UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
August 16, 2005 (August 10, 2005)
Yahoo! Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware
|
|
000-28018
|
|
77-0398689
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
|
|
(Commission
File Number)
|
|
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
701 First Avenue, Sunnyvale, California
|
|
94089
|
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
|
|
(Zip Code)
|
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (408) 349-3300
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K
filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the
registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
o Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
The Stock Purchase and Contribution Agreement
On
August 10, 2005, Yahoo! Inc, a Delaware corporation (Yahoo!), announced
that it had entered into a Stock Purchase and Contribution Agreement (the SPCA)
whereby Yahoo! will enter into a strategic combination with Alibaba.com
Corporation (Alibaba). Pursuant to the
terms of the SPCA, Yahoo! agreed to purchase approximately 201,617,750 ordinary
shares of Alibaba in exchange for $250 million in cash, the transfer of shares
of Tao Bao Holding Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted limited liability company
(Tao Bao) which it will acquire from a wholly-owned subsidiary of SOFTBANK
CORP. (SOFTBANK) as described below, and the contribution of Yahoo!s
business and operations in China to Alibaba.
Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the SPCA and the
other agreements described therein and below, Yahoo! will own 40% of the
outstanding shares of Alibaba on a fully-diluted basis, including shares
reserved for issuance under Alibabas employee stock plans. Also, upon such consummation, Alibaba will
own 100% of the outstanding shares of Tao Bao.
The
SPCA and the transactions contemplated thereby are conditioned, among other
things, upon the receipt of certain required governmental approvals and the execution
of certain other ancillary agreements including, without limitation, the Tao
Bao Share Purchase Agreement, Secondary Share Purchase Agreement and the
Shareholders Agreement described below.
Yahoo! and Alibaba have agreed to indemnify one another post-closing for
breaches of their respective representations, warranties and covenants subject
to the limitations set forth in the agreement.
The Tao Bao Share Purchase Agreement
Pursuant
to terms of the SPCA, upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the
SPCA, Yahoo! will enter into the Tao Bao Share Purchase Agreement with SOFTBANK
and SB TB Holding Limited (SB TB Holding), a wholly-owned subsidiary of
SOFTBANK, whereby Yahoo! will purchase shares of Tao Bao from SB TB Holding for
$360 million in cash. The Tao Bao shares
acquired by Yahoo! under the Tao Bao Share Purchase Agreement will be
contributed to Alibaba as part of the consideration for Yahoo!s purchase of
Alibaba shares pursuant to the SPCA. The
Tao Bao Share Purchase Agreement is conditioned, among other things, upon the
closing of the transactions contemplated by the SPCA.
The Secondary Share Purchase Agreement
Pursuant
to terms of the SPCA, upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the
SPCA, Yahoo! will also enter into the Secondary Share Purchase Agreement with
SOFTBANK, certain Alibaba financial investors and senior management of Alibaba
whereby Yahoo! will purchase additional shares of Alibaba for an aggregate
purchase price of approximately $390 million.
The Secondary Share Purchase Agreement is conditioned, among other
things, upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the SPCA.
The Shareholders Agreement
As
a condition to closing of the SPCA and the transactions contemplated thereby,
Alibaba, Yahoo!, SOFTBANK and certain members of Alibabas management team and
certain other Alibaba shareholders will enter into a Shareholders Agreement
granting various rights to, and imposing certain limitations on, the
shareholders, including, without limitation, board representation rights,
approval rights, voting rights, transfer restrictions, preemptive rights and
rights of first offer. Effective as of
the closing of the transactions described above, the Alibaba board will consist
of four members, one appointed by Yahoo!, one appointed by SOFTBANK and two
appointed by members of Alibabas management team.
The
foregoing description of the SPCA, the Tao Bao Share Purchase Agreement, the
Secondary Share Purchase Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement do not purport
to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such agreements
which are filed as Exhibits 2.1, 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, hereto and
incorporated herein by reference. The
press release announcing the strategic combination between Yahoo! and Alibaba
is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and
the information contained therein is incorporated
herein by reference.
2
The
SPCA contains representations and warranties the parties made to each other as
of specific dates. The assertions embodied in those representations and
warranties were made solely for purposes of the contract between Yahoo! and
Alibaba and may be subject to important qualifications and limitations agreed
by the parties in connection with negotiating its terms. Moreover, certain representations and
warranties may not be accurate or complete as of any specified date because
they are subject to a contractual standard of materiality different from those
generally applicable to shareholders or were used for the purpose of allocating
risk between the parties rather than establishing matters as facts. For the foregoing reasons, you should not
rely on the representations and warranties as statements of factual
information.
ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
The following
exhibit is furnished with this report on Form 8-K:
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
2.1
|
|
Stock Purchase and
Contribution Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2005, by and between
Yahoo! Inc. and Alibaba.com Corporation.
|
10.1
|
|
Form of Tao Bao
Share Purchase Agreement, by and among Yahoo! Inc., SOFTBANK CORP. and SB TB
Holding Limited.
|
10.2
|
|
Form of Secondary
Share Purchase Agreement, by and among Yahoo! Inc., SOFTBANK CORP. and
Certain Shareholders of Alibaba.com Corporation.
|
10.3
|
|
Form of
Shareholders Agreement, by and among Alibaba.com Corporation, Yahoo! Inc.,
SOFTBANK CORP. and the Management Members.
|
99.1
|
|
Press release dated August 10,
2005.
|
3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized.
|
YAHOO! INC.
|
|
|
|
|
Date: August 16,
2005
|
By:
|
/s/
Michael J. Callahan
|
|
|
Michael J. Callahan
|
|
Senior Vice President,
|
|
General Counsel and
Secretary
|
4
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
2.1
|
|
Stock Purchase and
Contribution Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2005, by and between
Yahoo! Inc. and Alibaba.com Corporation.
|
10.1
|
|
Form of Tao Bao
Share Purchase Agreement, by and among Yahoo! Inc., SOFTBANK CORP. and SB TB
Holding Limited.
|
10.2
|
|
Form of Secondary
Share Purchase Agreement, by and among Yahoo! Inc., SOFTBANK CORP. and
Certain Shareholders of Alibaba.com Corporation.
|
10.3
|
|
Form of
Shareholders Agreement, by and among Alibaba.com Corporation, Yahoo! Inc.,
SOFTBANK CORP. and the Management Members.
|
99.1
|
|
Press release dated August 10,
2005.
|
5
Exhibit 2.1
STOCK PURCHASE AND
CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
by and between
Yahoo! Inc.
and
Alibaba.com
Corporation
Dated as of August 10, 2005
Table of Contents
1.
|
Transfer of China Business; Issuance of
Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.1
|
Transfer of China Business; Sale and Purchase of Shares
|
|
|
1.2
|
Closing
|
|
|
1.3
|
Allocation of Purchase Price
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
|
Representations and Warranties of Yahoo!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.1
|
Authorization, etc
|
|
|
2.2
|
Title to Shares, Capitalization, etc
|
|
|
2.3
|
No Conflicts, etc
|
|
|
2.4
|
Corporate Status
|
|
|
2.5
|
Investments
|
|
|
2.6
|
Financial Statements
|
|
|
2.7
|
Undisclosed Liabilities, etc
|
|
|
2.8
|
Absence of Changes
|
|
|
2.9
|
Tax Matters
|
|
|
2.10
|
Assets and Sufficiency
|
|
|
2.11
|
Real Property
|
|
|
2.12
|
Contracts
|
|
|
2.13
|
Intellectual Property
|
|
|
2.14
|
Insurance
|
|
|
2.15
|
Litigation
|
|
|
2.16
|
Compliance with Laws and Instruments; Consents
|
|
|
2.17
|
Environmental Matters
|
|
|
2.18
|
Affiliate Transactions
|
|
|
2.19
|
Employees, Labor Matters, etc
|
|
|
2.20
|
Employee Benefit Plans and Related Matters
|
|
|
2.21
|
Accounts Receivable
|
|
|
2.22
|
Resellers
|
|
|
2.23
|
Bank Accounts
|
|
|
2.24
|
Brokers, Finders, etc
|
|
|
2.25
|
Acquisition for Investment
|
|
|
2.26
|
Corrupt Practices
|
|
|
2.27
|
Insolvency
|
|
|
2.28
|
Disclosure
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.
|
Representations and Warranties of
Alibaba
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.1
|
Authorization, etc
|
|
|
3.2
|
Capitalization, etc
|
|
|
3.3
|
No Conflicts, etc
|
|
|
3.4
|
Corporate Status
|
|
|
3.5
|
Valid Issuance to Primary Shares
|
|
|
3.6
|
Financial Statements
|
|
|
3.7
|
Undisclosed Liabilities, etc
|
|
|
3.8
|
Absence of Changes
|
|
i
STOCK
PURCHASE AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This STOCK PURCHASE AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this Agreement),
dated as of August 10, 2005, is made and entered into by and between
Yahoo! Inc., a Delaware corporation (Yahoo!) and Alibaba.com
Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (Alibaba).
W
I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Yahoo! wishes to transfer or cause to be
transferred (a) the Tao Bao Shares (as defined below) and (b) the
China Business to Alibaba through a transfer to (A) Alibaba of (i) all
issued and outstanding shares (the 3721 Shares) of Yahoo!s indirect,
wholly-owned subsidiary, 3721 Network Software Co., Ltd., a Hong Kong company (3721
HK), (ii) all issued and outstanding equity interests (the WFOE
Interests) in Beijing Yahoo! Consulting and Services Co., Ltd., a
wholly-foreign-owned enterprise established under the Laws of China (the WFOE)
by Yahoo! Holdings (Hong Kong) Ltd., a Hong Kong company (Yahoo! HK)
and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Yahoo!, and (iii) certain
other assets and properties used or held for use in connection with the China
Business set forth in Schedule A
hereto that are not otherwise transferred to Alibaba under subclauses (i) or
(ii) of this recital (the Other Assets), and (B) the Alibaba
Designees, all of the issued and outstanding equity interests (the China
ICP Shares) of the China ICP Companies, and Alibaba and the Alibaba
Designees wish to accept the transfer of the foregoing from Yahoo!, on the
terms and conditions and for the consideration described in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, Yahoo! wishes to subscribe for certain newly
issued Ordinary Shares (as defined below) and Alibaba wishes to allot and issue
to Yahoo! such Ordinary Shares, on the terms and conditions and for the
consideration described in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, Yahoo! and certain shareholders of Alibaba and Tao Bao have
entered into the Voting Agreements, pursuant to which, among other things, each
of such shareholders has agreed to vote its shares in favor of the adoption and
approval of this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby; and
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the
consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement that the Ancillary Agreements shall have been
entered into and delivered by the relevant parties thereto and the transactions
contemplated thereby shall have been consummated on or prior to the Closing
Date;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
promises, covenants, representations and warranties made herein and of the
mutual benefits to be derived herefrom, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Transfer of China Business; Issuance of
Shares.
1.1 Transfer of China Business; Sale and
Purchase of Shares. Subject to the
terms and conditions hereof, Yahoo! will (i) cause to be transferred the
Tao Bao Shares, the 3721 Shares, the WFOE Interests and the Other Assets to
Alibaba, (ii) cause to be transferred to the Alibaba Designees the China
ICP Shares and (iii) pay US$250 million (the Cash Consideration)
to Alibaba, in consideration of the allotment and issuance of 201,617,750
Ordinary Shares (the Primary Shares) to Yahoo!, in the manner and at
such time set forth in Section 1.2.
1.2 Closing. The closing (the Closing) of the
transfer of the Tao Bao Shares, the 3721 Shares, the WFOE Interests, the Other
Assets and the China ICP Shares, and the payment of the Cash Consideration in
exchange for the issuance of the Primary Shares, shall be simultaneous and
shall take place at the offices of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, 13/F
Entertainment Building, 30 Queens Road, Central, Hong Kong on a date (the Closing
Date) as soon as practicable following the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions precedent to the Closing set forth in Section 7 of this
Agreement (other than those conditions that, by their terms, cannot be
satisfied until the Closing) but in no event before October 5, 2005, or at
such other location as Yahoo! and Alibaba may mutually agree. At the Closing:
(a) Yahoo! will (i) deliver to Alibaba,
free and clear of any Lien, one or more certificates representing the Tao Bao
Shares, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by stock powers or other
instruments of transfer duly executed in blank, (ii) deliver to Alibaba,
free and clear of any Lien, one or more certificates representing the 3721
Shares, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by stock powers or other
instruments of transfer duly executed in blank, and bearing or accompanied by
all requisite stock transfer stamps, (iii) deliver to Alibaba, documentary
evidence of the transfer of the WFOE Interests to Alibaba, free and clear of
any Lien, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Alibaba, (iv) deliver
to Alibaba the Other Assets, free and clear of any Lien, except for Permitted
Liens, (v) deliver to the Alibaba Designees, free and clear of any Lien,
the China ICP Shares, (vi) deliver to Alibaba a copy of the register of
members of 3721 HK dated the Closing Date and duly certified by a duly
authorized officer of 3721 HK, and (vii) pay the Cash Consideration to
Alibaba, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of
Alibaba designated in writing to Yahoo! at least five Business Days prior to
the Closing Date;
(b) Alibaba will deliver to Yahoo!, or a direct
or indirectly wholly-owned Subsidiary of Yahoo! designated by Yahoo!, free and
clear of any Lien, one or more certificates representing the Primary Shares,
duly executed and registered in the name of Yahoo!; and
(c) the consideration, if any, required to be
delivered pursuant to the terms and conditions of any of the Ancillary
Agreements shall be delivered.
2
1.3 Allocation of Purchase Price.
(a) Allocation Schedule. Prior to the Closing Date, Yahoo! will
prepare a schedule setting forth the allocation of the Primary Shares to
each of the Tao Bao Shares, the 3721 Shares, the WFOE Interests, the China ICP
Shares, the Other Assets and the Cash Consideration transferred by Yahoo! to
Alibaba pursuant to this Agreement.
Yahoo! and Alibaba will consult with each other during the process of
preparing such schedule. The Yahoo!
Group and the Alibaba Group agree to follow and report the transaction
consistent with such allocation for all purposes.
(b) Transfer Documentation. Amounts allocated in accordance with the schedule referred
to in Section 1.3(a) may be referenced in the specific transfer documentation
with respect to such assets.
2. Representations and Warranties of Yahoo!.
Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered
by Yahoo! to Alibaba on or prior to the execution of this Agreement (the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule), Yahoo! represents and warrants to Alibaba
as follows:
2.1 Authorization, etc. Yahoo! has full corporate power and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it
shall be a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements to which Yahoo! or any of its Affiliates shall be
a party, the performance of such partys obligations hereunder and thereunder,
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have
been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action of such party. Yahoo! has duly executed and delivered this
Agreement and on the Closing Date, Yahoo! and its relevant Affiliates will have
duly executed and delivered the Ancillary Agreements to which it shall be a
party. This Agreement constitutes, and
each such Ancillary Agreement when so executed and delivered will constitute,
the legal, valid and binding obligation of Yahoo! and any such Affiliate
enforceable against Yahoo! or such Affiliate in accordance with its respective
terms, except as (i) the enforceability hereof and thereof may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors rights generally, and (ii) the availability of
equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general
applicability.
2.2 Title to Shares, Capitalization, etc.
(a) Title. Yahoo! owns, directly or indirectly, the 3721
Shares, the WFOE Interests and the Other Assets, free and clear of any Lien,
except, with respect to the Other Assets, Permitted Liens. Subject to receipt of all necessary Governmental
Approvals and other Consents, upon the delivery of the certificate(s)
representing the Primary Shares to Yahoo! at the Closing as provided for in
this Agreement, Alibaba will acquire good and valid title to the Tao Bao Shares
(to the fullest extent that such title was acquired by Yahoo! from Softbank
pursuant to the Tao Bao Share Purchase Agreement, free and clear of any Lien
created by Yahoo! or
3
its Affiliates), the 3721 Shares, the WFOE Interests and Other Assets,
free and clear of any Lien, except (i) Liens in favor of the China Group,
Alibaba or any of its Subsidiaries, and (ii) with respect to the Other
Assets, Permitted Liens. The Yahoo!
Designees own, directly, the China ICP Shares free and clear of any Lien. Subject to receipt of all Governmental
Approvals and other Consents, at the Closing, the Alibaba Designees will
acquire good and valid title to the China ICP Shares, free and clear of any
Lien.
(b) Authorized Share Capital of the 3721 HK
and the WFOE. The authorized share
capital of 3721 HK consists of 10,000,000 ordinary shares, par value HK$0.1 per
share, of which only the 3721 Shares are issued and outstanding. The 3721 Shares have been duly authorized and
are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The registered capital of the WFOE is
US$1,470,000, all of which has been fully contributed by Yahoo! HK. All such registered capital contribution has
been duly verified by a duly licensed accounting firm in China, which has
issued a capital verification report in respect thereof, and has been reflected
in the certificate of approval of the WFOE.
The WFOE Interests have been duly authorized and are validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.
(c) Authorized Share Capital of the China
Group. Section 2.2(c) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and correct description
of the share capital that is authorized, or issued and outstanding, of each
member of the China Group (other than 3721 HK and the WFOE). All of such outstanding share capital are
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and are owned
beneficially and of record by the member of the China Group or other Person set
forth on Section 2.2(c) of the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, free and
clear of any Lien.
(d) No Equity Rights. Except as set forth in Section 2.2(d) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, there are no preemptive or similar rights
granted by any member of the China Group or, to the knowledge of any member of
the China Group, by any other Person, with respect to any equity securities of
any member of the China Group. Except
for this Agreement, no subscriptions, options, calls, warrants, convertible or
exchangeable securities, conversion rights, repurchase rights, redemption rights,
stock appreciation rights, phantom stock or other rights, plans, agreements,
commitments, arrangements or understandings of any kind obligating any member
of Yahoo! Group, contingently or otherwise, to issue or sell, or cause to be
issued or sold, any shares of share capital of any class of any member of the
China Group, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such
shares, are outstanding, and no authorization therefor has been given. Except as set forth in Section 2.2(d) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding contractual or other
rights or obligations to or of any member of the Yahoo! Group to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding shares or other equity interests of
any member of the China Group.
2.3 No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by Yahoo! and each other member of
the
4
Yahoo! Group that is a party thereto, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby by Yahoo! or such member of the
Yahoo! Group do not and will not conflict with, contravene, result in a
violation or breach of, or default under (with or without the giving of notice
or the lapse of time or both), create in any other Person a right or claim of
termination, amendment, or require modification, acceleration or cancellation
of, or result in the creation of any Lien (or any obligation to create any
Lien) upon the 3721 Shares, WFOE Interests, the Assets (except for Permitted Liens),
the China ICP Shares or any of the properties, assets or rights of any member
of the China Group (except for Permitted Liens) under, (a) any Law
applicable to any member of Yahoo! Group or any of their respective properties
or assets, (b) any provision of any of the Organizational Documents of
such member of Yahoo! Group or (c) any Contract, or any other agreement or
instrument to which any member of Yahoo! Group is a party or by which any of
their respective properties or assets may be bound, except, in the case of
clauses (a) and (c) of this Section 2.3, for such conflict,
contravention, violation, breach, default, right or claim of termination,
amendment, modification, acceleration, cancellation, creation of a Lien or
other occurrence which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
2.4 Corporate Status.
(a) Organization. Except as set forth in Section 2.4(c) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, each of Yahoo! and each member of the China
Group is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and if applicable
under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction, in good standing under the Laws
of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation, which jurisdiction is set
forth on Section 2.4(a) of the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, and has
full corporate power and authority to conduct its business as currently
conducted and to own or lease and to operate its properties.
(b) Qualification. Each member of the China Group is duly
qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing as a foreign
person in each of the jurisdictions set forth in Section 2.4(b) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, which includes each jurisdiction in which the
nature of its business or the properties owned or leased by it makes such
qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so
qualified, licensed to do business or in good standing would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Organizational Documents. Yahoo! has made available in the Yahoo! Online
Dataroom to Alibaba complete and correct copies of the Organizational Documents
of each member of the China Group, as amended, modified or waived through and
in effect on the date hereof. Each of
the Organizational Documents of each member of the China Group, as so made
available to Alibaba, is in full force and effect. No member of the China Group is in material
violation or breach of any of the provisions of its Organizational Documents. The minute books of each member of the China
Group that are in the possession or control of the Yahoo! Group have heretofore
been made available to Alibaba. Such
minute books contain materially accurate and complete records of all meetings
held of, and
5
corporate action taken by, the stockholders, the boards of directors,
and committees of such boards of directors of the China Group.
2.5 Investments. No member of the China Group owns any share
capital or other securities of, or interest in, any other Person, except as set
forth in Section 2.2(c) of the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule.
2.6 Financial Statements.
(a) Section 2.6(a) of the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule sets forth complete and correct copies of the China
Group Financial Statements.
(b) The China Group Financial Statements (i) present
fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of
operations of the consolidated China Group (excluding COAL) as of the date
thereof or for the period covered thereby and (ii) have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP throughout the periods presented in the China Group
Financial Statements (except as indicated in the notes thereof).
2.7 Undisclosed Liabilities, etc. No member of the China Group has any
liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether known, unknown, absolute,
accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due, except (a) as
are not required by GAAP to be disclosed or reserved against in the China Group
Balance Sheet and (b) for liabilities and obligations that (i) are
incurred after the date of the China Group Balance Sheet in the Ordinary Course
of Business and are not prohibited by this Agreement and (ii) individually
and in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a
Material Adverse Effect. Since December 31,
2004, there has not occurred or come to exist any Material Adverse Effect or
any event, occurrence, fact, condition, change, development or effect that,
individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
2.8 Absence of Changes. Since June 30, 2005 through the date
hereof, except as set forth in Section 2.8 of the Yahoo! Disclosure
Schedule, no member of the China Group has:
(a) declared, set aside, made or paid any
dividend or other distribution in respect of its share capital or otherwise
purchased or redeemed, directly or indirectly, any shares of its share capital;
(b) issued or sold any shares of any class of
its share capital, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any
such shares, or issued, sold, granted or entered into any subscriptions,
options, calls, warrants, conversion rights, repurchase rights, redemption
rights or other rights, agreements, commitments, arrangements or understandings
of any kind, contingently or otherwise, to purchase or otherwise acquire any
such shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such
shares;
6
(c) incurred any indebtedness for borrowed
money, issued or sold any debt securities or prepaid any debt (including,
without limitation, any borrowings from or prepayments to any member of Yahoo!
Group), or incurred, assumed, guaranteed or otherwise become directly or
indirectly liable with respect to any liability or obligation in excess of
US$500,000 in each case or US$1,000,000 in the aggregate at one time
outstanding, except for borrowings, prepayments and guarantees in the Ordinary
Course of Business;
(d) mortgaged, pledged or otherwise subjected to
any Lien, any of its Real Property or other properties or assets, tangible or
intangible, except for Permitted Liens;
(e) forgiven, cancelled, compromised, waived or
released any material debts, claims or rights, except for debts, claims and
rights against Persons other than any member of Yahoo! Group, which are
forgiven, cancelled, compromised, waived or released in the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(f) modified any existing Material Contract, or
entered into any agreement, commitment or other transaction, other than
agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and involving an
expenditure of less than US$500,000 in each case and US$1,000,000 in the
aggregate;
(g) paid any bonus to any officer, director,
employee, sales representative, agent or consultant, or granted to any officer,
director, employee, sales representative, agent or consultant any other
increase in compensation in any form, except for bonus payments and raises in
the Ordinary Course of Business;
(h) except in the Ordinary Course of Business,
entered into, adopted or amended any employment, consulting, retention,
change-in-control, collective bargaining, bonus or other incentive
compensation, profit-sharing, health or other welfare, stock option or other
equity, pension, retirement, vacation, severance, deferred compensation or
other employment, compensation or benefit plan, policy, agreement, trust, fund
or arrangement for the benefit of any officer, director, employee, sales
representative, agent, consultant or Affiliate (whether or not legally
binding);
(i) suffered any damage, destruction or loss
(whether or not covered by insurance), or any strike or other
employment-related problem, or any change in relations with or any loss of a
supplier, customer or employee, that, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to have or
result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(j) amended or
modified any of its Organizational Documents;
(k) changed in
any respect its accounting policies or principles, except as required by GAAP
or applicable Tax Law;
7
(l) except in
accordance with Section 4.5(f), transferred or granted any rights or
licenses under, or entered into any settlement regarding the infringement of,
China Intellectual Property or entered into or modified any licensing or
similar agreements or arrangements, in each case, other than in the Ordinary
Course of Business;
(m) sold any
assets with a value in excess of US$500,000 in each case or US$1,000,000 in the
aggregate, other than inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(n) taken any
action or omitted to take any action that would result or has resulted in the
occurrence of any of the foregoing.
2.9 Tax Matters.
(a) Except as set forth on Section 2.9(a) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, (i) all Tax Returns relating to each
member of the China Group or the business or assets thereof that were required
to be filed on or before the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may
be, have been (or by the Closing Date will be) duly and timely filed and are
(or will be) correct and complete in all material respects, (ii) all Taxes
shown as owing on such Tax Returns have been (or by the Closing Date will have
been) paid and (iii) no member of the China Group is, on the date of this
Agreement, the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any
Tax Return.
(b) Except as set forth on Section 2.9(b) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, (i) all material Taxes that are payable by
any member of the China Group or chargeable as a Lien upon its assets as of the
date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, have been (or by the
Closing Date will be) duly and timely paid or reflected on the China Group
Financial Statements, (ii) each member of the China Group has duly and
timely withheld all material Taxes required to be withheld in connection with
the business, employees or assets of such member, and such withheld Taxes have
been either duly and timely paid to the proper Governmental Authorities or properly
set aside in accounts for such purpose and (iii) the China Group Financial
Statements reflect an adequate reserve for all Taxes payable or asserted to be
payable by the China Group for all taxable periods or portions thereof through
the date of the China Group Financial Statements.
(c) Except as set forth on Section 2.9(c) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, there has been no claim or issue (other than a
claim or issue that has been finally settled) concerning any material liability
for Taxes of any member of the China Group asserted, raised or threatened in
writing by any taxing authority.
(d) Section 2.9(d) of the Disclosure Schedule lists
all Income Tax Returns that have been filed with respect to any member of the
China Group for taxable periods ended on or after December 31, 2003 and
that have not yet been audited or are currently the subject of audit.
8
(e) Except as set forth on Section 2.9(e) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, no member of the China Group has (i) waived
any statute of limitations, (ii) agreed to any extension of the period for
assessment or collection or (iii) executed or filed any power of attorney
with respect to Taxes, which waiver, agreement or power of attorney is currently
in force.
(f) Except as set forth on Section 2.9(f) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, (i) there are no outstanding adjustments
for Income Tax purposes applicable to any member of the China Group required as
a result of changes in methods of accounting effected on or before the Closing
Date and (ii) no material elections for Income Tax purposes have been made
by any member of the China Group that are currently in force or by which any
member of the China Group is bound.
(g) Except as set forth in Section 2.9(g) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, no member of the China Group (i) is a
party to or bound by or has any obligation under any Tax allocation, sharing,
indemnity or similar agreement or arrangement or (ii) is or has been a
member of any group of companies filing a consolidated, combined or unitary
Income Tax Return.
2.10 Assets and Sufficiency.
(a) Assets. The members of the China Group collectively
own, or otherwise have full, sufficient and legally enforceable rights to use,
all of the material properties, assets and rights (real, personal or mixed,
tangible or intangible), used or held for use in connection with the China
Business including without limitation, the Other Assets and the Real Property,
excluding any assets covered by the Technology and Intellectual Property
License Agreement (the Assets).
Yahoo! owns or has full, sufficient and legally enforceable rights to
use all of the material properties, assets and rights (real, personal or mixed,
tangible or intangible) covered by the Technology and Intellectual Property
License Agreement.
(b) Sufficiency of Assets. The Assets, together with the rights,
services and arrangements as contemplated by the Technology and Intellectual
Property License Agreement, comprise all properties, assets, rights and
services required by Alibaba to conduct the China Business as now being
conducted by the China Group.
(c) Patents Representations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this Section 2.10, Yahoo! makes no representations in this Section 2.10
(i) with respect to patents owned by any third parties or any patents
outside China and (ii) with respect to infringement or non-infringement of
any Intellectual Property of any third party.
For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing sentence shall not restrict
the independent representation given in Section 2.13(d).
9
2.11 Real Property.
(a) Owned Real Property. Section 2.11(a) of the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and correct list of all Owned Real
Property of each member of the China Group setting forth the address and owner
of each parcel of Owned Real Property.
Each member of the China Group has good and marketable fee simple title
to its Owned Real Property, free and clear of any Lien other than Permitted
Liens and other than as set forth in Section 2.11(a) of the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule.
(b) Leases. Section 2.11(b) of the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and correct list of all Leases of
each member of the China Group setting forth the address, landlord, tenant and
expiration date for each Lease. Yahoo!
has made available to Alibaba correct and complete copies of the Leases. Each Lease is legal, valid, binding, in full
force and effect and enforceable against each party thereto, except to the
extent that any failure to be so enforceable, individually and in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material
Adverse Effect. No member of the China
Group is, and, to the knowledge of any member of the China Group, no other party is, in default, violation
or breach in any respect under any Lease, and no event has occurred and is
continuing that constitutes or, with notice or the passage of time or both,
would constitute a default, violation or breach in any respect under any Lease,
except to the extent such default, violation or breach would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Each Lease grants the tenant under the Lease the right to use and occupy
the premises and rights demised and intended to be demised thereunder. Each member of the China Group has title to
the leasehold interests under its respective Leases, free and clear of any
Lien, except Permitted Liens. Each
member of the China Group enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession in all
material respects under its respective Leases for the Leased Real Property.
(c) No Proceedings. Except as would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there are no proceedings in eminent
domain or other similar proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of any member
of the China Group, threatened affecting any portion of the Real Property and (ii) there
exists no writ, injunction, decree, order or judgment outstanding, nor any
Litigation, pending or threatened, relating to the ownership, lease, use,
occupancy or operation by any Person of any Real Property.
(d) Current Use. The use and operation of the Real Property in
the conduct of the China Business does not violate in any material respect any
instrument of record or agreement affecting the Real Property. There is no material violation of any
covenant, condition, restriction, easement or agreement or order of any
Governmental Authority that affects the Real Property or the ownership,
operation, use or occupancy thereof. No
material damage or destruction has occurred with respect to any of the Real
Property that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
10
2.12 Contracts.
(a) Disclosure. Except as set forth in Section 2.12(a) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, as of the date hereof no member of the China
Group is a party to or bound by any Material Contract. Yahoo! has made available to Alibaba complete
and correct copies of all written Material Contracts, and accurate descriptions
of all material terms of all oral Material Contracts, set forth or required to
be set forth in Section 2.12(a) of the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule.
(b) Enforceability. All Material Contracts are legal, valid,
binding, in full force and effect and enforceable against each party thereto,
except to the extent that any failure to be enforceable, individually and in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material
Adverse Effect. As of the date hereof,
no member of the China Group is in material violation, breach or default under,
nor is there any event or condition that, after notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute a material violation, material breach or material default
thereunder, on the part of any member of the China Group or, to the knowledge
of any member of the China Group, any other Person. Except as set forth in Section 2.12(b) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, no Material Contract contains any change of
control or other terms or conditions that will become applicable or
inapplicable as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
2.13 Intellectual Property.
(a) Disclosure. Section 2.13(a) of the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and correct list of all
Intellectual Property registrations or applications, filed before any
governmental Intellectual Property office, that are material to the China
Business and is owned by any member of the China Group.
(b) Title. Each member of the China Group owns the China
Intellectual Property free and clear of any Lien, other than Permitted Liens
and licenses. Except as expressly
provided elsewhere in this Agreement or in the Ancillary Agreements,
immediately after the Closing, the China Group or Alibaba shall own all the
China Intellectual Property, in each case free from all Liens, other than
Permitted Liens and licenses, and on the same terms and conditions as in effect
prior to the Closing.
(c) Licensing and Similar Arrangements. Section 2.13(c) of the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule sets forth all material written agreements and
arrangements (other than licenses for commercially available software having
fees, whether up-front or annual, in the aggregate, of less than US$50,000) (i) pursuant
to which any member of the China Group has licensed China Intellectual Property
to, or the use of such China Intellectual Property is otherwise permitted
(through non-assertion, settlement or similar agreements or otherwise) by, any
other Person (including any member of Yahoo! Group), and (ii) pursuant to
which any member of the China Group currently has Intellectual Property licensed
to it, or is otherwise permitted to use Intellectual Property (through
non-assertion, settlement or similar agreements or otherwise); provided
that web content agreements providing for
11
aggregate payments of less than $50,000 over the term of such agreement
need not appear on Section 2.13(c) of the Yahoo! Disclosure
Schedule. All of the agreements and
arrangements set forth or required to be set forth in Section 2.13(c) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule: (x) are in full force and effect
and enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent any
failure to be enforceable, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect, (y) no default exists or is threatened
thereunder by any member of the China Group, or to the knowledge of any member
of China Group, by any other Person, except for such defaults that,
individually and in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have or
result in a Material Adverse Effect, or to materially impair the ability of any
member of China Group to perform its respective obligations hereunder and under
the Ancillary Agreements, and (z) do not contain any change in
control or other terms or conditions that will operate to terminate, or
otherwise adversely affect any right currently available to members of the
China Group holding such rights as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. Yahoo! has made available to Alibaba complete
and correct copies of all licenses and arrangements (including amendments,
supplements, waivers and other modifications) set forth or required to be set
forth in Section 2.13(c) of the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule.
(d) No Infringement. Except as set forth in Section 2.13(d) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule and except as would not have a Material
Adverse Effect, the conduct of the China Business as presently conducted does
not infringe or misappropriate any rights of any Person in respect of any
Intellectual Property. Except as set
forth in Section 2.13(d) of the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, none of
the China Intellectual Property is being infringed or misappropriated by any
Person, except as would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
(e) No Intellectual Property Litigation. Except as set forth in Section 2.13(e) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, no written claim or demand by any Person has
been made or, to the knowledge of any member of China Group, threatened, nor is
there any Litigation that is pending or, to the knowledge of any member of
China Group, threatened against any member of the China Group, that (i) challenges
the rights of any member of the China Group in respect of any China
Intellectual Property, (ii) asserts that any member of the China Group is
infringing or misappropriating, or (except pursuant to the license agreements
required to be set forth in Section 2.13(c)(ii) of the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule) is required to pay any royalty, license fee, charge or
other amount with regard to, any Intellectual Property, or (iii) claims
that any default exists under any agreement or arrangement set forth or
required to be set forth in Section 2.13(c) of the Yahoo! Disclosure
Schedule, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
None of the China Intellectual Property is subject to any outstanding
order, ruling, decree, judgment or stipulation by or with any court, tribunal,
arbitrator or other Governmental Authority.
12
(f) Due Registration, Etc. The China Intellectual Property has been duly
registered with, filed in or issued by, as the case may be, Chinas State
Patent Bureau, State Trademark Bureau, State Copyright Bureau or other filing
offices, domestic or foreign, to the extent necessary or desirable to ensure
protection under any applicable Law, and such registrations, filings, issuances
and other actions remain in full force and effect, in each case, to the extent
material to the China Business and in accordance with the exercise of
reasonable business judgment. The China
Group takes reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality of its trade
secrets, including requiring their employees to execute written agreements
covering the protection of trade secrets and intellectual property and
non-competition, substantially in the form made available to Alibaba.
2.14 Insurance. Section 2.14 of the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule contains
a complete and correct list of all insurance policies currently maintained by
any member of the China Group. Yahoo!
has made available to Alibaba complete and correct copies of all such policies
together with all riders and amendments thereto. Such scheduled policies and all other
policies maintained during the past three years are in full force and effect
with respect to the time periods covered thereunder, and all premiums due
thereon have been paid. Each member of
the China Group has complied in all material respects with the terms and
provisions of such scheduled policies and such other policies.
2.15 Litigation. Except as set forth on Section 2.15 of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, as of the date hereof, there is no Litigation
pending or, to the knowledge of any member of the China Group, threatened by,
against or affecting any member of China Group or any of its properties or
assets, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to
have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
There are no outstanding orders, judgments, decrees or injunctions
issued by any Governmental Authority against any member of the China Group that
would reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
2.16 Compliance with Laws and Instruments;
Consents.
(a) Compliance. Except as set forth in Section 2.16(a) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, since January 1, 2004, each member of
China Group is not, and has not been, in conflict with or in violation or
breach of or default under (and there exists no event that, with notice or
passage of time or both, would constitute a conflict, violation, breach or
default with, of or under) (x) any Law applicable to it or any of
its properties, assets, operations or business, (y) any provision
of its Organizational Documents, or (z) any Contract, or any other
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
properties or assets is bound or affected, and no member of China Group has
received any notice or has knowledge of any claim alleging any such conflict,
violation, breach or default, except, in the case of clauses (x) and (z) of
this Section 2.16, for any such conflict, contravention, violation,
breach, default or other occurrence which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. This Section 2.16 is not intended to
address any matter related to the topics described in Section 2.9 (Tax
13
Matters), 2.11 (Real Property), 2.17 (Environmental Matters), 2.19
(Employees, Labor Matters), 2.20 (Employee Benefit Plans and Related Matters),
or 2.26 (Corrupt Practices).
(b) Consents.
(i) Except as specified in Section 2.16(b)(i) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule, no Governmental Approval or other Consent is
required to be obtained or made by any member of Yahoo! Group in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except
where the failure to obtain such approval or consent would not be reasonably
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Section 2.16(b)(ii) of the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and correct list of all material
Governmental Approvals and other Consents necessary for, or otherwise material
to, the conduct of the China Business.
All such Governmental Approvals and other Consents have been duly
obtained and are held by a member of the China Group and are in full force and
effect. Each member of the China Group
is, and at all times has been, in compliance with all Governmental Approvals
and other Consents held by such member, except for such failures to comply
that, individually and in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to
have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
There is no Litigation pending or, to the knowledge of any member of the
China Group, threatened that would result in the revocation, cancellation,
suspension or modification or nonrenewal of any material Governmental Approval
or Consent; no member of China Group has been notified that any material
Governmental Approval or Consent will be modified, suspended or cancelled or
cannot be renewed in the Ordinary Course of Business; and there is, to the
knowledge of any member of the China Group, no reasonable basis for any such
revocation, cancellation, suspension, modification or nonrenewal, in each case
except where such revocation, cancellation, suspension, modification or
nonrenewal would not be reasonably expected to have or result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(c) Governmental Filings. Each registration, report, statement, notice
or other filing required to be filed by any member of the China Group or Yahoo!
with any Governmental Authority under any applicable Law affecting the China
Business has been filed, and when filed complied and continues to comply with
applicable Law, except to the extent that any failure to so file or comply
would not be reasonably expected to have or result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
2.17 Environmental Matters. Each member of the China Group has materially
complied and is in material compliance with all applicable material
Environmental Laws pertaining to any of the properties and assets of such
member (including the Real Property) and the use and ownership thereof, and to
the operation of the China Business. To
the knowledge of any member of the China Group, no violation by any member of
the China Group is being alleged of any applicable
14
Environmental Law relating to any of the properties and assets of the
China Group or the use or ownership thereof, or to the operation of the China
Business. Except as would not be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no member of the China
Group used, generated, treated, stored, recycled or disposed of any hazardous
substances on any property now owned, operated or leased by any member of the
China Group.
2.18 Affiliate Transactions.
(a) Section 2.18(a) of the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and correct list of all
agreements, contracts, arrangements, understandings, Indebtedness, transfers of
assets or liabilities or other commitments or transactions, whether or not
entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business, to or by which any member of
the China Group, on the one hand, and Yahoo! or any of its Affiliates (other
than any member of the China Group), on the other hand, are or have been a
party or otherwise bound or affected, and that involve continuing
liabilities and obligations that, individually or in the aggregate, have been,
are or will be material to or from any member of the China Group. Each agreement, contract, arrangement,
understanding, Indebtedness, transfer of assets or liabilities or other
commitment or transaction set forth or required to be set forth in Section 2.18(a) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule was on terms and conditions as favorable to
the relevant member of the China Group as would have been reasonably obtained
by it at the time in a comparable arms-length transaction with a Person other
than Yahoo! or any of its Affiliates.
True and complete copies of each such agreement have been made available
to Alibaba.
(b) No stockholder, officer, director or
employee of any member of the China Group, or any family member, relative or
Affiliate of any such stockholder, officer, director or employee, (i) owns,
directly or indirectly, and whether on an individual, joint or other basis, any
interest in (x) any property or asset, real or personal, tangible
or intangible, used in or held for use in connection with or pertaining to the
China Business, or (y) any Person, that is a supplier, customer or
competitor of any member of the China Group, (ii) serves as an officer,
director or employee of any Person that is a supplier, customer or competitor
of any member of the China Group or (iii) has received any loans from or
is otherwise a debtor of, or made any loans to or is otherwise a creditor of,
any member of the China Group.
2.19 Employees, Labor Matters, etc. No member of the China Group is a party to or
bound by any collective bargaining agreement, and there are no labor unions or
other organizations representing, purporting to represent or, to the knowledge
of any member of the China Group, attempting to represent any employees
employed by any member of the China Group.
Since January 1, 2004, there has not occurred or been threatened
any strike, slowdown, picketing, work stoppage, concerted refusal to work
overtime or other similar concerted labor activity with respect to any
employees of any member of the China Group.
There are no labor disputes currently subject to any grievance
procedure, arbitration or litigation and there is no representation petition
pending or threatened with respect to any employee
15
of any member of the China Group.
The China Group has complied with all applicable Laws pertaining to the
employment or termination of employment of their respective employees,
including, without limitation, all such Laws relating to labor relations, equal
employment opportunities, fair employment practices, prohibited discrimination
or distinction and other similar employment activities, except for any failure
so to comply that, individually and in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
2.20 Employee Benefit Plans and Related Matters. Neither any member of the China Group nor any
of its Subsidiaries has any Benefit Plans subject to the Law of the United
States. With respect to each Benefit
Plan:
(a) all employer and employee contributions to
each Benefit Plan required by applicable Law or by the terms of such Benefit
Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued in accordance with GAAP;
(b) the fair market value of the assets of each
funded Benefit Plan, the liability of each insurer for any Benefit Plan funded
through insurance or the book reserve established for any Benefit Plan,
together with any accrued contributions, are sufficient to procure or provide
for the accrued benefit obligations, as of the Closing Date, with respect to
all current and former participants in such plan according to the actuarial
assumptions and valuations most recently used to determine employer
contributions to such Benefit Plan and none of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall cause such assets or
insurance obligations to be less than such benefit obligations; and
(c) Each of the Benefit Plans has been operated
and administered in all respects in compliance with its terms, all applicable
Laws and all applicable collective bargaining agreements, except for any
failure so to comply that, individually and in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to result in a material liability or obligation on the
part of any member of the China Group or Yahoo! or any of its Affiliates, or to
have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
There are no material pending or, to the knowledge of any member of the
China Group, threatened claims by or on behalf of any of the Benefit Plans, by
any employee of any member of the China Group or otherwise involving any such
Benefit Plan or the assets of any such Benefit Plan (other than routine claims
for benefits, all of which have been fully reserved for on the regularly
prepared balance sheets of the China Group).
2.21 Accounts Receivable. Yahoo! has delivered or caused to be
delivered to Alibaba a complete and accurate aging of all accounts receivable
of the consolidated China Group (excluding COAL) as of December 31, 2004
and June 30, 2005. All accounts
receivable reflected on the China Group Balance Sheet have been generated in
the Ordinary Course of Business and reflect a bona fide obligation for the
payment of goods or services provided by the China Group.
16
2.22 Resellers. Section 2.22 of the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule sets
forth for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2004 and the
six-month period ended June 30, 2005 (a) the names of the 10 largest
resellers of the China Group based on cash receipts net of discounts and
rebates generated by such resellers during each such period and (b) the
amount of such cash receipts during each such period.
2.23 Bank Accounts. Section 2.23 of the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a complete and correct list containing the names set forth of each bank
in which any member of the China Group has an account or safe deposit or lock
box, and the account or box number, as the case may be.
2.24 Brokers, Finders, etc. All negotiations relating to this Agreement,
the Ancillary Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
have been carried on without the participation of any Person acting on behalf
of any member of Yahoo! Group in such a manner as to, and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby will not otherwise, give rise to any valid
claim against any member of the Yahoo! Group or Alibaba for any brokerage or
finders commission, fee or similar compensation, or for any bonus payable to
any officer, director, employee, agent or representative of or consultant to
any member of the Yahoo! Group upon consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, other than the fee payable to Banc of America
Securities LLC, which will be paid solely by Yahoo!.
2.25 Acquisition for Investment. Yahoo! is purchasing the Primary Shares
solely for investment, with no present intention to resell the Primary
Shares. Yahoo! hereby acknowledges that
the Primary Shares have not been registered pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or the securities Laws of any other jurisdiction, and may not
be transferred in the absence of such registration or an exemption therefrom
under such act or such Laws, as the case may be.
2.26 Corrupt Practices. Neither Yahoo!, nor any member of the China
Group, nor, to the knowledge of any member of the China Group, any of their
respective officers, employees, directors, representatives or agents has within
the past three years knowingly offered, promised, authorized or made, directly
or indirectly, (i) any unlawful payments or (ii) payments or other
inducements to any governmental officials, including any official of any entity
owned or controlled by a government, with the intent or purpose of:
(a) influencing any act or decision of such
official in his official capacity;
(b) inducing such official to do or omit to do
any act in violation of the lawful duty of such official; or
(c) inducing such official to use his influence
with a government or instrumentality thereof to affect or influence any act or
decision of such government or instrumentality;
17
in order to assist Yahoo! or any member of the China
Group in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to,
any Person. To the knowledge of any
member of the China Group, no such payments or other inducements have been
provided to government officials described above in violation of any applicable
Law against improper payments or inaccurate recordkeeping.
2.27 Insolvency.
(a) No order has been made and no resolution has
been passed for the winding up of any member of the China Group, or for a
provisional liquidator to be appointed in respect of any member of the China
Group and, so far as any member of the China Group is aware, no petition has
been presented and no meeting has been convened for the purpose of winding up
any member of the China Group.
(b) No receiver (which expression shall include
an administrative receiver) has been appointed in respect of any member of the
China Group or all or any of their respective assets or properties.
(c) No member of the China Group is insolvent
and/or has stopped paying debts as they fall due.
(d) No guarantee, loan capital, borrowed money
or interest for which any member of the China Group is liable is overdue for
payment and no other obligation or Indebtedness of any member of the China Group
is outstanding which is substantially overdue for performance or payment.
(e) So far as any member of the China Group is
aware, no distress, execution or other process for the execution of a court
judgment has been levied against any member of the China Group that has not
been satisfied in full. So far as any
member of the China Group is aware, no unsatisfied judgment is outstanding
against any member of the China Group.
(f) So far as any member of the China Group is
aware, no floating charge, except for Permitted Liens, has been created by any
member of the China Group over their respective assets or properties.
2.28 Disclosure. This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement,
and each certificate or other instrument or document furnished by or on behalf
of any member of Yahoo! Group to Alibaba or any agent or representative of
Alibaba pursuant hereto or in connection herewith, taken as a whole, do not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated herein or therein or necessary to make the
statements contained herein or therein in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. No
member of Yahoo! Group knows of any fact (other than matters of a general
economic or political nature that do not affect the business of the China Group
uniquely or that are set forth in Section 2.28 of the Yahoo! Disclosure
Schedule) that would reasonably be expected to have or result in, a Material
Adverse Effect.
18
3. Representations and
Warranties of Alibaba. Except as set
forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by Alibaba to Yahoo! on or
prior to the execution of this Agreement (the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule),
represents and warrants to Yahoo! as follows:
3.1 Authorization, etc.
(a) Alibaba has full corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to
which it shall be a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements to which Alibaba or any member of the Alibaba
Group shall be a party, the performance of such partys obligations hereunder
and thereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby, have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action of
such party except for the Alibaba Shareholders Approvals. Alibaba has duly executed and delivered this
Agreement and on the Closing Date, Alibaba or the relevant member of the
Alibaba Group will have duly executed and delivered the Ancillary Agreements to
which it shall be a party. This
Agreement constitutes, and each such Ancillary Agreement when so executed and
delivered will constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of Alibaba
and the relevant member of the Alibaba Group enforceable against Alibaba and
such member of the Aladdin Group and, to Alibabas knowledge, the other parties
thereto, in accordance with its respective terms, except as (i) the
enforceability hereof and thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights
generally, and (ii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited
by equitable principles of general applicability.
(b) Alibaba has obtained the Alibaba
Shareholders Approvals; the Alibaba Shareholders Approvals comprise a
sufficient number of voting shares to approve the matters set forth in the
Voting Agreements, including the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
The Voting Agreements are enforceable against Alibaba in accordance with
their terms, except as (i) the enforceability hereof and thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting
the enforcement of creditors rights generally, and (ii) the availability
of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.
3.2 Capitalization, etc.
(a) As of the date hereof, the authorized share
capital of Alibaba consists of 250,000,000 Ordinary Shares, 56,454,546 Series A
Preferred Shares, 79,769,189 Series B Preferred and 45,000,000 Series C
Preferred Shares and 68,776,265 undesignated preferred shares of par value
US$0.0001 per share (of which on the date hereof no shares are issued and
outstanding). As of July 31, 2005,
the issued and outstanding share capital of Alibaba consisted of 89,607,702
Ordinary Shares, 56,454,546 Series A Preferred Shares, 79,769,189 Series B
Preferred Shares
19
and 8,426,685 Series C Preferred Shares. As of the date hereof, 323,204,026 Ordinary
Shares were (i) outstanding, (ii) issuable upon the exercise or
conversion of options, warrants, Series A Preferred Shares, Series B
Preferred Shares, Series C Preferred Shares or convertible notes or (iii) reserved
for issuance under any Benefit Plan. As
of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
hereby and in the other Ancillary Agreements, there will be 700,000,000
authorized Ordinary Shares, of which no more than 654,103,386 will be (i) issued
and outstanding, (ii) issuable upon the exercise of any options or
warrants, or (iii) reserved for issuance under any Benefit Plan.
(b) Section 3.2(b) of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and correct description of the
share capital that is authorized, or issued and outstanding, of each member of
the Alibaba Group (other than Alibaba).
All of such outstanding share capital are duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and are owned beneficially and of record
by the member of the Alibaba Group or other Person set forth on Section 3.2(b) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, free and clear of any Lien.
(c) All of the issued and outstanding share
capital of Alibaba (i) are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, (ii) as of the date hereof are held of record by the
Persons and in the amounts as set forth in Section 3.2(c)(ii) of the
Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, (iii) immediately after the Closing and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Ancillary Agreements will
be held of record by the Persons and in the amounts set forth in Section 3.2(c)(iii) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, and (iv) were not issued in violation of
any preemptive rights or the Organizational Documents of Alibaba.
(d) Except as set forth in Section 3.2(d) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, there are no preemptive or similar rights
granted by any member of the Alibaba Group or, to the knowledge of any member
of the Alibaba Group, by any other Person, with respect to any equity
securities of any member of the Alibaba Group.
Except as set forth in Section 3.2(d) of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule, no subscriptions, options, calls, warrants, convertible or
exchangeable securities, conversion rights, repurchase rights, redemption
rights, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, or other rights, plans,
agreements, commitments, arrangements or understandings of any kind obligating
any member of the Alibaba Group, contingently or otherwise, to issue or sell,
or cause to be issued or sold, any shares of share capital of any member of the
Alibaba Group, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such
shares, are outstanding, and no authorization therefor has been given. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(d) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding contractual or other
rights or obligations to or of any member of the Alibaba Group to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding shares or other equity interests of
any member of the Alibaba Group.
(e) Section 3.2(e) of the Alibaba Disclosure
Schedule sets forth the current ownership of Alibaba, the identity of the
persons that will transfer property to Alibaba in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, the
number of shares such persons will own following the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
20
Ancillary Agreements, and the total number of shares of Alibaba share
capital outstanding following such transfers and other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
3.3 No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by Alibaba or each other member of
the Alibaba Group that is a party thereto, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby by Alibaba or each other member of
the Alibaba Group, do not and will not conflict with, contravene, result in a
violation or breach of or default under (with or without the giving of notice
or the lapse of time or both), create in any other Person a right or claim of
termination, amendment, or require modification, acceleration or cancellation
of, or result in the creation of any Lien (or any obligation to create any
Lien) upon any of the properties, assets or rights of any member of the Alibaba
Group (except for Permitted Liens) under, (a) any Law applicable to any
member of the Alibaba Group or any of their respective properties or assets, (b) any
provision of any of the Organizational Documents of such member of the Alibaba
Group or (c) any Contract, or any other agreement or instrument to which
any member of the Alibaba Group is a party or by which any of their respective
properties or assets may be bound, except, in the case of clauses (a) and (c) of
this Section 3.3, for such conflict, contravention, violation, breach,
default, right or claim of termination, amendment, modification, acceleration,
cancellation, creation of a Lien or other occurrence which would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.4 Corporate Status.
(a) Organization. Each member of the Alibaba Group is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and, if applicable under the Laws
of its respective jurisdiction, in good standing under the Laws of its
respective jurisdiction of incorporation, which jurisdiction is set forth in Section 3.4(a) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, and has full corporate power and authority to
conduct its business as currently conducted and to own or lease and to operate
its properties.
(b) Qualification. Each member of the Alibaba Group is duly
qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing as a foreign
person in each of the jurisdictions set forth in Section 3.4(b) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, which includes each jurisdiction in which the
nature of its business or the properties owned or leased by it makes such
qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so
qualified, licensed to do business or in good standing would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
No member of the Alibaba Group has operations or assets in Hong Kong
that are material to the Alibaba Group taken as a whole.
(c) Organizational Documents. Alibaba has made available in the Alibaba
Online Dataroom to Yahoo! complete and correct copies of the
21
Organizational Documents of each member of the Alibaba Group, as
amended, modified or waived through and in effect on the date hereof. Each of the Organizational Documents of each
member of the Alibaba Group, as so made available to Yahoo!, is in full force
and effect. No member of the Alibaba
Group is in material violation or breach of any of the provisions of its
Organizational Documents. The minute
books of each member of the Alibaba Group have heretofore been made available
to Yahoo!. Such minute books contain materially
accurate and complete records of all meetings held of, and corporate action
taken by, the stockholders, the boards of directors, and committees of such
boards of directors of the Alibaba Group.
3.5 Valid Issuance to Primary Shares. The Primary Shares being subscribed by Yahoo!
hereunder, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement for the consideration expressed herein, will be duly and validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and will, on the date of issuance
thereof, be free of restrictions on transfer and other Liens, other than such
restrictions on transfer or other Liens as may be imposed by this Agreement,
the Ancillary Agreements or the Memorandum and Articles, and will be issued in
accordance with applicable securities and other Laws.
3.6 Financial Statements.
(a) Section 3.6(a) of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule sets forth complete and correct copies of the Alibaba
Financial Statements and the Tao Bao Financial Statements.
(b) The Alibaba Financial Statements and the Tao
Bao Financial Statements (i) present fairly in all material respects the
financial condition and results of operations of Alibaba and its Subsidiaries
on a consolidated basis, and Tao Bao and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis, respectively, as of the dates thereof or for the periods covered thereby
(subject, in the case of unaudited balance sheets and related statements of
operations, to normal year end audit adjustments, methods of presentation and
the absence of full footnote disclosure) and (ii) have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
presented in the Alibaba Financial Statements and the Tao Bao Financial
Statements, respectively (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto).
3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities, etc. No member of the Alibaba Group has any
liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether known, unknown, absolute,
accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due, except (a) as
are not required by GAAP to be disclosed or reserved against in the Alibaba
Balance Sheet or the Tao Bao Balance Sheet and (b) for liabilities and
obligations that (i) are incurred after the date of the Alibaba Balance
Sheet and the Tao Bao Balance Sheet in the Ordinary Course of Business and are
not prohibited by this Agreement and (ii) individually and in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material
Adverse Effect. Since December 31,
2004, there has not occurred or come to exist any Material Adverse Effect or
any event, occurrence, fact,
22
condition, change, development or effect that, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
3.8 Absence of Changes. Since June 30, 2005 through the date hereof,
except as set forth in Section 3.8 of the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, no
member of the Alibaba Group has:
(a) declared, set aside, made or paid any
dividend or other distribution in respect of its share capital or otherwise
purchased or redeemed, directly or indirectly, any shares of its share capital;
(b) issued or sold any shares of any class of
its share capital, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any
such shares, or issued, sold, granted or entered into any subscriptions, options,
calls, warrants, conversion rights, repurchase rights, redemption rights or
other rights, agreements, commitments, arrangements or understandings of any
kind, contingently or otherwise, to purchase or otherwise acquire any such
shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares;
(c) incurred any indebtedness for borrowed
money, issued or sold any debt securities or prepaid any debt (including,
without limitation, any borrowings from or prepayments to any member of the Alibaba
Group) or incurred, assumed, guaranteed or otherwise become directly or
indirectly liable with respect to any liability or obligation in excess of
US$500,000 in each case or US$1,000,000 in the aggregate at one time
outstanding, except for borrowings, prepayments and guarantees in the Ordinary
Course of Business;
(d) mortgaged, pledged or otherwise subjected to
any Lien, any of its Real Property or other properties or assets, tangible or
intangible, except for Permitted Liens;
(e) forgiven, cancelled, compromised, waived or
released any material debts, claims or rights, except for debts, claims and
rights against Persons other than any member of the Alibaba Group, which are
forgiven, cancelled, compromised, waived or released in the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(f) modified any existing Material Contract, or
entered into any agreement, commitment or other transaction, other than
agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and involving an
expenditure of less than US$500,000 in each case and US$1,000,000 in the
aggregate;
(g) paid any bonus to any officer, director,
employee, sales representative, agent or consultant, or granted to any officer,
director, employee, sales representative, agent or consultant any other
increase in compensation in any form, except for bonus payments and raises in
the Ordinary Course of Business;
23
(h) except in the Ordinary Course of Business,
entered into, adopted or amended any employment, consulting, retention,
change-in-control, collective bargaining, bonus or other incentive
compensation, profit-sharing, health or other welfare, stock option or other
equity, pension, retirement, vacation, severance, deferred compensation or
other employment, compensation or benefit plan, policy, agreement, trust, fund
or arrangement for the benefit of any officer, director, employee, sales
representative, agent, consultant or Affiliate (whether or not legally
binding);
(i) suffered any damage, destruction or loss (whether
or not covered by insurance), or any strike or other employment-related
problem, or any change in relations with or any loss of a supplier, customer or
employee, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to have or result in a Material
Adverse Effect;
(j) amended or
modified any of its Organizational Documents;
(k) changed in
any respect its accounting policies or principles, except as required by GAAP
or applicable Tax Law;
(l) transferred
or granted any rights or licenses under, or entered into any settlement
regarding the infringement of, Alibaba Intellectual Property or entered into or
modified any licensing or similar agreements or arrangements, in each case,
other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(m) sold any
assets with a value in excess of US$500,000 in each case or US$500,000 in the
aggregate, other than inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(n) taken any
action or omitted to take any action that would result or has resulted in the
occurrence of any of the foregoing.
3.9 Tax Matters.
(a) Except as set forth on Section 3.9(a) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, (i) all Tax Returns relating to each
member of the Alibaba Group or the business or assets thereof that were
required to be filed on or before the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the
case may be, have been (or by the Closing Date will be) duly and timely filed
and are (or will be) correct and complete in all material respects, (ii) all
Taxes shown as owing on such Tax Returns have been (or by the Closing Date will
have been) paid and (iii) no member of the Alibaba Group is, on the date
of this Agreement, the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to
file any Tax Return.
(b) Except as set forth on Section 3.9(b) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, (i) all material Taxes that are payable
by any member of the Alibaba Group or chargeable as a Lien upon its assets as
of the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the
24
case may be, have been duly and timely paid or reflected on the Alibaba
Financial Statements or the Tao Bao Financial Statements, (ii) each member
of the Alibaba Group has duly and timely withheld all material Taxes required
to be withheld in connection with its business or assets, and such withheld
Taxes have been either duly and timely paid to the proper Governmental
Authorities or properly set aside in accounts for such purpose and (iii) the
Alibaba Financial Statements and the Tao Bao Financial Statements reflect an
adequate reserve for all Taxes payable or asserted to be payable by the Alibaba
Group for all taxable periods or portions thereof through the date of the
Alibaba Financial Statements and the Tao Bao Financial Statements.
(c) Except as set forth on Section 3.9(c) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, there has been no claim or issue (other than a
claim or issue that has been finally settled) concerning any material liability
for Taxes of any member of the Alibaba Group asserted, raised or threatened in
writing by any taxing authority.
(d) Section 3.9(d) of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule lists all Income Tax Returns that have been filed with
respect to any member of the Alibaba Group for taxable periods ended on or
after December 31, 2003 and that have not yet been audited or are
currently the subject of audit.
(e) Except as set forth on Section 3.9(e) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, no member of the Alibaba Group has (i) waived
any statute of limitations, (ii) agreed to any extension of the period for
assessment or collection or (iii) executed or filed any power of attorney
with respect to Taxes, which waiver, agreement or power of attorney is
currently in force.
(f) Except as set forth on Section 3.9(f) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, (i) there are no outstanding adjustments
for Income Tax purposes applicable to any member of the Alibaba Group required
as a result of changes in methods of accounting effected on or before the
Closing Date and (ii) no material elections for Income Tax purposes have
been made by any member of the Alibaba Group that are currently in force or by
which any member of the Alibaba Group is bound.
(g) Except as set forth in Section 3.9(g) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, no member of the Alibaba Group (i) is a
party to or bound by or has any obligation under any Tax allocation, sharing,
indemnity or similar agreement or arrangement or (ii) is or has been a
member of any group of companies filing a consolidated, combined or unitary
Income Tax Return.
3.10 Assets. The members of the Alibaba Group collectively
own, or otherwise have full, sufficient and legally enforceable rights to use,
all of the material properties, assets and rights (real, personal or mixed,
tangible or intangible), used or held for use in connection with their
respective business.
25
3.11 Real Property.
(a) Owned Real Property. Section 3.11(a) of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and correct list of all Owned Real
Property of each member of the Alibaba Group setting forth the address and
owner of each parcel of Owned Real Property.
Each member of the Alibaba Group has good and marketable fee simple
title to the Owned Real Property, free and clear of any Lien other than
Permitted Liens and other than as set forth in Section 3.11(a) of the
Alibaba Disclosure Schedule.
(b) Leases. Section 3.11(b) of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and correct list of all Leases of
each member of the Alibaba Group setting forth the address, landlord, tenant
and expiration date for each Lease.
Alibaba has made available to Yahoo! correct and complete copies of the
Leases. Each Lease is legal, valid,
binding, in full force and effect and enforceable against each party thereto,
except to the extent that any failure to be so enforceable, individually and in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material
Adverse Effect. No member of the Alibaba
Group is, and to the knowledge of any member of the Alibaba Group, no other
party is, in default, violation or breach in any respect under any Lease, and
no event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes or, with notice or the
passage of time or both, would constitute a default, violation or breach in any
respect under any Lease, except to the extent such default, violation or breach
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Lease grants the tenant under the Lease
the right to use and occupy the premises and rights demised and intended to be
demised thereunder. Each member of the
Alibaba Group has title to the leasehold interests under its respective Leases,
free and clear of any Lien, except Permitted Liens. Each member of the Alibaba Group enjoys
peaceful and undisturbed possession in all material respects under its
respective Leases for the Leased Real Property.
(c) No Proceedings. Except as would not be reasonably expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there are no proceedings in eminent
domain or other similar proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of any member
of the Alibaba Group, threatened affecting any portion of the Real Property and
(ii) there exists no writ, injunction, decree, order or judgment
outstanding, nor any Litigation, pending or threatened, relating to the
ownership, lease, use, occupancy or operation by any Person of any Real
Property.
(d) Current Use. The use and operation of the Real Property in
the conduct of its business does not violate in any material respect any
instrument of record or agreement affecting the Real Property. There is no material violation of any
covenant, condition, restriction, easement or agreement or order of any
Governmental Authority that affects the Real Property or the ownership,
operation, use or occupancy thereof. No
material damage or destruction has occurred with respect to any of the Real
Property that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
26
3.12 Contracts.
(a) Disclosure. Except as set forth in Section 3.12(a) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, as of the date hereof, no member of the
Alibaba Group is a party to or bound by any Material Contract. Alibaba has made available to Yahoo! complete
and correct copies of all written Material Contracts, and accurate descriptions
of all material terms of all oral Material Contracts, set forth or required to
be set forth in Section 3.12(a) of the Alibaba Disclosure
Schedule. Except as set forth in Section 3.12(a) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, to the knowledge of any member of the Alibaba
Group, there is no agreement among the Key Executives or between the Key
Executives and Alibaba relating to the ownership, voting or disposition of the
shares of Alibaba held by the Key Executives or the exercise of rights under
this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements. Except as set forth in Section 3.12(a) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, no member of the Alibaba Group is a party to
any Contract (other than this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and any agreement
relating to the transfer of COAL to Alibaba) that, as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements, would impose any material obligations or duties on Yahoo!
or its Subsidiaries (other than the China Group) following the Closing Date.
(b) Enforceability. All Material Contracts are legal, valid,
binding, in full force and effect and enforceable against each party thereto,
except to the extent that any failure to be enforceable, individually and in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material
Adverse Effect. As of the date hereof,
no member of the Alibaba Group is in material violation, breach or default
under, nor is there any event or condition that, after notice or lapse of time
or both, would constitute a material violation, material breach or material
default thereunder, on the part of any member of the Alibaba Group or, to the
knowledge of any member of the Alibaba Group, any other Person. Except as set forth in Section 3.12(b) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, no Material Contract contains any change of
control or other terms or conditions that will become applicable or
inapplicable as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
3.13 Intellectual Property.
(a) Disclosure. Section 3.13(a) of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and correct list of all
Intellectual Property registrations or applications, filed before any
governmental Intellectual Property office, that are material to the business of
the Alibaba Group and is owned by any member of the Alibaba Group.
(b) Title. Each member of the Alibaba Group owns the
Alibaba Intellectual Property free and clear of any Lien, other than Permitted
Liens and licenses. Except as expressly
provided elsewhere in this Agreement or in the Ancillary Agreements,
immediately after the Closing, the Alibaba Group shall own all the Alibaba
Intellectual Property, in each case, free and clear of all Liens, other than
Permitted Liens and licenses, on the same terms and conditions as in effect
prior to the Closing.
27
(c) Licensing and Similar Arrangements. Section 3.13(c) of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule sets forth all material written agreements and
arrangements (other than licenses for commercially available software having
fees, whether up-front or annual, in the aggregate, of less than $50,000) (i) pursuant
to which any member of the Alibaba Group has licensed Alibaba Intellectual
Property to, or the use of such Alibaba Intellectual Property is otherwise
permitted (through non-assertion, settlement or similar agreements or
otherwise) by, any other Person, and (ii) pursuant to which any member of
Alibaba Group currently has Intellectual Property licensed to it, or is
otherwise permitted to use Intellectual Property (through non-assertion,
settlement or similar agreements or otherwise).
All of the agreements and arrangements set forth or required to be set
forth in Section 3.13(c) of the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule: (x) are
in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with their terms except
to the extent any failure to be enforceable, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse
Effect, (y) no default exists or is threatened thereunder by any member
of the Alibaba Group, or to the knowledge of the Alibaba Group, by any other
Person, except for such defaults that, individually and in the aggregate, would
not reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect, or
to materially impair the ability of any member of the Alibaba Group to perform
its respective obligations hereunder and under the Ancillary Agreements, and (z) do
not contain any change in control or other terms or conditions that will
operate to terminate, or otherwise adversely affect any right currently
available to members of the Alibaba Group holding such rights as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements. Alibaba has made
available to Yahoo! complete and correct copies of all licenses and
arrangements (including amendments, supplements, waivers and other modifications)
set forth or required to be set forth in Section 3.13(c) of the
Alibaba Disclosure Schedule.
(d) No Infringement. Except as set forth in Section 3.13(d) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule and except as would have a Material
Adverse Effect, the conduct of its business as presently conducted does not
infringe or misappropriate any rights of any Person in respect of any
Intellectual Property. Except as set
forth in Section 3.13(d) of the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, none of
the Alibaba Intellectual Property is being infringed or misappropriated by any
Person, except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to have or
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) No Intellectual Property Litigation. Except as set forth in Section 3.13(e) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, no written claim or demand by any Person has
been made or, to the knowledge of any member of the Alibaba Group, threatened,
nor is there any Litigation that is pending or, to the knowledge of any member
of the Alibaba Group, threatened against any member of the Alibaba Group, that (i) challenges
the rights of any member of the Alibaba Group in respect of any Alibaba
Intellectual Property, (ii) asserts that any member of the Alibaba Group
is infringing or misappropriating, or (except pursuant to the license
agreements required to be set forth in Section 3.13(c) of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule) is required to pay any royalty, license fee, charge or
other amount with regard to, any Intellectual
28
Property, or (iii) claims that any default exists under any
agreement or arrangement set forth or required to be set forth in Section 3.13(c) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, that, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Alibaba Intellectual Property is
subject to any outstanding order, ruling, decree, judgment or stipulation by or
with any court, tribunal, arbitrator or other Governmental Authority.
(f) Due Registration, Etc. Except as set forth in Section 3.13(f) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, the Alibaba Intellectual Property has been
duly registered with, filed in or issued by, as the case may be, Chinas State
Patent Bureau, State Trademark Bureau, State Copyright Bureau or other filing
offices, domestic or foreign, to the extent necessary or desirable to ensure
protection under any applicable Law, and such registrations, filings, issuances
and other actions remain in full force and effect, in each case, to the extent
material to the business of the Alibaba Group and in accordance with the
exercise of reasonable business judgment.
The Alibaba Group takes reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality
of its trade secrets, including requiring their employees to execute written
agreements covering the protection of trade secrets and intellectual property
and non-competition, substantially in the form made available to Yahoo!.
3.14 Insurance. Section 3.14 of the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule contains
a complete and correct list of all insurance policies maintained by any member
of the Alibaba Group. Alibaba has made
available to Yahoo! complete and correct copies of all such policies together
with all riders and amendments thereto.
Such scheduled policies and all other policies maintained during the
past three years are in full force and effect with respect to the time periods
covered thereunder, and all premiums due thereon have been paid. Each member of the Alibaba Group has complied
in all material respects with the terms and provisions of such scheduled
policies and such other policies. The
insurance coverage provided by such policies is adequate and suitable for the
business of the respective member of the Alibaba Group, except where the
failure to obtain such coverage would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
3.15 Litigation. Except as set forth on Section 3.15 of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, as of the date hereof, there is no Litigation
pending or, to the knowledge of any member of the Alibaba Group, threatened by,
against or affecting any member of the Alibaba Group or any of its properties
or assets, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
There are no outstanding orders, judgments, decrees or injunctions
issued by any Governmental Authority against any member of the Alibaba Group
that would reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
3.16 Compliance with Laws and Instruments;
Consents.
(a) Compliance. Except as set forth in Section 3.16(a) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, since January 1, 2004, each member of the
Alibaba Group is not, and has not been, in conflict with or in violation or breach
of or default
29
under (and there exists no event that, with notice or passage of time
or both, would constitute a conflict, violation, breach or default with, of or
under) (x) any Law applicable to it or any of its properties,
assets, operations or business, (y) any provision of its
Organizational Documents, or (z) any Contract, or any other
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
properties or assets is bound or affected, and no member of the Alibaba Group
has received any notice or has any knowledge of any claim alleging any such
conflict, violation, breach or default, except, in the case of clauses (x) and
(z) of this Section 3.16, for any such conflict, contravention, violation,
breach, default or other occurrence which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. This Section 3.16 is not intended to
address any matter related to the topics described in Section 3.9 (Tax
Matters), 3.11 (Real Property), 3.17 (Environmental Matters), 3.19 (Employees,
Labor Matters), 3.20 (Employee Benefit Plans and Related Matters), or 3.24
(Corrupt Practices).
(b) Consents.
(i) Except as specified in Section 3.16(b)(i) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule, no Governmental Approval or other Consent is
required to be obtained or made by any member of the Alibaba Group in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby, except where the failure to obtain such approval or consent would not
be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Section 3.16(b)(ii) of the
Alibaba Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and correct list of all material
Governmental Approvals and other Consents necessary for, or otherwise material
to, the conduct of the business of the Alibaba Group. All such Governmental Approvals and other
Consents have been duly obtained and are held by a member of the Alibaba Group
and are in full force and effect. Each
member of the Alibaba Group is, and at all times has been, in compliance with
all Governmental Approvals and other Consents held by such member, except for
such failures to comply that, individually and in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect. There is no Litigation pending or, to the
knowledge of any member of the Alibaba Group, threatened that would result in
the revocation, cancellation, suspension or modification or nonrenewal of any
material Governmental Approval or Consent; Alibaba has not been notified that
any material Governmental Approval or Consent will be modified, suspended or
cancelled or cannot be renewed in the Ordinary Course of Business; and there
is, to the knowledge of any member of the Alibaba Group, no reasonable basis
for any such revocation, cancellation, suspension, modification or nonrenewal,
in each case except where such revocation, cancellation, suspension,
modification or nonrenewal would not be reasonably expected to have or result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Governmental Filings. Each registration, report, statement, notice
or other filing required to be filed by any member of the Alibaba Group with
30
any Governmental Authority under any applicable Law affecting the
business of the Alibaba Group has been filed, and when filed complied and
continues to comply with applicable Law, except to the extent that any failure
to so file or comply would not be reasonably expected to have or result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
3.17 Environmental Matters. Each member of the Alibaba Group has
materially complied and is in material compliance with all applicable material
Environmental Laws pertaining to any of the properties and assets of such
member (including the Real Property) and the use and ownership thereof, and to
the operation of its business. To the
knowledge of any member of the Alibaba Group, no violation by any member of the
Alibaba Group is being alleged of any applicable Environmental Law relating to
any of the properties and assets of the Alibaba Group or the use or ownership
thereof, or to the operation of its business.
Except as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, no member of the Alibaba Group used, generated, treated, stored,
recycled or disposed of any hazardous substances on any property now owned,
operated or leased by any member of the Alibaba Group.
3.18 Affiliate Transactions.
(a) Section 3.18(a) of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and correct list of all
agreements, contracts, arrangements, understandings, Indebtedness, transfers of
assets or liabilities or other commitments or transactions, whether or not
entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business, to or by which (i) any
member of the Alibaba Group, on the one hand, and any of its Affiliates or any
member of Alibabas management or any of their respective Affiliates or Family
Members, on the other hand, or (ii) any member of Alibabas management, on
the one hand, and any other member of Alibabas management or any of Alibabas
Affiliates, on the other hand, are or have been a party or otherwise bound or
affected, and that involve continuing liabilities and obligations that,
individually or in the aggregate, have been, are or will be material to or from
any member of the Alibaba Group. Each
agreement, contract, arrangement, understanding, Indebtedness, transfer of
assets or liabilities or other commitment or transaction set forth or required
to be set forth in Section 3.18(a) of the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule was
on terms and conditions as favorable to Alibaba as would have been reasonably
obtained by it at the time in a comparable arms-length transaction with a
Person other than any of its Affiliates.
True and complete copies of each such agreement have been made available
to Yahoo!.
(b) No stockholder, officer, director or
employee of any member of the Alibaba Group, or any family member, relative or
Affiliate of any such stockholder, officer, director or employee, (i) owns,
directly or indirectly, and whether on an individual, joint or other basis, any
interest in (x) any property or asset, real or personal, tangible
or intangible, used in or held for use in connection with or pertaining to the
business of the Alibaba Group, or (y) any Person, that is a
supplier, customer or competitor of any member of the Alibaba Group, (ii) serves
as an officer, director or employee of any Person that is a supplier, customer
or competitor of any
31
member of the Alibaba Group or (iii) has received any loans from
or is otherwise a debtor of, or made any loans to or is otherwise a creditor
of, any member of the Alibaba Group.
3.19 Employees, Labor Matters, etc. No member of the Alibaba Group is a party to
or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, and there are no labor unions
or other organizations representing, purporting to represent or, to the knowledge
of any member of the Alibaba Group, attempting to represent any employees
employed by any member of the Alibaba Group.
Since January 1, 2004, there has not occurred or been threatened
any strike, slowdown, picketing, work stoppage, concerted refusal to work
overtime or other similar concerted labor activity with respect to any
employees of any member of the Alibaba Group.
There are no labor disputes currently subject to any grievance
procedure, arbitration or litigation and there is no representation petition
pending or threatened with respect to any employee of Alibaba. The Alibaba Group has complied with all
applicable Laws pertaining to the employment or termination of employment of
their respective employees, including, without limitation, all such Laws
relating to labor relations, equal employment opportunities, fair employment
practices, prohibited discrimination or distinction and other similar
employment activities, except for any failure so to comply that, individually
and in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
3.20 Employee Benefit Plans and Related Matters. Neither any member of the Alibaba Group nor
any of its Subsidiaries has any Benefit Plans subject to the Law of the United
States. With respect to each Benefit
Plan:
(a) all employer and employee contributions to
each Benefit Plan required by applicable Law or by the terms of such Benefit
Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued in accordance with GAAP;
(b) the fair market value of the assets of each
funded Benefit Plan, the liability of each insurer for any Benefit Plan funded
through insurance or the book reserve established for any Benefit Plan,
together with any accrued contributions, are sufficient to procure or provide
for the accrued benefit obligations, as of the Closing Date, with respect to
all current and former participants in such plan according to the actuarial
assumptions and valuations most recently used to determine employer
contributions to such Benefit Plan and none of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall cause such assets or
insurance obligations to be less than such benefit obligations; and
(c) each of the Benefit Plans has been operated
and administered in all respects in compliance with its terms, all applicable
Laws and all applicable collective bargaining agreements, except for any
failure so to comply that, individually and in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to result in a material liability or obligation on the
part of any member of the Alibaba Group, or to have or result in a Material
Adverse Effect. There are no material
pending or, to the knowledge of any member of the Alibaba Group, threatened
claims by or on behalf of
32
any of such Benefit Plan, by any employee of any member of the Alibaba
Group or otherwise involving any such Benefit Plan or the assets of any such
Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits, all of which have been
fully reserved for on the regularly prepared balance sheets of the Alibaba
Group).
3.21 Accounts Receivable. All accounts receivable reflected on the
Alibaba Balance Sheet and the Tao Bao Balance Sheet have been generated in the
Ordinary Course of Business and reflect a bona fide obligation for the payment
of goods or services provided by the Alibaba Group.
3.22 Bank Accounts. Section 3.22 of the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a complete and correct list containing the names set forth of each bank
in which Alibaba has an account or safe deposit or lock box and the account or
box number, as the case may be.
3.23 Brokers, Finders, etc. All negotiations relating to this Agreement,
the Ancillary Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
have been carried on without the participation of any Person acting on behalf
of any member of the Alibaba Group in such a manner as to, and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby will not otherwise, give rise to any valid
claim against any member of the Alibaba Group or Yahoo! for any brokerage or
finders commission, fee or similar compensation, or for any bonus payable to
any officer, director, employee, agent or representative of or consultant to
the Alibaba Group upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby, other than the fee payable to Seraphin Capital Limited, which will be
paid solely by Alibaba.
3.24 Corrupt Practices. Neither any member of the Alibaba Group, nor,
to the knowledge of any member of the Alibaba Group, any of its officers,
employees, directors, representatives or agents has within the past three years
knowingly offered, promised, authorized or made, directly or indirectly, (i) any
unlawful payments or (ii) payments or other inducements to any
governmental officials, including any official of any entity owned or
controlled by a government, with the intent or purpose of:
(a) influencing any act or decision of such
official in his official capacity;
(b) inducing such official to do or omit to do
any act in violation of the lawful duty of such official; or
(c) inducing such official to use his influence
with a government or instrumentality thereof to affect or influence any act or
decision of such government or instrumentality;
in order to assist Yahoo! or any member of the China
Group in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to,
any Person. To the knowledge of any
member of the Alibaba Group, no such payments or other inducements have been
33
provided to government officials described above in
violation of any applicable Law against improper payments or inaccurate
recordkeeping.
3.25 Insolvency.
(a) No order has been made and no resolution has
been passed for the winding up of any member of the Alibaba Group, or for a
provisional liquidator to be appointed in respect of any member of the Alibaba
Group and, so far as any member of the Alibaba Group is aware, no petition has
been presented and no meeting has been convened for the purpose of winding up
any member of the Alibaba Group.
(b) No receiver (which expression shall include
an administrative receiver) has been appointed in respect of any member of the
Alibaba Group or all or any of their respective assets or properties.
(c) No member of the Alibaba Group is insolvent
and/or has stopped paying debts as they fall due.
(d) No guarantee, loan capital, borrowed money
or interest for which any member of the Alibaba Group is liable is overdue for
payment and no other obligation or Indebtedness of any member of the Alibaba
Group is outstanding which is substantially overdue for performance or payment.
(e) So far as any member of the Alibaba Group is
aware, no distress, execution or other process for the execution of a court
judgment has been levied against any member of the Alibaba Group that has not
been satisfied in full. So far as any
member of the Alibaba Group is aware, no unsatisfied judgment is outstanding
against any member of the Alibaba Group.
(f) So far as any member of the Alibaba Group is
aware, no floating charge, except for Permitted Liens, has been created by any
member of the Alibaba Group over their respective assets or properties.
3.26 Disclosure. This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement,
and each certificate or other instrument or document furnished by or on behalf
of any member of the Alibaba Group to Yahoo! or any agent or representative of
Yahoo! pursuant hereto or in connection herewith, taken as a whole, do not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated herein or therein or necessary to make the
statements contained herein or therein in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. No
member of the Alibaba Group knows of any fact (other than matters of a general
economic or political nature that do not affect the business of the Alibaba
Group uniquely or that are set forth in Section 3.26 of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule) that would reasonably be expected to have or result in, a
Material Adverse Effect.
34
4. Covenants of Yahoo!.
4.1 Conduct of Business. On and after the date hereof to the Closing
Date, except as expressly required by this Agreement or as otherwise expressly
consented to by Alibaba in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed), Yahoo! will (solely with respect to the
China Business), and will cause each member of the China Group to:
(a) carry on the China Business in, and only in,
the Ordinary Course of Business, in substantially the same manner as heretofore
conducted, and use reasonable efforts to preserve intact the China Intellectual
Property, its present information technology system, business and condition and
business organization, keep available the services of its present officers and
significant employees, and preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers
and others having business dealings with it;
(b) not declare dividends or other distributions
on, or redeem or repurchase any shares of, any class of share capital of any
member of the China Group, make capital expenditures, prepay any accounts
payable, delay payment of any trade payables or make any other cash payments,
in each case other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(c) use reasonable efforts to maintain all of
the tangible Assets and all other tangible properties and assets owned, leased,
occupied, operated or used by it in good repair, working order and operating
condition subject only to ordinary wear and tear;
(d) not sell, transfer, assign, mortgage,
pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in, or otherwise subject to
any other Lien (other than Permitted Liens), any of its Assets, other than in
the Ordinary Course of Business;
(e) use reasonable efforts to keep in full force
and effect insurance comparable in amount and scope of coverage to insurance
now carried by it;
(f) pay accounts payable and other obligations,
when they become due and payable, in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(g) perform in all material respects all of its
obligations under any Contracts, agreements or other instruments relating to or
affecting the Assets or the China Business;
(h) not enter into or assume any Contract that
would constitute an Intellectual Property Contract that is material to the
China Business or a Material Contract, or enter into or permit any amendment,
supplement, waiver or other modification in respect thereof or in respect of
any Intellectual Property Contract that is material to the China Business or
any Material Contract;
35
(i) maintain its books of account and records in
the usual, regular and ordinary manner consistent with past policies and
practice;
(j) comply in
all material respects with all Laws applicable to the Assets or the China
Business;
(k) not
compromise, settle, grant any waiver or release relating to or otherwise adjust
any material Litigation;
(l) not cause
or permit any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification to or of any of its
Organizational Documents, except to the extent contemplated or required by this
Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements;
(m) use
reasonable efforts to maintain each member of the China Groups good standing
in its jurisdiction of organization and in the jurisdictions in which it is
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, except as would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(n) maintain
all Governmental Approvals and other Consents necessary for, or otherwise
material to, the China Business, except where the failure to maintain such
Governmental Approvals or other Consents would not be reasonably expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect;
(o) solely with
respect to the China Group, not merge or consolidate with, or agree to merge or
consolidate with, or purchase substantially all of the assets of, or otherwise
acquire, any business, business organization or division thereof, or any other
Person;
(p) promptly
advise Alibaba in writing of any event, occurrence, fact, condition, change,
development or effect that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably
be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect or a breach of this Section 4.1;
(q) take such
actions by and among the China Group on the one hand and the Yahoo! Group
(excluding the China Group) on the other hand, to (i) repay and satisfy
intercompany payables and receivables outstanding and (ii) terminate Intercompany
Contracts (a pro forma unaudited balance sheet as of June 30, 2005 showing
the effect of the transactions contemplated by this Section 4.1(q) as if
such transactions had occurred as of such date is attached as Section 4.1(q)(ii) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule);
(r) conduct all
Tax affairs relating to the China Group only in the Ordinary Course of
Business, and in good faith in substantially the same manner as such affairs
would have been conducted if this Agreement had not been entered into;
(s) not issue
or sell any shares of any class of its share capital, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares, or issue, sell,
36
grant or enter into any subscriptions, options, calls, warrants,
conversion rights, repurchase rights, redemption rights or other rights,
agreements, commitments, arrangements or understandings of any kind,
contingently or otherwise, to purchase or otherwise acquire any such shares or
any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares;
(t) not incur
any indebtedness for borrowed money, issue or sell any debt securities or
prepay any debt (including, without limitation, any borrowings from or
prepayments to any member of Yahoo! Group), or incur, assume, guarantee or
otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any liability or
obligation, in each case other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(u) not
forgive, cancel, compromise, waive or release any material debts, claims or
rights, except for debts, claims and rights against Persons other than any
member of Yahoo! Group, which are forgiven, cancelled, compromised, waived or
released in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(v) not pay any bonus to any officer, director,
employee, sales representative, agent or consultant, or grant to any officer,
director, employee, sales representative, agent or consultant any other
increase in compensation in any form, except for bonus payments and raises as
set forth on Section 4.1 of the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule and except
in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(w) except in
the Ordinary Course of Business, not enter into, adopt or amend any employment,
consulting, retention, change-in-control, collective bargaining, bonus or other
incentive compensation, profit-sharing, health or other welfare, stock option
or other equity, pension, retirement, vacation, severance, deferred
compensation or other employment, compensation or benefit plan, policy,
agreement, trust, fund or arrangement for the benefit of any officer, director,
employee, sales representative, agent, consultant or Affiliate (whether or not
legally binding);
(x) not change
in any respect its accounting policies or principles, except as required by
GAAP or applicable Tax Law;
(y) not
transfer or grant any rights or licenses under, or enter into any settlement
regarding the infringement of, China Intellectual Property or enter into any
licensing or similar agreement or arrangement other than in the Ordinary Course
of Business;
(z) not sell
any assets with a value in excess of US$500,000 in each case or US$1,000,000 in
the aggregate, other than inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business; and
(aa) not agree
or otherwise commit to take any of the actions proscribed in the foregoing
paragraphs (a) through (z).
37
4.2 No Solicitation. From the date hereof until the Closing Date,
Yahoo! shall not, and shall cause each other member of Yahoo! Group and each
Representative of any member of Yahoo! Group not to, (a) directly or
indirectly solicit or encourage any inquiries or proposals for, or enter into
or continue any discussions with respect to, (i) the acquisition by any
Person of any of the share capital or other securities of any member of the
China Group, or all or any portion of the China Business or of the Assets of
any member of the China Group, or (ii) the sale, grant, license,
disposition, transfer, contribution or acquisition of all or a material portion
of the properties, assets and rights (real, personal or mixed, tangible or
intangible) covered by the Technology and Intellectual Property License
Agreement if such sale, grant, license, disposition, transfer, contribution or
acquisition would prevent Yahoo! from performing its obligations under the
Technology and Intellectual Property License Agreement (any transaction that
falls within the description in subparagraph (i) or (ii), Yahoo!
Alternative Transaction), or (b) furnish or permit to be furnished
any non-public information concerning any member of the China Group or its
business and operations to any Person (other than Alibaba and its
Representatives), other than information furnished in the Ordinary Course of
Business after prior written notice to and consultation with Alibaba. Yahoo! shall promptly notify Alibaba of any
inquiry or proposal received by any member of Yahoo! Group or Representative
thereof with respect to any such Yahoo! Alternative Transaction. Yahoo! shall immediately cease and cause to
be terminated any existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any
Person other than Alibaba in respect of any Yahoo! Alternative Transaction.
4.3 Access and Information.
(a) So long as this Agreement remains in effect,
Yahoo! will, and will cause each other member of Yahoo! Group to, give Alibaba
and its Representatives, reasonable access during reasonable business hours to
all of such Persons respective properties, assets, books, contracts,
commitments, reports and records relating to the China Group, and furnish to
them all such documents, records and information with respect to the
properties, assets, rights and business of the China Group and copies of any
supporting schedules relating thereto as Alibaba shall from time to time
reasonably request except to the extent prohibited by applicable Law or the
Yahoo! User Privacy Policy. In addition,
Yahoo! will, and will cause each member of Yahoo! Group to, permit Alibaba and
its Representatives, reasonable access during reasonable business hours to each
member of the China Group. Yahoo! will,
and will cause each member of Yahoo! Group to, keep Alibaba generally informed
as to the affairs of the China Business.
(b) Yahoo! will, and will cause each other
member of Yahoo! Group, other than the China Group after the Closing, to,
retain all books and records relating to the China Group in accordance with
Yahoo!s record retention policies as presently in effect. During the three-year period beginning on the
Closing Date, Yahoo! shall not dispose of or permit the disposal of any such
books and records not required to be retained under such policies without first
giving 60 days prior written notice to Alibaba offering to surrender the same
to Alibaba at Alibabas expense.
38
4.4 Subsequent Financial Statements and
Reports. From the date hereof to and
including the Closing Date, Yahoo! will (i) provide to Alibaba a
consolidated China Group (excluding COAL) monthly management report and a
separate monthly management report of COAL, in each case in scope and detail
consistent with those management reports that have historically been
distributed to the senior management of the China Group or the Yahoo! Group,
and (ii) timely prepare, and promptly deliver to Alibaba, unaudited
quarterly financial statements, in scope and detail consistent with such
quarterly financial statements as historically distributed to such senior
management. Each such financial
statement shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject to year end
adjustments and except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and shall
present fairly the financial position, assets and liabilities of the
consolidated China Group, as well as COAL, as at the date thereof and the
results of its operations and its cash flows for the period then ended, in
accordance with accounting policies and procedures consistent with those
historically used by the China Group in the preparation of financial
statements.
4.5 Further Actions.
(a) Yahoo! shall, and shall cause each other
member of Yahoo! Group to, use reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken
all actions, and to do or cause to be done all other things, necessary, proper
or advisable in order for each member of Yahoo! Group to fulfill and perform
its obligations in respect of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to
which it is a party, or otherwise to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(b) Yahoo! shall, and shall cause each other
member of Yahoo! Group to, as promptly as practicable, (i) make, or cause
to be made, all filings and submissions required under any Law applicable to
any member of Yahoo! Group, and give such reasonable undertakings as may be
required in connection therewith, and (ii) use reasonable efforts to
obtain or make, or cause to be obtained or made, all Governmental Approvals and
Consents necessary to be obtained or made by any member of Yahoo! Group, in
each case in connection with this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, the
transfer of the China Business and the purchase of the Primary Shares pursuant
hereto, or the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby. From the date hereof to and
including the Closing Date, Yahoo! will use reasonable efforts to file, or
cause to be filed, and concurrently deliver to Alibaba, copies of each
registration, report, statement, notice or other filing required to be filed by
any member of the China Group or Yahoo! with any Governmental Authority under any applicable Law. All such registrations, reports, statements,
notices and other filings shall comply with applicable Law, except as would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Yahoo! shall, and shall cause each other
member of Yahoo! Group to, coordinate and cooperate with Alibaba in exchanging
such information and supplying such reasonable assistance as may be reasonably
requested by Alibaba in connection with the filings and other actions
contemplated by Section 5.5.
39
(d) At all times prior to the Closing Date,
Yahoo! shall promptly notify Alibaba in writing of any fact, condition, event
or occurrence that could reasonably be expected to result in the failure of any
of the conditions contained in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 to be satisfied,
promptly upon becoming aware of the same.
(e) Yahoo! shall, and shall cause each other
member of the Yahoo! Group that is a party to any of the Ancillary Agreements
to, execute such agreements, in substantially the form attached as an exhibit
to this Agreement (with such changes or modifications as may be mutually agreed
among the parties thereto) on or prior to the Closing Date.
(f) Yahoo! shall, and shall cause each other
member of the Yahoo! Group to, transfer the owned Intellectual Property between
the members of the Yahoo! Group so that as of the Closing (i) all
Intellectual Property set forth on Section 4.5(f)(i) of the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule is owned by a member of the China Group and (ii) all
Intellectual Property set forth on Section 4.5(f)(ii) of the Yahoo!
Disclosure Schedule is owned by Yahoo!.
4.6 Further Assurances. Following the Closing Date, Yahoo! shall, and
shall cause each other member of Yahoo! Group to, from time to time, execute
and deliver such additional instruments, documents, conveyances or assurances
and take such other actions as shall be necessary, or otherwise reasonably be
requested by Alibaba, to confirm and assure the rights and obligations provided
for in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and render effective the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, or otherwise
to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
4.7 Taxes.
(a) Transfer Taxes. All sales, use, value added, transfer, stamp,
documentary, filing, recording, registration, conveyance, license and other
similar Taxes that arise from or are attributable to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any
Income Taxes) shall be borne 162/3% by Yahoo! on the one
hand and 831/3% by Alibaba on the other hand; provided
that amount to be paid by Alibaba hereunder shall not exceed $1,166,666.
(b) Tax Returns. Alibaba shall be responsible for preparing
any Tax Returns with respect to each member of the China Group for any taxable
period ending on or before the Closing Date that is required to be filed after
the Closing Date. Alibaba shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to make such Tax Returns available for review
and comment by Yahoo! no less than twenty (20) days in advance of the due date
for filing such Tax Returns. In the
event any disagreement between Yahoo! and Alibaba with respect to the reporting
of any item on such Tax Returns cannot be resolved, the Tax Return on which
such item is reflected shall be submitted to an accounting firm of
international reputation mutually agreeable to Alibaba and Yahoo! (the Accountant)
for determination of the proper reporting of such item and any such
determination by the Accountant shall be final.
The fees and
40
expenses of the Accountant shall be borne equally by Yahoo! and
Alibaba. If the Accountant does not
resolve any differences between Yahoo! and Alibaba with respect to such Tax
Return at least 5 days prior to the due date therefor, such Tax Return shall be
filed as prepared by Alibaba and thereafter amended to reflect the Accountants
resolution.
(c) Tax Contests. Alibaba shall promptly notify Yahoo! in
writing upon receipt by any member of the China Group of notice of any Tax
audits, examinations or assessments with respect to a taxable period that
includes any period prior to the Closing Date, and Yahoo! shall participate in,
and direct the portion of any such audit, examination or proceeding that
relates to a pre-Closing taxable period, provided that without the prior
written consent of Alibaba, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
Yahoo! shall not settle any such audit, examination or proceeding in a manner
which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Alibaba
or any member of the China Group.
Alibaba shall, at its own expense, have the opportunity to participate
in any such audit, examination or proceeding.
Alibaba shall control any audit, examination or proceeding (or portion
thereof) that does not relate to a pre-Closing taxable period.
(d) Books and Records; Cooperation. Yahoo! and Alibaba shall (and shall cause
their respective Affiliates to) (i) provide the other party and its
Affiliates with such assistance as may be reasonably requested in connection
with the preparation of any Tax Return or any audit or other examination by any
taxing authority or judicial or administrative proceeding relating to Taxes
with respect to each member of the China Group; and (ii) retain (and
provide the other party and its Affiliates with reasonable access to) all
records or information which may be relevant to such Tax Return, audit,
examination or proceeding, provided that the foregoing shall be done in a
manner so as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of
the parties.
(e) Survival; Limitation; Overlap. The covenants of the parties contained in
this Section 4.7 shall survive until thirty (30) days following the date
that is fifteen (15) Business Days after the completion of the China Business
Audit. To the extent that an obligation
or responsibility pursuant to Section 9.1 may overlap with an obligation
or responsibility pursuant to this Section 4.7, the provisions of this Section 4.7
shall govern such obligation or responsibility, subject to Section 9.2(b).
5. Covenants of Alibaba.
5.1 Conduct of Business. On and after the date hereof to the Closing
Date, except as expressly required by this Agreement or the Ancillary
Agreements or as otherwise expressly consented to by Yahoo! in writing (such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Alibaba will,
and will cause each member of the Alibaba Group to:
(a) carry on their respective business in, and
only in, the Ordinary Course of Business, in substantially the same manner as
heretofore conducted, and
41
use reasonable efforts to preserve intact its present business
organization, keep available the services of its present officers and
significant employees, and preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers
and others having business dealings with it;
(b) not declare dividends or other distributions
on, or redeem or repurchase any shares of, any class of share capital of any
member of the Alibaba Group, make capital expenditures, prepay any accounts
payable, delay payment of any trade payables other than in the Ordinary Course
of Business or make any other cash payments, in each case other than in the
Ordinary Course of Business;
(c) use reasonable efforts to maintain all of
the tangible assets and all other tangible properties and assets owned, leased,
occupied, operated or used by it in good repair, working order and operating
condition subject only to ordinary wear and tear;
(d) not sell, transfer, assign, mortgage,
pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in, or otherwise subject to
any other Lien (other than Permitted Liens), any of its assets, other than in
the Ordinary Course of Business;
(e) use reasonable efforts to keep in full force
and effect insurance comparable in amount and scope of coverage to insurance
now carried by it;
(f) pay accounts payable and other obligations,
when they become due and payable, in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(g) perform in all material respects all of its
obligations under any Contracts, agreements or other instruments relating to or
affecting the properties, assets or business of the Alibaba Group;
(h) not enter into or assume any Contract that
would constitute an Intellectual Property Contract that is material to the
business of the Alibaba Group or a Material Contract, or enter into or permit
any amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification in respect thereof or
in respect of any Intellectual Property Contract that is material to the
business of the Alibaba Group or any Material Contract;
(i) maintain its books of account and records in
the usual, regular and ordinary manner consistent with past policies and
practice;
(j) comply in
all material respects with all Laws applicable to it or the properties, assets
or business of the Alibaba Group;
(k) not
compromise, settle, grant any waiver or release relating to or otherwise adjust
any material Litigation;
(l) not cause
or permit any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification to or of any of its
Organizational Documents, except to the extent contemplated or required by this
Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements;
42
(m) use
reasonable efforts to maintain each member of the Alibaba Groups good standing
in its jurisdiction of organization and in the jurisdictions in which it is
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, except as would not be reasonably
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(n) maintain
all Governmental Approvals and other Consents necessary for, or otherwise
material to, the business of the Alibaba Group, except where the failure to
maintain such Governmental Approvals or other Consents would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(o) not merge
or consolidate with, or agree to merge or consolidate with, or purchase
substantially all of the assets of, or otherwise acquire, any business,
business organization or division thereof, or any other Person;
(p) promptly
advise Yahoo! in writing of any event, occurrence, fact, condition, change,
development or effect that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably
be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect or a breach of this Section 5.1;
(q) conduct all
Tax affairs relating to Alibaba only in the Ordinary Course of Business, and in
good faith in substantially the same manner as such affairs would have been
conducted if this Agreement had not been entered into;
(r) not issue
or sell any shares of any class of its share capital, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares, or issue, sell, grant or
enter into any subscriptions, options, calls, warrants, conversion rights,
repurchase rights, redemption rights or other rights, agreements, commitments,
arrangements or understandings of any kind, contingently or otherwise, to
purchase or otherwise acquire any such shares or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for any such shares;
(s) not incur
any indebtedness for borrowed money, issue or sell any debt securities or
prepay any debt (including, without limitation, any borrowings from or
prepayments to any member of Alibaba Group), or incur, assume, guarantee or
otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any liability or
obligation, in each case other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(t) not
forgive, cancel, compromise, waive or release any material debts, claims or rights,
except for debts, claims and rights against Persons other than any member of
Yahoo! Group, which are forgiven, cancelled, compromised, waived or released in
the Ordinary Course of Business;
(u) not pay any
bonus to any officer, director, employee, sales representative, agent or
consultant, or grant to any officer, director, employee, sales representative,
agent or consultant any other increase in compensation in any form, except for
bonus payments and raises as set forth on Section 5.1 of the Alibaba
Disclosure Schedule and except in the Ordinary Course of Business;
43
(v) except in the Ordinary Course of Business,
not enter into, adopt or amend any employment, consulting, retention,
change-in-control, collective bargaining, bonus or other incentive
compensation, profit-sharing, health or other welfare, stock option or other
equity, pension, retirement, vacation, severance, deferred compensation or
other employment, compensation or benefit plan, policy, agreement, trust, fund
or arrangement for the benefit of any officer, director, employee, sales
representative, agent, consultant or Affiliate (whether or not legally
binding);
(w) not change
in any respect its accounting policies or principles, except as required by
GAAP or applicable Tax Law;
(x) not
transfer or grant any rights or licenses under, or enter into any settlement
regarding the infringement of, Alibaba Intellectual Property or enter into any
licensing or similar agreement or arrangement other than in the Ordinary Course
of Business;
(y) not sell
any assets with a value in excess of US$500,000 in each case or US$1,000,000 in
the aggregate, other than inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(z) not agree
or otherwise commit to take any of the actions proscribed in the foregoing
paragraphs (a) through (y).
5.2 No Solicitation. From the date hereof until the Closing
Date, Alibaba shall not, and shall cause
each other member of the Alibaba Group and each Representative of any member of
the Alibaba Group not to, (a) directly or indirectly solicit or encourage
any inquiries or proposals for, or enter into or continue any discussions with
respect to, the acquisition by any Person of any of the share capital or other
securities of any member of the Alibaba Group, of all or any portion of the
business of the Alibaba Group or of the assets of any member of the Alibaba
Group or of the assets of any member of the Alibaba Group, excluding the
issuance of any capital stock or securities convertible, exchangeable,
exercisable or redeemable for, or otherwise related to the value of, the
capital stock of any member of the Alibaba Group not in excess of 15% of the
then issued and outstanding capital stock of such member to financial investors
solely for capital raising purposes (an Alibaba Alternative Transaction),
or (b) furnish or permit to be furnished any non-public information
concerning any member of the Alibaba Group or its business and operations to
any Person (other than Yahoo! and its Representatives), other than in the
Ordinary Course of Business of Alibaba.
Alibaba shall promptly notify Yahoo! of any inquiry or proposal received
by any member of the Alibaba Group or Representative thereof with respect to
any such Alibaba Alternative Transaction.
Alibaba shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing
activities, discussions or negotiations with any Person other than Yahoo! in
respect of any Alibaba Alternative Transaction.
44
5.3 Access and Information.
(a) So long as this Agreement remains in effect,
Alibaba will (and will cause each member of the Alibaba Group to) give Yahoo!
and its Representatives, full access during reasonable business hours to its
properties, assets, books, contracts, commitments, reports and records relating
to the Alibaba Group, and furnish to them all such documents, records and
information with respect to the properties, assets, rights and business of the
Alibaba Group and copies of any work papers (in case of work papers, subject to
execution by Yahoo! of a customary confidentiality and indemnification
agreement if requested by the accountants who produced such work papers)
relating thereto as Yahoo! shall from time to time reasonably request except to
the extent prohibited by applicable Law or the Alibaba User Privacy
Policy. In addition, Alibaba will, and
will cause each member of the Alibaba Group to, permit Yahoo! and its
Representatives, reasonable access during reasonable business hours to the
Alibaba Group. Alibaba will, and will
cause each member of the Alibaba Group to, keep Yahoo! generally informed as to
the affairs of the business of the Alibaba Group.
(b) Alibaba will, and will cause each member of
the Alibaba Group to, retain all books and records relating to the Alibaba
Group in accordance with Alibabas record retention policies as presently in
effect. During the three-year period
beginning on the Closing Date, Alibaba shall not dispose of or permit the
disposal of any such books and records not required to be retained under such
policies without first giving 60 days prior written notice to Yahoo! offering
to surrender the same to Yahoo! at Yahoo!s expense.
5.4 Subsequent Financial Statements and
Reports. From the date hereof to and
including the Closing Date, Alibaba will (i) provide to Yahoo! a monthly
management report in scope and detail consistent with those management reports
that have historically been distributed to senior management of Alibaba and Tao
Bao, and (ii) timely prepare, and promptly deliver to Yahoo!, unaudited
quarterly financial statements in scope and detail consistent with such
quarterly financial statements as historically distributed to such senior
management. Each such financial
statement shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject to year end audit
adjustments and except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and shall
present fairly the financial position, assets and liabilities of the
consolidated Alibaba Group as at the date thereof and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for the period then ended, in accordance with
accounting policies and procedures consistent with those historically used by
the Alibaba Group in the preparation of financial statements.
5.5 Further Actions.
(a) Alibaba shall, and shall cause each other
member of the Alibaba Group to, use reasonable efforts to take or cause to be
taken all actions, and to do or cause to be done all other things, necessary,
proper or advisable in order for each member of the Alibaba Group to fulfill
and perform its obligations in respect of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements to which it is a party, or otherwise to consummate and make
effective the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
45
(b) Alibaba shall, and shall cause each other
member of the Alibaba Group to, as promptly as practicable, (i) make, or
cause to be made, all filings and submissions required under any Law applicable
to any member of the Alibaba Group, and give such reasonable undertakings as
may be required in connection therewith, and (ii) use reasonable efforts
to obtain or make, or cause to be obtained or made, all Governmental Approvals
and Consents necessary to be obtained or made by any member of the Alibaba
Group, in each case in connection with this Agreement or the Ancillary
Agreements or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby.
(c) Alibaba shall, and shall cause each other
member of the Alibaba Group to, coordinate and cooperate with Yahoo! in
exchanging such information and supplying such reasonable assistance as may be
reasonably requested by Yahoo! in connection with the filings and other actions
contemplated by Section 4.5.
(d) At all times prior to the Closing Date,
Alibaba shall promptly notify Yahoo! in writing of any fact, condition, event
or occurrence that could reasonably be expected to result in the failure of any
of the conditions contained in Sections 7.1 and 7.3 to be satisfied, promptly
upon becoming aware of the same.
(e) Alibaba shall, and shall cause each other
member of the Alibaba Group that is a party to any of the Ancillary Agreements
to execute such agreements, in substantially the form attached as an exhibit to
this Agreement (with changes or modifications as may be mutually agreed among
the parties thereto) on or prior to the Closing Date.
5.6 Further Assurances. Following the Closing Date, Alibaba shall,
and shall cause each other member of the Alibaba Group to, from time to time,
execute and deliver such additional instruments, documents, conveyances or
assurances and take such other actions as shall be necessary, or otherwise
reasonably be requested by Yahoo!, to confirm and assure the rights and
obligations provided for in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and
render effective the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, or otherwise to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
5.7 China Group Employees. From and after the Closing, Alibaba shall,
and shall cause its Subsidiaries (including the China Group after the Closing)
to maintain compensation, bonus, incentive and other Benefit Plans for the
benefit of the employees of the China Group (the China Group Employees)
that are not less favorable in the aggregate to those benefits currently
provided to similarly situated employees of any member of the Alibaba
Group. With respect to each Benefit
Plan, practice or policy of Alibaba or any of its Subsidiaries, each China Group
Employee shall be given credit under such Benefit Plan for all service with the
China Group or any predecessor employer (to the extent such credit was given by
the China Group or any predecessor employer under a comparable Benefit Plan),
for purposes of determining eligibility and vesting and for all other purposes
for which such service is
46
either taken into account or recognized (except where such credit would
result in duplication of accrued benefits under each Benefit Plan). Such service also shall apply for purposes of
satisfying any waiting periods, evidence of insurability requirements, or the
application of any preexisting condition limitations. China Group Employees shall be given full
credit for amounts paid under any Benefit Plan during the same calendar year in
which they commence participation in a comparable Benefit Plan of Alibaba or
any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of applying deductibles, co-payments and
out-of-pocket maximums as though such amounts have been paid in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the comparable Benefit Plan of Alibaba or any of
its Subsidiaries. Alibaba will, pursuant
to its applicable Benefit Plan, grant to each China Group Employee options of
comparable economic value to subscribe for Ordinary Shares in substitution for
those in-the-money unvested options to purchase common stock of Yahoo! held by
such employee at the Closing Date, which may be terminated by Yahoo!; provided,
however, that nothing in this Section 5.7 shall be construed as obligating
Alibaba to continue the employment of any China Group Employee after Closing.
5.8 China Business Audit. Alibaba undertakes to complete the China
Business Audit as soon as practicable after the Closing Date.
6. Covenants of Alibaba and Yahoo!.
6.1 Confidentiality.
(a) Except as required by the NASDAQ rules or
the rules of any other quotation system or exchange on which Yahoo!s
securities are listed or applicable Law, Yahoo! shall not disclose, shall not
permit any other member of Yahoo! Group (together with Yahoo!, Yahoo!
Parties) or any officers, directors or employees of Yahoo! or any other
member of Yahoo! Group to disclose, and shall prevent the respective other
Representatives and contractors of any member of Yahoo! Group (such officers,
directors, employees, other Representatives and contractors, Yahoo!
Representatives) from disclosing, to any Person, until the second
anniversary of the Closing Date shall have occurred, any Alibaba Information
(as hereinafter defined) that has been previously furnished by or on behalf of
Alibaba to any Yahoo! Representative, or is so furnished prior to or on the
Closing Date, or otherwise is known to any Yahoo! Party on the Closing Date. The term Alibaba Information means
any information concerning Alibaba or any member of the China Group, or the
business, activities or operations of Alibaba or any member of the China Group,
including but not limited to information relating to pricing, technologies,
trade secrets, business plans, processes, strategies, customers, suppliers,
financial data, statistics, or research and development, other than information
that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a
result of a disclosure by any Yahoo! Party or Yahoo! Representative, or (ii) any
Yahoo! Party or Yahoo! Representative is required to disclose by Law or legal
process. The term Confidential
Alibaba Information means any Alibaba Information that the receiving
Yahoo! Party knows or reasonably should know is confidential or proprietary, or
that Alibaba or any
47
member of the China Group has identified in writing to the receiving
Yahoo! Party as being confidential or proprietary.
(b) Except as required by the NASDAQ rules or
the rules of any other quotation system or exchange on which Alibabas
securities are listed or applicable Law, Alibaba shall not disclose, shall not
permit any member of the China Group (together with Alibaba, Alibaba
Parties) or any officers, directors or employees of Alibaba or any member
of the China Group to disclose, and shall prevent the respective other
Representatives and contractors of Alibaba or any member of the China Group
(such officers, directors, employees, other Representatives and contractors, Alibaba
Representatives) from disclosing, to any Person, until the second
anniversary of the Closing Date shall have occurred, any Yahoo! Information (as
hereinafter defined) that has been previously furnished by or on behalf of
Yahoo! to any Alibaba Representative, or is so furnished prior to or on the
Closing Date, or otherwise is known to any Alibaba Party on the Closing
Date. The term Yahoo! Information
means any information concerning Yahoo!, or the business, activities or
operations of Yahoo!, including but not limited to information relating to
pricing, technologies, trade secrets, business plans, processes, strategies,
customers, suppliers, financial data, statistics, or research and development,
other than information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the
public other than as a result of a disclosure by any Alibaba Party or Alibaba
Representative, or (ii) any Alibaba Party or Alibaba Representative is
required to disclose by Law or legal process.
The term Confidential Yahoo! Information means any Yahoo!
Information that the receiving Alibaba Party knows or reasonably should know is
confidential or proprietary, or that Yahoo! has identified in writing to the
receiving Alibaba Party as being confidential or proprietary.
(c) In the event that any Yahoo! Party is
requested in any proceeding to disclose any Alibaba Information, Yahoo! shall
give Alibaba prompt written notice of such request so that Alibaba may seek an
appropriate protective order. If in the
absence of a protective order any Yahoo! Party is compelled in a proceeding to
disclose Alibaba Information, such Yahoo! Party may disclose such portion of
Alibaba Information that in the opinion of Yahoo!s counsel such Yahoo! Party
is compelled to disclose, without liability under this Agreement, provided,
however, that Yahoo! shall give Alibaba written notice of Alibaba Information
to be disclosed as far in advance of its disclosure as is practicable and shall
use reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be
accorded to such Alibaba Information. In
the event that any Alibaba Party is requested in any proceeding to disclose any
Yahoo! Information, Alibaba shall give Yahoo! prompt written notice of such
request so that Yahoo! may seek an appropriate protective order. If in the absence of a protective order any
Alibaba Party is compelled in a proceeding to disclose Yahoo! Information, such
Alibaba Party may disclose such portion of Yahoo! Information that in the
opinion of Alibabas counsel such Alibaba Party is compelled to disclose,
without liability under this Agreement, provided, however, that Alibaba shall
give Yahoo! written notice of Yahoo! Information to be disclosed as far in
advance of its disclosure as is practicable and shall use reasonable
48
efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be
accorded to such Yahoo! Information.
Yahoo! agrees that neither it nor any other Yahoo! Party will
appropriate any proprietary Alibaba Information for its or their benefit, and
Alibaba agrees that neither it nor any other Alibaba Party will appropriate any
proprietary Yahoo! Information for its or their benefit.
(d) Yahoo! and Alibaba each acknowledge that the
other such party and its Affiliates would be irreparably damaged in the event
of a breach or a threatened breach of any of the acknowledging partys
obligations under this Section 6.1, and agrees, and shall cause each
member of Yahoo! Group, in the case of Yahoo!, and each member of the China
Group, in the case of Alibaba, to agree) that, in the event of a breach or a
threatened breach of any such obligation, the other such party shall, in
addition to any other rights and remedies available to it in respect of such
breach, be entitled to an injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction
granting it specific performance of the provisions of this Section 6.1.
(e) The provisions of this Section 6.1
shall not restrict Alibaba or any member of the China Group, or Yahoo! or any
other member of Yahoo! Group, from using Information in performing their
respective obligations under, or enforcing the terms of, this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, or in exercising their respective rights relating hereto
or thereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
6.2 Publicity. Except as may be required by the NASDAQ rules or
the rules of any other quotation system or exchange on which Yahoo!s or
Alibabas securities are listed or applicable Law, neither Yahoo! nor Alibaba
shall issue a publicity release or announcement or otherwise make any public
disclosure concerning this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, without prior approval of the
other party. The parties will make a
mutually agreed joint press release upon execution of this Agreement. If any announcement is required by Law to be
made by any party hereto, prior to making such announcement such party will
deliver a draft of such announcement to the other parties and shall give the
other parties an opportunity to comment thereon.
6.3 COAL Shares. Subject to obtaining any necessary
Governmental Approvals or Consents, Yahoo! and Alibaba shall enter into a
transfer agreement, in a form proposed by Alibaba and reasonably satisfactory
to Yahoo!, and take any other actions that are necessary to transfer the COAL
Shares to Alibaba on the Closing Date or as soon thereafter as is
practicable. Yahoo! shall use reasonable
efforts to promptly obtain all such necessary Consents and Governmental
Approvals.
6.4 Tax Treatment. Alibaba shall not take or permit any action,
or omit to take action, if such action or omission would prevent the direct and
indirect transfers of property by Yahoo! described in Section 1 from
qualifying as a transfer governed by Section 351 of Code. Alibaba will cooperate with Skadden, Arps,
Slate,
49
Meagher & Flom LLP in obtaining the opinion referred to in Section 7.3(j),
including by providing the representation letters referred to in Section 7.3(j).
6.5 Funding of China Business.
(a) During the period between the date hereof
and prior to the Closing, Yahoo! shall, and shall cause each member of the
China Group to, carry on the China Business only in their respective Ordinary
Course of Business and not deviate from the operating budget of the China Group
as set forth in Section 6.5 of the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule (the China
Group Budget). In particular, Yahoo!
shall, and shall cause each member of the China Group to, make capital
expenditures as contemplated in the China Group Budget.
(b) During the period following the Closing Date
to December 31, 2005, Alibaba shall, and shall cause each member of the China
Group to, conduct the China Business only in their respective Ordinary Course
of Business and not deviate from the China Group Budget. In particular, Alibaba shall not, and shall
cause each member of the China Group not to:
(i) declare dividends or other distributions on,
or redeem or repurchase any shares of, any class of share capital of any member
of the China Group, make capital expenditures, defer any accounts receivable,
prepay any accounts payable, delay payment of any trade payables or make any
other cash payments, in each case other than in the Ordinary Course of Business
of the China Group prior to the date of this Agreement;
(ii) compromise, settle, grant any waiver or
release relating to or otherwise adjust any material Litigation;
(iii) forgive, cancel, compromise, waive or
release any material debts, claims or rights, except for debts, claims and
rights against Persons, which are forgiven, cancelled, compromised, waived or
released in the Ordinary Course of Business of the China Group prior to the
date of this Agreement;
(iv) pay any bonus to any officer, director,
employee, sales representative, agent or consultant, or grant to any officer,
director, employee, sales representative, agent or consultant any other
increase in compensation in any form, except in the Ordinary Course of Business
of the China Group prior to the date of this Agreement;
(v) except in the Ordinary Course of Business,
enter into, adopt or amend any employment, consulting, retention,
change-in-control, collective bargaining, bonus or other incentive
compensation, profit-sharing, health or other welfare, stock option or other
equity, pension, retirement, vacation, severance, deferred compensation or
other employment, compensation or benefit plan, policy, agreement, trust, fund
or arrangement for the benefit of any officer, director,
50
employee, sales representative, agent, consultant or Affiliate (whether
or not legally binding);
(vi) change in any respect its accounting
policies or principles, except as required by GAAP or applicable Tax Law;
(vii) merge or consolidate with, or agree to
merge or consolidate with, or purchase substantially all of the assets of, or
otherwise acquire, any business, business organization or division thereof, or
any other person; and
(viii) agree or otherwise commit to take any of
the actions proscribed in the foregoing paragraph (i) through (vii).
(c) The Adjusted Cash Balance of the China Group
as of December 31, 2005 shall be determined by an internationally
recognized accounting firm mutually agreeable to Yahoo! and Alibaba within
thirty (30) Business Days following the completion of the audit of the China
Group for the fiscal year ended on December 31, 2005. The Adjusted Cash Balance means the
cash balance (which could be a negative number) of the China Group as of December 31,
2005 on the audited financial statements of the China Group for the fiscal year
ended on December 31, 2005, as adjusted to exclude any effect of business (i) conducted
outside the Ordinary Course of Business and (ii) deviated from the China
Group Budget. Such adjustment shall
include, without limitation, (A) as to the period between the date hereof
and the Closing Date, (i) deduction from the actual cash balance of the
amount by which capital expenditures are less than the budgeted amount in the
China Group Budget, and (ii) deduction from the actual cash balance of the
amount of liabilities (including any reserved amount) incurred other than in
the Ordinary Course of Business, and (B) as to the period between the day
immediately following the Closing Date and December 31, 2005, (i) addition
of the amount of capital expenditures in excess of the China Group Budget and (ii) addition
of the amount of dividends or other distributions made other than in the
Ordinary Course of Business.
(d) (i) In the event the Adjusted Cash
Balance is less than US$0.00, Yahoo! shall pay to Alibaba, and (ii) in the
event the Adjusted Cash Balance is greater than US$1,800,000, Alibaba shall pay
to Yahoo!, in each case, up to US$5,000,000, an amount equal to such shortfall
from US$0.00 or such excess above US$1,800,000, as the case may be, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the account of Alibaba or Yahoo!, as
the case may be, within twenty (20) Business Days following the determination
of the Adjusted Cash Balance.
7. Conditions Precedent.
7.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party. The obligations of each party to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the fulfillment on or
prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:
51
(a) No Injunction, etc. Consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or by any of the Ancillary Agreements shall not have been restrained,
enjoined or otherwise prohibited or made illegal by any applicable Law,
including any order, injunction, decree or judgment of any court or other
Governmental Authority in any material respect; and no such Law that would have
such an effect shall have been promulgated, entered, issued or determined by
any court or other Governmental Authority to be applicable to this Agreement or
any of the Ancillary Agreements. No
action or proceeding shall be pending or threatened by any Governmental
Authority on the Closing Date before any court or other Governmental Authority
to restrain, enjoin or otherwise prevent the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or by any of the Ancillary Agreements in any material
respect.
(b) ICP Share Transfer Agreements. Each of the ICP Share Transfer Agreements
shall have been duly executed and delivered, and the China ICP Shares shall
have been validly transferred to the Alibaba Designees on or prior to the
Closing Date, with control documentation reasonably satisfactory to Yahoo! and
Alibaba.
(c) Tao Bao Share Exchange Agreement. The transactions contemplated by the Tao Bao
Share Exchange Agreement shall have been consummated on or prior to the Closing
Date.
(d) Share Conversion. The Share Conversion shall have been
consummated on or prior to the Closing Date.
(e) Tao Bao Share Purchase Agreement. The transactions contemplated by the Tao Bao
Share Purchase Agreement shall have been consummated on or prior to the Closing
Date.
7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Alibaba. The obligations of Alibaba to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the fulfillment on or
prior to the Closing Date of the following additional conditions:
(a) Representations, Performance.
(i) The representations and warranties contained
in Section 2 (i) shall be true and correct in all respects at and as
of the date hereof, and (ii) shall be deemed to be made and shall be true
and correct in all respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect
as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly by
its terms made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date),
except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and
correct, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(ii) Yahoo! shall have in all material respects
duly performed and complied with all agreements, covenants and conditions
required by this
52
Agreement to be performed or complied with by Yahoo! prior to or on the
Closing Date.
(iii) Yahoo! shall have delivered to Alibaba a
certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of
Yahoo!, to the effect set forth above in this Section 7.2(a).
(b) Deliveries at Closing. At the Closing, Yahoo! shall have delivered (i) to
Alibaba all of the certificates for the 3721 Shares and the Tao Bao Shares, (ii) to
Alibaba documentary evidence of the transfer of the WFOE Interests, (iii) to
Alibaba Designees, the China ICP Shares, (iv) the Other Assets and (v) to
Alibaba the Cash Consideration, in each case as provided in Section 1.2.
(c) Consents. The Governmental Approvals listed on Section 2.16(b)(i) of
the Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule required to be made or obtained by any
member of Yahoo! Group in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements shall have been made
or obtained. All Governmental Approvals
that arise after the date hereof required to be made or obtained by any member
of the Yahoo! Group in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements shall have been made
or obtained, except where the failure to obtain such Governmental Approvals
would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse
Effect. Complete and correct copies of all
such Governmental Approvals shall have been delivered to Alibaba.
(d) Resignation of Directors. All directors and officers of any member of
the China Group whose resignations shall have been requested by Alibaba in
writing not less than five days prior to the Closing Date shall have submitted
their resignations or been removed from office effective as of the Closing
Date.
(e) No Material Adverse Effect. No event, occurrence, fact, condition,
change, development or effect shall exist or have occurred or come to exist or
been threatened since December 31, 2004 that, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or resulted in, or would reasonably be expected to become or
result in, a Material Adverse Effect on the China Group.
(f) Ancillary Agreements. Each of the Ancillary Agreements shall have
been executed and delivered by each party thereto other than members of the
Alibaba Group or members of management of Alibaba.
(g) Opinion of Counsels. Alibaba shall have received an opinion,
addressed to it and dated the Closing Date, from each of Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP, Deacons, Conyers Dill & Pearman and
Haiwen & Partners, each a counsel to Yahoo!, substantially in form of Exhibit I
hereto.
53
7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Yahoo!. The obligation of Yahoo! to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the fulfillment, on or
prior to the Closing Date, of the following additional conditions:
(a) Representations, Performance, etc.
(i) The representations and warranties contained
in Section 3 (i) shall be true and correct in all respects at and as
of the date hereof and (ii) shall be deemed to be made and shall be true
and correct in all respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect
as though made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly by its
terms made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date),
except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and
correct, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(ii) Alibaba shall have in all material respects
duly performed and complied with all agreements, covenants and conditions
required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or
on the Closing Date.
(iii) Alibaba shall have delivered to Yahoo! a
certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by Alibabas Chief Financial
Officer to the effect set forth above in this Section 7.3(a).
(b) Delivery of Share Certificates. Alibaba shall have delivered the certificates
representing the Primary Shares to Yahoo! at the Closing in the manner set
forth in Section 1.2.
(c) Consents. All Governmental Approvals listed in Section 3.16(b)(i) of
the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule required to be made or obtained by any
member of the Alibaba Group in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements shall
have been made or obtained. All Governmental
Approvals that arise after the date hereof required to be made or obtained by
any member of the Alibaba Group in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements shall
have been made or obtained, except where the failure to obtain such
Governmental Approvals would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a
Material Adverse Effect. Complete and
correct copies of all such Governmental Approvals shall have been delivered to
Yahoo!.
(d) No Material Adverse Effect. No event, occurrence, fact, condition,
change, development or effect shall exist or have occurred or come to exist or
been threatened since December 31, 2004 that, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or resulted in, or would reasonably be expected to become or
result in, a Material Adverse Effect on the Alibaba Group.
(e) Opinion of Counsels. Yahoo! shall have received an opinion,
addressed to it and dated the Closing Date, from each of Debevoise &
Plimpton LLP,
54
Maples & Calder and TransAsia Lawyers, each a counsel to
Alibaba, substantially in the form of Exhibit J hereto.
(f) Ancillary Agreements. Each of the Ancillary Agreements shall have
been executed and delivered by each Person that is to be a party thereto other
than Yahoo!.
(g) Board Composition. The board of directors of Alibaba shall have
been reconstituted in the manner contemplated by the Shareholders Agreement.
(h) Memorandum and Articles. The Memorandum and Articles shall have been
filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands, shall not have
been amended, and shall be in full force and effect.
(i) Secondary Share Purchase Agreement. The transactions contemplated by the
Secondary Share Purchase Agreement shall have been consummated on or prior to
the Closing Date.
(j) Tax
Opinion. Yahoo! shall have received
an opinion, dated as of the Closing Date, from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom LLP, counsel to Yahoo!, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Yahoo!, to the effect that the direct and indirect transfers of property by
Yahoo! described in Section 1 should be treated as a transfer of property
governed by Section 351 of the Code.
The issuance of such opinion shall be conditioned upon the receipt by
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, of representation letters
from Yahoo!, Alibaba, Softbank, Netking Venture Corporation, Jack Ma,
Dataexchange Development Inc. and PEME Holding Limited, substantially in the
form of Exhibit M hereto, including representations confirming the
accuracy of Section 3.2(e) of the Alibaba Disclosure Schedule. Each such representation letter shall be
dated on or before the date of such opinion and shall not have been withdrawn
or modified in any material respect.
8. Termination.
8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior to the Closing Date:
(a) By the written agreement of Alibaba and
Yahoo!;
(b) By Yahoo! or Alibaba by written notice to
the other party after 5:00 p.m. Hong Kong time on December 31, 2005
if the transactions contemplated hereby shall not have been consummated
pursuant hereto, unless such date is extended by the mutual written consent of
Yahoo! and Alibaba; or
(c) By Yahoo! if the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a)(i) and
7.3(a)(ii) would not be satisfied and which shall not have been cured
within 30 days following written notice thereof; provided that Yahoo! shall not
have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(c) if
Yahoo! is then in material
55
breach of any of its covenants or agreements contained in this
Agreement such that the Closing conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a)(i) or
7.2(a)(ii) would not be satisfied; or
(d) By Alibaba if conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a)(i) and
7.2(a)(ii) would not be satisfied and which shall not have been cured
within 30 days following written notice thereof; provided that Alibaba shall
not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(d) if
Alibaba is then in material breach of any of its covenants or agreements
contained in this Agreement such that the Closing conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a)(i) or
7.3(a)(ii) would not be satisfied.
8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.1, this Agreement shall
become void and have no effect, without any liability to any Person in respect
hereof or of the transactions contemplated hereby on the part of any party
hereto, or any of its directors, officers, Representatives, stockholders or
Affiliates, except as specified in Sections 2.24, 3.23, 6.1, 6.2, 8.2,
11.1 and 11.3 and except for any liability resulting from such partys
intentional and material breach of this Agreement.
9. Indemnification.
9.1 Indemnification by Yahoo! and Alibaba.
(a) Yahoo! covenants and agrees to defend,
indemnify and hold harmless each of Alibaba, its Affiliates, the members of the
China Group and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents,
advisers and representatives (collectively, the Alibaba Indemnitees)
from and against, and pay or reimburse Alibaba Indemnitees for, any and all
claims, demands, liabilities, obligations, losses, fines, costs, expenses, royalties,
Litigation, deficiencies or damages (whether absolute, accrued, conditional or
otherwise and whether or not resulting from third party claims), including
interest and penalties with respect thereto and out-of-pocket expenses and
reasonable attorneys and accountants fees and expenses incurred in the
investigation or defense of any of the same or in asserting, preserving or
enforcing any of their respective rights hereunder (collectively, Losses),
resulting from or arising out of:
(i) any inaccuracy of any representation
or warranty that survives the Closing when made or deemed made by any member of
Yahoo! Group herein or in connection herewith; or
(ii) any failure of any member of Yahoo!
Group to perform any post-Closing covenant or agreement hereunder or fulfill
any other obligation in respect hereof;
(b) Alibaba covenants and agrees to defend,
indemnify and hold harmless each of Yahoo!, its Subsidiaries and their
respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisers and representatives
(collectively, the Yahoo!
56
Indemnitees) from and against, and
pay or reimburse Yahoo! Indemnitees for any and all Losses, resulting from or
arising out of:
(i) any inaccuracy of any representation or
warranty that survives the Closing when made or deemed made by Alibaba herein
or in connection herewith; or
(ii) any
failure of Alibaba to perform any post-Closing covenant or agreement hereunder
or fulfill any other obligation in respect hereof.
9.2 Limitation.
(a) For
purposes of this Section 9, any inaccuracy in any representation or
warranty shall be determined without regard to any materiality or Material
Adverse Effect qualification, or any qualification or requirement that a matter
be or not be reasonably expected to occur, contained in or otherwise
applicable to such representation or warranty, which qualification or
requirement limits the scope of such representation or warranty and, giving
effect thereto, renders such representation or warranty accurate.
(b) Neither Yahoo! nor Alibaba shall be required
to indemnify the Alibaba Indemnitees or the Yahoo! Indemnitees, as the case may
be, with respect to any claim for indemnification pursuant to clause (i) of
the Section 9.1(a) or clause (i) of Section 9.1(b), as the
case may be, in respect of any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties of Yahoo! or Alibaba, as the case may be, referred to in such
clause, unless and until the aggregate amount of all claims against Yahoo! or
Alibaba, as the case may be, under Section 9.1 exceeds US$5,000,000, and
then only to the extent of such excess, provided, however, that (i) the
aggregate liability of Yahoo! under Section 9.1 shall not exceed
US$50,000,000, (ii) the aggregate liability of Alibaba under Section 9.1
shall not exceed US$70,000,000 and (iii) the amount of each claim arising
from a single occurrence or event under Section 9.1 shall be US$500,000 or
more.
(c) Alibaba shall pay any Loss payable by
Alibaba to any Yahoo! Indemnitee pursuant to this Section 9 by issuing
such number of new Ordinary Shares that is equal to such number of new Ordinary
Shares determined by applying the following formula:
where:
L = Amount
of the Loss to be indemnified
N = Total
number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding
S = 6.49744381587623
Y = The
number of Ordinary Shares then owned by Yahoo!
57
9.3 Payment Adjustments, etc.
(a) Any indemnity payment made by Yahoo! to Alibaba
Indemnitees, on the one hand, or by Alibaba to Yahoo! Indemnitees, on the other
hand, pursuant to this Section 9 in respect of any claim (i) shall be
net of an amount equal to (x) any insurance proceeds realized by and
paid to the Indemnified Party minus (y) any related costs and expenses,
including the aggregate cost of pursuing any related insurance claims plus any
correspondent increases in insurance premiums or other chargebacks, and (ii) shall
be (A) reduced by an amount equal to the Income Tax benefits, if any,
attributable to such claim and (B) increased by an amount equal to the
Income Taxes, if any, attributable to the receipt of such indemnity payment,
but only to the extent that such Tax benefits are actually realized, or such
Income Taxes are actually paid, as the case may be, by Yahoo! Indemnitees or
Alibaba Indemnitees or any consolidated, combined or unitary group of which any
Alibaba Indemnitee or Yahoo! Indemnitees is a member. The Indemnified Party shall use its
reasonable efforts to make insurance claims relating to any claim for which it
is seeking indemnification pursuant to Section 9; provided, that
the Indemnified Party shall not be obligated to make such an insurance claim if
the Indemnified Party in its reasonable judgment believes that the cost of
pursuing such an insurance claim together with any correspondent increase in
insurance premiums or other chargebacks to the Indemnified Party or the China
Group, as the case may be, would exceed the value of the claim for which the
Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.
(b) The indemnity provided for in this Section 9
shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of Alibaba or Yahoo!, as the case may
be, after the Closing for any Losses incurred in connection with this
Agreement; provided, that nothing herein shall limit in any way any such
partys remedies in respect of fraud or intentional misrepresentation or
intentional omission by the other party in connection herewith or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
9.4 Indemnification Procedures. In the case of any claim asserted by a third
party against a party entitled to indemnification under this Agreement (the Indemnified
Party), notice shall be given by the Indemnified Party to the party
required to provide indemnification (the Indemnifying Party) promptly
after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which
indemnity may be sought, and the Indemnified Party shall permit the
Indemnifying Party (at the expense of such Indemnifying Party) to assume the
defense of any claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, provided,
that (i) counsel for the Indemnifying Party who shall conduct the defense
of such claim or litigation shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified
Party, and the Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at such
Indemnified Partys expense, and (ii) the failure of any Indemnified Party
to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of
its indemnification obligation under this Agreement except to the extent that
such failure results in a lack of actual notice to the Indemnifying Party and
such Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced as a result of such failure to
give notice. Except with
58
the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, no Indemnifying
Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall consent to entry
of any judgment or enter into any settlement that provides for injunctive or
other nonmonetary relief affecting the Indemnified Party or that does not
include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by each claimant or
plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability with
respect to such claim or litigation. In
the event that the Indemnified Party shall in good faith determine that the
conduct of the defense of any claim subject to indemnification hereunder or any
proposed settlement of any such claim by the Indemnifying Party might be
expected to affect adversely the Indemnified Partys Tax liability or (in the
case of an Indemnified Party that is a Alibaba Indemnitee) the ability of any
member of the China Group to conduct its business, or that the Indemnified
Party may have available to it one or more defenses or counterclaims that are inconsistent
with one or more of those that may be available to the Indemnifying Party in
respect of such claim or any litigation relating thereto, the Indemnified Party
shall have the right at all times to take over and assume control over the
defense, settlement, negotiations or litigation relating to any such claim at
the sole cost of the Indemnifying Party, provided, that if the
Indemnified Party does so take over and assume control, the Indemnified Party
shall not settle such claim or litigation without the written consent of the
Indemnifying Party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. In the event that the Indemnifying Party does
not accept the defense of any matter as above provided, the Indemnified Party
shall have the full right to defend against any such claim or demand, and shall
be entitled to settle or agree to pay in full such claim or demand. In any event, Yahoo! and Alibaba shall
cooperate in the defense of any claim or litigation subject to this Section 9
and the records of each shall be available to the other with respect to such
defense.
9.5 Survival of Representations and
Warranties, etc. All claims for
indemnification under clause (i) of Section 9.1(a) or
clause (i) of Section 9.2 with respect to the representations
and warranties contained herein must be asserted on or prior to the date that
is twenty (20) Business Days after the
termination of the survival period set forth in this Section 9.5, and all
lawsuits with respect to such claims must be brought within the proper periods
as specified by the applicable statutes of limitations. The representations and warranties contained
in this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
any examination by or on behalf of the parties hereto and the completion of the
transactions contemplated herein, but only to the extent specified below:
(a) the representations and warranties contained
in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 2.7, 2.9, 2.10, 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.16(b)(ii) and
2.18 and 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.9, 3.12, 3.13, 3.15, 3.16(b)(ii) and
3.18 shall survive until 15 Business Days after the completion of the China
Business Audit;
(b) except as set forth in clause (a) above,
the representations and warranties of Yahoo! and Alibaba contained in Section 2
and Section 3, respectively, shall terminate upon the Closing.
59
10. Definitions.
10.1 Terms Generally. The words hereby, herein, hereof, hereunder
and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole (including any
Schedules hereto) and not merely to the specific section, paragraph or clause
in which such word appears. All
references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed
references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to,
this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require. The words include, includes and including
shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation. The definitions given for terms in this Section 10
and elsewhere in this Agreement shall apply equally to both the singular and
plural forms of the terms defined.
Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the
corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, all references to dollars or US$ shall be deemed references to the
lawful money of the United States of America.
All references to RMB shall be deemed references to Renminbi, the
lawful money of China.
10.2 Certain Terms. Whenever used in this Agreement (including in
the Schedules), the following terms shall have the respective meanings given to
them below or in the Sections indicated below:
3721 HK: as defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
3721 Shares: as defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
Accountant: as defined in Section 4.7(c).
Adjusted Cash Balance: as defined in
Section 6.5(c).
Affiliate: of a Person means a Person that directly or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or
is under common control with, the first Person, including but not limited to a
Subsidiary of the first Person, a Person of which the first Person is a
Subsidiary, or another Subsidiary of a Person of which the first Person is also
a Subsidiary. Control (including the
terms controlled by and under common control with) means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities,
by contract or credit arrangement, as trustee or executor, or otherwise.
Agreement: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
Alibaba: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
Alibaba Alternative Transaction: as
defined in Section 5.2.
Alibaba Balance Sheet: means the balance sheet as of June 30,
2005 included as a part of the Alibaba Financial Statements.
60
Alibaba Designees: Jack Ma Yun, the
Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba, and/or persons designated by him to act in
such capacity.
Alibaba Disclosure Schedule: as
defined in the first paragraph of Section 3.
Alibaba Financial Statements: the audited consolidated balance sheets and
the related statements of operations, shareholders equity and cash flows as of
and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 and 2005 and the
unaudited consolidated balance sheets and the related statements of operations
as of and for the six-month period ended June 30, 2005, of Alibaba.
Alibaba Group: Alibaba and its
Subsidiaries. For the purpose of this
Agreement only, Tao Bao and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be members of
the Alibaba Group.
Alibaba Indemnitees: as defined in Section 9.1(a).
Alibaba Information: as defined in Section 6.1(a).
Alibaba Intellectual Property: all
material Intellectual Property purported to be owned by any member of the
Alibaba Group.
Alibaba Online Dataroom: the online
document dataroom hosted by Merrill Corporation to which Yahoo! was granted
access during the period before the execution of this Agreement.
Alibaba Parties: as defined in Section 6.1(b).
Alibaba Representatives: as defined
in Section 6.1(b).
Alibaba Shareholders Approvals:
approvals of certain shareholders of Alibaba, obtained through the execution
and delivery by such shareholders of the Voting Agreements and related proxies,
agreed to vote their shares, through their proxies, (i) in favor of the
approval of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the other actions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (including, without
limitation, the conversion of all issued and outstanding Series A
Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares and Series C Preferred
Shares into Ordinary Shares) and any actions required in furtherance thereof,
including but not limited the approval of the Memorandum and Articles, as
contemplated by this Agreement; and under no circumstances will the
shareholders seek to exercise their voting right contrary to the manner set out
in this subclause; (ii) against (A) approval of any proposal made in
opposition to, or in competition with, this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (B) any
action or agreement that would result in a breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant, agreement or other obligation of Alibaba in this Agreement
or the Ancillary Agreements; (iii)
61
impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, discourage or
adversely affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements.
Alibaba User Privacy Policy: the
policy of Alibaba for the purpose of protecting the privacy of the user data,
as such policy may be updated from time to time.
Ancillary Agreements: the ancillary agreements to be entered into
in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including without limitation, the Shareholders Agreement, the
Memorandum and Articles, the Secondary Shares Purchase Agreement, the Tao Bao
Share Purchase Agreement, the Tao Bao Share Exchange Agreement, the
Non-Competition Agreements, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Technology
and Intellectual Property License Agreement and the Yahoo! Investment
Agreement.
Assets: as defined in Section 2.10(a).
Benefit Plan: any plan, agreement or arrangement, formal or
informal, whether oral or written, whereby any member of the China Group or
Alibaba, as the case may be, or any of their respective Subsidiaries provides
any benefit to any present or former officer, director or employee, or
dependent or beneficiary thereof, including, without limitation, any profit
sharing, deferred compensation, stock option, performance stock, employee stock
purchase, bonus, severance, retirement, health or insurance plans.
Business Days: any day that is not a
Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by Law
to be closed in New York, Beijing, or Hong Kong.
Cash Consideration: as defined in Section 1.1.
China: the Peoples Republic of China.
China Business: the business and operations of the China
Group as previously or currently conducted or contemplated by the members of
the China Group as of the date hereof to be conducted, which shall include: (i) the
business known as 3721 Internet Real Names (a.k.a. Chinese Key Words); (ii) the
business relating to Yahoo!s search engine and its monetization models
(including but not limited to the business as contemplated by Yahoo! Marketing
Services); (iii) the business relating to the Yahoo! China portal,
consisting of the homepage, news and information and entertainment content; (iv) the
business relating to the e-commerce auction platform of 1pai.com.cn; (v) the
business relating to the Yahoo! Wireless platforms run by Yahoo! in China,
including e-mail, instant messaging, greeting cards, personals and chat rooms.
62
China Business Audit: the audit of
the China Business by an internationally recognized accounting firm for the
nine-month period ending September 30, 2005.
China Group: 3721 HK, COAL, the WFOE and the China ICP
Companies, and their respective Subsidiaries and controlled-Affiliates.
China Group Balance Sheet: means the unaudited balance sheet as of June 30,
2005 included as a part of the China Group Financial Statements.
China Group Budget: as defined in Section 6.5(a).
China Group Employee: as defined in Section 5.7.
China Group Financial Statements: the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and
the related statements of operations as of and for the twelve months ended December 31,
2004 and as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2005, of the China
Group (excluding COAL).
China Intellectual Property: all material
Intellectual Property purported to be owned by any member of the China Group.
China ICP Companies: Beijing SunnyVale Information Technology Co.,
Ltd., Beijing Guofeng Xintong Technology and Science Co., Ltd. and Beijing 3721
Technology Co., Ltd.
China ICP Shares: as defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
Claimant: as defined in Section 11.3(b).
Closing: as defined in Section 1.2.
Closing Date: as defined in Section 1.2.
COAL: China Online Auction Ltd., a
Cayman Islands company, and its Subsidiaries and controlled-Affiliates.
COAL Shares: 67% of the issued and
outstanding shares of COAL, on a fully diluted basis.
Code: the United States Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Confidential Alibaba Information: as defined in Section 6.1(a).
Confidential Yahoo! Information: as defined in Section 6.1(b).
63
Consent: any consent, approval, authorization, waiver,
permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, certificate, exemption,
order, registration, declaration, filing, report or notice of, with or to any
Person.
Contract: all loan agreements, indentures, letters of
credit (including related letter of credit applications and reimbursement
obligations), mortgages, security agreements, pledge agreements, deeds of
trust, bonds, notes, guarantees, surety obligations, warranties, licenses,
franchises, permits, powers of attorney, purchase orders, Leases, and other
agreements, contracts, instruments, obligations, offers, legally binding
commitments, arrangements and understandings, written or oral.
Environmental Laws: all Laws relating to the protection of the
environment, to human health and safety or to any environmental activity.
Family Members: any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent,
stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law,
son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of a Person, and
shall include adoptive relationships of the same type.
GAAP: United States generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis.
Governmental Approval: any Consent of, with or to any Governmental
Authority.
Governmental Authority: any nation or government, any state or other
political subdivision thereof; any entity, authority or body exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government, including, without limitation, any government
authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality of any nation
or any political subdivision thereof; any court, tribunal or arbitrator; and
any self-regulatory organization.
ICC: as defined in Section 11.3(b).
ICP Share Transfer Agreements: one or more agreements pursuant to which the
China ICP Shares shall be transferred from the Yahoo! Designees to the Alibaba
Designees.
Income Tax Return: any return, report, declaration, form, claim
for refund or information return or statement relating to Income Taxes,
including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment
thereof.
Income Tax: any Tax computed in whole or in part based on
or by reference to net income and any alternative, minimum, accumulated
earnings or personal holding company Tax.
64
Indebtedness: as applied to any Person, means, without
duplication, (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (b) all
obligations evidenced by a note, bond, debenture, letter of credit, draft or
similar instrument, (c) that portion of obligations with respect to
capital leases that is properly classified as a liability on a balance sheet in
conformity with GAAP, (d) notes payable and drafts accepted representing
extensions of credit, (e) any obligation owed for all or any part of the
deferred purchase price of property or services, which purchase price is due
more than six months from the date of incurrence of the obligation in respect
thereof, and (f) all indebtedness and obligations of the types described
in the foregoing clauses (a) through (e) to the extent secured by any
Lien on any property or asset owned or held by that Person regardless of
whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by that Person
or is nonrecourse to the credit of that Person.
Indemnified Party: as defined in Section 9.4.
Indemnifying Party: as defined in Section 9.4.
Intellectual Property: trademarks, service marks, trade names,
domain names, trade dress, copyrights and similar rights, including
registrations and applications to register or renew the registration of any of
the foregoing, patents and patent applications, and inventions, processes,
designs, formulae, trade secrets, know-how, confidential information, computer
software, data and documentation, and all similar intellectual property rights,
tangible embodiments of any of the foregoing (in any medium including
electronic media) and licenses of any of the foregoing.
Intercompany Contracts: Contracts
between any member of the China Group, on the one hand, and any member of the
Yahoo! Group (other than a member of the China Group), on the other hand.
Key Executives: the executives of Alibaba who are
contemplated to be signatories to a Non-Competition Agreement.
knowledge: (i) with respect to
any natural person, the knowledge of such person after reasonable inquiry, or (ii) with
respect to any corporation or entity, the knowledge of the officers and
directors of such corporation or entity and its Subsidiaries, in each case,
after reasonable inquiry.
Law:
all applicable provisions of all (a) constitutions, treaties,
statutes, laws (including the common law), codes, rules, regulations,
ordinances or orders of any Governmental Authority, (b) Governmental
Approvals and (c) orders, decisions, injunctions, judgments, awards and
decrees of or agreements with any Governmental Authority.
Leased Real Property: all interests leased pursuant to the Leases
of the China Group or the Alibaba Group, as applicable.
65
Leases: the real property leases, subleases, licenses
and occupancy agreements.
Lien: any mortgage, pledge, deed of trust,
hypothecation, right of others, claim, security interest, encumbrance, burden,
title defect, title retention agreement, lease, sublease, license, occupancy
agreement, easement, covenant, condition, encroachment, voting trust agreement,
interest, option, right of first offer, negotiation or refusal, proxy, lien,
charge or other restrictions or limitations of any nature whatsoever, including
but not limited to such Liens as may arise under any Contract.
Litigation: any action, cause of action, claim, demand,
suit, proceeding, citation, summons, subpoena, inquiry or investigation of any
nature, civil, criminal, regulatory or otherwise, in law or in equity, pending
or threatened, by or before any court, tribunal, arbitrator or other
Governmental Authority.
Losses: as defined in Section 9.1.
Material Adverse Effect: any event, occurrence, fact, condition,
change, development or effect that (i) is or would reasonably likely be
materially adverse to the business, operations, results of operations,
condition (financial or otherwise), properties (including intangible
properties), assets (including intangible assets) or liabilities of the China
Group or the Alibaba Group, as applicable, (ii) results from the breach of
Section 4.2 or Section 5.2 of this Agreement, or (iii) with
respect to any party hereto, would be reasonably likely to prevent or
materially impair such partys ability to perform its obligations hereunder or
under any Ancillary Agreement, in each case other than any event, occurrence,
fact, condition, change, development or effect relating to or arising out of (a) the
economy in general and not specifically related to or otherwise specifically
and disproportionately affecting any member of the China Group or any member of
the Alibaba Group, respectively, (b) the industries in which the China
Group and the Alibaba Group, respectively, are engaged generally and not
specifically and disproportionately related to the China Group or the Alibaba
Group, respectively, (c) actions taken pursuant to and in compliance with
this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, (d) changes in Law or
GAAP, (e) the announcement or consummation, actual or prospective, of this
Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby or (f) any non-cash audit adjustments under GAAP
relating to stock-based compensation and deemed disposal to the unaudited
Alibaba Financial Statements for the six months ended June 30, 2005 or the
unaudited Tao Bao Financial Statements for the six months ended June 30,
2005; provided, that these subclauses (c) and (e) shall not be
applicable in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect occurs under Section 2.3
or Section 3.3 of this Agreement.
66
Material Contract: any Contract that
any member of the China Group or the Alibaba Group, as applicable, is a party
to or bound by, that (i) involves or is anticipated to involve aggregate
payments of more than US$500,000 per year, or (ii) contains a
non-competition covenant that precludes or restricts any member of the China
Group or the Alibaba Group, as applicable, from operating in any line of
business or in any geographic location.
made available: available on the
Yahoo! Online Dataroom or the Alibaba Online Dataroom, as applicable.
Memorandum and Articles: the
Memorandum and Articles of Association of Alibaba, to be adopted and approved
by the shareholders of Alibaba on or prior to the Closing Date, substantially
in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
Non-Competition Agreements: the agreements to which Alibaba, Yahoo! and
each of the Key Executives will become parties upon consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit G
hereto.
Ordinary Course of Business: the usual, regular and ordinary course of
business consistent with the past custom and practice thereof.
Ordinary Shares: the ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per
share, of Alibaba.
Organizational Documents: as to any Person, its certificate or articles
of incorporation, by-laws and other organizational documents.
Other Assets: as defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
Owned Real Property: the real property owned by the China Group or
the Alibaba Group, as applicable, together with all structures, facilities,
improvements, fixtures, systems, equipment and items of property presently or
hereafter located thereon or attached or appurtenant thereto or owned by the China
Group or the Alibaba Group, as applicable, and located on Leased Real Property,
and all easements, licenses, rights and appurtenances relating to the
foregoing.
Permitted Liens: (i) Liens for
Taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies not yet due and payable, (ii) pledges
or deposits to secure obligations under workers compensation laws or similar
legislation or to secure public or statutory obligations, (iii) mechanics,
carriers, workers, repairers and similar Liens arising or incurred in the
Ordinary Course of business, (iv) zoning, entitlement and other land use
and environmental regulations by Governmental Authorities; and (v) Liens
that do not materially and adversely affect the value of, or materially
interfere with the use of, the asset, property or right subject to such Lien.
67
Person: any natural person, firm, partnership,
association, corporation, company, trust, business trust, Governmental
Authority or other entity.
Primary Shares: as defined in Section 1.1.
Real Property: the Owned Real Property and the Leased Real
Property of the China Group or the Alibaba Group, as applicable.
Registration Rights Agreement: The registration rights agreement to be
entered into by and among Alibaba and certain of its shareholders on or prior
to the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit K hereto.
Representatives: as to any Person, its accountants, counsel,
consultants (including actuarial, environmental and industry consultants),
officers, directors, employees, agents and other advisors and representatives.
Request: as defined in Section 11.3(b).
Respondent: as defined in Section 11.3(b).
Secondary Share Purchase Agreement: the agreement pursuant to which Yahoo! and
Softbank will purchase from certain existing shareholders of Alibaba, and such
shareholders will sell to Yahoo! and Softbank, certain Ordinary Shares, on the
terms and conditions set forth in such agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit C
hereto, by and among Yahoo!, Softbank and such shareholders.
Series A Preferred Shares: the series A preferred shares, par value
US$0.0001 per share, in the share capital of Alibaba.
Series B Preferred Shares: the series B preferred shares, par value
US$0.0001 per share, in the share capital of Alibaba.
Series C Preferred Shares: the series C preferred shares, par value
US$0.0001 per share, in the share capital of Alibaba.
Share Conversion: the conversion of all issued and outstanding Series A
Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares and Series C Preferred
Shares into Ordinary Shares, in accordance with the resolutions of the holders
of such preferred shares to be adopted at an Alibaba shareholders meeting to be
held on or prior to the Closing Date.
Shareholders Agreement: the
shareholders agreement to be entered into by and among Yahoo!, Alibaba and the
Management Members (as defined in such Agreement) on or prior to the Closing
Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
68
Subsidiaries: each corporation or other Person in which a
Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, share capital or other equity
interests representing more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock or other
equity interests or otherwise controls via contractual relationships similar to
those governing the China ICP Companies.
Softbank: SOFTBANK CORP., a Japanese corporation.
Tao Bao: Tao Bao Holding Limited, a Cayman Islands
company.
Tao Bao Balance Sheet: means the
balance sheet as of June 30, 2005 included as a part of the China Group
Financial Statements.
Tao Bao Financial Statements: the audited consolidated balance sheets and
the related statements of operations, shareholders equity and cash flows as of
and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 and for the period ended
December 31, 2003 from June 17, 2003 and the unaudited consolidated
balance sheets and the related statements of operations as of and for the
six-month period ended June 30, 2005, of Tao Bao.
Tao Bao Plan Participants: certain employees, consultants and directors
of Tao Bao who hold certain shares and/or options and/or warrants to acquire
shares of Tao Bao.
Tao Bao Share Exchange Agreement: the agreement pursuant to which Alibaba will (i) issue
certain Ordinary Shares in exchange for all issued and outstanding shares held
by Softbank and the other Tao Bao shareholders and the Tao Bao Plan
Participants (other than shares of Tao Bao held by Softbank that are
transferred to Yahoo! pursuant to the Tao Bao Share Purchase Agreement) and (ii) grant
certain options and/or warrants of Alibaba to the Tao Bao Plan Participants in
consideration of cancellation of their respective options and/or warrants of
Tao Bao, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, by and among
Alibaba, Softbank and the other shareholders of Tao Bao.
Tao Bao Share Purchase Agreement: the agreement pursuant to which Softbank will
cause its wholly-owned subsidiary to transfer certain shares of Tao Bao to
Yahoo! in consideration of US$360 million to be paid by Yahoo!, substantially
in the form of Exhibit D hereto, by and among Softbank, such wholly-owned
subsidiary and Yahoo!.
Tao Bao Shares: the shares of Tao
Bao that are transferred from Softbanks wholly-owned Subsidiary to Yahoo!
pursuant to the Tao Bao Share Purchase Agreement.
69
Tax Return: any return, report, declaration, form, claim
for refund or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
Tax:
any federal, state, local or foreign income, alternative, minimum,
accumulated earnings, personal holding company, franchise, share capital,
profits, windfall profits, gross receipts, sales, use, value added, transfer,
registration, stamp, premium, excise, customs duties, severance, environmental,
real property, personal property, ad valorem, occupancy, license, occupation,
employment, payroll, social security, disability, unemployment, workers
compensation, withholding, estimated or other similar tax, duty, fee,
assessment or other governmental charge or deficiencies thereof (including all
interest and penalties thereon and additions thereto).
Technology and Intellectual Property License Agreement: the agreement by and between Yahoo! and
Alibaba to be entered into on or prior to the Closing Date, substantially in
the form of Exhibit F hereto.
Voting Agreements: the voting
agreements and related proxies, substantially in the form of Exhibit H
hereto.
WFOE: as defined in the recitals of
this Agreement.
WFOE Interests: as defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
Yahoo!: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
Yahoo! Alternative Transaction: as
defined in Section 4.2.
Yahoo! Designees: in respect of Beijing SunnyVale Information
Technology Co., Ltd., Xie Hang, Xie Guejun, Wang Huainan, Shen Jianming and Cai
Jiangwen, in respect of Beijing Guofeng Xintong Technology and Science Co.,
Ltd., Hu Huan and Zhou Hongyi and in respect of Beijing 3721 Technology Co.
Ltd., Zhao Jian, Shi Xiaohong, Zhang Qing and Zhou Hongyi.
Yahoo! Disclosure Schedule: as
defined in the first paragraph of Section 2.
Yahoo! Group: Yahoo! and its Subsidiaries, including (prior
to the consummation of the Closing) each member of the China Group.
Yahoo! HK: as defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
Yahoo! Indemnitees: as defined in Section 9.1(b).
Yahoo! Information: as defined in Section 6.1(b).
70
Yahoo! Investment Agreement: the agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit M
hereto to be executed by Yahoo! and Alibaba on the Closing Date.
Yahoo! Online Dataroom: the online
document dataroom hosted by Merrill Corporation to which Alibaba was granted
access during the period before the execution of this Agreement.
Yahoo! Parties: as defined in Section 6.1(a).
Yahoo! Representatives: as defined
in Section 6.1(a).
Yahoo! User Privacy Policy: the
policy of Yahoo! concerning privacy and the use and disclosure of user data, as
such policy is posted at http:\\privacy.yahoo.com, or as it may be relocated by
Yahoo! in the future.
11. Miscellaneous.
11.1 Expenses.
(a) Except as set forth below in this Section 11.1
or as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement, each party to this
Agreement shall bear its respective expenses, costs and fees (including
attorneys fees) in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and
compliance herewith, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall
be consummated.
(b) Alibaba and Yahoo! shall share in equal part
all expenses (other than Taxes, which are governed by Section 4.7) in
connection with the transfer of the Assets to Alibaba and all related
regulatory filing expenses.
11.2 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, waivers and
other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered
personally, (b) sent by next-day or overnight mail or delivery or (c) sent
by facsimile, as follows:
(a) if to Alibaba,
Alibaba.com Corporation
c/o Alibaba.com Hong Kong Limited
2403-05 Jubilee Centre
18 Fenwick Street
Wanchai, Hong Kong
Fax: +852-2215-5200
Telephone: +852-2215-5100
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
71
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
13/F Entertainment Building
30 Queens Road Central
Hong Kong
Fax: +852-2810-9828
Telephone: +852-2160-9800
Attention: Thomas M. Britt III
(b) if to Yahoo!,
Yahoo! Inc.
701 First Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Fax: +1-408-349-3301
Telephone: +1-408-349-3300
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
525 University Avenue
Suite 1100
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Fax: +1-650-470-4570
Telephone: +1-650-470-4500
Attention: Kenton J. King
or, in each case, at such other address as may be
specified in writing to the other parties hereto.
All such notices, requests, demands, waivers and other
communications shall be deemed to have been received (i) if by personal
delivery on the day after such delivery, (ii) if by next-day or overnight
mail or delivery, on the day delivered, (iii) if by facsimile, on the next
day following the day on which such facsimile was sent, provided that a copy is
also sent by another method described herein.
11.3 Governing Law and Dispute Resolution.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ALL
RESPECTS, INCLUDING AS TO VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND EFFECT, BY THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) Dispute Resolution
(i) Any dispute, controversy or claim arising
out of, relating to, or in connection with this Agreement, or the breach,
termination or validity hereof, shall be finally settled exclusively by
arbitration. The arbitration shall be
conducted
72
in accordance with the rules of the International Chamber of
Commerce (the ICC) in effect at the time of the arbitration, except as
they may be modified by mutual agreement of the parties. The seat of the arbitration shall be
Singapore, provided, that, the arbitrators may hold hearings in such
other locations as the arbitrators determine to be most convenient and
efficient for all of the parties to such arbitration under the
circumstances. The arbitration shall be
conducted in the English language.
(ii) The arbitration shall be conducted by three
arbitrators. The party (or the parties,
acting jointly, if there are more than one) initiating arbitration (the Claimant)
shall appoint an arbitrator in its request for arbitration (the Request). The other party (or the other parties, acting
jointly, if there are more than one) to the arbitration (the Respondent)
shall appoint an arbitrator within 30 days of receipt of the Request and shall
notify the Claimant of such appointment in writing. If within 30 days of receipt of the Request
by the Respondent, either party has not appointed an arbitrator, then that
arbitrator shall be appointed by the ICC.
The first two arbitrators appointed in accordance with this provision
shall appoint a third arbitrator within 30 days after the Respondent has
notified Claimant of the appointment of the Respondents arbitrator or, in the
event of a failure by a party to appoint, within 30 days after the ICC has
notified the parties and any arbitrator already appointed of the appointment of
an arbitrator on behalf of the party failing to appoint. When the third arbitrator has accepted the
appointment, the two arbitrators making the appointment shall promptly notify
the parties of the appointment. If the
first two arbitrators appointed fail to appoint a third arbitrator or so to
notify the parties within the time period prescribed above, then the ICC shall
appoint the third arbitrator and shall promptly notify the parties of the
appointment. The third arbitrator shall
act as Chair of the tribunal.
(iii) The arbitral award shall be in writing,
state the reasons for the award, and be final and binding on the parties. The award may include an award of costs,
including reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements. In addition to monetary damages, the arbitral
tribunal shall be empowered to award equitable relief, including, but not
limited to, an injunction and specific performance of any obligation under this
Agreement. The arbitral tribunal is not
empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages, and each party
hereby irrevocably waives any right to recover punitive, exemplary or similar
damages with respect to any dispute, except insofar as a claim is for
indemnification for an award of punitive damages awarded against a party in an
action brought against it by an independent third party. The arbitral tribunal shall be authorized in
its discretion to grant pre-award and post-award interest at commercial
rates. Any costs, fees or taxes incident
to enforcing the award shall, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, be
charged against the party resisting such enforcement. Judgment upon the award may be entered by any
court having jurisdiction thereof or having jurisdiction over the relevant
party or its assets.
(iv) In order to facilitate the comprehensive
resolution of related disputes, and upon request of any party to the
arbitration proceeding, the arbitration tribunal may, within 90 days of its
appointment, consolidate the arbitration proceeding with any other arbitration
proceeding involving any of the parties relating
73
to this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. The arbitration tribunal shall not
consolidate such arbitrations unless it determines that (x) there are
issues of fact or law common to the proceedings, so that a consolidated
proceeding would be more efficient than separate proceedings, and (y) no
party would be prejudiced as a result of such consolidation through undue delay
or otherwise. In the event of different
rulings on this question by the arbitration tribunal constituted hereunder and
any tribunal constituted under the Ancillary Agreements, the ruling of the
tribunal constituted under this Agreement will govern, and that tribunal will
decide all disputes in the consolidated proceeding.
(v) The parties agree that the arbitration shall
be kept confidential and that the existence of the proceeding and any element
of it (including but not limited to any pleadings, briefs or other documents
submitted or exchanged, any testimony or other oral submissions, and any
awards) shall not be disclosed beyond the tribunal, the ICC, the parties, their
counsel and any person necessary to the conduct of the proceeding, except as
may be lawfully required in judicial proceedings relating to the arbitration or
otherwise, or as required by NASDAQ rules or the rules of any other
quotation system or exchange on which the disclosing partys securities are
listed or applicable Law.
(vi) The costs of arbitration shall be borne by
the losing party unless otherwise determined by the arbitration award.
(vii) All payments made pursuant to the
arbitration decision or award and any judgment entered thereon shall be made in
United States dollars, free from any deduction, offset or withholding for
Taxes.
(viii) Notwithstanding this Section 11.3(b) or
any other provision to the contrary in this Agreement, no party shall be
obligated to follow the foregoing arbitration procedures where such party
intends to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for an interim
injunction or similar equitable relief against any other party, provided there
is no unreasonable delay in the prosecution of that application.
11.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
successors and permitted assigns.
11.5 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable or
otherwise transferable by any party hereto without the prior written consent of
the other parties hereto, and any purported assignment or other transfer
without such consent shall be void and unenforceable.
11.6 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 9 with
respect to indemnification of Indemnified Parties hereunder, nothing in this
Agreement shall confer any rights upon any person or entity other than the
parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns.
74
11.7 Amendment; Waivers, etc. No amendment, modification or discharge of
this Agreement, and no waiver hereunder, shall be valid or binding unless set
forth in writing and duly executed by the party against whom enforcement of the
amendment, modification, discharge or waiver is sought. Any such waiver shall constitute a waiver
only with respect to the specific matter described in such writing and shall in
no way impair the rights of the party granting such waiver in any other respect
or at any other time. Neither the waiver
by any of the parties hereto of a breach of or a default under any of the provisions
of this Agreement, nor the failure by any of the parties, on one or more
occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise
any right or privilege hereunder, shall be construed as a waiver of any other
breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any of such
provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.
The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and none is
exclusive of any other, or of any rights or remedies that any party may
otherwise have at law or in equity. The
rights and remedies of any party based upon, arising out of or otherwise in
respect of any inaccuracy or breach of any representation, warranty, covenant
or agreement or failure to fulfill any condition shall in no way be limited by
the fact that the act, omission, occurrence or other state of facts upon which
any claim of any such inaccuracy or breach is based may also be the subject
matter of any other representation, warranty, covenant or agreement as to which
there is no inaccuracy or breach. The
representations and warranties of Yahoo! shall not be affected or deemed waived
by reason of any investigation made by or on behalf of Alibaba (including but
not limited to by any of its advisors, consultants or representatives) or by
reason of the fact that Alibaba or any of such advisors, consultants or
representatives knew or should have known that any such representation or
warranty is or might be inaccurate.
11.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements
(when executed and delivered) constitute the entire agreement and supersede all
prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof.
11.9 Severability. If any provision, including any phrase,
sentence, clause, section or subsection, of this Agreement is invalid,
inoperative or unenforceable for any reason, such circumstances shall not have
the effect of rendering such provision in question invalid, inoperative or
unenforceable in any other case or circumstance, or of rendering any other
provision herein contained invalid, inoperative or unenforceable to any extent
whatsoever.
11.10 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are
for purposes of convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
11.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall
together constitute one and the same instrument.
75
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed
this Agreement as of the date first above written.
YAHOO!
INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Jerry Yang
|
|
|
Name:
|
Jerry Yang
|
|
Title:
|
Chief Yahoo
|
|
|
|
ALIBABA.COM
CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Jack Ma Yun
|
|
|
Name:
|
Jack Ma Yun
|
|
Title:
|
Chief Executive
Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCK
PURCHASE AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT]
EXHIBIT A
MEMORANDUM
AND ARTICLES
EXHIBIT B
SHAREHOLDERS
AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT C
SECONDARY
SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT D
TAO BAO
SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT E
TAO BAO
SHARE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT F
TECHNOLOGY
AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT G
NON-COMPETITION
AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT H
VOTING
AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT I
OPINIONS
OF COUNSELS TO YAHOO!
EXHIBIT J
OPINIONS
OF COUNSELS TO ALIBABA
EXHIBIT K
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT L
YAHOO!
INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT M
TAX
OPINION REPRESENTATION LETTER
Exhibit 10.1
TAO BAO SHARE
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
by and among
YAHOO! INC.,
SOFTBANK CORP.
and
SB TB Holding
Limited
Dated as of August ,
2005
TAO BAO SHARE
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This TAO BAO SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this Agreement),
dated as of August , 2005, is entered into by and among Yahoo! Inc.
(Yahoo!), a Delaware corporation, SOFTBANK CORP., a Japanese
corporation (SOFTBANK) and SB TB Holding Limited, a Cayman Islands
exempted limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of SOFTBANK (Newco,
and, together with SOFTBANK, the SOFTBANK Entities).
W I T N E
S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Newco holds 4,500,000 issued and outstanding
ordinary shares of Tao Bao Holding Limited (Tao Bao), a Cayman Islands
exempted limited liability company, par value US$0.01 (the Shares);
WHEREAS, SOFTBANK desires that Newco sell all of the
Shares to Yahoo!, and Yahoo! wishes to purchase such Shares from Newco, on the
terms and conditions and for the consideration described in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase and
Contribution Agreement entered into by and between Yahoo! and Alibaba.com
Corporation (Alibaba), a Cayman Islands exempted limited liability
company (the Stock Purchase and Contribution Agreement; capitalized
terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to them in the Stock Purchase and Contribution Agreement) that this
Agreement be executed by the parties hereto and the purchase and sale of Shares
contemplated hereby be consummated on or prior to the Closing Date.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
promises, covenants, representations and warranties made herein and of the
mutual benefits to be derived herefrom, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Sale
and Purchase of the Shares.
1.1 Sale
and Purchase of the Shares. Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, Newco will sell to Yahoo!, and Yahoo! will
purchase from Newco, the Shares at a price of US$80.00 per share, for an
aggregate purchase price of US$360,000,000 (the Purchase Price),
payable in cash at the Closing in the manner set forth in Section 1.2.
1.2 Closing. The closing of the sale and purchase of the
Shares contemplated by Section 1.1 (the Closing) shall take place
at a location to be agreed upon by Yahoo!, SOFTBANK and Alibaba on the Closing
Date as soon as practicable following the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions precedent set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement which shall
be the same date as the closing date of the Stock Purchase and Contribution
Agreement (the Closing Date).
At the Closing:
(a) Newco (or SOFTBANK acting on behalf of
Newco) will deliver or cause to be delivered to Yahoo!, free and clear of any
Lien, one or more certificates representing the Shares that Yahoo! is entitled
to receive from Newco, duly endorsed or accompanied by stock powers or other
instruments of transfer duly executed for transfer to Yahoo! together with any
Tax or transfer stamps or other documents or actions necessary to accomplish
the foregoing;
(b) Yahoo! will pay Newco an amount equal to the
Purchase Price, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account
of Newco designated in writing to Yahoo! at least three Business Days prior to
the Closing Date; and
(c) the SOFTBANK Entities will deliver or will
cause to be delivered to Yahoo! a certified copy of the Register of Members
(the Register of Members) of Tao Bao evidencing the purchase of the
Shares by Yahoo! from Newco in accordance with this Agreement.
2. Representations
and Warranties of the SOFTBANK Entities.
The SOFTBANK Entities jointly and severally represent
and warrant to Yahoo! as follows, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing
Date:
2.1 Authorization,
etc. Each SOFTBANK Entity has full
power, authority and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform
its obligations hereunder and to consummate the purchase and sale of Shares
contemplated hereby. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by each SOFTBANK Entity, and the
consummation of the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby, have been
duly authorized by all requisite corporate action of such party. Each SOFTBANK Entity has duly executed and
delivered this Agreement. This Agreement
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each SOFTBANK Entity
enforceable against each SOFTBANK Entity in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Title
to Shares. As of Closing, Newco owns, legally and beneficially, all of the
Shares. Upon the delivery of and payment
for such Shares at the Closing as provided for in this Agreement, Yahoo! will
acquire good and valid title to all of the Shares free and clear of any Lien.
2.3 No
Conflicts, etc. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by each SOFTBANK Entity, and the
consummation of the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby, do not and
will not conflict with, contravene, result in a violation or breach of or
default under (with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or
both), create in any other Person a right or claim of termination or amendment,
or require modification, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the
creation of any Lien (or any obligation to create any Lien) upon any of the
properties or assets of any SOFTBANK Entity under, (a) any Law applicable
to any SOFTBANK Entity or any of its properties or assets, (b) any
provision of any of the Organizational Documents of such SOFTBANK Entity or (c) any
Contract, or any other agreement or instrument to which any SOFTBANK Entity is
a party or by which any of its properties or assets may be bound except, in the
case of each of clauses (a), (b) and (c), as would not reasonably be
expected to prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of any SOFTBANK
Entity to sell its Shares and otherwise fulfill its obligations under this
Agreement.
2
2.4 Corporate Status.
(a) SOFTBANK. SOFTBANK is a corporation duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of Japan, and has full power and authority to,
conduct its business and to own or lease and to operate its properties as and
in the places where such business is conducted and such properties are owned,
leased or operated.
(b) Newco. Newco is a Cayman Islands exempted limited
liability company, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the Cayman Islands. Newco is
a wholly owned Subsidiary of SOFTBANK, and has full power and authority to,
conduct its business and to own or lease and to operate its properties as and
in the places where such business is conducted and such properties are owned, leased or operated.
2.5 Consents. All Governmental Approvals or other Consents
required to be obtained by each SOFTBANK Entity in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the purchase
and sale of Shares contemplated hereby have been obtained.
2.6 Taxes. SOFTBANK hereby acknowledges and represents
that Yahoo! will not be required pursuant to any applicable Law in Japan to pay
any Taxes or to act as withholding agent for Taxes due from any SOFTBANK Entity
to any Governmental Authority in Japan in connection with the consummation of
the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated by this Agreement.
2.7 Survival
of Representations and Warranties.
Each of the representations and
warranties of the SOFTBANK Entities in this Agreement or in any schedule,
instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive
the Closing Date and shall continue in force thereafter.
3. Representations
and Warranties of Yahoo!. Yahoo!
represents and warrants to the SOFTBANK Entities as follows, as of the date
hereof and as of the Closing Date:
3.1 Authorization,
etc. Yahoo! has full corporate power
and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder and to consummate the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated
hereby. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by Yahoo!, and the consummation of the purchase
and sale of Shares contemplated hereby, have been duly authorized by all
requisite corporate action of Yahoo!.
Yahoo! has duly executed and delivered this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid
and binding obligation of Yahoo!, enforceable against Yahoo! in accordance with
its terms.
3.2 No
Conflicts, etc. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by Yahoo!, and the consummation of
the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby, do not and will not
conflict with, contravene, result in a violation or breach of or default under
(with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both), create in
any other Person a right or claim of termination or amendment, or require
modification, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in or require the
creation of any Lien (or any obligation to create any Lien) upon any of the
properties or assets of Yahoo! under (a) any Law applicable to Yahoo! or
3
any of its properties or
assets, (b) any provision of any of the Organizational Documents of
Yahoo!, or (c) any Contract, or any other agreement or instrument to which
Yahoo! is a party or by which its properties or assets may be bound except, in
the case of each of clauses (a), (b) and (c), as would not reasonably be
expected to prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of Yahoo! to
purchase the Shares and otherwise fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
3.3 Corporate
Status. Yahoo! is an exempted
limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the Cayman Islands and has full power and authority to
conduct its business and to own or lease and to operate its properties as and
in the place where such business is conducted and such properties are owned,
leased or operated.
3.4 Consents. All Governmental Approvals or other Consents
required to be obtained by Yahoo! in connection with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the consummation of the purchase and sale of Shares
contemplated hereby have been obtained.
3.5 Survival
of Representations and Warranties of Yahoo!. Each of the
representations and warranties of Yahoo! in this Agreement or in any
schedule, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement
shall survive the Closing Date and shall continue in force thereafter.
4. Covenants
of the SOFTBANK Entities.
4.1 Further Actions.
(a) Each SOFTBANK Entity shall use reasonable
efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and to do or cause to be done
all other things, necessary, proper or advisable in order for such SOFTBANK
Entity to fulfill and perform its obligations in respect of this Agreement, or
otherwise to consummate and make effective the purchase and sale of Shares
contemplated hereby.
(b) Each SOFTBANK Entity shall, as promptly as
practicable, (i) make, or cause to be made, all filings and submissions
required under any Law applicable to such SOFTBANK Entity, and give such
reasonable undertakings as may be required in connection therewith, and (ii) use
reasonable efforts to obtain or make, or cause to be obtained or made, all
Governmental Approvals and Consents necessary to be obtained or made by such
SOFTBANK Entity, in each case in connection with this Agreement or the
consummation of the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby.
(c) Each SOFTBANK Entity shall coordinate and
cooperate with Yahoo! in exchanging such information and supplying such
reasonable assistance as may be reasonably requested by Yahoo! in connection
with the filings and other actions contemplated by Section 5.1.
(d) At all times prior to the Closing Date, each
SOFTBANK Entity shall promptly notify Yahoo! in writing of any fact, condition,
event or occurrence that could
4
reasonably be expected to result in the failure of any of the
conditions contained in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 to be satisfied, promptly upon
becoming aware of the same.
4.2 Payment
of Taxes. SOFTBANK shall pay all
Taxes due or payable to any Governmental Authority in Japan incurred or to be
incurred in connection with the sale and transfer of the Shares by Newco to
Yahoo! hereunder and in connection with any sale and transfer of the Shares to
Newco by SOFTBANK. SOFTBANK shall pay
all Taxes due or payable to any Governmental Authority in connection with
Yahoo!s contribution to Alibaba of the Tao Bao Shares pursuant to the Stock
Purchase and Contribution Agreement.
4.3 Further
Assurances. Following the Closing
Date, each SOFTBANK Entity shall, from time to time, execute and deliver such
additional instruments, documents, conveyances or assurances and take such
other actions as shall be necessary, or otherwise reasonably be requested by
Yahoo!, to confirm and assure the rights and obligations provided for in this
Agreement and render effective the consummation of the purchase and sale of
Shares contemplated hereby, or otherwise to carry out the intent and purposes
of this Agreement (which include the transfer by Newco to Yahoo! of the
ownership and intended benefits of the Shares in the manner contemplated by Section 1.2).
5. Covenants
of Yahoo!.
5.1 Further Actions.
(a) Yahoo! shall use reasonable efforts to take
or cause to be taken all actions, and to do or cause to be done all other
things, necessary, proper or advisable in order for Yahoo! to fulfill and
perform its obligations in respect of this Agreement, or otherwise to
consummate and make effective the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated
hereby.
(b) Yahoo! shall, as promptly as practicable, (i) make,
or cause to be made, all notices, filings and submissions required under any
Law applicable to Yahoo!, and give such reasonable undertakings as may be required
in connection therewith, and (ii) use reasonable efforts to obtain or
make, or cause to be obtained or made, all Governmental Approvals and Consents
necessary to be obtained or made by Yahoo!, in each case in connection with
this Agreement or the consummation of the purchase and sale of Shares
contemplated hereby.
(c) Yahoo! shall coordinate and cooperate with
SOFTBANK in exchanging such information and supplying such reasonable
assistance as may be reasonably requested by SOFTBANK in connection with the
filings and other actions contemplated by Section 4.1.
(d) At all times prior to the Closing Date,
Yahoo! shall promptly notify each SOFTBANK Entity in writing of any fact,
condition, event or occurrence that could reasonably be expected to result in
the failure of any of the conditions contained in Sections 7.1 and 7.3 to be
satisfied, promptly upon becoming aware of the same.
5.2 Further
Assurances. Following the Closing
Date, Yahoo! shall from time to time, execute and deliver such additional instruments,
documents, conveyances or assurances and take such other actions as shall be
necessary, or otherwise reasonably be requested by
5
SOFTBANK, to confirm and
assure the rights and obligations provided for in this Agreement and render
effective the consummation of the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated
hereby, or otherwise to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
6. Covenants
of Yahoo! and the SOFTBANK Entities.
6.1 Confidentiality. Each party shall maintain the confidentiality
of Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by such party
in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to
such party, provided that such party may deliver or disclose
Confidential Information to (i) such partys representatives, Affiliates,
shareholders, limited partners, members of its investment committees, advisory
committees, and similar bodies, and Persons related thereto, who are informed
of the confidentiality obligations of this Section 6.1, (ii) any
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such party to the extent
required by applicable Law or (iii) any other Person to which such
delivery or disclosure may be necessary or appropriate (A) to effect
compliance with any Law applicable to such party, or (B) in response to
any subpoena or other legal process, provided that, in the cases of
clauses (ii) and (iii) above, the disclosing party shall provide each
other party with prompt written notice thereof so that the appropriate party
may seek (with the cooperation and reasonable efforts of the disclosing party)
a protective order, confidential treatment or other appropriate remedy, and in
any event shall furnish only that portion of the information which is
reasonably necessary for the purpose at hand and shall exercise reasonable
efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be
accorded such information to the extent reasonably requested by any other
party.
6.2 Publicity. Except as may be required by applicable Law,
none of the parties hereto shall issue a publicity release or announcement or
otherwise make any public disclosure concerning this Agreement or the purchase
and sale of Shares contemplated hereby or the Other Transactions, without prior
written approval of Yahoo! and SOFTBANK.
If any announcement is required by applicable Law to be made by any
party hereto, prior to making such announcement such party will deliver a draft
of such announcement to the other parties and shall give the other parties an
opportunity to comment thereon.
7. Conditions
Precedent.
7.1 Conditions
to Obligations of Each Party. The
obligations of each party to consummate the purchase and sale of Shares
contemplated hereby shall be subject to the fulfillment on or prior to the
Closing Date of the following conditions:
7.1.1. No
Injunction, etc. Consummation of the
purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby shall not have been restrained,
enjoined or otherwise prohibited or made illegal by any applicable Law,
including any order, injunction, decree or judgment of any court or other
Governmental Authority in any material respect; and no such Law that would have
such an effect shall have been promulgated, entered, issued or determined by
any court or other Governmental Authority to be applicable to this
Agreement. No action or proceeding shall
be pending or threatened by any Governmental Authority on the Closing Date
before any court or other Governmental Authority to restrain, enjoin or
otherwise prevent the consummation of the purchase and sale of Shares
contemplated hereby in any material respect.
6
7.1.2. Other
Transactions. The Other Transactions
shall have been consummated on or prior to the Closing Date.
7.2 Conditions
to Obligations of Yahoo!. The
obligation of Yahoo! to consummate the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated
hereby shall be subject to the fulfillment on or prior to the Closing Date of
the following additional conditions, which each SOFTBANK Entity agrees to cause
to be fulfilled:
7.2.1. Representations, Performance.
(a) The representations and warranties of the
SOFTBANK Entities contained in Section 2 (i) shall be true and
correct in all material respects at and as of the date hereof, (ii) shall
be repeated and shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of
the Closing Date with the same effect as though made on and as of the Closing
Date, except in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) as would not
reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of
any SOFTBANK Entity to sell its Shares and otherwise fulfill its obligations
under this Agreement.
(b) Each SOFTBANK Entity shall have in all
material respects duly performed and complied with all agreements, covenants
and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
such SOFTBANK Entity prior to or on the Closing Date, except as would not
reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of
any SOFTBANK Entity to sell its Shares and otherwise fulfill its obligations
under this Agreement.
7.2.2. Corporate
and Other Proceedings. All
corporate, partnership and other proceedings of each SOFTBANK Entity in
connection with the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated by this Agreement,
and all documents and instruments incident thereto, shall be satisfactory in
form and substance to Yahoo! and its counsel in their reasonable judgment, and
Yahoo! and its counsel shall have received all such documents and instruments,
or copies thereof, certified if requested, as may be reasonably requested.
7.3 Conditions
to Obligations of the SOFTBANK Entities.
The obligation of each SOFTBANK Entity to consummate the purchase and
sale of Shares contemplated hereby shall be subject to the fulfillment, on or
prior to the Closing Date, of the following additional conditions, which Yahoo!
agrees to cause to be fulfilled:
7.3.1. Representations, Performance, etc.
(a) The representations and warranties of Yahoo!
contained in Section 3 (i) shall be true and correct in all material
respects at and as of the date hereof, (ii) shall be repeated and shall be
true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with
the same effect as though made at and as of such time, except in the case of
each of clauses (i) and (ii) as would not reasonably be expected to
prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of Yahoo! to purchase the
Shares and otherwise fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
7
(b) Yahoo! shall have in all material respects
duly performed and complied with all agreements, covenants and conditions
required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or
on the Closing Date, except as would not reasonably be expected to prevent or
materially impair or delay the ability of Yahoo! to purchase the Shares and
otherwise fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
8. Termination.
8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior to the Closing Date:
(a) By the written agreement of Yahoo! and
SOFTBANK;
(b) By SOFTBANK or Yahoo! by written notice to
the other party if the Stock Purchase and Contribution Agreement shall have
terminated in accordance with its terms; or
(c) By Yahoo! if there shall have been a
material breach of any covenant or agreement on the part of the SOFTBANK
Entities contained in this Agreement such that the condition set forth in Section 7.2.1(a) and
7.2.1(b) would not be satisfied and which shall not have been cured within
30 days following written notice of such breach; provided that Yahoo! shall not
have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(c) if
Yahoo! is then in material breach of any of its covenants or agreements
contained in this Agreement such that the Closing condition set forth in Section 7.2.1(a) or
7.2.1(b) would not be satisfied; or
(d) By SOFTBANK if there shall have been a
material breach of any covenant or agreement on the part of Yahoo! contained in
this Agreement such that the condition set forth in Section 7.3.1(a) and
7.3.1(b) would not be satisfied and which shall not have been cured within
30 days following written notice of such breach; provided that SOFTBANK shall
not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(d) if
any SOFTBANK Entity is then in material breach of any of its covenants or
agreements contained in this Agreement such that the Closing condition set
forth in Section 7.2.1(a) or 7.2.1(b) would not be satisfied.
8.2 Effect
of Termination. In the event of the
termination of this Agreement pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.1,
this Agreement shall become void and have no effect, without any liability to
any Person in respect hereof or of the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated
hereby on the part of any party hereto, or any of its directors, officers,
representatives, stockholders or Affiliates, except as specified in
Sections 4.2, 6.1, 6.2, 8.2, 10.1 and 10.3 and except for any liability
resulting from such partys breach of this Agreement prior thereto.
8
9. Definitions.
9.1 Terms
Generally. The words hereby, herein,
hereof, hereunder and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not merely to the specific section, paragraph or clause in which such
word appears. All references herein to
Sections shall be deemed references to Sections of this Agreement unless
the context shall otherwise require. The
words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by
the phrase without limitation. The
definitions given for terms in this Section 9 and elsewhere in this
Agreement shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined. Whenever the context may
require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and
neuter forms. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all references to dollars or US$ shall be deemed
references to the lawful money of the United States of America.
9.2 Certain Terms. Whenever used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the respective meanings given to them below or in
the Sections indicated below:
Affiliate: of a Person means a Person that directly or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or
is under common control with, the first Person, including but not limited to a
Subsidiary of the first Person, a Person of which the first Person is a
Subsidiary, or another Subsidiary of a Person of which the first Person is also
a Subsidiary. Control (including the
terms controlled by and under common control with) means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or credit arrangement, as trustee or executor, or
otherwise.
Agreement: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
Alibaba: as defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
Business Day: any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which banks are required or authorized by Law to be closed in New
York, Beijing, Hong Kong, or Tokyo.
Claimant: as defined in Section 10.3(b).
Closing: as defined in Section 1.2.
Closing Date: as defined in Section 1.2.
Confidential Information: information regarding this Agreement and the
Other Transaction Agreements including the terms, status and existence thereof,
provided that such Confidential Information does not include information that (a) was
publicly known or otherwise known to such receiving party prior to the time of
such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or
omission by such receiving party or any Person acting on such partys behalf,
or (c) otherwise becomes known to such receiving party other than through
disclosure by the delivering party or any Person with a duty to keep such
information confidential.
9
Consent: any consent, approval, authorization, waiver,
permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, certificate,
exemption, order, registration, declaration, filing, report or notice of, with
or to any Person.
Contract: all loan agreements, indentures, letters of
credit (including related letter of credit applications and reimbursement
obligations), mortgages, security agreements, pledge agreements, deeds of
trust, bonds, notes, guarantees, surety obligations, warranties, licenses,
franchises, permits, powers of attorney, purchase orders, leases, and other
agreements, contracts, instruments, obligations, offers, commitments,
arrangements and understandings, written or oral.
Governmental Approval: any Consent of, with or to any Governmental
Authority.
Governmental Authority: any nation or government, any state or other
political subdivision thereof; any entity, authority or body exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government, including, without limitation, any government
authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality of any
nation or any political subdivision thereof; any court, tribunal or arbitrator;
and any self-regulatory organization.
ICC:
as defined in Section 10.3(b).
Law:
all applicable provisions of all (a) constitutions, treaties,
statutes, laws, codes, rules, regulations, ordinances or orders of any
Governmental Authority, (b) Governmental Approvals and (c) orders,
decisions, injunctions, judgments, awards and decrees of or agreements with any
Governmental Authority.
Lien: any mortgage, pledge, deed of trust,
hypothecation, right of others, claim, security interest, encumbrance, burden,
title defect, title retention agreement, lease, sublease, license, occupancy
agreement, easement, covenant, condition, encroachment, voting trust agreement,
interest, option, right of first offer, negotiation or refusal, proxy, lien,
charge or other restrictions or limitations of any nature whatsoever, including
but not limited to such Liens as may arise under any Contract.
Newco: as defined in the first
paragraph of this Agreement.
Organizational Documents: as to any Person, its certificate or articles
of incorporation, by-laws and other organizational documents.
Other Transaction Agreements: the Stock Purchase and Contribution Agreement
between Yahoo! and Alibaba, dated as of August 10, 2005 and the Ancillary
Agreements (as defined therein and excluding this Agreement).
Other Transactions: the transactions contemplated by the Other
Transaction Agreements.
Person: any natural person, firm, partnership,
association, corporation, company, trust, business trust, Governmental
Authority or other entity.
10
Purchase Price: as defined in Section 1.1.
Register of Members: as defined in Section 1.2.
Request: as defined in Section 10.3(b).
Respondent: as defined in Section 10.3(b).
Shares: as defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
Subsidiaries: each corporation or
other Person in which a Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, share
capital or other equity interests representing more than 50% of the outstanding
voting stock or other equity interests.
SOFTBANK: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
SOFTBANK Entities: as defined in the
first paragraph of this Agreement.
Tax:
any federal, state, local or foreign income, alternative, minimum,
accumulated earnings, personal holding company, franchise, share capital,
profits, windfall profits, gross receipts, sales, use, value added, transfer,
registration, stamp, premium, excise, customs duties, severance, environmental,
real property, personal property, ad valorem, occupancy, license, occupation,
employment, payroll, social security, disability, unemployment, workers
compensation, withholding, estimated or other similar tax, duty, fee,
assessment or other governmental charge or deficiencies thereof (including all
interest and penalties thereon and additions thereto).
Tao Bao: as defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
Yahoo!: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
10. Miscellaneous.
10.1 Expenses. Except as set forth below in this Section 10.1
or as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement, each SOFTBANK
Entity, on the one hand, and Yahoo!, on the other hand, shall bear their
respective expenses, costs and fees (including attorneys fees) in connection
with the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby, including the
preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and compliance herewith,
whether or not the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby shall be
consummated; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, any Tax or other expense
associated with the transfer of Shares contemplated hereby shall be borne
solely by the SOFTBANK Entities.
11
10.2 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, waivers and
other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered
personally, (b) sent by next-day or overnight mail or delivery or (c) sent
by facsimile, as follows:
(i) if to Yahoo!,
Yahoo! Inc.
|
701 First Avenue
|
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
|
Fax: +1-408-349-3301
|
Telephone: +1-408-349-3300
|
Attention: General Counsel
|
|
with a copy to:
|
|
Skadden, Arps,
Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
|
525 University
Avenue
|
Suite 1100
|
Palo Alto, CA
94301
|
Fax:
+1-650-470-4570
|
Telephone:
+1-650-470-4500
|
Attention:
Kenton J. King
|
|
(ii) if to SOFTBANK,
|
|
SOFTBANK
CORP.
|
1-9-1,
Higashi-Shimbashi Minato-ku
|
Tokyo,
105-7303 Japan
|
Fax:
|
+81-3-6215-5001
|
Telephone:
|
+81-3-6889-2270
|
Attention:
|
Finance
Department
|
|
with a copy to:
|
|
Morrison &
Foerster LLP
|
AIG Building,
11th Floor
|
1-3,
Marunouchi 1 chome
|
Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0005
|
Japan
|
Fax:
+81-3-3214-6512
|
Telephone:
+81-3-3214-6522
|
Attention:
Kenneth A. Siegel
|
12
(iii) if to Newco,
|
|
SB TB Holding
Limited
|
c/o SOFTBANK
CORP.
|
1-9-1,
Higashi-Shimbashi Minato-ku
|
Tokyo,
105-7303 Japan
|
Fax:
|
+81-3-6215-5001
|
Telephone:
|
+81-3-6889-2270
|
Attention:
|
Finance
Department
|
|
with a copy to:
|
|
Morrison &
Foerster LLP
|
AIG Building,
11th Floor
|
1-3,
Marunouchi 1 chome
|
Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0005
|
Japan
|
Fax:
+81-3-3214-6512
|
Telephone:
+81-3-3214-6522
|
Attention:
Kenneth A. Siegel
|
or, in each case, at such other address as may be
specified in writing to the other parties hereto in accordance with this Section 10.2.
All such notices, requests, demands, waivers and other
communications shall be deemed to have been received (i) if by
personal delivery on the day after such delivery, (ii) if by
next-day or overnight mail or delivery, on the day delivered, (iii) if
by facsimile, on the next day following the day on which such facsimile was
sent, provided that a copy is also sent by another method described herein.
10.3 Governing Law and Dispute Resolution.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ALL
RESPECTS, INCLUDING AS TO VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND EFFECT, BY THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) Dispute Resolution
(i) Any dispute, controversy or claim arising
out of, relating to, or in connection with this Agreement, or the breach,
termination or validity hereof, shall be finally settled exclusively by
arbitration. The arbitration shall be
conducted in accordance with the rules of the International Chamber of
Commerce (the ICC) in effect at the time of the arbitration, except as
they may be modified by mutual agreement of the parties. The seat of the arbitration shall be
Singapore, provided, that, the arbitrators may hold hearings in such
other locations as the arbitrators determine to be most convenient and
efficient for all of the parties to such arbitration under the
circumstances. The arbitration shall be
conducted in the English language.
(ii) The arbitration shall be conducted by three
arbitrators. The party (or the parties,
acting jointly, if there are more than one) initiating arbitration (the Claimant)
shall appoint an arbitrator in its request for arbitration (the Request). The other party (or the other
13
parties, acting jointly, if there are more than one) to the arbitration
(the Respondent) shall appoint an arbitrator within 30 days of receipt
of the Request and shall notify the Claimant of such appointment in
writing. If within 30 days of receipt of
the Request by the Respondent, either party has not appointed an arbitrator,
then that arbitrator shall be appointed by the ICC. The first two arbitrators appointed in
accordance with this provision shall appoint a third arbitrator within 30 days
after the Respondent has notified Claimant of the appointment of the Respondents
arbitrator or, in the event of a failure by a party to appoint, within 30 days
after the ICC has notified the parties and any arbitrator already appointed of
the appointment of an arbitrator on behalf of the party failing to appoint. When the third arbitrator has accepted the
appointment, the two arbitrators making the appointment shall promptly notify
the parties of the appointment. If the
first two arbitrators appointed fail to appoint a third arbitrator or so to
notify the parties within the time period prescribed above, then the ICC shall
appoint the third arbitrator and shall promptly notify the parties of the
appointment. The third arbitrator shall
act as Chair of the tribunal.
(iii) The arbitral award shall be in writing,
state the reasons for the award, and be final and binding on the parties. The award may include an award of costs,
including reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements. In addition to monetary damages, the arbitral
tribunal shall be empowered to award equitable relief, including, but not
limited to, an injunction and specific performance of any obligation under this
Agreement. The arbitral tribunal is not
empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages, and each party
hereby irrevocably waives any right to recover punitive, exemplary or similar
damages with respect to any dispute, except insofar as a claim is for
indemnification for an award of punitive damages awarded against a party in an
action brought against it by an independent third party. The arbitral tribunal shall be authorized in
its discretion to grant pre-award and post-award interest at commercial
rates. Any costs, fees or taxes incident
to enforcing the award shall, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, be
charged against the party resisting such enforcement. Judgment upon the award may be entered by any
court having jurisdiction thereof or having jurisdiction over the relevant
party or its assets.
(iv) In order to facilitate the comprehensive
resolution of related disputes, and upon request of any party to the
arbitration proceeding, the arbitration tribunal may, within 90 days of its
appointment, consolidate the arbitration proceeding with any other arbitration
proceeding involving any of the parties relating to this Agreement and the
Other Transaction Agreements. The
arbitration tribunal shall not consolidate such arbitrations unless it
determines that (x) there are issues of fact or law common to the
proceedings, so that a consolidated proceeding would be more efficient than
separate proceedings, and (y) no party would be prejudiced as a result
of such consolidation through undue delay or otherwise. In the event of different rulings on this
question by the arbitration tribunal constituted hereunder and any tribunal constituted
under the Other Transaction Agreements, the ruling of the tribunal constituted
under this Agreement will govern, and that tribunal will decide all disputes in
the consolidated proceeding.
(v) The parties agree that the arbitration shall
be kept confidential and that the existence of the proceeding and any element
of it (including but not limited to any pleadings, briefs or other documents
submitted or exchanged, any testimony or other oral submissions, and
14
any awards) shall not be disclosed beyond the tribunal, the ICC, the
parties, their counsel and any person necessary to the conduct of the
proceeding, except as may be lawfully required in judicial proceedings relating
to the arbitration or otherwise, or as required by NASDAQ rules or the rules of
any other quotation system or exchange on which the disclosing partys
securities are listed or applicable Law.
(vi) The costs of arbitration shall be borne by
the losing party unless otherwise determined by the arbitration award.
(vii) All payments made pursuant to the
arbitration decision or award and any judgment entered thereon shall be made in
United States dollars, free from any deduction, offset or withholding for
Taxes.
(viii) Notwithstanding this Section 10.3(b) or
any other provision to the contrary in this Agreement, no party shall be
obligated to follow the foregoing arbitration procedures where such party
intends to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for an interim injunction
or similar equitable relief against any other party, provided there is no
unreasonable delay in the prosecution of that application.
10.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
successors and permitted assigns.
10.5 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable or
otherwise transferable by any party hereto without the prior written consent of
the other parties hereto, and any purported assignment or other transfer
without such consent shall be void and unenforceable.
10.6 Third
Party Beneficiaries. It is expressly
agreed by the parties hereto that Alibaba shall be a third party beneficiary of
all of the terms of this Agreement and Alibaba shall be entitled to enforce its
rights as such under this Agreement.
10.7 Amendment; Waivers, etc.. No amendment, modification or discharge of
this Agreement, and no waiver hereunder, shall be valid or binding unless set
forth in writing and duly executed by the party against whom enforcement of the
amendment, modification, discharge or waiver is sought. Any such waiver shall constitute a waiver
only with respect to the specific matter described in such writing and shall in
no way impair the rights of the party granting such waiver in any other respect
or at any other time. Neither the waiver
by any of the parties hereto of a breach of or a default under any of the
provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure by any of the parties, on one or
more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to
exercise any right or privilege hereunder, shall be construed as a waiver of
any other breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any of such
provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.
The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and none is
exclusive of any other, or of any rights or remedies that any party may
otherwise have at law or in equity. The
rights and remedies of any party based upon, arising out of or otherwise in
respect of any inaccuracy or breach of any representation, warranty, covenant
or agreement or failure to fulfill any condition shall in no way be limited by
the fact that the act, omission, occurrence or other state of facts upon which
any claim of any such inaccuracy or breach is based may also be the subject
matter of any other representation, warranty, covenant or agreement as to which
there
15
is no inaccuracy or
breach. The representations and
warranties of Yahoo! shall not be affected or deemed waived by reason of any
investigation made by or on behalf of SOFTBANK (including but not limited to by
any of its advisors, consultants or representatives) or by reason of the fact
that SOFTBANK or any of such advisors, consultants or representatives knew or
should have known that any such representation or warranty is or might be
inaccurate.
10.8 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, together
with the Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2005, by and
between Yahoo! and SOFTBANK, constitutes the entire agreement and supersede all
prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof.
10.9 Severability. If any provision, including any phrase,
sentence, clause, section or subsection, of this Agreement is invalid,
inoperative or unenforceable for any reason, such circumstances shall not have
the effect of rendering such provision in question invalid, inoperative or
unenforceable in any other case or circumstance, or of rendering any other
provision herein contained invalid, inoperative, or unenforceable to any extent
whatsoever.
10.10 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are
for purposes of convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
10.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall
together constitute one and the same instrument.
16
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed
this Agreement as of the date first above written.
|
YAHOO!
INC.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
SOFTBANK
CORP.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
SB TB
Holding Limited
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
Exhibit 10.2
SECONDARY SHARE
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
by and among
Yahoo! Inc.,
SOFTBANK CORP.
and
Certain
Shareholders of Alibaba.com Corporation
Dated as of
, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
|
Sale and Purchase of the Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.1
|
Sale and Purchase of the Shares
|
|
|
1.2
|
Closing
|
|
|
1.3
|
Withholding Tax
|
|
|
|
|
2.
|
Representations and
Warranties of the Selling Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.1
|
Authorization, etc.
|
|
|
2.2
|
Title to Shares
|
|
|
2.3
|
No Conflicts, etc.
|
|
|
2.4
|
Status
|
|
|
2.5
|
Consents
|
|
|
2.6
|
Survival of Representations and Warranties
|
|
|
|
|
3.
|
Representations and
Warranties of the Purchasers
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.1
|
Authorization, etc.
|
|
|
3.2
|
No Conflicts, etc.
|
|
|
3.3
|
Corporate Status
|
|
|
3.4
|
Purchase for Investment
|
|
|
3.5
|
Survival of Representations
and Warranties
|
|
|
|
|
4.
|
Covenants of the Purchasers
and the Selling Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.1
|
Confidentiality
|
|
|
4.2
|
Publicity
|
|
|
4.3
|
Further Assurances
|
|
|
|
|
5.
|
Conditions
Precedent
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.1
|
Conditions to Obligations of Each Party
|
|
|
|
5.1.1.
|
No Injunction, etc.
|
|
|
|
5.1.2.
|
Other Transactions
|
|
|
5.2
|
Conditions to Obligations of the Purchasers
|
|
|
|
5.2.1.
|
Representations, Performance, etc.
|
|
|
|
5.2.2.
|
Delivery of Shares
|
|
|
5.3
|
Conditions to Obligations of the Selling Shareholders
|
|
|
|
5.3.1.
|
Representations,
Performance, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
6.
|
Termination
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.1
|
Termination
|
|
|
6.2
|
Effect of Termination
|
|
|
6.3
|
Survival of Representations and Warranties, etc.
|
|
i
SECONDARY SHARE
PURCHASE AGREEMENT(1)
This SECONDARY SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this Agreement),
dated as of , 2005, is entered into by and among Yahoo! Inc., a Delaware
corporation (Yahoo!), SOFTBANK CORP., a Japanese corporation (Softbank,
and, together with Yahoo!, collectively the Purchasers and each,
individually, a Purchaser) and certain shareholders (collectively, the
Selling Shareholders and individually, a Selling Shareholder)
of Alibaba Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted limited liability company (Alibaba)
as set forth on Schedule A hereto.
W I
T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Selling Shareholders wish to sell all or
a portion of the Shares they hold to the Purchasers, and the Purchasers wish to
purchase the Shares from the Selling Shareholders, on the terms and conditions
and for the consideration described in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Agreement
by Yahoo!, Softbank and the Selling Shareholders, and the consummation of the
purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby, is a condition precedent to
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase and
Contribution Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2005, by and among Alibaba
and Yahoo! (the SPCA).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
promises, covenants, representations and warranties made herein and of the
mutual benefits to be derived herefrom, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Sale
and Purchase of the Shares.
1.1 Sale and Purchase of the Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
each Selling Shareholder, severally (and not jointly), will sell to each
Purchaser, and each Purchaser, severally (and not jointly) will purchase from
each Selling Shareholder, the respective number of Shares set forth on Schedule A
hereto opposite such Selling Shareholders name at a price of US$6.4974 per share
(the Per Share Price), for an aggregate purchase price (the Purchase
Price) set forth on Schedule A hereto opposite such Selling
Shareholders name, payable in cash at the Closing in the manner set forth in Section 1.2.
1.2 Closing. The closing of the sale of Shares by the
Selling Shareholders to the Purchasers and the purchase of Shares by the
Purchasers from the Selling Shareholders as contemplated by Section 1.1
(the Closing) shall take place
(1) Aggregate number
of shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholders (i) to Yahoo! shall equal
60,023,604 and (ii) to Softbank shall equal to 27,703,202.
on the Closing Date of the SPCA (the Closing Date) at a
location to be agreed upon by Yahoo!, Softbank and Alibaba, subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent to the Closing set forth in Section 5
of this Agreement. At the Closing:
(a) each
Selling Shareholder will deliver or cause to be delivered to each Purchaser,
free and clear of any Liens, one or more certificates representing the Shares
that it has agreed to sell to such Purchaser as set forth on Schedule A
hereto, duly endorsed or accompanied by stock powers or other instruments of
transfer duly executed for transfer to such Purchaser, together with any Tax or
transfer stamps or other documents or actions necessary to accomplish the
foregoing; and
(b) each
Purchaser will pay to each Selling Shareholder an amount equal to the Per Share
Price multiplied by the number of Shares delivered to such Purchaser by such Selling
Shareholder pursuant to clause (a) above, by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the account of such Selling Shareholder designated in
writing to such Purchaser at least three Business Days prior to the Closing
Date.
1.3 Withholding Tax. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to deduct
and withhold from the amounts otherwise paid to a Selling Shareholder under
this Agreement such amounts that may be required to be deducted and withheld
with respect to the making of such payment under any Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld
and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such amounts so required to
be deducted and withheld shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement as
having been paid to such Selling Shareholder.
2. Representations
and Warranties of the Selling Shareholders.
Each Selling Shareholder, severally (and not jointly),
represents and warrants to each Purchaser as follows, as of the date hereof and
as of the Closing Date:
2.1 Authorization, etc. Such Selling Shareholder has full power,
authority and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its
obligations hereunder and to consummate the purchase and sale of Shares
contemplated hereby. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Selling Shareholder, if
other than a natural person, and the consummation of the purchase and sale of
Shares contemplated hereby, have been duly authorized or will be duly
authorized prior to the Closing by all requisite corporate action of such
party. If such Selling Shareholder is a
natural person, such Selling Shareholder has the authority to execute, deliver
and perform this Agreement and consummate the purchase and sale of Shares
contemplated hereby, in compliance with the laws affecting the rights of
marital partners generally. Such Selling
Shareholder has duly executed and delivered this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid
and binding obligation of such Selling Shareholder enforceable against such
Selling Shareholder in accordance with its terms.
2
2.2 Title to Shares. As of the Closing, such Selling Shareholder
owns, legally or beneficially, all of the Shares set forth opposite such
Selling Shareholders name on Schedule A hereto. Upon the delivery of and payment for such
Shares at the Closing as provided for in this Agreement, each Purchaser will
acquire good and valid title to all of such Shares, free and clear of any Lien.
2.3 No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by such Selling Shareholder, and the consummation of the
purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby, do not and will not conflict
with, contravene, result in a violation or breach of or default under (with or
without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both), create in any other
Person a right or claim of termination or amendment, or require modification,
acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any Lien (or any
obligation to create any Lien) upon any of the properties or assets of such
Selling Shareholder under, (a) any Law applicable to such Selling
Shareholder or any of its properties or assets, (b) any provision of any
of the Organizational Documents of such Selling Shareholder, if applicable, or (c) any
Contract, or any other agreement or instrument to which such Selling
Shareholder is a party or by which any of its properties or assets may be bound
except, in the case of each of clauses (a), (b) and (c), as would not reasonably
be expected to prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of any Selling
Shareholder to sell its Shares and otherwise fulfill its obligations under this
Agreement.
2.4 Status. In the case such Selling Shareholder is other
than a natural person, it is an entity duly organized, validly existing and, if
applicable under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and has full power and
authority to, conduct its business and to own or lease and to operate its
properties as and in the places where such business is conducted and such
properties are owned, leased or operated except as would not reasonably be
expected to prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of such Selling
Shareholders to sell its Shares and otherwise fulfill its obligations under
this Agreement.
2.5 Consents. All Governmental Approvals or other Consents
required to be obtained by the Selling Shareholder in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the purchase
and sale of Shares contemplated hereby have been obtained on or prior to the
date of this Agreement.
2.6 Survival of Representations and Warranties. Each of the
representations and warranties of the Selling Shareholders in this
Agreement or in any schedule, instrument or other document delivered pursuant
to this Agreement shall survive the Closing Date and shall continue in force
thereafter.
3
3. Representations
and Warranties of the Purchasers.
Each Purchaser, severally (and not jointly), represents and warrants to
each Selling Shareholder as follows, as of the date hereof and as of the
Closing Date:
3.1 Authorization, etc. Such Purchaser has full corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder and to consummate the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated
hereby. The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by such Purchaser, and the consummation of the purchase and
sale of Shares contemplated hereby, have been duly authorized by all requisite
corporate action of such Purchaser. Such
Purchaser has duly executed and delivered this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid
and binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against such Purchaser in
accordance with its terms.
3.2 No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by such Purchaser, and the consummation of the purchase and sale
of Shares contemplated hereby, do not and will not conflict with, contravene,
result in a violation or breach of or default under (with or without the giving
of notice or the lapse of time, or both), create in any other Person a right or
claim of termination or amendment, or require modification, acceleration or
cancellation of, or result in or require the creation of any Lien (or any
obligation to create any Lien) upon any of the properties or assets of such
Purchaser under (a) any Law applicable to such Purchaser or any of its
properties or assets, (b) any provision of any of the Organizational
Documents of such Purchaser, or (c) any Contract, or any other agreement
or instrument to which such Purchaser is a party or by which its properties or
assets may be bound except, in the case of each of clauses (a), (b) and
(c), as would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair or
delay the ability of such Purchaser to purchase the Shares and otherwise
fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
3.3 Corporate Status. Such Purchaser is an entity duly organized,
validly existing and, if applicable under the laws of its jurisdiction of
organization, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
organization and has full power and authority to conduct its business and to
own or lease and to operate its properties as and in the place where such
business is conducted and such properties are owned, leased or operated except
as would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair or delay
the ability of such Purchaser to purchase the Shares and otherwise fulfill its
obligations under this Agreement.
3.4 Purchase for Investment. Such Purchaser is an accredited investor
within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D under the U.S. Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, has such knowledge and experience in financial
business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its
purchase of Shares hereunder, has no need for liquidity in such Shares and has
the ability to bear the economic risks of its purchase of Shares
hereunder. Such Purchaser is purchasing
the Shares solely for investment, with no present intention to resell the
Shares. Such Purchaser hereby
acknowledges that the Shares have not been registered pursuant to
4
the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be transferred
in the absence of such registration or an exemption therefrom under such
legislation.
3.5 Survival of Representations and Warranties. Each of the
representations and warranties of the Purchasers in this Agreement or in
any schedule, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement
shall survive the Closing Date and shall continue in force thereafter.
4. Covenants
of the Purchasers and the Selling Shareholders.
4.1 Confidentiality. Each party shall maintain the confidentiality
of Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by such party
in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to
such party, provided that such party may deliver or disclose
Confidential Information to (i) such partys representatives, members of
its investment committees, advisory committees, and similar bodies, and Persons
related thereto, who are informed of the confidentiality obligations of this Section 4.1;
provided, that such party shall be responsible for any disclosure made
by any of the foregoing as if it had been made by such party, (ii) any
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such party to the extent
required by applicable Law or (iii) any other Person to which such
delivery or disclosure may be necessary (A) to effect compliance with any
Law applicable to such party, or (B) in response to any subpoena or other
legal process, provided that, in the cases of clauses (ii) and (iii) above,
the disclosing party shall provide each other party with prompt written notice
thereof so that the appropriate party may seek (with the cooperation and
reasonable efforts of the disclosing party) a protective order, confidential
treatment or other appropriate remedy, and in any event shall furnish only that
portion of the information which is reasonably necessary for the purpose at
hand and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that
confidential treatment will be accorded such information to the extent
reasonably requested by any other party.
4.2 Publicity. Except as may be required by the NASDAQ rules or
the rules of any other quotation system or exchange on which Yahoo!s,
Softbanks or Alibabas securities are listed or applicable Law, none of
Yahoo!, Softbank, or Alibaba shall issue a publicity release or announcement or
otherwise make any public disclosure concerning this Agreement, the SPCA, or the
other the Ancillary Agreements, which announcement names any party without its
prior approval. If any announcement is
required by applicable Law to be made by any party hereto, prior to making such
announcement such party will deliver a draft of such announcement to the other
parties and shall give the other parties an opportunity to comment thereon.
5
4.3 Further Assurances. Following the Closing Date, each party shall,
from time to time, execute and deliver such additional instruments, documents,
conveyances or assurances and take such other actions as shall be necessary, or
otherwise reasonably be requested by any other party, to confirm and assure the
rights and obligations provided for in this Agreement and render effective the
consummation of the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby, or
otherwise to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement (which include
the transfer by the Selling Shareholders to the Purchasers of the ownership and
intended related benefits of the Shares in the manner contemplated by Section 1.2).
5. Conditions
Precedent.
5.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party. The obligations of each party to consummate
the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby shall be subject to the
fulfillment on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:
5.1.1. No Injunction, etc. Consummation of the purchase and sale of
Shares contemplated hereby shall not have been restrained, enjoined or
otherwise prohibited or made illegal by any applicable Law, including any
order, injunction, decree or judgment of any court or other Governmental
Authority; and no such Law that would have such an effect shall have been
promulgated, entered, issued or determined by any court or other Governmental
Authority to be applicable to this Agreement.
No action or proceeding shall be pending or threatened by any
Governmental Authority on the Closing Date before any court or other Governmental
Authority to restrain, enjoin or otherwise prevent the consummation of the
purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby in any material respect.
5.1.2. Other Transactions. The Other Transactions shall have been
consummated on or prior to the Closing Date.
5.2 Conditions to Obligations of the
Purchasers. The obligations of each
Purchaser to consummate the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby
shall be subject to the fulfillment on or prior to the Closing Date of the
following additional conditions, which each Selling Shareholder agrees to use
reasonable best efforts to cause to be fulfilled:
5.2.1. Representations, Performance, etc.
(a) The representations and warranties of each
Selling Shareholder contained in Section 2 (i) shall be true and
correct in all material respects at and as of the date it first becomes a party
to this Agreement, and (ii) shall be repeated and shall be true and
correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same
effect as though made on and as of the Closing Date except, in the cases of
each of clauses (i) and (ii), as would not reasonably be expected to
prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of such Selling Shareholder
to sell its Shares and otherwise fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
6
(b) Each Selling Shareholder shall have in all
material respects duly performed and complied with all agreements, covenants
and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
such Selling Shareholder prior to or on the Closing Date, except as would not
reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of
such Selling Shareholder to sell its Shares and otherwise fulfill its
obligations under this Agreement.
5.2.2. Delivery of Shares. At the Closing each Selling Shareholder shall
have delivered certificate(s) representing the Shares such Selling Shareholder
is required to deliver as provided in Section 1.2, as applicable, together
with any Tax or transfer stamps or other documents or actions necessary to vest
good and valid title to such Shares in the name of the relevant Purchasers,
free an d clear of any Lien..
5.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Selling
Shareholders. The obligation of each
Selling Shareholder to consummate the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated
hereby shall be subject to the fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing Date, of
the following additional conditions, which each Purchaser agrees to use
reasonable best efforts to cause to be fulfilled:
5.3.1. Representations, Performance, etc.
(a) The representations and warranties of each
Purchaser contained in Section 3 (i) shall be true and correct in all
material respects at and as of the date hereof and (ii) shall be repeated
and shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing
Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such time, except in the
cases of each of clauses (i) and (ii), as would not reasonably be expected
to prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of such Purchaser to
purchase the Shares and otherwise fulfill its obligations under this Agreement
in all material respects.
(b) Each Purchaser shall have in all material
respects duly performed and complied with all agreements, covenants and
conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it
prior to or on the Closing Date, except as would not reasonably be expected to
prevent or materially impair or delay the ability of such Purchaser to purchase
the Shares and otherwise fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
6. Termination.
6.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior to the Closing Date:
(a) By the
written agreement of the Purchasers and the Selling Shareholders;
7
(b) By the
Selling Shareholders or the Purchasers by written notice to the other party if
the SPCA shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms; or
(c) By
Softbank or Yahoo! if there shall have been a material breach of any
representation, warranty or covenant on the part of the Selling Shareholders
contained in this Agreement such that the condition set forth in Section 5.2.1(a) and
5.2.1(b) would not be satisfied and which shall not have been cured within
30 days following written notice of such breach; provided that Softbank
and Yahoo! shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
this Section 6.1(c) if Softbank or Yahoo! is then in material breach
of any of its covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement such that the
Closing condition set forth in Section 5.3.1(a) or 5.3.1(b) would
not be satisfied; or
(d) By the
Selling Shareholders if there shall have been a material breach of any
representation, warranty or covenant on the part of Softbank or Yahoo!
contained in this Agreement such that the condition set forth in Section 5.3.1(a) and
5.3.1(b) would not be satisfied and which shall not have been cured within
30 days following written notice of such breach; provided that the
Selling Shareholders shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) if any of the Purchasers are then in
material breach of any of their covenants or agreements contained in this
Agreement such that the Closing condition set forth in Section 5.2.1(a) or
5.2.1(b) would not be satisfied.
6.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1, this Agreement shall
become void and have no effect, without any liability to any Person in respect
hereof or of the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby on the part of
any party hereto, or any of its directors, officers, representatives,
stockholders or Affiliates, except as specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2 and
8.1 and except for any liability resulting from such partys breach of this
Agreement prior thereto.
6.3 Survival of Representations and
Warranties, etc. The representations
and warranties contained in this Agreement shall survive indefinitely.
7. Definitions.
7.1 Terms Generally. The words hereby, herein, hereof, hereunder
and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole (including any
Schedules hereto) and not merely to the specific section, paragraph or clause
in which such word appears. All
references herein to Sections and Schedules shall be deemed references to
Sections of, and Schedules to, this Agreement unless the context shall
otherwise require. The words include, includes
and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without
limitation. The definitions given for
terms in this Section 7 and elsewhere in this Agreement shall apply
equally
8
to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun
shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, all references to dollars or US$ shall be deemed references to the
lawful money of the United States of America.
7.2 Certain Terms. Whenever used in this Agreement (including in
the Schedules), the following terms shall have the respective meanings given to
them below or in the Sections indicated below:
Affiliate: of a Person means a Person that directly or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or
is under common control with, the first Person, including but not limited to a
Subsidiary of the first Person, a Person of which the first Person is a
Subsidiary, or another Subsidiary of a Person of which the first Person is also
a Subsidiary. Control (including the
terms controlled by and under common control with) means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or credit arrangement, as trustee or executor, or
otherwise.
Agreement: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
Alibaba: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
Business Day: any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which banks are required or authorized by Law to be closed in New
York, Beijing, Hong Kong or Tokyo.
Claimant: as defined in Section 8.4(b).
Closing: as defined in Section 1.2.
Closing Date: as defined in Section 1.2.
Confidential Information: information regarding this Agreement and the
Other Transaction Agreements including the terms, status and existence thereof,
provided that such Confidential Information does not include information that (a) was
publicly known or otherwise known to such receiving party prior to the time of
such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or
omission by such receiving party or any Person acting on such partys behalf,
or (c) otherwise becomes known to such receiving party other than through
disclosure by the delivering party or any Person with a duty to keep such
information confidential.
9
Consent: any consent, approval, authorization, waiver,
permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, certificate,
exemption, order, registration, declaration, filing, report or notice of, with
or to any Person.
Contract: all loan agreements, indentures, letters of
credit (including related letter of credit applications and reimbursement
obligations), mortgages, security agreements, pledge agreements, deeds of
trust, bonds, notes, guarantees, surety obligations, warranties, licenses,
franchises, permits, powers of attorney, purchase orders, leases, and other
agreements, contracts, instruments, obligations, offers, commitments,
arrangements and understandings, written or oral.
Governmental Approval: any Consent of, with or to any Governmental
Authority.
Governmental Authority: any nation or government, any state or other
political subdivision thereof; any entity, authority or body exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government, including, without limitation, any government
authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality of any
nation or any political subdivision thereof; any court, tribunal or arbitrator;
and any self-regulatory organization.
ICC:
as defined in Section 8.4(b).
Law:
all applicable provisions of all (a) constitutions, treaties,
statutes, laws, codes, rules, regulations, ordinances or orders of any
Governmental Authority, (b) Governmental Approvals and (c) orders, decisions,
injunctions, judgments, awards and decrees of or agreements with any
Governmental Authority.
Lien: any mortgage, pledge, deed of trust,
hypothecation, right of others, claim, security interest, encumbrance, burden,
title defect, title retention agreement, lease, sublease, license, occupancy
agreement, easement, covenant, condition, encroachment, voting trust agreement,
interest, option, right of first offer, negotiation or refusal, proxy, lien,
charge or other restrictions or limitations of any nature whatsoever, including
but not limited to such Liens as may arise under any Contract.
Organizational Documents: as to any Person, its certificate or articles
of incorporation, by-laws, memorandum and articles of association or other
organizational and constitutive documents.
Other Transaction Agreements: the SPCA and the Ancillary Agreements (as
defined therein and excluding this Agreement).
Other Transactions: the transactions contemplated by the Other
Transaction Agreements.
10
Per Share Price: as defined in Section 1.1.
Person: any natural person, firm, partnership,
association, corporation, company, trust, business trust, Governmental
Authority or other entity.
Purchase Price: as defined in Section 1.1.
Purchaser(s): as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
Request: as defined in Section 8.4(b).
Respondent: as defined in Section 8.4(b).
Selling Shareholder(s): as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
Selling Shareholders Representative:
as defined in Section 8.3.
Shareholders Agreement: the
shareholders agreement to be entered into by and among Yahoo!, Alibaba and the
Management Members (as defined in such agreement) on or prior to the Closing
Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the SPCA.
Shares: Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of
US$0.0001 each, of Alibaba.
Softbank: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
SPCA: as defined in the recitals of
this Agreement.
Subsidiaries: each corporation or other Person in which a
Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, share capital or other equity
interests representing more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock or other
equity interests.
Tax:
any federal, state, local or foreign income, alternative, minimum,
accumulated earnings, personal holding company, franchise, share capital,
profits, windfall profits, gross receipts, sales, use, value added, transfer,
registration, stamp, premium, excise, customs duties, severance, environmental,
real property, personal property, ad valorem, occupancy, license, occupation,
employment, payroll, social security, disability, unemployment, workers
compensation, withholding, estimated or other similar tax, duty, fee,
assessment or other governmental charge or deficiencies thereof (including all
interest and penalties thereon and additions thereto).
Yahoo!: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
11
8. Miscellaneous.
8.1 Expenses. Except as set forth below in this Section 8.1
or as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement, each Selling
Shareholder, on the one hand, and each Purchaser, on the other hand, shall bear
their respective expenses, costs and fees (including attorneys fees) in
connection with the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby, including
the preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and compliance
herewith, whether or not the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated hereby
shall be consummated; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, any Tax or
other expenses associated with the transfer of Shares contemplated hereby shall
be borne solely by the transferring Selling Shareholder.
8.2 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, waivers and
other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered
personally, (b) sent by next-day or overnight mail or delivery or (c) sent
by facsimile, as follows:
(i) if to Yahoo!,
Yahoo! Inc.
|
701 First Avenue
|
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
|
Fax: +1-408-349-3301
|
Telephone: +1-408-349-3300
|
Attention: General Counsel
|
|
with a copy to:
|
|
Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP
|
525 University Avenue
|
Suite 1100
|
Palo Alto, CA 94301
|
Fax: +1-650-470-4570
|
Telephone: +1-650-470-4500
|
Attention: Kenton J. King
|
|
(ii) if to Softbank,
|
|
SOFTBANK CORP.
|
1-9-1,
Higashi-Shimbashi Minato-ku
|
Tokyo, 105-7303
Japan
|
Fax:
|
+81-3-6215-5001
|
Telephone:
|
+81-3-6889-2270
|
Attention:
|
Finance Department
|
12
with a copy to:
|
|
Morrison &
Foerster LLP
|
AIG Building, 11th Floor
|
1-3, Marunouchi 1
chome
|
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005
|
Japan
|
Fax: +81-3-3214-6512
|
Telephone: +81-3-3214-6522
|
Attention: Kenneth A.
Siegel
|
(iii) If to any Selling Shareholder, to such
Selling Shareholders address as set forth on Schedule A hereto;
or, in each case, at such other address as may be
specified in writing to the other parties hereto in accordance with this Section 8.2.
All such notices, requests, demands, waivers and other
communications shall be deemed to have been received (i) if by personal
delivery on the day after such delivery, (ii) if by next-day or overnight
mail or delivery, on the day delivered or (iii) if by facsimile, on the
next day following the day on which such facsimile was sent, provided that a
copy is also sent by another method described herein.
8.3 Selling Shareholders Representative.
(a) Concurrent with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, each of the Selling Shareholders shall be deemed to appoint
the Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba as their agent, representative and
attorney-in-fact (the Selling Shareholders Representative) and the
Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba hereby agrees to act as the Selling
Shareholders Representative.
(b) The Selling Shareholders Representative has
the full power and authority to act on behalf of each Selling Shareholder in
connection with this Agreement and the purchase and sale of Shares contemplated
hereby and take all actions necessary or appropriate in the judgment of the
Selling Shareholders Representative for the accomplishment of the
foregoing. Any notices delivered by the
Selling Shareholders Representative pursuant to this Agreement shall be
delivered to the addressees in the manner provided in Section 8.2.
(c) A decision, act, consent, or instruction of
the Selling Shareholders Representative, including an amendment or waiver of
this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.8 hereof, shall constitute a decision
of the Selling Shareholders after the date hereof and shall be final, binding
and conclusive upon the Selling Shareholders after the date hereof; and the
other parties hereto may rely upon any such decision, act, consent or
instruction of the Selling Shareholders Representative as being the decision,
act, consent or instruction of the Selling Shareholders.
13
8.4 Governing Law and Dispute Resolution.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ALL
RESPECTS, INCLUDING AS TO VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND EFFECT, BY THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) Dispute Resolution
(i) Any dispute, controversy or claim arising
out of, relating to, or in connection with this Agreement, or the breach,
termination or validity hereof, shall be finally settled exclusively by
arbitration. The arbitration shall be
conducted in accordance with the rules of the International Chamber of
Commerce (the ICC) in effect at the time of the arbitration, except as
they may be modified by mutual agreement of the parties. The seat of the arbitration shall be
Singapore, provided that the arbitrators may hold hearings in such other
locations as the arbitrators determine to be most convenient and efficient for
all of the parties to such arbitration under the circumstances. The arbitration shall be conducted in the
English language.
(ii) The arbitration shall be conducted by three
arbitrators. The party (or the parties,
acting jointly, if there are more than one) initiating arbitration (the Claimant)
shall appoint an arbitrator in its request for arbitration (the Request). The other party (or the other parties, acting
jointly, if there are more than one) to the arbitration (the Respondent)
shall appoint an arbitrator within 30 days of receipt of the Request and shall
notify the Claimant of such appointment in writing. If within 30 days of receipt of the Request
by the Respondent, either party has not appointed an arbitrator, then that
arbitrator shall be appointed by the ICC.
The first two arbitrators appointed in accordance with this provision
shall appoint a third arbitrator within 30 days after the Respondent has
notified Claimant of the appointment of the Respondents arbitrator or, in the
event of a failure by a party to appoint, within 30 days after the ICC has
notified the parties and any arbitrator already appointed of the appointment of
an arbitrator on behalf of the party failing to appoint. When the third arbitrator has accepted the
appointment, the two arbitrators making the appointment shall promptly notify
the parties of the appointment. If the
first two arbitrators appointed fail to appoint a third arbitrator or so to
notify the parties within the time period prescribed above, then the ICC shall
appoint the third arbitrator and shall promptly notify the parties of the
appointment. The third arbitrator shall
act as Chair of the tribunal.
(iii) The arbitral award shall be in writing,
state the reasons for the award, and be final and binding on the parties. The award may include an award of costs,
including reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements. In addition to monetary damages, the arbitral
tribunal shall be empowered to award equitable relief, including, but not
limited to, an injunction and specific performance of any obligation under this
Agreement. The arbitral tribunal is not
empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages, and each party
hereby irrevocably waives any right to recover punitive, exemplary or similar
damages with respect to any dispute, except insofar as a claim is for
indemnification for an award of punitive damages awarded
14
against a party in an action brought against it by an independent third
party. The arbitral tribunal shall be
authorized in its discretion to grant pre-award and post-award interest at
commercial rates. Any costs, fees or
taxes incident to enforcing the award shall, to the maximum extent permitted by
Law, be charged against the party resisting such enforcement. Judgment upon the award may be entered by any
court having jurisdiction thereof or having jurisdiction over the relevant
party or its assets.
(iv) In order to facilitate the comprehensive
resolution of related disputes, and upon request of any party to the
arbitration proceeding, the arbitration tribunal may, within 90 days of its
appointment, consolidate the arbitration proceeding with any other arbitration
proceeding involving any of the parties relating to this Agreement and the
Other Transaction Agreements. The
arbitration tribunal shall not consolidate such arbitrations unless it
determines that (x) there are issues of fact or law common to the proceedings,
so that a consolidated proceeding would be more efficient than separate
proceedings, and (y) no party would be prejudiced as a result of such
consolidation through undue delay or otherwise.
In the event of different rulings on this question by the arbitration
tribunal constituted hereunder and any tribunal constituted under the Other
Transaction Agreements, the ruling of the tribunal constituted under the
Shareholders Agreement shall govern, and that tribunal will decide all disputes
in the consolidated proceeding.
(v) The parties agree that the arbitration shall
be kept confidential and that the existence of the proceeding and any element
of it (including but not limited to any pleadings, briefs or other documents
submitted or exchanged, any testimony or other oral submissions, and any
awards) shall not be disclosed beyond the tribunal, the ICC, the parties, their
counsel and any person necessary to the conduct of the proceeding, except as
may be lawfully required in judicial proceedings relating to the arbitration,
by disclosure rules and regulations of securities regulatory authorities
or otherwise, or as required by NASDAQ rules or the rules of any
other quotation system or exchange on which the disclosing partys securities
are listed or applicable Law.
(vi) The costs of arbitration shall be borne by
the losing party unless otherwise determined by the arbitration award.
(vii) All payments made pursuant to the
arbitration decision or award and any judgment entered thereon shall be made in
United States dollars, free from any deduction, offset or withholding for
Taxes.
(viii) Notwithstanding this Section 8.4(b) or
any other provision to the contrary in this Agreement, no party shall be
obligated to follow the foregoing arbitration procedures where such party
intends to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for an interim
injunction or similar equitable relief against any other party, provided there
is no unreasonable delay in the prosecution of that application.
15
8.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
successors and permitted assigns.
8.6 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable or
otherwise transferable by any party hereto without the prior written consent of
the other parties hereto, and any purported assignment or other transfer
without such consent shall be void and unenforceable.
8.7 Third Party Beneficiaries. It is expressly agreed by the parties hereto that
Alibaba shall be a third party beneficiary of all of the terms of this
Agreement and Alibaba shall be entitled to enforce its rights as such under
this Agreement.
8.8 Amendment; Waivers, etc. No amendment, modification or discharge of
this Agreement, and no waiver hereunder, shall be valid or binding unless set
forth in writing and duly executed by the party against whom enforcement of the
amendment, modification, discharge or waiver is sought, provided that no
amendment, modification, discharge of this Agreement, and no waiver hereunder,
shall be valid and binding against the Purchasers unless set forth in writing
and duly executed by both the Purchasers and Alibaba. Any such waiver shall constitute a waiver only
with respect to the specific matter described in such writing and shall in no
way impair the rights of the party granting such waiver in any other respect or
at any other time. Neither the waiver by
any of the parties hereto of a breach of or a default under any of the
provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure by any of the parties, on one or
more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to
exercise any right or privilege hereunder, shall be construed as a waiver of
any other breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any of such
provisions, rights or privileges hereunder.
The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and none is
exclusive of any other, or of any rights or remedies that any party may otherwise
have at law or in equity.
8.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written
and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
8.10 Severability. If any provision, including any phrase,
sentence, clause, section or subsection, of this Agreement is invalid,
inoperative or unenforceable for any reason, such circumstances shall not have
the effect of rendering such provision in question invalid, inoperative or
unenforceable in any other case or circumstance, or of rendering any other
provision herein contained invalid, inoperative, or unenforceable to any extent
whatsoever.
8.11 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are
for purposes of convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
16
8.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall
together constitute one and the same instrument.
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed
this Agreement as of the date first above written.
|
YAHOO!
INC.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
SOFTBANK
CORP.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
[NAME OF SELLING
SHAREHOLDER 1]
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
[NAME OF SELLING
SHAREHOLDER 2]
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
[NAME OF SELLING
SHAREHOLDER 3]
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
[NAME OF SELLING
SHAREHOLDER 4]
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
ETC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18
SCHEDULE A
Selling Shareholders
Name and Address
|
|
Number of Shares
to Be Purchased by
Yahoo!
|
|
Number of Shares
to Be Purchased by
Softbank
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19
Exhibit 10.3
SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
by and among
Alibaba.com Corporation,
Yahoo! Inc.,
SOFTBANK CORP.
the Management Members
(as defined herein)
and
certain other shareholders of Alibaba.com Corporation
Dated
as of l, 2005
|
SCHEDULE B YAHOO
COMPETITORS
|
|
|
SCHEDULE C SHARE
OWNERSHIP
|
|
iii
SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
THIS SHAREHOLDERS
AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of l,
2005 is made and entered into by and among Alibaba.com Corporation, a Cayman
Islands company (the Company), Yahoo! Inc., a Delaware corporation (Yahoo),
SOFTBANK CORP., a Japanese corporation (SOFTBANK), and certain members
of the management of the Company named on the signature page hereof, in their
sole capacity as shareholders of the Company (collectively, the Management
Members and individually, a Management Member) and certain other
shareholders named on the signature page hereof (such other shareholders,
Yahoo, SOFTBANK and the Management Members are referred to herein collectively
as the Shareholders and individually as a Shareholder).
W I T N E
S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Stock Purchase and Contribution
Agreement (the Purchase and Contribution Agreement), dated as of
August 10, 2005, by and between the Company and Yahoo, Yahoo agreed to transfer
the China Business and pay the Cash Consideration to the Company in
consideration of the allotment and issuance of the Primary Shares by the
Company to Yahoo; and
WHEREAS,
the Company, the Management Members, Yahoo and SOFTBANK, and certain of their
respective Affiliates, are parties to one or more Ancillary Agreements as
contemplated by the Purchase and Contribution Agreement;
WHEREAS,
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Shareholders is a condition
precedent to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase
and Contribution Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, representations
and warranties set forth herein and the mutual benefits to be derived herefrom,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms have the indicated meanings, and capitalized terms used but not otherwise
defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the
Purchase and Contribution Agreement. All
references to Sections and Schedules shall be deemed references to Sections of
and Schedule to this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require.
Additional Securities: as defined in Section 6.1(a).
Affiliate: of a Person means another Person that
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control
with, the first Person, including but not limited to a
Subsidiary of the first Person, a Person of which the first Person is a
Subsidiary, or another Subsidiary of a Person of which the first Person is also
a Subsidiary. Control (including the
terms controlled by and under common control with) means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or other arrangement, as trustee or executor, or
otherwise.
Aggregate Remaining Shares: as defined in Section 4.3(d).
Board: the board of directors of the Company.
Cause: with respect to a person, (i) gross
neglect or failure to perform the duties and responsibilities of such persons
office, (ii) failure or refusal to comply in any material respect with
material and lawful policies and directives of the Company resulting in
material harm to the Company and its Affiliates, taken as a whole, (iii)
material breach of any contract or agreement between such person and the
Company, or material breach of any statutory duty or any other obligation that
such person owes to the Company and/or its Affiliates resulting in material
harm to the Company and its Affiliates, taken as a whole, (iv)
commission of an act of fraud, theft or embezzlement against the Company and/or
its Affiliates or involving their properties or assets, or (v) conviction
or nolo contendere plea with
respect to any felony or crime of moral turpitude, provided, however,
that with respect to any occurrence of any of (i), (ii) or (iii), such person
shall have been given not less than 30 days written notice by the Board of the
Boards determination (such determination being made independent of such
person, if such person is a Board member) that such event had occurred, and
such person shall have until the end of such 30 day period following receipt of
such notice to rectify or cure such occurrence if such occurrence is curable
before any action premised upon a determination of Cause can be taken.
Change of Control Transactions: (a)
the direct or indirect acquisition (except for transactions described in clause
(b) of this paragraph below), whether in one or a series of transactions by any
person (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and Section 14(d)(2) of the
Exchange Act), or related persons constituting a group (as such term is used in
Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), of (i) beneficial ownership (as
defined in the Exchange Act) of issued and outstanding shares of capital stock
of the Company, the result of which acquisition is that such person or such
group possesses 25% or more of the combined voting power of all then-issued and
outstanding share capital of the Company, or (ii) the power to elect,
appoint, or cause the election or appointment of at least a majority of the
members of the Board (or such other governing body in the event the Company or
any successor entity is not a corporation); (b) a merger,
consolidation or other
2
reorganization or recapitalization of the Company with a person or a direct or
indirect subsidiary of such person, provided that the result of such merger, consolidation or other
reorganization or recapitalization, whether in one or a series of related
transactions, is that the holders of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company immediately
prior to such consummation do not possess,
whether directly or indirectly, immediately after the consummation of such
transaction, in excess of 75% of the combined voting power of all then-issued
and outstanding capital stock of the merged, consolidated, reorganized
or recapitalized person, its direct or indirect parent, or the surviving person
of such transaction; or (c) a sale or disposition, whether in one
or a series of transactions, of all or substantially all of the Companys assets.
Claimant: as defined in Section
9.2(b).
Company: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
Compliance Officers: as defined in
Section 8.3.
Confidential Information: information delivered by a party to another
party in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant
to this Agreement that is proprietary in nature and that was clearly marked or
labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by such party as being
confidential information of such delivering party, provided that such term does
not include information that (a) was publicly known or otherwise known to such
receiving party prior to the time of such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes
publicly known through no act or omission by such receiving party or any Person
acting on such partys behalf, or (c) otherwise becomes known to such receiving
party other than through disclosure by the delivering party or any Person with
a duty to keep such information confidential.
Consent: any consent, approval, authorization, waiver,
permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, certificate,
exemption, order, registration, declaration, filing, report or notice of, with
or to any Person.
Core Businesses: the core businesses of the Company relating
to search, portal, consumer e-commerce, business-to-business and Alipay.
Equity Securities: any Ordinary Shares and any other equity
securities of the Company, however described or whether voting or non-voting,
including securities convertible or exchangeable into, and options, warrants or
other rights to acquire, any equity interests of the Company.
Exchange Act: the United States
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
3
Exempted Securities: (i) issuance of options pursuant to
any option plan or restricted shares pursuant to any restricted share plan for
compensatory purposes (which may cover directors, officers, employees and/or
consultants) which was either (x) approved by the Board prior to the
Closing or (y) approved by the Board (including the approval of the
Yahoo Designee and the SOFTBANK Designee) on or subsequent to the Closing, and
the issuance of the Ordinary Shares underlying such options; (ii)
issuance of Ordinary Shares upon exercise of any option, rights, warrants or
other convertible instruments which either existed on the Closing Date or the
issuance of which was previously subject to preemptive rights; and (iii)
issuance of Ordinary Shares in connection with a share dividend, share split or
similar event made or paid pro rata on all, and solely with respect to,
Ordinary Shares.
Expenses: as defined in Section 2.7(a).
Family Members: any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent,
stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law,
son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of a Person, and
shall include adoptive relationships of the same type.
Financial Investors: the financial investors of the Company as set
forth in Schedule A hereto.
Fully Diluted Basis: based on the total number of shares of the
relevant class of stock or type of equity interest that would be outstanding on
the relevant date assuming the exercise of all options, warrants and other
rights to acquire such relevant class of shares or type of equity interest
(including reserved but unissued options or other equity interests issuable
pursuant to option plans or other equity plans and without regard to
exercisability, vesting or similar provisions and restrictions thereof) and the
conversion or exchange of all securities convertible into or exchangeable for
such shares or equity interest (without regard to exercisability, vesting or
similar provisions and restrictions thereof).
GAAP: United States generally accepted accounting
principles, applied on a consistent basis.
Governmental Approval: any Consent of any Governmental Authority.
Governmental Authority: any nation or government, any state or other
political subdivision thereof; any entity, authority or body exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government, including, without limitation, any government
authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality of any
nation or any political subdivision
4
thereof; any court, tribunal or arbitrator; and any
self-regulatory organization; and any securities exchange or quotation system.
Guarantee: any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing in any manner any Indebtedness
or other obligation of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect,
contingent or otherwise, of any Person (i) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or
other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership
arrangements, or by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods,
securities or services, to take or pay, or to maintain financial statement
conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for purposes of assuring
in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the
payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in
whole or in part).
ICC:
as defined in Section 9.2(a).
ICP Company: means a Person controlled via contractual
relationships similar to those governing any of the China ICP Companies,
Zhejiang Alibaba E-Commerce Co., Ltd or Zhejiang Tao Bao Network Co., Ltd.
Indebtedness: as applied to any Person, means, without
duplication, (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (b) all
obligations evidenced by a note, bond, debenture, letter of credit, draft or
similar instrument, (c) that portion of obligations with respect to
capital leases that is properly classified as a liability on a balance sheet in
conformity with GAAP, (d) notes payable and drafts accepted
representing extensions of credit, (e) any obligation owed for all
or any part of the deferred purchase price of property or services, which
purchase price is due more than six months from the date of incurrence of the
obligation in respect thereof, and (f) all indebtedness and
obligations of the types described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (e) to
the extent secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by that
Person regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been
assumed by that Person or is nonrecourse to the credit of that Person.
Indemnifiable Amounts: as defined in Section 2.7(a).
Indemnitee: as defined in Section 2.7(a).
IPO:
a firm-commitment underwritten initial public offering by the Company of
its Ordinary Shares on an internationally recognized stock exchange or
quotation system approved by the Board with gross proceeds to the Company of at
least US$50 million.
5
JM:
Jack Ma Yun, the founder and the current Chairman of the Board and the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Management Member(s): as defined in the first paragraph to this
Agreement.
Management Member Designee(s): as defined in Section 2.3.
Management Member Economic Interest Percentage: the quotient of (x) the number of
Ordinary Shares owned by a Management Member (excluding those underlying
unexercised stock options or warrants or restricted shares subject to vesting
or repurchase) divided by (y) the total number of Ordinary Shares
outstanding at the relevant time.
Management Members Representative: as defined in Section 10.2(a).
Memorandum and Articles: the
Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, to be adopted and
approved by the shareholders of the Company on or prior to the Closing Date and
filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority on the Closing Date, in the
form of Exhibit A attached to the Purchase and Contribution Agreement.
Offer Notice: as defined in Section 4.3(a).
Offer Price: as defined in Section 4.3(a).
Offeree Remaining Shares: as defined in Section 4.3(d).
Offerees: as defined in Section 4.3(a).
Ordinary Shares: the ordinary shares of the Company, par value
US$0.0001 per share.
Other Shares: any shares of capital stock of the Company
that are not Ordinary Shares, including without limitation, any securities that
by their terms are, directly or through a series of one or more steps,
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any such shares of capital
stock.
own, owned, ownership
and the like: as owned is defined in
Section 2.9.
Parent Shareholder: as defined in Section 2.2(c).
Person: any natural person, firm, partnership,
association, corporation, company, trust, business trust, Governmental
Authority or other entity.
Preemptive Rights: as defined in Section 6.1(a).
6
Preemptive Share Amount: as defined in Section 6.1(d).
Purchase and Contribution Agreement: as defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
Purchase Price: as defined in Section 6.1(e).
Purchaser: as defined in Section 4.4(a)
Qualifying Sale: as defined in Section 4.4(a).
Relying Shareholder: as defined in Section 2.2(c).
Replacement Director: as defined in Section 2.5(d).
Request: as defined in Section 9.2(b).
Respondent: as defined in Section 9.2(b).
Rule 144: Rule 144 under the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
Sale Notice: as defined in Section 4.4(a).
Sale Price: as defined in Section 4.4(a).
Sale Shares: as defined in Section 4.4(a).
Second Round Offeree: as defined in Section 4.3(d).
Senior Equity Securities: any Equity Securities which, with respect to
voting rights, dividend rights or rights on liquidation, dissolution, winding
up or in any other respect, rank senior to, or have any other rights in
preference of, the Ordinary Shares, now or hereafter authorized by the Company.
Shareholder(s): as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
Shareholders Meeting: as defined in Section 2.1.
SOFTBANK: as defined in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
SOFTBANK Affiliate: means, with respect to SOFTBANK, another
Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is
controlled by, or under common control with, SOFTBANK, including but not
limited to a Subsidiary of SOFTBANK, provided, however, that, in
addition to such control or common control: (1) SOFTBANK either (a)
owns, directly or indirectly, share
7
capital or other equity interests representing more
than 75% of the outstanding voting stock or other equity interests
(disregarding, for the avoidance of doubt, any carried interest or similar
economic participation rights of any Person formed as a fund, provided such
interest or rights do not confer voting rights as to the governance of such
Person on the holder thereof) or (b) owns, directly or indirectly, share
capital or other equity interests representing more than 50% of such
outstanding voting stock or other equity interests and has the right to
designate at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors of
such Person; and (2) no Yahoo Competitor owns any voting stock or other
equity interests in such Person (provided further, however,
that no change to the list of Yahoo Competitors that results in the inclusion
of new entities to Schedule B shall disqualify any Person from treatment
as a SOFTBANK Affiliate to the extent that such newly added entity owns any
voting stock or other equity interests in such Person at the time it is added
to Schedule B). Control, for
purposes of this definition, has the meaning set forth in the definition of
Affiliate.
SOFTBANK Designee(s): as defined in Section 2.3.
SOFTBANK Economic Interest Percentage: the quotient of (x) the number of
Ordinary Shares owned by SOFTBANK divided by (y) the total number of
Ordinary Shares outstanding at the relevant time.
Subject Shares: as defined in Section 4.3(a).
Subsidiaries: each corporation or other Person in which a
Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, share capital or other equity
interests representing more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock or other
equity interests, together with any ICP Companies controlled by such Person.
Substitute Director: as defined in Section 2.5(c).
Territory: the Peoples Republic of
China, excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Transfer: any sale, transfer, assignment, gift,
disposition of, creation of any encumbrance over or other transfer, whether
directly or indirectly, of the legal or beneficial ownership or economic
benefits of all or a portion of the Equity Securities.
Transferor: as defined in Section 4.3.
Transferring Shareholder: as defined in Section 4.4(a).
Voting Agreement Shares: as defined in Section 5.3.
8
Withdrawing Director: as defined in Section 2.5(c).
Written Consent: as defined in Section 2.1.
Yahoo: as defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
Yahoo Competitors: those Persons set
forth in Schedule B hereto, as such schedule may be amended once every six
months by Yahoo, together with the Affiliates controlled by such Persons; provided,
that (i) on or prior to the closing of an IPO, no more than 15 names
shall appear on such schedule at any time and (ii) following the closing
of an IPO, no more than eight names shall appear on such schedule at any time.
Yahoo Designee(s): as defined in Section 2.3.
Yahoo Economic Interest Percentage: the quotient of (x) the number of
Ordinary Shares owned by Yahoo divided by (y) the total number of
Ordinary Shares outstanding at the relevant time.
2. Corporate
Governance.
2.1 General. From and after the Closing Date, each
Shareholder shall vote or cause to be voted all Equity Securities beneficially
owned by such Shareholder at any annual or extraordinary meeting of
shareholders of the Company (a Shareholders Meeting) or in any written
consent executed in lieu of such a meeting of shareholders (a Written
Consent), and shall take all other actions necessary, to give effect to
the provisions of this Agreement and to ensure that the Memorandum and Articles
do not, at any time hereafter, conflict in any respect with the provisions of
this Agreement including, without limitation, voting to approve amendments
and/or restatements of the Memorandum and Articles and remove directors that
take actions inconsistent with this Agreement or fail to take actions required
to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement. In addition, each Shareholder shall vote or
cause to be voted all Equity Securities beneficially owned by such Shareholder
at any Shareholders Meeting or act by Written Consent with respect to such Equity
Securities, upon any matter submitted for action by the Companys shareholders
or with respect to which such Shareholder may vote or act by Written Consent,
in conformity with the specific terms and provisions of this Agreement and the
Memorandum and Articles. In the event
that there is any conflict between the Memorandum and Articles and this
Agreement, the latter shall prevail and the Shareholders (but not the Company)
shall to the extent necessary, cause the change, amendment or modification of
the Memorandum and Articles to eliminate any such inconsistency.
9
2.2 Shareholder Actions.
(a) In order to
effectuate the provisions of this Agreement, and without limiting the
generality of Section 2.1, each Shareholder (a) hereby agrees that when
any action or vote is required to be taken by such Shareholder pursuant to this
Agreement, such Shareholder shall use its best efforts to call, or cause the
appropriate officers and directors of the Company to call, one or more
Shareholders Meetings to take such action or vote, to attend such Shareholders
Meetings in person or by proxy for purposes of obtaining a quorum, or to
execute or cause to be executed a Written Consent to effectuate such
shareholder action, (b) shall use its best efforts to cause the
Board to adopt, either at a meeting of the Board or by unanimous written
consent of the Board, all the resolutions necessary to effectuate the
provisions of this Agreement and (c) shall use its best efforts, to
the extent not in violation of applicable Law, to cause the Board to cause the
Secretary of the Company, or if there be no Secretary, such other officer of
the Company as the Board may appoint to fulfill the duties of Secretary, not to
record any vote or consent contrary to the terms of this Section 2.
(b) Each
Shareholder has entered into this Agreement on behalf of itself and on behalf
of each Person whose Equity Securities are owned by such Shareholder pursuant
to Section 2.9 (each, a Subordinate Shareholder). Each Shareholder shall cause its Subordinate
Shareholder(s) to take all actions necessary to perform all obligations
hereunder, to perform all obligations hereunder, and to be deemed to have
hereby made all representations and warranties hereunder as if such Subordinate
Shareholder were such Shareholder.
(c) Each
Shareholder (each, a Relying Shareholder) shall be entitled to rely
upon the decision, actions, consents or instructions of each of the other
Shareholders that has any Subordinate Shareholder (each, a Parent Shareholder)
as being the decision, action, consent or instruction of each of such Parent
Shareholders Subordinate Shareholders with respect to this Agreement or with
respect to any matter related hereto.
Each Relying Shareholder is hereby relieved from any liability to any of
such Subordinate Shareholders for relying upon any such decision, action,
consent or instruction of its Parent Shareholder.
2.3 Board Composition. The Board shall initially be four, among
which (i) one director shall be a person designated by Yahoo (the Yahoo
Designee), provided, that a second director shall be a person
designated by Yahoo (so two directors in total shall be persons designated by
Yahoo) in the event SOFTBANK no longer has the right to designate a director
pursuant to subclause (iii) of this Section 2.3, provided, further,
Yahoo shall only have the right to designate a director or directors for so
long as Yahoo owns at least 37.5% of the number of the Equity Securities it
owns as of the Closing Date, (ii) two directors shall be persons
designated by the Management Members (each a Management Member Designee
and collectively, the Management Member Designees); provided,
that in the event the Management Members, collectively, own less than 25% of
the number of Equity Securities they own as of the Closing Date, only one
10
director shall be
designated by the Management Members and the Management Members will continue
to have the right to designate at least one director on the Board as long as JM
owns one share of Equity Security of the Company, and (iii) one director
shall be a person designated by SOFTBANK (the SOFTBANK Designee), provided,
that SOFTBANK will no longer have the right to designate a director on the
Board in the event it ceases to own at least 50% of the number of Equity
Securities it owns as of the Closing Date.
From and after the fifth anniversary of the date of this Agreement,
Yahoo shall have the right to designate a number of directors equal to the
greater of (i) the number of directors that Yahoo would otherwise
be entitled to designate as of such date under this Agreement and (ii) the
number of directors that the Management Members are entitled to designate as of
such date under this Agreement. Without
limiting the generality of the requirements of Sections 2.1 and 2.2, the
Shareholders will take all actions necessary to effect the provisions of this
Section 2.3, including amending the Memorandum and Articles to increase or
decrease the numbers of directors on the Board and electing or removing
directors.
2.4 IPO and Stock Exchange Rules. The Shareholders hereby agree that it is
their mutual intent to complete an IPO as soon as practicable, subject to
market conditions. In the event the
Company is required by the rules of an internationally recognized stock
exchange or quotation system on which the Company will list its Ordinary Shares
upon the IPO to expand the number of directors on the Board in order to comply
with independence or other comparable requirements of such exchange or
quotation system, the Shareholders agree to vote in favor of such expansion so
as to comply with the requirements of such rules. The Shareholders hereby agree to amend the
Memorandum and Articles prior to the IPO if and to the extent required to
comply with corporate governance and related requirements of the rules of an
internationally recognized stock exchange or quotation system on which the
Company will list its Ordinary Shares upon the IPO.
2.5 Office and Expenses; Removal; Replacement.
(a) All
directors designated pursuant to this Agreement shall hold office until their
respective successors shall have been appointed. The Company shall provide to such directors
the same information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries, and access to
information, provided to all other members of the Board. The reasonable travel expenses incurred by
any such director in attending any meetings of the Board shall be reimbursed by
the Company to the extent consistent with the Companys then existing policy of
reimbursing directors generally for such expenses.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Shareholders shall exercise their power in
relation to the Company to ensure that, (i) Yahoo shall have the sole and
exclusive power to remove and replace any Yahoo Designee from the Board, with
or without cause, (ii) the Management Members shall have the sole and
exclusive
11
power to remove any
Management Member Designee from the Board, with or without cause, and (iii)
SOFTBANK shall have the sole and exclusive power to remove the SOFTBANK
Designee from the Board, with or without cause; provided, however,
that at such time as Yahoo, the Management Members or SOFTBANK is no longer
entitled to designate a director or directors pursuant to Section 2.3, the
Shareholders shall exercise their power in relation to the Company to ensure
that any director then holding office who was designated by Yahoo, the
Management Members or SOFTBANK, respectively, shall automatically and
immediately, without any further action, be removed from the Board, including
any committees thereof; provided, further that, if at such time
there are two Yahoo Designees and/or two Management Members Designees on the
Board and Yahoo or the Management Members lose the right to designate one such
member, Yahoo or the Management Members Representative, as appropriate, shall
designate which director shall be removed.
(c) If any
director (a Withdrawing Director) designated in the manner set forth
in Section 2.3 above is unable to serve, or once having commenced to serve, is
removed, withdraws from the Board or dies or becomes incapacitated, such
Withdrawing Directors replacement (the Substitute Director) on the
Board will be designated by the party or parties who designated the Withdrawing
Director, subject to Section 2.3 hereof. The Shareholders shall exercise their
power in relation to the Company to ensure that such Substitute Director is
elected. No meeting of the Board shall
be held pending replacement of any Withdrawing Director without the consent of
the Shareholder entitled to name the Substitute Director unless such
Shareholder shall have failed to name a Substitute Director within 30 days after
the removal, withdrawal, death or incapacitation of such Withdrawing Director.
(d) If any
Shareholder entitled to designate a director or directors pursuant to this
Agreement fails to designate any director or directors and such directorship or
directorships shall have been vacant for sixty (60) days, the other
Shareholders may appoint a director (the Replacement Director) until a
new director is designated by the Shareholder who is originally entitled to
designate such director, whereupon the Replacement Director shall be
removed. Subject to Section 2.4, if any
Shareholder loses its right to designate one or more directors pursuant to
Section 2.3, the size of the Board shall automatically and immediately, without
further action, be decreased by one for each such right that has terminated.
2.6 Meetings. The parties hereto will cause the Board to
meet at least once every quarter. A
quorum of the Board shall consist of at least a majority of all directors and
shall include at least (i) one Yahoo Designee, for so long as Yahoo has
designated a director; (ii) one Management Member Designee, for so long
as the Management Members have designated a director and (iii) one
SOFTBANK Designee, for so long as SOFTBANK has designated a director, in each
case in accordance with Section 2.3.
Resolutions of the Board and its committees (if any) shall be adopted by
a
12
majority of the members
of the Board and such committees, except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement. Any director may call a
special meeting of the Board.
2.7 Indemnification.
(a) The Company
shall indemnify and hold harmless each director designated pursuant to Section
2.3 (each an Indemnitee) who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason
of the fact that he is or was a director of the Company, or is or was a
director of the Company serving at the request of the Company as a director of
another company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other entity or enterprise, to the fullest extent permitted by Law against all
expenses, costs and obligations (including, without limitation, attorneys
fees, experts fees, court costs, retainers, transcript fees, duplicating,
printing and binding costs, as well as telecommunications, postage and courier
charges) (Expenses), damages, judgments, fines, penalties, excise
taxes and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and
other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such
expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes or amounts paid in
settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with
such action, suit or proceeding (Indemnifiable Amounts) if he or she
acted in good faith and in the best interests of the Company in accordance with
his or her fiduciary duty to the Company.
(b) If so
requested by Indemnitee, the Company may advance any and all Expenses incurred
by Indemnitee, either by (i) paying such Expenses on behalf of
Indemnitee, or (ii) reimbursing Indemnitee for such Expenses.
(c) If
Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification
by the Company for some or a portion of the Expenses or other Indemnifiable
Amounts in respect of a claim but not, however, for all of the total amount
thereof, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to
which Indemnitee is entitled.
(d) For
purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any claim, action, suit or
proceeding, by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court
approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that
Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any
particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not
permitted by applicable Law.
(e) The rights
of the Indemnitee hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee
may have under the Memorandum and Articles or otherwise. To
13
the extent that a change
in applicable Law permits greater indemnification by agreement than would be
afforded currently under the Memorandum and Articles, it is the intent of the
parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater
benefits so afforded by such change.
(f) Indemnitees
are expressly meant to be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 2.7.
2.8 Participation in Meetings; Notice. Members of the Board or any committee thereof
shall be afforded the opportunity to, and may participate in a meeting of the
Board or such committee by means of conference telephone, videoconference or
similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in
the meeting can hear each other and participation in a meeting pursuant to this
provision shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. A resolution in writing (in one or more
counterparts), and signed by all the directors for the time being or all the
members of a committee of directors (an alternate director being entitled to
sign such resolution on behalf of his appointor) shall be as valid and
effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors or committee,
as the case may be, duly convened and held.
Subject to the next sentence, all meetings of the Board shall be held
upon at least three Business Days notice to all directors and to each
Shareholder entitled to designate a director.
Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director who signs a waiver
of notice or a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes
thereof, whether before or after the meeting, or who attends (by whatever
permitted means) the meeting without protesting, prior to its commencement, the
lack of notice to such director. All
such waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the Company records or
made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
Meetings of the Board may be held at any place which has been designated
in the notice of the meeting or at such place as may be approved by the Board.
2.9 Determination of Share Ownership. Throughout this Agreement, for purposes of
determining the number or percentage of Equity Securities owned (owned),
(a) with respect to Yahoo, such number or percentage shall include any
Equity Securities owned by Yahoo or any of Yahoos wholly-owned Subsidiaries
(including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Voting Agreement Shares), (b)
with respect to SOFTBANK, such number or percentage shall include any Equity
Securities held by any of SOFTBANKs wholly-owned Subsidiaries or any SOFTBANK
Affiliate and (c) with respect to each Management Member, such number or
percentage shall include any Equity Securities held by any of such members
Family Members, trusts formed by such member for the benefit of himself or his
Family Members, family limited partnerships and other entities formed for the
sole benefit of such Management Member and his Family Members. All numbers contained herein shall be
adjusted appropriately for stock splits, stock dividends, reverse splits,
recombinations and the like.
14
3. Matters that Require Approval of the Board or
Shareholders.
3.1 Matters that Require Approval of the
Majority of the Board. Except with
the prior approval of at least a majority of the directors at a meeting of the
Board, the Company will not, and none of the Companys Subsidiaries will, take
any of the following actions:
(a) subject to
Section 8.2, appoint or remove the Chief Executive Officer of the Company;
(b) approve the
annual strategic plan and budget of the Company or make or commit to material
expenditures or activities outside of that plan and budget;
(c) materially
change, amend or modify the scope of the Companys operations or business (including, for the avoidance of
doubt, the actions set forth in Section 3.3(c) hereof);
(d) enter into
any transaction or series of related transactions involving the disposition,
sale or other transfer of the assets (including securities of Subsidiaries) or
properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in an amount exceeding
US$10 million in a single transaction or series of related transactions or
US$50 million on an aggregate basis, within any twelve (12) month period;
(e) enter into
any transaction or series of related transactions involving the purchase or
acquisition of assets (including securities of Subsidiaries) or properties in
an amount exceeding US$10 million in a single transaction or series of related
transactions or US$50 million on an aggregate basis, within any twelve (12)
month period;
(f) incur any
Indebtedness or provide Guarantees in an amount exceeding US$10 million in a
single transaction or series of related transactions or US$50 million on an
aggregate basis, within any twelve (12) month period (exclusive of the
Indebtedness and Guarantees that have been included in the budget approved by
the Board);
(g) issue any
Equity Securities of the Company other than Senior Equity Securities;
(h) appoint or
terminate the Companys auditors;
(i) declare or
pay any dividend or make any distribution on or with respect to the Equity
Securities (including, without limitation, by way of repurchase); or
15
(j) make any
filing for the appointment of a receiver or administrator for the winding up,
liquidation, bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or otherwise pursue bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, unless otherwise
required by applicable Law.
3.2 Matters that Require Approval of the
Majority of the Board Including Yahoo Designee. For so long as Yahoo has the right to
designate at least one Yahoo Designee, except with the prior approval of at
least a majority of the directors, including the Yahoo Designee if any, at a
meeting of the Board, the Company will not, and none of the Companys
Subsidiaries will, take any of the following actions:
(a) incur any
Indebtedness or provide Guarantees in an amount exceeding US $100 million in a
single transaction or US$ 175 million on an aggregate basis, within any twelve
(12) month period; or
(b) issue any
Senior Equity Securities that are senior to the Equity Securities held by
Yahoo.
3.3 Matters that Require the Approval of Yahoo. Except with the prior written approval of
Yahoo, the Company will not take any of the following actions:
(a) amend or
modify the Memorandum and Articles, other than in the manner and for the
purposes contemplated in Section 2.4 hereof;
(b) increase or
decrease the number of directors of the Board, other than pursuant to Sections
2.3, 2.4 and 2.5(d) hereof; or
(c) expand into or enter a new line of business
outside of the Territory, which new line of business is (i) outside
the scope of the existing scope of business of the Company as such business
exists immediately before the closing under the Purchase and Contribution
Agreement without giving effect to the transactions contemplated thereby or (ii) an
Internet-based consumer business (other than a peer-to-peer payments business
and auctions business (which shall not be subject to such approval));
provided, however, that (i)
the approval right of Yahoo under paragraph (a) of this Section 3.3 shall
terminate in the event Yahoo ceases to own at least fifteen percent (15%) of
the issued and outstanding voting shares of the Company; and (ii) the
approval right of Yahoo under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 3.3
shall terminate in the event Yahoo ceases to own at least one-third of the
number of the Equity Securities Yahoo owns as of the Closing Date.
3.4 Matters that Require Approval of Each of
Yahoo, the Management Members Representative and SOFTBANK. Except with the prior written approval of
16
each of Yahoo, SOFTBANK
and the Management Members Representative, the Company will not, and none of
the Companys Subsidiaries will, take any of the following actions:
(a) enter into
any disposition transactions relating to any of the Companys Core Businesses;
or
(b) enter into
any Change of Control Transactions with any party that is not also a party to
this Agreement,
provided, however, that (i)
the approval right of Yahoo under this Section 3.4 shall terminate in the event
Yahoo ceases to own at least one-third of the number of the Equity Securities
Yahoo owns as of the Closing Date; (ii) the approval right of the
Management Members Representative under this Section 3.4 shall terminate in
the event the Management Members cease to own in the aggregate at least
one-third of the number of the Equity Securities the Management Members own in
the aggregate as of the Closing Date; and (iii) the approval right of
SOFTBANK under this Section 3.4 shall terminate in the event SOFTBANK ceases to
own at least fifty percent (50%) of the number of the Equity Securities
SOFTBANK owns as of the Closing Date.
3.5 Matters that Require Approval of Disinterested
Directors of the Board. Except (a)
with the prior approval of a majority of the disinterested directors of the
Board or (b) pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will not, and none
of the Companys Subsidiaries will, enter into or engage in any transaction or
agreement to which the Company or any of the Companys Subsidiaries, on the one
hand, and any of the Shareholders or any of their respective Subsidiaries,
Affiliates or Family Members, on the other hand, are parties or receive any
direct or indirect economic or other benefit (except to the extent of their pro
rata share in a benefit accruing to all holders of Ordinary Shares).
3.6 Formation and Assignment of Authority to a
Committee of the Board. The Board
shall establish any committees as it deems necessary or appropriate, but only
with the approval of at least one Yahoo Designee, one Management Member
Designee and the SOFTBANK Designee. Each
such committee shall consist of at least one Yahoo Designee, one Management
Member Designee and the SOFTBANK Designee.
Each such committee shall exercise those powers of the Board delegated
to it by the Board. In the event the
Company is required by the rules of an internationally recognized stock
exchange or quotation system on which the Company will list its Ordinary Shares
upon the IPO to expand or otherwise reconstitute the number of members on the
Boards committees or otherwise reconstitute such committees in order to comply
with independence or other comparable requirements of such exchange or quotation
system, the directors of the Board shall vote in favor of such expansion or
reconstitution so as to comply with the requirements of such rules.
17
4. Restrictions
on Share Transfer.
4.1 Restrictions on Transfer.
(a) No
Shareholder shall Transfer any Equity Securities it owns within the one-year
period beginning on the Closing Date. In
addition, no Shareholder shall Transfer any Equity Securities to a Yahoo
Competitor without the prior written approval of Yahoo, provided, however,
that following the completion of the IPO, a Shareholder shall be permitted,
subject to Section 4.3, to Transfer Equity Securities from time to time in (i)
block trades or otherwise on the open market (whether pursuant to Rule 144 or
otherwise), provided that such Shareholder does not know or have reason
to believe that the purchaser of such Equity Securities is a Yahoo Competitor
and that any such Transfer is not done with the intent, directly or indirectly,
to Transfer such Equity Securities to a Yahoo Competitor or the knowledge that
the purchaser of such Equity Securities is a Yahoo Competitor; provided,
further, that if such sale is to be made in a block trade to a financial
institution who will resell such Equity Securities (x) prior to closing
such trade, such Shareholder shall obtain the agreement of such financial
institution not to sell such Equity Securities to any Yahoo Competitor which
agreement shall name Yahoo as a third-party beneficiary entitled to enforce
such provision and (y) notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, if the Shareholder obtains such agreement from the financial
institution, such Shareholder shall be conclusively presumed to have
Transferred such Equity Securities in compliance with this Section 4.1(a) or (ii) on
any primary securities exchange or quotation system by or through which such
Equity Securities are traded.
(b) The Yahoo
Competitors to whom a Shareholder may not Transfer any Equity Securities,
except as provided in Section 4.1(a) hereof, shall be listed on Schedule B
hereto. The list of Yahoo Competitors,
which shall number no more than (i) fifteen (15) on or prior to the
closing of an IPO, and (ii) eight (8) following the closing of an IPO,
on Schedule B hereto, may be updated by Yahoo no more than once every six
months. In addition, at the Companys
request in connection with a proposed IPO, Yahoo shall promptly revise the list
of Yahoo Competitors to implement a reduction in number of listed entities
fifteen (15) to eight (8), effective upon the closing of the IPO. For the avoidance of doubt, the list of Yahoo
Competitors for purposes of any sale as to which an Offer Notice has been
provided to Yahoo pursuant to Section 4.3(a) shall be fixed as of the date of
such notice, and no subsequent change in the list of Yahoo Competitors will
limit or otherwise affect in any respect the ability of another Shareholder of
the Company to consummate such sale.
4.2 Certain Permitted Transfers. Subject to Section 4.1, each of Yahoo, the
Management Members and SOFTBANK may Transfer its Equity Securities to its
direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries (or Family Members in case of
Management Members) at any time; provided, however, that any such
transferee shall at all times
18
continue to be a direct
or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of such Person (if not an individual) and
that such transferee becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to an
instrument satisfactory to each of the Management Members Representative,
Yahoo and SOFTBANK. Subject to Section
4.1, SOFTBANK may Transfer Equity Securities to a SOFTBANK Affiliate; provided,
however, that 20 Business Days prior to such Transfer SOFTBANK shall
provide written notice to Management Members Representative and Yahoo of such
intent to Transfer, and the name and such other details concerning such
SOFTBANK Affiliate as Yahoo or the Company may reasonably request; and provided
further, that any such transferee shall at all times continue to be a
SOFTBANK Affiliate and that such transferee shall become a party to this
Agreement pursuant to an instrument satisfactory to both the Management Members
Representative and Yahoo.
4.3 Right of First Offer. Subject to Section 4.1 and Section 7.1, and
except as otherwise allowed under Section 4.2, no Shareholder (the Transferor)
may, at any time, Transfer any Equity Securities legally or beneficially held
by it, except pursuant to the following provisions:
(a) Prior to
consummating any such Transfer of the Equity Securities, the Transferor shall
deliver a written notice (the Offer Notice) to each other Shareholder
(the Offerees), setting forth its bona fide intention to Transfer
Equity Securities to a third party, the number of Equity Securities to be
Transferred (the Subject Shares), the price at which such Transferor
wishes to sell the Subject Shares (the Offer Price), and any other
terms of the offer.
(b) The Offer
Notice shall constitute, for a period of 15 days from the date on which it
shall have been deemed given, an irrevocable and exclusive offer to sell to
each Offeree (or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary designated by
an Offeree), at the Offer Price, a portion of the Subject Shares not greater
than the proportion that the number of Equity Securities owned by such Offeree
(and all Affiliates thereof) bears to the total number of Equity Securities
owned by all the Offerees (and Affiliates thereof).
(c) Each
Offeree (or a designated direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary thereof)
may accept the offer set forth in an Offer Notice by giving notice to the
Transferor, prior to the expiration of such offer, specifying the maximum
number of the Subject Shares that the Offeree wishes to purchase.
(d) If one or
more Offerees do not agree to purchase all of the Subject Shares to which such
Offerees are entitled (such shares not purchased, the Offeree Remaining
Shares and together with Offeree Remaining Shares of all other Offerees,
the Aggregate Remaining Shares), the Transferor shall promptly so
notify each Offeree that has agreed to purchase all of the Subject Shares so
entitled (each a Second Round Offeree), such notice to constitute an
offer to sell, irrevocable for fifteen (15) days, to
19
each such Offeree, at the
Offer Price, a portion of the Aggregate Remaining Shares not greater than the
proportion that the number of Equity Securities owned by such the Second Round
Offeree bears to the total number of Equity Securities owned by all of the
Second Round Offerees. Each Second Round
Offeree shall notify the Transferor, prior to the expiration of such offer,
specifying the number of Aggregate Remaining Shares that such Offeree agrees to
purchase.
(e) If the
Offerees in the aggregate agree to purchase any or all of the Subject Shares
pursuant to this Section 4.3, they shall pay in cash or immediately available
funds for and the Transferor shall deliver valid title to, free and clear of
any Lien, such Subject Shares, subject to receipt of any necessary or advisable
third party approvals or any Governmental Approvals, within fifteen (15) days
following completion of the procedures set forth in subsection (b) and (d)
hereof.
(f) If the
offers made by the Transferor to the Offerees pursuant to subsections (b) and
(d) hereof expire without an agreement by one or more Offerees to purchase all
of the Subject Shares, the Transferor shall have sixty (60) days to enter into
a definitive agreement with respect to such Transfer and ninety (90) days to
effect the Transfer of the balance of the Subject Shares to any third party or
parties, for cash, at a price not less than the Offer Price, and upon terms not
otherwise more favorable to the transferee or transferees than those specified
in the Offer Notice, subject to the execution and delivery by such third party
of an assignment and assumption agreement, in form and substance satisfactory
to the other Shareholders, pursuant to which such third party shall assume all
of the obligations of a party pursuant to or under this Agreement. In the event such Transfer is not consummated
within such ninety (90) day period, the Transferor shall not be permitted to
sell its Equity Securities pursuant to this Section 4.3 without again complying
with each of the requirements of this Section 4.3; provided, that such
ninety (90) day period should be extended automatically as necessary (i)
to apply for and obtain any Governmental Approvals that are required to
consummate such Transfer, so long as the Transferor is making good faith
efforts to obtain such Governmental Approvals as soon as practicable in
accordance with applicable Law and (ii)
in the event that Section 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 or 4.7 applies, to complete the
procedure as provided therein. If there
is such extension, the relevant period will end on the fifth Business Day
following the receipt of such Governmental Approvals.
(g) The
provisions of this Section 4.3 shall continue to be effective following the
completion of an IPO; provided that, following the completion of the
IPO, (i) this Section 4.3 shall not apply to any sale of any Equity Securities
on the primary securities exchange or quotation system by or through which such
Equity Securities are traded, by any Management Member in an amount generating
gross sale proceeds to such Management Member of not more than US$1.0 million
during any twelve-month period, and (ii) if the proposed Transfer would
be a block trade or otherwise on the open market (whether pursuant to Rule 144
or otherwise), including without limitation a block trade to
20
a financial institution
who will resell such Equity Securities as described in Section 4.1(a),
then (x) the Offer Notice shall set forth the Transferors intention to
sell on the open market in addition to the matters required to be set forth
pursuant to Section 4.3(a) and (y) notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in Sections 4.3(b) and (c), an Offerees notice setting forth its intention
to accept the offer must be delivered to the Transferor within seventy-two
hours of receipt of the Offer Notice, and if an Offeree fails to deliver such
notice within such period, the Offering Notice given to such Offeree shall
expire upon expiration of such period and (z) Section 4.3(d) shall not
apply.
(h) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, and whether or not an IPO is completed, each Shareholders right
of first offer set forth in this Section 4.3 shall terminate in the event such
Shareholder ceases to own at least 50% of the Equity Securities owned by such
Shareholder as of the Closing Date.
4.4 Tag-Along Rights of Financial Investors. Subject to Section 4.1 and except as
otherwise allowed under Section 4.2, neither Yahoo nor SOFTBANK may Transfer
80% or more of the Equity Securities then owned by it (in a single transaction
or a series of related transactions), except pursuant to the following
procedures:
(a) At least
thirty (30) days prior to making such Transfer (each such Transfer, Qualifying
Sale), Yahoo or SOFTBANK (as the case may be), together with their
wholly-owned Subsidiaries or SOFTBANK Affiliates, as applicable (the Transferring
Shareholder) shall deliver a written notice (the Sale Notice) to
each of the Financial Investors. The
Sale Notice shall set forth in reasonable detail (i) the identity of the
prospective transferee (the Purchaser), (ii) the number of
Equity Securities to be purchased by the Purchaser (such shares, the Sale
Shares), (iii) the price (the Sale Price) per share of the
Sale Shares, (iv) the proposed closing date and time of such Transfer, (v)
the number of Equity Securities owned by the Transferring Shareholder on the
date of the Sale Notice and (vi) any other material terms and conditions
of the proposed Transfer. If, after
delivery of any Sale Notice, any term set forth in clauses (i) through (vi) of
the preceding sentence should change in any material respect, the Transferring
Shareholder shall deliver a new Sale Notice incorporating such changed terms,
and the provisions of this Section 4.4 shall apply in all respects to such
revised Sale Notice.
(b) Each
Financial Investor shall have the right to participate in the Qualifying Sale
and to request to sell to the Purchaser, and the Transferring Shareholder shall
upon the request of such Financial Investor request that the Purchaser to
purchase from such Financial Investor, on the same terms and conditions offered
to the Transferring Shareholder by the Purchaser at the Sale Price, a number of
Equity Securities up to (i) the number of the Sale Shares multiplied by
(ii) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the aggregate number of Equity
Securities owned by such Financial Investor on the date of the Sale Notice and
the denominator of which shall be
21
the number of Equity
Securities owned in the aggregate by the Transferring Shareholder and all the
Financial Investors on the date of the Sale Notice.
(c) Each of the
Financial Investors may exercise its tag-along rights under this Section 4.4 by
delivering an irrevocable written notice to the Transferring Shareholder and
the Company no later than thirty (30) days after receipt of the Sale Notice
(including without limitation, a revised Sale Notice contemplated by Section
4.4(a)) setting forth the number of Equity Securities it elects to sell in the
Qualifying Sale. No exercise of rights
with respect to a Sale Notice shall bind any Financial Investor with respect to
any subsequent related revised Sale Notice served on such Financial Investor
pursuant to the last sentence of Section 4.4(a).
(d) If any or
all of the Financial Investors have elected to exercise their tag-along rights
hereunder pursuant to Section 4.4(c) above, the Transferring Shareholder shall
not consummate any Qualifying Sale unless the Purchaser shall have concurrently
purchased from such Financial Investors the number of Equity Securities as set
forth in the written notice from the Financial Investors as provided in Section
4.4(c) above, on the same date and at the price described under Section 4.4(b)
and, on the same terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions as
may be required by applicable Law to allow such Financial Investors to sell
their Equity Securities to the Purchaser.
In any event, subject to receipt of any necessary or advisable third
party approvals or Governmental Approvals, the closing shall occur within sixty
(60) days of the receipt of the Sale Notice, provided, that if any
revised Sale Notice is delivered as contemplated by the last sentence of
Section 4.4(a) then the closing shall occur within sixty (60) days of the
receipt of the last such revised Sale Notice.
4.5 Tag-Along Rights of Yahoo. Subject to Section 4.1 and except as
otherwise allowed under Section 4.2, the Management Members (as a group and
including any Equity Securities owned by any of such members Family Members,
trusts formed by such member for the benefit of himself or his family member,
and other comparable entities) and SOFTBANK may not, together, Transfer 80% or
more of their collective legal or
beneficial ownership interest in the Equity Securities owned by them in a
single transaction or series of related transactions, except pursuant to the
following procedures:
(a) At least thirty
(30) days prior to making such Transfer (an M&S Sale), the
Management Members and SOFTBANK or their wholly-owned Subsidiaries or SOFTBANK
Affiliates (as the case may be) (the M&S Transferors) shall
deliver a written notice (the M&S Sale Notice) to Yahoo. The M&S Sale Notice shall set forth in
reasonable detail (i) the identity of the prospective transferee (the M&S
Purchaser), (ii) the number of Equity Securities to be
purchased by the M&S Purchaser (such shares, the M&S Sale Shares),
(iii) the price (the M&S Sale Price) per share of the
M&S Sale Shares, (iv) the proposed closing date and time of such
Transfer, (v) the number of
22
Equity Securities owned
by the M&S Transferors on the date of the M&S Sale Notice and (vi)
any other material terms and conditions of the proposed Transfer. If, after delivery of any M&S Sale
Notice, any term set forth in clauses (i) through (vi) of the preceding
sentence should change in any material respect, the M&S Transferors shall
deliver a new M&S Sale Notice incorporating such changed terms, and the
provisions of this Section 4.5 shall apply in all respects to such revised
M&S Sale Notice.
(b) Yahoo shall
have the right to participate in the M&S Sale and to request to sell to the
M&S Purchaser, and the M&S Transferors shall upon the request of Yahoo
request that the M&S Purchaser purchase from Yahoo, on the same terms and
conditions offered to the M&S Transferors by the M&S Purchaser at the
M&S Sale Price, a number of Equity Securities up to (i) the
aggregate number of Equity Securities owned by Yahoo on the date of the M&S
Sale Notice, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which shall
be the number of the M&S Sale Shares and the denominator of which shall be
the number of Equity Securities owned in the aggregate by the M&S
Transferors and Yahoo on the date of the M&S Sale Notice.
(c) Yahoo may
exercise its tag-along rights under this Section 4.5 by delivering an
irrevocable written notice to the M&S Transferor and the Company no later
than thirty (30) days after receipt of the M&S Sale Notice (including
without limitation, a revised M&S Sale Notice contemplated by Section
4.5(a)) setting forth of the number of Equity Securities it elects to sell in
the M&S Sale. No exercise of rights
with respect to an M&S Sale Notice shall bind Yahoo with respect to any
subsequent related revised M&S Sale Notice served on Yahoo pursuant to the
last sentence of Section 4.5(a).
(d) If Yahoo
has elected to exercise its tag-along rights hereunder pursuant to Section
4.5(c) above, the M&S Transferor shall not consummate any M&S Sale
unless the M&S Purchaser shall have concurrently purchased from Yahoo the
number of Equity Securities as set forth in the written notice from Yahoo as
provided in Section 4.5(c) above, on the same date and at the price described
under Section 4.5(b) and on the same terms and conditions and such other terms
and conditions as may be required by applicable Law to allow Yahoo to sell its
Equity Securities to the M&S Purchaser.
In any event, subject to receipt of any necessary or advisable third
party approvals or Governmental Approvals, the closing shall occur within sixty
(60) days of the receipt of the M&S Sale Notice, provided, that if
any revised M&S Sale Notice is delivered as contemplated by the last
sentence of Section 4.5(a) then the closing shall occur within sixty (60) days
of the receipt of the last such revised M&S Sale Notice.
4.6 Tag-Along Rights of the Management Members. Subject to Section 4.1 and except as
otherwise allowed under Section 4.2, Yahoo and SOFTBANK may not, together,
Transfer 80% or more of their collective legal or beneficial ownership interest
in the Equity Securities owned by them in a single transaction or series of
related transactions, except pursuant to the following procedures:
23
(a) At least
thirty (30) days prior to making such Transfer (a Y&S Sale), Yahoo
and SOFTBANK or their wholly-owned Subsidiaries or SOFTBANK Affiliates (as the
case may be) (the Y&S Transferors) shall deliver a written notice
(the Y&S Sale Notice) to the Management Members
Representative. The Y&S Sale Notice
shall set forth in reasonable detail (i) the identity of the prospective
transferee (the Y&S Purchaser), (ii) the number of Equity
Securities to be purchased by the Y&S Purchaser (such shares, the Y&S
Sale Shares), (iii) the price (the Y&S Sale Price) per
share of the Y&S Sale Shares, (iv) the proposed closing date and
time of such Transfer, (v) the number of Equity Securities owned by the
Y&S Transferors on the date of the Y&S Sale Notice and (vi) any
other material terms and conditions of the proposed Transfer. If, after delivery of any Y&S Sale
Notice, any term set forth in clauses (i) through (vi) of the preceding
sentence should change in any material respect, the Y&S Transferors shall
deliver a new Y&S Sale Notice incorporating such changed terms, and the
provisions of this Section 4.6 shall apply in all respects to such revised
Y&S Sale Notice.
(b) Each of the
Management Members shall have the right to participate in the Y&S Sale and
to request in accordance with Section 4.6(c), to sell to the Y&S
Purchaser, and the Y&S Transferors shall upon the request of such
Management Member in accordance with Section 4.6(c), request that the
Y&S Purchaser purchase from such Management Member, on the same terms and
conditions offered to the Y&S Transferors by the Y&S Purchaser at the
Y&S Sale Price, a number of Equity Securities up to (i) the
aggregate number of Equity Securities owned by such Management Member on the
date of the Y&S Sale Notice, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of the Y&S Sale Shares and the
denominator of which shall be the number of Equity Securities owned in the
aggregate by the Y&S Transferors and such Management Member on the date of
the Y&S Sale Notice.
(c) Each
Management Member may exercise such Management Members tag-along rights under
this Section 4.6 by delivering an irrevocable written notice through the
Management Members Representative, to the Y&S Transferor and the Company
no later than thirty (30) days after receipt of the Y&S Sale Notice
(including without limitation, a revised Y&S Sale Notice contemplated by
Section 4.6(a)) setting forth the number of Equity Securities it elects to sell
in the Y&S Sale. No exercise of
rights with respect to a Y&S Sale Notice shall bind such Management Member
with respect to any subsequent related revised Y&S Sale Notice served on
the Management Members Representative pursuant to the last sentence of Section
4.6(a).
(d) If any
Management Member has elected to exercise their tag-along rights hereunder
pursuant to Section 4.6(c) above, the Y&S Transferor shall not consummate
any Y&S Sale unless the Y&S Purchaser shall have concurrently purchased
from such Management Member the number of Equity Securities as set forth in the
written notice from such Management Member given through the Management
24
Members Representative
as provided in Section 4.6(c) above, on the same date and at the price
described under Section 4.6(b) and on the same terms and conditions and such
other terms and conditions as may be required by applicable Law to allow such
Management Member to sell its Equity Securities to the Y&S Purchaser. In any event, subject to receipt of any
necessary or advisable third party approvals or Governmental Approvals, the
closing shall occur within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the Y&S Sale
Notice, provided, that if any revised Y&S Sale Notice is delivered
as contemplated by the last sentence of Section 4.6(a) then the closing shall
occur within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the last such revised Y&S
Sale Notice.
4.7 Tag-Along Rights of SOFTBANK. Subject to Section 4.1 and except as
otherwise allowed under Section 4.2, the Management Members (as a group and
including any Equity Securities owned by any of such members Family Members,
trusts formed by such member for the benefit of himself or his family member,
and other comparable entities) and Yahoo may not, together, Transfer 80% or
more of their collective legal or beneficial ownership interest in the Equity
Securities owned by them in a single transaction or series of related
transactions, except pursuant to the following procedures:
(a) At least
thirty (30) days prior to making such Transfer (an M&Y Sale), the
Management Members and Yahoo or their wholly-owned Subsidiaries (as the case
may be) (the M&Y Transferors) shall deliver a written notice (the M&Y
Sale Notice) to SOFTBANK. The
M&Y Sale Notice shall set forth in reasonable detail (i) the
identity of the prospective transferee (the M&Y Purchaser), (ii)
the number of Equity Securities to be purchased by the M&Y Purchaser (such
shares, the M&Y Sale Shares), (iii) the price (the M&Y
Sale Price) per share of the M&Y Sale Shares, (iv) the proposed
closing date and time of such Transfer, (v) the number of Equity
Securities owned by the M&Y Transferors on the date of the M&Y Sale
Notice and (vi) any other material terms and conditions of the proposed
Transfer. If, after delivery of any
M&Y Sale Notice, any term set forth in clauses (i) through (vi) of the
preceding sentence should change in any material respect, the M&Y
Transferors shall deliver a new M&Y Sale Notice incorporating such changed
terms, and the provisions of this Section 4.7 shall apply in all respects to
such revised M&Y Sale Notice.
(b) SOFTBANK
shall have the right to participate in the M&Y Sale and to request to sell
to the M&Y Purchaser, and the M&Y Transferors shall upon the request of
SOFTBANK request that the M&Y Purchaser purchase from SOFTBANK, on the same
terms and conditions offered to the M&Y Transferors by the M&Y
Purchaser at the M&Y Sale Price, a number of Equity Securities up to (i)
the aggregate number of Equity Securities owned by SOFTBANK on the date of the
M&Y Sale Notice, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the number of the M&Y Sale Shares and the denominator of
which shall be the number of Equity Securities owned in the
25
aggregate by the M&Y
Transferors and SOFTBANK on the date of the M&Y Sale Notice.
(c) SOFTBANK
may exercise its tag-along rights under this Section 4.7 by delivering an
irrevocable written notice to the M&Y Transferor and the Company no later
than thirty (30) days after receipt of the M&Y Sale Notice (including
without limitation, a revised M&Y Sale Notice contemplated by Section
4.7(a)) setting forth the number of Equity Securities it elects to sell in the
M&Y Sale. No exercise of rights with
respect to an M&Y Sale Notice shall bind SOFTBANK with respect to any
subsequent related revised M&Y Sale Notice served on SOFTBANK pursuant to
the last sentence of Section 4.7(a).
(d) If SOFTBANK
has elected to exercise its tag-along rights hereunder pursuant to Section
4.7(c) above, the M&Y Transferor shall not consummate any M&Y Sale
unless the M&Y Purchaser shall have concurrently purchased from SOFTBANK
the number of Equity Securities as set forth in the written notice from
SOFTBANK as provided in Section 4.7(c) above, on the same date and at the price
described under Section 4.7(b) and, on the same terms and conditions and such
other terms and conditions as may be required by applicable Law to allow
SOFTBANK to sell its Equity Securities to the M&Y Purchaser. In any event, subject to receipt of any
necessary or advisable third party approvals or Governmental Approvals, the
closing shall occur within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the M&Y Sale
Notice, provided, that if any revised M&Y Sale Notice is delivered
as contemplated by the last sentence of Section 4.7(a) then the closing shall
occur within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the last such revised M&Y
Sale Notice.
4.8 Survival of Rights. The tag-along rights described in Sections
4.4 through 4.7 shall terminate upon the completion of the IPO.
4.9 Transfers in Violation of this Agreement. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any
Equity Securities in violation of this Agreement shall be void, no such
Transfer shall be recorded on the Companys register of members and the
purported transferee in any such Transfer shall not be treated (and the
purported transferor shall be treated) as the owner of such Equity Securities
for all purposes.
4.10 Financial Investors. The Financial Investors and their
wholly-owned Subsidiaries and investment funds are intended to be third-party
beneficiaries of Sections 4.4 and 4.8 and the Financial Investors and such
wholly-owned Subsidiaries and investment funds shall be entitled to enforce their
respective rights as such under this Agreement.
26
5. Voting
Agreement.
5.1 Voting of Shares. Yahoo hereby agrees that, during the period
from the date hereof until the earliest of (a) the date on which the
Company or JM waives any of the provisions of the standstill arrangement as set
forth in Section 8.1 hereof, (b) the consummation of an IPO, (c)
the fifth anniversary of the Closing, (d) JM ceasing to be CEO or a
comparable executive officer of the Company, (e) JM ceasing to own at
least 1% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares on a Fully Diluted Basis, (f)
such time as the Voting Agreement Shares is reduced to or below zero, and (g)
the Management Members Representative notifying Yahoo and the Company of its
election to terminate this Section 5, Yahoo (in its capacity as a
Shareholder) will appear at any Shareholders meeting or otherwise cause the
Voting Agreement Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of
establishing a quorum and vote or consent (or cause to be voted) the Voting
Agreement Shares as directed in writing by the Management Members
Representative not less than five Business Days before the meeting is held or
consent is executed. At any general
meeting, the chairman of the meeting may deem the votes attached to the Voting
Agreement Shares to have been voted in accordance with this Article.
5.2 No Other Agreements. Yahoo may not enter into any agreement or
understanding with any person the effect of which would be inconsistent with or
violative of any provision contained in this Section 5.
5.3 Voting Agreement Shares. For purposes of this agreement, the term Voting
Agreement Shares shall mean the number of Ordinary Shares equal to (i)
the difference between the Yahoo Economic Interest Percentage as of the Closing
Date and 35% (ii) multiplied by the issued and outstanding Ordinary
Shares as of the Closing Date. The
number of Voting Agreement Shares shall never increase and shall be reduced
from time to time as follows:
(a) if Yahoo
Transfers Ordinary Shares to any Person other than an Affiliate of Yahoo, then
the number of Voting Agreement Shares shall be reduced by the number so
Transferred;
(b) if on any
date, the Yahoo Economic Interest Percentage on such date becomes less than the
Yahoo Economic Interest Percentage as of the Closing Date due to an increase in
the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding or otherwise, then the number of
Voting Agreement Shares shall be reduced by an amount equal to (i) the
number of Voting Agreement Shares as of such date (prior to this adjustment)
less (ii) the number of Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of
such date multiplied by the Yahoo Economic Interest Percentage in excess of
35%; and
(c) if on any
date, the Management Member Economic Interest Percentage on such date exceeds
the Management Member Economic Interest Percentage as of the Closing, then the
number of Voting Agreement Shares shall be reduced by an
27
amount equal to the
product of (i) the difference between (A) the Management Member Economic
Interest Percentage on such date and (B) the Management Member Economic
Interest Percentage as of the Closing, multiplied by (ii) the number of
Ordinary Shares then outstanding.
6. Preemptive
Rights.
6.1 Preemptive Rights.
(a) Subject to
the limitations set forth in Section 6.2, if the Company proposes to sell any
Equity Securities (other than Exempted Securities) (the Additional
Securities), including in a private placement, IPO, other public offering,
or as part of an acquisition, commercial agreement, share exchange or
otherwise, the Company shall, at least thirty (30) days prior to issuing such
Additional Securities, notify each of Yahoo, the Management Members and SOFTBANK
in writing of such proposed issuance (which notice shall specify, to the extent
practicable, the purchase price or a range for the purchase price, if any, for,
and the terms and conditions of, such Additional Securities) and shall offer to
sell such Additional Securities to each of Yahoo, the Management Members and
SOFTBANK in the amounts set forth in subclauses (c) and (d) below and subject
to Section 6.2(a), upon the terms and conditions set forth in the notice
and at the Purchase Price as provided in Section 6.1(e) (the Preemptive
Rights). For purposes of
calculating the number of Additional Securities issued pursuant to this Section
6, such calculation shall include the maximum number of Ordinary Shares and
other equity interests issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any
convertible or exchangeable securities, options, warrants or other rights to
acquire, any equity interests.
(b) If Yahoo,
the Management Members or SOFTBANK wishes to subscribe for a number of
Additional Securities equal to or less than the number to which they are
entitled under this section, Yahoo, the Management Members or SOFTBANK may do
so and shall, in the written notice of exercise of the offer, specify the
number of Additional Securities that they wish to purchase.
(c) With
respect to Additional Securities that are Ordinary Shares, the Company shall
offer to each of Yahoo, the Management Members and SOFTBANK, all or any portion
specified by such exercising party of a number of such Additional Securities
such that, after giving effect to the proposed issuance (including the issuance
to Yahoo, the Management Members and SOFTBANK pursuant to the Preemptive Rights
and including any related issuance resulting from the exercise of preemptive
rights by any unrelated Person with respect to the same issuance that gave rise
to the exercise of Preemptive Rights by Yahoo, the Management Members and
SOFTBANK), (X) the Yahoo Economic Interest Percentage after such
issuance would equal the Yahoo Economic Interest Percentage immediately prior
to such issuance, (Y) the Management Member Economic Interest Percentage
after such issuance would equal the Management
28
Member Economic Interest
Percentage immediately prior to such issuance and (Z) the SOFTBANK
Economic Interest Percentage after such issuance would equal the SOFTBANK
Economic Interest Percentage immediately prior to such issuance, such numbers
of Additional Securities set forth in each of (X), (Y) and (Z) to constitute
the Preemptive Share Amount for such party for purposes of any
exercise of Preemptive Rights to which this paragraph (c) applies. If, at the time of the determination of any
Preemptive Share Amount under this paragraph (c), any other Person has
preemptive or other equity purchase rights similar to the Preemptive Rights,
such Preemptive Share Amount shall be recalculated to take into account the
number of Ordinary Shares such Persons have committed to purchase, rounding up
such Preemptive Share Amount to the nearest whole Ordinary Share.
(d) With
respect to Additional Securities that are Other Shares, the Company shall offer
to each of Yahoo, the Management Members and SOFTBANK, all or any portion
specified by such exercising party, of a number of such securities equal to the
total number of such Additional Securities proposed to be sold, multiplied by
the Yahoo Economic Interest Percentage, the Management Member Economic Interest
Percentage or the SOFTBANK Economic Interest Percentage, as applicable, at such
time (which number shall constitute the Preemptive Share Amount for
purposes of any exercise of Preemptive Rights to which this paragraph (d)
applies). If, at the time of the
determination of any Preemptive Share Amount under this paragraph (d), any other
Person has preemptive or other equity purchase rights similar to Preemptive
Rights, such Preemptive Share Amount shall be recalculated to take into account
the number of Other Shares such Persons have committed to purchase, rounding up
such Preemptive Share Amount to the nearest whole Other Share.
(e) The Purchase
Price for the Additional Securities to be issued pursuant to the exercise
of Preemptive Rights shall be payable only in cash (unless otherwise
unanimously agreed by the Company and Yahoo, the Management Members and
SOFTBANK) and, except as otherwise set forth below, shall equal per Additional
Security the per security issuance price for the Additional Securities giving
rise to such Preemptive Right. In the
case of any issuance of Additional Securities other than solely for cash, the
Company and Yahoo, the Management Members and SOFTBANK shall in good faith seek
to agree upon the value of the non-cash consideration; provided that the
value of any publicly traded securities shall be deemed to be the market value
of such securities as of the date of the consummation of such issuance. If the Company and Yahoo, the Management
Members or SOFTBANK fail to agree on such value during the thirty (30) day
period contemplated by the first sentence of Section 6.3, then the Company will
refer the items in dispute to a nationally recognized investment banking firm
that is selected by the Board and reasonably acceptable to Yahoo, the
Management Members and SOFTBANK and that shall be instructed to make a final
and binding determination of the fair market value of such items within ten
(10) days of retention of such investment banking firm. If such a determination is required, the
deadline for
29
Yahoos, the Management
Members and SOFTBANKs exercise of its Preemptive Rights with respect to such
issuance pursuant to Section 6.1(b) shall be extended until the fifth (5th)
Business Day following the date of such determination. Whichever of the Company or Yahoo, the
Management Members or SOFTBANK whose last estimate differed the most from that
finally decided by the investment banking firm shall be responsible for and pay
all of the fees and expenses of such investment banking firm. All
determinations made by such investment banking firm shall be final and binding
on the Company and Yahoo, the Management Members and SOFTBANK, as applicable.
6.2 Limitation of Preemptive Rights.
(a) In
connection with the IPO and subsequent follow-on offerings by the Company, the
foregoing Preemptive Rights shall apply only to the extent necessary to
maintain the Yahoo Economic Interest Percentage, the Management Member Economic
Interest Percentage or the SOFTBANK Economic Interest Percentage, as
appropriate, immediately following the IPO or such follow-on offering, at 87.5%
of the Yahoo Economic Interest Percentage, the Management Member Economic
Interest Percentage or the SOFTBANK Economic Interest Percentage, as
appropriate, immediately prior to the IPO or such offering.
(b) The
Preemptive Rights set forth in Section 6.1 shall not apply to any issuance of
Equity Securities of the Company as consideration for the merger or acquisition
(or any similar transaction) of an operating entity (including Equity
Securities issued to holders of shares, options or other equity interests in
such entity), which transaction is not made for the purpose or effect of
avoiding the provisions of Section 6.1, if the cumulative dilutive effects of
such issuances (i) in any twelve (12) month period is less than 2% of
the Companys Ordinary Shares, and (ii) in the aggregate for all such
issuances, less than 5% of the Companys Ordinary Shares.
6.3 Exercise
Period. The Preemptive Rights set
forth in Section 6.1 must be exercised by acceptance in writing of an offer
referred to in Section 6.1(a), (i) if prior to the IPO, within thirty
(30) days following the receipt of the notice from the Company of its intention
to sell Equity Securities, and (ii) in connection with any registered
offering (including the IPO), at least five (5) Business Days prior to the
printing of the preliminary prospectus in connection with such offering; provided,
that in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), such acceptance shall indicate a
willingness to purchase at the same per share price at which such securities
are sold to the public (less underwriting fees and discounts, which difference
shall be shared equally by the party exercising the Preemptive Rights and the
Company) and may specify a maximum and/or minimum per share price that such
offeree is willing to pay for such Equity Securities. The closing of any purchase of Additional
Securities pursuant to the exercise by Yahoo, the Management Members or
SOFTBANK of Preemptive Rights hereunder shall occur within sixty (60) days after
delivery of the notice by the Company as provided in Section 6.1(a),
30
subject to the receipt of
any necessary Governmental Approvals to which the issuance of Additional
Securities is subject, provided, that such sixty (60) day period shall
be extended automatically as necessary to apply for and obtain any Governmental
Approvals that are required to consummate such purchase, so long as the
purchaser is making good faith efforts to obtain such Governmental Approvals as
soon as practicable in accordance with applicable Law. If there is any such extension, the relevant
period will end on the fifth Business Day following the receipt of such
Governmental Approvals.
6.4 Survival of Rights. The provisions set forth in Section 6.1 shall
continue to be effective following the IPO, provided, that,
notwithstanding the occurrence of an IPO, each Shareholders Preemptive Right
set forth in Section 6.1 shall terminate in the event such Shareholder ceases
to own at least 50% of the Equity Securities owned by such Shareholder as of
the Closing Date.
7. Representations and Warranties.
Each
Shareholder represents and warrants to the Company and each other Shareholder
that:
7.1 Power and Authority. Such Shareholder has the power, authority and
capacity (or, in the case of any Shareholder that is a corporation, limited
liability company or limited partnership, all corporate limited liability
company or limited partnership power and authority, as the case may be) to execute,
deliver and perform this Agreement.
7.2 Due Authorization. In the case of a Shareholder that is a
corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership, the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Shareholder has been duly
and validly authorized and approved by all necessary corporate limited
liability company or limited partnership action, as the case may be. In the case of a Shareholder that is an
individual, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such
Shareholder are within such Shareholders full power and legal rights and no
other action on the part of such Shareholder (including, without limitation,
obtaining spousal or other consents) is necessary to authorize this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby.
7.3 Execution and Delivery. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by such Shareholder and constitutes a valid and legally
binding obligation of such Shareholder enforceable against such Shareholder in
accordance with its terms.
7.4 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by such Shareholder does not and will not conflict with, violate
the terms of
31
or result in the acceleration
of any obligation under (i) any material contract, commitment or
other material instrument to which such Shareholder is a party or by which such
Shareholder is bound, (ii) in the case of a Shareholder or any of
its Subordinate Shareholders that is a corporation, limited liability company
or limited partnership, the certificate of incorporation, by-laws, certificate
of formation, limited liability company agreement, certificate of limited
partnership or limited partnership agreement, as the case may be, of such
Shareholder or (iii) any applicable Law.
7.5 Share Ownership. With respect to each Shareholder, Schedule C
hereto sets forth (i) the number and type of Equity Securities owned by such
Shareholder, and (ii) the name of each Person holding Equity Securities that
are deemed to be owned by such Shareholder pursuant to Section 2.9 and the
number and type of Equity Securities held by each such Person. From and after the date hereof, each
Shareholder shall promptly notify each other Shareholder of any changes to the
information contained in Schedule C with respect to such Shareholder or any of
its Subordinate Shareholders.
8. Covenants.
8.1 Standstill. No Shareholder may acquire any Equity
Securities of the Company if immediately following such acquisition such
Shareholder shall own 50% or more of the outstanding voting power or economic
benefit of the Company without the prior written approval of JM, (or in the
case of any Management Member, without the consent of Yahoo and SOFTBANK), provided,
that the approval right of JM in this Section 8.1 shall terminate upon the
earliest to occur of (i) the second anniversary of the closing of the
IPO, (ii) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, (iii) JM
ceasing to be both the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company
and (iv) JM ceasing to own at least 1% of the outstanding Ordinary
Shares on a Fully Diluted Basis.
8.2 Chief Executive Officer. JM shall continue to be the Companys Chief
Executive Officer following the Closing Date.
Each of Yahoo, SOFTBANK and the Management Members agree that they will
ensure that their respective designated directors shall vote in favor of JM
continuing to serve as the Companys Chief Executive Officer, unless he is
removed earlier for Cause, until the earlier to occur of (i) the closing
date of the IPO, (ii) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, and (iii)
his resignation, retirement, death or incapacity.
8.3 Compliance Officer. The Company and Yahoo will mutually agree on
the appointment of certain personnel in the legal and finance departments of
the Company (the Compliance Officers).
Among other duties, the Compliance Officers shall provide assistance to
Yahoo in relation to Yahoos compliance with applicable Law (including, without
limitation, United States securities laws), and Nasdaq and stock exchange rules
and requirements, in each case, with respect to the Company. Except for Cause, the Company shall not
remove any Compliance Officer without Yahoos written
32
consent (such consent not
to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), and shall promptly remove
any Compliance Officer upon Yahoos written request. Any vacancy created by the removal,
resignation, retirement, death or incapacity of any Compliance Officer shall be
filled promptly by the Company with a replacement mutually agreed upon by Yahoo
and the Company.
8.4 Confidentiality. Each party shall maintain the confidentiality
of Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by such party
in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to
such party, provided that such party may deliver or disclose
Confidential Information to (i) such partys representatives,
Affiliates, shareholders, limited partners, members of its investment
committees, advisory committees, similar bodies, and Persons related thereto,
who are informed of the confidentiality obligations of this
Section 8.4 and such party shall be responsible for any violation of
this Section 8.4 made by any such Person, (ii) any Governmental
Authority having jurisdiction over such party to the extent required by
applicable Law or (iii) any other Person to which such delivery or
disclosure may be necessary or appropriate (A) to effect compliance
with any Law applicable to such party, or (B) in response to any
subpoena or other legal process, provided that, in the cases of clauses
(ii) and (iii), the disclosing party shall provide each other party with prompt
written notice thereof so that the appropriate party may seek (with the
cooperation and reasonable efforts of the disclosing party) a protective order,
confidential treatment or other appropriate remedy, and in any event shall
furnish only that portion of the information which is reasonably necessary for
the purpose at hand and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable
assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such information to the
extent reasonably requested by any other party.
8.5 Information Rights.
(a) The Company
shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain true books and records of
account in which full and correct entries shall be made of all its business
transactions pursuant to a system of accounting established and administered in
accordance with GAAP, and shall set aside on its books all such proper accruals
and reserves as shall be required under GAAP.
(b) The Company shall deliver to each of Yahoo,
SOFTBANK and each Management Member the following:
(i) As soon as available but in any event
not later than thirty-five (35) days after the end of each of the
quarterly accounting periods,
the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, if any, as of the end of each such period, the related unaudited
consolidated statements of operations, shareholders equity and cash flows of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, if any, for such quarterly period and for the period from the
beginning of such fiscal year to the end of
33
such
quarterly period. All such financial
statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent
basis and be certified by the Companys Chief Financial Officer (and Chief
Accounting Officer after such Chief Accounting Officer is appointed).
(ii) As soon as available, but in any event
no later than sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company,
a copy of the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, if any, as of the end of such fiscal year and the related
consolidated statements of operations, shareholders equity and cash flows of
the Company and its Subsidiaries stating in comparative form the figures as of
the end of and for the previous fiscal year certified by a firm of independent
certified public accountants of recognized international standing selected by
the Company and approved by the Shareholders.
All such financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP
applied on a consistent basis
and be certified by the Companys Chief Financial Officer (and Chief Accounting
Officer after such Chief Accounting Officer is appointed).
(iii) As soon as available but in any event not
later than thirty-five (35) days after the end of each quarterly accounting periods,
(A) explanations for any significant movements from the prior quarter in
each of the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and statements of income,
stockholders equity and cash flows in conjunction with 8.5(b)(i) above, and (B)
operating metrics relevant to the Alibaba businesses and used by Alibaba
management for decision making purposes.
(iv) As soon as
available but in any event not later than thirty (30) days after the end of
each monthly accounting periods, a copy of the unaudited monthly management
report, which shall include the unaudited consolidated balance sheet and income
statement of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, after the end of such
month. All such financial statements
shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.
(v) As soon as practicable following Board
approval, a copy of the annual strategic plan and budget of the Company.
(vi) With reasonable promptness, such other
information and data with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as
from time to time may be
reasonably requested by any Shareholder.
(c) The Company
will (and will cause its Subsidiaries to) give (x) the Shareholders, and
their respective employees and contract personnel primarily engaged by such
Shareholder and (y) with the reasonable advance notice to, and the
reasonable consent of, the Company (such consent not to be reasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed), the Shareholders respective outside accountants,
auditors, legal counsel and other authorized representatives and agents, (i)
full access during reasonable business
34
hours to the properties,
assets, books, contracts, commitments, reports and records of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, and furnish to them all such documents, records and
information with respect to the properties, assets and business of the Company
and its Subsidiaries and copies of any work papers relating thereto as the
Shareholders shall from time to time reasonably request; and (ii)
reasonable access during reasonable business hours to the Company, its
Subsidiaries and their respective employees as may be necessary or useful to
the Shareholders in their reasonable judgment in connection with their review
of the properties, assets and business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
the above-mentioned documents, records and information. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Company will (and will cause its Subsidiaries to) provide Yahoo
and its accountants and auditors with access to such information and
individuals as is reasonably necessary to conduct a review of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (x) within three months following the Closing Date, (y)
twice annually thereafter, and (z) as reasonably necessary to confirm
that any material weakness, significant deficiency, internal control failure or
system fault identified in a notice delivered or required to be delivered
pursuant to Section 8.6 hereof has been remedied.
8.6 Internal Controls over Financial Reporting. The Company shall use its reasonable efforts
to establish and maintain a system of internal controls over financial
reporting adequate to permit Yahoo to comply with Section 404 of the United
States Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 404) and any similar Law,
in each case, with respect to the Company.
If the Company identifies a significant deficiency or material weakness
as defined under Section 404 or its auditors identify a material internal
control failure or system fault in accounting or record-keeping, the Company
shall give Yahoo prompt written notice thereof specifying in reasonable detail
the material weakness, significant deficiency, internal control failure or
system fault and shall use its good faith efforts to correct such material weakness,
significant deficiency, internal control failure or system fault as
expeditiously as possible.
8.7 GAAP.
All financial statements of the Company shall be prepared in accordance
with GAAP.
8.8 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company shall begin on
January 1 and end on December 31.
8.9 Expansion of Business. In the event that the Company determines to
expand into or enter into an Internet-based consumer business (other than a
peer-to-peer payments business) in the United States, the United Kingdom,
Germany, France or Korea, the Company will first discuss and negotiate in good
faith with Yahoo terms upon which the Company and Yahoo would agree to enter
such markets in a partnership on a mutually advantageous and agreeable basis.
35
9. Governing
Law and Dispute Resolution.
9.1 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ALL
RESPECTS, INCLUDING AS TO VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND EFFECT, BY THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
9.2 Arbitration.
(a) Any dispute, controversy or claim
arising out of, relating to, or in connection with this Agreement, or the
breach, termination or validity hereof, shall be finally settled exclusively by
arbitration. The arbitration shall be
conducted in accordance with the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce
(the ICC) in effect at the time of the arbitration, except as they may
be modified by mutual agreement of the parties.
The seat of the arbitration shall be Singapore, provided, that,
the arbitrators may hold hearings in such other locations as the arbitrators
determine to be most convenient and efficient for all of the parties to such arbitration under the circumstances. The arbitration shall be conducted in the
English language.
(b) The arbitration
shall be conducted by three arbitrators.
The party (or the parties, acting jointly, if there are more than one)
initiating arbitration (the Claimant) shall appoint an arbitrator in
its request for arbitration (the Request). The other party (or the other parties, acting
jointly, if there are more than one) to the arbitration (the Respondent)
shall appoint an arbitrator within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Request
and shall notify the Claimant of such appointment in writing. If within thirty (30) days of receipt of the
Request by the Respondent, either party has not appointed an arbitrator, then
that arbitrator shall be appointed by the ICC.
The first two arbitrators appointed in accordance with this provision
shall appoint a third arbitrator within thirty (30) days after the Respondent
has notified Claimant of the appointment of the Respondents arbitrator or, in
the event of a failure by a party to appoint, within thirty (30) days after the
ICC has notified the parties and any arbitrator already appointed of the
appointment of an arbitrator on behalf of the party failing to appoint. When the third arbitrator has accepted the
appointment, the two arbitrators making the appointment shall promptly notify
the parties of the appointment. If the
first two arbitrators appointed fail to appoint a third arbitrator or so to
notify the parties within the time period prescribed above, then the ICC shall
appoint the third arbitrator and shall promptly notify the parties of the
appointment. The third arbitrator shall
act as Chair of the tribunal.
(c) The
arbitral award shall be in writing, state the reasons for the award, and be
final and binding on the parties. The
award may include an award of costs, including reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements. In addition to monetary damages, the arbitral
tribunal shall be empowered to award equitable relief, including, but not
limited to, an injunction and specific performance of any obligation under this
Agreement. The arbitral tribunal is not empowered
to award damages in excess of
36
compensatory damages, and
each party hereby irrevocably waives any right to recover punitive, exemplary
or similar damages with respect to any dispute, except insofar as a claim is
for indemnification for an award of punitive damages awarded against a party in
an action brought against it by an independent third party. The arbitral tribunal shall be authorized in
its discretion to grant pre-award and post-award interest at commercial
rates. Any costs, fees or taxes incident
to enforcing the award shall, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, be
charged against the party resisting such enforcement. Judgment upon the award may be entered by any
court having jurisdiction thereof or having jurisdiction over the relevant
party or its assets.
(d) In order to
facilitate the comprehensive resolution of related disputes, and upon request
of any party to the arbitration proceeding, the arbitration tribunal may,
within ninety (90) days of its appointment, consolidate the arbitration
proceeding with any other arbitration proceeding involving any of the parties
relating to this Agreement, the Purchase and Contribution Agreement and the
other Ancillary Agreements. The arbitration
tribunal shall not consolidate such arbitrations unless it determines that (x)
there are issues of fact or law common to the proceedings, so that a
consolidated proceeding would be more efficient than separate proceedings, and
(y) no party would be prejudiced as a result of such consolidation
through undue delay or otherwise. In the
event of different rulings on this question by the arbitration tribunal
constituted hereunder and any tribunal constituted under the Ancillary
Agreements, the ruling of the tribunal constituted under this Agreement will
govern, and that tribunal will decide all disputes in the consolidated
proceeding.
(e) The parties agree that the arbitration
shall be kept confidential and that the existence of the proceeding and any element
of it (including but not limited to any pleadings, briefs or other documents
submitted or exchanged, any testimony or other oral submissions, and any
awards) shall not be disclosed beyond the tribunal, the ICC, the parties, their
counsel and any person necessary to the conduct of the proceeding, except as may be lawfully required in
judicial proceedings relating to the arbitration or otherwise, or as
required by NASDAQ rules or the rules of any other quotation system or exchange
on which the disclosing partys securities are listed or applicable Law.
(f) The costs
of arbitration shall be borne by the losing party unless otherwise determined
by the arbitration award.
(g) All
payments made pursuant to the arbitration decision or award and any judgment
entered thereon shall be made in United States dollars, free from any
deduction, offset or withholding for Taxes.
(h) Notwithstanding
this Section 9.2 or any other provision to the contrary in this Agreement, no
party shall be obligated to follow the foregoing arbitration procedures where
such party intends to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for
37
an interim injunction or
similar equitable relief against any other party, provided there is no
unreasonable delay in the prosecution of that application.
10. Miscellaneous.
10.1 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, waivers and
other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a)
delivered personally, (b) sent by commercial courier services or
overnight mail or delivery or (c) sent by facsimile with confirmation by
personal delivery or overnight mail, as follows:
(a) if to the
Company, to
Alibaba.com Corporation
c/o Alibaba.com Hong Kong Limited
2403-05 Jubilee Centre
18 Fenwick Street
Wanchai, Hong Kong
Fax: +852-2215-5200
Telephone: +852-2215-5100
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
13/F Entertainment Building
30 Queens Road
Central, Hong Kong
Fax: (852) 2810 9828
Telephone: (852) 2160 9800
Attention: Thomas M. Britt III
(b) If to the
Shareholders, to such Shareholders address set forth in the signature page.
Or, in each case, at such
other address as may be specified in writing to the other parties hereto. All such notices, requests, demands, waivers
and other communications shall be deemed to have been received (i) if
by personal delivery on the day after such delivery, (ii) if by
courier services or overnight mail or delivery, on the day delivered, and (iii)
if by facsimile, on the next day following the day on which such facsimile was
sent, provided that it is followed immediately by confirmation by personal
delivery or overnight mail that is received pursuant to subclause (i) or (ii).
38
10.2 Management Members Representative.
(a) Concurrent
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of the Management
Members is entering into an Agreement Among Management Members (the Agreement
Among Management Members) pursuant to which, inter alia, the Management
Members have appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Company as their
initial agent, representative and attorney-in-fact (the Management Members
Representative).
(b) Each
Shareholder shall be entitled to rely upon the decision, actions, consents or
instructions of the Management Members Representative appointed pursuant to
the Agreement Among Management Members as being the decision, action, consent
or instruction of the Management Members and each of their respective
Subordinate Shareholders in connection with all matters set forth in this
Agreement that are required to be taken up collectively by the Management Members
and each of their respective Subordinate Shareholders (including but not
limited to the designation of the Management Member Designee(s) pursuant to
Section 2.3 hereof). Each of the
Company, Yahoo and SOFTBANK are hereby relieved from any liability to any
Management Member or any Subordinate Shareholder of any Management Member for
any lawful acts done by them in accordance with such decision, act, consent, or
instruction of the Management Members Representative.
10.3 Expenses. Each party to this Agreement shall
bear its respective expenses, costs and fees (including attorneys fees) in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and compliance herewith,
whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated.
10.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Purchase and Contribution
Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements (when executed and delivered)
constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof. This Agreement
supersedes all prior shareholders agreements to which the Company and any
shareholder is a party, including, without limitation, the Amended and Restated
Shareholders Agreement entered into on May 13, 2004, among the Company and
certain shareholders parties thereto.
10.5 Amendment and Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, no
amendment, alteration or modification of this Agreement or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall be effective against the Company or the
Shareholders unless such amendment,
39
alteration, modification
or waiver is approved in writing by Yahoo, SOFTBANK and the Management Members
Representative (which shall be the only Shareholders whose approval shall be
necessary to effect any such amendment, alteration, modification or waiver); provided,
that any amendment, alteration or modification of Section 4.4, 4.9, 4.10 or
10.5 of this Agreement or any other provision that may affect the rights of the
Financial Investors pursuant to Sections 4.4, 4.9, 4.10 and 10.5 of this
Agreement shall also require the written consent of the Financial Investors owning
Equity Securities with at least half of the voting power of Equity Securities
owned by all Financial Investors as of the date of this Agreement. The failure of any party to enforce any
provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of such
provision and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce
each provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
10.6 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
successors and permitted assigns.
10.7 Severability. If any provision, including any phrase,
sentence, clause, section or subsection, of this Agreement is invalid,
inoperative or unenforceable for any reason, such circumstances shall not have
the effect of rendering such provision in question invalid, inoperative or
unenforceable in any other case or circumstance, or of rendering any other
provision herein contained invalid, inoperative or unenforceable to any extent
whatsoever.
10.8 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable or
otherwise transferable by any party hereto without the prior written consent of
each of Yahoo, SOFTBANK and the Management Members Representative (which shall
be the only Shareholders whose approval shall be necessary to effect any such
assignment), and any purported assignment or other transfer without such
consent shall be void and unenforceable.
10.9 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Sections 2.7 and 4.10,
nothing in this Agreement shall confer any rights upon any person or entity
other than the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and
permitted assigns.
10.10 Termination. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement
shall terminate with respect to each Shareholder, in its capacity as a
Shareholder, at the time at which such Shareholder ceases to own any Equity
Securities, except that such termination shall not affect (a) the rights
perfected or the obligations incurred by such Shareholder under this Agreement
prior to such termination (including any liability for breach of this
Agreement) and (b) the obligations expressly stated to survive such
cessation of ownership of Equity Securities.
10.11 Headings. The headings of this Agreement are inserted
for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.
40
10.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts each of which shall be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
41
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first
above written.
ALIBABA.COM
CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YAHOO
INC.
|
|
Address
for notices:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SOFTBANK
CORP.
|
|
Address
for notices:
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Address
for notices:
|
Jack
Ma Yun
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Address
for notices:
|
Joseph
C. Tsai
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Address
for notices:
|
Li
Qi
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Address
for notices:
|
John
Wu
|
|
|
[Signatories
will include all the Subordinate Shareholders of the parties named above.]
42
Exhibit 99.1
Yahoo! and Alibaba.com Form Strategic Partnership in
China
Combination Creates One of the
Largest and Most Comprehensive
Internet Companies in China
SUNNYVALE,
Calif. and BEIJING August 10, 2005 Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO), a leading global
Internet company, and Alibaba.com, Chinas largest e-commerce company, today announced a definitive agreement to form
a long-term strategic partnership in China. Under the terms of the agreement, Yahoo!
will contribute its Yahoo! China business to Alibaba.com and the two companies
will work together in an exclusive partnership to grow the Yahoo! brand in
China. Additionally, Yahoo! is investing $1 billion in cash to purchase
Alibaba.com shares from the company and other shareholders. The agreement gives Yahoo! an approximately
40 percent economic interest with 35 percent voting rights, making it the
largest strategic investor in Alibaba.com.
The
combination will create one of the largest Internet companies in China, and the
only Internet company in China with a leading position in the key growth sectors
of business-to-business e-commerce, consumer e-commerce, online payments, communications
and search.
The
combined entity will consist of: Alibaba International, the worlds largest online marketplace for global
trade; Alibaba China, the
largest online small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) community in China; AliPay, Chinas leading online payment service; Taobao, Chinas most popular e-commerce website; and, the Yahoo!
China properties, which includes the Yahoo! China portal and its communications
and advertising services, Yahoo! Search Technology, and 3721, a leading keyword
search service. Yahoo! also intends to contribute its interest in 1Pai, one of
the leading consumer commerce offerings in China, into Alibaba.com.
Yahoo!s
investment underscores our long-term commitment to the Chinese market. We
believe the combination of Yahoo! and Alibaba is the best approach for Yahoo!
to win in this region, said Terry Semel, chairman and chief executive officer
of Yahoo!. Together, we will create one of the largest Internet companies in
China, and our combined assets will make us the only company that has a leading
position in all the key sectors that are driving explosive Internet growth in
China such as search, commerce and communications.
The partnership model is the first of its kind for
an Internet company in China. By adding the Yahoo! China brands to Alibaba.coms
businesses, the new partnership will allow the companies to respond quickly to
local market needs and develop innovative new products and services for
customers in Chinas dynamic and rapidly-evolving economy. The partnership also
leverages one of the best local management teams, while taking advantage of
Yahoo!s global resources.
Teaming up with
Yahoo! will allow us to deliver an unmatched range of e-commerce services to businesses
and consumers in China, said Jack Ma, chairman and chief executive officer of
Alibaba.com. With the addition of
Yahoo! China to Alibaba.coms business, were expanding our services to provide
a leading search offering to Chinas Internet users. In China, Alibaba.com is
winning in B2B, winning in C2C, winning in online payments and now were going
to win in search.
1
The
combined entity will have a four-person board. Management of Alibaba.com
will hold two seats, with CEO Jack Ma serving as the boards chairman. Other directors will include
Jerry Yang, Yahoo!s co-founder and Chief Yahoo!, and a representative from
Softbank.
We
have always had a long-term commitment to China and even more so to the
development of its Internet industry, said Jerry Yang. Were confident that
Yahoo! is putting its resources behind the right management team, which
operates according to similar values as we do, and shares the same vision for
providing the most essential and relevant services to consumers and businesses.
This partnership will also allow both companies to
leverage Alibaba.coms strong community of more than 15 million businesses and
consumers, which includes over 100,000 businesses who currently pay between
$250 and $10,000 per year for Alibaba.coms online services.
Business-to-business
e-commerce is growing faster than any other segment in China, and is anticipated
to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 95 percent from 2004 to 2007
(source: National Bureau of Statistics of China and the State Administration of
Industry and Commerce and IDC).
Additionally, the consumer e-commerce segment in China also has high
growth potential, projected to grow at an 83 percent CAGR from 2004 to 2007 to
become a $2.5 billion market (source: iResearch Inc., China Online Auction
Report).
The
transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed
in the fourth quarter of 2005. The overall transaction is valued at more than US$4 billion.
About
Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Inc. is a leading global Internet brand and one of the most trafficked Internet
destinations worldwide. Yahoo! seeks to provide online products and services
essential to users lives, and offers a full range of tools and marketing
solutions for businesses to connect with Internet users around the world. Yahoo!
is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
About
Alibaba.com
Alibaba.com is Chinas
leading e-commerce company, operating the worlds largest online marketplaces
for both international and domestic China trade, as well as Chinas most
popular online payment system, AliPay. The Alibaba websites have more than 15
million registered users in 200 countries and territories. In 2004, over US$4
billion in trade is estimated to have come from buyers and sellers connecting
at Alibaba sites.
Alibabas Marketplaces:
Alibaba International (www.Alibaba.com) is an
English-language website primarily serving Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
(SMEs) in the international trade community, with 1.5 registered users from
over 200 countries and territories.
Alibaba China (www.China.Alibaba.com) is
Chinas largest online marketplace for domestic trade among businesspeople.
With more than 6 million registered users, Alibaba China is a trusted community
of members who regularly meet, chat, search for products and do business
online. Customers pay an annual subscription fee for membership, which entitles
them to post trade offers and products online. The subscription fee also
includes authentication and verification of the members identity, which is
performed by a third-party credit agency.
Taobao (www.Taobao.com) is Chinas most popular consumer-to-consumer
trading site with more than 7 million registered users. Since its founding in
May 2003, Taobao has risen to
2
become a leader in Chinas
consumer e-commerce market. Compared with similar services, the website has the
highest number of product listings and the highest penetration among Chinas
100 million Internet users.
AliPay Online Payment Solution: Completing
Chinas e-commerce transaction chain, Alibaba operates AliPay (www.Alipay.com)
which enables any individual or business to securely, easily and quickly send
and receive payments online. Alipays service builds on the existing financial
infrastructure of bank accounts and credit cards, and utilizes proprietary
fraud prevention systems to create a safe payment solution. To provide AliPay,
Alibaba has partnered with Chinas leading banks, including China Merchants
Bank, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, and the Industrial
and Commercial Bank of China.
This
press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties concerning Yahoo!s proposed transaction with Alibaba.com
(including without limitation as described in the quotations from management in
this press release), as well as Yahoo!s strategic and operational plans.
Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this
press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties
include, among others, the possibility that the transaction will not close or
that the closing may be delayed; the reaction of customers and employees of
Yahoo! and Alibaba.com to the transaction; Alibaba.coms ability to
successfully integrate Yahoo!s China operations and employees; the combined
companys ability to compete with new or existing competitors; acceptance by
users of the combined companys new products and services; the combined companys
ability to manage growth and diversification; an uncertain and emerging
regulatory environment relating to Internet services in China; and general
economic and political conditions in China.
More information about potential factors that could affect Companys
business and financial results is included under the captions, Risk Factors
and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations, in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2004 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 2005 which are on file with the SEC and available at the SECs
website at www.sec.gov.
# # #
Yahoo! and the Yahoo! logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks
of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Yahoo! Media
Relations Contacts:
Joanna
Stevens, Yahoo! Inc., joanna@yahoo-inc.com, 408-349-7855
Mary
Osako, Yahoo! Inc., mosako@yahoo-inc.com, 408-349-6255
Reema
Bahnasy, OutCast Communications for Yahoo!, reema@outcastpr.com, 415-345-4760
Yahoo! Investor
Relations Contact:
Paul
Hollerbach, Yahoo! Inc., paulh@yahoo-inc.com, 408-349-3578
Alibaba.com
Media Relations Contacts:
Marcy
Simon, Worldwide Communications & Television for Alibaba.com,
marcy@wctv.com, 212-445-8220
Porter
Erisman, Alibaba.com, porter@alibaba-inc.com, + 86-138-1782-6630
3