VNET VNET Group Inc

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

(Amendment No.          )*

 

VNET Group, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

 

Class A Ordinary Shares, Par Value US$0.00001 Per Share 

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

G91458 102⁽¹⁾ 

(CUSIP Number)

 

Stanley Shi
38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s 

Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR 

People’s Republic of China
Phone: +852 3903 0950

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

December 28, 2023

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. ¨

 

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

(1)

This CUSIP number applies to the Issuer’s American Depositary Shares, each representing six Class A Ordinary Shares of the Issuer.

  

 

 

CUSIP No. G91458 102

 

1.	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)   Success Flow International Investment Limited
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (see instructions) (a) ¨ (b) x
3.	SEC USE ONLY
4.	SOURCE OF FUNDS (see instructions)   AF
5.	CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)     ¨
6.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION   British Virgins Islands

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH	7.	SOLE VOTING POWER
		455,296,932(1)
	8.	SHARED VOTING POWER
		0
	9.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
		455,296,932(1)
	10.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
		0

11.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	455,296,932(1)
12.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (see instructions)    ¨
13.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
	29.5% of Class A Ordinary Shares(2)
14.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions)
	CO

 

⁽¹⁾ Representing 455,296,932 Class A Ordinary Shares of VNET Group, Inc. (the “Issuer”), par value US$0.0001 per share, (“Class A Ordinary Shares”) held by Success Flow International Investment Limited (“Success Flow”). Success Flow is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings Group Limited (“SDHG”), which may be deemed to have beneficial ownership held by Success Flow.

 

⁽²⁾ Calculation based on 1,545,666,570 outstanding Ordinary Shares as a single class, being the sum of (i) 862,980,995 outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares and Class A Ordinary Shares in the form of ADSs that are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of share incentive awards) prior to the closing of the Investment (as defined below), (ii) 650,424,192 Class A Ordinary Shares issued to Success Flow and Choice Faith (as defined below) in connection with the Investment; (iii) 30,721,723 outstanding Class B ordinary shares of the Issuer, par value US$0.0001 per share, (“Class B Ordinary Shares”), (iv) 60,000 outstanding Class C Ordinary Shares of the Issuer, par value US$0.0001 per share, (“Class C Ordinary Shares”),(v) no outstanding Class D Ordinary Share of the Issuer, par value of $0.00001 per share, (“Class D Ordinary Shares”, and together with Class A Ordinary Shares, Class B Ordinary Shares, Class C Ordinary Shares, “Ordinary Shares”), and (vi) 1,479,660 Class A Ordinary Shares issuable under Mr. Sheng Chen’s restricted share units at this election, assuming conversion of all outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares and Class C Ordinary Shares into Class A Ordinary Share. Each Class B Ordinary Share or each Class C Ordinary Share is convertible into one Class A Ordinary Share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A Ordinary Shares are not convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares or Class C Ordinary Shares under any circumstances.

 

 

CUSIP No. G91458 102

 

1.	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)   Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (see instructions) (a) ¨ (b) x
3.	SEC USE ONLY
4.	SOURCE OF FUNDS (see instructions)   AF
5.	CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)     ¨
6.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION   British Virgins Islands

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH	7.	SOLE VOTING POWER
		195,127,260(1)
	8.	SHARED VOTING POWER
		0
	9.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
		195,127,260(1)
	10.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
		0

11.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	195,127,260 (1)
12.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (see instructions)    ¨
13.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
	12.6% of Class A Ordinary Shares(2)
14.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions)
	CO

 

⁽¹⁾ Representing 195,127,260 Class A Ordinary Shares held by Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited (“Choice Faith”). Choice Faith is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of SDHG, which may be deemed to have beneficial ownership held by Choice Faith.

 

⁽²⁾ Calculation based on 1,545,666,570 outstanding Ordinary Shares as a single class, being the sum of (i) 862,980,995 outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares and Class A Ordinary Shares in the form of ADSs that are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of share incentive awards) prior to the closing of the Investment, (ii) 650,424,192 Class A Ordinary Shares issued to Success Flow and Choice Faith in connection with the Investment; (iii) 30,721,723 outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares, (iv) 60,000 outstanding Class C Ordinary Shares, (v) no outstanding Class D Ordinary Share, and (vi) 1,479,660 Class A Ordinary Shares issuable under Mr. Sheng Chen’s restricted share units at this election, assuming conversion of all outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares and Class C Ordinary Shares into Class A Ordinary Share. Each Class B Ordinary Share or each Class C Ordinary Share is convertible into one Class A Ordinary Share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A Ordinary Shares are not convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares or Class C Ordinary Shares under any circumstances.

 

 

CUSIP No. G91458 102

 

1.	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)   Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings Group Limited
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (see instructions) (a) ¨ (b) x
3.	SEC USE ONLY
4.	SOURCE OF FUNDS (see instructions)   WC
5.	CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)     ¨
6.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION   Bermuda

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH	7.	SOLE VOTING POWER
		650,424,192(1)
	8.	SHARED VOTING POWER
		0
	9.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
		650,424,192(1)
	10.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
		0

11.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	650,424,192(1)
12.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (see instructions)    ¨
13.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
	42.1% of Class A Ordinary Shares(2)
14.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions)
	CO

 

⁽¹⁾ Representing 455,296,932 Class A Ordinary Shares directly held by Success Flow and 195,127,260 Class A Ordinary Shares directly held by Choice Faith. Each of Success Flow and Choice Faith is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of SDHG, which may be deemed to have beneficial ownership held by each Success Flow and Choice Faith.

 

⁽²⁾ Calculation based on 1,545,666,570 outstanding Ordinary Shares as a single class, being the sum of (i) 862,980,995 outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares and Class A Ordinary Shares in the form of ADSs that are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of share incentive awards) prior to the closing of the Investment, (ii) 650,424,192 Class A Ordinary Shares issued to Success Flow and Choice Faith in connection with the Investment; (iii) 30,721,723 outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares, (iv) 60,000 outstanding Class C Ordinary Shares, (v) no outstanding Class D Ordinary Share, and (vi) 1,479,660 Class A Ordinary Shares issuable under Mr. Sheng Chen’s restricted share units at this election, assuming conversion of all outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares and Class C Ordinary Shares into Class A Ordinary Share. Each Class B Ordinary Share or each Class C Ordinary Share is convertible into one Class A Ordinary Share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A Ordinary Shares are not convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares or Class C Ordinary Shares under any circumstances.

  

 

CUSIP No. G91458 102

 

Item 1.

Security and Issuer.

 

This statement on Schedule 13D (this “Statement”) relates to Class A Ordinary Shares of the Issuer, whose principal executive office is Guanjie Building, Southeast 1st Floor, 10# Jiuxianqiao East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100016, People’s Republic of China.

 

The Issuer’s American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each representing six Class A Ordinary Shares, are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “VNET.”

 

Item 2.

Identity and Background.

 

(a) This statement of beneficial ownership on this Statement is being filed jointly by (1) Success Flow, (2) Choice Faith and (3) SDHG (each, a “Reporting Person,” and collectively, the “Reporting Persons”).

 

(b) The principal business address of each of Success Flow and Choice Faith is Sea Meadow House, Blackburne Highway, (P.O. Box 116), Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Each of Success Flow and Choice Faith is a business company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands.

 

The principal business address of SDHG is 38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China. SDHG is a company organized under the laws of Bermuda.

 

The name, business address, present principal occupation and citizenship of the directors and executive officers of each Reporting Person is set forth in Schedule A hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c) The principal business of each of Success Flow and Choice Faith is solely holding, distributing or effecting any sale of securities held by it.

 

The principal business of SDHG is engaging in (i) industrial investment; (ii) standard investment business; (iii) non-standard investment business; and (iv) licensed financial services.

 

(d)-(e) During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons has been (i) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

 

(f) See Items 2(a) – (b).

 

In connection with the Investment Agreement (as defined below), on November 16, 2023, Mr. Sheng Chen, co-founder and executive chairman of the board of directors of the Issuer (the “Founder”), GenTao Capital Limited, a business company with limited liability incorporated in British Virgin Islands, (the “Founder Entity 1”), Fast Horse Technology Limited, a business company with limited liability incorporated in British Virgin Islands (the “Founder Entity 2”), Sunrise Corporate Holding Ltd., a business company with limited liability incorporated in British Virgin Islands (the “Founder Entity 3”), and Personal Group Limited, a business company with limited liability incorporated in British Virgin Islands (the “Founder Entity 4”, and together with Founder Entity 1, Founder Entity 2, and Founder Entity 3, the “Founder Entities”, and the Founder Entities and the Founder shall be collectively referred to as the “Founder Parties”), Success Flow and Choice Faith entered into a voting and consortium agreement on November 16, 2023 (as amended from time to time, the “VCA”), pursuant to which, starting from the later of (a) the expiration of the Interim Period (as defined below), and (b) the occurrence of the Triggering Event (as defined below), Success Flow will vote all the Success Flow Purchased Shares in accordance with any voting instructions provided by the Founder Parties until the third anniversary of the closing date of the Investment (the “Voting Term”), except for certain reserved investor matters as specified therein.

 

 

“Interim Period” means the period commencing on the date of closing under the Investment Agreement, being December 28, 2023, and ending on the earlier of (x) February 29, 2024 or sixty (60) calendar days after the date of closing under the Investment Agreement, whichever is later, and (y) termination of the Investment Agreement in accordance the terms thereunder. “Triggering Event” means the entry by the Issuer of a framework agreement with a third party, pursuant to which the parties agree to enter into a long-term strategic partnership for not less than two years in relation to the low carbon strategy of the Issuer and/or the expansion of the operations of the Issuer in Hong Kong, Taiwan and/or other territories outside mainland China.

 

A copy of the VCA is filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this Schedule 13D, and a copy of the Supplemental VCA dated December 28, 2023 is filed as Exhibit 99.4 to this Schedule 13D.

 

Item 3.

Source or Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

 

On November 16, 2023, Success Flow and Choice Faith (collectively, the “Investors”) entered into an investment agreement (the “Investment Agreement”) with the Issuer, pursuant to which Success Flow agreed to purchase 455,296,932 Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Success Flow Purchased Shares”), and Choice Faith agreed to purchase 195,127,260 Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Choice Faith Purchased Shares”, and together with Success Flow Purchase Shares, the “Purchased Shares”, and such investment, the “Investment”).

 

Success Flow has agreed with the Issuer not to transfer or encumber the Relevant Shares during a period commencing on the consummation of the Investment and ending upon the third anniversary of the Investment (the “Lockup Period”), except for the use of such Shares as collateral for bona fide financings and the transfer of such Shares to their permitted assigns under specific conditions (the “Lockup Restrictions”).

 

In connection with the Investment Agreement, the Issuer and the Investors executed and delivered an investor rights agreement with the Issuer, on November 16, 2023 (the “IRA”), pursuant to which the Investors are entitled to customary demand registration rights, piggyback registration rights and Form F-3 or Form S-3 registration rights with respect to the resale of Class A Ordinary Shares (including those represented by ADSs) owned by the Investors.

 

On December 28, 2023, the closing of the Investment took place. The Issuer issued and allotted to the Investors, and the Investors subscribed and purchased the Purchased Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Investment Agreement.

 

The per share purchase price of the Purchased Shares is US$0.4597 per Class A Ordinary Share, and accordingly, the aggregate purchase price of Success Flow Purchased Shares is US$209,300,000, and US$89,700,000, of Choice Faith Purchased Shares.

 

The fund required for the Investment is sourced from the working capital of SDHG.

 

Item 4.

Purpose of Transaction.

 

The information set forth in Items 2, 3, 5 and 6 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety in this Item 4.

 

The Reporting Persons acquired the Purchased Shares reported herein for investment purposes, subject to the following:

 

(i)

for so long as the Investors in the aggregate continue to own equity securities that (on an as-converted basis) represent no less than 325,212,096 Class A Ordinary Shares (including such Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs) (the “Minimum Shareholding Requirement”), the Investors have the right to appoint (a) one executive director (the “Investor Director”) to serve (x) as the co-chairman of the board of directors of the Issuer, who shall be, together with the other co-chairman of the board of directors of the Issuer, responsible for, among other things, company strategies, capital management, strategic mergers and acquisitions and any other aspects of the business and affairs of the Issuer, and (y) as the chairman of the annual budget and financial committee of the Issuer; and (b) one vice president (the “Investor Officer”), who shall be mainly responsible for, among other things, the Issuer’s strategic plan of synergizing computing power and electricity power;

 

(ii)

to the extent permitted by the applicable laws, and for so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, the Investor Director shall have the veto right on the following matters:

 

 

a)

merger, division or dissolution or change of form of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, which are considered as “significant subsidiaries” of the Issuer under Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Material Subsidiaries”);

 

b)

amendment the voting power or any other rights attached to any Equity Securities (as defined below) of the Issuer, which are authorized but not issued, and/or issued and outstanding on or before the closing of the Investment;

 

c)

ceasing to conduct, or carry on, or change the major or substantial business of the Issuer and its current and future Subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities (collectively, the “Group”);

 

d)

selling exclusively licensing, transferring, creating any encumbrance over, mortgaging or otherwise disposing (A) all or substantially all of the assets of the Group; or (B) any asset (including any equity security of the Issuer and intellectual property) of the Group, the subject asset value of which is more than 30% of the total asset value of the Group on a consolidated basis;

 

e)

making any investment for an amount in excess of RMB300 million in any financial year of the Issuer, unless contemplated by under an annual budget of the same financial year approved by the annual budget and financing committee;

 

f)

issuance of any Equity Securities of the Issuer in any financial year of the Issuer, individually or in the aggregate, representing 5% or more of the total issued and outstanding shares of Issuer (on an as-converted and fully diluted basis) as at the first date of that financial year, except (A) any issuance of Equity Securities pursuant to the Issuer’s share incentive plans; (B) the issuance of Equity Securities upon the conversion of the Series A-1 Preferred shares (as defined in the Investment Agreement), the 2026 Convertible Notes (as defined in the Investment Agreement) or the 2027 Convertible Notes (as defined in the Investment Agreement);

 

g)

issuance of any Equity Securities of Issuer (other than the Class A Ordinary Shares) to the Founder or any of the Founder’s controlled entities or his family members or family trust;

 

h)

any share subdivision of the equity securities of the Issuer or any distribution of dividends, except for (A) where all holders of Ordinary Shares are entitled to participate and would benefit on a pro-rate basis; (B) any distribution of dividends made in accordance with the terms on which the preferred shares of the Issuer are subscribed for, and/or (C) any share subdivision of the preferred shares of the Issuer which does not and would not reasonably be expected to unfairly dilute the shareholding percentages (calculated on an as converted and fully-diluted basis) of the holders of the Ordinary Shares;

 

i)

amendment of the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of Issuer that, if adopted, will restrict, inhibit or terminate the rights, powers, preferences or privileges enjoyed by the Reporting Persons in accordance with the Investment Documents;

 

j)

initiating proceedings for any bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer or any of its Material Subsidiaries; and

 

k)

authorizing any of, or agreeing, committing or attempting to do any of the foregoing; and

 

(iii)

the Issuer undertakes that it shall not effect any voluntary deregistration in respect of the Purchased Shares under the Exchange Act or any voluntary delisting with the NASDAQ in respect of the ADSs.

 

As of the date hereof, the Investors have not nominated the Investor Director or the Investor Officer.The Investor Director and the Investor Officer may have influence over the corporate activities of the Issuer, including activities which may relate to items described in subparagraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

 

Except as disclosed in this Statement, the Reporting Persons currently have no plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any transaction, event or action enumerated in paragraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D. The Reporting Persons (including through its affiliates or representatives) may from time to time engage in discussions with members of management, and the board of director of the Issuer, other current or prospective shareholders, industry analysts, existing or potential strategic partners or competitors, investment and financing professionals and other third parties regarding a variety of matters relating to the Issuer, which may include, among other things, the Issuer’s business, management, strategic planning, capital structure and allocation, corporate governance, the composition of board of directors and strategic alternatives and direction, as well as pursue other plans or proposals that relate to or could result in any of the matters set forth in clauses (a)-(j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

 

 

The Reporting Persons intend to review their investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis. Depending on various factors, including, without limitation, the outcome of any discussions referenced above, the Issuer’s financial position, results and strategic direction, actions taken by the Issuer’s management and the board of directors of the Issuer, price levels of the Securities (as defined below), conditions in the securities market and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take such actions with respect to its investment in the Issuer as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, exchanging information with the Issuer or other third parties pursuant to appropriate confidentiality or similar agreements; proposing changes in the Issuer’s operations, management, the board of directors of the Issuer, governance or capitalization; exercising their respective rights pursuant to the Investment Documents; acquiring additional shares or other voting or equity securities of the Issuer, securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such shares or securities, and any rights, options or warrants to acquire such shares (collectively, “Equity Securities”) or securities, debt, notes, instruments or other securities of the Issuer (collectively, “Securities”) or disposing of some or all of the Securities beneficially owned by it, to the extent permitted in accordance with the Investment Documents, in public market or privately negotiated transactions; entering into financial instruments or other agreements that increase or decrease the economic exposure of their investment in the Issuer and/or otherwise changing the Reporting Person’s intention with respect to any and all matters referred to in Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

 

Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

 

(a)-(b) The responses to Items 2, 3, 4 and 6, and rows (7) through (13) of the cover page of this Statement are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety in this Item 5.

 

Except as disclosed in this Statement, none of the Reporting Persons beneficially owns any Ordinary Shares or has the right to acquire any Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

Except as disclosed in this Statement, none of the Reporting Persons presently has the power to vote or to direct the vote or to dispose or direct the disposition of any Class A Ordinary Shares that they may be deemed to beneficially own.

 

(c) Except as disclosed in this Statement, none of the Reporting Persons has effected any transaction in the ordinary shares of the Issuer during the past 60 days.

 

(d) Except as disclosed in this Statement, to the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, no person other than the Reporting Persons is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the ordinary shares of the Issuer beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons.

 

(e) Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

 

The information set forth in Items 2, 3, 4 and 5 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety in this Item 6.

 

In connection with the Investment made by the Investors in the Issuer, the Reporting Persons entered into (a) the IRA, and (b) the VCA. The Investment Agreement, IRA, and the VCA are collectively referred herein as the “Investment Documents”.

 

As part of the terms of the Investment, the Investors have agreed to certain restrictions in relation to the Purchased Shares.

 

First, Success Flow agreed with the Lockup Restrictions.

 

 

Second, Success Flow has granted the Founder Parties a right of first offer on the following terms. The right becomes exercisable during the Lockup Period in the event the Success Flow Purchased Shares are used as collateral in a bona fide financing and the lender seeks to foreclose on all or a portion of such Success Flow Purchased Shares. If the Founder Parties elect not to exercise such right or their offer is not accepted by the lender, Success Flow will support, in its capacity as a shareholder, the Issuer’s issuance of additional Shares or other equity securities to the Founder Parties, insofar as such issuance could avoid the acceleration of the Issuer’s debt repayment obligations or the early redemption of the Issuer’s securities or additional or contingent payment or borrowing obligation, in cash or securities, under the Issuer’s contracts or for the purposes of obtaining a consent or waiver from the counterparty thereof (“Company Default”).

 

Third, Success Flow has agreed to the Voting Term.

 

Fourth, the Investors covenant (1) for so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, not to, and to direct their assigns and successors not to, initiate or support during the Voting Term any proposal (including by voting of the Purchased Shares) or action that would cause a Company Default; (2) during the 90-day period immediately preceding the expiration of the Voting Term, to work with the Founder and the Issuer to assess whether the expiration of the voting arrangement noted would cause a Company Default, and, if such risks exist, discuss in good faith with the Issuer to work out commercially reasonable solutions; and (3) if a solution cannot be identified or agreed, to extend the voting arrangement by a further three months.

 

In consideration for the Investors’ agreement to the restrictions described above, the Founder Parties have made certain undertakings to the Investors.

 

First, for so long as the Minimum Shareholder Requirement is satisfied, the Founder Parties warrants that the Founder will, at all times, directly or indirectly, own no less than 80% of such number of equity securities (calculated on a fully diluted and as-converted basis) held directly or indirectly by him, his family members and his family trusts as of the date of the Investment Agreement.

 

Second, the Founder Parties also covenant not to take any actions that would restrict, inhibit, terminate or otherwise adversely affect or prejudice certain rights, powers, preferences or privileges enjoyed by, or actions or entitlements of, the Investors under the terms of the Investment.

 

Third, the Founder Parties have agreed that, for so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, in the event any entity controlled by any of the Founder Parties plans to conduct an initial public offering or list their shares on a securities exchange, the Investors may elect to exchange their respective Purchased Shares into shares of such entity.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Investment Documents in this Item 6 do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to Exhibit 99.1, Exhibit 99.2,  Exhibit 99.3 and Exhibit 99.4 filed as set forth below and which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.

Material to Be Filed as Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1*		Investment Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2023, by and among VNET Group, Inc., Success Flow International Investment Limited and Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited.
99.2		Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2023, by and among VNET Group, Inc., Success Flow International Investment Limited and Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited.
99.3		Voting and Consortium Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2023, by and among Success Flow International Investment Limited, Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited and the founder parties listed thereunder.
99.4		Supplemental Agreement to Voting and Consortium Agreement, dated as of December 28, 2023, by and among Success Flow International Investment Limited, Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited and the founder parties listed thereunder.
99.5		Joint Filing Agreement of the Reporting Persons.

 

* Schedules and exhibits to this Exhibit omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5). The Reporting Persons agree to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request.

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

	Dated: January 5, 2024
	Success Flow International Investment Limited
	By:	/s/ Zhijie Liu
	Name: Zhijie Liu
	Title: Authorized Signatory
	Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited
	By:	/s/ Zhijie Liu
	Name: Zhijie Liu
	Title: Authorized Signatory
	Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings Group Limited
	By:	/s/ Zhijie Liu
	Name: Zhijie Liu
	Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

The name, business address and present principal occupation of each director and executive officer of the Reporting Persons is set forth below.

 

Success Flow International Investment Limited

 

Position	Name and Business Address	Present Principal Occupation	Citizenship
Director	Zhijie Liu   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of SDHG	People’s Republic of China
Director	Yao Liu   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Executive Director and Vice President of SDHG	People’s Republic of China

 

Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited

 

Position	Name and Business Address	Present Principal Occupation	Citizenship
Director	Zhijie Liu   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of SDHG	People’s Republic of China
Director	Qingwei Sun 38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of SDHG	People’s Republic of China

 

Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings Group Limited

 

Position	Name and Business Address	Present Principal Occupation	Citizenship
Director	Xiaodong Wang   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of SDHG; Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of Shandong Hi-Speed New Energy Group Limited.	People’s Republic of China
Director and Executive Officer	Jianbiao Zhu   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Executive Director, Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of SDHG; Executive Director of Shandong Hi-Speed New Energy Group Limited; Independent Non-Executive Director of Beijing Energy International Holding Co., Ltd.; and Independent Non-Executive Director of IPE Group Limited	People’s Republic of China
Director	Jianrong Liao   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Executive Director of SDHG; and Executive Director of Shandong Hi-Speed New Energy Group Limited	People’s Republic of China

 

 

Director and Executive Officer	Zhijie Liu   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of SDHG	People’s Republic of China
Director	Yao Liu   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Executive Director and Vice President of SDHG	People’s Republic of China
Director	Zhanhai Liang   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Non-Executive Director of SDHG; and Head of the Planning and Financial Department of Shandong Hi-Speed Group Co., Ltd; Director of Shandong Hi-Speed (Hong Kong) Co., Limited and Shandong Hi-Speed Company Limited; Director of Shandong Future Group Co., Ltd	People’s Republic of China
Director	Di Chen   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Non-Executive Director of SDHG; Managing Director of Harvest Global Capital Investments Limited; and Chief Executive Officer of Harvest Global Capital Investments Limited; and Independent Non-Executive Director of Desun Real Estate Investment Services Group Co., Ltd.	People’s Republic of China
Director	Wenbo Wang   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Non-Executive Director of SDHG; Executive Director of Shandong Hi-Speed New Energy Group Limited; and Director of Investment Development Department (Property Management Department) of Shandong Hi-Speed Group Co., Ltd.	People’s Republic of China
Director	Huanfei Guan   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Independent Non-Executive Director of SDHG, China Nonferrous Mining Corporation Limited, Huarong International Financial Holdings Limited, Sunwah Kingsway Capital Holdings Limited, Shanghai Zendai Property Limited and Guangdong – Hong Kong Greater Bay Area Holdings Limited	Hong Kong SAR
Director	Wai Hei Chan   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Independent Non-Executive Director of SDHG, Independent Non-Executive Director of Liaoning Port Co.,Ltd; Senior Consultant of Roger K.C. Tou & Co.	Hong Kong SAR
Director	Ying Fang   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Independent Non-Executive Director of SDHG; Founder, Executive Director and General Manager of Shanghai Guying Information Technology Co. Ltd.	People’s Republic of China
Director	Jonathan Jun Yan   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Independent Non-Executive Director of SDHG; Independent Director of Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Guangdong Baolihua New Energy Stock Co., Ltd., and HICHAIN Logistics, Co., Ltd.; and Independent Non-Executive Director of Huabao International Holdings Limited	Australia

 

 

Executive Officer	Qingwei Sun   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Chief Operating Officer of SDHG; and Executive Director of Shandong Hi-Speed New Energy Group Limited	People’s Republic of China
Executive Officer	Qin Yu   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Assistant Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Finance & Operation Department of SDHG	People’s Republic of China
Executive Officer	Qi Yang   38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China	Assistant Chief Executive Officer and Head of Industrial Investment Division of SDHG; Chief Executive Officer of China Shandong Hi-Speed Capital (HK) Limited; and Vice Chairman of Shandong Hi-Speed (Shenzhen) Equity Investment Fund Management Limited	Hong Kong SAR

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Execution Version

 

INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Investment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of November 16, 2023, by and between:

 

(1)          VNET Group, Inc., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”);

 

(2)          Success Flow International Investment Limited, a BVI Business Company incorporated under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands (the “Investor A”); and

 

(3)          Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited, a BVI Business Company incorporated under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands (the “Investor B”, collectively with Investor A, the “Investors” and each, the “Investor”).

 

The Investors on the one hand, and the Company on the other hand, are sometimes herein referred to each as a “Party,” and collectively as the “Parties.”

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Company has its Class A Ordinary Shares and ADSs registered with the SEC under Section 12 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue and deliver to the Investors and the Investors wish to invest in the Company by acquiring the Purchased Shares from the Company in a transaction exempt from registration pursuant to Regulation S (“Regulation S”) of the Securities Act;

 

WHEREAS, each of the Investors is controlled by Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings Group Limited (“SDHG”), a company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda with limited liabilities. The shares of SDHG are listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (stock code: 00412);

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Investors intend to enter into the Investor Rights Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual promises, covenants, representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement and other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

 

Article I
PURCHASE AND SALE

 

Section 1.1       Issuance, Sale and Purchase of Ordinary Shares. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each of the Investors hereby agrees to purchase, and the Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to each Investor, at the Closing (as defined below) such number of Class A Ordinary Shares as set forth opposite such Investor’s name on Schedule 1 hereto (the “Purchased Shares”) at a price of US$0.4597 per Class A Ordinary Share and for an aggregate purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) also set forth opposite such Investor’s name on Schedule 1 hereto, free and clear of all liens or encumbrances (except for restrictions arising under the applicable Laws or created by virtue of the Transaction Documents). The purchase, issuance, sale and delivery of the Purchased Shares shall be made pursuant to, and in reliance upon, Regulation S.

 

Section 1.2       Closing.

 

(a)          Closing. The closing of the sale and purchase of the Purchased Shares pursuant to Section 1.1 (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely via the electronic exchange of the closing documents and signatures (followed by prompt delivery of the originals therefor) on a date no later than ten (10) Business Days after the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 1.3 of this Agreement (other than those conditions which by their terms shall be satisfied simultaneously with the Closing but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing), or such other time as the Parties may mutually agree upon. The date and time of the Closing are referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

 

(b)          Payment and Delivery. At the Closing, (1) each of the Investors shall pay and deliver their respective Purchase Price to the Company in U.S. dollars by wire transfer, or by such other method mutually agreeable to the Company and the Investors, of immediately available funds to the Company Bank Account against the delivery of their respective Purchased Shares, and (2) the Company shall deliver to each Investor a number of Purchased Shares, registered in the name of such Investor and free and clear of all liens or encumbrances, equal to the number of Purchased Shares indicated next to such Investor’s name on Schedule 1 hereto, which shall be evidenced by the delivery of one or more duly executed share certificates in original form, registered in the name of the respective Investor, together with a certified true copy of the extract of the register of the members of the Company, evidencing the Purchased Shares have been issued and registered under the name of each Investor as of the Closing Date.

 

(c)          Restrictive Legend. Each certificate representing Purchased Shares shall be endorsed with the following legend, until such time as they are not required as set forth in the Investor Rights Agreement or under applicable law:

 

THE OFFER AND SALE OF THIS SECURITY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”) OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. ACCORDINGLY, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF (1) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT OR (2) AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE ACT AND OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY TO REQUEST AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED OR UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (PROVIDED THAT THE TRANSFEROR PROVIDES THE COMPANY WITH REASONABLE ASSURANCES THAT THE SECURITIES MAY BE SOLD PURSUANT TO SUCH RULE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, A LEGAL OPINION ISSUED BY A REPUTABLE INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM REGARDING THE COMPLIANCE OF RULE 144 REQUIREMENTS IF SO REQUIRED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT OF THE COMPANY). ADDITIONALLY, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO ANY U.S. PERSON, AS EACH OF THOSE TERMS IS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE ACT, DURING THE 40 DAYS FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE. ANY ATTEMPT TO SELL, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY IN VIOLATION OF THESE RESTRICTIONS SHALL BE VOID.

 

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO TRANSFER AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN AN INVESTMENT AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 2023, COPIES OF WHICH ARE ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER.

 

Section 1.3       Closing Conditions.

 

(a)          Conditions to Each Party to Effect the Closing. The respective obligations of the Company and the Investors to effect the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction, on or before the Closing Date, of the following conditions, any of which may only be waived in writing by both the Company and the Investors:

 

(i)          SDHG’s Shareholder Approval: this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been approved by way of ordinary resolution by the shareholders of SDHG at the relevant general meeting of SDHG convened in accordance with the applicable Laws, the Listing Rules of HKEx and SDHG’s bye-laws;

 

(ii)          PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance: the filing to the Anti-Monopoly Bureau of the SAMR shall have been made by the Investors and accepted by the SAMR for examination and if applicable, the SAMR shall have issued a decision under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Laws granting an unconditional clearance of the sale and purchase of the Purchased Shares contemplated under this Agreement (the “PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance”); and

 

(iii)          Waiver of Vector Investors’ ROFO: the Vector Investors’ right of first offer and any other similar right to the extent applicable under the 2020 Investment Agreement and the 2022 Investment Agreement (the “Vector Investors’ ROFO”) and any other relevant waivers, approvals and consents to the extent applicable under the 2020 Investment Agreement and the 2022 Investment Agreement with respect to the Company’s issuance and sale of any of the Purchased Shares pursuant to this Agreement has been waived or obtained in writing or, in respect of the Vector Investors’ ROFO, by such other way in compliance with the 2020 Investment Agreement and the 2022 Investment Agreement (in that case, the Company shall notify the Investors in writing the Vector Investors’ ROFO has been waived by such other way pursuant to the 2020 Investment Agreement and the 2022 Investment Agreement), including where the Vector Investors’ ROFO has been deemed to have been waived by the Vector Investors pursuant to the 2020 Investment Agreement and the 2022 Investment Agreement, or where the exercise of the Vector Investors’ ROFO has not been accepted by the Company pursuant to the 2020 Investment Agreement and the 2022 Investment Agreement;

 

 

(iv)          No Restraints: no temporary, preliminary or permanent Judgment shall have been enacted, promulgated, issued, entered, amended or enforced by any Governmental Authority, nor shall any procedure or proceeding, including those brought by a Governmental Authority seeking any of the foregoing, be pending, or any applicable Law shall be in effect, in each case which has the effect of restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting or impairing any Party’s ability in any material respect to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby (collectively, “Restraints”).

 

(b)          Conditions to the Investors’ Obligations to Effect the Closing. The obligation of each Investor to effect the Closing shall be further subject to the satisfaction, on or before the Closing Date, of the following conditions, any of which may only be waived in writing by such Investor in its sole discretion:

 

(i)          Representations and Warranties of the Company: (1) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2.1 (other than the Company Fundamental Warranties), without giving effect to any “Material Adverse Effect” or materiality qualification contained therein, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case it shall be so true and correct as of such earlier date), except for any inaccuracies or omissions that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (2) the Company Fundamental Warranties shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case it shall be so true and correct as of such earlier date);

 

(ii)          Performance: the Company shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all covenants contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with on or before the Closing Date;

 

(iii)          No Material Adverse Effect: from the date of this Agreement, no Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred;

 

(iv)          Company’s Closing Certificate: the Investors shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer thereof, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 1.3(b)(i), Section 1.3(b)(ii), and Section 1.3(b)(iii) have been satisfied;

 

(v)          Legal Opinion: the Investors shall have received (1) a copy of a legal opinion dated as of the Closing Date in a form reasonably acceptable to the Investors from Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, the Cayman Islands legal adviser to the Company; (2) a copy of a legal opinion dated as of the Closing Date in a form reasonably acceptable to the Investors from the New York legal adviser to the Company; and (3) a copy of a legal opinion dated as of the Closing Date in a form reasonably acceptable to the Investors from Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, the British Virgin Islands legal adviser to the Company; and

 

 

(vi)          Investor Rights Agreement: the Investor Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company, shall have been delivered to the Investors.

 

(c)          Conditions to the Company’s Obligations to Effect the Closing. The obligation of the Company to effect the Closing with respect to each Investor shall be further subject to the satisfaction, on or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions by such Investor, any of which may only be waived in writing by the Company in its sole discretion:

 

(i)          Representations and Warranties: (x) the representations and warranties of such Investor contained in Section 2.2 (other than the Investor Fundamental Warranties), without giving effect to any “Investor Material Adverse Effect” or materiality qualification contained therein, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case it shall be so true and correct as of such earlier date), except for any inaccuracies or omissions that would not have an Investor Material Adverse Effect; and (y) the Investor Fundamental Warranties shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date (except to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case it shall be so true and correct as of such earlier date);

 

(ii)          Performance: such Investor shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all covenants contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with on or before the Closing Date; and

 

(iii)          Closing Certificate: the Company shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of such Investor by an executive officer thereof, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 1.3(c)(i) and Section 1.3(c)(ii) have been satisfied; and

 

(iv)          Investor Rights Agreement: the Investor Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Investors, shall have been delivered to the Company.

 

Article II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Section 2.1       Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Investors as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent made only as of a specified date, in which case such representation and warranty is made as of such date) as follows:

 

(a)          Due Formation.

 

(i)          The Company is a company duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Company has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted. The Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing (where such concept is recognized under applicable Law) in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary. A complete copy of the M&AA is provided in Section 2.1(a)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule.

 

 

(ii)          Each Group Company (other than the Company) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (where such concept is recognized under applicable Law) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. Each Group Company (other than the Company) is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing (where such concept is recognized under applicable Law) in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary.

 

(b)          Authority. The Company has full power and authority to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and each agreement, certificate, document and instrument to be executed and delivered by the Company pursuant to such Transaction Documents and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, agreements, certificates, documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, and the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, have been duly authorized by all requisite actions on its part.

 

(c)          Valid Agreement. This Agreement together with the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery hereof and thereof by the Investors, upon execution by the Company, shall constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its and their terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies (the “Bankruptcy and Equity Exception”).

 

(d)          Capitalization.

 

(i)          As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized share capital of the Company is US$30,000 divided into 3,000,000,000 shares, with a par value of US$0.00001 each, comprised of:

 

(A)          2,698,935,000 Class A Ordinary Shares, of which 894,074,657 Class A Ordinary Shares (including Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs) were issued and outstanding as of October 31, 2023 (the “Capitalization Date”);

 

 

(B)          300,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, of which 30,721,723 Class B Ordinary Shares were issued and outstanding as of the Capitalization Date;

 

(C)          60,000 Class C Ordinary Shares, which were re-designated from Class A Ordinary Shares and all of which were issued and outstanding as of the Capitalization Date;

 

(D)          555,000 Class D Ordinary Shares, none of which was issued and outstanding as of the Capitalization Date;

 

(E)          150,000 Series A Preferred Shares, which were re-designated from Class A Ordinary Shares and were all issued and converted into Class A Ordinary Shares (all of which were held in the form of ADSs) as of the Capitalization Date; and

 

(F)          300,000 Series A-1 Preferred Shares, which were re-designated from Class A Ordinary Shares and none of which was issued as of the Capitalization Date.

 

(ii)           Except (1) as described in this Section 2.1(d), (2) as Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports, (3) the rights and obligations provided by the 2020 Investment Agreement, (4) the 2026 Convertible Notes and the rights and obligations provided by the 2026 Indenture, (5) the 2027 Convertible Notes and the rights and obligation provided by 2022 Investment Agreement, and (6) share incentive awards that have been granted and may be granted from time to time under the Company Stock Plans, as of the date hereof, there were:

 

(A)           no outstanding Equity Securities of the Company;

 

(B)          no outstanding options, warrants, rights or other commitments or agreements to acquire from the Company or any other Group Company, or that obligate the Company or any other Group Company to issue, any Equity Securities of the Company; and

 

(C)          no obligations of the Company or any other Group Company to grant, extend or enter into any subscription, warrant, right, debt, convertible or exchangeable security or other similar agreement or commitment relating to any Equity Securities of the Company (the items in foregoing clauses (A) through (C) being referred to collectively as “Company Securities”).

 

(iii)           As of the date hereof, approximately 23,992,350 Class A Ordinary Shares in the form of ADSs were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of share incentive awards pursuant to the Company Stock Plans.

 

 

(iv)           Except (1) as Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports and (2) pursuant to the Company Stock Plans, the 2020 Investment Agreement, the 2026 Indenture, the 2026 Convertible Notes, the 2022 Investment Agreement and the 2027 Convertible Notes, there are no outstanding agreements of any kind which obligate the Company or any other Group Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Securities, or obligate the Company or any other Group Company to grant, extend or enter into any such agreements relating to any Company Securities, including any agreements granting any preemptive rights, subscription rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights with respect to any Company Securities.

 

(v)          Except (1) as Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports and (2) pursuant to the 2020 Investment Agreement, the 2020 Registration Rights Agreement, the 2022 Investment Agreement and the 2022 Registration Rights Agreement, none of the Company or any other Group Company is a party to any stockholders’ agreement, voting trust agreement, registration rights agreement or other similar agreement or understanding relating to any Company Securities or any other agreement relating to the disposition, voting or dividends with respect to any Company Securities.

 

(vi)          All of the issued and outstanding Equity Securities of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with all applicable Securities Laws and none of such issued and outstanding shares of the Company was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribed for or purchased securities.

 

(e)          Due Issuance of the Purchased Shares.

 

(i)          The Purchased Shares will be, when issued to and paid for by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement, duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free and clear of any pledge, mortgage, security interest, encumbrance, lien, charge, assessment, right of first refusal, right of pre-emption, third party right or interest, claim or restriction of any kind or nature, except for restrictions arising under the Securities Act or created by virtue of the Transaction Documents or applicable Laws, and issued in compliance with all applicable Securities Laws, and none of the Purchased Shares will be issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribed for or purchased securities and upon delivery will transfer to the Investors good and valid title to the Purchased Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no waiver required with respect to the issuance of the Purchased Shares to the Investors pursuant to this Agreement other than those set out in Section 1.3(a)(iii).

 

(ii)          The ADSs are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and listed on the NASDAQ. The Company is, and has at all times been, in compliance in all material respects with the applicable listing requirements and corporate governance rules and regulations of the NASDAQ, and has not received any notice asserting any material non-compliance with the listing requirements of the NASDAQ. The Company has taken no action designed to, or reasonably likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Class A Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act or the registration or listing of the ADSs (and Class A Ordinary Shares, not for trading but in connection with the listing of the ADSs) on the NASDAQ, and has not received any notification that the SEC or the NASDAQ is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.

 

 

(f)          Non-contravention. Neither the execution and the delivery of this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party, nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party, will (i) violate any provision of the organizational documents of the Company (including the M&AA) or any other Group Company; (ii)  violate any Law (including but not limited to the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ) or Judgment applicable to the Company or any other Group Company; or (iii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of or creation of an encumbrance under, or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel, any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument or other arrangement to which the Company or any Group Company is a party or by which the Company or any Group Company is bound or to which any of the Company’s or any Group Company’s assets are subject (each, a “Contract”), except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the Group, taken as a whole, and would not be reasonably expected to materially impair or delay the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party.

 

(g)          Consents and Approvals. Except as Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports, no consent or approval of, or filing, license, permit or authorization, declaration or registration with, or notice to any Governmental Authority is necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents (to which the Company is a party) by the Company, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party, other than such other consents, approvals, filings, licenses, permits or authorizations, declarations or registrations that have been or will have been obtained, made or given on or prior to the Closing Date (for the avoidance of doubt, the Company will remain subject to the obligations to make the CSRC Filing (as defined below) in accordance with Section 3.4 after the Closing Date) and other than those filings required to be made with the SEC and NASDAQ in compliance with applicable Securities Laws.

 

(h)          Company SEC Documents.

 

(i)          The Company has filed with, or furnished to, the SEC all required reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company with, or furnished by the Company to, the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Company SEC Documents”). As of their respective SEC filing dates, the Company SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as the case may be, applicable to such Company SEC Documents, and none of the Company SEC Documents as of such respective dates (or, if amended prior to the date hereof, the date of the filing of such amendment, with respect to the disclosures that are amended) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

 

(ii)          As of the date hereof, (1) the Company is not an “ineligible issuer” (as such terms are defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), (2) the Company is eligible to file a Registration Statement on Form F-3, (3) none of the other Group Companies is required to file any documents with the SEC, (4) expect for Section 2.1(h)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters from the SEC staff with respect to any of the Company SEC Documents, and (5) expect for Section 2.1(h)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company SEC Documents is the subject of ongoing SEC review, outstanding SEC comment or outstanding SEC investigation.

 

(iii)          Each of the certifications and statements relating to the Company SEC Documents required by: (1) Rule 13a-14 or Rule 15d-14 under the Exchange Act, (2) 18 U.S.C. §1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), or (3) any other rule or regulation promulgated by the SEC or applicable to the Company SEC Documents is accurate and complete, and complies as to form and content with all applicable Laws in all material respects. As used in this Section 2.1(h), the term “file” and variations thereof shall be broadly construed to include any manner in which a document or information is filed, furnished, submitted, supplied or otherwise made available to the SEC or any member of its staff in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (as the case may be).

 

(iv)          The consolidated financial statements of the Company (including all related notes or schedules) included or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Documents (1) comply in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (2) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except (A) as may be indicated in the notes thereto, or (B) as permitted under the Exchange Act), (3) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and the other Group Companies and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods shown (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments), and (4) were prepared in accordance with the books of account and other financial records of the Company and the other Group Companies (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto).

 

(v)          Neither the Company nor any other Group Company has any liabilities or obligations required to be disclosed in the Company SEC Documents which are not so disclosed in the Company SEC Documents, other than those (1) incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s or Group Companies’ respective businesses, and (2) which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(vi)          Each of the Company and the other Group Companies is in compliance with all of its obligations under any outstanding guarantees or contingent payment obligations as disclosed in the financial statements referred to in the Company SEC Documents except those which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(vii)          There are no outstanding guarantees or contingent payment obligations that are required to be disclosed by the Company in its Exchange Act filings and are not so disclosed or that otherwise would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(viii)          Neither the Company nor any other Group Company has any off-balance sheet transactions which, individually or in the aggregate, would, or is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any other Group Company has any relationships with unconsolidated entities that are contractually limited to narrow activities that facilitate the transfer of or access to assets by the Company, or any other Group Company, such as structured finance entities and special purpose entities that could have a material adverse effect on the liquidity of the Company or any other Group Company or the availability thereof or the requirements of the Company or any other Group Company for capital resources. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company and an unconsolidated or other off-balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in its Exchange Act filings and is not so disclosed or that otherwise could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ix)          The Company has established and maintains a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that is effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including that:

 

(A)           transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations and in compliance with applicable Laws (including without limitation the Listing Rules);

 

(B)          transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset and liability accountability;

 

(C)          access to assets or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization;

 

(D)          the recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and

 

 

(E)          each Group Company has made and kept books, records and accounts which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets of such entity and provide a sufficient basis for the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

 

(x)           The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

(xi)          Since July 1, 2020, neither the Company nor the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, has identified or been made aware of “significant deficiencies” or “material weaknesses” (as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) in the design or operation of the Company’s internal controls over and procedures relating to financial reporting which would reasonably be expected to adversely affect in any material respect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data, in each case which has not been subsequently remediated.

 

(i)          Absence of Certain Changes. Except as Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports, since December 31, 2022, there has not been any circumstances, event, change, occurrence or state of facts that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(j)          Legal Proceedings. Except as Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports, the potential shareholders class action (the “Potential Shareholders Class Action”) and other litigation as disclosed in Section 2.1(j) of the Disclosure Schedule, or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, there is no, and there has not been any, (i) pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened legal or administrative proceeding, suit, audit, charge, claim, complaint, inquiry, investigation, arbitration or action (an “Action”) against any Group Company, or (ii) outstanding Judgments imposed upon any Group Company, in each case, by or before any Governmental Authority.

 

(k)          Compliance with Laws; Permits.

 

(i)          Except as Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports, each Group Company is and has been in compliance in all material respects with all state or federal Laws, common law, statutes, ordinances, acts, codes, rules or regulations, notices, circulars, executive orders, governmental guidelines or interpretations having the force of law, and Permits of Governmental Authorities or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated, or applied by any Governmental Authority or Judgments, in each case, that are applicable to such Group Company.

 

 

(ii)          Except as Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports, each Group Company holds all licenses, franchises, permits, certificates, registrations, approvals, consents and authorizations from Governmental Authorities (“Permits”) necessary for the lawful conduct of its businesses, except where the failure to hold the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the Group, taken as a whole.

 

(iii)          The Company is not, and upon the issuance of the Purchased Shares contemplated herein and the application of the net proceeds therefrom will not be, required to register as an “investment company” pursuant to the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(iv)          Neither the Company nor any other Group Company maintains or, to the Company’s Knowledge, needs any national security clearance or authorization to access classified information or facilities to perform any current business or proposed business.

 

(l)          Contracts.

 

(i)          Each indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan or other agreement or instrument of a character that is required to be described or summarized in the Company SEC Documents or to be filed as an exhibit to the Company SEC Documents (collectively, the “Material Contracts”) is so described, summarized or filed.

 

(ii)          Each of the Material Contracts (other than the VIE Documents) to which any Group Company is a party has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by such Group Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of such Group Company, enforceable by and against such Group Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

 

(iii)          None of the Group Companies is in breach or default of or has knowledge (actual or constructive) of the invalidity of or grounds for rescission, avoidance or repudiation of any of the Material Contracts (other than the VIE Documents) filed, or incorporated by reference, as an exhibit to the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 26, 2023 or any Company SEC Document filed by the Company after April 26, 2023, nor has any Group Company received written notice of any intention to terminate any such Material Contract.

 

(iv)          Except as Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports, each of the VIE Documents has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the parties thereto, enforceable by and against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

 

 

(v)          None of the parties to any VIE Document is in breach or default of or has knowledge (actual or constructive) of the invalidity of or grounds for rescission, avoidance or repudiation of such VIE Document, nor has any of the parties to any VIE Document received written notice of any intention to terminate such VIE Document.

 

(m)          Tax Matters.

 

(i)           Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(A)          the Company and each of the other Group Companies has prepared (or caused to be prepared) and filed (taking into account valid extensions of time within which to file) all Tax Returns required to be filed by any of them, and all such filed Tax Returns (taking into account all amendments thereto) are true, complete and accurate;

 

(B)          all Taxes owed by the Company and each of the other Group Companies that are due (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid;

 

(C)          all Taxes required to be withheld by the Company and each of the other Group Companies have been properly withheld and remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority as required by applicable Law;

 

(D)          neither the Company nor any of the other Group Companies has waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to any Tax assessment or deficiency which waiver has not expired or been terminated, and no request for any such waiver of extension is currently pending;

 

(E)          no deficiencies for any Taxes have been proposed or asserted in writing by any Governmental Authority, and no dispute relating to any Tax Returns with any such Governmental Authority is outstanding or contemplated;

 

(F)          each Group Company is and has at all times been resident only in the jurisdiction in which it has been established or incorporated (as applicable) for Tax purposes, and no Group Company is treated as a resident for Tax purposes of, or has a taxable presence in, a jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in which it was established or incorporated (as applicable);

 

(G)          no written claim has been received by the Company or any of the other Group Companies in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of the other Group Companies does not file Tax Returns that the Company or any of the other Group Companies is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction;

 

 

(H)          there are no Liens for Taxes on any of the assets of the Company or any of the other Group Companies, other than for Taxes that are not yet due and payable;

 

(I)          no examination or audit of any Tax Return relating to any Taxes of the Company or any of the other Group Companies or with respect to any Taxes due from or with respect to the Company or any of the other Group Companies by any Tax authority is currently in progress or pending or threatened in writing (or to the Knowledge of the Company, otherwise); and

 

(J)          all Tax credits and Tax holidays claimed by any of the Group Companies are not subject to reduction, revocation, cancellation or any other adjustments except through change in applicable Laws published by the relevant Governmental Authority.

 

(n)          Employee Benefit Plans.

 

Except for instances that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(i)          each Company Plan has been established, operated, maintained, funded and administered in accordance with its terms and in compliance with applicable Laws;

 

(ii)          all contributions, distributions, reimbursements, premiums, or other payments required to be made with respect to any Company Plan or benefit or compensation plan or arrangement sponsored or maintained by a Governmental Authority have been timely made, or if not yet due, properly accrued in accordance with local accounting principles;

 

(iii)           there are no pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened Actions (other than routine claims for benefits) with respect to or against any Company Plan;

 

(iv)          no Company Plan or other benefit or compensation plan or arrangement sponsored or maintained by a Governmental Authority is a defined benefit plan, seniority premium, termination indemnity, provident fund, gratuity or similar plan or arrangement or has any unfunded or underfunded liabilities; and

 

(v)          all Company Plans that are required to be funded are fully funded, and adequate reserves have been established with respect to any Company Plan that is not required to be funded.

 

 

(o)          Labor Matters.

 

Except as Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports or for instances that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(i)          neither the Company nor any of the other Group Companies is party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor organization, labor union, or works council, and there have been no labor organizing activities with respect to any employees of the Company or any of the other Group Companies;

 

(ii)         there are no active, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, labor strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages, handbillings, pickets, walkouts, lockouts or other labor disputes or labor Actions with respect to the employees of the Group or against or affecting the Company or any of the other Group Companies;

 

(iii)        the Company and the other Group Companies are in compliance with all applicable Laws governing or concerning labor relations, employment and employment practices;

 

(iv)        to the Knowledge of the Company, no current or former employee or independent contractor of the Company or any of the other Group Companies is in violation of any term of any employment agreement, nondisclosure agreement, common law nondisclosure obligation, fiduciary duty, noncompetition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, restrictive covenant or other obligation: (1) owed to the Company or any of the other Group Companies, or (2) owed to any third party with respect to such person’s right to be employed or engaged by the Company or any of the other Group Companies; and

 

(v)         no employee layoff, facility closure, shutdown (whether voluntary or by order), reduction in force, furlough, temporary layoff, material work schedule change or reduction in hours, or reduction in salary or wages, or other workforce changes affecting employees or individual independent contractors of the Company or any of the other Group Companies is currently contemplated, planned or announced, including as a result of any Law, order, directive, guidelines or recommendations by any Governmental Authority.

 

(p)          Environmental Matters.

 

Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(i)          the Company and each of the other Group Companies is in compliance with all applicable Laws relating to public or worker health or safety, pollution or the protection of the environment or natural resources (“Environmental Laws”);

 

 

(ii)         the Company and the other Group Companies possess and are in compliance with all Permits required under Environmental Laws for the operation of their respective businesses;

 

(iii)        there is no Action under or pursuant to any Environmental Law or environmental Permit that is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company or any of the other Group Companies;

 

(iv)        neither the Company nor any of the other Group Companies has become subject to any Judgment imposed by any Governmental Authority under which there are uncompleted, outstanding or unresolved obligations on the part of the Company or the other Group Companies arising under Environmental Laws;

 

(v)         neither the Company nor any of the other Group Companies has managed, disposed of or arranged for disposal of, released, or exposed any Person to, any substance, or owned or operated any property or facility contaminated by any substance, so as to give rise to liabilities under Environmental Laws; and

 

(vi)        neither the Company nor any of the other Group Companies have assumed, undertaken, provided an indemnity with respect to, or become subject to, any liability of any other Person relating to Environmental Laws.

 

(q)           Real Property.

 

Except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(i)          each Group Company has good and valid title to the real estate owned by such Group Company (the “Owned Real Property”) free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens;

 

(ii)         each Group Company has a good and valid leasehold interest in each Company Lease, free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens; and

 

(iii)        none of the Company or any of the other Group Companies has received written notice of any default under any Contract evidencing any Lien or other Contract affecting the Owned Real Property or any Company Lease, which default continues on the date hereof.

 

(r)          Sufficiency of Assets. The Group has good and valid title to all of the material assets owned by it or any rights or interests thereto, in each case as is necessary to operate the Group’s business as presently conducted, and there are no Liens affecting any of such assets which could have a Material Adverse Effect on the value of such assets, or limit, restrict or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of the Company or any of the other Group Companies to utilize or develop any such assets and, where any such assets are held under lease, each lease is a legal, valid, subsisting and enforceable lease other than where the failure of any such lease to be legal, valid, subsisting or enforceable could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any other Group Company is in breach or default of or has knowledge (actual or constructive) of any grounds for rescission, avoidance or repudiation of any such lease, nor has the Company or any other Group Company received written notice of any intention to terminate any such lease, that had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(s)          Brokers and Other Advisors. Except as disclosed in Section 2.1(s) of the Disclosure Schedule, no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission, or the reimbursement of expenses in connection therewith, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of the other Group Companies.

 

(t)          No Registration.

 

(i)          Regulation S Safe Harbor. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and is subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act. Based in part on the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2.2(f), the offer, sale and issuance of the Purchased Shares will be made pursuant to Regulation S.

 

(ii)          Offshore Transaction. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any Person acting on their behalf, has made or will make any offer to sell or any solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Purchased Shares to any U.S. person.

 

(iii)          No Directed Selling Efforts. None of the Company, its Affiliates, and Persons acting on their behalf has engaged or will engage in any “directed selling efforts” with respect to the Purchased Shares. Each such Person has complied with the “offering restrictions” requirement of Regulation S.

 

(iv)          No Integration. None of the Company or any other Person acting on behalf of the Company has sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Purchased Shares contemplated by this Agreement for purposes of the Securities Act.

 

(u)           Indebtedness. Neither the Company nor any other Group Company:

 

(i)          has any outstanding Indebtedness that are of a nature that would be required to be disclosed on a balance sheet of the Group or the footnotes thereto prepared in conformity with GAAP but have not been so disclosed;

 

(ii)           is a party to any Contract the violation of which, or default under which, by the other party(ies) to such Contract could, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

 

(iii)          is in violation of any term of, or in default under, any Contract relating to any Indebtedness, except where such violations and defaults would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(iv)          is a party to any Contract relating to any Indebtedness, the performance of which, in the judgment of the Company’s officers, has or could, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(v)          Intellectual Property; Data Privacy.

 

(i)          The Company and each of the other Group Companies own and possess, all right, title, and interest in and to, free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens, or have a valid and enforceable license to use, all Intellectual Property used in, held for use, or necessary to carry on the business now operated by them in each country in which they operate. Neither the Company nor any of the other Group Companies has received any notice of, nor is there or has there been, any infringement, misappropriation or other violation of or conflict in any jurisdiction with rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property, nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, are there any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interests of the Company or any of the other Group Companies therein, and which infringement, misappropriation, violation or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ii)          Each Group Company uses commercially reasonable efforts to protect the confidentiality of Intellectual Property owned by each Group Company and the confidentiality, integrity and security of the Company IT Systems in all material respects. Each Group Company complies with, and has at all times complied with, all Data Security Requirements in all material respects. In the past three (3) years, no Group Company has experienced any material breach of security implicating personal data, and no Group Company has received any notices from any Person or been the subject of any material claim or material Action (including any fines or other sanctions) with respect to any of the foregoing or any material non-compliance with any Data Security Requirements.

 

(w)          Money Laundering; Sanctions; Anti-Corruption.

 

(i)          The operations of the Company and the other Group Companies are, and have at all times been conducted, in compliance with applicable anti-money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, including, without limitation, PRC and U.S. anti-money laundering Laws, the rule and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority (collectively, “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”); and no Action by or before any Governmental Authority involving any Group Company with respect to Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or threatened.

 

 

(ii)          None of (1) the Group Companies, or (2) any officer, employee, director, agent, Affiliate or Person acting for or on behalf of the Company or any of the other Group Companies, (each of the foregoing in clause (1) and (2) a “Covered Person”) is owned or controlled by a Person that is targeted by or the subject of any sanctions from time to time administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Treasury Department (“OFAC”, including OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals List), or by the U.S. Department of State or by His Majesty’s Treasury or any sanctions imposed by the European Union (including under Council Regulation (EC) No. 194/2008), the United Nations Security Council or any other relevant Governmental Authority and any activities sanctionable under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, as amended or the Iran Sanctions Act, as amended.

 

(iii)          No Covered Person is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation of, or has violated, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the United Kingdom Bribery Act, as amended, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption Laws, including, without limitation, using any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful payments to any foreign or domestic governmental official or employee from funds, nor has any Covered Person offered, paid, promised to pay, or authorized the payment of any money, or offered, given, promised to give, or authorized the giving of anything of value, to any officer, employee or any other Person acting in an official capacity for any Governmental Authority to any political party or official thereof or to any candidate for political office (individually and collectively, a “Government Official”) or to any Person under circumstances where such Covered Person knew or was aware of a high probability that all or a portion of such money or thing of value would be offered, given or promised, directly or indirectly, to any Government Official, for the purpose of:

 

(A)          influencing any act or decision of such Government Official in his official capacity;

 

(B)          inducing such Government Official to do or omit to do any act in relation to his lawful duty;

 

(C)          securing any improper advantage; or

 

(D)          inducing such Government Official to influence or affect any act or decision of any Governmental Authority,

 

in order to assist any Group Company in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to any Group Company or in connection with receiving any approval of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party. No Covered Person has accepted anything of value for any of the purposes listed in clauses (A) through (D) of this paragraph.

 

(x)          Subsidiary Rights. The Company has the unrestricted right to vote, and (subject to limitations imposed by applicable Laws) to receive dividends and distributions on, all Equity Securities of the other Group Companies as owned by the Company (whether directly or indirectly).

 

 

(y)          Insurance. The Company and each of the other Group Companies have in place all insurance policies necessary for the conduct of their businesses as currently operated and for compliance with all requirements of applicable Laws, such policies are in full force and effect, and all premiums with respect thereto have been paid, and no notice of cancellation or termination has been received with respect to any such policy, and the Company and each of the other Group Companies have complied with the terms and conditions of such policies, except where breach of this provision would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(z)          Affiliate Transactions. None of the Company’s or any of the other Group Companies’ respective 5% or greater shareholders (other than, in the case of any Group Company, any other Group Company), Affiliates, directors or executive officers, or any Affiliates of such Persons (collectively, “Major Shareholder Parties”) is a party to any transaction or Contract with the Company or any of the other Group Companies (other than as holders of options, and/or other grants or awards under the Company Stock Plans, and for services as employees, officers and directors), or any other related party transactions required to be disclosed, that are not disclosed, in the Company SEC Documents. Other than as Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports, the Company has disclosed to the Investors true, correct, and complete copies of all agreements (including any amendments, supplements or waivers thereto) entered into between the Company or any other Group Company, on the one hand, and any Major Shareholder Parties, on the other hand, including in relation to their investment in the Company.

 

(aa)       Solvency. The Company and each other Group Company is not, as of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby and under any other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party to occur at the Closing, will not be, Insolvent (as defined below). For purposes of this provision, “Insolvent” means, with respect to any Person, (i) the present fair saleable value of such Person’s assets is less than the amount required to pay such Person’s total indebtedness, (ii) such Person is unable to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person intends to incur or believes that it will incur debts that would be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature, or (iv) such Person has unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is currently proposed to be conducted.

 

Section 2.2       Representations and Warranties of the Investors. Each Investor, jointly and severally, hereby represents and warrants to the Company as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as follows:

 

(a)          Due Formation. Such Investor is duly formed, validly existing and in good standing in the jurisdiction of its organization. Such Investor has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted.

 

(b)          Authority. Such Investor has full power and authority to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement and other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and each agreement, certificate, document and instrument to be executed and delivered by such Investor pursuant to this Agreement and other Transaction Documents and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery by such Investor of this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, agreements, certificates, documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by such Investor pursuant to this Agreement, and the performance by such Investor of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, have been duly authorized by all requisite actions on its part.

 

 

(c)          Valid Agreement. This Agreement together with the other Transaction Documents to which such Investor is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Investor and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery hereof and thereof by the Company, upon execution by such Investor, shall constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Investor, enforceable against such Investor in accordance with its and their terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

 

(d)          Non-contravention. Neither the execution and the delivery of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, nor the consummation of the Transactions, will (i) violate any provision of the organizational documents of such Investor; (ii) violate any Law or Judgment applicable to such Investor; or (iii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of or creation of an encumbrance under, or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel, any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument or other arrangement to which such Investor is a party or by which such Investor is bound or to which any of such Investor’s assets are subject, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have an Investor Material Adverse Effect. There is no action, suit or proceeding pending (other than those contemplated under Section 1.3(a)) or, to such Investor’s best knowledge, threatened against such Investor that questions the validity of this Agreement or the right of such Investor to enter into this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(e)          Consents and Approvals. Neither the execution and delivery by such Investor of this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents, nor the consummation by such Investor of any of the Transactions, nor the performance by such Investor of this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents in accordance with their respective terms requires the consent, approval, order or authorization of, registration with or the giving of notice to, any Governmental Authority or any third party, except such as have been or will have been obtained, made or given on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(f)          Status and Investment Intent.

 

(i)          Experience. Such Investor has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in its respective Purchased Shares. Such Investor is capable of bearing the economic risks of such investment, including a complete loss of its investment. Such Investor has had access to, and an adequate opportunity to review financial and other information as it deems necessary to make its decision to purchase its respective Purchased Shares. Such Investor has been offered the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and received answers thereto, as it deemed necessary in connection with its decision to purchase its respective Purchased Shares.

 

 

(ii)         Purchase Entirely for Own Account. Such Investor is acquiring its respective Purchased Shares for its own account for investment purposes only and not with the view to, or with any intention of, resale, distribution or other disposition thereof. Such Investor does not have any direct or indirect agreement, arrangement or understanding with any other persons to distribute, or regarding the distribution of, its respective Purchased Shares in violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable state securities law.

 

(iii)        Solicitation. Such Investor did not contact the Company as a result of any general solicitation or directed selling efforts in the U.S.

 

(iv)        Not U.S. Person. Such Investor is not a “U.S. person” as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S.

 

(v)         Regulation S Safe Harbor. Such Investor has been advised and acknowledges that in issuing its respective Purchased Shares to such Investor pursuant hereto, the Company is relying upon the exemption from registration provided by Regulation S. Such Investor is acquiring its respective Purchased Shares in an “offshore transaction” (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S) and not as a result of any directed selling efforts (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S) made by any of the Company, any of its Affiliates or any Person acting on its behalf with respect to the Purchased Shares.

 

(vi)        Offshore Transaction. The transactions entered into by such Investor hereunder have not been pre-arranged with a buyer located in the United States or with a U.S. Person, and are not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Neither such Investor nor any Person acting on its behalf has undertaken or carried out any activity for the purpose of, or that could reasonably be expected to have the effect of, conditioning the market in the United States, its territories or possessions, for the Purchased Shares.

 

(vii)       Restricted Securities. Such Investor acknowledges that the certificate(s) representing or evidencing the Purchased Shares contain a customary restrictive legend restricting the offer, sale or transfer of the shares except in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S, pursuant to registration under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an available exemption from registration.

 

(g)       Financing.  Such Investor currently has capital commitments sufficient to, and at the Closing will have available funds necessary to, consummate the purchase of its respective Purchased Shares and pay its portion of the Purchase Price on the terms and conditions contemplated by this Agreement. As of the date hereof, such Investor is not aware of any reason why the funds sufficient to fulfill its obligations under Section 1.1 and Section 1.2 (including paying such Investor’s portion of the Purchase Price) will not be available on the Closing Date.

 

(i)          Brokers and Other Advisors. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission, or the reimbursement of expenses in connection therewith, in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of such Investor, except for Persons, if any, whose fees and expenses will be paid by such Investor.

 

 

Article III
COVENANTS

 

Section 3.1       Negative Covenants.

 

(a)          Except as required by applicable Laws or Judgment, as expressly required by this Agreement, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date (or such earlier date on which this Agreement may be terminated pursuant to Section 4.1), (x) the Company shall, and shall cause the Group Companies to, use their best efforts to operate their businesses in the ordinary course, and maintain and preserve intact, in all material respects, their assets and business organization and their relationships with lenders, customers, vendors and employees and other material business relations, and, (y) unless the Investors otherwise consent in writing (such consent in the Investors’ sole discretion), the Company shall not, and shall procure the other Group Companies not to:

 

(i)          other than the authorization and issuance of the Purchased Shares to the Investors and the consummation of the Transactions, issue, sell or grant any Equity Securities, except (A) in accordance with the terms of the 2026 Convertible Notes, the terms of the 2027 Convertible Notes, the terms of the Company Stock Plans and related award agreements with respect to, and upon the exercise or settlement of, Company Stock Options, Company RSUs and Company PSUs, in each case in effect as of the date of this Agreement, and (B) in connection with and for the purpose of the refinancing of the 2026 Convertible Notes (provided, that any such refinancing shall not result in any additional dilution to the Investors with respect to the Purchased Shares as compared to the dilutive effect of the 2026 Convertible Notes in accordance with the terms thereof); provided, however, that in the event the Closing has not occurred by the Long Stop Date, this Section 3.1(a)(i) shall cease to apply from (and excluding) the Long Stop Date;

 

(ii)          redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of its issued and outstanding Equity Securities, except (A) the withholding of Class A Ordinary Shares to satisfy Tax obligations incurred in connection with the exercise or settlement of Company Stock Options, Company RSUs and Company PSUs, and (B) the acquisition by the Company of Company Stock Options, Company RSUs and Company PSUs in connection with the forfeiture of such awards, in each case in accordance with their terms;

 

(iii)          establish a record date for, declare, set aside for payment or pay any dividend on, or make any other distribution in respect of, any Equity Securities (whether in cash or in kind);

 

(iv)          combine, subdivide or reclassify any Equity Securities or effect any recapitalization, restructuring, reorganization or any other change in its share capital;

 

 

(v)          amend the organizational documents of any Group Company (including the M&AA) in a manner that would adversely affect the Investor either as a holder of Class A Ordinary Shares or with respect to the rights of the Investors under this Agreement or the Investor Rights Agreement;

 

(vi)          voluntarily delist from any trading market;

 

(vii)          commence any voluntary liquidation, bankruptcy, dissolution, recapitalization, reorganization or assignment to their creditors, or any similar transaction;

 

(viii)          amend the conversion ratio between the Ordinary Shares and the ADSs;

 

or

 

(ix)          authorize any of, or agree or commit to do any of, the foregoing.

 

Section 3.2       Reasonable Best Efforts; Filings.

 

(a)       Subject to this Section 3.2, each of the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary under applicable Laws to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable, including to (i) obtain the PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance (as contemplated under Section 1.3(a)(ii)), (ii) in respect of the Company, satisfy the conditions in Section 1.3(b); and (iii) in respect of the Investors, satisfy the conditions in Section 1.3(c); provided that, in connection with the obtaining of the PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance, no Party shall have any obligation to (A) consent to or comply with any condition imposed by, or enter into any settlement, undertaking, consent decree, stipulation or agreement with, any Governmental Authority, or (B) divest or otherwise hold separate (including by establishing a trust, changing the terms of any agreement or arrangement or otherwise), in each case with respect to any of its or its Affiliates’ assets, properties or businesses, regardless of whether such actions would be adverse to the interests of such Party or its Affiliates or would have an adverse effect on their respective assets, properties or businesses. The Investors shall bear the filing fees (if any) and other costs incurred by it in connection with obtaining the PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance (but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any fees or costs incurred by the Company, including its legal fees (if any)). The Parties shall coordinate and cooperate with each other and provide such assistance as the other Parties may reasonably request and that is reasonably required in connection with the foregoing (subject always to this Section 3.2).(b)       Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, the Company’s obligation in connection with the obtaining of the PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance shall be limited to (A) providing information or documentation including those in relation to any Group Company and/or any Affiliate thereof to the Investors (i) for the purpose of obtaining the PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance; or (ii) to the extent that such information or documentation is required by SAMR in the context of the PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance; and (B) participating in good faith in such discussions or taking such other actions, in each case, as the Investors may reasonably request or require for the purpose of obtaining the PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance, including for the purpose of finalizing the submission to be made to SAMR in connection therewith.

 

 

(c)          The Investors and the Company shall as soon as practicable and to the extent permitted by applicable Laws notify each other of any material communication it or any of its Affiliates receives from any Governmental Authority relating to the matters that are the subject of this Agreement and if requested and permitted by applicable Laws, provide to the other Party to review in advance any proposed material communication to any Governmental Authority. The Investors and the Company shall not (nor shall they permit any of their Affiliates to) participate in any material meeting with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filings, investigation or other inquiry unless it informs and use commercially reasonable efforts to consult with such other Party in good faith in advance and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority and if requested by such other Party in advance, gives such other Party the opportunity to attend and observe at such meeting. The Investors and the Company will, if reasonably requested by the other Party and to the extent permitted by applicable Laws, provide such other Party with copies of all material correspondence, filings or communications with any Governmental Authority, with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 3.3       Public Disclosure.

 

(a)          The Investors and the Company shall consult with each other before issuing, and give each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or other public statements with respect to the Transaction Documents or the Transactions, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required by applicable Law, Judgment, court process or the rules and regulations of any national securities exchange or national securities quotation system; provided that the foregoing will not restrict any Investor and its Affiliates and the investors therein (including any listed entity that is an investor in such Affiliate) from disclosure (A) as part of such Person’s ordinary course reporting or review procedure or in connection with such Person’s ordinary course fundraising, marketing, information, transactional or reporting activities and subject to the disclosing Person’s customary confidentiality practices with respect to similar information (if any) or (B) as may be required under applicable Laws or listing rules (including Listing Rules of HKEx and the Listing Rules), including for the purposes of and in connection with PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance or beneficial ownership reporting, or as may otherwise be contemplated or required for the purposes of consummating the Transactions.

 

(b)          The Investors and the Company agree that the initial press release to be issued with respect to the Transactions following execution of this Agreement shall be in a form agreed between the parties.

 

Section 3.4       CSRC Post-Closing Filing.

 

(a)          The Company undertakes to file or cause to be filed with the CSRC the requisite information and documents within the timeframe prescribed by the CSRC after the Closing Date in accordance with the CSRC Measures and any implementation rules as issued by the CSRC from time to time (the “CSRC Filing”).

 

(b)          In connection with the CSRC Filing, the Company shall (i) consult with the Investors in respect of any matters relating to such CSRC Filing that could reasonably be expected to affect the Investors’ rights hereunder or under any other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party, (ii) give the Investors an opportunity to comment on any notices, communications and/or documents to be provided by the Company to the CSRC or other applicable regulatory authorities, and (iii) promptly forward to the Investors copies of all notices, communications and documents received from or provided to the CSRC.

 

(c)          The Investors shall use best efforts to provide the Company with reasonable assistance it may require in connection with the CSRC Filing, including without limitation to provide such information relating to the activities of the Investors as may be necessary for the purposes of submitting such filings, and any other information in relation to the Investors as CSRC may request in order for the Company to satisfy the regulatory requirements in respect of the CSRC Filing.

 

 

Section 3.5       Investor Covenants.

 

(a)          Subject to Section 3.5(b) below, Investor A agrees and undertakes to the Company, for itself and on behalf of its assigns and successors, that effective immediately upon the Closing and ending upon the earlier of (x) February 29, 2024 or sixty (60) calendar days after the Closing, whichever is later and (y) termination in accordance with Section 3.5(c) (the “Interim Period”), it shall, with respect to all of the Purchased Shares that Investor A has acquired pursuant to this Agreement and continues to hold (for the purposes of this Agreement including Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs) (the “Relevant Shares”):

 

(i)          upon the Company’s request in writing (which shall be delivered to Investor A by no later than ten (10) Business Days before the date of the relevant general or special meeting of shareholders) for the purpose of satisfying the quorum requirement of such shareholders meeting in accordance with the M&AA and applicable Laws, be present, in person or by proxy, at such meeting of shareholders; and

 

(ii)          when and to the extent that Investor A, in its capacity as holder of the Relevant Shares, is entitled to vote in accordance with the M&AA and applicable Laws, whether at shareholders meetings of the Company, by written resolutions of shareholders or in such other manner as may be permitted by the applicable Laws, abstain from voting, whether at such shareholders meetings, via written resolutions of the shareholders or via other manner as may be permitted by the applicable Laws.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, Investor B is entitled to exercise its voting rights attached to such Equity Securities of the Company held by it (including any Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs) from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion whether at shareholders meetings of the Company, by written resolutions of shareholders or consent or in such other manner as may be permitted by the applicable Laws, as the case may be.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree and acknowledge that Investor A shall be entitled to independently exercise the votes attached to the Relevant Shares at its sole and absolute discretion, whether at shareholders meetings of the Company, by written resolutions of shareholders or consent or in such other manner as may be permitted by the applicable Laws, if the applicable subject matter concerns any of the following matters:

 

(i)          an amendment of the Company’s constitutional documents including the M&AA that, if adopted, would restrict, inhibit, or terminate the rights, powers, preferences or privileges enjoyed by, or actions or entitlements of either Investor under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents;

 

(ii)          any merger, division, restructuring, spin-off or dissolution of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, or change of corporate form of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries;

 

(iii)          any initiation of proceedings for any bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries; and

 

(iv)          any repurchase, redemption or cancellation of any Equity Securities of the Company.

 

 

(c)          Section 3.5(a) shall terminate automatically and irrevocably upon the earliest of:

 

(i)          when the Company or the Founder agrees to such termination in writing (and the Company and/or the Founder shall concurrently notify the same to Investor A in writing), provided that the Company and/or the Founder shall consult with Investor A with respect to such termination in advance;

 

(ii)         when both the Company and Investor A agree to such termination in writing;

 

(iii)        any merger, recapitalization, amalgamation, spin-off, consolidation or other similar transaction resulting in a Change of Control;

 

(iv)        the occurrence of any facts or circumstances that, the Board and the Investors have unanimously determined that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(v)         the Investors beneficially own on a collective basis the Equity Securities of the Company that represent ten percent (10%) or less of the then total issued and outstanding shares of the Company (calculated on a fully diluted and as-converted basis);

 

(vi)        any material breach or default by any of the Founder Parties of any arrangement or agreement with any of the Investors or its Affiliates; and

 

(vii)       the third (3^rd) anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

(d)          The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither Investor shall be responsible for or liable to any Person in connection with the performance by Investor A of its obligations under Section 3.5(a) and accordingly in respect of any applicable shareholder decisions so made during the Interim Period, whether at shareholder meetings of the Company, by written resolutions of shareholders or consent or in such other manner as may be permitted by the applicable Laws, or any procedural matters in relation thereto. The Company shall not initiate (or cause to be initiated) any action, claim or proceedings against any Investor on any ground or cause of actions arising out of or in connection with, and the Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Investor Indemnified Party against any Losses arising out of, the performance by Investor A of such obligations, regardless of whether such performance has resulted or would or would reasonably be expected to result in any Losses to the Company, provided the foregoing shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, relieve Investor A of any of its obligations under Section 3.5(a).

 

 

(e)          Upon Closing and provided that the Investors have received the closing certificate from the Company pursuant to Section 1.3(c)(iii), and for so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) is satisfied, the Investors shall not, during the Interim Period, in their capacity as shareholders of the Company, initiate or support any proposal (including by voting of the Relevant Shares) or action that would result in a Company Default. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation of the Investors in this Section 3.5(e) shall not affect or prejudice any rights or interests of any Investor under any agreement between it and the Company (including any Transaction Document to which the Company is a party).

 

(f)          Each Investor covenants that if it sells Purchased Shares to a distributor (as defined in Regulation S), a dealer (as defined in section 2(a)(12) of the Securities Act), or a person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration in respect of the Purchased Shares, during the forty (40) days following the original issue date, it will send a confirmation or other notice to the purchaser stating that the purchaser is subject to the same restrictions on offers and sales that apply to a distributor.

 

Section 3.6       Transfer Restrictions.

 

(a)          Lock-up Restrictions:

 

(i)          Subject to Section 3.6(a)(ii) below, during a period commencing from the Closing Date and ending on the third (3^rd) anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Lock-Up Period”), Investor A shall not Transfer any or all of the Relevant Shares to any Person without the Company’s prior written consent.

 

(ii)         Notwithstanding the forgoing, in accordance with applicable Laws, Investor A may, during the Lock-Up Period, Transfer any or all of the Relevant Shares (A) to any Permitted Transferee (other than Investor B) but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees in writing to be bound by Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 3.7 and Section 3.8; (B) subject to Section 3.6(c) below, to any Person as collateral for or in connection with any security given in a Bona Fide Financing or in the enforcement thereof; and (C) in connection with the Investor Participation (as such term is defined in the Investor Rights Agreement and the Voting and Consortium Agreement); provided that under the forgoing mentioned (A), (x) Investor A shall provide the Company with a written notice in advance and (y) the relevant Permitted Transferee shall deliver to the Company in advance a duly signed joinder in a form substantially similar to that as attached to the Investor Rights Agreement acknowledging and agreeing to be bound by Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 3.7 and Section 3.8.

 

(iii)        For the avoidance of doubt, subject to applicable Laws and Section 3.6(b), Section 3.7 and Section 3.8, Section 3.6(a)(i) shall not apply to Investor B, and Investor B may Transfer any or all of its Purchased Shares or any other Equity Securities of the Company acquired (other than the Relevant Shares) at any time.

 

 

(b)          Without the Company’s prior written consent, each of Investor A (upon the expiration of the Lock-Up Period) and Investor B shall not Transfer any or all of the Purchased Shares or any other Equity Securities of the Company it holds to any Competitors; provided that this Section 3.6(b) shall not apply to (i) any Transfer in an on-market transaction, through a public securities exchange, through a broker-dealer or otherwise in a similar transaction (including a sale to the public market through an effective registration statement of the Company or a bona fide sale to the public market without registration effectuated in the broker’s transactions pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act), or (ii) any Transfer where (A) such Investor has used commercially reasonable efforts to verify that neither such proposed transferee nor its ultimate beneficial owner(s) is a Competitor, and (B) the proposed transferee has provided sufficient representations and warranties that neither itself nor its ultimate beneficial owner(s) is a Competitor, with the Company as a third party beneficiary to those representations and warranties, and has agreed that it will comply with this Section 3.6(b) in the share transfer agreement or other similar or related agreement, a copy of which shall be provided to the Company (provided that the Company shall agree to be bound by such confidentiality provisions as may be required thereunder).

 

(c)          In the event that any or all of the Relevant Shares have been Transferred to any Person (the “Lenders”) as collateral (the “Secured Shares”) for or in connection with any security (the “Security”) given in a Bona Fide Financing and the Lenders seek to enforce such Security during the Lock-Up Period:

 

(i)          Investor A shall promptly give the Company and each of the Founder Parties written notice of the potential enforcement of such Security (the “Enforcement Notice”). Each Founder Party shall then have a right (but not an obligation) to make an offer to purchase, or designate any of his/its Affiliates or any other Person (only if such Person agrees in writing to be bound by Section 3.5 and Section 3.6) to offer to purchase, subject to the provisions of the relevant Financing Documents, any potion or all of the Secured Shares under the relevant Security (the “ROFO Shares”) at the ROFO Price (as defined below) by notifying Investor A in writing within ten (10) Business Days from receiving the Enforcement Notice, which notice shall indicate all proposed material terms for the offer, including the proposed purchase price (the “ROFO Price”) and number of ROFO Shares (such notice, the “ROFO Notice”). Investor A shall promptly share the ROFO Notice with the Lenders on behalf of the relevant offeror and use its best efforts to coordinate good faith negotiation and discussion between the relevant parties. Delivery of the ROFO Notice shall constitute a binding and irrevocable offer to purchase the ROFO Shares at the ROFO Price.

 

(ii)         If any of the Founder Parties has elected to exercise his/its right as set forth in Section 3.6(c)(i) above, Investor A shall use best efforts to cause the Lenders to agree to such proposed purchase as indicated in the ROFO Notice and in the event where such proposed purchase has been agreed to by such Lenders, such Founder Party shall, and shall procure his/its designed Person to, effect the purchase of the ROFO Shares with payment of ROFO Price by check or wire transfer, against delivery of the ROFO Shares at the time agreed among such Founder Party (and his/its designed Person), the relevant Lenders and the holder of the relevant Security, and otherwise in accordance with the relevant Financing Documents.

 

 

(iii)        If the Founder Parties have not elected to exercise their right as set forth in Section 3.6(c)(i) above, upon the enforcement of the relevant Security, the Company shall, and the Investors shall take all necessary actions in its capacity as a shareholder of the Company and procure the Investor Director (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) to take all necessary actions in his or her capacity as a director of the Company, subject to applicable Law, to support and approve the Company to, issue once certain Equity Securities of the Company to any of the Founder Parties or their Affiliates, or any other Person designated by the Founder Parties (only if such Person agrees in writing to be bound by Section 3.5 and Section 3.6) (the “Subsequent Issuance”) so as to ensure that the enforcement of the Security would not result in a Company Default; provided that, for so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) is satisfied immediately after the enforcement of the relevant Security, (x) the Company shall discuss with the Investors in good faith in advance the proposed terms of such Subsequent Issuance and shall, where requested by the Investors, provide the Investors with drafts of all documents prepared for and in connection with the Subsequent Issuance to allow the Investors and/or its Affiliates to comment and the Company shall consider reasonable comments received from the Investors and/or its Affiliates before finalizing such drafts (for the avoidance of doubt, the ultimate discretion with respect to the Subsequent Issuance shall be retained by the Company acting reasonably); and (y) in the event any such Subsequent Issuance involves any issuance of ordinary shares of the Company without super-voting power, such issuance shall not result in any dilution of the economic rights of the Investors with respect to the shares of the Company held by such Investors immediately after the enforcement of the relevant Security.

 

(iv)        The Investors shall use best efforts to ensure the relevant Financing Documents permit the rights of the Founder Parties under Section 3.6(c)(i) and Section 3.6(c)(ii).

 

Section 3.7       Distribution Compliance Period. Subject to any transfer restrictions set forth in the Transaction Documents, each Investor further agree not to offer, sell, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise transfer any or all of their respective Purchased Shares within the U.S. or to any U.S. Person, as each of those terms is defined in Regulation S, during the forty (40) days following the Closing Date.

 

Section 3.8       Insider Trading. The Investors acknowledge that for so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) is satisfied, they are subject to applicable Laws regarding insider trading and in furtherance thereof shall be subject and adhere to the Company’s duly adopted insider trading policies, as in effect and made available to the Investors from time to time.

 

Section 3.9       Non-competition. Until the earlier of (x) the Minimum Shareholding Requirement (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) ceasing to be satisfied and (y) the expiration or termination of the Interim Period (except pursuant to Section 3.5(c)(i), in which case the foregoing reference to Interim Period shall thereafter refer to the Voting Term as defined in the Voting and Consortium Agreement, without regard to this parenthetical), the Investors shall not, and shall direct their Affiliates not to, (i) operate as a principal any business in the PRC in direct competition with that carried out by the Group (taken as a whole), and shall not, as part of the operation of such competing business, develop or market any key products or services that compete with those of the Group, (ii) has any substantial financial interest in any Competitor; for the purposes of this item (ii), no ownership of less than 25% of the equity or economic interest in such Competitor without significant control shall be considered a substantial financial interest, (iii)  use any confidential information received by it as a result of its investment in the Company to solicit or induce any key customer of the Group (taken as a whole) to purchase goods or services from a business owned or operated by it in competition with and to the detriment of the Group, or (iv) employ any executive officer of the Group except for anyone who (x) has made an unsolicited approach to the Investors or any of its Affiliates; or (y) responded to a recruitment advertisement not specifically targeted at such person.

 

 

Section 3.10       No Integration. The Company shall not, and shall use its best efforts to ensure that no Affiliate of the Company shall, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Purchased Shares in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Purchased Shares to Investors.

 

Section 3.11       Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the proceeds from the issuance of the Purchased Shares for the purposes of repayment or redemption of the outstanding debts of the Company.

 

Article IV
TERMINATION

 

Section 4.1       Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

(a)          by the mutual written consent of the Company and the Investors;

 

(b)          by either the Company or the Investors upon written notice to the other, if the Closing has not occurred on or prior to the Long Stop Date; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 4.1(b) shall not be available to any party if the breach by such party of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement or the failure of such party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement has been a principal case of or primarily resulted in the events specified in this Section 4.1(b);

 

(c)          by either the Company or the Investors if any Restraint enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby at the Closing shall be in effect and shall have become final and non-appealable prior to the Closing Date; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.1(c) will not be available to any party that has breached in any material respect any provision of this Agreement in any manner that was the primary cause of the Restraint;

 

(d)          by the Investors if the Company shall have breached any of its representations or warranties or failed to perform any of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 1.3(b)(i), Section 1.3(b)(ii), and Section 1.3(b)(iii), and (ii) is incapable of being cured prior to the Long Stop Date, or if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within 30 calendar days (but in no event later than the Long Stop Date) following receipt by the Company of written notice of such breach or failure to perform from the Investors stating the Investors’ intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.1(d) and the basis for such termination; provided that the Investors shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.1(d) if the Investors is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements hereunder;

 

(e)          by the Company if the Investors shall have breached any of their representations or warranties or failed to perform any of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 1.3(c)(i) and Section 1.3(c)(ii); and (ii) is incapable of being cured prior to the Long Stop Date, or if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within 30 calendar days (but in no event later than the Long Stop Date) following receipt by the Investors of written notice of such breach or failure to perform from the Company stating the Company’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.1(e) and the basis for such termination; provided that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.1(e) if the Company is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements hereunder; or

 

(f)          by the Investors if the Potential Shareholders Class Action gives rise to or results in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

Section 4.2       Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 4.1, written notice thereof shall be given to the other Party, specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is made and this Agreement shall forthwith become null and void (other than this Section 4.2, Section 4.3 and Article VI, all of which shall survive termination of this Agreement), and there shall be no liability on the part of any Investor or the Company or their respective directors, officers and Affiliates in connection with this Agreement, except that no such termination shall relive any Party from liability for damages to any Party (a) resulting from fraud, or (b) for any breach of this Agreement occurring prior to termination. Each Party’s right under this Agreement or otherwise, and the exercise of a Party’s right of termination will not constitute an election of remedies.

 

Section 4.3       Survival. All of the covenants or other agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement shall survive until fully performed or fulfilled, unless and to the extent that non-compliance with such covenants or agreements is waived in writing by the party entitled to such performance. All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement (including the schedules and the certificates delivered pursuant hereto) will survive the Closing Date until the date that is eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date; provided that the Company Fundamental Warranties and the Investor Fundamental Warranties shall survive the Closing for three (3) years following the Closing Date; provided further that nothing herein shall relieve any party of liability for any inaccuracy or breach of such representation or warranty to the extent that any good faith allegation of such inaccuracy or breach is made in writing prior to such expiration by a Person entitled to make such claim pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, claims may be made with respect to the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant until the applicable survival period therefor as described above expires.

 

Article V
INDEMNITY

 

Section 5.1       Indemnification.

 

(a)          From and after the Closing, the Company (the “Company Indemnifying Party”) shall indemnify each Investor, its Affiliates, and its and its Affiliates’ members, partners, managers, directors, officers, employees, advisors, shareholders, representatives and agents (each, an “Investor Indemnified Party”) against, and shall hold each Investor Indemnified Party harmless from and against, any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims, proceedings, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees in connection with any investigation or defense of a claim indemnifiable under this Article V) (collectively, “Losses”) incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, such Investor Indemnified Party based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(i)          any breach or violation of, or inaccuracy in, any representation or warranty respectively made by the Company Indemnifying Party or its Affiliates under this Agreement and/or any other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party (for the avoidance of doubt, materiality standards or qualifications, qualifications by reference to the defined term of “Material Adverse Effect” and other similar qualifications shall not be taken into account in determining the amount of any Losses);

 

(ii)         any breach or violation of, or failure to perform, any covenants or agreements or obligations respectively made by or on behalf of, or to be performed by, the Company Indemnifying Party or its Affiliates under this Agreement and/or any other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party; or

 

(iii)        the Potential Shareholders Class Action to the extent that the amount of the Losses, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of such actions are not covered by the Company’s current insurance.

 

 

(b)          From and after the Closing, the Investors (each, an “Investor Indemnifying Party”) shall jointly and severally indemnify the Company, the other Group Companies, and its and their respective members, partners, managers, directors, officers, employees, advisors, shareholders, representatives and agents (each, a “Company Indemnified Party”) against, and shall hold each Company Indemnified Party harmless from and against, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, such Company Indemnified Party based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(i)          any breach or violation of, or inaccuracy in, any representation or warranty respectively made by the Investor Indemnifying Party or its Affiliates under this Agreement and/or any other Transaction Documents (for the avoidance of doubt, materiality standards or qualifications, qualifications by reference to the defined term of “Material Adverse Effect” and other similar qualifications shall not be taken into account in determining the amount of any Losses); or

 

(ii)         any breach or violation of, or failure to perform, any covenants or agreements or obligations respectively made by or on behalf of, or to be performed by, the Investor Indemnifying Party or its Affiliates under this Agreement and/or any other Transaction Documents.

 

Section 5.2       Certain Limitations.

 

(a)          Each applicable Indemnifying Party shall have no liability to its corresponding Indemnified Party under Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b) (as the case may be) in respect of any individual claim or series of related claims arising from the same or substantially similar facts or circumstances if the amount of the Losses suffered or incurred by such Indemnified Party in respect of such individual claim or series of related claims are less than 0.1% of the Purchase Price; provided that the limitation on such Indemnifying Party’s indemnification obligations under this Section 5.2(a) shall not apply to any breach of covenant, any breach of the Company Fundamental Warranties or the Investor Fundamental Warranties (as the case may be) or in respect of the Company Indemnifying Party, Losses suffered as a result of the Potential Shareholders Class Action.

 

(b)          Each applicable Indemnifying Party shall have no liability to its corresponding Indemnified Party under Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b) (as the case may be) unless and until the aggregate amount of the Losses suffered or incurred by such Indemnified Party (excluding any Losses excluded pursuant to Section 5.2(a)) exceeds 1% of the Purchase Price, in which case such Indemnifying Party shall be fully liable to such other Indemnified Party of the Losses; provided that the limitation on such Indemnifying Party’s indemnification obligations under this Section 5.2(b) shall not apply to any breach of covenant, any breach of the Company Fundamental Warranties or the Investor Fundamental Warranties (as the case may be) or in respect of the Company Indemnifying Party, Losses suffered as a result of the Potential Shareholders Class Action.

 

(c)          (i) The maximum aggregate liability of the Company Indemnifying Parties to the Investor Indemnified Parties under Section 5.1(a) shall be an amount equal to 100% of the Purchase Price actually paid by the Investors at the Closing (the “Indemnity Cap”), and (ii) the maximum aggregate liability of the Investor Indemnifying Parties to the Company Indemnified Parties under Section 5.1(b) shall not exceed the Indemnity Cap.

 

 

(d)          The amount of any Losses payable under Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b) shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of any tax benefit realized by or available to the Indemnified Party (which, in the case of a Company Indemnified Party, shall include any tax benefit realized by or available to the Group) that is attributable to any deduction, loss, credit or other tax benefit resulting from or arising out of the incurrence or payment of such Loss (with such tax benefit measured on a with-and-without basis and treating any such deduction, loss, credit or other tax benefit as the first item claimed for any taxable year).

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.2, none of the limitations on liability in this Section 5.2 shall limit any Indemnifying Party’s liability in the event of fraud on the part of such other Indemnifying Party.

 

Section 5.3       Indemnification Procedures.

 

(a)          Any Indemnified Party seeking indemnification under this Article V shall give written notice (a “Claim Notice”) to its corresponding Indemnifying Party. The Claim Notice shall include a description in reasonable detail of (a) the basis for, and nature of, such claim, including the facts constituting the basis for such claim, and (b) if practicable and to the extent known, the estimated amount of Losses that have been or will be sustained by the Indemnified Party in connection with such claim (on a without prejudice basis). Neither a defect in the information contained in the Claim Notice nor a failure to timely deliver such notice shall affect the rights of any Indemnified Party unless and to the extent such defect or failure has actually prejudiced the corresponding Indemnifying Party in respect of its ability to maintain a defense of or mitigate such claim or has resulted in an increase in its indemnification obligations.

 

(b)          In the event of any claim, demand, action or proceeding asserted against any Indemnified Party by a third party with respect to which such Indemnified Party may claim indemnification under Section 5.1(a), Section 5.1(b), as the case may be or, in respect of an Investor Indemnified Party, under Section 3.5(d) (a “Third Party Claim”), such Indemnified Party shall give the applicable Indemnifying Party written notice as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days of receiving written notice of such Third Party Claim. Failure by such Indemnified Party to provide each such notice with respect to Third Party Claim within such time period shall not affect the rights of such Indemnified Party unless and to the extent that the applicable Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure of the Indemnified Party in respect of its ability to maintain a defense of or mitigate such Third Party Claim. The Indemnifying Party shall notify such Indemnified Party within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such notice as to whether the Indemnifying Party will assume the defense of such Third Party Claim (provided it shall not have such right in the event of any claim involves a criminal proceeding). If the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of such Third Party Claim (in which case it shall also acknowledge that it would have an indemnity obligation for the Losses suffered by the Indemnified Party resulting from such Third Party Claim), (i) the Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in such defense and to engage separate counsel of its own choosing at its own cost and expense and (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall not agree to any compromise or settlement to which such Indemnified Party has not consented to in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) unless such settlement or compromise includes only the payment of monetary damages which shall be paid by such Indemnifying Party (subject to the limitations herein) and includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability in respect of such Third Party Claim. If requested by the Indemnifying Party, such Indemnified Party will, at the cost and expense of such Indemnifying Party (which cost and expense shall be deemed Losses for purposes of applying the applicable Indemnity Cap), provide reasonable cooperation to the Indemnifying Party in defending such Third Party Claim (provided that nothing in the foregoing shall oblige such Indemnified Party in providing or furnishing any information that constitutes attorney-client or similar privilege). If the Indemnifying Party elects not to assume the defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party may assume the defense thereof at the expense of the Indemnifying Party; provided that the Indemnified Party shall not agree to any compromise or settlement to which the Indemnifying Party has not consented in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) unless such settlement or compromise includes only an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations in respect of such Third Party Claim.

 

 

(c)          Any amount of Losses payable under Section 5.1(a) by the Company Indemnifying Party and subject to Section 5.2 shall be settled as soon as practicable and in any event by such date as agreed by the Investor Indemnified Parties and the Company Indemnifying Party (or in the event any disputes in relation thereof has been referred to and resolved pursuant to Section 6.1(b), by such date as the arbitration tribunal may determine) (the “Due Date”) and the Company Indemnifying Party hereby agrees that in the event any such Losses have not been settled in full by the Due Date, an interest at a simple rate of ten percent (10%) per annum shall apply to any outstanding amount of Losses for the period beginning on (and including) the Due Date and until such outstanding amount of Losses has been paid in full (it being understood that such additional interest rate applicable hereunder is the result of bona fide discussions between Parties and shall not be considered a penalty under applicable Laws).

 

Article VI
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 6.1       Governing Law.

 

(a)          This Agreement shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that State, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under any applicable conflict of laws principles.

 

(b)          Any disputes, actions and proceedings against any party hereto or arising out of, or in any way relating to, this Agreement shall be submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and resolved in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of HKIAC in force at the relevant time and as may be amended by this Section 6.1(b) (the “Rules”). The place of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The official language of the arbitration shall be English and the tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators (each, an “Arbitrator”). The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one (1) Arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one (1) Arbitrator; and a third Arbitrator will be nominated jointly by the first two Arbitrators and shall serve as chairman of the arbitration tribunal. In the event the claimant(s) or respondent(s) or the first two Arbitrators shall fail to nominate or agree the joint nomination of an Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator within the time limits specified by the Rules, such Arbitrator shall be appointed promptly by the HKIAC. The arbitration tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive or other punitive-type damages. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties. Any party to an award may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award and, for purposes of the enforcement of such award, the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction and waive any defenses to such enforcement based on lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 6.2       Amendment. This Agreement shall not be amended, changed or modified, except by another agreement in writing executed by the Parties.

 

Section 6.3       Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Investors, the Company, and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns.

 

 

Section 6.4       Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, duties or obligations hereunder may be assigned by the Company or the Investors without the prior written consent of the other Party, except that each Investor may assign all or any part of its rights and obligations hereunder to any Permitted Transferees of such Investor without the prior written consent of the Company so long as (i) the assignee shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, including the rights, interests and obligations so assigned and (ii) a prior written notice of such assignment is given to the Company. Any purported assignment in violation of the foregoing sentence shall be null and void.

 

Section 6.5       Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date of actual delivery if delivered personally to the Party hereto to whom notice is to be given, on the date sent if sent by telecopier, tested telex or prepaid telegram, when sent if sent by e-mail, on the next Business Day following delivery to properly addressed or on the day of attempted delivery internationally recognized courier with postage paid and properly addressed as follows:

 

If to the Company, at:		Address: Guanjie Building, Southeast 1st Floor, 10# Jiuxianqiao East Road
		Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100016
		Attn: Weiyan Lin
		Email: lin.weiyan@vnet.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
		Shearman & Sterling
		21st Floor, Gloucester Tower
		The Landmark
		15 Queen’s Road Central
		Hong Kong
		Attention: Li Chen
		Email: li.chen@shearman.com
If to the Investors, at:		Address: 38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
		Attn: Yu Tian
		Email: yutian@sdhg.com.hk
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
		White & Case
		16th Floor, York House
		The Landmark
		15 Queen’s Road Central
		Central, Hong Kong
		Attention: Jessica Zhou; Steven Sha
		Email: jessica.zhou@whitecase.com;
		steven.sha@whitecase.com

 

 

Any Party hereto may change its address for purposes of this Section 6.5 by giving the other Party written notice of the new address in the manner set forth above.

 

Section 6.6       Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with respect to the matters covered hereby, and all prior agreements and understandings, oral or in writing, if any, between the Parties with respect to the matters covered hereby are merged and superseded by this Agreement.

 

Section 6.7       Severability. If any provisions of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any action or proceeding whether in its entirety or in any portion, then such provision shall be deemed amended, if possible, or deleted, as the case may be, from the Agreement in order to render the remainder of the Agreement and any provision thereof both valid and enforceable, and all other provisions hereof shall be given effect separately therefrom and shall not be affected thereby.

 

Section 6.8       Adjustments in Share Numbers and Prices. In the event of any share subdivision, dividend or distribution payable in Class A Ordinary Shares (or other securities or rights convertible into, or entitling the holder thereof to receive directly or indirectly Class A Ordinary Shares), combination or other similar recapitalization or event occurring after the date hereof and prior to Closing, each reference in any Transaction Document to a number of shares or a price per share shall be deemed to be amended to appropriately account for such event.

 

Section 6.9       Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Company and the Investors shall bear their respective expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, consultants and financial advisors, whether or not the Closing has occurred.

 

Section 6.10       Confidentiality. Each Party hereto shall keep in confidence, and shall not use (except for the purposes of the transactions contemplated hereby) or disclose, any non-public information disclosed to it or its affiliates, representatives or agents in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except that the confidentiality obligations will not apply to: (a) information which was known to one Party or its Affiliates, representatives or agents prior to receipt from the Company, on the one hand, or the Investors, on the other hand, as applicable; (b) information which is or becomes generally known to the public without breach of this Agreement, any other Transaction Documents; (c) information acquired by a Party or their respective agents or representatives from a third party who was not bound to an obligation of confidentiality; and (d) any disclosure to a third party required by governmental, legal or regulatory authorities or bodies having jurisdiction over any Party or any binding judgment, order or requirement imposed by those authorities or bodies, or pursuant to any applicable Laws or stock exchange rules including, for the avoidance of doubt, disclosure for the purposes of and in connection with PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance, beneficial ownership reporting or CSRC filings. Each Party hereto shall ensure that its Affiliates, representatives and agents keep in confidence, and do not use (except for the purposes of the transactions contemplated hereby) or disclose, any such non-public information.

 

 

Section 6.11       Description of the Investors and the Company.

 

(a)          The Investors and the Company hereby consent and undertake to use commercially reasonable efforts to reasonably promptly provide necessary information to each other about the Investors or the Company (as the case may be) (the “Investors Description” or “Company Description”, as the case may be) to be used solely in SEC filings or other filings made to the relevant stock exchange in each case as may be required by applicable Laws, and hereby acknowledge that the Investors Description or the Company Description (as the case may be) will be true and accurate in all material respects and will not be misleading in any material respect.

 

(b)          The Investors and the Company hereby agree and consent to the use of and references to their respective name, the inclusion of Investors Description and the Company Description (as the case may be), the disclosure of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the filing of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents as an exhibit to the SEC filings or other filings made to the relevant stock exchange made in each case as may be required by applicable Laws, marketing materials and other publicity materials.

 

(c)          The Investors and the Company acknowledge that they will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the Investors Description and the Company Description (as the case may be), and agree to notify each other reasonably promptly in writing upon it becoming aware of any of the content contained therein ceases to be accurate and complete or becomes misleading in any material respect.

 

Section 6.12       Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the Parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.

 

Section 6.13       Headings. The headings of the various articles and sections of this Agreement are inserted merely for the purpose of convenience and do not expressly or by implication limit, define or extend the specific terms of the section so designated.

 

Section 6.14       Execution in Counterparts. For the convenience of the Parties and to facilitate execution, this Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

Section 6.15       No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

(a)          The Parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions of Section 3.6(a), Section 3.6(c) and Section 5.1(b)(ii) (including the limitations and indemnification procedures applicable to an Indemnifying Party in Section 5.2 and Section 5.3) are also for the benefit of the Founder Parties. These provisions may be enforced by the Founder Parties directly against the Investors. For the avoidance of doubt, the Investors shall only be liable to pay once the Losses suffered by the Company Indemnifying Parties arising out of or in connection with a breach under Section 3.6(a) and no double or multiple recovery of Losses arising out of the same breach shall be permitted, regardless of whether the related provisions are being enforced by the Company or the Founder Parties.

 

(b)          Without prejudice to Section 6.15(a), no provision of this Agreement shall confer upon any Person other than the Parties and their permitted assigns any rights or remedies hereunder; provided that Section 6.16 shall be for the benefit of and fully enforceable by each of the Non-Recourse Parties (as defined below).

 

 

Section 6.16       Non-Recourse. This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby may only be brought against the entities that are expressly named as the Parties and their respective successors and assigns. Except as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partners, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative of any party hereto (collectively, the “Non-Recourse Parties”) shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of any Party or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the Non-Recourse Parties are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 6.16.

 

Section 6.17       Extension of Time, Waiver, Etc. The Company and the Investors may, subject to applicable Law, (a) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other Party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, (b) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or acts of the other Party, or (c) waive compliance by the other Party with any of the agreements contained herein applicable to such party or, except as otherwise provided herein, waive any of such party’s conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the Company or the Investors in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a Party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party.

 

Article VII
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 7.1       Definitions.

 

(a)          For purposes of this Agreement, the following defined terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“2020 Investment Agreement” means the Investment Agreement dated as of June 22, 2020 among the Company, VECTOR HOLDCO PTE. LTD., BTO VECTOR FUND ESC (CYM) L.P. and BTO VECTOR FUND FD (CYM) L.P., and solely with respect to certain sections thereof, BLACKSTONE TACTICAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND – FD (CAYMAN) – NQ L.P.

 

“2020 Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Right Agreement dated as of June 22, 2020 among the Company, VECTOR HOLDCO PTE. LTD., BTO VECTOR FUND ESC (CYM) L.P. and BTO VECTOR FUND FD (CYM) L.P., and solely with respect to certain sections thereof, BLACKSTONE TACTICAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND – FD (CAYMAN) – NQ L.P.

 

“2022 Investment Agreement” means the Investment Agreement dated as of January 28, 2022 among the Company, VECTOR HOLDCO PTE. LTD. and BTO VECTOR FUND FD (CYM) L.P., and solely with respect to certain sections thereof, BLACKSTONE TACTICAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND – FD (CAYMAN) – NQ L.P.

 

“2022 Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Right Agreement dated as of January 28, 2022 among the Company, VECTOR HOLDCO PTE. LTD. and BTO VECTOR FUND FD (CYM) L.P., and solely with respect to certain sections thereof, BLACKSTONE TACTICAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND – FD (CAYMAN) – NQ L.P.

 

“2026 Convertible Notes” means the convertible senior notes issued by the Company in the aggregate principal amount of US$600,000,000 pursuant to the 2026 Indenture.

 

“2026 Indenture” means the indenture dated January 26, 2021 by and between the Company and Citicorp International Limited, as trustee.

 

“2027 Convertible Notes” means the convertible promissory notes issued by the Company in the aggregate principal amount of US$250,000,000 pursuant to the 2022 Investment Agreements.

 

“ADSs” means American depository shares of the Company, each representing six (or such other number as applicable at the relevant time) Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

 

“Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person; provided, however, that the Company and the other Group Companies shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any Investor or any of an Investor’s Affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, the Affiliates of an Investor shall only include (i) such Investor’s controlled subsidiaries, investment funds and investment vehicles, (ii) SDHG and its controlled subsidiaries, investment funds and investment vehicles, and (iii) Shandong Hi-Speed Group and its controlled subsidiaries, investment funds and investment vehicles.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Bona Fide Financing” means indebtedness for borrowed money or similar financing incurred by the Investors or their respective Affiliates with or from a bona fide third party that is negotiated at an arms’-length basis, including but not limited to in the form of loans or repurchase transactions, and which may or may not be secured.

 

“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which the SEC or banks in the State of New York, PRC, Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands are authorized or required by Law to be closed.

 

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(i)

any person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), other than, the Founder and the Investors and their respective Affiliates, becomes a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of either: (A) 35% or more of the then-outstanding Ordinary Shares; or (B) securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding Equity Securities eligible to vote for the election of directors;

 

(ii)

the failure of the Incumbent Directors to constitute at least a majority of the Board; for this purpose, “Incumbent Directors” means (A) any individual who is a director at the beginning of any consecutive 12-month period or (B) any other individual whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors meeting the requirements of clause (A); provided, however, that such individual is not initially elected or nominated as a director as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any person other than the Board;

 

(iii)

a direct or indirect sale, transfer or other kinds of disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company; or

 

(iv)

the Founder (A) ceases to hold at least 10% of the total voting power represented by the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or any other successor or similar entity if applicable) (for the purposes of calculating the total voting power held by the Founder hereunder, such voting power exercisable by the Founder directly or indirectly through voting or similar agreement or arrangement including that under the Voting and Consortium Agreement shall be disregarded) and any Class C Ordinary Shares; or (B) is no longer a member of the Board, including where the Founder has resigned from, or been removed from the Board by the Board or the Company’s shareholders.

 

 

“Class A Ordinary Shares” means the Class A ordinary shares of the Company, with a par value of US$0.00001 each.

 

“Class B Ordinary Shares” means the Class B ordinary shares of the Company, with a par value of US$0.00001 each.

 

“Class C Ordinary Shares” means the Class C ordinary shares of the Company, with a par value of US$0.00001 each.

 

“Class D Ordinary Shares” means the Class D ordinary shares of the Company, with a par value of US$0.00001 each.

 

“Company Bank Account” means a bank account to be designated by the Company in writing which shall be delivered to the Investors by no less than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

“Company Default” means a change, circumstance or event that (i) would accelerate the Company’s debt repayment obligations or (ii) would result in early redemption of the Company’s securities or additional or contingent payment or borrowing obligation, in cash or securities, under the Company’s contracts or for the purposes of obtaining a consent or waiver from the counterparty thereof.

 

“Company Fundamental Warranties” means, collectively, the representations and warranties of the Company in Section 2.1(a), Section 2.1(b), Section 2.1(c), Section 2.1(d), Section 2.1(e), Section 2.1(f), Section 2.1(g) and Section 2.1(s).

 

“Company IT Systems” means software, firmware, hardware, electronic data processing, telecommunications networks, network equipment, interfaces, platforms, peripherals, computer and information technology systems, platforms and networks, and information contained therein or transmitted thereby, in each case, owned, licensed, or used by any Group Company.

 

“Company Lease” means all leases, subleases, licenses, concessions and other agreements (written or oral) pursuant to which the Company or any other Group Company holds any Leased Real Property, including the right to all security deposits and other amounts and instruments deposited by or on behalf of the Company or any such Group Company thereunder.

 

“Company Plan” means each “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA) and each plan, program, policy, contract, agreement or other arrangement that is (i) a stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation right or other stock-based agreement, program or plan, (ii) an employment, individual consulting, severance, retention or other similar agreement, or (iii) a bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, profit-sharing, retirement, retiree or post-termination, health, welfare, social insurance (including pension, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, work-related injury insurance and maternity insurance), housing funds, overtime working pay, vacation, severance or termination pay, or fringe-benefit or any other benefit or compensation plan, program, policy, contract, agreement or arrangement, in each case that is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of the other Group Companies or to which the Company or any of the other Group Companies contributes or is obligated to contribute to, or has or may have any current or contingent liability or obligation, other than any plan, program, policy, contract, agreement or arrangement sponsored and administered by a Governmental Authority.

 

 

“Company PSUs” means performance vesting restricted stock units of the Company granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plans.

 

“Company RSUs” means service vesting awards of restricted stock units of the Company granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plans.

 

“Company Stock Options” means options to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plans.

 

“Company Stock Plans” means the Company’s (i) 2010 Share Incentive Plan, as amended on July 6, 2012, (ii) 2014 Share Incentive Plan, as amended on December 22, 2017, and (iii) 2020 Share Incentive Plan, as adopted on May 13, 2020.

 

“Competitors” means any person identified on Schedule 2 hereto, as well as their respective Affiliates. Schedule 2 hereto may be updated by the Company, acting reasonably, and following good faith discussions with the Investors, no more than once per year within two (2) months from each anniversary of the date hereof; provided that (x) any new Person added to Schedule 2 hereto shall be at the time of such update one of the ten (10) largest (by either sales or assets) operators in the internet data center service market in the PRC; and (y) the number of Persons identified on Schedule 2 hereto shall not include more than ten (10) Competitors.

 

“Confidentiality Agreement” means the letter agreement dated June 30, 2023 between 21Vianet Group, Inc. and China Shandong Hi-Speed Capital (HK) Limited.

 

“Control” or “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) of a given Person shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct or cause the direction of the business, management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; provided that such power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than 50% of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors (or analogous governing body) of such Person.

 

“CSRC” means the China Securities Regulatory Commission and its competent local counterparts.

 

“CSRC Measures” means the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (境内企业境外发行证券和上市管理试行办法) and five supporting guidelines issued by CSRC on February 17, 2023.

 

“Data Security Requirements” means, collectively, all of the following to the extent relating to confidential or sensitive information, personally identifiable information, personal data, or other protected information relating to individuals or natural persons or otherwise relating to privacy, security, or security breach notification requirements and applicable to any Group Company: (i) each Group Company’s own rules, policies, and procedures (whether physical or technical in nature, or otherwise), (ii) all applicable Laws and all industry standards in any relevant jurisdiction applicable to the business of each Group Company (including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, or any other Laws which implement any other current or future legal act of the European Union concerning the protection and processing of personal data and any national implementing or successor legislation), and (iii) agreements any Group Company has entered into or by which it is bound.

 

 

“Disclosed in Filed SEC Reports” means disclosed in any Filed SEC Document, other than any forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) and any disclosure of non-specific risks faced by the Company to the extent that they are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature.

 

“Disclosure Schedule” means the disclosure schedule attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

“Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person, any shares or other voting or equity securities of such Person, securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such shares or securities, and any rights, options or warrants to acquire such shares or securities. For the avoidance of doubt, Equity Securities of the Company shall include Ordinary Shares, ADSs, depositary receipts or similar instruments issued in respect of Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares, 2026 Convertible Notes and 2027 Convertible Notes, and any other Equity Securities to be issued by the Company in the future.

 

“ERISA” means the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Filed SEC Documents” means any report, schedule, form, statement or other document (including exhibits) filed with, or furnished to, the SEC prior to the date hereof and publicly available as of the date hereof.

 

“Financing Documents” means all documents in connection with the Bona Fide Financing.

 

“Founder” means Mr. CHEN Sheng, the founder and an executive director of the Company and the chairman of the Board.

 

“Founder Parties” means, collectively, (1) Founder, (2) Personal Group Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, (3) Fast Horse Technology Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, (4) Sunrise Corporate Holding Ltd., a British Virgin Islands company, and (4) GenTao Capital Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, and a “Founder Party” means any of them.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., consistently applied.

 

“Governmental Authority” means any transnational or supranational, domestic or foreign federal, national, state, provincial, local or municipal governmental, regulatory, judicial or administrative authority, department, court, arbitral body (public or private), agency or official, including any department, commission, board, agency, bureau, subdivision or instrumentality thereof or any stock exchange or other self-regulatory organization; and any entity or enterprise owned or controlled by a government.

 

“Group Company” means each of the Company and its current and future Subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities, and the “Group” refers to all the Group Companies collectively.

 

 

“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication:

 

(i)

all indebtedness for borrowed money;

 

(ii)

all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (including, without limitation, “capital leases” in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business);

 

(iii)

all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments;

 

(iv)

all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures, loan stock or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses;

 

(v)

all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property);

 

(vi)

all monetary obligations under any leasing or hire purchase or similar arrangement which, in connection with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied for the periods covered thereby, is classified as a finance or capital lease;

 

(vii)

any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility;

 

(viii)

receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis);

 

(ix)

any amount raised under any other financing transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing;

 

(x)

any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution other than guarantees provided in the usual and ordinary course of business;

 

(xi)

all indebtedness referred to in clauses (i) through (x) above secured by (or for which the holder of such indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness; and

 

(xii)

all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (i) through (xii) above. For purposes hereof, “Contingent Obligation” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto.

 

 

“Intellectual Property” means patents, patent applications, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, trade secrets, know-how, and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems and procedures, trademarks, service marks, trade names, designs, logos, domain names, rights to social media accounts, together with goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, software (including source code and object code), data, databases, and related documentation, registrations and applications for any of the foregoing, and other intellectual property, industrial property and proprietary rights in any jurisdiction.

 

“Investor Fundamental Warranties” means, collectively, the representations and warranties of the Investor in Section 2.2(a), Section 2.2(b), Section 2.2(c), Section 2.2(d), Section 2.2(e) and Section 2.2(i).

 

“Investor Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to each Investor, any effect, change, event or occurrence that would prevent or materially delay the consummation by such Investor of any of the Transactions on a timely basis.

 

“Investor Rights Agreement” means that certain Investor Rights Agreement to be entered into by the Company and each Investor, the form of which is set forth as Exhibit B hereto.

 

“Judgment” means any order, judgment, injunction, ruling, penalties, fines, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority.

 

“Knowledge” means, with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of the Company’s executive chairman, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer and its General Counsel, in each case after reasonable inquiry.

 

“Law” or “Laws” means any and all provisions of any applicable constitution, treaty, statute, law, regulation, ordinance, code, rule, or rule of common law, any governmental approval, concession, grant, franchise, license, agreement, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority, in each case as amended.

 

“Leased Real Property” means all right, title and interest of the Company and the other Group Companies to any leasehold interests in any real property, together with all buildings, structures, improvements and fixtures thereon.

 

“Liens” means (i) any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, hypothecation, deed of trust, title retention, title defect, security interest, encumbrance or other third-party rights of any kind securing or conferring any priority of payment in respect of any obligation of any Person, any other restriction or limitation, (ii) any easement or covenant granting a right of use or occupancy to any Person, (iii) any proxy, power of attorney, voting trust agreement, interest, license, covenant not to sue, option, right of first offer, right of pre-emptive negotiation, or refusal or transfer restriction in favor of any Person, and (iv) any adverse claim as to title, possession, or use, and includes any agreement or arrangement for any of the same.

 

“Listing Rules” means the applicable rules and regulations of the NASDAQ.

 

“Listing Rules of HKEx” means the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

 

 

“Long Stop Date” means January 15, 2024 or in the event where the PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance has not been obtained by January 15, 2024, January 30, 2024, or such later date as may be extended by mutual agreement in writing among the Parties.

 

“M&AA” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company as adopted by special resolution passed on March 31, 2011 and effective on April 27, 2011 and amended by ordinary resolutions dated May 29, 2014 (and as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means

 

(i)

any event, occurrence, fact, condition, change or development, individually or together with other events, occurrences, facts, conditions, changes or developments that, has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), affairs, properties, employees, liabilities, assets or results of operation of the Group, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to timely perform its material obligations hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party; or

 

(ii)

any change in or amendment to the Laws, regulations and rules of the PRC or the official interpretation or official application thereof (a “Change in Law”) that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, (a) the Group (as in existence immediately subsequent to such Change in Law), as a whole, being legally prohibited from operating substantially all of the business operations conducted by the Group (as in existence immediately prior to such Change in Law) as of the last date of the period described in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal quarter, and (b) the Company being unable to continue to derive substantially all of the economic benefits from the business operations conducted by the Group (as in existence immediately prior to such Change in Law) in the same manner as reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal quarter;

 

provided, however, that for purposes of clause (i)(a) above, in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, there shall be excluded any effect on the business of the Company or any Group Company arising from (1) economic changes generally affecting the industry in which the Group operates (provided in each case that such changes do not have a unique or materially disproportionate impact on the business of the Group compared to any other companies that operate in the industry or market in which the Group operates), (2) the execution, announcement or disclosure of this Agreement or the pendency or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder, (3) changes after the date of this Agreement in applicable Laws (provided that such changes do not have a unique or materially disproportionate impact on the business of the Group compared to any other companies that operate in the industry or market in which the Group operates), (4) changes in national or international political or social conditions generally affecting the industry in which the Group operates including any engagement in hostilities or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack or civil unrest (provided that such changes do not have a unique or materially disproportionate impact on the business of the Group compared to any other companies that operate in the industry or market in which the Group operates), or (5) earthquakes, hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters.

 

“Material Subsidiaries” means such Subsidiaries that are from time to time considered as “significant subsidiaries” of the Company under Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

 

“NASDAQ” means the NASDAQ Global Select Market and/or Global Market.

 

“Ordinary Shares” means, collectively, the Class A Ordinary Shares, the Class B Ordinary Shares, the Class C Ordinary Shares and the Class D Ordinary Shares.

 

 

“Permitted Liens” means:

 

(i)

statutory Liens for Taxes, assessments or other charges by Governmental Authorities not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, in each case, for which adequate reserves are maintained on the consolidated financing statements included in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof in accordance with GAAP;

 

(ii)

mechanics’, materialmen’s, carriers’, workmen’s, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, landlords’ and similar Liens granted or which arise in the ordinary course of business by operation of applicable Law with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent or being contested in good faith;

 

(iii)

pledges or deposits by the Company or any of the other Group Companies under workmen’s compensation Laws, unemployment insurance Laws or similar legislation, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such entity;

 

(iv)

non-exclusive licenses to Intellectual Property granted to third parties in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any of the other Group Companies;

 

(v)

transfer restrictions imposed by applicable securities or other Law;

 

(vi)

easements, rights-of-way, encroachments, restrictions, conditions and other similar Liens incurred or suffered in the ordinary course of business and which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to materially impair the use and operation of the applicable real property to which they relate in the conduct of the business of the Group as currently conducted; and

 

(vii)

applicable zoning, entitlement, building and other land use regulations imposed by Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction over such real property, none of which materially detracts from the value of or materially and adversely interferes with the present use of such real property.

 

“Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to each Investor, (i) any Affiliate of such Investor; and (ii) any successor entity of such Investor or any of the foregoing.

 

“Person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, branch office, representative office, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including a Governmental Authority.

 

 

“PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, excluding for purposes of this Agreement only, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan.

 

“PRC Anti-Monopoly Laws” means the Anti-Monopoly Law of the PRC, effective as of August 1, 2008, as amended or restated from time to time.

 

“Preferred Shares” means collectively Series A Preferred Shares and the Series A-1 Preferred Shares.

 

“SAMR” means the State Administration for Market Regulation of the PRC.

 

“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“SASAC” means the State-owned Assets Supervision and the Administration Commission of the State Council of the PRC and its competent local counterparts.

 

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Securities Laws” means the Securities Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Exchange Act, the Listing Rules, or any listing agreement with the NASDAQ and any other applicable law regulating securities or takeover matters.

 

“Series A Preferred Shares” means Series A perpetual convertible preferred shares of the Company, with a par value of US$0.00001 each.

 

“Series A-1 Preferred Shares” means Series A-1 perpetual convertible preferred shares of the Company, with a par value of US$0.00001 each.

 

“Shandong Hi-Speed Group” means Shandong Hi-Speed Group Co., Ltd. (山东高速集团有限公司), a company established in the PRC with limited liability and an indirect controlling shareholder of SDHG.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any given Person, any other Person that is controlled directly or indirectly by such given Person, which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include any variable interest entity whose assets and financial results are consolidated with the assets and financial results of such given Person and are recorded on the financial statements of such given Person for financial reporting purposes in accordance with applicable accounting standards (each, a “VIE” and collectively, the “VIEs”) and any Subsidiary of such VIEs.

 

 

“Tax” means any and all federal, state, local or foreign taxes, fees, levies, duties, tariffs, imposts, and other similar charges of any kind whatsoever (together with any and all interest, penalties and additions to tax) imposed by any Governmental Authority, including taxes or other charges on or with respect to income, franchises, windfall or other profits, gross receipts, property, sales, use, capital stock, payroll, employment, social security or social insurance, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation or net worth; taxes or other charges in the nature of excise, withholding, ad valorem, stamp, transfer, value added, turnover, resource, special purpose or gains taxes; license, registration and documentation fees; and customs duties, tariffs and similar charges, together with any interest or penalty, in addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any Governmental Authority.

 

“Tax Return” means returns, reports, claims for refund, declarations of estimated Taxes and information statements, including any schedule or attachment thereto or any amendment thereof, with respect to Taxes filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority, including consolidated, combined and unitary tax returns.

 

“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Investor Rights Agreement, the Voting and Consortium Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement and all other documents, certificates or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Investor Rights Agreement and the Voting and Consortium Agreement.

 

“Transactions” means the transactions expressly contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

 

“Transfer” by any Person means to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or transfer (by the operation of Law or otherwise), directly or indirectly, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement, agreement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or other disposition or transfer (by the operation of Law or otherwise); provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Transfer shall not include (i) a transfer of any Equity Securities (publicly listed or otherwise) of SDHG, Shandong Hi-Speed Group or their respective shareholder or subsidiary (other than the Investors) for so long as such transfer does not result in a change in Control of the foregoing entities, (ii) a transfer (other than by the Investors) as may be required by the SASAC, or (iii) such other transfers that shall not be regarded as a Transfer as may be from time to time agreed between the Parties (and it is agreed that any arrangement, agreement or understanding referred to in the foregoing the completion of which is conditional on the Company’s consent having been obtained shall not be deemed a Transfer).

 

“U.S.” means the United States.

 

“Vector Investors” means, collectively, VECTOR HOLDCO PTE. LTD., BTO VECTOR FUND ESC (CYM) L.P., BTO VECTOR FUND FD (CYM) L.P., and BLACKSTONE TACTICAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND – FD (CAYMAN) – NQ L.P.

 

“VIE Documents” means the documents described or summarized in the Company SEC Documents and/or filed as an exhibit to the Company SEC Documents that entitle the assets and financial results of the Company’s VIEs to be consolidated with the assets and financial results of the Company, and a “VIE Document” refers to each of them.

 

“Voting and Consortium Agreement” means that certain Voting and Consortium Agreement to be entered into by each Investor and the Founder Parties.

 

 

(b)          In addition to the terms defined in Section 7.1(a), the following terms have the meanings assigned thereto in the Sections set forth below:

 

Term	Section
“Action”	Section 2.1(j)
“Agreement”	Preamble
“Anti-Money Laundering Laws”	Section 2.1(w)(i)
“Arbitrator”	Section 6.1(b)
“Bankruptcy and Equity Exception”	Section 2.1(c)
“Capitalization Date”	Section 2.1(d)(i)(A)
“Claim Notice”	Section 5.3
“Closing”	Section 1.2(a)
“Closing Date”	Section 1.2(a)
“Company”	Preamble
“Company Description”	Section 6.11(a)
“Company Indemnified Party”	Section 5.1(b)
“Company Indemnifying Party”	Section 5.1(a)
“Company SEC Documents”	Section 2.1(h)(i)
“Company Securities”	Section 2.1(d)(ii)(C)
“Contract”	Section 2.1(f)
“Covered Person”	Section 2.1(w)(ii)
“CSRC Filing”	Section 3.4(a)
“Due Date”	Section 5.3(c)
“Enforcement Notice”	Section 3.6(c)(i)
“Environmental Laws”	Section 2.1(p)(i)
“Exchange Act”	Recitals
“Government Official”	Section 2.1(w)(iii)
“HKIAC”	Section 6.1(b)
“Indemnity Cap”	Section 5.2(c)
“Insolvent”	Section 2.1(aa)
“Interim Period”	Section 3.5(a)

 

 

Term	Section
“Investor” and “Investors”	Preamble
“Investor A”	Preamble
“Investor B”	Preamble
“Investor Indemnified Party”	Section 5.1(a)
“Investor Indemnifying Party”	Section 5.1(b)
“Investors Description”	Section 6.11(a)
“Lender”	Section 3.6(c)
“Lock-Up Period”	Section 3.6(a)
“Losses”	Section 5.1(a)
“Major Shareholder Parties”	Section 2.1(z)
“Material Contracts”	Section 2.1(l)(i)
“Non-Recourse Parties”	Section 6.16
“OFAC”	Section 2.1(w)(ii)
“Owned Real Property”	Section 2.1(q)(i)
“Party” and “Parties”	Preamble
“Permits”	Section 2.1(k)(ii)
“Potential Shareholders Class Action”	Section 2.1(j)
“PRC Anti-Monopoly Clearance”	Section 1.3(a)(ii)
“Purchase Price”	Section 1.1
“Purchased Shares”	Section 1.1
“Regulation S”	Recitals
“Relevant Shares”	Section 3.5(a)
“Restraints”	Section 1.3(a)(iv)
“ROFO Notice”	Section 3.6(c)(i)
“ROFO Price”	Section 3.6(c)(i)
“ROFO Shares”	Section 3.6(c)(i)
“Rules”	Section 6.1(b)
“SDHG”	Recitals
“Secured Shares”	Section 3.6(c)
“Security”	Section 3.6(c)
“Subsequent Issuance”	Section 3.6(c)(iii)
“Third Party Claim”	Section 5.3
“Vector Investors’ ROFO”	Section 1.3(a)(iii)

 

 

Section 7.2       Interpretation.

 

(a)          When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, a Section or Schedule, such reference shall be to an Article of, a Section of, or a Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.

 

(b)          The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(c)          Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”.

 

(d)          The words “hereof”, “herein”, “hereby”, “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement unless the context requires otherwise.

 

(e)          The words “date hereof” when used in this Agreement shall refer to the date of this Agreement.

 

(f)          The terms “or”, “any” and “either” are not exclusive.

 

(g)          The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if”.

 

(h)          The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.

 

(i)          All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term.

 

(j)          Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein.

 

(k)          Unless otherwise specifically indicated, all references to “dollars”, “US$” or “$” shall refer to the lawful money of the United States.

 

(l)          References to a Person are also to its permitted assigns and successors.

 

(m)          When calculating the period of time between which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded (unless, otherwise required by Law, if the last day of such period is not a Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next succeeding Business Day).

 

(n)          The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

 

[signature pages follow]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

	VNET GROUP, INC.
	By:	/s/  Wang Qiyu
	Name:	Wang Qiyu
	Title:	Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to the Investment Agreement]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

	SUCCESS FLOW INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITED
	By:	/s/ Liu Yao
	Name:	Liu Yao
	Title:	Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to the Investment Agreement]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

	CHOICE FAITH GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
	By:	/s/ Liu Yao
	Name:	Liu Yao
	Title:	Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to the Investment Agreement]

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

Purchased Shares

  

 

SCHEDULE 2

List of Competitors

  

 

EXHIBIT A

 

DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

Execution Version

 

Dated as of November 16, 2023

 

INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

VNET GROUP, INC.

 

and

 

SUCCESS FLOW INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITED

 

and

 

CHOICE FAITH GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

 

 

Table of Contents

 

		Page
Article I Registration Rights		1
Section 1.1	Application of Rights	1
Section 1.2	Demand Registration	2
Section 1.3	Piggyback Registration	4
Section 1.4	Form F-3 or Form S-3 Registration	5
Article II ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS REGARDING REGISTRATION RIGHTS		8
Section 2.1	Expenses	8
Section 2.2	Obligation of the Company	9
Section 2.3	Other Obligations of the Company	11
Section 2.4	Furnish Information	11
Section 2.5	Rule 144 Reporting	11
Section 2.6	Re-sale Rights	12
Section 2.7	ADS Conversion	12
Section 2.8	Legend	12
Section 2.9	Termination of Registration Rights	12
Section 2.10	Transfer of Registration Rights	13
Section 2.11	No Senior Registration Rights to Third Parties	13
Article III Indemnification		13
Section 3.1	Indemnification by Company	13
Section 3.2	Indemnification by Holders	14
Section 3.3	Notification	14
Section 3.4	Contribution	15
Article IV INVESTOR RIGHTS		16
Section 4.1	Investor Nominees	16
Section 4.2	Reserved Matters	18
Section 4.3	Information Rights	19
Section 4.4	Pre-emptive Rights	21
Section 4.5	Right of Participation	23
Section 4.6	Termination of Purchasers’ Rights	24
Article V Miscellaneous		24
Section 5.1	Governing Law; Jurisdiction	24
Section 5.2	Amendment	25
Section 5.3	Effective Date; Binding Effect	25
Section 5.4	Assignment	25
Section 5.5	Notices	25
Section 5.6	Entire Agreement	26
Section 5.7	Severability	26
Section 5.8	Expenses	26
Section 5.9	Interpretation	26
Section 5.10	Further Assurances	26
Section 5.11	Conflicting Agreements	27
Section 5.12	Specific Enforcement	27
Section 5.13	Headings	27
Section 5.14	Counterparts	27
Section 5.15	Extension of Time, Waiver, Etc.	27
Exhibit A DEFINED TERMS		1
Exhibit B FORM OF JOINDER TO INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT		1

 

 

INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of November 16, 2023, by and among VNET GROUP, INC., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), Success Flow International Investment Limited, a BVI Business Company incorporated under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Purchaser A”) and Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited, a BVI Business Company incorporated under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Purchaser B”) (collectively, together with their respective successors and assigns, the “Purchasers” and each, a “Purchaser”). Capitalized terms used but not defined elsewhere herein are defined in Exhibit A.

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchasers are parties to the Investment Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2023, (as amended from time to time, the “Investment Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to issue and deliver to the Purchasers, and the Purchasers have agreed to purchase from the Company such number of Class A Ordinary Shares as specified in Schedule 1 thereto (the “Purchased Shares”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company has granted certain registration rights (the “Series A Preferred Shares Registration Rights”) to the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares of the Company (the “Series A Preferred Shares”) pursuant to certain investment agreement dated as of June 22, 2020 between the Company and VECTOR HOLDCO PTE. LTD., BTO VECTOR FUND ESC (CYM) L.P. and BTO VECTOR FUND FD (CYM) L.P., and solely with respect to certain sections thereof, BLACKSTONE TACTICAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND – FD (CAYMAN) – NQ L.P. (the “2020 Investment Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company has granted certain registration rights (the “2027 Convertible Notes Registration Rights”) to the holders of the convertible promissory notes (the “2027 Convertible Notes”) issued by the Company in the aggregate principal amount of US$250.0 million pursuant to certain investment agreement dated as of January 28, 2022 between the Company and VECTOR HOLDCO PTE. LTD. and BTO VECTOR FUND FD (CYM) L.P., and solely with respect to certain sections thereof, BLACKSTONE TACTICAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND – FD (CAYMAN) – NQ L.P. (the “2022 Investment Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to the obligations of the Company and the Purchasers under the Investment Agreement, the Company and the Purchasers are entering into this Agreement for the purpose of granting certain registration and other investor rights to the Purchasers.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
Registration Rights

 

Section 1.1            Application of Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in connection with the Series A Preferred Shares Registration Rights and the 2027 Convertible Notes Registration Rights, the Company hereby agrees that, the registration rights provided to the Holders pursuant to this Agreement shall not be subordinated or junior to the Series A Preferred Shares Registration Rights and the 2027 Convertible Notes Registration Rights. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to obtain, to the extent not already obtained as of the date hereof, all necessary consents and waivers from the holders of its Series A Preferred Shares (in the form of ADSs) and 2027 Convertible Notes to ensure (A) the enforcement of the registration rights granted herein (including without limitation, the exercise by any Holder of its right to participate in any registration under the Series A Preferred Shares Registration Rights and the 2027 Convertible Notes Registration Rights on a pro rata basis by exercising its piggyback registration rights pursuant to this Agreement); and (B) that the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares (in the form of ADSs) and the 2027 Convertible Notes agree that their right to participate in any registration pursuant to this Agreement will only be on a pro rata basis with the Holders as contemplated herein. The Company represents and warrants to the Holders that other than as described in this Agreement, there are no other registration or similar rights granted by it that may be superior to the registration rights granted to the Holders hereunder as of the Effective Date.

 

 

Section 1.2            Demand Registration.

 

(a)            Request by Holders. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1.2(e), if the Company shall receive a written request from a Holder (or any of its successors, permitted assigns or transferees, each, an “Initiating Holder”) that the Company file a registration statement under the Securities Act (other than on Form F-3 or Form S-3) covering the registration of all or a portion of the Registrable Securities of such requesting Initiating Holder with an aggregate public offering price covering the amount requested of at least US$10,000,000 pursuant to this Section 1.2, then the Company shall, within ten (10) Business Days of the receipt of such written request, give written notice of such request (the “Request Notice”) to all the Holders, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect, as soon as practicable, the registration under the Securities Act of all the Registrable Securities that the Holders request to be registered and included in such registration (including the Initiating Holder(s)) by written notice given by such Holders to the Company within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of the Request Notice.

 

(b)            Underwritten offering. If any Initiating Holder intends to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by its request by means of an underwritten offering, then it shall so advise the Company as a part of its request made pursuant to this Section 1.2 and the Company shall include such information in the Request Notice. In such event, the right of any Holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting (unless otherwise mutually agreed by a majority in interest of the Initiating Holder(s) and such Holder) to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwritten offering shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being registered and reasonably acceptable to the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 1.2, if the underwriter(s) advise(s) the Company in writing that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of securities to be underwritten, then the Company shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities which would otherwise be registered and underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwritten offering shall be reduced as required by the underwriter(s) and allocated among the Holders on a pro rata basis according to the number of Registrable Securities then outstanding held by each Holder requesting registration (including the Initiating Holder(s)); provided, however, that the number of shares of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwriting and registration shall not be reduced unless all other securities (other than “Registrable Securities” (as defined in the 2020 Investment Agreement and the 2022 Investment Agreement, hereafter “Series A Preferred Shares Registrable Securities” and “2027 Convertible Notes Registrable Securities”, respectively, and any other securities similarly defined under any registration rights that may be granted by the Company to any Person in the future relating to any securities of the Company, which registration rights either (i) rank pari passu with those granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities or (ii) are granted pursuant to Section 2.11 (together with the registration rights granted to holders of Series A Preferred Shares Registrable Securities and 2027 Convertible Notes Registrable Securities, the “Permitted Registration Rights”), such securities, together with the Registrable Securities, the Series A Preferred Shares Registrable Securities and the 2027 Convertible Notes Registrable Securities, “Company Registrable Securities”) for which holders of the other Company Registrable Securities have exercised piggyback registration rights under the applicable Permitted Registration Rights, in which case only a pro rata portion of such other Company Registrable Securities shall be excluded) are first entirely excluded from the underwriting and registration including, without limitation, all shares that are not Company Registrable Securities and are held by any other Person who is not a Holder, including, without limitation, any Person who is an employee, officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided further, that at least fifty percent (50%) of shares of the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders (or such lesser amount only as required to comply with applicable Law) to be included in such underwriting and registration shall be so included. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the underwriter(s), delivered at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the effective date of the registration statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration.

 

 

(c)            Maximum Number of Demand Registrations. The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than three (3) such demand registration requested by each Initiating Holder pursuant to this Section 1.2; provided that if the sale of all of the Registrable Securities sought to be included in a registration statement pursuant to this Section 1.2 is not consummated for any reason other than due to the action or inaction of the Holders including Registrable Securities in such registration statement, such registration shall not be deemed to constitute one of the registration rights granted pursuant to this Section 1.2.

 

(d)            Deferral. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company shall furnish to the Holders requesting registration pursuant to this Section 1.2, a certificate signed by the chief executive officer of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for a registration statement to be filed at such time, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the request of the Initiating Holder(s); provided, however, that the Company may not utilize this right more than once in any twelve (12) month period; provided further, that the Company shall not register any other Class A Ordinary Shares during such deferral period. A demand right shall not be deemed to have been exercised until such deferred registration shall have been effected.

 

(e)            Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in this Agreement but subject to Section 2.9, (i) Purchaser A and any Holder to whom Purchaser A transfers Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents shall be entitled to the rights provided in this Section 1.2 at the earlier of (A) the end of 30 months after the Closing Date, and (B) such time when any applicable Transfer Restrictions with respect to the relevant Holder terminates or otherwise ceases to be effective; and (ii) Purchaser B and any Holder to whom Purchaser B transfers Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents shall be entitled to the rights provided in this Section 1.2 at the earlier of (A) 180 days after the Closing Date, and (B) such time when any applicable Transfer Restrictions with respect to the relevant Holder terminates or otherwise ceases to be effective.

 

 

Section 1.3            Piggyback Registration.

 

(a)            Participation. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1.3(e) and other terms of this Agreement, if the Company proposes to register for its own account any of its equity securities in connection with a public offering of such securities, or if any registration of Equity Securities is requested pursuant to the Series A Preferred Shares Registration Rights, the 2027 Convertible Notes Registration Rights or by other current or future investors in the Company, the Company shall notify all the Holders of the Registrable Securities in writing at least thirty (30) Business Days prior to filing any registration statement under the Securities Act for purposes of effecting a public offering of securities of the Company (including, but not limited to, registration statements relating to any primary or secondary offering of securities of the Company, but excluding registration statements relating to any registration under Section 1.2 or Section 1.4 of this Agreement or to any employee benefit plan or a corporate reorganization), and shall afford each such Holder an opportunity to include in such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. Each Holder desiring to include in any such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities held by it shall within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of the above described notice from the Company, so notify the Company in writing, and in such notice shall inform the Company of the number of Registrable Securities such Holder wishes to include in such registration statement. If a Holder decides not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement thereafter filed by the Company or any subsequent investors, such Holder shall nevertheless continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by the Company or any subsequent investors with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

(b)            Underwritten offering. If a registration statement under which the Company gives notice under this Section 1.3 is for an underwritten offering, then the Company shall so advise the Holders. In such event, the right of any such Holder’s Registrable Securities to be included in a registration pursuant to this Section 1.3 shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwritten offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All the Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwritten offering shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement but subject to Section 2.11, if the managing underwriter(s) determine(s) in good faith that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the managing underwriter(s) may exclude shares from the registration and the underwritten offering, and the number of shares that may be included in the registration and the underwritten offering shall be allocated, first, to the Company, second, to each holder of Company Registrable Securities requesting inclusion of their Company Registrable Securities in such registration statement on a pro rata basis based on the respective percentages of the Company Registrable Securities requested to be included in such offering by such holders, and third, to holders of other securities of the Company; provided, however, that the right of the underwriter(s) to exclude Class A Ordinary Shares (including the Registrable Securities) from the registration and underwritten offering as described above shall be restricted so that (i) the number of the Registrable Securities included in any such registration is not reduced below thirty percent (30%) of the aggregate number of Class A Ordinary Shares of the Registrable Securities (or such lesser amount only as required to comply with applicable Law), on a pro rata basis, for which inclusion has been requested; and (ii) all Ordinary Shares that are not Company Registrable Securities and are held by any other Person, including, without limitation, any Person who is an employee, officer or director of the Company (or any Subsidiary of the Company) shall first be excluded from such registration and underwritten offering before any Registrable Securities are so excluded. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the underwriter(s), delivered at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the effective date of the registration statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwritten offering shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration.

 

 

(c)            Not Demand Registration. Registration pursuant to this Section 1.3 shall not be deemed to be a demand registration as described in Section 1.2 above. There shall be no limit on the number of times Holders may request registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 1.3.

 

(d)            Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration of Equity Securities initiated by it under Section 1.3 prior to the effectiveness of such registration, whether or not any Holder has elected to participate therein. The expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 2.1.

 

(e)            Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in this Agreement but subject to Section 2.9, (i) Purchaser A and any Holder to whom Purchaser A transfers Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents shall be entitled to the rights provided in this Section 1.3 at the earlier of: (A) the end of 30 months after the Closing Date, and (B) such time when the Transfer Restrictions applicable to Purchaser A terminates or otherwise ceases to be effective; and (ii) Purchaser B and any Holder to whom Purchaser B transfers Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents shall be entitled to the rights provided in this Section 1.3 at the earlier of (A) 180 days after the Closing Date, and (B) such time when the Transfer Restrictions applicable to Purchaser B terminates or otherwise ceases to be effective .

 

Section 1.4            Form F-3 or Form S-3 Registration.

 

(a)            Resale Shelf Registration Statement. Subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to, (i) between the date that is 180 days after the Closing Date and the first anniversary of the Closing Date, register all of the Registrable Securities held by Purchaser B and any Holder to whom Purchaser B transfers Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents not already registered for resale, and (ii) between the date that is the end of 30 months after the Closing Date and the third anniversary of the Closing Date, register all of the Registrable Securities held by Purchaser A and any Holder to whom Purchaser A transfers Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents not already registered for resale, by an effective registration statement on a registration statement on Form F-3 or Form S-3 covering the sale or distribution from time to time by the relevant Holders, on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form F-3 or Form S-3, then such registration shall be on another appropriate form and shall provide for the registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by the relevant Holder in accordance with any reasonable method of distribution agreed by the Company and such Holder) (the “Resale Shelf Registration Statement”) and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof and no later than ninety (90) days after the date of filing of such Resale Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall be an automatic shelf registration statement that shall become effective upon filing with the SEC pursuant to Rule 462(e) if Rule 462(e) is available to the Company).

 

 

(b)            Effectiveness Period. Once declared effective, the Company shall, subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be continuously effective and usable until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding (the “Effectiveness Period”).

 

(c)            Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement. If any Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Shelf Registration Statement to again become effective under the Securities Act (including obtaining the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Shelf Registration Statement in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or file an additional registration statement (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement”) for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act registering the resale from time to time by the Holders thereof of all securities that are Registrable Securities as of the time of such filing. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof and no later than ninety (90) days after the date of filing of such Resale Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be an automatic shelf registration statement that shall become effective upon filing with the SEC pursuant to Rule 462(e) if Rule 462(e) is available to the Company) and (b) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective and usable until the end of the Effectiveness Period. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be a registration statement on Form F-3 or Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be on another appropriate form and shall provide for the registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by the Holders in accordance with any reasonable method of distribution agreed by the Company and the Holders.

 

(d)            Supplements and Amendments. The Company shall supplement and amend any Shelf Registration Statement if required by the Securities Act or the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement.

 

 

(e)            Subsequent Holder Notice. If a Person entitled to the benefits of this Agreement becomes a Holder of Registrable Securities after a Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, the Company shall, as promptly as is reasonably practicable following delivery of written notice to the Company of such Person becoming a Holder and requesting for its name to be included as a selling securityholder in the prospectus related to the Shelf Registration Statement:

 

(i)            if required and permitted by applicable Law, file with the SEC a supplement to the related prospectus or a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement so that such Holder is named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver a prospectus to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable Law; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to file more than one (1) post-effective amendment or a supplement to the related prospectus for such purpose in any three (3) months period;

 

(ii)           if, pursuant to Section 1.4(e)(i), the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement that is not automatically effective, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable and no later than ninety (90) days after the date of filing of such post-effective amendment; and

 

(iii)          notify such Holder as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the effectiveness under the Securities Act of any post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Section 1.4(e)(i).

 

(f)            Underwritten offering.

 

(i)           Subject to any applicable restrictions on transfer in this Agreement and other Transaction Documents (the “Transfer Restrictions”), any Holder may, after the Resale Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective, deliver a written notice to the Company specifying that the sale of some or all of the Registrable Securities subject to the Shelf Registration Statement (such Holder, the “Requesting Holder”), is intended to be conducted through an underwritten offering; provided, however, that the Holders of Registrable Securities may not, without the Company’s prior written consent, (A) launch an underwritten offering the anticipated gross proceeds of which shall be less than US$20 million (unless the Holders are proposing to sell all of their remaining Registrable Securities), and (B) launch more than one (1) underwritten offerings at the request of the Holders within any ninety (90) day-period.

 

(ii)           In the event of an underwritten offering, the Requesting Holder shall select the managing underwriter(s) to administer the underwritten offering; provided that the choice of such managing underwriter(s) shall be subject to the consent of the Company, which is not to be unreasonably withheld. The Company, the Requesting Holder, the other Holders of Registrable Securities and holders of any securities of the Company participating in an underwritten offering will enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter or underwriters selected for such offering.

 

 

(iii)            The Company will not include in any underwritten offering pursuant to this Section 1.4(f) any securities that are not Company Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the Requesting Holder. If the managing underwriter or underwriters advise the Company and the Requesting Holder in writing that in its or their good faith opinion the number of Registrable Securities (and, if permitted hereunder, other securities requested to be included in such offering) exceeds the number of securities which can be sold in such offering in light of market conditions or is such so as to adversely affect the success of such offering, the Company will include in such offering only such number of securities that can be sold without adversely affecting the marketability of the offering, which securities will be so included in the following order of priority: (i) first, the Company Registrable Securities of the holders that have requested to participate in such underwritten offering, allocated pro rata among such holders on the basis of the respective percentages of the Company Registrable Securities requested to be included in such offering by such holders, and (ii) second, any other securities of the Company that have been requested to be so included. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Requesting Holder wish to engage in an underwritten block trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an automatic shelf registration statement, if available, or through a take-down from an already existing Shelf Registration Statement), then notwithstanding the time periods set forth above, such holders only need to notify the Company of the block trade Shelf Offering (as defined below) two (2) Business Days prior to the day such offering is to commence (unless a longer period is agreed to by the Requesting Holder). The Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such offering (which may close as early as three (3) Business Days after the date it commences).

 

(g)            Take-Down Notice. Subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, at any time that any Form F-3 or Form S-3 registration statement is effective, if any Holder delivers a notice to the Company stating its intention to effect a sale or distribution of all or part of its Registrable Securities on any Form F-3 or Form S-3 registration statement (a “Shelf Offering”) and stating the number of the Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Offering, then the Company shall amend, subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, or supplement the Form F-3 or Form S-3 registration statement as may be necessary, in order to enable such Registrable Securities to be sold and distributed pursuant to the Shelf Offering, including pursuant to an underwritten offering.

 

(h)            Not Demand Registration. Form F-3 or Form S-3 registrations shall not be deemed to be demand registrations as described in Section 1.2 above.

 

Article II
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS REGARDING REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

Section 2.1            Expenses. All Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 1.2, Section 1.3 or Section 1.4 (but excluding the Selling Expenses) shall be borne by the Company. Each Holder participating in a registration pursuant to Section 1.2, Section 1.3 or Section 1.4 shall bear such Holder’s proportionate share (based on the total number of shares sold in such registration other than for the account of the Company) of all the Selling Expenses, in connection with such offering by the Holders.

 

 

Section 2.2            Obligation of the Company. Whenever required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under this Agreement, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

 

(a)            Registration Statement. Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, and keep such registration statement effective for a period of up to ninety (90) days or, in the case of the Registrable Securities registered under Form F-3 or Form S-3 in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act or a successor rule, until the distribution contemplated in the registration statement has been completed; provided, however, that (i) such ninety (90) day period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period any Holder refrains from selling any securities included in such registration at the request of the underwriter(s), and (ii) in the case of any registration of the Registrable Securities on Form F-3 or Form S-3 which are intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, such ninety (90) day period shall be extended, if necessary, to keep the registration statement effective until all such Registrable Securities are sold.

 

(b)            Amendments and Supplements. Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement.

 

(c)            Prospectuses. Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by them that are included in such registration.

 

(d)            Blue Sky. Use its commercially reasonable efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders; provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions, unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act.

 

(e)            Underwriting. In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter(s) of such offering.

 

(f)            Notification. Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of (i) the issuance of any stop order by the SEC in respect of such registration statement, or (ii) the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing.

 

(g)            Opinion and Comfort Letter. Furnish, at the request of any Holder requesting registration of the Registrable Securities, on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriter(s) for sale, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the registration statement with respect to such securities becomes effective, (i) an opinion and a “negative assurance letter”, each dated as of such date, of the counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the Holders requesting registration, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders requesting registration of Registrable Securities and (ii) “comfort” letters dated as of (x) the effective date of the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities and (y) the closing date of the offering, from the independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the Holders requesting registration, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders requesting registration of Registrable Securities.

 

 

(h)            Records. Make available at reasonable times for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any managing underwriter participating in any disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement, Holders’ counsel and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or any managing underwriter (each, an “Inspector” and collectively, the “Inspectors”), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its Group Companies (collectively, the “Records”) as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ officers, directors and employees, and the independent public accountants of the Company, to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such registration statement. Records that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and which it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors (and the Inspectors shall confirm their agreement in writing in advance to the Company if the Company shall so request) unless (x) the disclosure of such Records is necessary, in the Inspector’s judgment, to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in a registration statement, (y) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom or (z) the information in such Records was known to the Inspectors on a non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure by the Company or has been made generally available to the public. Each seller of Registrable Securities agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at the Company’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential.

 

(i)            “Cold Comfort” Letters. If such sale is pursuant to an underwritten offering, obtain a “cold comfort” letters dated the effective date of the registration statement and the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement from the Company’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as Holders’ counsel or the managing underwriter reasonably requests.

 

(j)             Compliance. Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to the Company’s security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable but no later than fifteen (15) months after the effective date of the registration statement, an earnings statement covering a period of twelve (12) months beginning after the effective date of the registration statement, in a manner which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

 

(k)            Listing. Use of commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities (in the form of ADSs or otherwise) to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed, provided that the applicable listing requirements are satisfied.

 

 

(l)             FINRA. Cooperate with the Holders and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA, including the use of commercially reasonable efforts to obtain FINRA’s pre-clearance or pre-approval of the registration statement and applicable prospectus upon filing with the SEC.

 

(m)           Updates. Keep Holders’ counsel advised in writing as to the initiation and progress of any registration under Section 1.2, Section 1.3 or Section 1.4 of this Agreement.

 

(n)            Cooperation. Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made.

 

(o)            Marketing Efforts. In connection with an underwritten offering, cause its officers to use their commercially reasonable efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by such offering (including participation in “roadshows” or other similar marketing efforts).

 

(p)            Other Reasonable Steps. Take all other steps reasonably necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities contemplated hereby.

 

Section 2.3            Other Obligations of the Company. So long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall not terminate the Deposit Agreement and shall, if necessary, direct the Depositary to file, and cooperate with the Depositary in filing, amendments to the Form F-6 registering ADSs to increase the amount of ADSs registered thereunder to cover the total number of ADSs corresponding to the Registrable Securities then outstanding.

 

Section 2.4            Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to Section 1.2, Section 1.3 or Section 1.4 that the selling Holders shall furnish to the Company such information regarding themselves, the Registrable Securities held by them and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to timely effect the registration of their Registrable Securities.

 

Section 2.5            Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of Rule 144 to the Holders, the Company agrees that, for so long as a Holder owns Registrable Securities, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to:

 

(a)            make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times;

 

(b)            file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

 

(c)            so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, to furnish to such Holder forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, or its qualification as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form F-3 or Form S-3 (at any time after it so qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and (iii) such other reports and documents of the Company as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such securities without registration or pursuant to Form F-3 or Form S-3.

 

 

Section 2.6            Re-sale Rights. The Company shall at its own cost use its commercially reasonable efforts to assist each Holder in the sale or disposition of, and to enable the Holder to sell under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act the maximum number of, its Registrable Securities, including without limitation (a) the prompt delivery of applicable instruction letters to the Company’s share registrar to remove legends from the Holder’s share certificates, (b) if legal opinions from the Company’s counsel are specifically required by the share registrar, causing the prompt delivery of such legal opinions in forms reasonably satisfactory to the share registrar, (c) (i) the prompt delivery of instruction letters to the Company’s share registrar and depository agent to convert the Holder’s securities into depository receipts or similar instruments to be deposited in the Holder’s brokerage account(s), and (ii) the prompt payment of all costs and fees related to such depositary facility, including maintenance fees and fifty percent (50%) of conversion fees for Registrable Securities held by the Holders (it being understood that the Holders shall bear the remaining fifty percent (50%) of conversion fees). The Company acknowledges that time is of the essence with respect to its obligations under this Section 2.6, and that any intentional delay will cause the Holders irreparable harm and constitutes a material breach of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 2.7            ADS Conversion. To the extent not prohibited by applicable Laws, at any time and from time to time, when (i) any Holder is entitled to exercise the rights granted to such Holder herein, or (ii) the Registrable Securities held by such Holder can be sold by such Holder without restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall, within five (5) Business Days after receipt of a written request of such Holder, at its own cost to take all necessary actions to facilitate and effect or cause to be effected, including to direct its depositary, share registrar, transfer agent and an outside counsel to take all necessary actions (including the removal of the restrictive legend) to effect, the deposit of any or all of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder with the Depositary in exchange or conversion for the issuance of ADSs (free of any restrictive legend) in accordance with the Deposit Agreement in connection with the Company’s ADS program.

 

Section 2.8            Legend.

 

(a)            All certificates or other instruments representing the Purchased Shares will bear a legend as set forth in the Investment Agreement.

 

(b)            Upon request of the applicable Holder and if the Company so requests at its own costs, upon receipt by the Company of an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such legend is no longer required under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the Company shall promptly cause the relevant paragraph(s) of the legend to be removed from any certificate for any Purchased Shares.

 

Section 2.9      Termination of Registration Rights. The registration rights of a Holder under Article I hereof shall terminate with respect to such Holder upon the earlier of (i) the termination, liquidation, dissolution of the Company, (ii) when such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities; provided, however, that such rights shall not terminate before the first (1st) anniversary of the Effective Date, or (iii) when all of the shares of Registrable Securities beneficially owned or subject to Rule 144 aggregation by such Holder may be sold without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144.

 

 

Section 2.10          Transfer of Registration Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any rights of a Holder under Articles I to III may, subject to the Transfer Restrictions, be transferred or assigned by such Holder only to any Person who acquires from such Holder the Registrable Securities representing 5% or more of the then issued and outstanding shares of the Company without the consent of the Company; provided, however, that (i) a prior written notice of such transfer or assignment is given to the Company, and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by, and subject to, Articles I to III as a “Holder” pursuant to a joinder agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

Section 2.11          No Senior Registration Rights to Third Parties. Without the prior written consent of the Holders holding at least sixty percent (60%) of the number of Registrable Securities then outstanding, the Company covenants and agrees that it shall not grant, or cause or permit to be created, for the benefit of any Person any registration rights of any kind (whether similar to the demand, “piggyback” or Form F-3 or Form S-3 registration rights described in this Agreement, or otherwise) relating to any Equity Securities of the Company which are superior to those granted to the Holders in this Agreement (as determined in good faith by the Board) unless the Company grants such superior registration right to the Holders as well.

 

Article III
Indemnification

 

Section 3.1         Indemnification by Company. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, the Company will, with respect to any Registrable Securities covered by a registration statement or prospectus, or as to which registration, qualification or compliance under applicable “blue sky” laws has been effected pursuant to this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, each Holder’s officers, directors, partners, members, managers, shareholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees, and each Person controlling such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and such Person’s officers, directors, partners, members, managers, shareholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees, and each underwriter thereof, if any, and each Person who controls any such underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively, the “Company Indemnified Parties”), from and against any and all expenses, claims, losses, damages, costs (including costs of preparation and reasonable attorney’s fees and any legal or other fees or expenses actually incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding), judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement and other liabilities, joint or several, (or actions in respect thereof) (collectively, “Losses”) to the extent arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus, offering circular, “issuer free writing prospectus” (as such term is defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) or other document, in each case related to such registration statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rules or regulations thereunder applicable to the Company and (without limiting the preceding portions of this Section 3.1), the Company will reimburse each of the Company Indemnified Parties for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal expenses and any other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred in connection with investigating, defending or, subject to the last sentence of this Section 3.1, settling any such Losses or action, as such expenses are incurred; provided that the Company’s indemnification obligations shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), nor shall the Company be liable to a Holder in any such case for any such Losses or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a violation or alleged violation of any state or federal law (including any claim arising out of or based on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in the registration statement or prospectus) which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information regarding such Holder furnished to the Company by such Holder or its authorized representatives expressly for use in connection with such registration by or on behalf of any Holder.

 

 

Section 3.2         Indemnification by Holders. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by such Holder are included in the securities as to which registration or qualification or compliance under applicable “blue sky” laws is being effected, indemnify, severally and not jointly with any other Holders of Registrable Securities, the Company, each of its officers, directors, partners, members, managers, shareholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively, the “Holder Indemnified Parties”), against all Losses (or actions in respect thereof) to the extent arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus, offering circular, “issuer free writing prospectus” or other document, in each case related to such registration statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse each of the Holder Indemnified Parties for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal expenses and any other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred in connection with investigating, defending or, subject to the last sentence of this Section 3.2, settling any such Losses or action, as such expenses are incurred, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular, “issuer free writing prospectus” or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information regarding such Holder furnished to the Company by such Holder or its authorized representatives and stated to be specifically for use therein; provided, however, that in no event shall any indemnity under this Section 3.2 payable by the Purchasers and any Holder exceed an amount equal to the net proceeds received by such Holder in respect of the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the registration statement. The indemnity agreement contained in this Section 3.2 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the applicable Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

Section 3.3         Notification. If any Person shall be entitled to indemnification under this Article III (each, an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall give prompt notice to the party required to provide indemnification (each, an “Indemnifying Party”) of any claim or of the commencement of any proceeding as to which indemnity is sought. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party as promptly as reasonably practicable after the receipt of written notice from such Indemnified Party of such claim or proceeding, to assume, at the Indemnifying Party’s expense, the defense of any such claim or litigation, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and, after notice from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party of its election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnifying Party will not (so long as it shall continue to have the right to defend, contest, litigate and settle the matter in question in accordance with this paragraph) be liable to such Indemnified Party hereunder for any legal expenses and other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof; provided, however, that an Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such claim or litigation, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless the Indemnifying Party shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and the Indemnified Party is or would reasonably be expected to be materially prejudiced by such delay. The failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall relieve an Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article III only to the extent that the failure to give such notice is materially prejudicial or harmful to such Indemnifying Party’s ability to defend such action. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the prior written consent of each Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. The indemnity agreements contained in this Article III shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any claim, loss, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The indemnification set forth in this Article III shall be in addition to any other indemnification rights or agreements that an Indemnified Party may have. An Indemnifying Party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such Indemnifying Party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any Indemnified Party a conflict of interest may exist between such Indemnified Party and any other Indemnified Parties with respect to such claim.

 

 

Section 3.4         Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Article III is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party, other than pursuant to its terms, with respect to any Losses or action referred to therein, then, subject to the limitations contained in this Article III, the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made (or omitted) by, or relates to information supplied by such Indemnifying Party or such Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such action, statement or omission. The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 3.4 was determined solely upon pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 3.4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount each Purchaser or any Holder will be obligated to contribute pursuant to this Section 3.4 will be limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds received by such Purchaser or Holder in respect of the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the registration statement which gives rise to such obligation to contribute. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

 

Article IV
INVESTOR RIGHTS

 

Section 4.1         Investor Nominees.

 

(a)            For so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, the Purchasers shall have the right, from time to time, to appoint:

 

(i)            one (1) executive director to serve as the co-chairman of the Board, who shall be mainly responsible, together with the other co-chairman of the Board, for company strategies, capital management, strategic mergers and acquisitions and any other aspects of the business and affairs of the Group as may be discussed in good faith and agreed between the Purchasers and the Company from time to time, and who shall also be appointed as the chairman of the Annual Budget and Financing Committee which shall be set up in accordance with Section 4.1(g) (the “Investor Director”);

 

(ii)           one (1) officer who shall serve as vice president of the Company (the “Investor Officer”), who shall be mainly responsible for, under the supervision of the president of the Company and the Board, the Group’s strategic plan of synergizing computing power and electricity power and any other aspects of the business and affairs of the Group as may be discussed in good faith and agreed between the Purchasers and the Company from time to time, subject to necessary corporate procedures of the Company.

 

(b)            For so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, in the event of the death, disability, resignation or removal of any Investor Director and/or Investor Officer, the Purchasers may designate another Person to replace such Investor Director and/or Investor Officer and the Company shall cause such Person(s) to fill such resulting vacancy (whereupon such Person(s) shall be deemed to be the “Investor Director” and/or “Investor Officer”, as applicable, for purposes of this Agreement). The Person(s) designated as the Investor Director and/or the Investor Officer shall be qualified under applicable Laws or listing rules to serve on the Board (in the case of Investor Director) and/or as a senior officer of the Company (in the case of Investor Officer). If the Board (excluding the Investor Director), acting reasonably, unanimously determines that such Person designated as the Investor Director and/or the Investor Officer is not qualified under applicable Laws or listing rules to serve on the Board (in the case of Investor Director) and/or as a senior officer of the Company (in the case of Investor Officer), the Purchasers shall be promptly informed of such decision of the Board in writing which should include sufficient details including the facts constituting the basis of such decision and the applicable Laws or listing rules, along with a legal opinion from the Company’s counsel, and unless the Purchasers dispute such decision (in which case the Purchaser shall be afforded an opportunity to present its case to the Board for it to reconsider), the Purchasers shall be required to designate another Person(s) as the Investor Director and/or the Investor Officer.

 

 

(c)            The right to appoint an Investor Director or Investor Officer shall be exercisable upon notice to the Company on behalf of the Purchasers, upon which the Company shall take, or cause to be taken, all necessary corporate and other actions in accordance with applicable Laws and the M&AA (which may include convening a meeting of the Board) to appoint such Investor Director or Investor Officer to their positions as promptly as possible and in any event within seven (7) Business Days. Upon appointment of any Investor Director, the Company shall as soon as practicable provide a certified true copy of the updated register of directors of the Company to the Purchasers, evidencing the appointment of the Investor Director.

 

(d)            The Company agrees that it shall obtain and provide at its sole expenses a director’s and officer’s liability insurance (“D&O Policies”) covering such Investor Director or Investor Officer effective immediately upon their appointment and with the coverage, length, amount and other substantive policy terms equal to those D&O Policies provided to the current directors and vice president (or if such position is not currently held, such other senior officer position with similar power and responsibilities) of the Company.

 

(e)            The Company agrees that from and after the date of appointment of any Investor Director or Investor Officer, as the case may be, the Company shall provide the same level indemnification to the Investor Director or Investor Officer as provided to the current directors and vice president (or if such position is not currently held, such other senior officer position with similar power and responsibilities) of the Company. The Company shall on or prior to the date of appointment of any Investor Director enter into an indemnification agreement with such Investor Director, with substantially the same terms as the form indemnification agreement between the Company and its director filed as an exhibit in the Form 20-F of the Company filed on April 26, 2023 (or as amended).

 

(f)            The Company shall on or prior to the date of appointment of any Investor Director or Investor Officer enter into an employment agreement with such Investor Director or Investor Officer with substantially the same terms with the employment agreement between the Company and its directors or executive officers with similar importance in effect as of appointment of such Investor Director or the Investor Officer.

 

(g)            Annual Budget and Financing Committee

 

(i)            Upon the appointment of the Investor Director to the Board, the Board shall set up an annual budget and financing committee of the Board (the “Annual Budget and Financing Committee”) which shall consist of three (3) directors, including the Investor Director, the Founder and an independent director as the Board may designate.

 

(ii)           The Annual Budget and Financing Committee shall be responsible for: (A) reviewing and pre-approving the proposed annual budget for the next financial year and any material financing matter which would require the approval of the Board, (B) discussing such annual budget or financing matter with the management and the Board, and (C) recommending to the Board for approval with respect to the pre-approved annual budget or financing matter.

 

 

Section 4.2         Reserved Matters.

 

(a)            To the extent permitted by the applicable Laws (including, among others, director’s fiduciary duty stipulated in the applicable Laws), and for so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, the Company shall not take or agree to take or resolve to take (and shall procure that the other Group Companies shall not take, as applicable) any of the following actions, without prior written consent of the Investor Director:

 

(i)            merger, division or dissolution of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, or other change of form of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries;

 

(ii)           amending or changing the voting power and/or any other rights attached to the Equity Securities of the Company which are authorized but not issued, and/or issued and outstanding on or before the Effective Date;

 

(iii)          ceasing to conduct or carry on, or change, the major or substantial business of the Group as from time to time conducted;

 

(iv)          selling, exclusively licensing, transferring, creating any encumbrance over, mortgaging or otherwise disposing (A) all or substantially all of the assets (including for the avoidance of doubt Equity Securities and intellectual property) of the Group, or (B) any material assets (including for the avoidance of doubt Equity Securities and intellectual property) of the Group (for the purposes of this Section 4.2(a)(iv), “material” means the subject asset value is more than thirty percent (30%) of the total asset value of the Group on a consolidated basis);

 

(v)           making any investment for an amount in excess of RMB300 million in any financial year of the Company, unless contemplated under the duly approved annual budget of the Company for the same financial year (for the purposes of this Section 4.2(a)(v), “duly approved annual budget of the Company” shall mean such annual budget of the Company as is duly pre-approved by the Annual Budget and Financing Committee (to the extent that the Annual Budget and Financing Committee has been established before the finalization of such annual budget plan) and approved by the Board);

 

(vi)          issuance of any Equity Securities of the Company in any financial year of the Company, individually or in the aggregate, representing five percent (5%) or more of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company (including all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares and preferred shares of the Company on an as-converted basis) as at the first (1^st) calendar date of that financial year; provided, however, that the following issuance of Equity Securities is not subject to this Section 4.2(a)(vi): (A) the issuance of any Equity Securities pursuant to the Company Stock Plans or any other equity incentive plans duly approved by the Board, or (B) the issuance of any Equity Securities upon the conversion of the Series A-1 Preferred Shares, the 2026 Convertible Notes or the 2027 Convertible Notes;

 

(vii)         issuance of any Equity Securities of the Company (other than the Class A Ordinary Shares) to the Founder or any of the Founder’s controlled entities or Family Members; for the avoidance of doubt, the issuance of any Class A Ordinary Shares, or any Equity Securities according to the terms of any agreement or arrangement in connection with or for the purpose of the refinancing of the 2026 Convertible Notes, to the Founder or any of the Founder’s controlled entities or Family Members shall remain subject to Section 4.2(a)(vi);

 

(viii)        any share subdivision of the Equity Securities of the Company or any distribution of dividends; provided, however, that the following circumstances are not subject to this Section 4.2(a)(viii): (A) where all holders of the Ordinary Shares are entitled to participate and would benefit on a pro-rata basis, (B) any distribution of dividends made in accordance with the terms on which the preferred shares of the Company are subscribed for, and/or (C) any share subdivision of the preferred shares of the Company which does not and would not reasonably be expected to unfairly dilute the shareholding percentages (calculated on an as converted and fully-diluted basis) of the holders of the Ordinary Shares;

 

 

(ix)            amendment of the M&AA that, if adopted, will restrict, inhibit or terminate the rights, powers, preferences or privileges enjoyed by either Purchaser in accordance with this Agreement and other Transaction Documents;

 

(x)            initiating proceedings for any bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries; and

 

(xi)            authorizing any of, or agreeing, committing or attempting to do any of, the foregoing;

 

provided that the Subsequent Issuance and the relevant matters for the sole purpose of the Subsequent Issuance shall not be subject to this Section 4.2(a) for so long as such Subsequent Issuance is made in accordance and compliance with Section 3.6(c) of the Investment Agreement.

 

(b)            The Company shall not effect any voluntary deregistration in respect of the Purchased Shares under the Exchange Act or any voluntary delisting with the NASDAQ in respect of the ADSs. If the Company’s ADSs cease to be listed for trading on the NASDAQ, the Company shall use its best efforts to procure that the Class A Ordinary Shares be listed for trading on another reputable international securities exchange as promptly as practicable and shall take any and all actions as may be required to achieve the foregoing. If requested by the Purchasers, the Company shall cooperate with the Purchasers to renegotiate applicable terms of, and agree to appropriate changes or amendments to, this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents with a view to facilitating the consummation of such re-listing and procuring that the Purchasers remain in substantially the same economic position following such re-listing as they are prior to such re-listing, taking into account any requirements of the applicable securities exchange or other Governmental Authorities of applicable jurisdiction.

 

Section 4.3         Information Rights.

 

(a)            For so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, the Company shall:

 

(i)            provide the Purchasers (which shall be represented by the Investor Officer or such other representatives as the Purchasers may from time to time designate, provided that the Purchasers shall notify the Company in advance of their choice of such representatives) with:

 

(A)           the right to visit and inspect any of the offices and properties of the Company and the other Group Companies and inspect the books, records, accounts and other financial information of the Company and the other Group Companies, in each case upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times and as often as the Purchasers may reasonably request; notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the parties hereto hereby agree and acknowledge that this Section 4.3(a)(i)(A) shall continue to apply so long as the Purchasers hold such amount of Class A Ordinary Shares (including such Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs) that represents no less than ten percent (10%) of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company (including all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares and preferred shares of the Company on an as-converted basis), for the avoidance of doubt regardless of whether the Purchasers continue to satisfy the Minimum Shareholding Requirement, but solely for the Purchasers’ tax, accounting or audit purposes or for the Purchasers to otherwise comply with applicable Laws;

 

 

(B)            as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, any consolidated unaudited balance sheets of the Group and consolidated unaudited statements of income and cash flows of the Group for the period then ended, prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the applicable jurisdiction applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise noted therein; provided that such balance sheets, statements of income and cash flows shall be deemed to have been provided to the Purchasers if they are filed with, or furnished by the Company or any other Group Company to, the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise;

 

(C)            as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, any consolidated audited balance sheet of the Group as of the end of such year, and any consolidated audited statements of income and cash flows of the Group for the year then ended, prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the applicable jurisdiction, applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise noted therein; and

 

(D)            to the extent the Company or any other Group Company is required by Law or pursuant to the terms of any outstanding Financial Indebtedness of the Company or such Group Company to prepare such reports, any annual reports, quarterly reports and other periodic reports, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise, actually prepared by the Company or such Group Company as soon as available, provided that any report, schedule, form, statement or other document (including exhibits) filed with, or furnished to, the SEC and publicly available as of such date shall be deemed to have been provided to the Purchasers;

 

(ii)           make appropriate officers and directors of the Company, and the other Group Companies, available periodically and at such times as reasonably requested by the Purchasers, but not more frequently than once per calendar quarter, for consultation with the Purchasers (which shall be represented by the Investor Officer or such other representatives as the Purchasers may from time to time designate, provided that the Purchasers shall notify the Company in advance of their choice of such representatives) with respect to matters relating to the business and affairs of the Company and the other Group Companies;

 

 

(iii)          to the extent consistent with applicable Law (and with respect to events which require public disclosure, only following the Company’s public disclosure thereof through applicable securities Law filings or otherwise), provide other information that might be requested by the Purchasers from time to time and information in advance with respect to any significant corporate transactions and the right to consult with the Company and the other Group Companies with respect to such transactions; and

 

(iv)          provide the Purchasers with sufficient information relating to material transactions of the Company on a timely basis for the Purchasers to analyze such transactions and assist the Company to achieve to its commercial objectives; provided, however, that (A) the Company shall not be required to provide information with respect to a transaction unless such transaction is reasonably expected to require approval by the Board prior to its consummation, (B) the Company shall only be required to provide information with respect to such transaction if members of the Board is reasonably expected to receive such information, and (C) the Company shall have no obligation to provide information pursuant to the foregoing in the event that the Purchasers inform the Company at any time that the Purchasers elect not to receive information hereunder.

 

(b)            The Company further agrees to consider, in good faith, the recommendations of the Purchasers (which shall be represented by the Investor Officer or such other representatives as the Purchasers may from time to time designate, provided that the Purchasers shall notify the Company in advance of their choice of such representatives) in connection with the matters on which they are consulted as described above, recognizing that the ultimate discretion with respect to all such matters shall be retained by the Company.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be under no obligation under this Section 4.3 to provide any Purchaser with any material non-public information with respect to the Company, and any Purchaser to whom such non-public information, if any, has been provided by the Company shall keep such information confidential.

 

(d)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Section 4.3 shall be without prejudice and shall not limit the rights of the Purchasers set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, including under Section 4.1 and Section 4.2.

 

Section 4.4         Pre-emptive Rights.

 

(a)            General.

 

(i)            For so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, in the event that the Company proposes to sell, offer or issue any New Securities, each Purchaser (each, a “Pre-emptive Right Holder”) shall have a right to subscribe up to its Pro Rata Share of such New Securities to be sold, offered or issued by the Company. A Purchaser’s “Pro Rata Share” shall, for the purpose of this Section 4.4, be a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares held by such Pre-emptive Right Holder, and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Ordinary Shares held by all holders of Equity Securities of the Company (in each case calculated on an as-converted basis) immediately prior to the issuance of such New Securities giving rise to the pre-emptive rights provided herein.

 

 

(ii)           The New Securities proposed to be sold, offered or issued by the Company pursuant to this Section 4.4 shall be hereinafter referred to as “Pre-emptive Securities.”

 

(b)            Procedures.

 

(i)            If the Company proposes to undertake an issuance of Pre-emptive Securities after the Closing Date, the Company shall give each Pre-emptive Right Holder written notice (an “Issuance Notice”) of such intention prior to such proposed issuance, which notice shall include:

 

(A)           the type and class or series of Pre-emptive Securities;

 

(B)            the number of such Pre-emptive Securities to be issued;

 

(C)            the per share price of such Pre-emptive Securities;

 

(D)            if applicable, such Pre-emptive Right Holder’s Pro Rata Share of such Pre-emptive Securities as determined pursuant to Section 4.4(a)(i);

 

(E)             if applicable, the identity of the prospective transferee; and

 

(F)            the other material terms and conditions upon which the Company proposes to issue such Pre-emptive Securities.

 

(ii)            Each Pre-emptive Right Holder shall have the right (the “Pre-emptive Right”) to subscribe up to such Pre-emptive Right Holder’s Pro Rata Share of such Pre-emptive Securities as determined pursuant to Section 4.4(a)(i) at the price per share and upon the other terms and conditions specified in the Issuance Notice and shall have ten (10) Business Days after the Issuance Notice is received (the “Pre-emptive Period”) to exercise its Pre-emptive Right by giving written notice (a “Pre-emptive Acceptance Notice”) to the Company and stating therein the quantity of Pre-emptive Securities to be subscribed.

 

(iii)            If, at the expiration date of the Pre-emptive Period, any Pre-emptive Right Holder has not exercised its Pre-emptive Right by giving a Pre-emptive Acceptance Notice to the Company, such holder shall be deemed to have waived all of its rights under this Section 4.4 with respect to, and only with respect to, the proposed issuance specified in such Issuance Notice.

 

(iv)            In the event that any Pre-emptive Right Holder delivers a Pre-emptive Acceptance Notice during the Pre-emptive Period, then the closing of such issuance of Pre-emptive Securities shall take place within fifteen (15) Business Days after the later to occur of (A) the expiry of the Pre-emptive Period, and (B) the receipt of all regulatory approvals required for such issuance. Upon such closing, the Company shall (1) allot and issue the applicable Pre-emptive Securities to each Pre-emptive Right Holder exercising the Pre-emptive Rights pursuant to this Section 4.4, (2) if applicable, enter each such Pre-emptive Right Holder’s name in the register of members to reflect it as the owner of such Pre-emptive Securities (and within one (1) Business Day thereafter deliver a certified true copy thereof to such Pre-emptive Right Holder), and (3) if such Pre-emptive Securities are represented by certificates, issue and deliver certificates representing such Pre-emptive Securities to such Pre-emptive Right Holder, in each case against payment by such Pre-emptive Right Holder of the subscription price for such Pre-emptive Securities in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the Issuance Notice.

 

 

(c)            For a period of 120 days after the expiry of the Pre-emptive Period (inclusive), the Company may sell any Pre-emptive Securities with respect to which the Pre-emptive Rights of Pre-emptive Right Holders under this Section 4.4 were not exercised, at the same price per share and upon terms and conditions not less favorable to the Company than those specified in the Issuance Notice. If the Company has not sold such Pre-emptive Securities within such 120-day period, the Company shall not thereafter sell, offer or issue any Pre-emptive Securities, without first again offering such Pre-emptive Securities to the Pre-emptive Right Holders in the manner provided in Section 4.4(b).

 

(d)            In the event that the Company proposes to sell, offer or issue any Equity Securities in a public offering of the Company approved by the Board, the Company shall (i) give reasonable prior notice to the Purchasers of such proposed public offering, (ii) consult with the Purchasers in good faith as to the expected terms, including size and pricing, of such public offering, and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to procure that, subject to the relevant Purchaser’s compliance with applicable Laws, each Purchaser shall have the right to participate in such public offering and to acquire its Pro Rata Share of the Equity Securities offered by the Company in such offering.

 

Section 4.5         Right of Participation.

 

(a)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent permitted by the applicable Laws and subject to the approval of any Governmental Authority, and for so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, if any Group Company proposes to undertake an initial public offering or listing of its Equity Securities in Hong Kong, PRC or other jurisdictions (the “ListCo” and such proposed offering or listing, the “Public Listing”) in which case the Company shall as soon as practicable notify the Purchasers, each Purchaser shall have the right, but not the obligation, to, from time to time, exchange any or all of its Purchased Shares for such Equity Securities of the ListCo (an “Investors Participation”). The Company shall, and shall procure the ListCo and other relevant Group Companies to, (A) provide, in a timely manner, such information and documentation as either Purchaser may from time to time reasonably request in connection with the Public Listing, and (B) if a Purchaser elects to participate by Investors Participation, reasonably update such Purchaser on the progress and status of the Public Listing, in each case, to the extent permitted by applicable Laws and listing rules.

 

(b)            The Purchasers and the Company (and the Company shall procure that the ListCo) shall negotiate in good faith the terms and conditions of the Investors Participation which, if applicable, shall be no less favorable than those terms and conditions offered or granted to any other shareholders of the Company who is entitled to the same or similar right to Investors Participation, taking into account then fair market value of the Company and the ListCo (which shall be determined in good faith by the Purchasers and the Company, including by applying generally accepted valuation methodologies and assumptions, with reference to such valuation methodologies and assumptions accepted for a company of comparable size and in a comparable industry and other principles or practices consistent with those customarily apply in the same or similar context), the tax implications (it being understood that the Investors Participation shall, to the largest extent permitted by applicable laws, be structured in a tax efficient manner in the benefit of the Purchasers, the Company and the ListCo) and other aspects (including without limitation the requirements under the applicable Laws, and the necessary approval of any Governmental Authority). The Company shall and shall procure that the ListCo shall cooperate with the Purchasers with respect to, and to procure, the Investors Participation if elected by a Purchaser, to the extent permitted by the applicable Laws and subject to the approval of any Governmental Authority.

 

 

(c)            For so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, the Purchasers shall have a right of participation similar to that provide in this Section 4.5 in certain capital intensive assets or the relevant Group Company (other than the ListCo) to enable the Purchasers to consolidate such assets or such Group Company into the financial statements of any Purchaser or its Affiliates, to the extent permitted by the applicable Laws and subject to the approval of any Governmental Authority.

 

Section 4.6      Termination of Purchasers’ Rights. The Purchasers’ rights under this Article IV shall be terminated immediately and permanently upon the Purchasers ceasing to satisfy the Minimum Shareholding Requirement and shall forthwith become null, void and unrestorable, regardless whether the Minimum Shareholding Requirement becomes satisfied thereafter. Unless otherwise agreed by the Board (excluding the consent of the Investor Director), the Purchasers shall procure the Investor Director and the Investor Officer to resign as soon as practicable upon the Purchasers ceasing to satisfy the Minimum Shareholding Requirement.

 

Article V
Miscellaneous

 

Section 5.1         Governing Law; Jurisdiction.

 

(a)            This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that State, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under any applicable conflict of laws principles.

 

(b)            Any disputes, actions and proceedings against any party hereto or arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement shall be submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and resolved in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of HKIAC in force at the relevant time and as may be amended by this Section 5.1(b) (the “Rules”). The place of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The official language of the arbitration shall be English and the tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators (each, an “Arbitrator”). The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one (1) Arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one (1) Arbitrator; and a third Arbitrator will be nominated jointly by the first two Arbitrators and shall serve as chairman of the arbitration tribunal. In the event the claimant(s) or respondent(s) or the first two Arbitrators shall fail to nominate or agree the joint nomination of an Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator within the time limits specified by the Rules, such Arbitrator shall be appointed promptly by the HKIAC. The arbitration tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive or other punitive-type damages. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties. Any party to an award may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award and, for purposes of the enforcement of such award, the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction and waive any defenses to such enforcement based on lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.

 

 

Section 5.2         Amendment. This Agreement shall not be amended, changed or modified, except by another agreement in writing executed by the Company and the Purchasers.

 

Section 5.3         Effective Date; Binding Effect. This Agreement shall take effect on the date when the Closing occurs (the “Effective Date”). Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, it shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Purchasers, the Company, and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 5.4         Assignment.

 

(a)            Except as provided in Section 2.10 and Section 5.4(b), neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, duties or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by one party hereto, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise, by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other party hereto; provided, however, that the Purchasers may provide any such consent on behalf of any of its transferees or assignees pursuant to Section 5.4(b).

 

(b)           Any rights of a Purchaser under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned (but only with all related obligations) by such Purchaser to any of its Affiliates in connection with a transfer of the relevant Equity Securities to such Affiliate(s) by such Purchaser without the consent of the Company; provided, however, that (i) a prior written notice of such transfer or assignment is given to the Company, and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by, and subject to, this Agreement as a “Purchaser” pursuant to a joinder agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. For the avoidance of doubt, any transfer or assignment of the registration rights granted under Articles I to III hereof by a Purchaser to any of its Affiliates in accordance with this Section 5.4(b) shall apply in respect of the relevant Registrable Securities only.

 

Section 5.5      Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date of actual delivery if delivered personally to the party hereto to whom notice is to be given, on the date sent if sent by telecopier, tested telex or prepaid telegram, when sent if sent by e-mails, on the next Business Day following delivery to properly addressed or on the day of attempted delivery internationally recognized courier with postage paid and properly addressed as follows:

 

(a)            If to the Company, to it at:

 

VNET Group, Inc.
Guanjie Building, Southeast 1^st Floor
10# Jiuxianqiao East Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100016
Attention: Weiyan Lin
Email: lin.weiyan@vnet.com

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Shearman & Sterling
21st Floor, Gloucester Tower
The Landmark
15 Queen’s Road Central
Hong Kong
Attention: Li Chen
Email: li.chen@shearman.com

 

 

(b)            If to the Purchasers, to them at:

 

Success Flow International Investment Limited and/or

Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited
38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong

Attention: Yu Tian

Email: yutian@sdhg.com.hk

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

White & Case
16th Floor, York House
The Landmark
15 Queen’s Road Central
Central, Hong Kong
Attention: Jessica Zhou; Steve Sha
Email: jessica.zhou@whitecase.com; steve.sha@whitecase.com

 

or such other address, email address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify by like notice to the other parties hereto.

 

Section 5.6         Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Transaction Documents (as defined in the Investment Agreement), constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties and their affiliates, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. No provision of this Agreement shall confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their permitted assigns any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

Section 5.7         Severability. If any provisions of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any action or proceeding whether in its entirety or in any portion, then such provision shall be deemed amended, if possible, or deleted, as the case may be, from the Agreement in order to render the remainder of the Agreement and any provision thereof both valid and enforceable, and all other provisions hereof shall be given effect separately therefrom and shall not be affected thereby.

 

Section 5.8         Expenses. Except as provided in Section 2.1, all costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses.

 

Section 5.9         Interpretation. The rules of interpretation set forth in Section 7.2 of the Investment Agreement shall apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.

 

Section 5.10      Further Assurances. From time to time following the Effective Date, the parties hereto shall execute and deliver such other instruments of assignment, transfer and delivery and shall take such other actions as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to consummate, complete and carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 

Section 5.11       Conflicting Agreements. The Company agrees that it shall not (a) enter into any agreement or arrangement with any Person with respect to any Equity Securities for the purpose or with the effect of denying the rights of the Purchasers under this Agreement or (b) act, for any reason, as a member of a group or in concert with any other Person in connection with the voting of its Equity Securities in any manner for the purpose or with the effect of denying the rights of the Purchasers under this Agreement.

 

Section 5.12       Specific Enforcement. The parties acknowledge and agree that (a) the parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions, specific performance or other equitable relief to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in the venue described in Section 5.1 without proof of damages or otherwise, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under this Agreement and (b) the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of this Agreement and without that right, neither the Company nor the Purchasers would have entered into this Agreement. The parties hereto agree not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to law or inequitable for any reason, and agree not to assert that a remedy of monetary damages would provide an adequate remedy or that the parties otherwise have an adequate remedy at law. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.1 shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction.

 

Section 5.13       Headings. The headings of the various articles and sections of this Agreement are inserted merely for the purpose of convenience and do not expressly or by implication limit, define or extend the specific terms of the section so designated.

 

Section 5.14       Counterparts. For the convenience of the parties and to facilitate execution, this Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

Section 5.15       Extension of Time, Waiver, Etc. The parties hereto may, subject to applicable Law, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or acts of the other party or (b) waive compliance by the other party with any of the agreements contained herein applicable to such party or, except as otherwise provided herein, waive any of such party’s conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the parties hereto in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party; provided that the Purchasers may execute such waivers on behalf of any of its transferees or assignees pursuant to Section 5.4(b).

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	COMPANY:
	VNET GROUP, INC.
	By:	/s/ Wang Qiyu
		Name: Wang Qiyu
		Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	PURCHASERS:
	SUCCESS FLOW INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITED
	By:	/s/ Liu Yao
		Name: Liu Yao
		Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	PURCHASERS:
	CHOICE FAITH GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
	By:	/s/ Liu Yao
		Name: Liu Yao
		Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement]

 

 

Exhibit A

 

DEFINED TERMS

 

1.              The following capitalized terms have the meanings indicated:

 

“2026 Convertible Notes” means the convertible senior notes issued by the Company in the aggregate principal amount of US$600,000,000 pursuant to the 2026 Indenture.

 

“2026 Indenture” means the indenture dated January 26, 2021 by and between the Company and Citicorp International Limited, as trustee.

 

“ADSs” means American depository shares of the Company, each representing six (or such other number as applicable at the relevant time) Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

“Affiliate” shall have the same meaning as assigned to such term in the Investment Agreement.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which the SEC or banks in the State of New York, PRC, Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands are authorized or required by Law to be closed.

 

“Class A Ordinary Share” means the Class A ordinary shares of the Company, with a par value of US$0.00001 each.

 

“Closing” shall have the same meaning as assigned to such term in the Investment Agreement.

 

“Closing Date” shall have the same meaning as assigned to such term in the Investment Agreement.

 

“Company Stock Plans” means the Company’s (i) 2010 Share Incentive Plan, as amended on July 6, 2012, (ii) 2014 Share Incentive Plan, as amended on December 22, 2017, and (iii) 2020 Share Incentive Plan, as adopted on May 13, 2020.

 

“Deposit Agreement” means the Deposit Agreement among the Company, the Depositary and such other parties thereto, as may be amended and/or restated from time to time.

 

“Depositary” means Citibank, N.A. as depositary (or such other depositary bank with which the Company may enter into any depositary or similar agreement in connection with its ADS program).

 

“Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person, any shares or other voting or equity securities of such Person, securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such shares or securities, and any rights, options or warrants to acquire such shares or securities. For the avoidance of doubt, Equity Securities of the Company shall include Ordinary Shares, ADSs, depositary receipts or similar instruments issued in respect of Ordinary Shares, Series A Preferred Shares (as defined in the Investment Agreement), Series A-1 Preferred Shares (as defined in the Investment Agreement), 2026 Convertible Notes and 2027 Convertible Notes and any other Equity Securities issued by the Company in the future.

 

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

“Family Members” means, with respect to any individual, such individual’s spouse, lineal descendant (including by adoption), sibling, parent, heir, executor, administrator, testamentary trustee, legatee or beneficiary, and any trust that is for the exclusive benefit of such individual or any of the foregoing.

 

“Financial Indebtedness” means any indebtedness in respect of:

 

(i)             moneys borrowed;

 

(ii)            any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit facility;

 

(iii)           any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;

 

(iv)           any amount payable upon the redemption or repurchase (howsoever characterized) of any Equity Securities of the Group that (A) has a redemption right, put right or similar right, or (B) is accounted for as a liability in the financial statements of the Group;

 

(v)            the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with the applicable accounting standards, be treated as a finance or capital lease;

 

(vi)           receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis);

 

(vii)          any amount raised under any other financing transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing;

 

(viii)         any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution other than guarantees provided in the usual and ordinary course of business; and

 

(ix)            the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (i) to (viii) above of this definition,

 

and when calculating Financial Indebtedness, no liability shall be taken into account more than once.

 

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

“Form F-3” or “Form S-3” means such respective form of registration statement under the Securities Act (including Form S-3 or Form F-3, as appropriate) or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC which permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

 

“Founder” means Mr. CHEN Sheng, the founder and an executive director of the Company and the chairman of the Board.

 

 

“Governmental Authority” means any transnational or supranational, domestic or foreign federal, national, state, provincial, local or municipal governmental, regulatory, judicial or administrative authority, department, court, arbitral body (public or private), agency or official, including any department, commission, board, agency, bureau, subdivision or instrumentality thereof or any stock exchange or other self-regulatory organization; and any entity or enterprise owned or controlled by a government.

 

“Group Company” means each of the Company and its current and future Subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities, and the “Group” refers to all the Group Companies collectively.

 

“Holder” means (i) any Purchaser holding Registrable Securities and/or (ii) any Person who acquires from such Purchaser the Registrable Securities representing 5% or more of the then issued and outstanding shares of the Company, including for the avoidance of doubt in connection with the enforcement of a Bona Fide Financing (as defined in the Investment Agreement).

 

“Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC.

 

“Law” or “Laws” means any and all provisions of any applicable constitution, treaty, statute, law, regulation, ordinance, code, rule, or rule of common law, any governmental approval, concession, grant, franchise, license, agreement, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority, in each case as amended.

 

“M&AA” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company as adopted by special resolution passed on March 31, 2011 and effective on April 27, 2011 and amended by ordinary resolutions dated May 29, 2014 (and as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).

 

“Material Subsidiaries” shall have the same meaning as assigned to such term in the Investment Agreement.

 

“Minimum Shareholding” means 325,212,096 Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

“Minimum Shareholding Requirement” means that the Purchasers in the aggregate continue to beneficially own Equity Securities that (on an as-converted basis) represent a number of Class A Ordinary Shares (including such Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs) that is no less than the Minimum Shareholding.

 

“NASDAQ” means the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

“New Securities” means the Equity Securities of the Company, excluding:

 

(i)            any of the options, restricted shares, restricted share units and or other securities to purchase any Class A Ordinary Shares issued from time to time to the employees, officers, directors, contractors, advisors or consultants of the Group pursuant to the Company Stock Plans and any other equity incentive plans of the Company duly approved by the Board from time to time and any Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise or conversion of the foregoing options, restricted shares, restricted share units and or other securities;

 

 

(ii)            any Class A Ordinary Shares and/or any Series A-1 Preferred Shares issued upon conversion of the 2026 Convertible Notes or the 2027 Convertible Notes (including any Class A Ordinary Shares issued upon the conversion of any Series A-1 Preferred Shares which are issued upon the conversion of the 2027 Convertible Notes);

 

(iii)           any Class A Ordinary Shares and/or any preferred shares of the Company issued upon conversion of any preferred shares, or any convertible or exchangeable notes or bonds of the Company; provided that the issuance of such preferred shares, or such convertible or exchangeable notes or bonds of the Company has been approved by the Board and the Investor Director in accordance with Section 4.2(a)(vi) (if applicable);

 

(iv)           any Equity Securities issued pursuant to a public offering of the Company approved by the Board;

 

(v)            any Equity Securities issued in connection with a bona fide business acquisition by any Group Company to the counterparty to such business acquisition, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets, sale or exchange of shares or otherwise, that have been approved by the Board;

 

(vi)           any Equity Securities issued in connection with any share dividend or any share subdivision of Ordinary Shares or other similar event as approved by the Board pursuant to the M&AA and the other organizational documents of the Company in which all holders of Equity Securities of the Company are entitled to participate on a pro rata basis; and

 

(vii)          any Equity Securities issued in the Subsequent Issuance, for so long as such Subsequent Issuance is made in accordance and compliance with Section 3.6(c) of the Investment Agreement.

 

“Ordinary Shares” mean the Class A Ordinary Shares, Class B ordinary shares, Class C ordinary shares and Class D ordinary shares of the Company, with a par value of US$0.0001 each.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including a Governmental Authority.

 

“PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, but solely for the purpose of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, excluding Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan.

 

“register”, “registered” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such registration statement or the automatic effectiveness of such registration statement, as applicable.

 

“Registrable Securities” means, as of any date of determination, such Class A Ordinary Shares owned by any Holder that issued pursuant to Section 1.1 of the Investment Agreement or upon any share subdivision, share dividend, share combination or consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification or other similar event in relation to such Class A Ordinary Shares (including, in each case, as long as the ADSs remain listed on a national recognized securities market, Class A Ordinary Shares in the form of ADSs (it being understood that while any offers and sales made under a registration statement contemplated by this Agreement will be of ADSs, the securities to be registered by any such registration statement under the Securities Act are Class A Ordinary Shares, and the ADSs are registered under a separate Form F-6)). As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) such securities are sold or otherwise transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (ii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding, (iii) such securities have been transferred in a transaction in which the Holder’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of the securities, (iv) such securities are sold in a broker’s transaction under circumstances in which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act are met or (v) the stock certificates or evidences of book-entry registration relating to such securities have had all restrictive legends removed.

 

 

“Registration Expenses” means all expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Section 1.2, Section 1.3 and Section 1.4 hereof, including, without limitation, (i) SEC, stock exchange and FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in complying with securities or “blue sky” laws (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to any underwriter incurred in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Securities as may be set forth in any underwriting agreement), (iii) all printing, messenger and delivery expenses, (iv) the fees, charges and expenses of counsel to the Company and of its independent public accountants and any other accounting fees, charges and expenses incurred by the Company (including any expenses arising from any “cold comfort” letters or any special audits incident to or required by any registration or qualification) and any legal fees, charges and expenses incurred by the Initiating Holders, (v) all “roadshow” expenses if the underwriter or underwriters advise that a “roadshow” is advisable to complete the sale of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in an offering, (vi) fees and disbursements of one counsel for all sellers of Registrable Securities in any one registration, (vii) fifty percent (50%) of the fees charged by the Depositary with respect to the deposit of Class A Ordinary Shares against issuance of ADSs and (viii) any liability insurance or other premiums for insurance obtained in connection with Section 1.2, Section 1.3 and Section 1.4 hereof, regardless of whether any registration statement is declared effective.

 

“registration statements” means, as the context requires, a Form F-3 or S-3 or a registration statement on Form F-1 or S-1 under the Securities Act (or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC available to an issuer if a Form F-3 or S-3 is not available to such issuer).

 

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act and any successor provision.

 

“Rule 462(e)” means Rule 462(e) promulgated under the Securities Act and any successor provision.

 

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

“Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 1.2, Section 1.3 or Section 1.4 hereof.

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” means the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable.

 

 

“Subsequent Issuance” shall have the same meaning as assigned to such term in the Investment Agreement.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any given Person, any other Person that is controlled directly or indirectly by such given Person, which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include any variable interest entity whose assets and financial results are consolidated with the assets and financial results of such given Person and are recorded on the financial statements of such given Person for financial reporting purposes in accordance with applicable accounting standards (each, a “VIE” and collectively, the “VIEs”) and any Subsidiary of such VIEs.

 

“Transaction Documents” shall have the same meaning as assigned to such term in the Investment Agreement.

 

 

2.              The following terms are defined in the Sections of the Agreement indicated:

 

INDEX OF TERMS

 

Term	Section
2020 Investment Agreement	Recitals
2022 Investment Agreement	Recitals
2027 Convertible Notes	Recitals
2027 Convertible Notes Registrable Securities	Section 1.2(b)
2027 Convertible Notes Registration Rights	Recitals
Agreement	Preamble
Annual Budget and Financing Committee	Section 4.1(g)(i)
Arbitrator	Section 5.1(b)
Company	Preamble
Company Indemnified Parties	Section 3.1
Company Registrable Securities	Section 1.2(b)
D&O Policies	Section 4.1(d)
Effective Date	Section 5.3
Effectiveness Period	Section 1.4(b)
HKIAC	Section 5.1(b)
Holder Indemnified Parties	Section 3.2
Indemnified Party	Section 3.3
Indemnifying Party	Section 3.3
Initiating Holder	Section 1.2(a)
Inspector(s)	Section 2.2(h)
Investment Agreement	Recitals
Investor Director	Section 4.1(a)(i)
Investor Officer	Section 4.1(a)(ii)
Investors Participation	Section 4.5(a)
Issuance Notice	Section 4.4(b)(i)
ListCo	Section 4.5(a)
Losses	Section 3.1
Permitted Registration Rights	Section 1.2(b)
Pre-emptive Acceptance Notice	Section 4.4(b)(ii)
Pre-emptive Period	Section 4.4(b)(ii)
Pre-emptive Right	Section 4.4(b)(ii)
Pre-emptive Right Holder	Section 4.4(a)(i)
Pre-emptive Securities	Section 4.4(a)(ii)
Pro Rata Share	Section 4.4(a)(i)
Public Listing	Section 4.5(a)

 

 

Purchased Shares	Recitals
Purchaser A	Preamble
Purchaser B	Preamble
Purchaser(s)	Preamble
Records	Section 2.2(h)
Request Notice	Section 1.2(a)
Requesting Holder	Section 1.4(f)(i)
Resale Shelf Registration Statement	Section 1.4(a)
Rules	Section 5.1(b)
Series A Preferred Shares	Recitals
Series A Preferred Shares Registrable Securities	Section 1.2(b)
Series A Preferred Shares Registration Rights	Recitals
Shelf Offering	Section 1.4(g)
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement	Section 1.4(c)
Transfer Restrictions	Section 1.4(f)(i)

 

 

Exhibit B

 

FORM OF JOINDER TO INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement dated as of ___________, 2023 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Investor Rights Agreement”), among VNET GROUP, INC., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), Purchaser A and Purchaser B. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Investor Rights Agreement.

 

By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with [the provisions of the Investor Rights Agreement as a Purchaser (for the avoidance of doubt, the registration rights granted under Articles I to III of the Investor Rights Agreement shall only apply with respect to the Registrable Securities)] / [Articles I to III of the Investor Rights Agreement only as a Holder] in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Investor Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s ____ [Class A Ordinary Shares] / [ADSs] shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Investor Rights Agreement.

 

Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the ___ day of ____________, ____.

 

[NAME OF JOINING PARTY]
By:
Its:

 

Agreed and accepted by
VNET GROUP, INC.
By:
Its:

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.3

 

Execution Version

 

VOTING AND CONSORTIUM AGREEMENT

 

THIS VOTING AND CONSORTIUM AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made on November 16, 2023:

 

BETWEEN:

 

1.

Mr. Sheng Chen, citizen of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) with ID Card No. 110108196807271450 (the “Founder”);

 

2.

GenTao Capital Limited, a business company with limited liability incorporated under the Laws of British Virgin Islands (the “Founder Entity 1”);

 

3.

Fast Horse Technology Limited, a business company with limited liability incorporated under the Laws of British Virgin Islands (the “Founder Entity 2”);

 

4.

Sunrise Corporate Holding Ltd., a business company with limited liability incorporated under the Laws of British Virgin Islands (the “Founder Entity 3”);

 

5.

Personal Group Limited, a business company with limited liability incorporated under the Laws of British Virgin Islands (the “Founder Entity 4”, together with the Founder Entity 1, the Founder Entity 2, the Founder Entity 3, the “Founder Entities”; the Founder Entities, together with the Founder, the “Founder Parties”);

 

6.

Success Flow International Investment Limited, a BVI Business Company incorporated under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Investor A”); and

 

7.

Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited, a BVI Business Company incorporated under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Investor B”, and together with Investor A, the “Investors”).

 

Each party is referred to herein individually as a party (a “Party”) and collectively as the Parties (the “Parties”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the same meaning assigned to such term in the Investment Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS,

 

1.

In connection with an Investment Agreement, made as of November 16, 2023 (the “Investment Agreement”), by and among the Investors and VNET Group, Inc., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”) under which the Investors agreed to purchase in aggregate 650,424,192 Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Purchased Shares”) subject to the terms and conditions thereof. The Investors and the Company also entered into an Investor Rights Agreement dated as of November 16, 2023 (the “Investor Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company agreed to grant to the Investors certain investor rights as set forth therein. In accordance with the Investment Agreement, 70% of the Purchased Shares will be beneficially owned by Investor A (the “Relevant Shares”), and the remaining 30% of the Purchased Shares will be beneficially owned by Investor B.

 

2.

As of the date hereof, (a)(i) Founder Entity 1 holds one (1) Class A Ordinary Share, (ii) Founder Entity 2 holds 19,670,117 Class B ordinary shares of the Company with a par value of US$0.00001 each (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”), (iii) Founder Entity 3 holds 8,087,875 Class B Ordinary Shares, and (iv) Founder Entity 4 holds four (4) Class A Ordinary Shares, 769,486 Class B Ordinary Shares and 60,000 Class C ordinary shares of the Company with a par value of US$0.00001 each; and (b) the Founder is the sole and direct shareholder of each of the Founder Entities and the chairman of the Board of the Company.

 

 

3.

Investor A has agreed with the Company to comply with certain restrictions as to its voting and transfer of the Relevant Shares, with such restrictions to commence upon the Closing and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Investment Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Investment Agreement and Investor Rights Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree unanimously to the following:

 

Article I
VOTING

 

1.1

Upon expiration or termination of the Interim Period solely pursuant to Section 3.5(a)(x) or Section 3.5(c)(i) of the Investment Agreement, and ending, subject to Section 1.7, upon the date that falls on the third (3rd) anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Voting Term”), Investor A agrees and undertakes that, with respect to all of the Relevant Shares (for the purposes of this Agreement including Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement:

 

(a)

unless otherwise agreed by the Founder in writing, when and to the extent that Investor A, in its capacity as holder of the Relevant Shares, is entitled to vote in accordance with the M&AA and applicable Laws, whether at shareholders meetings of the Company, by written resolutions of shareholders of the Company or consent or in such other manner as may be permitted by the applicable Laws, Investor A shall vote in accordance with any voting instructions provided by the Founder Parties in writing (the “Voting Instructions”). The Voting Instructions shall include all relevant and sufficient details to enable Investor A to so vote and shall be delivered at least ten (10) Business Days before the date on which such voting is set to be made (or the date by when the written resolutions or consent is requested or required to be returned to the Company, as applicable) (such date, the “Voting Date”); provided that Voting Instructions shall be deemed effective solely in respect of the immediately succeeding shareholder meeting (or equivalent shareholder voting occasion) and any adjournments thereof, and any instructions indicated therein applicable to one or more voting occasions subsequent thereto shall be disregarded and deemed ineffective for purposes of Investor A’s obligations set forth in this Section 1.1;

 

(b)

Investor A shall be entitled to at any time and from time to time prior to the Voting Date, share with the Founder Parties their views on any or all of the resolutions of shareholders being proposed and provide their recommendations; provided that the Founder Parties shall retain the ultimate discretion with respect to the Voting Instructions;

 

(c)

upon the receipt of the Voting Instructions from the Founder Parties, Investor A shall as soon as reasonably practicable and, in any event, by no less than five (5) Business Days before the Voting Date, (i) appoint the Founder, or such designee as the Founder may designate in the Voting Instructions, as a proxy and issue a proxy (if required) and a power of attorney (substantially in the form as set forth in Exhibit A hereto) (such documents, the “Proxy Documents”) to authorize the Founder or such Founder’s designee to exercise voting rights attached to the Relevant Shares on behalf of itself at the Voting Date and solely in accordance with the Voting Instructions; or (ii) as applicable, where such Relevant Shares are held in the form of ADS and in the name of any broker-dealer on behalf of Investor A, instruct and direct any such holder of record of such Relevant Shares to vote such shares in accordance with the Voting Instructions or execute the Proxy Documents with respect to such shares to authorize the Founder or such Founder’s designee to vote on behalf of such holder of record at the Voting Date and solely in accordance with the Voting Instructions (the authorization as contemplated under this Section 1.1(c), the “Authorization”);

 

 

(d)

if Investor A fails to deliver the Proxy Documents in accordance with Section 1.1(c), the Founder (or such designee as the Founder may designate in the Voting Instructions) shall be deemed to have been appointed as Investor A’s proxy as if the Proxy Documents had been issued in accordance with Section 1.1(c) and the Founder or such Founder’s designee shall accordingly be entitled to exercise voting rights attached to the Relevant Shares on behalf of Investor A at the Voting Date; provided that the foregoing shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, relieve the Founder or such Founder’s designee from the obligation to act solely in accordance with the Voting Instructions;

 

(e)

notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree and acknowledge that, during the Voting Term, Investor A shall be entitled to independently exercise the votes attached to the Relevant Shares at its sole and absolute discretion, whether at shareholders meetings of the Company, by written resolutions of shareholders of the Company or consent or in such other manner as may be permitted by the applicable Laws, if the applicable subject matter concerns an Investor Matter; “Investor Matters” shall mean such matters as set forth in Sections 3.5(b)(i) to 3.5(b)(iv) of the Investment Agreement; and

 

(f)

if the Founder disputes any exercise of voting power by Investor A pursuant to Section 1.1(e) and provided that such dispute cannot be resolved by good faith discussions, then the Founder may seek to resolve such dispute pursuant to Section 3.1; and without limiting the foregoing, if Investor A does exercise the votes attached to the Relevant Shares pursuant to Section 1.1(e) during the pendency of such dispute, then, if reasonably requested by the Founder prior to exercising such votes, Investor A shall provide to the Founder (on a without prejudice basis) a legal opinion by a reputable legal advisor endorsing that such exercise of voting power by Investor A is in accordance with Section 1.1(e); provided, that, nothing in this Section 1.1(f) shall require Investor A to provide or disclose any other information or document or take any other action that may affect or infringe attorney-client or similar privilege.

 

1.2

For the avoidance of doubt, Investor B is entitled to exercise its voting rights attached to such Equity Securities of the Company held by it (including any Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs) from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion whether at shareholders meetings of the Company, by written resolutions of shareholders of the Company or consent or in such other manner as may be permitted by the applicable Laws, as the case may be.

 

1.3

So long as Section 1.1 or Section 1.6 remains in effect in accordance with the provisions hereof, in the event that Investor A Transfers any or all of the Relevant Shares to any Permitted Transferee of Investor A, Investor A shall procure such transferee to agree in writing to be bound by, and subject to, those Sections under this Article I that remain in effect.

 

1.4

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event that Investor A Transfers (subject to Section 3.6(b) of the Investment Agreement) any or all of the Relevant Shares to any party after the expiration or termination of the term of the applicable transfer restrictions set out in Section 3.6(a) of the Investment Agreement, whether in an on-market transaction through a public securities exchange, through a broker-dealer or otherwise in a similar transaction (including a sale to the public market through an effective registration statement of the Company or a bona fide sale to the public market without registration effectuated in the broker’s transactions pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) or in an off-market/private transaction, such subsequent transferee shall not be subject to this Article I with respect to the Relevant Shares so Transferred.

 

 

1.5

The Parties hereby agree that, so long as Section 1.1 remains in effect or in operation, during the ninety (90)-day period immediately preceding the expiration of the Voting Term (the “Negotiation Period”):

 

(a)

the Investors shall work with the Founder and the Company to assess whether the expiration of the Authorization would cause any Company Default;

 

(b)

if all of the Investors, the Founder and the Company agree that the expiration of the Authorization would not cause any Company Default, Section 1.1 and accordingly Section 1.3 (and for the avoidance of doubt, this Section 1.5 and Section 1.6) shall expire and terminate in accordance with the terms thereof), and the Investors shall have no further obligations under this Article I upon the expiration of the Voting Term and for the avoidance of doubt shall then be entitled to exercise the voting rights attached to such Equity Securities held by them (including any Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs) from time to time in their sole and absolute discretion whether at shareholders meetings of the Company, by written resolutions of shareholders of the Company or consent or in such other manner as may be permitted by the applicable Laws, as the case may be; and

 

(c)

if any of the Investors, the Founder or the Company, acting reasonably, determines that the expiration of the Authorization would cause a Company Default (in which case such determining party shall provide to the other parties in writing their analysis with reasonable details which shall be endorsed by such determining party’s reputable legal and/or other relevant advisors), then:

 

(i)

if the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, the Investors shall discuss with the Founder and the Company in good faith commercially reasonable solutions to prevent the Company Default upon the expiration of the Authorization, including, by way of illustration only and subject always to such discussions in good faith, an extension of the Voting Term, an increase of the Founder Parties’ shareholding in the Company or a reduction of the shareholding of the Investors; provided, that, the foregoing shall in no event require the Investors to take any actions that would result in them failing to satisfy the Minimum Shareholding Requirement; provided further, that, each of the Investors and the Founder (and the Founder shall procure that the Company) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such assistance, cooperation and support as may be reasonably required to conduct such discussions, including to furnish such information or documentation, to respond to such requests, to attend such meetings and/or to arrange direct contact with such other parties, in each case, as may be reasonably required for the purposes of facilitating such discussions; and

 

(ii)

in the event that such solutions have been agreed among the Investors, the Founder and the Company, each such party (and the Founder shall procure that the Company) shall cooperate and use their respective best efforts to implement such solutions to the extent permitted by applicable Laws; and in the event such solutions would require the Investors to dispose any or all of the Equity Securities they then hold in the Company, they shall be allowed to do so notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.6(a) of the Investment Agreement.

 

 

1.6

In the event that no solution can be or has been agreed in accordance with Section 1.5(c)(i) upon the expiration of the Negotiation Period, the Parties hereby agree that for the three (3)-month period following the Negotiation Period (the “Deadlock Period”):

 

(a)

the voting arrangement under Section 1.1 shall remain in effect (for the avoidance of doubt, without prejudice to Section 1.1(e), Section 1.2, Section 1.3 and Section 1.4);

 

(b)

the Investors and the Founder (and the Founder shall procure that the Company) shall continue to discuss in good faith commercially reasonable solutions to prevent the Company Default; provided, that, the foregoing shall in no event require the Investors to take any actions that would result in them failing to satisfy the Minimum Shareholding Requirement; and

 

(c)

in the event that such solutions have been agreed among the Investors, the Founder and the Company, each such party (and the Founder shall procure that the Company) shall cooperate and use their respective best efforts to implement such solutions to the extent permitted by applicable Laws; for the avoidance of doubt, (i) in the event where the Investors are to dispose any of the Equity Securities they then hold in the Company, they shall be allowed to do so notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.6(a) of the Investment Agreement and (ii) upon the expiration of the Deadlock Period, the Investors shall have no further obligations under this Section 1.6 (and this Section 1.6 shall terminate accordingly) and Investor A shall be entitled to exercise its voting rights attached to such Equity Securities held by it (including any Class A Ordinary Shares held in the form of ADSs) from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion whether at shareholders meetings of the Company, by written resolutions of shareholders of the Company or consent or in such other manner as may be permitted by the applicable Laws, as the case may be.

 

1.7

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Section 1.1, Section 1.3, Section 1.5 and Section 1.6 shall terminate automatically and irrevocably upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(a)

when Investor A and the Founder unanimously agree to such termination in writing;

 

(b)

any such event as set forth in Sections 3.5(c)(iii) to 3.5(c)(v) of the Investment Agreement; or

 

(c)

any material breach or default by any of the Founder Parties of any arrangement or agreement with any of the Investors, its Affiliates and/or entities of which the beneficial interests are ultimately attributed to any of the Investors and/or its Affiliates.

 

1.8

The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither Investor shall be responsible for or liable to any Person in connection with the performance by Investor A of its obligations under Section 1.1 or Section 1.6(a) and accordingly in respect of any applicable shareholder decisions so made during the Voting Term or the Deadlock Period, whether at shareholder meetings of the Company, by written resolutions of shareholders of the Company or consent or in such other manner as may be permitted by the applicable Laws, or any procedural matters in relation thereto. The Founder Parties shall not initiate (or cause to be initiated) any action, claim or proceedings against any Investor on any ground or cause of actions arising out of or in connection with, and the Founder Parties shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Investor Indemnified Party against any Losses arising out of, the performance by Investor A of such obligations, regardless of whether such performance has resulted or would or would reasonably be expected to result in any Losses to the Founder Parties, provided the foregoing shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, relieve Investor A of any of its obligations under Section 1.1 or Section 1.6(a).

 

 

Article II
ADDITIONAL FOUNDER PARTIES UNDERTAKING

 

2.1

The Founder Parties each hereby undertakes to each of the Investors that, for so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied:

 

(a)

the Founder and his Family Member(s) (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) shall, at all times, directly or indirectly, together beneficially own no less than eighty percent (80%) of such number of Equity Securities (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) (calculated on a fully diluted and as-converted basis) held directly or indirectly by him and his Family Member(s) as of the date of the Investment Agreement (it being understood that for the purposes of this Section 2.1(a), any Equity Securities held, directly or indirectly by the Founder and his Family Member(s) but used as collateral given (which has not been enforced on) for any indebtedness or similar financing incurred by the Founder (which shall be with or from a bona fide third party and be negotiated at an arms’-length basis) will be deemed as held by him and his Family Member(s), as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act); for the avoidance of doubt, when calculating the Equity Securities beneficially owned by the Founder and his Family Member(s) for the purposes of this Section 2.1(a), any Equity Securities beneficially owned by the Investors shall be disregarded;

 

(b)

the Founder Parties shall not take (or cause to be taken) any actions that would restrict, inhibit, terminate or otherwise adversely affect or prejudice any rights, powers, preferences or privileges enjoyed by, or actions or entitlements of, either Investor under the Investor Rights Agreement, including but not limited to any such actions that may result in the removal of the Investor Director and/or Investor Officer (each as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement); and

 

(c)

without prejudice to Section 4.5 of the Investor Rights Agreement, in the event that any entity Controlled by any Founder Parties (each, a “Founder InvestCo”) proposes to undertake an initial public offering or listing in Hong Kong, PRC or any other jurisdiction (such Founder InvestCo, the “Founder ListCo” and such proposed offering or listing, the “Sorrento Listing”):

 

(i)

the Founder Parties shall as soon as practicable notify the Investors of the Sorrento Listing (“Investors Participation Notice”) and each Investor shall have the right, but no obligation, to participate in the investment in such Founder ListCo by exchanging all or a portion of such Investor’s Equity Securities in the Company to the Equity Securities in such Founder ListCo to the extent permitted by the applicable Laws and the listing rules of the relevant securities exchange and subject to the approval of any Governmental Authority (the “Investors Participation”) and the Parties hereby agree that, such right shall remain applicable in respect of one or more Founder ListCo(s); provided that Investors Participation in any Founder ListCo will not result in a lost of Control by the Founder therein and Investors Participation in each listing attempt of a Founder ListCo may only be exercised once (it being understood that, for any Founder ListCo, until such Founder ListCo has completed its listing or the Investors have completed the Investors Participation in such Founder ListCo, the Founder shall (and shall procure that such Founder ListCo shall) offer the Investors the right to Investors Participation in each listing attempt of that Founder ListCo);

 

 

(ii)

the Founder Parties shall, and shall procure the Founder ListCo and other relevant Founder InvestCos to, (A) provide, in a timely manner, such information and documentation as either Investor may from time to time reasonably request in connection with the Sorrento Listing, and (B) if an Investor elects to participate by Investors Participation, reasonably update such Investor on the progress and status of the Sorrento Listing, in each case, to the extent permitted by applicable Laws and listing rules;

 

(iii)

the relevant Investor(s) and the Founder (and the Founder shall procure that the Founder ListCo) shall negotiate in good faith the terms and conditions of the Investors Participation which, if applicable, shall be no less favorable than those terms and conditions offered or granted to any other shareholders of the Company who is entitled to the same or similar right to Investors Participation, taking into account then fair market value of the Company and the Founder ListCo as at the consummation of the Sorrento Listing, the tax implications (it being understood that the Investors Participation shall, to the largest extent permitted by applicable Laws, be structured in a tax efficient manner in the benefit of the Investors) and other aspects (including without limitation the requirements under the applicable Laws, and the necessary approval of any Governmental Authority). The Founder shall and shall procure that the Founder ListCo shall cooperate with such Investor elected to participate in the Investors Participations with respect to the Investors Participation, and to the extent permitted by the applicable Laws and the listing rules of the relevant securities exchange and subject to the approval of any Governmental Authority, to complete or effectuate the Investors Participation if elected by an Investor, including, in each case, to take all necessary actions to ensure that the exercise by the Investors of such rights to Investors Participation in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.1(c) will not be unreasonably restricted, impaired or inhibited including under any arrangement or agreement to which the Founder ListCo is a party;

 

(iv)

notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties hereby agree that for the purposes of each Investors Participation:

 

(A)

the fair market value of the shares of the Founder ListCo shall be determined by either of the following ways at the election of the Investors:

 

(x)

in the event where the Founder ListCo has completed a round of equity financing with a total net proceeds of that round being an amount exceeding US$30 million (“Qualified Financing”), then the fair market value of each share of Founder ListCo shall be (1) (if such Qualified Financing takes place within the past six (6) months of the Investors Participation Notice) the per share subscription price used therein; or (2) (if otherwise) the sum of (I) the per share subscription price used therein and (II) an additional amount accruing at 8% per annum, compounded annually, or

 

(y)

the fair market value of Founder ListCo shall be the average of the valuation determined by two Big Four Accounting Firm, with one to be selected by the Founder Parties and the other to be selected by the Investors; and

 

(B)

the fair market value of the Company shall be calculated with reference to such trading price of the ADSs of the Company being the average of the Daily VWAP for the ninety (90) consecutive Trading Days ending on and including the Trading Day last preceding the date of the definitive agreement in respect of the Investors Participation.

 

 

For the purposes herein,

 

“Big Four Accounting Firm” shall mean Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young, KPMG, or PricewaterhouseCoopers (or their respective successors);

 

“Daily VWAP” shall mean on any given Trading Day, the consolidated volume weighted average price per ADS as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on the Bloomberg page for the “<equity> AQR” page corresponding to the “ticker” for such ADSs (or its equivalent successor if Bloomberg ceases to publish such price, or such page is not available) in respect of the period for the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the closing price of one ADS of such ADSs on such Trading Day (the “volume weighted average price” shall be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours); and

 

“Trading Day” shall mean a day on which the NASDAQ where the ADSs are traded at the relevant time is open for business.

 

(v)

the relevant Investor(s) and the Founder Parties (and the Founder Parties shall procure that the Founder ListCo, the Company and if applicable, other Founder InvestCos) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Investors Participation prior to the initial public offering of the Founder ListCo or by such earlier time as may be required by the listing rules of the relevant securities exchange (failing which the Investors Participation shall take place simultaneously with the Sorrento Listing);

 

provided, however, that the Founder Parties shall not be deemed to be in breach of this Section 2.1(c) if, after having exercised commercially reasonable efforts, the Founder Parties fail to obtain, following any appeal on a commercially reasonable basis, in relation thereto, the approval of any Governmental Authority necessary for the Investors’ Participation, if any; and provided further that the undertakings from the Founder Parties under Section 2.1 shall be terminated immediately and permanently upon the Investors ceasing to satisfy the Minimum Shareholding Requirement and shall forthwith become null, void and unrestorable, regardless whether the Minimum Shareholding Requirement becomes satisfied thereafter, provided that it is not caused solely by one or more new issuances of Equity Securities of the Company.

 

2.2

The Founder Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that each Investor may without the prior written consent of the Founder Parties assign all or any part of its rights under this Article II to a Permitted Transferee of such Investor.

 

2.3

Upon Closing and for so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) is satisfied, the Investors shall not, and shall direct their assigns and successors not to, during the Voting Term and if applicable, the Deadlock Period, in their capacity as shareholders of the Company, initiate or support any proposal (including by voting of the Relevant Shares) or action that would result in a Company Default. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation of the Investors in this Section 2.3 shall not affect or prejudice any rights or interests of any Investor under any agreement between it and the Company or its Affiliate (including any Transaction Document) and the termination or expiration of the Voting Term or Deadlock Period under and in accordance with the terms of Article I shall accordingly terminate this Section 2.3.

 

 

2.4

The Founder Parties hereby acknowledge to the Investors that (a) there is no voting arrangement or agreement between, any Founder Parties or any entity Controlled by any Founder Parties, on the one hand and any third parties, on the other hand; and (b) for so long as the Minimum Shareholding Requirement is satisfied, the Founder Parties shall not (and shall procure that any such entity Controlled by any Founder Parties shall not) enter into any such voting arrangement or agreement unless with prior written consent of the Investors (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided, however, that the foregoing (a) and (b) shall not apply to the existing voting arrangements between the relevant Founder Parties and Beacon Capital Group Inc., a business company with limited liability incorporated under the Laws of British Virgin Islands, as disclosed to the Investors with sufficient details to their reasonable satisfaction on or before the date hereof.

 

2.5

The Founder Parties hereby represent and warrant to the Investors that paragraph 2 of the recitals hereof is and will remain true, accurate and complete as of the date hereof and the Closing Date in respect of the Founder Parties’ equity interest in the Company and the Founder further represents and warrants to the Investors that as of such dates, no Family Member (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) of the Founder holds, directly or indirectly, any Equity Security of the Company. The Parties hereby agree that the Founder may, following the date of this Agreement, deposit or settle all or part of his existing equity interest in the Company into a trust or similar arrangement to be established for the benefit of himself and/or other Family Members so long as a prior written notice is provided to the Investors.

 

Article III

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

3.1

Governing Law; Jurisdiction.

 

(a)

This Agreement shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under any applicable conflict of laws principles.

 

(b)

Any disputes, actions and proceedings against any Party or arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement shall be submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and resolved in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of HKIAC in force at the relevant time and as may be amended by this Section 3.1(b) (the “Rules”). The place of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The official language of the arbitration shall be English and the tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators (each, an “Arbitrator”). The claimant(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one (1) Arbitrator; the respondent(s), irrespective of number, shall nominate jointly one (1) Arbitrator; and a third Arbitrator will be nominated jointly by the first two Arbitrators and shall serve as chairman of the arbitration tribunal. In the event the claimant(s) or respondent(s) or the first two Arbitrators shall fail to nominate or agree the joint nomination of an Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator within the time limits specified by the Rules, such Arbitrator shall be appointed promptly by the HKIAC. The arbitration tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive or other punitive-type damages. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties. Any party to an award may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award and, for purposes of the enforcement of such award, the Parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of any court of competent jurisdiction and waive any defenses to such enforcement based on lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.

 

 

3.2

Effective Date; Termination. This Agreement shall only take effect upon occurrence of the Closing (other than in respect of Section 2.5 and the provisions under Article III which shall come into effect as of the date hereof). In the event Closing has not occurred on or prior to the Long Stop Date and the Investment Agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms thereunder, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the termination of the Investment Agreement.

 

3.3

Amendment. This Agreement shall not be amended, changed or modified, except by another agreement in writing executed by the Parties.

 

3.4

Assignment. Except as expressly set forth herein, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, duties or obligations hereunder may be assigned by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties.

 

3.5

Founder Parties. Any obligations of any of the Founder Parties hereunder shall be joint and several obligations of all of them.

 

3.6

No Third Party Beneficiaries. No provision of this Agreement shall confer upon any person other than the Parties, their permitted assigns and successors any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

3.7

Expenses. Except as otherwise specified herein, all costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs and expenses.

 

3.8

Incorporated Definitions. All defined terms that are incorporated from other agreements into this Agreement by reference shall have the meanings assigned to such terms as of the date hereof but shall not be modified by any subsequent amendment or modification that takes place after the date hereof (except for such amendments or modifications that are clerical in nature) unless consented to by the Parties hereto.

 

 

3.9

Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date of actual delivery if delivered personally to the Party hereto to whom notice is to be given, on the date sent if sent by telecopier, tested telex or prepaid telegram, when sent if sent by e-mail, on the next Business Day following delivery to properly addressed or on the day of attempted delivery internationally recognized courier with postage paid and properly addressed as follows:

 

If to the Founder Parties, at:	Address: Guanjie Building, Southeast 1st Floor, 10# Jiuxianqiao East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016 Attention: Sheng Chen / Weiyan Lin Email: josh.chen@vnet.com / lin.weiyan@vnet.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:	K&L Gates 44/F., Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark 15 Queen’s Road Central Central, Hong Kong Attention: Virginia Tam Email: virginia.tam@klgates.com
If to the Investors, at:	Address: 38/F, The Center, 99 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong Attention: Yu Tian Email: yutian@sdhg.com.hk
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:	White & Case 16th Floor, York House The Landmark 15 Queen’s Road Central Central, Hong Kong Attention: Jessica Zhou; Steven Sha Email: jessica.zhou@whitecase.com; steven.sha@whitecase.com

 

3.10

Other miscellaneous provisions. The provisions set forth in Sections 6.6, 6.7, 6.10, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.17 and 7.2 of the Investment Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis to this Agreement as if set forth in full in this Section 3.10 provided that all references to the “Company” therein shall be construed as references to “Founder Parties” for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Pages to Follow]

 

 

Executed by SHENG CHEN, an individual
Sheng Chen		/s/ Sheng Chen
(PRINT NAME)		Sheng Chen

 

[Signature Page to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by GENTAO CAPITAL LIMITED, acting by
Sheng Chen		/s/ Sheng Chen
(PRINT NAME)		Authorized Signatory
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company

 

[Signature Page to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by FAST HORSE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, acting by
Sheng Chen		/s/ Sheng Chen
(PRINT NAME)		Authorized Signatory
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company

 

[Signature Page to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by SUNRISE CORPORATE HOLDING LTD., acting by
Sheng Chen		/s/ Sheng Chen
(PRINT NAME)		Authorized Signatory
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company

 

[Signature Page to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by PERSONAL GROUP LIMITED, acting by
Sheng Chen		/s/ Sheng Chen
(PRINT NAME)		Authorized Signatory
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company

 

[Signature Page to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by SUCCESS FLOW INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITED, acting by
Liu Yao		/s/ Liu Yao
(PRINT NAME)		Authorized Signatory
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company

 

[Signature Page to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by CHOICE FAITH GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, acting by
Liu Yao		/s/ Liu Yao
(PRINT NAME)		Authorized Signatory
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company

 

 

[Signature Page to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

This Power of Attorney is made and executed on [●], 2023 by [Name of the Investor], a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the [●] (the “Investor”), a holder of [●] Class A ordinary shares of VNET Group, Inc., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”) (such Class A ordinary shares, the “Investor Shares”), pursuant to the Voting and Consortium Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated [●], 2023, by and between Investor A and each of the Founder Parties. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement.

 

The Investor acknowledges the Voting Instructions delivered to the Investor from the Founder on [●], 2023 in relation to:

 

[excerpt of the subject matter of the vote] (the “Subject Matter”).

 

The Investor acknowledges that in connection with the above-mentioned matter, the Founder instructs the Investor to vote as follows:

 

[excerpt of the voting instructions] (the “Instructions”).

 

The Investor hereby authorizes and make, constitute and appoint Mr. Sheng Chen, citizen of the People’s Republic of China with ID Card No. [●] or [●], his designee as specified in the Voting Instructions, as its true and lawful attorney with power and authority to exercise the following rights related to [●] Class A ordinary shares of the Company (the “Investor Shares”):

 

act on the Investor’s behalf as its exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters solely concerning voting the Investor Shares in accordance with the Instructions in relation to the Subject Matter, including but not limited to: (i) attending the shareholders’ meetings of the Company (including any adjournments thereto), and (ii) exercising voting rights attached to all the Investor Shares on behalf of the Investor at shareholders meetings of the Company, by written resolutions of shareholders of the Company or consent or in such other manner as may be permitted by the applicable law.

 

All the actions conducted by Mr. Sheng Chen or [●], his designee in relation to the Investor Shares pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be deemed as the Investor’s own actions, and all documents executed by Mr. Sheng Chen or such designee shall be deemed to be executed by the Investor and shall be valid and binding on the Investor. The Investor hereby acknowledges and confirms those actions and documents.

 

This Power of Attorney shall be terminated on the earliest of: (i) the exercise of the voting rights attached to the Investor Shares on behalf of the Investor in accordance with the Instructions; (ii) the cancellation (for the avoidance of doubt excluding adjournment) of the relevant shareholder meeting where the Subject Matter will be voted upon, or the withdrawal of the Subject Matter from the consideration of the shareholders; and (iii) [ten (10)] Business Days after the date hereof.

 

During the term of this Power of Attorney, the Investor hereby waives all the rights associated with the relevant Investor Shares which have been entrusted to Mr. Sheng Chen or his designee through this Power of Attorney, and the Investor shall not exercise such rights.

 

	Executed and delivered as a deed by:
	[Name of the Investor]
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.4

 

SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT TO VOTING AND CONSORTIUM AGREEMENT

 

THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT (this “Supplemental Agreement”) is made on December 28, 2023, Hong Kong,

 

AMONG:

 

1.

Mr. Sheng Chen, citizen of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) with ID Card No. 110108196807271450;

 

2.

GenTao Capital Limited, a business company with limited liability incorporated under the Laws of British Virgin Islands;

 

3.

Fast Horse Technology Limited, a business company with limited liability incorporated under the Laws of British Virgin Islands;

 

4.

Sunrise Corporate Holding Ltd., a business company with limited liability incorporated under the Laws of British Virgin Islands;

 

5.

Personal Group Limited, a business company with limited liability incorporated under the Laws of British Virgin Islands;

 

6.

Success Flow International Investment Limited, a BVI Business Company incorporated under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands; and

 

7.

Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited, a BVI Business Company incorporated under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands.

 

Each party is referred to herein individually as a party (a “Party”) and collectively as the Parties (the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS,

 

A.

The Parties have entered into a voting and consortium agreement dated November 16, 2023 (the “Voting and Consortium Agreement”); and

 

B.

The Parties have agreed to amend certain provisions of the Voting and Consortium Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Supplemental Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Voting and Consortium Agreement, the Investment Agreement and Investor Rights Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree to the following:

 

1.

Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Supplemental Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in the Voting and Consortium Agreement, as amended hereby.

 

2.

Amendment to the Voting and Consortium Agreement.

 

(a)

The following phrases under Clause 1.1 of the Voting and Consortium Agreement:

 

“Upon expiration or termination of the Interim Period solely pursuant to Section 3.5(a)(x) or Section 3.5(c)(i) of the Investment Agreement, and ending, subject to Section 1.7, upon the date that falls on the third (3^rd) anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Voting Term”),”

 

 

shall be deleted in its entirety, and replaced by the following:

 

“Commencing upon the later of (i) the expiration or termination of the Interim Period solely pursuant to Section 3.5(a)(x) or Section 3.5(c)(i) of the Investment Agreement and (ii) the occurrence of the Triggering Events, and ending, subject to Section 1.7, upon the date that falls on the third (3^rd) anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Voting Term”),”

 

(b)

The following paragraph shall be added to the end of Clause 1.1 of the Voting and Consortium Agreement:

 

“For the purposes of this Clause 1.1, “Triggering Events” shall mean the entry by the Company of a framework agreement with a third party with a prior written notice to Investor A, pursuant to which the parties agree to enter into a long-term strategic partnership for at least two years in relation to the low carbon strategy of the Company and/or the expansion of the operations of the Company in Hong Kong, Taiwan and/or other territories outside mainland China.”

 

3.

Interpretation. References to “this Agreement” in the Voting and Consortium Agreement or words of similar import mean the Voting and Consortium Agreement as amended by this Supplemental Agreement.

 

4.

Other Provisions Unaffected. Except as amended hereby, the Voting and Consortium Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

 

5.

Miscellaneous. The provisions of Clauses 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9 and 3.10 of the Voting and Consortium Agreement shall apply to this Supplemental Agreement mutatis mutandis as if set forth herein and all references in such Clauses to “this Agreement” for the purposes of this Supplemental Agreement shall be deemed references to this Supplemental Agreement.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

 

IN WITNESS of which the Parties have executed this Supplemental Agreement on the date first mentioned above.

 

Executed by SHENG CHEN, an individual
Sheng Chen		/s/ Sheng Chen
(PRINT NAME)		Sheng Chen

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Agreement to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by GENTAO CAPITAL LIMITED, acting by
Sheng Chen
(PRINT NAME)
		/s/ Sheng Chen
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company		Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Agreement to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by FAST HORSE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, acting by
Sheng Chen
(PRINT NAME)
		/s/ Sheng Chen
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company		Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Agreement to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by SUNRISE CORPORATE HOLDING LTD., acting by
Sheng Chen
(PRINT NAME)
		/s/ Sheng Chen
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company		Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Agreement to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by PERSONAL GROUP LIMITED, acting by
Sheng Chen
(PRINT NAME)
		/s/ Sheng Chen
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company		Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Agreement to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by SUCCESS FLOW INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITED, acting by
Liu Yao
(PRINT NAME)
		/s/ Liu Yao
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company		Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Agreement to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

Executed by CHOICE FAITH GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, acting by
Liu Yao
(PRINT NAME)
		/s/ Liu Yao
who, in accordance with the laws of that territory, is acting under the authority of that company		Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Agreement to Voting and Consortium Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.5

 

AGREEMENT OF JOINT FILING

 

The parties listed below agree that the Schedule 13D to which this agreement is attached as an exhibit, and all further amendments thereto, shall be filed on behalf of each of them. This Agreement is intended to satisfy Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

	Dated: January 5, 2024
	Success Flow International Investment Limited
	By:	/s/ Zhijie Liu
	Name: Zhijie Liu
	Title: Authorized Signatory
	Choice Faith Group Holdings Limited
	By:	/s/ Zhijie Liu
	Name: Zhijie Liu
	Title: Authorized Signatory
	Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings Group Limited
	By:	/s/ Zhijie Liu
	Name: Zhijie Liu
	Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

---