being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same agreement.
9. Confidentiality. This Agreement shall be treated as confidential and is being provided to Holdco and the Company solely in connection with the Merger. This Agreement may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to in any document by Holdco or the Company except with the prior written consent of the Sponsor in each instance, provided that no such written consent is required for any disclosure of the existence of this Agreement to (i) the extent required by applicable Law, the applicable rules of any national securities exchange or in connection with any SEC filing relating to the Merger (provided that Holdco or the Company, as applicable, will provide the Sponsor an opportunity to review such required disclosure in advance of such public disclosure being made) or (ii) Holdco’s or the Company’s Affiliates and representatives who need to know of the existence of this Agreement.
10. Termination. The obligation of the Sponsor under or in connection with this Agreement will terminate automatically and immediately upon the earliest to occur of (a) the Closing (at which time all such obligations shall be discharged, but subject to the performance of such obligations), and (b) the termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms (unless the Company shall have previously made a claim under clause (ii) of the first sentence of Section 5 hereof, in which case this Agreement shall terminate upon the final, non-appealable resolution of such action and satisfaction by the Sponsor of any obligations finally determined or agreed to be owed by the Sponsor, consistent with the terms hereof).
11. No Assignment. The Commitment evidenced by this Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by Holdco without the Sponsor’s and the Company’s prior written consent, and the granting of such consent in a given instance shall be solely in the discretion of the Sponsor and, if granted, shall not constitute a waiver of this requirement as to any subsequent assignment, provided that Holdco may assign the Commitment under this Agreement to Parent and/or Merger Sub.
12. Representations and Warranties. The Sponsor hereby represents and warrants with respect to itself to Holdco that (a) it is duly organized, validity existing and
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in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (b) it has all limited partnership, corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly and validly authorized and approved by all necessary limited partnership, corporate or other organizational action by it, (d) this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of it and (assuming due execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, and the Limited Guaranty by all parties hereto and thereto), enforceable against it in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)) and (e) as of the Closing, it has uncalled capital commitments or otherwise has available funds in excess of the sum of the Commitment and all of its other unfunded contractually binding equity commitments that are then outstanding.
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Sincerely,
| |
By: | /s/ Dongliang Lin |
Name: Dongliang Lin (林栋梁) | |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Equity Commitment Letter]
Agreed to and accepted:
| |
By: | /s/ WANG Leilei |
Name: WANG Leilei | |
Title: Legal Representative |
[Signature Page to Equity Commitment Letter]
Exhibit 12
CHINA MERCHANTS BANK CO., LTD.,
535 Madison Ave., 18th Floor New York, NY 10022 |
CONFIDENTIAL
December 1, 2016
Wiseman International Limited
c/o KongZhong Corporation
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza
No.168 Xizhimenwai Street
Beijing, China 100044
The People’s Republic of China
Attention: Mr. Leilei Wang
Mr. Leilei Wang
Project Kongzhong
Commitment Letter
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have advised China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., New York Branch (“CMB NY”, “we”, “us” or the “Commitment Party”) that Wiseman International Limited, a Cayman Islands company (“Merger Sub”), to be formed at the direction of Mr. Leilei Wang (collectively with any affiliates, the “Sponsor”) intends to consummate the Transactions described in the Transaction Description attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Transaction Description”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Transaction Description and the Summary of Principal Terms and Conditions attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Term Sheet”). This commitment letter, the Transaction Description and the Term Sheet, are collectively referred to as the “Commitment Letter.”
1. | Commitments. |
In connection with the Transactions, CMB NY is pleased to advise you of its commitment to provide 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Facility, subject only to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the section entitled “Conditions to Initial Borrowing” in Exhibit B hereto (limited on the Closing Date as indicated therein). The Commitment Party, together with any initial lenders added pursuant to the terms hereof, are referred to herein as the “Initial Lenders” and each individually as an “Initial Lender.”
2. | Titles and Roles. |
It is agreed that (i) the Commitment Party will act as a joint lead arranger for the Term Facility (together with any other lead arranger for the Term Facility, if any, appointed pursuant the terms hereof, each in such capacity, a “Lead Arranger” and, collectively, the “Lead Arrangers”), (ii) the Commitment Party will act as a joint bookrunner for the Term Facility (together with any other joint bookrunner for the Term Facility, if any, appointed pursuant to the terms hereof, each in such capacity, a “Joint
Bookrunner” and, collectively, the “Joint Bookrunners”), (iii) CMB NY will act as administrative agent for the Term Facility (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), (iv) CMB NY will act as off-shore collateral agent for the Term Facility and (v) China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Beijing Branch (“CMB BJ”) will act as on-shore collateral agent for the Term Facility. You agree that no other joint bookrunners, arrangers, agents or managers will be appointed, no other titles will be awarded and no compensation (other than compensation expressly contemplated by this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter referred to below) will be paid by you or any of your affiliates to any Lender (as defined below) in order to obtain its commitment to participate in the Term Facility unless you and the Majority Lead Arrangers (as defined below) shall so agree; provided that you may, on or prior to the date which is fifteen (15) business days after the date of your acceptance of this Commitment Letter, appoint up to four additional joint bookrunners, arrangers, agents or managers for the Term Facility, and award such joint bookrunners, arrangers, agents or managers titles in a manner and with economics set forth in the immediately succeeding proviso (it being understood that, to the extent you appoint any additional joint bookrunners, arrangers, agents, or managers or confer other titles in respect of the Term Facility, then, notwithstanding anything in Section 3 to the contrary, the commitments of the Initial Lenders in respect of the Term Facility, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with this proviso, will be permanently reduced by the amount of the commitments of such appointed entities (or their relevant affiliates) in respect of the Term Facility, with such reduction allocated to reduce the commitments of the Initial Lenders in respect of the Term Facility at such time (excluding any Initial Lender that becomes a party hereto pursuant to this proviso) on a pro rata basis according to the respective amounts of their commitments, upon the execution by such financial institution (and any relevant affiliate) of customary joinder documentation reasonably acceptable to you and us and, thereafter, each such financial institution (and any relevant affiliate) shall constitute a “Commitment Party” and/or “Joint Bookrunner” hereunder and it or its relevant affiliate providing such commitment shall constitute an “Initial Lender” hereunder); provided, further, that, in connection with the appointment of any joint bookrunner, arranger, agent or manager for the Term Facility in accordance with the immediately preceding proviso, (a) the aggregate underwriting economics payable to all such additional joint bookrunners, arrangers, agents or managers (or any relevant affiliate thereof) in respect of the Term Facility shall not exceed 20% of the total underwriting economics which would otherwise be payable to the Commitment Party in respect of the Term Facility pursuant to the Fee Letter (exclusive of any fees payable to the applicable Administrative Agent in its capacity as such) and (b) each additional joint bookrunner, arranger, agent or manager (or its relevant affiliates) shall assume a proportion of the commitments with respect to the Term Facility that is equal to the proportion of the economics allocated to such joint bookrunner; provided that notwithstanding anything in the previous two provisos to the contrary, such commitments shall be allocated ratably across the Term Facility).
3. | Syndication. |
The Lead Arrangers reserve the right, prior to and/or after the Closing Date (as defined below), to syndicate all or a portion of the Initial Lenders’ respective commitments hereunder to a group of banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders and investors identified by the Lead Arrangers in consultation with you and reasonably acceptable to you (your consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), including, without limitation, any relationship lenders designated by you and reasonably acceptable to the Lead Arrangers (such banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders and investors, together with the Initial Lenders, the “Lenders”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lead Arrangers will not syndicate to those banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders and investors (i) that have been separately identified in writing by you or the Sponsor to the Initial Lenders from time to time (or, after the Closing Date, to the Administrative Agent), (ii) those persons who are competitors of yours, the Target or your or their respective subsidiaries that are separately identified in writing by you or the Sponsor to us from time to time and (iii) in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), any of their affiliates that are either (a) identified in writing by you or the Sponsor from time to time or
(b) reasonably identifiable on the basis of such affiliate’s name (clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, collectively “Disqualified Lenders”). No Disqualified Lender may become a Lender or have any commitment or right (including a participation right) with respect to the Facility.
Notwithstanding the Lead Arrangers’ right to syndicate the Term Facility and receive commitments with respect thereto, (i) no Initial Lender shall be relieved, released or novated from its obligations hereunder (including its obligation to fund the Term Facility on the date of both the consummation of the Acquisition and the initial funding under the Term Facility (the date of such consummation and funding, the “Closing Date”)) in connection with any syndication, assignment or participation of the Term Facility, including its commitments in respect thereof, until after the initial funding of the Term Facility on the Closing Date has occurred, (ii) no assignment or novation shall become effective with respect to all or any portion of any Initial Lender’s commitments in respect of the Term Facility until after the initial funding of the Term Facility on the Closing Date has occurred and (iii) unless you otherwise agree in writing, the Commitment Party shall retain exclusive control over all rights and obligations with respect to its commitments in respect of the Term Facility, including all rights with respect to consents, modifications, supplements, waivers and amendments, until after the initial funding of the Term Facility on the Closing Date has occurred.
Without limiting your obligations to assist with the syndication efforts as set forth herein, it is understood that the Initial Lenders’ commitments hereunder are not conditioned upon the syndication of, or receipt of commitments in respect of, the Term Facility and in no event shall the commencement or successful completion of syndication of the Term Facility constitute a condition to the availability or funding of the Term Facility on the Closing Date. The Lead Arrangers may commence syndication efforts promptly after your acceptance of this Commitment Letter and as part of their syndication efforts, it is their intent to have Lenders commit to the Term Facility prior to the Closing Date (subject to the limitations set forth in the preceding paragraph). Until the earlier of (i) the date upon which a Successful Syndication (as defined in the Fee Letter referred to below) of the Term Facility is achieved and (ii) the 30th day following the Closing Date (such earlier date, the “Syndication Date”), you agree to use your commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Lead Arrangers in completing a Successful Syndication. Such assistance shall include, without limitation, (a) your using commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any syndication efforts benefit materially from your existing lending and investment banking relationships and the existing lending and investment banking relationships of the Sponsor and, to the extent practical and appropriate and in all instances not in contravention of the terms of the Acquisition Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, the Target’s and its subsidiaries’ existing lending and investment banking relationships, (b) direct contact between senior management, certain representatives and certain advisors of you, on the one hand, and the proposed Lenders, on the other hand (and your using commercially reasonable efforts to arrange contact between senior management, certain representatives and certain advisors of the Target and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the proposed Lenders, on the other hand) at times and locations to be mutually agreed, (c) your assistance (including the use of commercially reasonable efforts to cause, to the extent practical and appropriate and in all instances not in contravention of the terms of the Acquisition Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, the Target and its subsidiaries to assist) in the preparation of the Information Materials (as defined below) and other customary offering and marketing materials to be used in connection with the syndication and (d) the hosting, with the Lead Arrangers, of a reasonable number of meetings and conference calls of prospective Lenders at times and locations to be mutually agreed upon (and your using commercially reasonable efforts to cause, to the extent not in contravention of the terms of the Acquisition Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, the relevant senior officers of the Target to be available for such meetings).
The Lead Arrangers, in their capacities as such, will manage, in consultation with you, all aspects of any syndication of the Term Facility, including decisions as to the selection of institutions reasonably acceptable to you (your consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to be approached and when they will be approached, when their commitments will be accepted, which institutions will participate
(subject to your consent rights and rights of appointment set forth in the third preceding paragraph and excluding Disqualified Lenders), the allocation of the commitments among the Lenders and the amount and distribution of fees among the Lenders. To assist the Lead Arrangers in their syndication efforts, until the Syndication Date, you agree to promptly prepare and provide (and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause, to the extent practical and appropriate and in all instances not in contravention of the terms of the Acquisition Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, the Target and its subsidiaries to prepare and provide) to the Lead Arrangers customary information with respect to the Merger Sub, the Borrower, the Target and the respective subsidiaries of the foregoing and the Transactions set forth in clause (c) of the preceding paragraph and the historical and pro forma financial information set forth in paragraphs 5 and 6 of Exhibit C (including customary financial estimates, forecasts and other projections delivered to us by you (the “Projections”)), in each case reasonably requested by the Lead Arrangers. For the avoidance of doubt, you will not be required to provide any information to the extent that the provision thereof would violate any law, rule or regulation, or any obligation of confidentiality binding upon (so long as such obligations are not entered into in contemplation of this Commitment Letter), or waive any privilege that may be asserted by, you, the Target or any of your or its subsidiaries or affiliates (in which case you agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to have any such confidentiality obligation waived, and otherwise in all instances, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, promptly notify us that information is being withheld pursuant to this sentence).
You hereby acknowledge that (a) the Lead Arrangers will make available the Projections and other customary offering and marketing materials and presentations, including a confidential information memoranda customary for facilities and transactions of the type described in this Commitment Letter to be used in connection with the syndication of the Term Facility (any such memorandum, the “Information Memorandum”) (such Projections, other offering and marketing materials and the Information Memorandum, collectively, with the Term Sheet, the “Information Materials”) on a confidential basis to the proposed syndicate of Lenders (other than the Disqualified Lenders) by posting the Information Materials on Intralinks or by similar electronic means as the Lead Arrangers may reasonably request in connection with the structuring, arrangement or syndication of the Term Facility and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public side” Lenders (i.e. Lenders that wish to receive only information that (i) is publicly available or (ii) is not material with respect to you, the Merger Sub, the Target or your or their respective subsidiaries or securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws) (collectively, the “Public Side Information”; any information that is not Public Side Information, “Private Side Information”)) and who may be engaged in investment and other market related activities with respect to you, the Merger Sub or the Target or your or their respective subsidiaries or securities (each, a “Public Sider” and each Lender that is not a Public Sider, a “Private Sider”). The Commitment Party shall be entitled to use and rely upon the information contained therein without responsibility for independent verification thereof.
At the request of the Lead Arrangers, until the Syndication Date, you agree to use your commercially reasonable efforts to assist (and to cause the Sponsor to use reasonable efforts to assist) and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause, to the extent practical and appropriate and in all instances not in contravention of the terms of the Acquisition Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, the Target to assist) us in preparing an additional version of the Information Materials to be used in connection with the syndication of the Term Facility that consists exclusively of Public Side Information with respect to you, the Merger Sub, the Target and your and their respective subsidiaries or securities to Public Siders. It is understood that in connection with your assistance described above, customary authorization letters (which shall include a customary negative assurance representation) will be included in any Information Materials that authorize the distribution thereof to prospective Lenders (other than the Disqualified Lenders), represent that the additional version of the Information Materials does not include any Private Side Information (other than information about the Transactions or the Term Facility) and the notice and
undertaking provisions of the Information Materials shall include provisions that exculpate you, the Target, the Borrower and us and our affiliates with respect to any liability related to the use or misuse of the contents of the Information Materials or related offering and marketing materials by the recipients thereof. Before distribution of any Information Materials you agree, at our reasonable request, to identify that portion of the Information Materials that may be distributed to the Public Siders as “Public Information”, which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof. By marking Information Materials as “PUBLIC”, you shall be deemed to have authorized the Commitment Party and the proposed Lenders to treat such Information Materials as not containing any Private Side Information (it being understood that you shall not be under any obligation to mark the Information Materials “PUBLIC”). We will not make any materials not marked “PUBLIC” available to Public Siders.
You acknowledge and agree that, subject to the confidentiality and other provisions of this Commitment Letter, the following documents, without limitation, may be distributed to both Private Siders and Public Siders, unless you or your counsel advise the Lead Arrangers in writing (including by email) within a reasonable time prior to their intended distribution that such materials should only be distributed to Private Siders (provided that such materials have been provided to you and your counsel for review a reasonable period of time prior thereto): (a) administrative materials prepared by the Lead Arrangers for prospective Lenders (such as a lender meeting invitation, bank allocation, if any, and funding and closing memoranda), (b) the final Term Sheet and notification of changes in the Term Facility’s terms and conditions, (c) drafts and final versions of the Term Facility Documentation and (d) consolidated financial statements of the Target. If you advise us in writing (including by email), within a reasonable period of time prior to dissemination, that any of the foregoing should be distributed only to Private Siders, then Public Siders will not receive such materials without your prior consent.
4. | Information. |
You hereby represent and warrant that (a) all written information and written data (such information and data, other than (i) the Projections and (ii) information of a general economic or industry nature, the “Information”) (in the case of Information regarding the Target and its subsidiaries and its and their respective businesses, to your knowledge), that has been or will be made available to the Commitment Party directly or indirectly by the Merger Sub, you, the Sponsor, the Target or by any of your or their respective subsidiaries or representatives, in each case, on your or their behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, is or will be, when furnished and taken as a whole and as supplemented, correct in all material respects and does not or will not, when furnished and taken as a whole and as supplemented, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made (after giving effect to all supplements and updates thereto provided to the Commitment Party from time to time) and (b) the Projections that have been or will be made available to the Commitment Party by you or by any of your subsidiaries or representatives, in each case, on your behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby have been, or will be, when taken as a whole, and as supplemented, prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that are believed by you to be reasonable at the time prepared and at the time the related Projections are so furnished to the Commitment Party; it being understood that the Projections are as to future events and are not to be viewed as facts, the Projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond your, the Sponsor’s, or the Target’s control, that no assurance can be given that any particular Projections will be realized and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such Projections may differ significantly from the projected results and such differences may be material. You agree that, if at any time prior to the later of the Closing Date and the Syndication Date, you become aware that any of the representations and warranties in the preceding sentence would be incorrect in any material respect if the Information and the Projections were being furnished, and such representations and warranties were being made, at such time, then you will (or, with respect to the
Information and Projections relating to the Target and its subsidiaries, will use commercially reasonable efforts to) promptly supplement the Information and the Projections such that such representations and warranties, as supplemented, are correct in all material respects under those circumstances (or, in the case of the Information relating to the Target and its subsidiaries and its and their respective businesses, to your knowledge, such representations and warranties, as supplemented, are correct in all material respects under those circumstances). In arranging and syndicating the Term Facility, the Commitment Party (i) will be entitled to use and rely on the Information and the Projections without responsibility for independent verification thereof and (ii) assume no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the Information or the Projections. For the avoidance of doubt, the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 4 is not a condition precedent to the commitments hereunder or the funding of the Term Facility on the Closing Date.
5. | Fees. |
As consideration for the commitments of the Initial Lenders hereunder and for the agreement of the Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners to perform the services described herein, you agree to pay (or cause to be paid) the fees set forth in the Term Sheet and in the Fee Letter dated the date hereof and delivered herewith with respect to the Term Facility (the “Fee Letter”), if and to the extent payable in accordance with the terms thereof. Once paid, such fees shall not be refundable under any circumstances, except as expressly set forth herein or therein or as otherwise separately agreed to in writing by you and us.
6. | Conditions. |
The commitments of the Initial Lenders hereunder to fund the Term Facility on the Closing Date and the agreements of the Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners to perform the services described herein are subject solely to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the section entitled “Conditions to Initial Borrowing” in Exhibit B hereto (limited on the Closing Date as indicated therein) and in Exhibit C hereto, and upon satisfaction (or waiver by the Commitment Party) of such conditions, the initial funding of the Term Facility shall occur.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Commitment Letter (including each of the exhibits attached hereto), the Fee Letter, the Term Facility Documentation or any other letter agreement or other undertaking concerning the financing of the Transactions to the contrary, (i) the only representations and warranties the accuracy of which shall be a condition to the availability and funding of the Term Facility on the Closing Date shall be (a) such of the representations made by, or with respect to, the Target and its subsidiaries in the Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that you (or your affiliate) have the right (taking into account any applicable cure provisions) to terminate your (and/or its) obligations under the Acquisition Agreement or decline to consummate the Acquisition (in each case, in accordance with the terms thereof) as a result of a breach of such representations in the Acquisition Agreement (to such extent, the “Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations”) and (b) the Specified Representations (as defined below) made in the Term Facility Documentation and (ii) the terms of the Term Facility Documentation shall be in a form such that they do not impair the availability or funding of the Term Facility on the Closing Date if the applicable conditions set forth in the conditions set forth in the section entitled “Conditions to Initial Borrowing” in Exhibit B hereto (limited on the Closing Date as indicated therein) and in Exhibit C hereto (limited on the Closing Date as indicated therein) are satisfied (or waived by the Commitment Party) (provided that to the extent any security interest in any Collateral is not or cannot be provided and/or perfected on the Closing Date (other than the granting of an the equitable share mortgage over the entire issued share capital of the Borrower and delivery of the original of such share certificates and instruments of transfer executed in blank) after your use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so or without undue burden or expense, then the provision and/or perfection of a security interest in such Collateral shall not constitute a condition
precedent to the availability of the Term Facility on the Closing Date, but instead shall be required to be delivered after the Closing Date pursuant to arrangements and timing to be mutually agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower acting reasonably, but no later than (i) three (3) days after the Closing Date with respect to equitable share mortgage over the entire issued share capital of the Target as the survivor of the merger with the Merger Sub and with respect to the pledge and perfection of the pledge of the Cash Collateral (or such longer period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld)) and (ii) 30 days after the Closing Date with respect to the pledge and perfection of the share pledges of the security interests in the Kongzhong PRC Sub 1 and Kongzhong PRC Sub 2 (or such longer period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld)). For purposes hereof, “Specified Representations” means, the applicable representations and warranties of the Borrower and the Guarantors to be set forth in the Term Facility Documentation relating to each of their organizational existence; their organizational power and authority, due authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability, in each case, related to, the entering into, borrowing under and guaranteeing under, performance of, and granting of security interests in the Collateral pursuant to, the Term Facility Documentation; solvency as of the Closing Date (immediately after giving effect to the Transactions) of the Merger Sub and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (solvency to be defined in a manner consistent with the manner in which solvency is determined in the solvency certificate to be delivered pursuant to Exhibit C); Federal Reserve margin regulations; Patriot Act; the use of the proceeds of the Term Facility not violating the Patriot Act, OFAC or FCPA; the Investment Company Act; the Borrower’s incurrence of the loans to be made under the Term Facility and the provision of the Guarantee by the Guarantors, in each case under the Term Facility, and the granting of the security interests in the Collateral to secure the Term Facility, and their entering into of the Term Facility Documentation, do not conflict with the organizational documents of the Borrower or the Guarantors; and, subject to the proviso in clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence, creation, validity and perfection of security interests in the Collateral. This paragraph, and the provisions herein, shall be referred to as the “Limited Conditionality Provisions”.
7. | Indemnity. |
To induce the Commitment Party to enter into this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter and to proceed with the Term Facility Documentation, you agree (a) to indemnify and hold harmless the Commitment Party, its respective affiliates and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents, controlling persons, advisors and other representatives of each of the foregoing and their successors and permitted assigns (other than Lenders that are not Initial Lenders or affiliates thereof) (each, an “Indemnified Person”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities of any kind or nature and reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses, joint or several, to which any such Indemnified Person may become subject to the extent arising out of, resulting from, or in connection with any actual or threatened claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding (including any inquiry or investigation) in connection with this Commitment Letter (including the Term Sheet), the Fee Letter, the Transactions or any related transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, the Term Facility or any use of the proceeds thereof (any of the foregoing, a “Proceeding”), regardless of whether any such Indemnified Person is a party thereto, whether or not such Proceedings are brought by you, your equity holders, affiliates or creditors or any other third person, and to promptly reimburse after receipt of a written request, each such Indemnified Person for any reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any of the foregoing by one firm of counsel for all such Indemnified Persons, taken as a whole and, if necessary, by a single firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single firm of special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all such Indemnified Persons, taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnified Person affected by such conflict notifies you of the existence of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, by another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnified Person) or other reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-
pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating, responding to, or defending any of the foregoing; provided that the foregoing indemnity will not, as to any Indemnified Person, apply to losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses to the extent that they have resulted from (i) the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnified Person or any Related Indemnified Person (as defined below) (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision), (ii) a material breach of the obligations of such Indemnified Person or any Related Indemnified Person under this Commitment Letter or the Fee Letter (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision) or (iii) any Proceeding solely between or among Indemnified Persons not arising from any act or omission by you or any of your affiliates; provided that the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners to the extent fulfilling their respective roles as an agent or arranger under the Term Facility and in their capacities as such, shall remain indemnified in such Proceedings to the extent that none of the exceptions set forth in any of clauses (i) or (ii) of the immediately preceding proviso applies to such person at such time and (b) solely to the extent that the Closing Date occurs, to reimburse the Commitment Party from time to time, upon presentation of a summary statement, for all reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket expenses, syndication expenses, travel expenses and reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm of counsel to the Commitment Party, the Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners and the Administrative Agent identified in the Term Sheet (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnified Person affected by such conflict informs you of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnified Person), and, if necessary, of a single firm of local counsel to the Commitment Party in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single firm of special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) and of such other counsel retained with your prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)), in each case incurred in connection with the Term Facility and the preparation, negotiation and enforcement of this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letter, the Term Facility Documentation and any security arrangements in connection therewith (collectively, the “Expenses”). The foregoing provisions in this paragraph shall be superseded, in each case, to the extent covered thereby by the applicable provisions contained in the Term Facility Documentation upon execution thereof and thereafter shall have no further force and effect. You acknowledge that the Indemnified Persons may receive a benefit, including without limitation, a discount, credit or other accommodation, from any of such counsel based on the fees such counsel may receive on account of their relationship with us including, without limitation, fees paid pursuant hereto.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Commitment Letter, (i) no Indemnified Person shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through internet, electronic, telecommunications or other information transmission systems, except to the extent that such damages have resulted from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnified Person or any Related Indemnified Person (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision) and (ii) none of you (or any of your subsidiaries), the Target (or any of its subsidiaries) or any Indemnified Person shall be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages (including, without limitation, any loss of profits, business or anticipated savings) in connection with this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letter, the Transactions (including the Term Facility and the use of proceeds thereunder), or with respect to any activities related to the Term Facility, including the preparation of this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letter and the Term Facility Documentation; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall limit your indemnity and reimbursement obligations to the extent that such indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages are included in any claim by a third party with respect to which the applicable Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification under the first paragraph of this Section 7.
You shall not be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without your written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), but if settled with your written consent or if there is a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent
jurisdiction against one or more Indemnified Persons in any such Proceeding, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented legal or other out-of-pocket expenses by reason of such settlement or judgment in accordance with and to the extent provided in the other provisions of this Section 7.
You shall not, without the prior written consent of any Indemnified Person (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) (it being understood that the withholding of consent due to non-satisfaction of any of the conditions described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this sentence shall be deemed reasonable), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceedings in respect of which indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person unless such settlement (i) includes a full and unconditional release of such Indemnified Person in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person from all liability or claims that are the subject matter of such Proceedings, (ii) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability, wrong doing or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person and (iii) contains customary confidentiality provisions with respect to the terms of such settlement. Each Indemnified Person shall be severally obligated to refund or return any and all amounts paid by you under this Section 7 to the extent such Indemnified Person is not entitled to payment of such amounts in accordance with the terms hereof (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment).
“Related Indemnified Person” of an Indemnified Person means (1) any controlling person or any controlled affiliate of such Indemnified Person, (2) the respective directors, officers, or employees of such Indemnified Person or any of its controlling persons or any of its controlled affiliates and (3) the respective agents, advisors and representatives of such Indemnified Person or any of its controlling persons or any of its controlled affiliates, in the case of this clause (3), acting at the instructions of such Indemnified Person, controlling person or such controlled affiliate (it being understood and agreed that any agent, advisor or representative of such Indemnified Person or any of its controlling persons or any of its controlled affiliates engaged to represent or otherwise advise such Indemnified Person, controlling person or controlled affiliate in connection with the Transactions shall be deemed to be acting at the instruction of such person).
8. | Sharing of Information, Absence of Fiduciary Relationships, Affiliate Activities. |
You acknowledge that the Commitment Party and its affiliates may be providing debt financing, equity capital or other services (including, without limitation, financial advisory services) to other persons in respect of which you, the Target and your and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates may have conflicting interests regarding the transactions described herein and otherwise. The Commitment and its affiliates will not use confidential information obtained from you, the Target or any of your or its subsidiaries or affiliates by virtue of the transactions contemplated by this Commitment Letter or their other relationships with you, the Target or any of your or its subsidiaries or affiliates in connection with the performance by them or their affiliates of services for other persons, and the Commitment and its affiliates will not furnish any such information to other persons, except to the extent permitted below. You also acknowledge that the Commitment Party and its affiliates do not have any obligation to use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Commitment Letter, or to furnish to you, the Target or any of your or its subsidiaries or affiliates confidential information obtained by them from other persons.
You further acknowledge that the Commitment Party and its affiliates are full service securities firms engaged, either directly or through their affiliates, in various activities, including securities trading, commodities trading, investment management, financing and brokerage activities and financial planning and benefits counseling for both companies and individuals. In the ordinary course of these activities, the Commitment Party and its affiliates may actively engage in commodities trading or trade the debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans and
other obligations) of you (and your affiliates), the Target, the Target’s customers or competitors and other companies which may be the subject of the arrangements contemplated by this Commitment Letter for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities. The Commitment Party and its affiliates may also co-invest with, make direct investments in, and invest or co-invest client monies in or with funds or other investment vehicles managed by other parties, and such funds or other investment vehicles may trade or make investments in securities of you (and your affiliates), the Borrower, the Target or other companies which may be the subject of the arrangements contemplated by this Commitment Letter or engage in commodities or other trading with any thereof.
The Commitment Party and its affiliates may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Target, you and the Borrower and your and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates and are under no obligation to disclose any conflicting interest to you, the Target and the Borrower and your and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. You agree that the Commitment Party will act under this Commitment Letter as an independent contractor and that nothing in this Commitment Letter or the Fee Letter will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between the Commitment Party and its affiliates, on the one hand, and you, the Borrower and the Target, your and their respective equity holders or your and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates, on the other hand. You acknowledge and agree that (i) the transactions contemplated by this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Commitment Party and its affiliates, on the one hand, and you, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction the Commitment Party and its applicable affiliates (as the case may be) is acting solely as a principal and not as agents or fiduciaries of you, the Borrower, the Target, your and their respective management, equity holders, creditors, subsidiaries, affiliates or any other person, (iii) the Commitment Party and its applicable affiliates (as the case may be) have not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility or any other obligation in favor of you, the Target, the Borrower or your or their respective affiliates with respect to the financing transactions contemplated hereby, the exercise of the remedies with respect thereto or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Commitment Party or any of its affiliates has advised or is currently advising you, the Borrower, or the Target or any of your or their respective affiliates on other matters) and the Commitment Party has no obligation to you, the Target, the Borrower or your or their respective affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter and (iv) the Commitment Party and its affiliates have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice and you have consulted your own legal and financial advisors to the extent you deemed appropriate.
You further acknowledge and agree that you are responsible for making your own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. You agree that you will not claim that the Commitment Party or its applicable affiliates, as the case may be, have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe a fiduciary, agency or similar duty to you or your affiliates, in connection with such transactions or the process leading thereto.
Furthermore, without limiting any provision set forth herein, you waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims you may have against us or our affiliates for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agree that we and our affiliates shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to you in respect of such a fiduciary claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of you, including your stockholders, employees or creditors.
9. | Confidentiality. |
You agree that you will not disclose, directly or indirectly, the Fee Letter or the contents thereof or, prior to your acceptance hereof, this Commitment Letter, the Term Sheet, the other exhibits and attachments hereto or the contents of each thereof, or the activities of the Commitment Party pursuant
hereto or thereto, to any person or entity without the prior written consent of the Lead Arrangers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), except (a) to your and your affiliates’ officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, advisors, controlling persons and equity holders and to actual and potential co-investors who are informed of the confidential nature thereof, on a confidential and need-to-know basis, (b) if the Commitment Party consents in writing to such proposed disclosure (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) or (c) pursuant to an order of any court or administrative agency or in any pending legal, judicial or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable law, rule or regulation or compulsory legal process or to the extent requested or required by governmental and/or regulatory authorities (in which case you agree, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform us promptly thereof prior to disclosure); provided that (i) you may disclose this Commitment Letter (but not the Fee Letter or the contents thereof) and the contents hereof to the Target, its subsidiaries and its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, advisors and controlling persons, on a confidential and need-to-know basis, (ii) you may disclose the Commitment Letter and its contents (including the Term Sheet and other exhibits and attachments hereto) (but not the Fee Letter or the contents thereof) in connection with any public or regulatory filing requirement relating to the Transactions, (iii) you may disclose the Term Sheet and other exhibits and attachments to this Commitment Letter, and the contents thereof, to potential Lenders in any syndication or other marketing materials in connection with the Term Facility (including the Information Materials) and to rating agencies in connection with obtaining ratings for the Borrower and the Term Facility, (iv) you may disclose the aggregate fee amount contained in the Fee Letter as part of Projections, pro forma information or a generic disclosure of aggregate sources and uses related to fee amounts related to the Transactions to the extent customary or required in offering and marketing materials for the Term Facility or in any public or regulatory filing requirement relating to the Transactions (and only to the extent aggregated with all other fees and expenses of the Transactions and not presented as an individual line item unless required by applicable law, rule or regulation), (v) if the fee amounts payable pursuant to the Fee Letter and such other portions as mutually agreed have been redacted in a manner reasonably agreed by us (including the portions thereof addressing fees payable to the Commitment Party and/or the Lenders), you may disclose the Fee Letter and the contents thereof to the Target, its subsidiaries and its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, advisors and controlling persons, on a confidential and need-to-know basis, (vi) you may disclose this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter and the contents of each thereof (including the Term Sheet and other exhibits and attachments hereto) to any additional joint bookrunner, in either case to the extent in contemplation of appointing such person pursuant to the provisions of the proviso set forth in Section 2 of this Commitment Letter and to any such person’s affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants and other advisors, on a confidential and need-to-know basis and (vii) you may disclose this Commitment Letter and its contents (but not the Fee Letter or the contents thereof) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than by reason of improper disclosure by you in violation of any confidentiality obligations hereunder.
The Commitment Party and its affiliates will use all non-public information provided to any of them or such affiliates by or on behalf of you hereunder or in connection with the Acquisition and the related Transactions solely for the purpose of providing the services which are the subject of this Commitment Letter and negotiating, evaluating and consummating the transactions contemplated hereby and shall treat confidentially all such information and shall not publish, disclose or otherwise divulge, such information; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the Commitment Party and its affiliates from disclosing any such information (a) pursuant to the order of any court or administrative agency or in any pending legal, judicial or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable law, rule or regulation or compulsory legal process based on the reasonable advice of counsel (in which case the Commitment Party agrees (except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental or regulatory (including self-regulatory) authority exercising examination or regulatory authority), to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule
or regulation, to inform you promptly thereof prior to disclosure), (b) upon the request or demand of any regulatory authority having jurisdiction, or purporting to have jurisdiction over, the Commitment Party or any of its affiliates (in which case the Commitment Party agrees (except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental or regulatory (including self-regulatory) authority exercising examination or regulatory authority), to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform you promptly thereof prior to disclosure), (c) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than by reason of improper disclosure by the Commitment Party or any of its Related Parties (as defined below) in violation of any confidentiality obligations owing to you, the Target or any of your or their respective subsidiaries, (d) to the extent that such information is or was received by the Commitment Party or any of its Related Parties from a third party that is not, to the Commitment Party’s knowledge, subject to contractual or fiduciary confidentiality obligations owing to you, the Target or any of your or their respective subsidiaries, (e) to the extent that such information is independently developed by the Commitment Party or any of its Related Parties without the use of any confidential information, (f) to the Commitment Party’s affiliates and to its and their respective directors, officers, employees, legal counsel, independent auditors, professionals and other experts or agents who need to know such information in connection with the Transactions and who are informed of the confidential nature of such information and who are subject to customary confidentiality obligations and who have been advised of their obligation to keep information of this type confidential (with the Commitment Party, to the extent within its control, responsible for such person’s compliance with this paragraph) (such related persons described in this clause (f), collectively, the “Related Parties”), (g) to potential or prospective Lenders, hedge providers, participants or assignees, (h) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense, (i) to the extent you consent in writing to any specific disclosure, (j) to rating agencies, in consultation with you, for the purposes described in Section 3 above or (k) to the extent such information was already in the Commitment Party’s possession prior to any duty or other understanding of confidentiality entered into in connection with the Transactions; provided that for purposes of clause (g) above, (i) the disclosure of any such information to any Lenders, hedge providers, participants or assignees or prospective Lenders, hedge providers, participants or assignees referred to above shall be made subject to the acknowledgment and acceptance by such Lender, hedge provider, participant or assignee or prospective Lender, hedge provider, participant or assignee that such information is being disseminated on a confidential basis (on substantially the terms set forth in this paragraph or as is otherwise reasonably acceptable to you and the Commitment Party, including, without limitation, as agreed in any Information Materials or other marketing materials) in accordance with the standard syndication processes of the Commitment Party or customary market standards for dissemination of such type of information, which shall in any event require “click through” or other affirmative actions on the part of recipient to access such information and (ii) no such disclosure shall be made by the Commitment Party to any person that is at such time a Disqualified Lender. In the event that the Term Facility are funded, the Commitment Party’s and its affiliates’, if any, obligations under this paragraph shall terminate automatically and be superseded by the confidentiality provisions in the Term Facility Documentation upon the initial funding thereunder to the extent that such provisions are binding on the Commitment Party.
The confidentiality provisions set forth in this Section 9 shall survive the termination of this Commitment Letter and (other than your obligations with respect to the Fee Letter) shall expire and shall be of no further effect after the first anniversary of the date hereof, and unless earlier superseded by the confidentiality provisions in the Term Facility Documentation upon the execution and delivery thereof by the parties thereto and the initial funding under the Term Facility.
10. | Miscellaneous. |
This Commitment Letter and the commitments hereunder shall not be assignable by any party hereto (other than (i) any assignment occurring as a matter of law pursuant to, or otherwise substantially simultaneously with, the Acquisition on the Closing Date, in each case to the Target or the Borrower,
(ii) any assignment of any portion of the commitments hereunder by you to (a) the Target or the Borrower on the Closing Date, (b) any other “shell” entity organized under the laws of the United States, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands or any other jurisdiction, in each case, so long as such entity is a direct or indirect shareholder of you (the “Merger Sub Parent”), and agrees to be bound by the terms hereof and the Fee Letter or (c) any other “shell” entity organized under the laws of the United States, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands or any other jurisdiction, in each case, so long as such entity is, or will be, controlled by you after giving effect to the Transactions and shall (directly or indirectly through one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries) own the Target or be the successor to the Target and agrees to be bound by the terms hereof and the Fee Letter or (iii) subject to the second paragraph of Section 3, by the Initial Lenders in connection with the syndication of the Term Facility after the Closing Date) without the prior written consent of each other party hereto (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) (and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be null and void). This Commitment Letter and the commitments hereunder are intended to be solely for the benefit of the parties hereto (and Indemnified Persons) and do not and are not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any person other than the parties hereto (and Indemnified Persons to the extent expressly set forth herein). Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3 above, the Commitment Party reserves the right to employ the services of its respective affiliates or branches in providing services contemplated hereby and to allocate, in whole or in part, to their affiliates or branches certain fees payable to the Commitment Party in such manner as the Commitment Party and its affiliates or branches may agree in their sole discretion and, to the extent so employed, such affiliates and branches shall be entitled to the benefits and protections afforded to, and subject to the provisions governing the conduct of, the Commitment Party hereunder. This Commitment Letter may not be amended or any provision hereof waived or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by the Commitment Party and you. This Commitment Letter may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Commitment Letter by facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission (e.g., a “pdf” or “tiff”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. This Commitment Letter (including the exhibits hereto), together with the Fee Letter, (i) are the only agreements that have been entered into among the parties hereto with respect to the Term Facility and (ii) supersede all prior understandings, whether written or oral, among us with respect to the Term Facility and sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect thereto. THIS COMMITMENT LETTER, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER, OR RELATED TO, THIS COMMITMENT LETTER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY CLAIMS SOUNDING IN CONTRACT LAW OR TORT LAW ARISING OUT OF THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Any Joint Bookrunner may, in consultation with you, place customary advertisements in financial and other newspapers and periodicals or on a home page or similar place for dissemination of customary information on the Internet or worldwide web as it may choose, and circulate similar promotional materials, in each case, after the Closing Date, in the form of “tombstone” or otherwise describing the name of the Borrower and the amount, type and closing date of the Transactions, all at the expense of such Joint Bookrunner.
Each of the parties hereto agrees that this Commitment Letter is a binding and enforceable agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein, including an agreement to negotiate in good faith the Term Facility Documentation by the parties hereto in a manner consistent with this Commitment Letter, it being acknowledged and agreed that the commitments provided hereunder are subject to conditions precedent as provided herein.
EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY OR ON
BEHALF OF ANY PARTY RELATED TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS COMMITMENT LETTER OR THE FEE LETTER OR THE PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER.
Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York County in the State of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letter or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court, (b) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letter or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby in any New York State or in any such Federal court, (c) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court and (d) agrees that a final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Each of the parties hereto agrees that service of process, summons, notice or document by registered mail addressed to you or us at the addresses set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court.
We hereby notify you that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001) (the “PATRIOT Act”), each of us and each of the Lenders may be required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower and its affiliates, which information may include their names, addresses, tax identification numbers and other information that will allow each of us and the Lenders to identify the Borrower and the Guarantors in accordance with the PATRIOT Act. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the PATRIOT Act and is effective for each of us and the Lenders. You hereby acknowledge and agree that the Lead Arrangers shall be permitted to share any and all such information with the Lenders.
The indemnification, compensation (if applicable), reimbursement (if applicable), syndication, jurisdiction, governing law, venue, waiver of jury trial and confidentiality provisions contained herein and in the Fee Letter and the provisions of Section 8 of this Commitment Letter shall remain in full force and effect regardless of whether the Term Facility Documentation shall be executed and delivered and notwithstanding the termination or expiration of this Commitment Letter or the Initial Lenders’ commitments hereunder; provided that your obligations under this Commitment Letter (except as specifically set forth in the third through seventh paragraphs of Section 3 and the penultimate sentence of Section 4, and other than your obligations with respect to the confidentiality of the Fee Letter and the contents thereof) shall automatically terminate and be superseded by the provisions of the Term Facility Documentation upon the initial funding thereunder, and you shall automatically be released from all liability in connection therewith at such time. You may terminate this Commitment Letter and/or the Initial Lenders’ commitments with respect to any of the Term Facility (or any portion thereof) at any time subject to the provisions of the preceding sentence (any such commitment termination shall reduce the commitments of each Initial Lender on a pro rata basis based on their respective commitments to the Term Facility as of the date hereof).
Section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Commitment Letter.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement, please indicate your acceptance of the terms of this Commitment Letter and of the Fee Letter by returning to the Commitment Party (or its legal counsel) on behalf of the Commitment Party, executed counterparts hereof and of the Fee Letter not later than
11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 1, 2016. The Initial Lenders’ respective commitments and the obligations of the Commitment Party hereunder will expire at such time in the event that the Commitment Party (or its legal counsel) has not received such executed counterparts in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence. If you do so execute and deliver to us this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter at or prior to such time, we agree to hold our commitment to provide the Term Facility and our other undertakings in connection therewith available for you until the earliest of (i) the end of the first three (3)-month period starting from the date on which you execute this Commitment Letter, if at such time the Acquisition Agreement has not been fully executed by all parties thereto, (ii) after execution of the Acquisition Agreement and prior to the consummation of the Transactions, the termination of the Acquisition Agreement by you in a signed writing in accordance with its terms (or your written confirmation or public announcement thereof), (iii) the consummation of the Acquisition without the funding of the Term Facility and (iv) 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the date that is ten (10) Business Days after the Termination Date (or other similar term as defined in the Acquisition Agreement as of the date hereof) (such earliest time, the “Expiration Date”). Upon the occurrence of any of the events referred to in the preceding sentence, this Commitment Letter and the commitments of the Commitment Party hereunder and the agreement of the Commitment Party to provide the services described herein shall automatically terminate unless the Commitment Party shall, in its sole discretion, agrees to an extension in writing.
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We are pleased to have been given the opportunity to assist you in connection with the financing for the Transactions.
Very truly yours, | |||
CHINA MERCHANTS BANK CO., LTD., | |||
NEW YORK BRANCH | |||
By: | /s/ Jian (Kevin) Ding | ||
Name: | Jian (Kevin) Ding | ||
Title: | Head of China Group Corporate Banking | ||
By: | /s/ Xuejun (Andrew) Mao | ||
Name: | Xuejun (Andrew) Mao | ||
Title: | Deputy General Manager |
Accepted and agreed to as of the
date first above written:
WISEMAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED | |||
By: | /s/ Leilei Wang | ||
Name: | Leilei Wang | ||
Title: | Director |
MR. LEILEI WANG | |||
By: | /s/ Leilei Wang | ||
Name: Mr. Leilei Wang | |||
EXHIBIT A
Project Kongzhong
Transaction Description
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Exhibit A shall have the meanings set forth in the other Exhibits to the Commitment Letter (the “Commitment Letter”) to which this Exhibit A is attached or in the Commitment Letter. In the case of any such capitalized term that is subject to multiple and differing definitions, the appropriate meaning thereof in this Exhibit A shall be determined by reference to the context in which it is used.
The Merger Sub, a company newly organized under the laws of Cayman Islands (the “Merger Sub”) at the direction of Mr. Leilei Wang (collectively with any affiliates, the “Sponsor”), intends to acquire (the “Acquisition”), directly or indirectly through one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, the entity previously identified to us and code-named “Kongzhong” (the “Target”), from the equity holders thereof (collectively, the “Sellers”). The Merger Sub intends to consummate the Acquisition pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated on or about the date hereof (together with all exhibits, schedules and other disclosure letters thereto, collectively, as amended, the “Acquisition Agreement”) by and among Wiseman International Limited and the Target pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Target, with the Target being the surviving entity, the Sellers will receive cash in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding equity interests in the Target (collectively, the “Acquisition Consideration”) and the Target will, after giving effect to the Acquisition and the other Transactions, owned directly or indirectly by, among others, the Sponsor.
In connection with the foregoing, it is intended that:
a) | The Borrower (as defined in Exhibit B hereto) will obtain up to $280 million under a senior secured term loan facility (the “Term Facility”) described in Exhibit B hereto; and |
b) | The proceeds of the Term Facility, together with the equity contribution from the Borrower, will be applied solely (i) to pay the Acquisition Consideration and (ii) to pay the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions (such fees and expenses, the “Transaction Costs”) (the amounts set forth in clauses (i) through (ii) above, collectively, the “Acquisition Funds”). |
The transactions described above (including the payment of Transaction Costs) are collectively referred to herein as the “Transactions”.
EXHIBIT B
Project Kongzhong
$280 Million Senior Secured Term Loan Facility
Summary of Principal Terms and Conditions1
Borrower: | Initially, the Merger Sub, and, after the Acquisition, the Target (the “Borrower”). |
Transactions: | As set forth in Exhibit A to the Commitment Letter. |
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agents: | CMB NY will act as sole administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) and on-shore collateral agent and CMB NY will act as sole off-shore collateral agent for a syndicate of banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders and investors reasonably acceptable to the Lead Arrangers and the Borrower, excluding any Disqualified Lender (together with the Initial Lenders, the “Lenders”), and will perform the duties customarily associated with such roles. |
Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners: |
The Commitment Party will act as a joint lead arranger (together with any additional lead arranger appointed pursuant to the Commitment Letter, each in such capacity, a “Lead Arranger” and, together, the “Lead Arrangers”), and the Commitment Party will act as a joint bookrunner (together with any additional bookrunner appointed pursuant to the Commitment Letter, each in such capacity, a “Joint Bookrunner” and, together, the “Joint Bookrunners”), in each case for the Term Facility, and will perform the duties customarily associated with such roles. |
Syndication Agent: | CMB NY will act as syndication agent for the Term Facility and will perform the duties customarily associated with such role. |
Documentation Agent: | The Commitment Party will act as a documentation agent for the Term Facility and will perform the duties customarily associated with such role. |
Term Facility: | A senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $280 million (the “Term Facility”). The loans under the Term Facility are referred to as the “Term Loans”. The Lenders under the Term Facility are referred to as the “Lenders”. |
Purpose: | The proceeds of borrowings under the Term Facility will be used by the Borrower on the Closing Date, together with the proceeds from the equity contribution to the Borrower and cash on hand at the Target and its subsidiaries, solely to pay the Acquisition Funds (including, at the Borrower’s election, to fund any upfront fees required in the Fee Letter to the extent otherwise permitted above). |
Availability:
|
The Term Facility must be borrowed in a single drawing on the Closing Date. Amounts borrowed under the Term Facility that are repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. |
1 All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Commitment Letter to which this Term Facility Term Sheet is attached, including Exhibits A and C hereto.
Interest Rates and Fees: |
As set forth on Annex I hereto. |
Default Rate: | During the continuance of a payment event of default, with respect to overdue principal and any other overdue amount (including overdue interest), at the applicable interest rate plus 2.00% per annum. |
Final Maturity and Amortization: |
The Term Facility will mature on the date that is two (2) years after the Closing Date and its then outstanding aggregate principal amount will be payable on the maturity date. |
Guarantees: | All obligations of the Borrower under the Term Facility (the “Borrower Obligations”) will be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, on a senior basis (the “Guarantee”) by Mr. Leilei Wang, his spouse and adult children (each, a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “Guarantors”). |
Security: | Subject to the limitations set forth below in this section and the Limited Conditionality Provisions, the Borrower Obligations and the Guarantee in respect of the Borrower Obligations (collectively, the “Secured Obligations”) will be secured on a first priority basis by (a) a perfected first priority pledge of cash in an amount the dollar equivalent of which shall not be less than the 105% of the sum of (x) the aggregate amount of the Term Facility and (y) the interest and fees due and payable for two Interest Periods, based on the exchange rate reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent, by (i) Kongzhong (China) Co., Ltd. (空中(中国)有限公司) (“Kongzhong PRC Sub 1”) and (ii) Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology Co., Limited (北京五星融诚科技有限责任公司) (“Kongzhong PRC Sub 2”) to CMB BJ as on-shore collateral agent for the benefit of the Lenders; (b) a perfected first priority pledge of 100% of the equity interests in Kongzhong PRC Sub 1 and Kongzhong PRC Sub 2 to CMB BJ as on-shore collateral agent for the benefit of the Lenders, (c) a perfected first priority equitable mortgage over the entire issued share capital of (i) the Merger Sub (Cayman Islands) and (ii) the Target (Cayman Islands) to CMB NY as off-shore collateral agent for the benefit of the Lenders (the items described in clauses (a) through (c) above, collectively, the “Collateral”). The pledges of and security interests in and mortgages on the Collateral granted by the Borrower and Guarantors shall secure the Borrower’s and Guarantors’ respective Secured Obligations. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Collateral shall exclude those assets as to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower reasonably agree that the cost of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof (including any adverse tax consequences resulting therefrom) are excessive in relation to the benefit to the Lenders of the security to be afforded thereby. |
Voluntary Prepayments: | Voluntary prepayments of borrowings under the Term Facility will not be permitted during the first six-month period after the Closing Date, and will be permitted at any time thereafter in minimum principal amounts to be agreed, subject to reimbursement of the Lenders’ redeployment costs in the case of a prepayment of Adjusted LIBOR borrowings other than on the last day of the relevant interest period, without premium or penalty; provided that the Borrower must give the Administrative Agent written notice no less than thirty (30) business days prior to the requested prepayment date and the amount of each voluntary prepayment must be no less than $10 million and in integral multiples of $5 million. |
Conditions to Initial Borrowing: |
The availability of the initial borrowing and other extensions of credit under the Term Facility on the Closing Date will be subject to (a) delivery of a customary borrowing notice, (b) the accuracy of Specified Representations and the Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations, in each case in all material respects; provided that any representations and warranties qualified by materiality shall be accurate in all respects and (c) the applicable conditions set forth in Exhibit C to the Commitment Letter and, in each case under paragraph (b) or (c), subject to the Limited Conditionality Provisions in all respects. |
Term Facility Documentation: | The definitive financing documentation for the Term Facility will be under a credit agreement (the “Term Facility Documentation”) which shall be initially drafted by counsel for the Administrative Agent and shall, be consistent with, and contain the terms set forth in this Exhibit B and, to the extent any other terms are not expressly set forth in this Exhibit B, will (i) be negotiated promptly in good faith and taking into account the timing of the syndication of the Term Facility, and (ii) contain only those conditions, representations, events of default and covenants set forth in this Exhibit B and such other terms as the Borrower and the Lead Arrangers shall reasonably agree; it being understood and agreed that the Term Facility Documentation shall be based on and substantially consistent with transaction documents for a comparable financing of a going private transaction involving a company publicly listed in the U.S. (funded by a branch of, or an affiliate of, a bank incorporated in the PRC, and backstopped by either a standby letter of credit or cash collateral in the PRC) and shall include the related security, pledge, collateral and guarantee agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith (the “Documentation Principles”). |
Representations and Warranties: |
Subject to the Limited Conditionality Provisions and such qualifications, materiality qualifiers and other carveouts to be agreed, and consistent with the Documentation Principles, limited to the following (to be applicable to the Borrower only): organizational status and good standing; power and authority, due authorization, qualification, execution, delivery and enforceability of Term Facility Documentation; with respect to the execution, delivery and performance of the Term Facility Documentation, no violation of, or conflict with, material law, organizational documents or material agreements; compliance with material law (including environmental laws); litigation; margin regulations; material governmental and third party approvals with respect to the execution, delivery and performance of the Term Facility; Investment Company Act; accurate and complete disclosure; accuracy of historical financial statements; since the Effective Time (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement), no Material Adverse Effect (as defined below); taxes; insurance; PATRIOT Act; OFAC; FCPA; subsidiaries; intellectual property; use of proceeds; status of Term Facility as “senior debt” and |
“designated senior debt” (if applicable); ownership of properties; creation, perfection and priority of liens and other security interests; and consolidated Closing Date solvency of the Merger Sub and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions); the Acquisition Agreement containing all material terms of the Acquisition; the receipt by the Administrative Agent of accurate and complete equity documents evidencing equity contribution; subject, where applicable, in the case of each of the foregoing representations and warranties, to qualifications and limitations for materiality to be provided in the Term Facility Documentation. | |
“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any event, circumstance or condition that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse effect on, after the Closing Date (a) the business or financial condition of Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower and the Guarantors, taken as a whole, to perform their payment obligations under the Term Facility Documentation or (c) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Term Facility Documentation, taken as a whole. | |
Financial Covenants: |
The ratio (the “Cash Collateral Ratio”) of the sum of outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan and the interest and fees due and payable for two Interest Periods to the dollar equivalent of the total cash deposit in accounts opened and maintained with CMB BJ each in the name of (i) Kongzhong PRC Sub 1 and (ii) Kongzhong PRC Sub 2 shall at all times be less than 0.95:1.00, based on the exchange rate reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent.
If the Cash Collateral Ratio shall at any time exceed 0.95:1.00, the Borrower would be required to either (x) deposit or cause to be deposited additional cash collateral with CMB BJ or (y) prepay the Term Loan, in each case within three (3) business days’ of demand of the Administrative Agent, in an amount such that the Cash Collateral Ratio shall not exceed 0.95:1.00 immediately after such deposit or prepayment; provided that, if the Cash Collateral Ratio shall at any time be at 0.93 : 1.00 or below, Kongzhong PRC Sub 1 and Kongzhong PRC Sub 2 shall be permitted to withdraw cash from its account with CMB BJ in such an amount, such that immediately after such withdrawal, the Cash Collateral Ratio shall not exceed 0.95: 1.00. |
Affirmative Covenants: | Subject to the Limited Conditionality Provisions and such qualifications, materiality qualifiers and other carveouts to be agreed, and consistent with the Documentation Principles, limited to the following (to be applicable to the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries only): delivery of annual audited and semiannual unaudited consolidated financial statements within 150 days of the end of each fiscal year that ends after the Closing Date and 90 days of the end of the first six months of each fiscal year that ends after the Closing Date, customary officers’ compliance certificates and other information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent; notices of defaults, material litigation and material ERISA events (if applicable and only to the extent that ERISA will apply to the Borrower and its subsidiaries after the Closing Date); inspections by the Administrative Agent (subject to frequency (so long as there is no ongoing event of default) and cost reimbursement limitations); maintenance of property (subject to casualty, condemnation and normal wear and tear) and customary insurance; maintenance of existence and corporate franchises, rights and privileges; maintenance and inspection of books and records; payment of taxes and similar claims; compliance |
with laws and regulations (including ERISA (only to the extent that ERISA will apply to the Borrower and its subsidiaries after the Closing Date), environmental, Patriot Act, OFAC and FCPA); use of proceeds; changes in lines of business; changes of fiscal year; designation (and redesignation) of unrestricted subsidiaries; and further assurances on collateral matters; the Sponsor’s holding of a certain percentage of all ownership interest of the Borrower to be specified in the Term Facility Documentation; accounts shall be opened and maintained with CMB BJ and CMB NY in the name of the entities now existing or newly established for the purpose of making repayments of the Term Loans; if the Borrower shall use any portion of the Cash Collateral to repay the Term Loans, such portion of the Cash Collateral must be transferred to the bank account of the Borrower or its affiliate with CMB NY and shall be converted into U.S. dollars from such bank account, and the proceeds from such conversion shall be deposited in such bank account. | |
Negative Covenants: | Subject to the Limited Conditionality Provisions and such qualifications, materiality qualifiers and other carveouts to be agreed, and consistent with the Documentation Principles, limited to the following (to be applicable to the Merger Sub, Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries): |
a) | limitations on liens on the Collateral, subject to limited customary exceptions; | |
b) | limitations on fundamental changes (including, without limitation, material change in the shareholdings portfolio of the Sponsor or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and the Target); and | |
c) | limitations on dividends or distributions on, or redemptions of, the Borrower’s equity (which shall permit, among other things, (i) customary payments or distributions to pay the tax liabilities of any direct or indirect parent, to the extent such payments cover taxes that are attributable to the activities of the Borrower or its subsidiaries and are net of any payments already made by the Borrower and its subsidiaries, (ii) payment of legal, accounting and other ordinary course corporate overhead or other operational expenses of any such parent not to exceed an amount to be agreed in any fiscal year and for the payment of franchise or similar taxes and (iii) subject to no continuing event of default, customary distributions necessary to pay advisory, refinancing, subsequent transaction and exit fees and other taxes, overhead expenses of direct and indirect parents of the Borrower attributable to the ownership of the Borrower and its subsidiaries; |
Events of Default: | Subject to the Limited Conditionality Provisions and such qualifications, materiality qualifiers and other carveouts to be agreed, and consistent with the Documentation Principles, limited to the following (to be applicable to the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries only): nonpayment of principal when due; nonpayment of interest or other amounts after a customary five business day grace period; violation of covenants (subject, in the case of affirmative covenants (other than use of proceeds, notices of default and maintenance of the Borrower’s existence), to a thirty day grace period); incorrectness of representations and warranties in any material respect (subject to a thirty day grace period in the case of misrepresentations that are capable of being cured); cross default and cross acceleration to indebtedness of an amount in excess of an amount to be agreed; |
bankruptcy or other similar events of the Borrower or their significant restricted subsidiaries (with a 60 day grace period for involuntary events); monetary judgments of an amount in excess of an amount to be agreed; ERISA or similar events (only to the extent that ERISA will apply to the Borrower after the Closing Date); actual or asserted (in writing) invalidity of material Guarantee or security interest in Collateral; and change of control (to include a pre- and post-initial public offering provision). | |
Voting: | Amendments and waivers of the Term Facility Documentation will require the approval of Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the loans and commitments under the Term Facility (the “Required Lenders”), except that (i) the consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby shall be required with respect to: (A) increases in the commitment of such Lender (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent or the waiver of any default, event of default or mandatory prepayment shall not constitute an extension or increase of any commitment), (B) reductions or forgiveness of principal (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent or the waiver of any default, event of default or mandatory prepayment or commitment reduction shall not constitute a reduction or forgiveness in principal), interest (other than a waiver of default interest), premiums or fees and (C) extensions of scheduled amortization payments or final maturity (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent or the waiver of any default, event of default or mandatory prepayment or commitment reduction shall not constitute an extension of any maturity date) or the date for the payment of interest, premiums or fees, (ii) the consent of 100% of the Lenders will be required with respect to (A) modifications to any of the voting percentages and (B) releases of all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantors or releases of all or substantially all of the Collateral (except otherwise expressly permitted) and (iii) customary protections for the Administrative Agent will be provided. Defaulting lenders shall not be included in the calculation of the Required Lenders. |
The Term Facility Documentation shall contain customary provisions for replacing defaulting lenders and terminating their commitments, replacing Lenders claiming increased costs, tax gross ups and similar required indemnity payments and replacing non-consenting Lenders in connection with amendments and waivers requiring the consent of all Lenders or of all Lenders directly affected thereby so long as Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Term Loans shall have consented thereto. | |
Cost and Yield Protection: | The Term Facility Documentation will include customary tax gross-up, cost and yield protection provisions; provided that the gross-up and yield protection provisions in respect of taxes will be updated as necessary to reflect current market practice for facilities and transactions of this type. |
Assignments and Participations: | After the Closing Date, the Lenders will be permitted to assign (other than to Disqualified Lenders and natural persons) (with each assignee being required to represent that it is not a Disqualified Lender or an affiliate of a Disqualified Lender so long as the list of Disqualified Lenders is available to all Lenders) (a) loans and/or commitments under the Term Facility with the written consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in each case not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that (A) no consent of the Borrower shall be required after the occurrence and during the continuance of a payment or |
bankruptcy (with respect to the Borrower) Event of Default and (B) no consent of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower shall be required if such assignment is an assignment to another Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an approved fund. Each assignment (other than to another applicable Lender, an affiliate of an applicable Lender or an approved fund) will be in an amount of $1,000,000 (or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) (or lesser amounts, if agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) or, if less, all of such Lender’s remaining loans and commitments of the applicable class. Assignments will be by novation. The Administrative Agent shall receive a processing and recordation fee no less than $3,500 for each assignment (it being understood that such recordation fee shall not apply to any assignments by any of the Initial Lenders or any of their affiliates). | |
The Lenders will be permitted to sell participations (other than to Disqualified Lenders to the extent that a list of Disqualified Lenders has been provided to the Lenders) in loans and commitments without restriction in accordance with applicable law; provided that participants shall have no voting rights. | |
In addition, non-pro rata distributions will be permitted in connection with loan buy-back or similar programs, assignments to, and open market purchases by the Borrower and its affiliates on terms consistent with the two succeeding paragraphs. | |
Expenses and Indemnification: | The Borrower shall pay, if the Closing Date occurs, all reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Commitment Party (without duplication) associated with their due diligence investigation, the syndication of the Term Facility and the preparation, execution and delivery, administration, amendment, modification, waiver and/or enforcement of the Term Facility Documentation (including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel identified herein, a single local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction or otherwise retained with the Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and to consultants (to the extent retained with Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed)). |
The Borrower will indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Commitment Party and the Lenders (without duplication) and their affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, advisors, agents, controlling persons and other representatives of the foregoing and their successors and permitted assigns (each, an “Indemnified Party”), and hold them harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities of any kind or nature and the reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any of the foregoing (including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of a single firm of counsel for all Indemnified Parties, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, by a single firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single firm of special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnified Parties taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, where the Indemnified Party(s) affected by such conflict notifies the Borrower of the existence of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, by another firm of counsel for such affected indemnified person)) of any such Indemnified Party arising out of, resulting from or in connection with, any claim, litigation, investigation or other proceeding (including any inquiry or investigation of the |
foregoing) (regardless of whether such Indemnified Party is a party thereto or whether or not such action, claim, litigation or proceeding was brought by the Borrower, its equity holders, affiliates or creditors or any other third person) relating to the Transactions, including the financing contemplated hereby; provided that no Indemnified Party will be indemnified for any loss, claim, damage, liability, cost or expense to the extent it has resulted from (i) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party or any Related Indemnified Person (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision), (ii) a material breach by such Indemnified Party or any Related Indemnified Person of its obligations under the Term Facility (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision) or (iii) any proceeding between and among Indemnified Parties that does not involve an act or omission by the Borrower or its restricted subsidiaries; provided that the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners and any other agents, to the extent acting in their capacity as such, shall remain indemnified in respect of such proceeding, to the extent that none of the exceptions set forth in any of clauses (i) or (ii) of the immediately preceding proviso applies to such person at such time. | |
Governing Law and Forum: |
New York. |
Counsel to the Administrative Agent, Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners: | White & Case LLP. |
ANNEX I
Interest Rates: | At the option of the Borrower, Adjusted LIBOR plus 2.00% per annum. |
The Borrower may only elect interest periods of 3 months for Adjusted LIBOR borrowings. | |
Calculation of interest shall be on the basis of the actual days elapsed in a year of 360 days. | |
Interest shall be payable in arrears for loans accruing interest at a rate based on Adjusted LIBOR, at the end of each interest period and, for interest periods of greater than 3 months, every three months, and on the applicable maturity date. | |
“Adjusted LIBOR” is the London interbank offered rate for U.S. dollar deposits for a three month period equal to the applicable Interest Period appearing on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page or such other screen as may be determined prior to the Closing Date (or otherwise on the Reuters screen) (“Published LIBOR”), adjusted for statutory reserve requirements for U.S. dollar liabilities. |
EXHIBIT C
Project Kongzhong
Summary of Additional Conditions2
The initial borrowings under the Term Facility shall be subject to the following conditions:
1. Since the date of the Acquisition Agreement, no Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) shall have occurred.
2. The Acquisition shall have been consummated, or substantially simultaneously with the initial borrowings under the Term Facility, shall be consummated, in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, after giving effect to any modifications, amendments, consents or waivers by you thereto, other than those modifications, amendments, consents or waivers that are materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders or the Commitment Party in their capacities as such, unless consented to in writing by the Lead Arrangers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); provided that (i) any reduction in the Acquisition Consideration shall not be deemed to be materially adverse to the Lenders or the Commitment Party so long as the condition in paragraph 3 below is satisfied and (ii) any amendment or waiver to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement that has the effect of increasing the cash consideration required to be paid thereunder on the Closing Date will not be deemed to be materially adverse to the Lenders or the Commitment Party if such increase is funded with an increase in the aggregate amount of the equity contribution.
3. The equity contribution to the Borrower shall have been made or, substantially simultaneously with the initial borrowings under the Term Facility, shall be made, in at least the amount agreed between the Borrower and the Lead Arrangers.
4. The Lead Arrangers shall have received evidence that the Sponsor owns, directly a certain percentage of the ownership interest in the Borrower to be specified in the Term Facility Documentation.
5. The Lead Arrangers shall have received (a) audited consolidated balance sheets of the Target and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the end of, and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Target and its consolidated subsidiaries for, the three most recently completed fiscal years ended at least 150 days prior to the Closing Date and (b) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Target and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the end of, and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Target and its consolidated subsidiaries for each subsequent fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of any fiscal year) of the Target or its consolidated subsidiaries subsequent to the last fiscal year for which financial statements were prepared pursuant to the preceding clause (a) and ended at least 90 days before the Closing Date (in the case of this clause (b), without footnotes) together with financial statements for the corresponding portion of the previous year, in each case, prepared in accordance with the generally applicable accounting principles in the United States.
6. Subject in all respects to the Limited Conditionality Provisions, all documents and instruments required to create and perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral in respect of the Term Facility shall have been executed and delivered and, if applicable, be in proper form for filing.
2 All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Commitment Letter to which this Exhibit C is attached, including Exhibits A and B. In the case of any such capitalized term that is subject to multiple and differing definitions, the appropriate meaning thereof in this Exhibit E shall be determined by reference to the context in which it is used.
7. Subject in all respects to the Limited Conditionality Provisions, at least two business days prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers shall have received all documentation and other information about the Borrower and the Guarantors, in each case that shall have been reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Lead Arrangers in writing at least 10 business days prior to the Closing Date and that the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers reasonably determine is required by United States regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the PATRIOT Act.
8. The closing of the Term Facility shall have occurred on or before the Expiration Date.
9. (i) The execution and delivery by the Borrower and the Guarantors of the Term Facility Documentation (including guarantee by the Guarantors) which shall, in each case, be in accordance with the terms of the Commitment Letter and the Term Sheet and subject to the Limited Conditionality Provisions and (ii) delivery to the Lead Arrangers of customary legal opinions, customary officer’s closing certificates, organizational documents, customary evidence of authorization and good standing certificates in Cayman Islands (with respect to the Merger Sub and the Target) and a solvency certificate with respect to the Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transactions substantially in the form of Annex I attached to this Exhibit C, of the Borrower’s chief executive officer.
10. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) written evidence of deposit of the Cash Collateral in the accounts opened with the On-shore Collateral Agent, (ii) the cash pledge agreement between the On-Shore Collateral Agent and Kongzhong PRC Sub 1 relating to the Cash Collateral and (iii) the cash pledge agreement between the On-Shore Collateral Agent and Kongzhong PRC Sub 2 relating to the Cash Collateral.
11. All fees required to be paid on the Closing Date pursuant to the Fee Letter and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid on the Closing Date pursuant to the Commitment Letter, to the extent invoiced at least three business days prior to the Closing Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower), shall, upon the initial borrowings under the Term Facility, have been, or will be substantially simultaneously, paid (which amounts may be offset against the proceeds of the Term Facility).
ANNEX I
Form of Solvency Certificate
__________, 2016
This Solvency Certificate (this “Certificate”) is delivered pursuant to Section [ ] of the Credit Agreement, dated as of [ ] (as amended as of the date hereof, and as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among [ ] (the “Borrower”) and the lending institutions from time to time parties thereto and [ ], as the Administrative Agent. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Certificate shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
I, [ ], the Chief Executive Officer of the Borrower, in that capacity only and not in my individual capacity (and without personal liability), DO HEREBY CERTIFY on behalf of the Borrower that as of the date hereof, and based upon facts and circumstances as they exist as of the date hereof (and disclaiming any responsibility for changes in such facts and circumstances after the date hereof), that:
1. For purposes of this certificate, the terms below shall have the following definitions:
(a) “Fair Value”
The amount at which the assets (both tangible and intangible), in their entirety, of Borrower and its subsidiaries taken as a whole would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, within a commercially reasonable period of time, each having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts, with neither being under any compulsion to act.
(b) “Present Fair Salable Value”
The amount that could be obtained by an independent willing seller from an independent willing buyer if the assets of Borrower and its subsidiaries taken as a whole are sold with reasonable promptness in an arm’s-length transaction under present conditions for the sale of comparable business enterprises insofar as such conditions can be reasonably evaluated.
(c) “Liabilities”
The recorded liabilities (including contingent liabilities that would be recorded in accordance with GAAP) of Borrower and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, as of the date hereof after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
(d) “Will be able to pay their Liabilities as they mature”
For the period from the date hereof through the maturity date, Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis taken as a whole will have sufficient assets and cash flow to pay their Liabilities as those liabilities mature or (in the case of contingent liabilities) otherwise become payable, in light of business conducted or anticipated to be conducted by Borrower and its subsidiaries as reflected in the projected financial statements and in light of the anticipated credit capacity.
(e) “Do not have Unreasonably Small Capital”
The Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis taken as a whole after consummation of the Transactions is a going concern and has sufficient capital to reasonably ensure that
the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will continue to be a going concern for the period from the date hereof through the maturity date. I understand that “unreasonably small capital” depends upon the nature of the particular business or businesses conducted or to be conducted, and I have reached my conclusion based on the needs and anticipated needs for capital of the business conducted or anticipated to be conducted by Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as reflected in the projected financial statements and in light of the anticipated credit capacity.
2. Based on and subject to the foregoing, I hereby certify on behalf of Borrower that after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, it is my opinion that (i) the Fair Value of the assets of Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis taken as a whole exceeds their Liabilities, (ii) the Present Fair Salable Value of the assets of Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis taken as a whole exceeds their Liabilities; (iii) Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis taken as a whole do not have Unreasonably Small Capital; and (iv) Borrower and its subsidiaries taken as a whole will be able to pay their Liabilities as they mature.
3. In reaching the conclusions set forth in this Certificate, the undersigned has made such investigations and inquiries as the undersigned has deemed appropriate, having taken into account the nature of the particular business anticipated to be conducted by Borrower and its subsidiaries after consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Certificate as of the date first written above.
[ ] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 13
CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 1, 2016 by and among Linkedsee Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Parent”), and certain shareholders of KongZhong Corporation, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), listed on Schedule A (each, a “Rollover Shareholder” and collectively, the “Rollover Shareholders”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement (defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Parent, Wiseman International Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and the Company are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”);
WHEREAS, each Rollover Shareholder is the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of such common shares, par value US$0.0000005 per share, of the Company, including shares represented by American Depositary Shares (the “Shares”) as set forth opposite such Rollover Shareholder’s name on Schedule A (with respect to each Rollover Shareholder, the “Rollover Shares”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Rollover Shareholders each desire to contribute their respective Rollover Shares to Parent in exchange for newly issued shares of Parent, par value US$0.0000005 per share (the “Parent Shares”);
WHEREAS, in order to induce Parent, Merger Sub and the Company to enter into the Merger Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, the Rollover Shareholders are entering into this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Rollover Shareholders acknowledge that Parent, Merger Sub and the Company are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements of the Rollover Shareholders set forth in this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Parent and the Rollover Shareholders hereby agree as follows:
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Section 1. Contribution of Rollover Shares by Rollover Shareholders to Parent. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, immediately prior to the Closing and (save as described in Section 4 below) without further action by the Rollover Shareholders, all of each Rollover Shareholder’s right, title and interest in and to the Rollover Shares shall be contributed, assigned, transferred and delivered to Parent.
Section 2. Issuance of Parent Shares. In consideration for the contribution, assignment, transfer and delivery of the Rollover Shares to Parent pursuant to Section 1 of this Agreement, Parent shall issue Parent Shares in the name of each Rollover Shareholder (or, if designated by such Rollover Shareholder in writing, in the name of an affiliate of such Rollover Shareholder) in the amount set forth opposite such Rollover Shareholder’s name in Schedule A. Each Rollover Shareholder hereby acknowledges and agrees that (a) the value of the Parent Shares issued to such Rollover Shareholder is equal to (x) the total number of the Rollover Shares contributed by such Rollover Shareholder multiplied by (y) the Per Share Merger Consideration (or Per ADS Merger Consideration, if applicable) under the Merger Agreement, (b) delivery of such Parent Shares shall constitute complete satisfaction of all obligations towards or sums due to such Rollover Shareholder by Parent with respect to the applicable Rollover Shares, and (c) on receipt of such Parent Shares, such Rollover Shareholder shall have no right to the Per Share Merger Consideration (or Per ADS Merger Consideration, if applicable) with respect to the Rollover Shares contributed to Parent by such Rollover Shareholder.
Section 3. Closing. Subject to the satisfaction in full (or waiver) of all of the conditions set forth in Article VII of the Merger Agreement (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing), the closing of the contribution and exchange contemplated hereby (the “Contribution Closing”) shall take place immediately prior to the Closing.
Section 4. Deposit of Rollover Shares. No later than three (3) Business Days prior to the Contribution Closing, the Rollover Shareholders and any agent of the Rollover Shareholders shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Parent, for disposition in accordance with the terms hereof, (a) duly executed instruments of transfer of the Rollover Shares to Parent or as Parent may direct in writing, in form reasonably acceptable to Parent, and (b) share certificates, if any, representing the Rollover Shares (collectively, the “Rollover Share Documents”). The Rollover Share Documents shall be held by Parent or any agent authorized by Parent until the Contribution Closing.
Section 5. Irrevocable Election. (a) The execution of this Agreement by the Rollover Shareholders evidences, subject to Section 8 and the proviso in Section 20, the irrevocable election and agreement by the Rollover Shareholders to contribute their respective Rollover Shares in exchange for Parent Shares at the Contribution Closing on the terms and conditions set forth herein. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Rollover Shareholder covenants and agrees, severally and not jointly, that from the date hereof until any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8, such Rollover Shareholder shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) tender any Rollover Shares into any tender or exchange offer, (ii) sell (constructively or otherwise), transfer, pledge, hypothecate, grant, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of (collectively, “Transfer”), or enter into any
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contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the Transfer of any Rollover Shares or any right, title or interest thereto or therein (including by operation of law), (iii) deposit any Rollover Shares into a voting trust or grant any proxy or power of attorney or enter into a voting agreement with respect to any Rollover Shares (other than that certain Voting Agreement of even date herewith by and among Parent, the Company and the Rollover Shareholders (the “Voting Agreement”), (iv) knowingly take any action that would make any representation or warranty of such Rollover Shareholder set forth in this Agreement untrue or incorrect or have the effect of preventing, disabling, or delaying such Rollover Shareholder from performing any of his, her, or its obligations under this Agreement, or (v) agree (whether or not in writing) to take any of the actions referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv). Any purported Transfer in violation of this paragraph shall be null and void ab initio.
(a) Each Rollover Shareholder covenants and agrees, severally and not jointly, that such Rollover Shareholder shall promptly (and in any event within 48 hours) notify Parent of (i) any new Shares with respect to which beneficial ownership is acquired by such Rollover Shareholder, including, without limitation, by purchase, as a result of a share dividend, share split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange or change of such shares, or upon exercise or conversion of any securities of the Company, if any, after the date hereof and (ii) any Rollover Shares with respect to which beneficial ownership is transferred or disposed to any other person. Any Shares acquired by such Rollover Shareholder as described in foregoing clause (i) shall automatically become subject to the terms of this Agreement, and Schedule A shall be deemed amended accordingly.
Section 6. Representations and Warranties of the Rollover Shareholders. In consideration of Parent accepting the Rollover Shares, and Parent issuing the Parent Shares, each Rollover Shareholder makes the following representations and warranties, severally and not jointly, to Parent, each and all of which shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Contribution Closing, and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement:
(a) Ownership of Shares. Such Rollover Shareholder is the beneficial and record owner of, and has good and valid title to, the Rollover Shares, free and clear of Liens other than as created by this Agreement and the Voting Agreement. Such Rollover Shareholder has sole voting power, sole power of disposition, sole power to demand dissenter’s rights (if applicable) and sole power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case with respect to all of the Rollover Shares, with no limitations, qualifications, or restrictions on such rights, subject to applicable United States federal securities Laws, Laws of the Cayman Islands and the terms of this Agreement and the Voting Agreement. As of the date hereof, other than the Rollover Shares, such Rollover Shareholder does not own, beneficially or of record, any Shares, securities of the Company, or any direct or indirect interest in any such securities (including by way of derivative securities). The Rollover Shares are not subject to any voting trust agreement or other Contract to which such Rollover Shareholder is a party restricting or otherwise relating to the voting or Transfer of the Rollover Shares other than this Agreement, the Voting Agreement or the Consortium Agreement. Such
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Rollover Shareholder has not appointed or granted any proxy or power of attorney that is still in effect with respect to any Rollover Shares, except as contemplated by this Agreement or the Voting Agreement.
(b) Organization, Standing and Authority. Each such Rollover Shareholder is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Rollover Shareholder and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Rollover Shareholder, enforceable against such Rollover Shareholder in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).
(c) Consents and Approvals; No Violations. Except for the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, (i) no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority is necessary on the part of such Rollover Shareholder for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Rollover Shareholder or the consummation by such Rollover Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby; and (ii) neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by such Rollover Shareholder nor the consummation by such Rollover Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by such Rollover Shareholder with any of the provisions hereof shall (A) require the consent or approval of any other person pursuant to any agreement, obligation or instrument binding on such Rollover Shareholder or its properties or assets, (B) conflict with or violate any provision of the organizational documents of any such Rollover Shareholder, (C) result in any breach or violation of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on property or assets of such Rollover Shareholder pursuant to any Contract to which such Rollover Shareholder is a party or by which such Rollover Shareholder or any property or asset of such Rollover Shareholder is bound or affected, or (D) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Rollover Shareholder or any of such Rollover Shareholder’s properties or assets.
(d) Litigation. There is no action, suit, investigation, complaint or other proceeding pending against any such Rollover Shareholder or, to the knowledge of such Rollover Shareholder, any other person or, to the knowledge of such Rollover Shareholder, threatened against such Rollover Shareholder or any other person that restricts or prohibits (or, if successful, would restrict or prohibit) the performance by such Rollover Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement on a timely basis.
(e) Reliance. Such Rollover Shareholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and the Company are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such
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Rollover Shareholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations and warranties of such Rollover Shareholder contained herein.
(f) Receipt of Information. Such Rollover Shareholder has been afforded the opportunity to ask such questions as he, she, or it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of Parent concerning the terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and the merits and risks of owning the Parent Shares. Such Rollover Shareholder acknowledges that it has been advised to discuss with its own counsel the meaning and legal consequences of such Rollover Shareholder’s representations and warranties in this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 7. Representations and Warranties of Parent. Parent represents and warrants to each Rollover Shareholder that:
(a) Organization, Standing and Authority. Parent is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and the Rollover Shareholders (subject to the proviso in Section 20), constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).
(b) Consents and Approvals; No Violations. Except for the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and Laws of the Cayman Islands, (i) no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority is necessary on the part of Parent for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent or the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby; and (ii) neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by Parent nor the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance by Parent with any of the provisions hereof shall (A) require the consent or approval of any other person pursuant to any agreement, obligation or instrument binding on Parent or its properties or assets, (B) conflict with or violate any provision of the organizational documents of Parent, (C) result in any breach or violation of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on such property or asset of Parent pursuant to, any Contract to which Parent is a party or by which such Parent or any property or asset of Parent is bound or affected, or (D) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or any of Parent’ properties or assets.
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(c) Issuance of Parent Shares. The Parent Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free and clear of all Liens, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal, subscription and similar rights (other than those arising under any agreements entered into at the Contribution Closing by all of the Rollover Shareholders) when issued.
Section 8. Termination. This Agreement, and the obligation of the Rollover Shareholders hereunder, will terminate immediately upon the valid termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with Article VIII thereof; provided, however, that the Rollover Shareholders shall continue to have liability for breaches of this Agreement prior to the termination of this Agreement. If for any reason the Merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement fails to occur but the Contribution Closing has already taken place, then Parent shall promptly return the Rollover Share Documents to the Rollover Shareholders at their respective addresses set forth on Schedule A and take all such actions as are necessary to restore each such Rollover Shareholders to the position he, she, or it was in with respect to ownership of the Rollover Shares prior to the Contribution Closing.
Section 9. Further Assurances. Each Rollover Shareholder hereby covenants that, from time to time, he or it will do, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or will cause to be done, executed, acknowledged and delivered, such further acts, conveyances, transfers, assignments, powers of attorney and assurances necessary to convey, transfer to and vest in Parent, and to put Parent in possession of, all of the applicable Rollover Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Section 10. Amendments and Modification. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented in any manner, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each party hereto and otherwise as expressly set forth herein.
Section 11. Waiver. No failure or delay of any party in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument executed and delivered by such party.
Section 12. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties of the Rollover Shareholders or by or on behalf of Parent in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement contained herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation at any time made by or on behalf of Parent, or the Rollover Shareholders, and the issuance of the Parent Shares.
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Section 13. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing (in English) and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or if by facsimile or e-mail, upon written confirmation of receipt by facsimile or e-mail, (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered utilizing a next-day service by a recognized next-day courier, or (c) on the earlier of confirmed receipt or the fifth Business Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered to the addresses set forth below or, with respect to the Rollover Shareholders, on Schedule A, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
(a) If to a Rollover Shareholder, in accordance with the contact information set forth next to such Rollover Shareholder’s name on Schedule A.
(b) If to Parent:
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza
No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street
Beijing, 100044, China
Attention: Mr. Leilei Wang
Facsimile: 8610-68109402
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Davis
Polk & Wardwell LLP
2201 China World Office 2
1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Chao Yang District, Beijing 100004, PRC
Attention: Howard Zhang
Facsimile: +86 10 8567 5102
Section 14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreement to the extent referred to in this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior written agreements, arrangements, communications and understandings and all prior and contemporaneous oral agreements, arrangements, communications and understandings among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
Section 15. Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person other than the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature under or by reason of this Agreement, except as specifically set forth in this Agreement, provided, however, that the Company is an express third-party beneficiary of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of such terms in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.
Section 16. Governing Law; Dispute Resolution. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York,
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without giving effect to any choice of law or other 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. Any disputes, actions and proceedings against any party or arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement shall be submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and resolved in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of HKIAC in force at the relevant time and as may be amended by this Section 16 (the “HKIAC Rules”). The place of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The official language of the arbitration shall be English and the arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators (each, an “Arbitrator”). The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; and a third Arbitrator will be nominated jointly by the first two Arbitrators and shall serve as chairman of the arbitration tribunal. In the event the claimant(s) or respondent(s) or the first two Arbitrators shall fail to nominate or agree the joint nomination of an Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator within the time limits specified by the HKIAC Rules, such Arbitrator shall be appointed promptly by the HKIAC. The arbitration tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive or other punitive-type damages. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties. Any party to an award may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award and, for purposes of the enforcement of such award, the parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction and waive any defenses to such enforcement based on lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.
Section 17. Assignment; Successors. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise, by any party without the prior written consent of the other parties, and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 18. Enforcement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each of the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, including an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at Law or in equity. Each of the parties hereby further waives (i) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at Law would be adequate, and (ii) any requirement under any Law that a party seeking equitable relief hereunder post security as a prerequisite to obtaining such equitable relief.
Section 19. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision or portion of any provision of this
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Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been contained herein.
Section 20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same instrument and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party; provided, however, that if any of the Rollover Shareholders fails for any reason to execute, or perform their obligations under, this Agreement, this Agreement shall remain effective as to all parties executing this Agreement.
Section 21. Headings. The section headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 22. No Presumption Against Drafting Party. Each of the parties to this Agreement acknowledges that it has been represented by independent counsel in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Accordingly, any rule of Law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the drafting party has no application and is expressly waived.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent and the Rollover Shareholders have caused to be executed or executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
Linkedsee Limited | |
By: | /s/ WANG Leilei |
Name: WANG Leilei | |
Title: Director |
[Signature Page to Contribution Agreement]
ROLLOVER SHAREHOLDER: |
WANG Leilei |
/s/ WANG Leilei |
[Signature Page to Contribution Agreement]
ROLLOVER SHAREHOLDER: | |
Right Advance Management Ltd. | |
By: | /s/ WANG Leilei |
Name: WANG Leilei | |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Contribution Agreement]
ROLLOVER SHAREHOLDER: | |
Chiming Bells International Limited | |
By: | /s/ WANG Leilei |
Name: WANG Leilei | |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Contribution Agreement]
Schedule A
Rollover Shareholder Name |
Address |
Rollover Shares |
Parent Shares |
WANG Leilei1 |
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street Beijing, 100044, China (86-10) 8857 5898 Facsimile: 8610-68109402 |
112,424,120 | 112,424,120 |
Right Advance Management Ltd. |
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street Beijing, 100044, China (86-10) 8857 5898 Facsimile: 8610-68109402 |
188,833,320 | 188,833,320 |
Chiming Bells International Limited |
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street Beijing, 100044, China (86-10) 8857 5898 Facsimile: 8610-68109402 |
63,663,142 | 63,663,142 |
1 Excludes 188,833,320 Shares held by Right Advance Management Ltd. and 63,663,142 Shares held by Chiming Bells International Limited.
Exhibit 14
VOTING AGREEMENT
This VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 1, 2016, by and among Linkedsee Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Parent”), KongZhong Corporation, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”) and certain shareholders of the Company, listed on Schedule A (each, a “Voting Shareholder” and collectively, the “Voting Shareholders”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement (defined below).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Parent, Wiseman International Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and the Company are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”);
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Voting Shareholder is the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of such common shares, par value US$0.0000005 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”) (including Shares represented by American Depositary Shares (the “ADSs”), each representing 40 Shares) as set forth opposite such Voting Shareholder’s name on Schedule A (with respect to each Voting Shareholder, the “Voting Shares”);
WHEREAS, certain Voting Shareholders intend and are obligated to contribute some or all of their Voting Shares to Parent, in exchange for newly issued ordinary shares of Parent, par value US$0.0000005 per share (the “Parent Shares”) prior to the consummation of the Merger pursuant to a contribution agreement entered into in connection with the Merger Agreement dated on the date hereof (the “Contribution Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, in order to induce Parent, Merger Sub and the Company to enter into the Merger Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, the Voting Shareholders have agreed to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Voting Shareholders are agreeing, among other things, to vote all of their Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Voting of the Company Shares. (a) Each Voting Shareholder hereby agrees that, during the period commencing on the date hereof and continuing until the
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earlier to occur of (i) the Effective Time and (ii) the valid termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with Article VIII thereof, at any meeting of the Company’s shareholders, however called, and at any postponement or adjournment thereof, or in any other circumstances where any vote, consent or other approval is taken in respect of the Merger Agreement, each Voting Shareholder shall (i) in the case of a meeting, appear at such meeting or otherwise cause the Voting Shares to be counted as present for purposes of calculating a quorum and ensure any vote at such meeting be a poll vote, (ii) vote or otherwise cause to be voted all of its Voting Shares (y) in favor of the authorization and approval of the Merger Agreement, the Plan of Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and the transactions contemplated therein and any related action reasonably required in furtherance thereof, and (z) against any Competing Transaction, and (iii) not enter into at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, any voting trust agreement or any other Contract (other than the Contribution Agreement) with respect to any Voting Shares.
(a) Each Voting Shareholder hereby appoints Parent and any other designee of Parent, each of them individually, such Voting Shareholder’s irrevocable (the period commencing on the date hereof and continuing until termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms) proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution) to vote the Voting Shares as indicated in Section 1(a). Each Voting Shareholder intends this proxy to be irrevocable (until the termination date) and coupled with an interest and will take such further actions or execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy, and hereby revokes any proxy previously granted by such Voting Shareholder with respect to the Voting Shares.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Section 1 shall not limit or restrict any affiliate or designee of any Voting Shareholder who serves as a member of the board of directors of the Company from acting in his or her capacity as a director of the Company and exercising his or her fiduciary duties and responsibilities.
Section 2. Representations and Warranties of the Voting Shareholders. Each Voting Shareholder, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to the Company and Parent as follows:
(a) Ownership of Company Shares. Such Voting Shareholder is the beneficial and record owner of, and has good and valid title to, the Voting Shares, free and clear of Liens other than as created by this Agreement. Such Voting Shareholder has sole voting power, sole power of disposition, sole power to demand dissenter’s rights (if applicable) and sole power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement (including sole power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1 hereof), in each case with respect to all of the Voting Shares, with no limitations, qualifications, or restrictions on such rights, subject to applicable United States federal securities Laws, Laws of the Cayman Islands and the terms of this Agreement. As of the date hereof, other than the Voting Shares, such Voting Shareholder does not own, beneficially or of record, any Shares, securities of the Company, or any direct or indirect interest in any such securities (including by way of derivative securities). The Voting Shares are not subject to any voting trust agreement or other Contract to which such Voting Shareholder is a
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party restricting or otherwise relating to the voting or transfer of the Voting Shares, other than this Agreement, which would affect in any way the ability of such Voting Shareholder to perform its obligations as set out in this Agreement. Such Voting Shareholder has not appointed or granted any proxy or power of attorney that is still in effect with respect to any Voting Shares, except as contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Organization, Standing and Authority. Each such Voting Shareholder is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, with no limitations, qualifications or restrictions on such power, subject to applicable securities laws and the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Voting Shareholder and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and the Company, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Voting Shareholder, enforceable against such Voting Shareholder in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).
(c) Consents and Approvals; No Violations. Except for the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, (i) no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority is necessary on the part of such Voting Shareholder for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Voting Shareholder or the consummation by such Voting Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby; and (ii) neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by such Voting Shareholder nor the consummation by such Voting Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by such Voting Shareholder with any of the provisions hereof shall (A) require the consent or approval of any other person pursuant to any agreement, obligation or instrument binding on such Voting Shareholder or its properties or assets, (B) conflict with or violate any provision of the organizational documents of any such Voting Shareholder, (C) result in any breach or violation of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on property or assets of such Voting Shareholder pursuant to any Contract to which such Voting Shareholder is a party or by which such Voting Shareholder or any property or asset of such Voting Shareholder is bound or affected, or (D) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Voting Shareholder or any of such Voting Shareholder’s properties or assets.
(d) No Litigation. There is no action, suit, investigation, complaint or other proceeding pending against any such Voting Shareholder or, to the knowledge of such Voting Shareholder, any other person or, to the knowledge of such Voting Shareholder, threatened against such Voting Shareholder or any other person that restricts or prohibits (or, if successful, would restrict or prohibit) the performance by such Voting Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement on a timely basis.
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(e) Reliance. Such Voting Shareholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and the Company are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Voting Shareholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations and warranties of such Voting Shareholder contained herein.
(f) Receipt of Information. Such Voting Shareholder has been afforded the opportunity to ask such questions as he, she, or it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of Parent concerning the terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and the merits and risks of owning the Parent Shares. Such Voting Shareholder acknowledges that it has been advised to discuss with its own counsel the meaning and legal consequences of such Voting Shareholder’s representations and warranties in this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Company and Parent. (a) The Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and each Voting Shareholder that:
(i) Organization, Standing and Authority. The Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and the Voting Shareholders (subject to the proviso in Section 7(n)), constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).
(ii) Consents and Approvals; No Violations. Except for the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and Laws of the Cayman Islands, (x) no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority is necessary on the part of the Company for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby; and (y) neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance by the Company with any of the provisions hereof shall (A) require the consent or approval of any other person pursuant to any agreement, obligation or instrument binding on the Company or its properties or assets, (B) conflict with or violate any provision of the organizational documents of the Company, (C) result in any breach or violation of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on such property or asset of the Company pursuant to, any Contract to which the Company is a party or by which any property or
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asset of the Company is bound or affected, or (D) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of Company’s properties or assets.
(b) Parent hereby represents and warrants to the Company and each Voting Shareholder that:
(i) Organization, Standing and Authority. Parent is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company and the Voting Shareholders (subject to the proviso in Section 7(n)), constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).
(ii) Consents and Approvals; No Violations. Except for the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and Laws of the Cayman Islands, (x) no filing with, and no permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority is necessary on the part of Parent for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent or the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby; and (y) neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by Parent nor the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby nor compliance by Parent with any of the provisions hereof shall (A) require the consent or approval of any other person pursuant to any agreement, obligation or instrument binding on Parent or its properties or assets, (B) conflict with or violate any provision of the organizational documents of Parent, (C) result in any breach or violation of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on such property or asset of Parent pursuant to, any Contract to which Parent is a party or by which any property or asset of Parent is bound or affected, or (D) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or any of Parent’s properties or assets.
Section 4. Additional Securities. Each Voting Shareholder covenants and agrees, severally and not jointly, that such Voting Shareholder shall promptly (and in any event within 48 hours) notify Parent and the Company of any new Shares or ADSs with respect to which beneficial ownership is acquired by such Voting Shareholder, including, without limitation, by purchase, as a result of a share dividend, share split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange or change of such shares, or upon exercise or conversion of any securities of the Company, if any, after the date
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hereof. Any such Shares (including Shares represented by ADSs) shall automatically become subject to the terms of this Agreement as Voting Shares, and Schedule A shall be deemed amended accordingly.
Section 5. Disclosure. Unless required by Law, each Voting Shareholder shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and Representatives not to, make any press release, public announcement or other public communication that criticizes or disparages this Agreement or the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, without the prior written consent of Parent and the Company. Each Voting Shareholder (a) consents to and authorizes the publication and disclosure by Parent or the Company of such Voting Shareholder’s identity and ownership of the Voting Shares and the existence and terms of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the disclosure of this Agreement) and any other information, in each case, that Parent or the Company reasonably determines in its good faith judgment is required to be disclosed by Law in any press release, any other disclosure document in connection with the Merger Agreement and any filings with or notices to any Governmental Authority in connection with the Merger Agreement (or the transactions contemplated thereby) and (b) agrees promptly to give to Parent and the Company any information they may reasonably request concerning such Voting Shareholder for the preparation of any such documents.
Section 6. Termination. This Agreement, and the obligations of the Voting Shareholders hereunder, shall terminate immediately upon the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time and (b) the valid termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with Article VIII thereof; provided, that the provisions set forth in Sections 5 to 7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement; provided, further, that any liability incurred by any party hereto as a result of a breach of a term or condition of this Agreement prior to such termination shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Section 7. Miscellaneous. (a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the Merger Agreement to the extent referred to in this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior written agreements, arrangements, communications and understandings and all prior and contemporaneous oral agreements, arrangements, communications and understandings among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
(b) Assignment; Successors. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise, by any party without the prior written consent of the other parties, and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
(c) Amendment; Modification and Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented in any manner, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each party hereto and otherwise as expressly set forth herein. No failure or delay of any party in exercising any
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right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument executed and delivered by such party.
(d) No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in the Company or the Parent any direct or indirect ownership or incident of ownership of or with respect to any Voting Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Voting Shares shall remain vested in and belong to each Voting Shareholder and its respective affiliates, if any.
(e) Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to sections or subsections, such reference shall be to a section or subsection of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and words of similar import shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement as a whole, including any schedules and exhibits hereto, and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. Any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. References to “party” or “parties” in this Agreement means each Voting Shareholder, the Company and Parent. References to “US dollar,” “dollars,” “US$” or “$” in this Agreement are to the lawful currency of the United States of America. For purposes of this Agreement, “beneficially owns”, “beneficial owner” or “beneficial ownership” with respect to any securities means having “beneficial ownership” of such securities (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act).
(f) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing (in English) and shall be deemed duly given (x) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or if by facsimile or e-mail, upon written confirmation of receipt by facsimile or e-mail, (y) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered utilizing a next-day service by a recognized next-day courier, or (z) on the earlier of confirmed receipt or the fifth Business Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered to the addresses set forth below or, with respect to the Voting Shareholders, on Schedule A, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
(i) | If to Company: |
KongZhong Corporation
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza
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No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street
Beijing, 100044, China
Facsimile: +86 10 8857 5892
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
30th Floor, China World Office 2
1 Jianguomenwai Avenue
Beijing 100004, PRC
Attention: Peter X. Huang, Esq.
Facsimile: +86 10 6535 5577
and
Sullivan & Cromwell (Hong Kong) LLP
28th Floor, Nine Queen’s Road Central
Hong Kong
Attention: Garth W. Bray, Esq.
(ii) | If to Parent: |
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza
No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street
Beijing, 100044, China
Attention: Mr. Leilei Wang
Facsimile: 8610-68109402
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
2201 China World Office 2
1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Chao Yang District, Beijing 100004, PRC
Attention: Howard Zhang
Facsimile: +86 10 8567 5102
(iii) If to a Voting Shareholder, in accordance with the contact information set forth next to such Voting Shareholder’s name on Schedule A.
(g) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been contained herein.
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(h) Enforcement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each of the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, including an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at Law or in equity. Each of the parties hereby further waives (i) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at Law would be adequate, and (ii) any requirement under any Law that a party seeking equitable relief hereunder post security as a prerequisite to obtaining such equitable relief.
(i) No Survival. None of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made in this Agreement shall survive the termination of the Agreement in accordance with its terms, except for the agreements in Section 6 and this Section 7.
(j) No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person other than the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature under or by reason of this Agreement, except as specifically set forth in this Agreement.
(k) Governing Law; Dispute Resolution. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or other 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. Any disputes, actions and proceedings against any party or arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement shall be submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and resolved in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of HKIAC in force at the relevant time and as may be amended by this Section 7(k) (the “HKIAC Rules”). The place of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The official language of the arbitration shall be English and the arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators (each, an “Arbitrator”). The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; and a third Arbitrator will be nominated jointly by the first two Arbitrators and shall serve as chairman of the arbitration tribunal. In the event the claimant(s) or respondent(s) or the first two Arbitrators shall fail to nominate or agree the joint nomination of an Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator within the time limits specified by the HKIAC Rules, such Arbitrator shall be appointed promptly by the HKIAC. The arbitration tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive or other punitive-type damages. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties. Any party to an award may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award and, for purposes of the enforcement of such award, the parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction and waive any defenses to such enforcement based on lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.
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(l) Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses.
(m) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same instrument and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties; provided, however, that if any of the Voting Shareholders fails for any reason to execute, or perform their obligations under, this Agreement, this Agreement shall remain effective as to all parties executing this Agreement.
(n) No Presumption Against Drafting Party. Each of the parties to this Agreement acknowledges that it has been represented by independent counsel in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Accordingly, any rule of Law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the drafting party has no application and is expressly waived.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, Parent and the Voting Shareholders have caused to be executed or executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
KongZhong Corporation | |
By: | /s/ Tai Fan |
Name: Tai Fan | |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Voting Agreement]
Linkedsee Limited | |
By: | /s/ WANG Leilei |
Name: WANG Leilei | |
Title: Director |
[Signature Page to Voting Agreement]
VOTING SHAREHOLDER:
WANG Leilei |
/s/ WANG Leilei |
[Signature Page to Voting Agreement]
VOTING SHAREHOLDER:
Right Advance Management Ltd. | |
By: | /s/ WANG Leilei |
Name: WANG Leilei | |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Voting Agreement]
VOTING SHAREHOLDER:
Chiming Bells International Limited | |
By: | /s/ WANG Leilei |
Name: WANG Leilei | |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Voting Agreement]
VOTING SHAREHOLDER:
IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P.
By: IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II Associates L.P., its General Partner
By: IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd., its General Partner | |
By: | /s/ Chi Sing Ho |
Name: Chi Sing Ho | |
Title: Authorized Signatories |
[Signature Page to Voting Agreement]
VOTING SHAREHOLDER:
IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P.
By: IDG-Accel China Growth Fund GP II Associates Ltd., its General Partner | |
By: | /s/ Chi Sing Ho |
Name: Chi Sing Ho | |
Title: Authorized Signatories |
[Signature Page to Voting Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
Voting Shareholder Name |
Address / Facsimile |
Voting Shares |
WANG Leilei1 |
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street Beijing, 100044, China (86-10) 8857 5898 Facsimile: 8610-68109402 |
112,424,120 |
Right Advance Management Ltd. |
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street Beijing, 100044, China (86-10) 8857 5898 Facsimile: 8610-68109402 |
188,833,320 |
Chiming Bells International Limited |
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street Beijing, 100044, China (86-10) 8857 5898 Facsimile: 8610-68109402 |
63,663,142 |
IDG-Accel China Growth Fund II L.P. |
c/o IDG VC Management Ltd. Unit 5505, The Center 99 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong 852-2529 1016 |
92,818,000 |
IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P. |
c/o IDG VC Management Ltd. Unit 5505, The Center 99 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong 852-2529 1016 |
7,591,160 |
1 Excludes 188,833,320 Shares held by Right Advance Management Ltd. and 63,663,142 Shares held by Chiming Bells International Limited.
Exhibit 15
LIMITED GUARANTY
This LIMITED GUARANTY, dated as of December 1, 2016 (this “Limited Guaranty”), is made by Mr. Leilei Wang (the “Guarantor”) in favor of KongZhong Corporation, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Guaranteed Party”).
1. Limited Guaranty. To induce the Guaranteed Party to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Merger Agreement”; capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Merger Agreement) among Linkedsee Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Parent”), Wiseman International Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and the Guaranteed Party, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Guaranteed Party (the “Merger”), the Guarantor, intending to be legally bound, hereby absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to the Guaranteed Party, as primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and discharge of 25.165% (the “Guaranteed Percentage”) of (i) the payment obligations of Parent to the Guaranteed Party under Section 8.06(b) of the Merger Agreement, (ii) the reimbursement obligations of Parent pursuant to Section 8.06(c) of the Merger Agreement and (iii) the indemnification, reimbursement and expense obligations of Parent under Section 6.07 of the Merger Agreement if, as and when those obligations become payable and due under the Merger Agreement (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”), provided that in no event shall the maximum liability of the Guarantor hereunder exceed the Guaranteed Percentage of an amount equal to (a) US$2,617,139 minus (b) any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations that have been paid by Parent or Merger Sub (such limitation on the liability that the Guarantor may have for the Guaranteed Obligations being herein referred to as the “Cap”), it being understood that this Limited Guaranty may not be enforced against the Guarantor without giving effect to the Cap (and to the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof). This Limited Guaranty may be enforced for the payment of money only. All payments hereunder shall be made in lawful money of the United States, in immediately available funds and free and clear of any and all encumbrances of whatsoever type. The Guarantor acknowledges that the Guaranteed Party entered into the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the execution of this Limited Guaranty. This Limited Guaranty is substantially identical to the other limited guarantees given by the other guarantors (the “Other Guarantors”) dated on or around the date hereof in favor of the Guaranteed Party with respect to the Merger Agreement, and the obligations of the Guarantor and the Other Guarantors shall be several and not joint.
If Parent or Merger Sub fails to discharge any Guaranteed Obligations when due, then the Guarantor shall, on the Guaranteed Party’s demand, forthwith pay to the Guaranteed Party the Guaranteed Obligations (subject to the Cap), and the Guaranteed Party may at any time and from time to time, at the Guaranteed Party’s option, and so long as Parent or Merger Sub has failed to discharge the Guaranteed Obligations, take
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any and all actions available hereunder to collect the Guarantor’s liability hereunder in respect of such Guaranteed Obligations, subject to the Cap.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Guarantor acknowledges that the Guaranteed Party may, in its sole discretion, bring and prosecute a separate action or actions against the Guarantor for the full amount of the Guaranteed Obligations (subject to the Cap), regardless of whether any such action is brought against Parent, Merger Sub or any of the Other Guarantors or whether Parent, Merger Sub or any of the Other Guarantors is joined in any such action or actions. The Guarantor agrees to pay on demand all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses and fees incurred by the Guaranteed Party in commencing the enforcement of its right hereunder in the event (i) the Guarantor asserts in any arbitration, litigation or other proceeding that this Limited Guaranty is illegal, invalid or unenforceable in accordance with its terms and the Guaranteed Party prevails in such arbitration, litigation or other proceeding or (ii) the Guarantor fails or refuses to make any payment to the Guaranteed Party hereunder when due and payable and it is determined judicially or by arbitration that the Guarantor is required to make such payment hereunder.
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Limited Guaranty were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached and further agree that the Guaranteed Party shall be entitled to an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief against the Guarantor to prevent breaches of this Limited Guaranty and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which it is entitled at law or in equity, and shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction. The Guarantor further agrees not to oppose the granting of any such injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that (i) the Guaranteed Party has an adequate remedy at law or (ii) an award of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or in equity.
2. Nature of Guaranty. The Guarantor’s liability hereunder is absolute, unconditional, irrevocable and continuing irrespective of any modification, amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from the Merger Agreement that may be agreed to by Parent or Merger Sub. Without limiting the foregoing, the Guaranteed Party shall not be obligated to file any claim relating to the Guaranteed Obligations in the event that Parent or Merger Sub becomes subject to a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding, and the failure of the Guaranteed Party to so file shall not affect the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder. In the event that any payment hereunder is rescinded or must otherwise be, and is, returned to the Guarantor for any reason whatsoever, the Guarantor shall remain liable hereunder as if such payment had not been made. This Limited Guaranty is a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
3. Changes in Obligations, Certain Waivers. The Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Party may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, without notice to or further consent of the Guarantor, extend the time of payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and may also make any agreement with Parent or Merger Sub,
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for the extension, renewal, payment, compromise, discharge or release thereof, in whole or in part, or for any modification of the terms thereof or of any agreement between the Guaranteed Party and Parent, Merger Sub or such other person without in any way impairing or affecting the Guarantor’s obligations under this Limited Guaranty or affecting the validity or enforceability of this Limited Guaranty. The Guarantor agrees that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be released or discharged, in whole or in part, or otherwise affected by: (a) the failure or delay on the part of the Guaranteed Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against Parent or Merger Sub or any other Person interested in the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement; (b) any change in the time, place or manner of payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any waiver, compromise, consolidation or other amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of the Merger Agreement made in accordance with the terms thereof; (c) the addition, substitution, any legal or equitable discharge or release (in the case of a discharge or release, other than a discharge or release of the Guarantors with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations as a result of payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with their terms, a discharge or release of Parent with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations under the Merger Agreement, or as a result of defenses to the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations that would be available to Parent under the Merger Agreement) of the Guarantors or any person; (d) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of Parent or Merger Sub; (e) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting Parent, Merger Sub or any other person now or hereafter liable with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise interested in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including any Other Guarantor); (f) the existence of any claim, set-off or other right which the Guarantor may have at any time against Parent, Merger Sub or the Guaranteed Party, whether in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise; (g) the adequacy of any other means the Guaranteed Party may have of obtaining payment related to the Guaranteed Obligations; or (h) any act or omission by Parent or Merger Sub which directly or indirectly results in or aids in the discharge or release of Parent or Merger Sub or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations by operation of law or otherwise. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Guarantor hereby expressly waives any and all rights or defenses arising by reason of any law which would otherwise require any election of remedies by the Guaranteed Party. The Guarantor waives promptness, diligence, notice of the acceptance of this Limited Guaranty and of the Guaranteed Obligations, presentment, demand for payment, notice of non-performance, default, dishonor and protest, notice of any Guaranteed Obligations incurred and all other notices of any kind (other than notices to Parent or Merger Sub pursuant to the Merger Agreement), all defenses which may be available by virtue of any valuation, stay, moratorium law or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or any right to require the marshalling of assets of Parent or Merger Sub or any other person now or hereafter liable with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise interested in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and all suretyship defenses generally (other than defenses to the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations (x) that are available to Parent or Merger Sub under the Merger Agreement and this Limited Guaranty, (y) in respect of a breach by the Guaranteed Party of this Limited Guaranty or (z) in respect of fraud or willful misconduct of the Guaranteed Party or any of its
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Affiliates in connection with the Merger Agreement or this Limited Guaranty, including, without limitation, any event, condition or circumstance that might be construed to constitute an equitable or legal discharge of the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder). The Guarantor acknowledges that he will receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and that the waivers set forth in this Limited Guaranty are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits. The Guarantor covenants and agrees that he shall not institute, and shall cause his Affiliates not to institute, any proceeding asserting that this Limited Guaranty is illegal, invalid or unenforceable in accordance with its terms.
The Guarantor hereby unconditionally waives any rights that he may now have or hereafter acquire against Parent or Merger Sub that arise from the existence, payment, performance, or enforcement of the Guarantor’s obligations under or in respect of this Limited Guaranty (subject to the Cap), including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of the Guaranteed Party against Parent or Merger Sub, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from Parent or Merger Sub, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right, and the Guarantor shall not exercise any such rights unless and until all amounts payable by the Guarantor under this Limited Guaranty (which shall be subject to the Cap) shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in immediately available funds. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the immediately preceding sentence at any time prior to the payment in full in immediately available funds of all amounts payable under this Limited Guaranty (which shall be subject to the Cap), such amount shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of the Guaranteed Party, shall be segregated from other property and funds of the Guarantor and shall forthwith be promptly paid or delivered to the Guaranteed Party in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement or assignment) to be credited and applied to all amounts payable by the Guarantor under this Limited Guaranty. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Limited Guaranty or otherwise, the Guaranteed Party hereby agrees that (a) to the extent that Parent and/or Merger Sub is relieved of any of the Guaranteed Obligations under the Merger Agreement, the Guarantor shall be similarly relieved of his corresponding payment obligations under this Limited Guaranty, and (b) the Guarantor shall have all defenses to the payment of his obligations under this Limited Guaranty (which in any event shall be subject to the Cap) that would be available to Parent and/or Merger Sub under the Merger Agreement with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations, as well as any defenses in respect of any fraud or willful misconduct of the Guaranteed Party or its Affiliates.
4. Representations and Warranties. The Guarantor hereby represents and warrants that:
(a) he has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Limited Guaranty and the execution, delivery and performance of
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this Limited Guaranty do not contravene any law, regulation, rule, decree, order, judgment or contractual restriction binding on the Guarantor or his assets;
(b) except as is not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to impair or delay the Guarantor’s performance of his obligations in any material respect, all consents, approvals, authorizations, permits of, filings with and notifications to, any governmental authority necessary for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Limited Guaranty by the Guarantor have been obtained or made and all conditions thereof have been duly complied with, and no other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Limited Guaranty;
(c) assuming due execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by all parties thereto, this Limited Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, subject to: (A) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and (B) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and
(d) the Guarantor has the financial capacity to pay and perform his obligations under this Limited Guaranty, and all funds necessary for the Guarantor to fulfill his obligations under this Limited Guaranty shall be available to the Guarantor for so long as this Limited Guaranty shall remain in effect in accordance with Section 7 hereof.
The Guaranteed Party hereby represents and warrants that:
(a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Limited Guaranty have been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not contravene any provision of the Guaranteed Party’s charter, bylaws, or any law, regulation, rule, decree, order, judgment or contractual restriction applicable to or binding on the Guaranteed Party or its assets;
(b) all consents, approvals, authorizations, permits of, filings with and notifications to, any governmental authority necessary for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Limited Guaranty by the Guaranteed Party have been obtained or made and all conditions thereof have been duly complied with, and no other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Limited Guaranty; and
(c) assuming due execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by all parties thereto, this Limited Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guaranteed Party enforceable against the Guaranteed Party in accordance with its terms, subject to: (A) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency,
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fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and (B) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
5. No Assignment. Neither the Guarantor nor the Guaranteed Party may assign or delegate his/its rights, interests or obligations hereunder to any other person (except by operation of law) without the prior written consent of the Guaranteed Party (in the case of an assignment or delegation by the Guarantor) or the Guarantor (in the case of an assignment or delegation by the Guaranteed Party); provided, however, that the Guarantor may assign or delegate all or part of his rights, interests and obligations hereunder, without the prior written consent of the Guaranteed Party, to any other person to which he has allocated all or a portion of his capital commitment to Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology Ltd. (“Holdco”) pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letter; provided, further, that no such assignment or delegation shall relieve the Guarantor of his obligations hereunder as a primary obligor.
6. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly received if given) in writing by hand delivery, by facsimile transmission with confirmation of receipt, or by overnight delivery by a nationally recognized courier service, in each case to the address (or facsimile number) listed below (or to such other address or facsimile number as a party may designate by notice to other parties) as follows:
if to the Guarantor:
35th Floor, Tengda Plaza
No. 168 Xizhimenwai Street
Beijing, 100044, China
Attention: Mr. Leilei Wang
Facsimile: 8610-68109402
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
2201 China World Office 2
1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Chao Yang District, Beijing 100004, PRC
Attention: Howard Zhang
Facsimile: +86 10 8567 5102
If to the Guaranteed Party, as provided in the Merger Agreement.
7. Continuing Guaranty. This Limited Guaranty may not be revoked or terminated and shall remain in full force and effect until the Guaranteed Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything express or implied in this Limited Guaranty or otherwise, this Limited Guaranty shall terminate and the Guarantor shall have no further obligations under or in connection with this Limited
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Guaranty as of the earliest of: (i) the Effective Time, if the Closing occurs; (ii) the payment by the Guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations in full (subject to the Cap); (iii) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms by mutual consent of the parties thereto or in circumstances where the Parent Termination Fee is not payable; and (iv) in the case of a termination of the Merger Agreement for which the Parent Termination Fee is payable, the date falling 180 days after such termination (unless, in the case of clause (iv) above, the Guaranteed Party has previously made a claim under this Limited Guaranty prior to such date, in which case this Limited Guaranty shall terminate upon the final, non-appealable resolution of such action and satisfaction by the Guarantor of any obligations finally determined or agreed to be owed by the Guarantor, consistent with the terms hereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything express or implied in this Limited Guaranty or otherwise, in the event that the Guaranteed Party or any of its Affiliates asserts in any litigation or other proceeding that the provisions of Section 1 hereof limiting the Guarantor’s liability to the Cap and limiting the Guaranteed Party’s enforcement hereof to the payment of money only or the provisions of this Section 7 or Section 8 hereof are illegal, invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, or asserts that the Guarantor is liable in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations in excess of or to a greater extent than the Cap, or asserts any theory of liability against any Non-Recourse Party (as defined in Section 8 hereof) with respect to this Limited Guaranty, the equity commitment letter entered into between the Guarantor and Holdco dated as of the date hereof (the “Equity Commitment Letter”), the Merger Agreement, any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection with this Limited Guaranty or the Merger Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than Retained Claims (as defined in Section 8 hereof) asserted by the Guaranteed Party against the Non-Recourse Party(ies) against which such Retained Claims may be asserted pursuant to Section 8, then: (i) the obligations of the Guarantor under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty shall terminate ab initio and be null and void, (ii) if the Guarantor has previously made any payments under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty, he shall be entitled to recover and retain such payments, and (iii) neither the Guarantor nor any other Non-Recourse Parties shall have any liability whatsoever (whether at law or in equity, whether sounding in contract, tort, statute or otherwise) to the Guaranteed Party or any other person in any way under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty, the Merger Agreement, any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection with this Limited Guaranty or the Merger Agreement (including, without limitation, the Equity Commitment Letter), or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
8. No Recourse. The Guaranteed Party acknowledges and agrees that the sole asset of Parent and Merger Sub is cash in a de minimis amount and that no additional funds are expected to be contributed to Parent or Merger Sub unless and until the Closing occurs under the Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Limited Guaranty, the Merger Agreement or the Equity Commitment Letter (collectively, the “Transaction Agreements”), or in any agreement or instrument delivered or statement made or action taken in connection with, or that otherwise in any manner relates to, the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Agreements or the negotiation, execution, performance or breach of any Transaction Agreement (this Limited Guaranty, the other Transaction Agreements and such agreements, instruments,
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statements and actions collectively, “Transaction-Related Matters”), and notwithstanding any equitable, common law or statutory right or claim that may be available to the Guaranteed Party or any of its Affiliates, by its acceptance of the benefits of this Limited Guaranty, the Guaranteed Party covenants, acknowledges and agrees, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, that:
(a) no Non-Recourse Party (as hereinafter defined) has or shall have any obligations (whether of an equitable, contractual, tort, statutory or other nature) under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter, other than (i) Parent’s and/or Merger Sub’s obligation to make a cash payment to the Guaranteed Party under and pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and, without duplication, the Guarantor’s obligation to make a cash payment to the Guaranteed Party under and pursuant to the terms of this Limited Guaranty (subject to the Cap), (ii) Parent’s and/or Merger Sub’s obligation to cause the equity financing to be funded when and if the Guaranteed Party seeks specific performance of such obligation pursuant to, in accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9.07 of the Merger Agreement, and (iii) the Guarantor’s obligation to specifically perform his obligation to make an equity contribution to Holdco pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letter, when and if the conditions thereto have been satisfied and Holdco or the Company seeks specific performance of such obligation pursuant to, in accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5 of the Equity Commitment Letter, and Section 9.07 of the Merger Agreement (the claims described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii), collectively, the “Retained Claims”);
(b) no recourse (whether under an equitable, contractual, tort, statutory or other claim or theory) under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter shall be sought or had against (and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no liability shall attach to) any Non-Recourse Party, whether through Holdco, Parent, Merger Sub, or any other person interested in the transactions contemplated by any Transaction Agreement or otherwise, whether by or through theories of equity, agency, control, instrumentality, alter ego, domination, sham, single business enterprise, piercing the veil, unfairness, undercapitalization, or any other attempt to avoid or disregard the entity form of any Non-Recourse Party, by or through a claim by or on behalf of the Guaranteed Party, Holdco, Parent, Merger Sub or any other person against any Non-Recourse Party, by the enforcement of any assessment, by any legal or equitable proceeding, by virtue of any applicable law, or otherwise, except for Retained Claims; and
(c) neither the Guaranteed Party nor any of its Affiliates has relied on any statement, representation or warranty or assurance made by, or any action taken by, any person in connection with or in any manner related to a Transaction-Related Matter, other than those made by (i) the Guarantor in this Limited Guaranty, (ii) Parent and Merger Sub in the Merger Agreement, and (iii) the Guarantor in the Equity Commitment Letter.
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The Retained Claims shall be the sole and exclusive remedy (whether at law or in equity, whether sounding in contract, tort, statute or otherwise) of the Guaranteed Party, all of its Affiliates and any person purporting to claim by or through any of them or for the benefit of any of them against any or all of the Non-Recourse Parties in respect of any claims, liabilities or obligations arising in any way under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Guaranteed Party, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, hereby releases, remises and forever discharges all claims (other than Retained Claims) that the Guaranteed Party, or any of its Affiliates, has had, now has or might in the future have against any Non-Recourse Party arising in any way under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter (other than the Retained Claims). The Guaranteed Party hereby covenants and agrees that, other than with respect to the Retained Claims, it shall not, and it shall cause its Affiliates not to, institute any proceeding or bring any claim in any way under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter (whether at law or in equity, whether sounding in contract, tort, statute or otherwise) against any Non-Recourse Party. Other than the Non-Recourse Parties, no person other than the Guarantor and the Guaranteed Party shall have any rights or remedies under, in connection with or in any manner related to this Limited Guaranty or the transactions contemplated hereby.
As used herein, the term “Non-Recourse Parties” means the Guarantor and any and all former, current or future equity holders, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, members, managers, management companies, general or limited partners, assignees or Affiliates of the Guarantor (including but not limited to Holdco, Parent and Merger Sub) and any and all former, current or future equity holders, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, members, managers, management companies, general or limited partners, assignees or Affiliates of any of the foregoing, and any and all former, current or future heirs, executors, administrators, trustees, successors or assigns of any of the foregoing, and the providers of the Debt Financing.
9. Governing Law; Dispute Resolution. This Limited Guaranty shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or other 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. Any disputes, actions and proceedings against any party or arising out of or in any way relating to this Limited Guaranty shall be submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and resolved in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of HKIAC in force at the relevant time and as may be amended by this Section 9 (the “HKIAC Rules”). The place of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The official language of the arbitration shall be English and the arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators (each, an “Arbitrator”). The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; and a third Arbitrator will be nominated jointly by the first two Arbitrators and shall serve as chairman of the arbitration tribunal. In the event the claimant(s) or respondent(s) or the first two Arbitrators shall fail to nominate or agree the joint
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nomination of an Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator within the time limits specified by the HKIAC Rules, such Arbitrator shall be appointed promptly by the HKIAC. The arbitration tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive or other punitive-type damages. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties. Any party to an award may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award and, for purposes of the enforcement of such award, the parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction and waive any defenses to such enforcement based on lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.
10. Counterparts. This Limited Guaranty shall not be effective until it has been executed and delivered by all parties hereto. This Limited Guaranty may be executed by facsimile or electronic transmission in pdf format, and in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
11. Third Party Beneficiaries. This Limited Guaranty shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing express or implied in this Limited Guaranty is intended to, or shall, confer upon any other person any benefits, rights or remedies under or by reason of, or any rights (other than the right of Beijing Kongzhong Xinshi Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (北京空中信使信息技术有限公司), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Guaranteed Party, which is hereby expressly made a third party beneficiary to this Limited Guaranty) to enforce or cause the Guaranteed Party to enforce, the obligations set forth herein; except that as a material aspect of this Limited Guaranty the parties hereto intend that all Non-Recourse Parties other than the Guarantor shall be, and such Non-Recourse Parties are, intended third party beneficiaries of this Limited Guaranty who may rely on and enforce the provisions of this Limited Guaranty that bar the liability, or otherwise protect the interests, of such Non-Recourse Parties.
12. Confidentiality. This Limited Guaranty shall be treated as confidential and is being provided to the Guaranteed Party solely in connection with the Merger. This Limited Guaranty may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to in any document, except with the written consent of the Guarantor, provided that no such written consent is required for any disclosure of the existence or content of this Limited Guaranty by the Guaranteed Party: (i) to its Affiliates and its representatives; or (ii) to the extent required by law or the rules of any self-regulatory organization or securities exchange.
13. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Limited Guaranty, together with the Merger Agreement, Equity Commitment Letter, Contribution Agreement (if applicable) and any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, constitute the entire agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions,
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negotiations, proposals, undertakings, understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, among the Guarantor or any of his Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Guaranteed Party or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand. No amendment, supplementation, modification or waiver of this Limited Guaranty or any provision hereof shall be enforceable unless approved by the Guaranteed Party and the Guarantor in writing. The Guaranteed Party and its Affiliates are not relying upon any prior or contemporaneous statement, undertaking, understanding, agreement, representation or warranty, whether written or oral, made by or on behalf of the Guarantor or any other Non-Recourse Party in connection with this Limited Guaranty except as expressly set forth herein by the Guarantor. The Guarantor and his Affiliates are not relying upon any prior or contemporaneous statement, undertaking, understanding, agreement, representation or warranty, whether written or oral, made by or on behalf of the Guaranteed Party in connection with this Limited Guaranty except as expressly set forth herein by the Guaranteed Party.
(b) Any term or provision of this Limited Guaranty that is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall be, as to such jurisdiction, ineffective solely to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction; provided, however, that this Limited Guaranty may not be enforced without giving effect to the limitation of the amount payable by the Guarantor hereunder up to the Cap provided in Section 1 hereof and to the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof. Each party hereto covenants and agrees that he/it shall not assert, and shall cause his/its respective Affiliates and representatives not to assert, that this Limited Guaranty or any part hereof is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in accordance with its terms.
(c) The descriptive headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Limited Guaranty.
(d) All parties hereto acknowledge that each party and his/its counsel have reviewed this Limited Guaranty and that any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Limited Guaranty.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Limited Guaranty to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above.
Leilei Wang | |
By: | /s/ WANG Leilei |
Name: WANG Leilei | |
Title: in personal capacity |
[Signature Page to Limited Guaranty]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guaranteed Party has caused this Limited Guaranty to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above by its officer thereunto duly authorized.
KongZhong Corporation | |
By: | /s/ Tai Fan |
Name: Tai Fan | |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Limited Guaranty]
Exhibit 16
LIMITED GUARANTY
This LIMITED GUARANTY, dated as of December 1, 2016 (this “Limited Guaranty”), is made by Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Investment Management Partnership (Limited Partnership) (the “Guarantor”) in favor of KongZhong Corporation, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Guaranteed Party”).
1. Limited Guaranty. To induce the Guaranteed Party to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Merger Agreement”; capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Merger Agreement) among Linkedsee Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Parent”), Wiseman International Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and the Guaranteed Party, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Guaranteed Party (the “Merger”), the Guarantor, intending to be legally bound, hereby absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to the Guaranteed Party, as primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and discharge of 12.582% (the “Guaranteed Percentage”) of (i) the payment obligations of Parent to the Guaranteed Party under Section 8.06(b) of the Merger Agreement, (ii) the reimbursement obligations of Parent pursuant to Section 8.06(c) of the Merger Agreement and (iii) the indemnification, reimbursement and expense obligations of Parent under Section 6.07 of the Merger Agreement if, as and when those obligations become payable and due under the Merger Agreement (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”), provided that in no event shall the maximum liability of the Guarantor hereunder exceed the Guaranteed Percentage of an amount equal to (a) US$1,308,569 minus (b) any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations that have been paid by Parent or Merger Sub (such limitation on the liability that the Guarantor may have for the Guaranteed Obligations being herein referred to as the “Cap”), it being understood that this Limited Guaranty may not be enforced against the Guarantor without giving effect to the Cap (and to the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof). This Limited Guaranty may be enforced for the payment of money only. All payments hereunder shall be made in lawful money of the United States, in immediately available funds and free and clear of any and all encumbrances of whatsoever type. The Guarantor acknowledges that the Guaranteed Party entered into the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the execution of this Limited Guaranty. This Limited Guaranty is substantially identical to the other limited guarantees given by the other guarantors (the “Other Guarantors”) dated on or around the date hereof in favor of the Guaranteed Party with respect to the Merger Agreement, and the obligations of the Guarantor and the Other Guarantors shall be several and not joint.
If Parent or Merger Sub fails to discharge any Guaranteed Obligations when due, then the Guarantor shall, on the Guaranteed Party’s demand, forthwith pay to the Guaranteed Party the Guaranteed Obligations (subject to the Cap), and the Guaranteed Party may at any time and from time to time, at the Guaranteed Party’s option, and so
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long as Parent or Merger Sub has failed to discharge the Guaranteed Obligations, take any and all actions available hereunder to collect the Guarantor’s liability hereunder in respect of such Guaranteed Obligations, subject to the Cap.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Guarantor acknowledges that the Guaranteed Party may, in its sole discretion, bring and prosecute a separate action or actions against the Guarantor for the full amount of the Guaranteed Obligations (subject to the Cap), regardless of whether any such action is brought against Parent, Merger Sub or any of the Other Guarantors or whether Parent, Merger Sub or any of the Other Guarantors is joined in any such action or actions. The Guarantor agrees to pay on demand all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses and fees incurred by the Guaranteed Party in commencing the enforcement of its right hereunder in the event (i) the Guarantor asserts in any arbitration, litigation or other proceeding that this Limited Guaranty is illegal, invalid or unenforceable in accordance with its terms and the Guaranteed Party prevails in such arbitration, litigation or other proceeding or (ii) the Guarantor fails or refuses to make any payment to the Guaranteed Party hereunder when due and payable and it is determined judicially or by arbitration that the Guarantor is required to make such payment hereunder.
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Limited Guaranty were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached and further agree that the Guaranteed Party shall be entitled to an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief against the Guarantor to prevent breaches of this Limited Guaranty and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which it is entitled at law or in equity, and shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction. The Guarantor further agrees not to oppose the granting of any such injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that (i) the Guaranteed Party has an adequate remedy at law or (ii) an award of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or in equity.
2. Nature of Guaranty. The Guarantor’s liability hereunder is absolute, unconditional, irrevocable and continuing irrespective of any modification, amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from the Merger Agreement that may be agreed to by Parent or Merger Sub. Without limiting the foregoing, the Guaranteed Party shall not be obligated to file any claim relating to the Guaranteed Obligations in the event that Parent or Merger Sub becomes subject to a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding, and the failure of the Guaranteed Party to so file shall not affect the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder. In the event that any payment hereunder is rescinded or must otherwise be, and is, returned to the Guarantor for any reason whatsoever, the Guarantor shall remain liable hereunder as if such payment had not been made. This Limited Guaranty is a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
3. Changes in Obligations, Certain Waivers. The Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Party may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, without notice to or further consent of the Guarantor, extend the time of payment of any of the
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Guaranteed Obligations, and may also make any agreement with Parent or Merger Sub, for the extension, renewal, payment, compromise, discharge or release thereof, in whole or in part, or for any modification of the terms thereof or of any agreement between the Guaranteed Party and Parent, Merger Sub or such other person without in any way impairing or affecting the Guarantor’s obligations under this Limited Guaranty or affecting the validity or enforceability of this Limited Guaranty. The Guarantor agrees that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be released or discharged, in whole or in part, or otherwise affected by: (a) the failure or delay on the part of the Guaranteed Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against Parent or Merger Sub or any other Person interested in the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement; (b) any change in the time, place or manner of payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any waiver, compromise, consolidation or other amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of the Merger Agreement made in accordance with the terms thereof; (c) the addition, substitution, any legal or equitable discharge or release (in the case of a discharge or release, other than a discharge or release of the Guarantors with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations as a result of payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with their terms, a discharge or release of Parent with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations under the Merger Agreement, or as a result of defenses to the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations that would be available to Parent under the Merger Agreement) of the Guarantors or any person; (d) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of Parent or Merger Sub; (e) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting Parent, Merger Sub or any other person now or hereafter liable with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise interested in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including any Other Guarantor); (f) the existence of any claim, set-off or other right which the Guarantor may have at any time against Parent, Merger Sub or the Guaranteed Party, whether in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise; (g) the adequacy of any other means the Guaranteed Party may have of obtaining payment related to the Guaranteed Obligations; or (h) any act or omission by Parent or Merger Sub which directly or indirectly results in or aids in the discharge or release of Parent or Merger Sub or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations by operation of law or otherwise. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Guarantor hereby expressly waives any and all rights or defenses arising by reason of any law which would otherwise require any election of remedies by the Guaranteed Party. The Guarantor waives promptness, diligence, notice of the acceptance of this Limited Guaranty and of the Guaranteed Obligations, presentment, demand for payment, notice of non-performance, default, dishonor and protest, notice of any Guaranteed Obligations incurred and all other notices of any kind (other than notices to Parent or Merger Sub pursuant to the Merger Agreement), all defenses which may be available by virtue of any valuation, stay, moratorium law or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or any right to require the marshalling of assets of Parent or Merger Sub or any other person now or hereafter liable with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise interested in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and all suretyship defenses generally (other than defenses to the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations (x) that are available to Parent or Merger Sub under the Merger Agreement and this Limited Guaranty, (y) in respect of a breach by the Guaranteed Party of this Limited Guaranty or
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(z) in respect of fraud or willful misconduct of the Guaranteed Party or any of its Affiliates in connection with the Merger Agreement or this Limited Guaranty, including, without limitation, any event, condition or circumstance that might be construed to constitute an equitable or legal discharge of the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder). The Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and that the waivers set forth in this Limited Guaranty are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits. The Guarantor covenants and agrees that it shall not institute, and shall cause its Affiliates not to institute, any proceeding asserting that this Limited Guaranty is illegal, invalid or unenforceable in accordance with its terms.
The Guarantor hereby unconditionally waives any rights that it may now have or hereafter acquire against Parent or Merger Sub that arise from the existence, payment, performance, or enforcement of the Guarantor’s obligations under or in respect of this Limited Guaranty (subject to the Cap), including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of the Guaranteed Party against Parent or Merger Sub, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from Parent or Merger Sub, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right, and the Guarantor shall not exercise any such rights unless and until all amounts payable by the Guarantor under this Limited Guaranty (which shall be subject to the Cap) shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in immediately available funds. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the immediately preceding sentence at any time prior to the payment in full in immediately available funds of all amounts payable under this Limited Guaranty (which shall be subject to the Cap), such amount shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of the Guaranteed Party, shall be segregated from other property and funds of the Guarantor and shall forthwith be promptly paid or delivered to the Guaranteed Party in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement or assignment) to be credited and applied to all amounts payable by the Guarantor under this Limited Guaranty. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Limited Guaranty or otherwise, the Guaranteed Party hereby agrees that (a) to the extent that Parent and/or Merger Sub is relieved of any of the Guaranteed Obligations under the Merger Agreement, the Guarantor shall be similarly relieved of its corresponding payment obligations under this Limited Guaranty, and (b) the Guarantor shall have all defenses to the payment of its obligations under this Limited Guaranty (which in any event shall be subject to the Cap) that would be available to Parent and/or Merger Sub under the Merger Agreement with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations, as well as any defenses in respect of any fraud or willful misconduct of the Guaranteed Party or its Affiliates.
4. Representations and Warranties. The Guarantor hereby represents and warrants that:
(a) it has all requisite limited partnership or other power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Limited Guaranty and the execution, delivery
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and performance of this Limited Guaranty have been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not contravene any provision of the Guarantor’s partnership agreement or any law, regulation, rule, decree, order, judgment or contractual restriction binding on the Guarantor or its assets;
(b) except as is not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to impair or delay the Guarantor’s performance of its obligations in any material respect, all consents, approvals, authorizations, permits of, filings with and notifications to, any governmental authority necessary for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Limited Guaranty by the Guarantor have been obtained or made and all conditions thereof have been duly complied with, and no other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Limited Guaranty;
(c) assuming due execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by all parties thereto, this Limited Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, subject to: (A) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and (B) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and
(d) the Guarantor has the financial capacity to pay and perform its obligations under this Limited Guaranty, and all funds necessary for the Guarantor to fulfill its obligations under this Limited Guaranty shall be available to the Guarantor for so long as this Limited Guaranty shall remain in effect in accordance with Section 7 hereof.
The Guaranteed Party hereby represents and warrants that:
(a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Limited Guaranty have been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not contravene any provision of the Guaranteed Party’s charter, bylaws, or any law, regulation, rule, decree, order, judgment or contractual restriction applicable to or binding on the Guaranteed Party or its assets;
(b) all consents, approvals, authorizations, permits of, filings with and notifications to, any governmental authority necessary for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Limited Guaranty by the Guaranteed Party have been obtained or made and all conditions thereof have been duly complied with, and no other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Limited Guaranty; and
(c) assuming due execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by all parties thereto, this Limited Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding
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obligation of the Guaranteed Party enforceable against the Guaranteed Party in accordance with its terms, subject to: (A) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and (B) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
5. No Assignment. Neither the Guarantor nor the Guaranteed Party may assign or delegate its rights, interests or obligations hereunder to any other person (except by operation of law) without the prior written consent of the Guaranteed Party (in the case of an assignment or delegation by the Guarantor) or the Guarantor (in the case of an assignment or delegation by the Guaranteed Party); provided, however, that the Guarantor may assign or delegate all or part of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder, without the prior written consent of the Guaranteed Party, to any other person to which it has allocated all or a portion of its capital commitment to Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology Ltd. (“Holdco”) pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letter; provided, further, that no such assignment or delegation shall relieve the Guarantor of its obligations hereunder as a primary obligor.
6. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly received if given) in writing by hand delivery, by facsimile transmission with confirmation of receipt, or by overnight delivery by a nationally recognized courier service, in each case to the address (or facsimile number) listed below (or to such other address or facsimile number as a party may designate by notice to other parties) as follows:
if to the Guarantor:
3F, Five Stars Capital,
Southeast Gate, No. 58 the Worker’s Stadium Road,
Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, China
Attention: Mingjin Zhang
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
2201 China World Office 2
1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Chao Yang District, Beijing 100004, PRC
Attention: Howard Zhang
Facsimile: +86 10 8567 5102
If to the Guaranteed Party, as provided in the Merger Agreement.
7. Continuing Guaranty. This Limited Guaranty may not be revoked or terminated and shall remain in full force and effect until the Guaranteed Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything express or implied in this Limited Guaranty or otherwise, this Limited Guaranty shall terminate and the Guarantor shall have no further obligations under or in connection with this Limited
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Guaranty as of the earliest of: (i) the Effective Time, if the Closing occurs; (ii) the payment by the Guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations in full (subject to the Cap); (iii) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms by mutual consent of the parties thereto or in circumstances where the Parent Termination Fee is not payable; and (iv) in the case of a termination of the Merger Agreement for which the Parent Termination Fee is payable, the date falling 180 days after such termination (unless, in the case of clause (iv) above, the Guaranteed Party has previously made a claim under this Limited Guaranty prior to such date, in which case this Limited Guaranty shall terminate upon the final, non-appealable resolution of such action and satisfaction by the Guarantor of any obligations finally determined or agreed to be owed by the Guarantor, consistent with the terms hereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything express or implied in this Limited Guaranty or otherwise, in the event that the Guaranteed Party or any of its Affiliates asserts in any litigation or other proceeding that the provisions of Section 1 hereof limiting the Guarantor’s liability to the Cap and limiting the Guaranteed Party’s enforcement hereof to the payment of money only or the provisions of this Section 7 or Section 8 hereof are illegal, invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, or asserts that the Guarantor is liable in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations in excess of or to a greater extent than the Cap, or asserts any theory of liability against any Non-Recourse Party (as defined in Section 8 hereof) with respect to this Limited Guaranty, the equity commitment letter entered into between the Guarantor and Holdco dated as of the date hereof (the “Equity Commitment Letter”), the Merger Agreement, any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection with this Limited Guaranty or the Merger Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than Retained Claims (as defined in Section 8 hereof) asserted by the Guaranteed Party against the Non-Recourse Party(ies) against which such Retained Claims may be asserted pursuant to Section 8, then: (i) the obligations of the Guarantor under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty shall terminate ab initio and be null and void, (ii) if the Guarantor has previously made any payments under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty, it shall be entitled to recover and retain such payments, and (iii) neither the Guarantor nor any other Non-Recourse Parties shall have any liability whatsoever (whether at law or in equity, whether sounding in contract, tort, statute or otherwise) to the Guaranteed Party or any other person in any way under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty, the Merger Agreement, any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection with this Limited Guaranty or the Merger Agreement (including, without limitation, the Equity Commitment Letter), or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
8. No Recourse. The Guaranteed Party acknowledges and agrees that the sole asset of Parent and Merger Sub is cash in a de minimis amount and that no additional funds are expected to be contributed to Parent or Merger Sub unless and until the Closing occurs under the Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Limited Guaranty, the Merger Agreement or the Equity Commitment Letter (collectively, the “Transaction Agreements”), or in any agreement or instrument delivered or statement made or action taken in connection with, or that otherwise in any manner relates to, the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Agreements or the negotiation, execution, performance or breach of any Transaction Agreement (this Limited Guaranty, the other Transaction Agreements and such agreements, instruments,
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statements and actions collectively, “Transaction-Related Matters”), and notwithstanding any equitable, common law or statutory right or claim that may be available to the Guaranteed Party or any of its Affiliates, and notwithstanding the fact that the Guarantor may be a partnership, by its acceptance of the benefits of this Limited Guaranty, the Guaranteed Party covenants, acknowledges and agrees, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, that:
(a) no Non-Recourse Party (as hereinafter defined) has or shall have any obligations (whether of an equitable, contractual, tort, statutory or other nature) under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter, other than (i) Parent’s and/or Merger Sub’s obligation to make a cash payment to the Guaranteed Party under and pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and, without duplication, the Guarantor’s obligation to make a cash payment to the Guaranteed Party under and pursuant to the terms of this Limited Guaranty (subject to the Cap), (ii) Parent’s and/or Merger Sub’s obligation to cause the equity financing to be funded when and if the Guaranteed Party seeks specific performance of such obligation pursuant to, in accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9.07 of the Merger Agreement, and (iii) the Guarantor’s obligation to specifically perform its obligation to make an equity contribution to Holdco pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letter, when and if the conditions thereto have been satisfied and Holdco or the Company seeks specific performance of such obligation pursuant to, in accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5 of the Equity Commitment Letter, and Section 9.07 of the Merger Agreement (the claims described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii), collectively, the “Retained Claims”);
(b) no recourse (whether under an equitable, contractual, tort, statutory or other claim or theory) under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter shall be sought or had against (and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no liability shall attach to) any Non-Recourse Party, whether through Holdco, Parent, Merger Sub, or any other person interested in the transactions contemplated by any Transaction Agreement or otherwise, whether by or through theories of equity, agency, control, instrumentality, alter ego, domination, sham, single business enterprise, piercing the veil, unfairness, undercapitalization, or any other attempt to avoid or disregard the entity form of any Non-Recourse Party, by or through a claim by or on behalf of the Guaranteed Party, Holdco, Parent, Merger Sub or any other person against any Non-Recourse Party, by the enforcement of any assessment, by any legal or equitable proceeding, by virtue of any applicable law, or otherwise, except for Retained Claims; and
(c) neither the Guaranteed Party nor any of its Affiliates has relied on any statement, representation or warranty or assurance made by, or any action taken by, any person in connection with or in any manner related to a Transaction-Related Matter, other than those made by (i) the Guarantor in this
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Limited Guaranty, (ii) Parent and Merger Sub in the Merger Agreement, and (iii) the Guarantor in the Equity Commitment Letter.
The Retained Claims shall be the sole and exclusive remedy (whether at law or in equity, whether sounding in contract, tort, statute or otherwise) of the Guaranteed Party, all of its Affiliates and any person purporting to claim by or through any of them or for the benefit of any of them against any or all of the Non-Recourse Parties in respect of any claims, liabilities or obligations arising in any way under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Guaranteed Party, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, hereby releases, remises and forever discharges all claims (other than Retained Claims) that the Guaranteed Party, or any of its Affiliates, has had, now has or might in the future have against any Non-Recourse Party arising in any way under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter (other than the Retained Claims). The Guaranteed Party hereby covenants and agrees that, other than with respect to the Retained Claims, it shall not, and it shall cause its Affiliates not to, institute any proceeding or bring any claim in any way under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter (whether at law or in equity, whether sounding in contract, tort, statute or otherwise) against any Non-Recourse Party. Other than the Non-Recourse Parties, no person other than the Guarantor and the Guaranteed Party shall have any rights or remedies under, in connection with or in any manner related to this Limited Guaranty or the transactions contemplated hereby.
As used herein, the term “Non-Recourse Parties” means the Guarantor and any and all former, current or future equity holders, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, members, managers, management companies, general or limited partners, assignees or Affiliates of the Guarantor (including but not limited to Holdco, Parent and Merger Sub) and any and all former, current or future equity holders, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, members, managers, management companies, general or limited partners, assignees or Affiliates of any of the foregoing, and any and all former, current or future heirs, executors, administrators, trustees, successors or assigns of any of the foregoing, and the providers of the Debt Financing.
9. Governing Law; Dispute Resolution. This Limited Guaranty shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or other 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. Any disputes, actions and proceedings against any party or arising out of or in any way relating to this Limited Guaranty shall be submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and resolved in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of HKIAC in force at the relevant time and as may be amended by this Section 9 (the “HKIAC Rules”). The place of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The official language of the arbitration shall be English and the arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators (each, an “Arbitrator”). The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate
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jointly one Arbitrator; and a third Arbitrator will be nominated jointly by the first two Arbitrators and shall serve as chairman of the arbitration tribunal. In the event the claimant(s) or respondent(s) or the first two Arbitrators shall fail to nominate or agree the joint nomination of an Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator within the time limits specified by the HKIAC Rules, such Arbitrator shall be appointed promptly by the HKIAC. The arbitration tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive or other punitive-type damages. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties. Any party to an award may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award and, for purposes of the enforcement of such award, the parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction and waive any defenses to such enforcement based on lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.
10. Counterparts. This Limited Guaranty shall not be effective until it has been executed and delivered by all parties hereto. This Limited Guaranty may be executed by facsimile or electronic transmission in pdf format, and in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
11. Third Party Beneficiaries. This Limited Guaranty shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing express or implied in this Limited Guaranty is intended to, or shall, confer upon any other person any benefits, rights or remedies under or by reason of, or any rights (other than the right of Beijing Kongzhong Xinshi Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (北京空中信使信息技术有限公司), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Guaranteed Party, which is hereby expressly made a third party beneficiary to this Limited Guaranty) to enforce or cause the Guaranteed Party to enforce, the obligations set forth herein; except that as a material aspect of this Limited Guaranty the parties hereto intend that all Non-Recourse Parties other than the Guarantor shall be, and such Non-Recourse Parties are, intended third party beneficiaries of this Limited Guaranty who may rely on and enforce the provisions of this Limited Guaranty that bar the liability, or otherwise protect the interests, of such Non-Recourse Parties.
12. Confidentiality.
This Limited Guaranty shall be treated as confidential and is being provided to the Guaranteed Party solely in connection with the Merger. This Limited Guaranty may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to in any document, except with the written consent of the Guarantor, provided that no such written consent is required for any disclosure of the existence or content of this Limited Guaranty by the Guaranteed Party: (i) to its Affiliates and its representatives; or (ii) to the extent required by law or the rules of any self-regulatory organization or securities exchange.
13. Miscellaneous.
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(a) This Limited Guaranty, together with the Merger Agreement, Equity Commitment Letter, Contribution Agreement (if applicable) and any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, constitute the entire agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions, negotiations, proposals, undertakings, understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, among the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Guaranteed Party or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand. No amendment, supplementation, modification or waiver of this Limited Guaranty or any provision hereof shall be enforceable unless approved by the Guaranteed Party and the Guarantor in writing. The Guaranteed Party and its Affiliates are not relying upon any prior or contemporaneous statement, undertaking, understanding, agreement, representation or warranty, whether written or oral, made by or on behalf of the Guarantor or any other Non-Recourse Party in connection with this Limited Guaranty except as expressly set forth herein by the Guarantor. The Guarantor and its Affiliates are not relying upon any prior or contemporaneous statement, undertaking, understanding, agreement, representation or warranty, whether written or oral, made by or on behalf of the Guaranteed Party in connection with this Limited Guaranty except as expressly set forth herein by the Guaranteed Party.
(b) Any term or provision of this Limited Guaranty that is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall be, as to such jurisdiction, ineffective solely to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction; provided, however, that this Limited Guaranty may not be enforced without giving effect to the limitation of the amount payable by the Guarantor hereunder up to the Cap provided in Section 1 hereof and to the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof. Each party hereto covenants and agrees that it shall not assert, and shall cause its respective Affiliates and representatives not to assert, that this Limited Guaranty or any part hereof is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in accordance with its terms.
(c) The descriptive headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Limited Guaranty.
(d) All parties hereto acknowledge that each party and its counsel have reviewed this Limited Guaranty and that any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Limited Guaranty.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Limited Guaranty to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above by its officer or representative thereunto duly authorized.
共青城五疆星耀投资管理合伙企业(有限合伙)(Gongqingcheng Wujiang Xingyao Investment Management Partnership (Limited Partnership)) | |
By: | /s/ Liang Hong |
Name: Liang Hong | |
Title: Executive Partner |
[Signature Page to Limited Guaranty]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guaranteed Party has caused this Limited Guaranty to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above by its officer thereunto duly authorized.
KongZhong Corporation | |
By: | /s/ Tai Fan |
Name: Tai Fan | |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Limited Guaranty]
Exhibit 17
LIMITED GUARANTY
This LIMITED GUARANTY, dated as of December 1, 2016 (this “Limited Guaranty”), is made by Hexie Chengzhang Phase II (Yiwu) Investment Center (Limited Partnership) (the “Guarantor”) in favor of KongZhong Corporation, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Guaranteed Party”).
1. Limited Guaranty. To induce the Guaranteed Party to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Merger Agreement”; capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Merger Agreement) among Linkedsee Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Parent”), Wiseman International Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and the Guaranteed Party, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Guaranteed Party (the “Merger”), the Guarantor, intending to be legally bound, hereby absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to the Guaranteed Party, as primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and discharge of 62.253% (the “Guaranteed Percentage”) of (i) the payment obligations of Parent to the Guaranteed Party under Section 8.06(b) of the Merger Agreement, (ii) the reimbursement obligations of Parent pursuant to Section 8.06(c) of the Merger Agreement and (iii) the indemnification, reimbursement and expense obligations of Parent under Section 6.07 of the Merger Agreement if, as and when those obligations become payable and due under the Merger Agreement (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”), provided that in no event shall the maximum liability of the Guarantor hereunder exceed the Guaranteed Percentage of an amount equal to (a) US$6,474,292 minus (b) any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations that have been paid by Parent or Merger Sub (such limitation on the liability that the Guarantor may have for the Guaranteed Obligations being herein referred to as the “Cap”), it being understood that this Limited Guaranty may not be enforced against the Guarantor without giving effect to the Cap (and to the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof). This Limited Guaranty may be enforced for the payment of money only. All payments hereunder shall be made in lawful money of the United States, in immediately available funds and free and clear of any and all encumbrances of whatsoever type. The Guarantor acknowledges that the Guaranteed Party entered into the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the execution of this Limited Guaranty. This Limited Guaranty is substantially identical to the other limited guarantees given by the other guarantors (the “Other Guarantors”) dated on or around the date hereof in favor of the Guaranteed Party with respect to the Merger Agreement, and the obligations of the Guarantor and the Other Guarantors shall be several and not joint.
If Parent or Merger Sub fails to discharge any Guaranteed Obligations when due, then the Guarantor shall, on the Guaranteed Party’s demand, forthwith pay to the Guaranteed Party the Guaranteed Obligations (subject to the Cap), and the Guaranteed Party may at any time and from time to time, at the Guaranteed Party’s option, and so
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long as Parent or Merger Sub has failed to discharge the Guaranteed Obligations, take any and all actions available hereunder to collect the Guarantor’s liability hereunder in respect of such Guaranteed Obligations, subject to the Cap.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Guarantor acknowledges that the Guaranteed Party may, in its sole discretion, bring and prosecute a separate action or actions against the Guarantor for the full amount of the Guaranteed Obligations (subject to the Cap), regardless of whether any such action is brought against Parent, Merger Sub or any of the Other Guarantors or whether Parent, Merger Sub or any of the Other Guarantors is joined in any such action or actions. The Guarantor agrees to pay on demand all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses and fees incurred by the Guaranteed Party in commencing the enforcement of its right hereunder in the event (i) the Guarantor asserts in any arbitration, litigation or other proceeding that this Limited Guaranty is illegal, invalid or unenforceable in accordance with its terms and the Guaranteed Party prevails in such arbitration, litigation or other proceeding or (ii) the Guarantor fails or refuses to make any payment to the Guaranteed Party hereunder when due and payable and it is determined judicially or by arbitration that the Guarantor is required to make such payment hereunder.
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Limited Guaranty were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached and further agree that the Guaranteed Party shall be entitled to an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief against the Guarantor to prevent breaches of this Limited Guaranty and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which it is entitled at law or in equity, and shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction. The Guarantor further agrees not to oppose the granting of any such injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that (i) the Guaranteed Party has an adequate remedy at law or (ii) an award of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or in equity.
2. Nature of Guaranty. The Guarantor’s liability hereunder is absolute, unconditional, irrevocable and continuing irrespective of any modification, amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from the Merger Agreement that may be agreed to by Parent or Merger Sub. Without limiting the foregoing, the Guaranteed Party shall not be obligated to file any claim relating to the Guaranteed Obligations in the event that Parent or Merger Sub becomes subject to a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding, and the failure of the Guaranteed Party to so file shall not affect the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder. In the event that any payment hereunder is rescinded or must otherwise be, and is, returned to the Guarantor for any reason whatsoever, the Guarantor shall remain liable hereunder as if such payment had not been made. This Limited Guaranty is a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
3. Changes in Obligations, Certain Waivers. The Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Party may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, without notice to or further consent of the Guarantor, extend the time of payment of any of the
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Guaranteed Obligations, and may also make any agreement with Parent or Merger Sub, for the extension, renewal, payment, compromise, discharge or release thereof, in whole or in part, or for any modification of the terms thereof or of any agreement between the Guaranteed Party and Parent, Merger Sub or such other person without in any way impairing or affecting the Guarantor’s obligations under this Limited Guaranty or affecting the validity or enforceability of this Limited Guaranty. The Guarantor agrees that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be released or discharged, in whole or in part, or otherwise affected by: (a) the failure or delay on the part of the Guaranteed Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against Parent or Merger Sub or any other Person interested in the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement; (b) any change in the time, place or manner of payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any waiver, compromise, consolidation or other amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of the Merger Agreement made in accordance with the terms thereof; (c) the addition, substitution, any legal or equitable discharge or release (in the case of a discharge or release, other than a discharge or release of the Guarantors with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations as a result of payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with their terms, a discharge or release of Parent with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations under the Merger Agreement, or as a result of defenses to the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations that would be available to Parent under the Merger Agreement) of the Guarantors or any person; (d) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of Parent or Merger Sub; (e) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting Parent, Merger Sub or any other person now or hereafter liable with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise interested in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including any Other Guarantor); (f) the existence of any claim, set-off or other right which the Guarantor may have at any time against Parent, Merger Sub or the Guaranteed Party, whether in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise; (g) the adequacy of any other means the Guaranteed Party may have of obtaining payment related to the Guaranteed Obligations; or (h) any act or omission by Parent or Merger Sub which directly or indirectly results in or aids in the discharge or release of Parent or Merger Sub or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations by operation of law or otherwise. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Guarantor hereby expressly waives any and all rights or defenses arising by reason of any law which would otherwise require any election of remedies by the Guaranteed Party. The Guarantor waives promptness, diligence, notice of the acceptance of this Limited Guaranty and of the Guaranteed Obligations, presentment, demand for payment, notice of non-performance, default, dishonor and protest, notice of any Guaranteed Obligations incurred and all other notices of any kind (other than notices to Parent or Merger Sub pursuant to the Merger Agreement), all defenses which may be available by virtue of any valuation, stay, moratorium law or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or any right to require the marshalling of assets of Parent or Merger Sub or any other person now or hereafter liable with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise interested in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and all suretyship defenses generally (other than defenses to the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations (x) that are available to Parent or Merger Sub under the Merger Agreement and this Limited Guaranty, (y) in respect of a breach by the Guaranteed Party of this Limited Guaranty or
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(z) in respect of fraud or willful misconduct of the Guaranteed Party or any of its Affiliates in connection with the Merger Agreement or this Limited Guaranty, including, without limitation, any event, condition or circumstance that might be construed to constitute an equitable or legal discharge of the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder). The Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and that the waivers set forth in this Limited Guaranty are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits. The Guarantor covenants and agrees that it shall not institute, and shall cause its Affiliates not to institute, any proceeding asserting that this Limited Guaranty is illegal, invalid or unenforceable in accordance with its terms.
The Guarantor hereby unconditionally waives any rights that it may now have or hereafter acquire against Parent or Merger Sub that arise from the existence, payment, performance, or enforcement of the Guarantor’s obligations under or in respect of this Limited Guaranty (subject to the Cap), including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of the Guaranteed Party against Parent or Merger Sub, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from Parent or Merger Sub, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right, and the Guarantor shall not exercise any such rights unless and until all amounts payable by the Guarantor under this Limited Guaranty (which shall be subject to the Cap) shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in immediately available funds. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the immediately preceding sentence at any time prior to the payment in full in immediately available funds of all amounts payable under this Limited Guaranty (which shall be subject to the Cap), such amount shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of the Guaranteed Party, shall be segregated from other property and funds of the Guarantor and shall forthwith be promptly paid or delivered to the Guaranteed Party in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement or assignment) to be credited and applied to all amounts payable by the Guarantor under this Limited Guaranty. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Limited Guaranty or otherwise, the Guaranteed Party hereby agrees that (a) to the extent that Parent and/or Merger Sub is relieved of any of the Guaranteed Obligations under the Merger Agreement, the Guarantor shall be similarly relieved of its corresponding payment obligations under this Limited Guaranty, and (b) the Guarantor shall have all defenses to the payment of its obligations under this Limited Guaranty (which in any event shall be subject to the Cap) that would be available to Parent and/or Merger Sub under the Merger Agreement with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations, as well as any defenses in respect of any fraud or willful misconduct of the Guaranteed Party or its Affiliates.
4. Representations and Warranties. The Guarantor hereby represents and warrants that:
(a) it has all requisite limited partnership] or other power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Limited Guaranty and the execution, delivery
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and performance of this Limited Guaranty have been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not contravene any provision of the Guarantor’s partnership agreement or any law, regulation, rule, decree, order, judgment or contractual restriction binding on the Guarantor or its assets;
(b) except as is not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to impair or delay the Guarantor’s performance of its obligations in any material respect, all consents, approvals, authorizations, permits of, filings with and notifications to, any governmental authority necessary for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Limited Guaranty by the Guarantor have been obtained or made and all conditions thereof have been duly complied with, and no other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Limited Guaranty;
(c) assuming due execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by all parties thereto, this Limited Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, subject to: (A) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and (B) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and
(d) the Guarantor has the financial capacity to pay and perform its obligations under this Limited Guaranty, and all funds necessary for the Guarantor to fulfill its obligations under this Limited Guaranty shall be available to the Guarantor for so long as this Limited Guaranty shall remain in effect in accordance with Section 7 hereof.
The Guaranteed Party hereby represents and warrants that:
(a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Limited Guaranty have been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not contravene any provision of the Guaranteed Party’s charter, bylaws, or any law, regulation, rule, decree, order, judgment or contractual restriction applicable to or binding on the Guaranteed Party or its assets;
(b) all consents, approvals, authorizations, permits of, filings with and notifications to, any governmental authority necessary for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Limited Guaranty by the Guaranteed Party have been obtained or made and all conditions thereof have been duly complied with, and no other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Limited Guaranty; and
(c) assuming due execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by all parties thereto, this Limited Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding
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obligation of the Guaranteed Party enforceable against the Guaranteed Party in accordance with its terms, subject to: (A) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and (B) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
5. No Assignment. Neither the Guarantor nor the Guaranteed Party may assign or delegate its rights, interests or obligations hereunder to any other person (except by operation of law) without the prior written consent of the Guaranteed Party (in the case of an assignment or delegation by the Guarantor) or the Guarantor (in the case of an assignment or delegation by the Guaranteed Party); provided, however, that the Guarantor may assign or delegate all or part of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder, without the prior written consent of the Guaranteed Party, to any other person to which it has allocated all or a portion of its capital commitment to Beijing Wuxing Rongcheng Technology Ltd. (“Holdco”) pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letter; provided, further, that no such assignment or delegation shall relieve the Guarantor of its obligations hereunder as a primary obligor.
6. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly received if given) in writing by hand delivery, by facsimile transmission with confirmation of receipt, or by overnight delivery by a nationally recognized courier service, in each case to the address (or facsimile number) listed below (or to such other address or facsimile number as a party may designate by notice to other parties) as follows:
if to the Guarantor:
6/F, Tower A, COFCO Plaza
8 Jianguomennei Avenue
Chao Yang District, Beijing 100005, PRC
Attention: Yi Liu
Facsimile: +86 10 6526 0700
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
2201 China World Office 2
1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Chao Yang District, Beijing 100004, PRC
Attention: Howard Zhang
Facsimile: +86 10 8567 5102
If to the Guaranteed Party, as provided in the Merger Agreement.
7. Continuing Guaranty. This Limited Guaranty may not be revoked or terminated and shall remain in full force and effect until the Guaranteed Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything express or implied in this Limited Guaranty or otherwise, this Limited Guaranty shall terminate and
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the Guarantor shall have no further obligations under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty as of the earliest of: (i) the Effective Time, if the Closing occurs; (ii) the payment by the Guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations in full (subject to the Cap); (iii) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms by mutual consent of the parties thereto or in circumstances where the Parent Termination Fee is not payable; and (iv) in the case of a termination of the Merger Agreement for which the Parent Termination Fee is payable, the date falling 180 days after such termination (unless, in the case of clause (iv) above, the Guaranteed Party has previously made a claim under this Limited Guaranty prior to such date, in which case this Limited Guaranty shall terminate upon the final, non-appealable resolution of such action and satisfaction by the Guarantor of any obligations finally determined or agreed to be owed by the Guarantor, consistent with the terms hereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything express or implied in this Limited Guaranty or otherwise, in the event that the Guaranteed Party or any of its Affiliates asserts in any litigation or other proceeding that the provisions of Section 1 hereof limiting the Guarantor’s liability to the Cap and limiting the Guaranteed Party’s enforcement hereof to the payment of money only or the provisions of this Section 7 or Section 8 hereof are illegal, invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, or asserts that the Guarantor is liable in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations in excess of or to a greater extent than the Cap, or asserts any theory of liability against any Non-Recourse Party (as defined in Section 8 hereof) with respect to this Limited Guaranty, the equity commitment letter entered into between the Guarantor and Holdco dated as of the date hereof (the “Equity Commitment Letter”), the Merger Agreement, any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection with this Limited Guaranty or the Merger Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than Retained Claims (as defined in Section 8 hereof) asserted by the Guaranteed Party against the Non-Recourse Party(ies) against which such Retained Claims may be asserted pursuant to Section 8, then: (i) the obligations of the Guarantor under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty shall terminate ab initio and be null and void, (ii) if the Guarantor has previously made any payments under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty, it shall be entitled to recover and retain such payments, and (iii) neither the Guarantor nor any other Non-Recourse Parties shall have any liability whatsoever (whether at law or in equity, whether sounding in contract, tort, statute or otherwise) to the Guaranteed Party or any other person in any way under or in connection with this Limited Guaranty, the Merger Agreement, any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection with this Limited Guaranty or the Merger Agreement (including, without limitation, the Equity Commitment Letter), or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
8. No Recourse. The Guaranteed Party acknowledges and agrees that the sole asset of Parent and Merger Sub is cash in a de minimis amount and that no additional funds are expected to be contributed to Parent or Merger Sub unless and until the Closing occurs under the Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Limited Guaranty, the Merger Agreement or the Equity Commitment Letter (collectively, the “Transaction Agreements”), or in any agreement or instrument delivered or statement made or action taken in connection with, or that otherwise in any manner relates to, the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Agreements or the negotiation, execution, performance or breach of any Transaction Agreement (this
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Limited Guaranty, the other Transaction Agreements and such agreements, instruments, statements and actions collectively, “Transaction-Related Matters”), and notwithstanding any equitable, common law or statutory right or claim that may be available to the Guaranteed Party or any of its Affiliates, and notwithstanding the fact that the Guarantor may be a partnership, by its acceptance of the benefits of this Limited Guaranty, the Guaranteed Party covenants, acknowledges and agrees, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, that:
(a) no Non-Recourse Party (as hereinafter defined) has or shall have any obligations (whether of an equitable, contractual, tort, statutory or other nature) under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter, other than (i) Parent’s and/or Merger Sub’s obligation to make a cash payment to the Guaranteed Party under and pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and, without duplication, the Guarantor’s obligation to make a cash payment to the Guaranteed Party under and pursuant to the terms of this Limited Guaranty (subject to the Cap), (ii) Parent’s and/or Merger Sub’s obligation to cause the equity financing to be funded when and if the Guaranteed Party seeks specific performance of such obligation pursuant to, in accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9.07 of the Merger Agreement, and (iii) the Guarantor’s obligation to specifically perform its obligation to make an equity contribution to Holdco pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letter, when and if the conditions thereto have been satisfied and Holdco or the Company seeks specific performance of such obligation pursuant to, in accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5 of the Equity Commitment Letter, and Section 9.07 of the Merger Agreement (the claims described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii), collectively, the “Retained Claims”);
(b) no recourse (whether under an equitable, contractual, tort, statutory or other claim or theory) under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter shall be sought or had against (and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no liability shall attach to) any Non-Recourse Party, whether through Holdco, Parent, Merger Sub, or any other person interested in the transactions contemplated by any Transaction Agreement or otherwise, whether by or through theories of equity, agency, control, instrumentality, alter ego, domination, sham, single business enterprise, piercing the veil, unfairness, undercapitalization, or any other attempt to avoid or disregard the entity form of any Non-Recourse Party, by or through a claim by or on behalf of the Guaranteed Party, Holdco, Parent, Merger Sub or any other person against any Non-Recourse Party, by the enforcement of any assessment, by any legal or equitable proceeding, by virtue of any applicable law, or otherwise, except for Retained Claims; and
(c) neither the Guaranteed Party nor any of its Affiliates has relied on any statement, representation or warranty or assurance made by, or any action taken by, any person in connection with or in any manner related to a Transaction-Related Matter, other than those made by (i) the Guarantor in this
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Limited Guaranty, (ii) Parent and Merger Sub in the Merger Agreement, and (iii) the Guarantor in the Equity Commitment Letter.
The Retained Claims shall be the sole and exclusive remedy (whether at law or in equity, whether sounding in contract, tort, statute or otherwise) of the Guaranteed Party, all of its Affiliates and any person purporting to claim by or through any of them or for the benefit of any of them against any or all of the Non-Recourse Parties in respect of any claims, liabilities or obligations arising in any way under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Guaranteed Party, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, hereby releases, remises and forever discharges all claims (other than Retained Claims) that the Guaranteed Party, or any of its Affiliates, has had, now has or might in the future have against any Non-Recourse Party arising in any way under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter (other than the Retained Claims). The Guaranteed Party hereby covenants and agrees that, other than with respect to the Retained Claims, it shall not, and it shall cause its Affiliates not to, institute any proceeding or bring any claim in any way under, in connection with or in any manner related to any Transaction-Related Matter (whether at law or in equity, whether sounding in contract, tort, statute or otherwise) against any Non-Recourse Party. Other than the Non-Recourse Parties, no person other than the Guarantor and the Guaranteed Party shall have any rights or remedies under, in connection with or in any manner related to this Limited Guaranty or the transactions contemplated hereby.
As used herein, the term “Non-Recourse Parties” means the Guarantor and any and all former, current or future equity holders, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, members, managers, management companies, general or limited partners, assignees or Affiliates of the Guarantor (including but not limited to Holdco, Parent and Merger Sub) and any and all former, current or future equity holders, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, members, managers, management companies, general or limited partners, assignees or Affiliates of any of the foregoing, and any and all former, current or future heirs, executors, administrators, trustees, successors or assigns of any of the foregoing, and the providers of the Debt Financing.
9. Governing Law; Dispute Resolution. This Limited Guaranty shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or other 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. Any disputes, actions and proceedings against any party or arising out of or in any way relating to this Limited Guaranty shall be submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and resolved in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of HKIAC in force at the relevant time and as may be amended by this Section 9 (the “HKIAC Rules”). The place of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The official language of the arbitration shall be English and the arbitration tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators (each, an “Arbitrator”). The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one Arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate
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jointly one Arbitrator; and a third Arbitrator will be nominated jointly by the first two Arbitrators and shall serve as chairman of the arbitration tribunal. In the event the claimant(s) or respondent(s) or the first two Arbitrators shall fail to nominate or agree the joint nomination of an Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator within the time limits specified by the HKIAC Rules, such Arbitrator shall be appointed promptly by the HKIAC. The arbitration tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive or other punitive-type damages. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties. Any party to an award may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award and, for purposes of the enforcement of such award, the parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction and waive any defenses to such enforcement based on lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.
10. Counterparts. This Limited Guaranty shall not be effective until it has been executed and delivered by all parties hereto. This Limited Guaranty may be executed by facsimile or electronic transmission in pdf format, and in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
11. Third Party Beneficiaries. This Limited Guaranty shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing express or implied in this Limited Guaranty is intended to, or shall, confer upon any other person any benefits, rights or remedies under or by reason of, or any rights to enforce or cause the Guaranteed Party to enforce, the obligations set forth herein; except that as a material aspect of this Limited Guaranty the parties hereto intend that all Non-Recourse Parties other than the Guarantor shall be, and such Non-Recourse Parties are, intended third party beneficiaries of this Limited Guaranty who may rely on and enforce the provisions of this Limited Guaranty that bar the liability, or otherwise protect the interests, of such Non-Recourse Parties.
12. Confidentiality.
This Limited Guaranty shall be treated as confidential and is being provided to the Guaranteed Party solely in connection with the Merger. This Limited Guaranty may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to in any document, except with the written consent of the Guarantor, provided that no such written consent is required for any disclosure of the existence or content of this Limited Guaranty by the Guaranteed Party: (i) to its Affiliates and its representatives; or (ii) to the extent required by law or the rules of any self-regulatory organization or securities exchange.
13. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Limited Guaranty, together with the Merger Agreement, Equity Commitment Letter, Contribution Agreement (if applicable) and any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, constitute the entire agreement with
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respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions, negotiations, proposals, undertakings, understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, among the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Guaranteed Party or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand. No amendment, supplementation, modification or waiver of this Limited Guaranty or any provision hereof shall be enforceable unless approved by the Guaranteed Party and the Guarantor in writing. The Guaranteed Party and its Affiliates are not relying upon any prior or contemporaneous statement, undertaking, understanding, agreement, representation or warranty, whether written or oral, made by or on behalf of the Guarantor or any other Non-Recourse Party in connection with this Limited Guaranty except as expressly set forth herein by the Guarantor. The Guarantor and its Affiliates are not relying upon any prior or contemporaneous statement, undertaking, understanding, agreement, representation or warranty, whether written or oral, made by or on behalf of the Guaranteed Party in connection with this Limited Guaranty except as expressly set forth herein by the Guaranteed Party.
(b) Any term or provision of this Limited Guaranty that is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall be, as to such jurisdiction, ineffective solely to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction; provided, however, that this Limited Guaranty may not be enforced without giving effect to the limitation of the amount payable by the Guarantor hereunder up to the Cap provided in Section 1 hereof and to the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof. Each party hereto covenants and agrees that it shall not assert, and shall cause its respective Affiliates and representatives not to assert, that this Limited Guaranty or any part hereof is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in accordance with its terms.
(c) The descriptive headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Limited Guaranty.
(d) All parties hereto acknowledge that each party and its counsel have reviewed this Limited Guaranty and that any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Limited Guaranty.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Limited Guaranty to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above by its officer or representative thereunto duly authorized.
和谐成长二期(义乌)投资中心(有限合伙)(Hexie Chengzhang Phase II (Yiwu) Investment Center (Limited Partnership)) | |
By: | /s/ Dongliang Lin |
Name: Dongliang Lin (林栋梁) | |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Limited Guaranty]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guaranteed Party has caused this Limited Guaranty to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above by its officer thereunto duly authorized.
KongZhong Corporation | |
By: | /s/ Tai Fan |
Name: Tai Fan | |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Limited Guaranty]