PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT
This agreement (the "Agreement"), made as of this 19th day of December 2005, by
and between China Natural Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation with a subsidiary
company incorporated in the People's Republic of China ("PRC") (the "Company"),
with its principal place of business in Xian, Shaanxi, PRC and New York Global
Securities, Inc., (the "Placement Agent"), a Delaware corporation, with its
principal place of business at 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, x0xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX,
confirms the understanding and agreement between the Company and the Placement
Agent as follows:
SECTION I
The Company hereby engages the Placement Agent as the Company's placement agent
in connection with a proposed private placement in the United States (the
"Offering") of up to Fifteen Million dollars (US$15,000,000) of the Company's
securities (the "Financing"). The Offering will be made to solely "accredited
investors" (the "Accredited Investors"), as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)
of Regulation D ("Regulation D") promulgated under the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), pursuant to an exemption from
registration under applicable federal and state securities laws available under
Rule 506 of Regulation D and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The
Placement Agent hereby accepts such engagement upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement. This Agreement shall not give rise to any commitment or
obligation by the Placement Agent to purchase any of the Financing or, except as
set forth herein, to find purchasers for the Financing.
The Placement Agent shall provide the following services (the "Services"):
(a) Advise the Company with regard to the size of the Offering and the structure
and terms of the Financing in light of the current market environment;
(b) Assist the Company in identifying and evaluating prospective qualified
Accredited Investors;
(c) Approach such investors on a "best efforts basis" regarding an investment in
the Company; and
(d) Work with the Company to develop a negotiating strategy and assist with the
negotiations with such potential investors.
In connection with the Placement Agent providing the Services, the Company
agrees to keep the Placement Agent up to date and apprised of all material
business, market and legal developments related to the Company and its
operations and management. The Placement Agent shall devote such time and
effort, as it deems commercially reasonable under the circumstances in rendering
the Services. The Placement Agent shall not provide any work that is in the
ordinary purview of a certified public accountant. The Placement Agent cannot
guarantee results on behalf of the Company, but shall pursue all avenues that it
deems reasonable through its network of contacts.
SECTION II
The Placement Agent, its affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf
hereby represent, warrant and agree as follows (the "Placement Agent Parties"):
(a) The Financing offered and sold by the Placement Agent have been and will be
offered and sold in compliance with all federal and state securities laws and
regulations governing the registration and conduct of broker-dealers, and each
Placement Agent Party making an offer or sale of Financing was or will be, at
the time of any such offer or sale, registered as a broker-dealer pursuant to
Section 15(b) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), and under the laws of each applicable state of the United
States (unless exempted from the respective state's broker-dealer registration
requirements), and in good standing with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc.
(b) The Financing offered and sold by the Placement Agent have been and will be
offered and sold only to Accredited Investors in accordance with Rule 506 of
Regulation D and applicable state securities laws; provided, however, the
Company shall make all necessary filings under Rule 503 of Regulation D and such
similar notice filings under applicable state securities laws. The Placement
Agent Parties represent and warrant that they have reasonable grounds to believe
and do believe that each person to whom a sale, offer or solicitation of an
offer to purchase Financing was or will he made was and is an Accredited
Investor. Prior to the sale and delivery of a Debenture to any such investor,
the Placement Agent Parties will obtain an executed subscription agreement and
an executed investors' rights agreement in the form agreed upon by the Company
and the Placement Agent (the "Subscription Documents").
(c) In connection with the offers and sales of the Financing, the Placement
Agent Parties have not and will not
(1) Offer or sell, or solicit any offers to buy, any Financing by any form of
"general solicitation" or "general advertising", as such terms arc used in
Regulation D, or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act;
(2) Use any written material other than the Subscription Documents, and shall
only rely upon and communicate information that is publicly available regarding
the Company to any potential investors (without limiting the foregoing, none of
the Placement Agent Parties is authorized to make any representation or warranty
to any offeree concerning the Company or an investment in the Financing); or
(3) Take any action that would constitute a violation of Regulation M under the
Exchange Act.
SECTION III
During the Term (as defined below), the Placement Agent is hereby retained by
the Company to make limited introductions on a best efforts basis to provide
financing for the Company in an amount and form to be mutually determined by the
Company and the Placement Agent.
SECTION IV
The Company hereby represents, warrants and agrees as follows:
(a) This Agreement has been authorized, executed and delivered by the Company
and, when executed by the Placement Agent will constitute the valid and binding
agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting
creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles.
(b) The offer and sale of the Financing, the Shares, and the Warrants shall be
exempt from registration tinder the Securities Act, and will comply, in all
material respects with the requirements of Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated
under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. No documents
prepared by the Company in connection with the Offering, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(c) The financial statements, audited and unaudited (including the notes
thereto), included in the Company's latest annual information form and
subsequent quarterly reports (the "Financial Statements"), present fairly the
financial position of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of
operations and cash flows of the Company for the periods specified. Such
Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
involved except as otherwise stated therein.
(d) No federal, state or foreign governmental agency has issued any order
preventing or suspending the Offering.
(e) The Company, including its subsidiaries, are corporations organized,
existing and with active status under the applicable laws, with corporate power
and authority under such laws to conduct its business as now conducted. The
Company has all power, authority, authorization and approvals as may be required
to enter into this Agreement and each of the Subscription Documents, and to
carry out the provisions and conditions hereof and thereof, and to issue and
sell the Financing, the Shares, and Warrants.
(f) The Financing, the Shares, the Warrants, and common shares issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants (the "Warrant Shares"), have all been authorized for
issuance and sale pursuant to the Subscription Documents, and when issued and
delivered by the Company against payment therefore in accordance with the terms
of the Subscription Documents, will be validly issued and fully paid and
non-assessable.
(g) With the exception of any approvals required by the Securities and Exchange
Commission related to the Offering, no further approval or authorization of any
shareholder of the Company, its Board of Directors or other person or group is
required for the issuance and sale of the Financing, the Shares, the Warrants or
the Warrant Shares.
(h) Since the latest unaudited financial statements there has not been any (A)
material adverse change in the business, properties, assets, rights, operations,
condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company, (B) transaction
that is material to the Company, except transactions in the ordinary course of
business, (C) obligation that is material to the Company, direct or contingent,
incurred by the Company, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of
business, (D) change that is material to the Company or in the common shares or
outstanding indebtedness of the Company.
SECTION V
The parties agree that the close of the Offering (the "Closing") shall be
subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, unless expressly waived
in writing by the parties:
(a) The Offering shall not be subject to any regulatory or judicial proceeding
questioning or reviewing its effectiveness for the purpose of offering the
Financing for sale and issuance.
(b) The Company shall affirms the accuracy of the representations and warranties
contained in Section IV hereof.
(c) The Company shall have paid, or made arrangements satisfactory to the Agent
for the payment of, all such expenses as required by Section VIII below.
(e) The Placement Agent and the Company shall have finalized and agreed to the
form of the warrant agreement and registration rights agreement referred to in
Section VIII below.
SECTION VI
(a) The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first written above
and this Agreement may be terminated only:
(1) By the Company or the Placement Agent for any reason at any time
upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice; or
(2) By the Placement Agent at any time after any default in the payment
of any amount due to the Placement Agent pursuant to this Agreement,
if such default continues for more than fifteen (15) days following
receipt by the Company from the Placement Agent of written notice of
such default and demand for payment.
(a) In the event of termination, the Placement Agent shall be immediately paid
in full on all items of compensation and expenses (including any amounts
deferred) payable to the Placement Agent pursuant hereto, as of the date of
termination.
(b) The Placement Agent Fee or Financing Fee shall become due and payable to
Placement Agent upon the date that the Company receives the proceeds of the
financing from the party providing the financing. A Placement Agent Fee shall
also be payable with respect to any Qualified Offering or any subsequent
Qualified Financing accepted and received by Company within twelve (12) months
after the termination or expiration of this Agreement, by any party or source of
funding introduced or facilitated by Placement Agent to Company.
SECTION VII
If at any time during the twelve (12) months following the termination of this
Agreement the Company conducts a Qualified Offering, the Placement Agent shall
(1) be entitled to act as a placement agent in such Qualified Offering and
receive commissions and fees for subscriptions received or solicited by the
Placement Agent for the Company's securities pursuant to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, and (2) be entitled to the compensation and fees
as set forth in Section VIII of this Agreement for any Qualified Financing
received by the Company. Any compensation or fees paid pursuant to Section VIII
below shall relate only to the securities initially issued by the Company and
not the underlying securities, unless otherwise agreed to by the Company.
"Qualified Offering" shall mean any securities issued by the Company, other
than: (1) the Units, the Warrants, the Shares or the common shares underlying
the Warrants issued pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Offering; (2)
common shares, options or other rights to purchase common shares issued or
granted to employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company
pursuant to one or more employee stock plans or agreements approved by the
Company's board of directors; (3) securities of the Company issued or issuable
to financial institutions or lessors in connection with real estate leases,
commercial credit arrangements, equipment financings or similar transactions
approved by the Company's board of directors, including, but not limited to,
equipment leases or bank lines of credit; (4) securities issued as a dividend or
distribution on, or in connection with a split of or recapitalization of, any of
the capital stock of the Company; (4) securities issued by the Company pursuant
to strategic partnership, joint venture or other similar arrangements approved
by the Company's board of directors where the primary purpose of the arrangement
is not to raise capital; (5) securities of the Company issued pursuant to a
registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act; (6)
securities issued by the Company pursuant to an acquisition of another
corporation or other entity by the Corporation by merger, purchase of all or
substantially all of the capital stock or assets, or other reorganization; or
(7) securities of the Company issued pursuant to currently outstanding options,
warrants or other rights to acquire securities of the Company.
"Qualified Financing" shall mean an investment from a person after the
termination of this Agreement that directly results from the Placement Agent's
performance of the Services hereunder during the Term of this Agreement (for the
avoidance of doubt this shall mean any solicitation of a potential investor or
an introduction of a potential investor to the Company by the Placement Agent
related to the Offering during the Term of this Agreement). The Placement Agent
agrees to provide to the Company within ten (10) days after the termination of
this Agreement (the "Delivery Deadline") a list of all persons solicited on
behalf of the Company or introduced to the Company by the Placement Agent
related to the Offering (the "Solicitation List") to assist the parties in
making a later determination as to whether a Qualified Financing has occurred.
If the Solicitation List is not provided to the Company prior to the expiration
of the Delivery Deadline, the Company's obligation to pay any commissions or
fees related to a Qualified Financing pursuant to this Section Vii shall
immediately terminate. For purposes of this Agreement, receipt of Qualified
Financing shall be deemed to be received by the Company on the date that a
definitive agreement regarding the Qualified Financing is executed by the
Company and the party providing such financing. The compensation or fees shall
become payable to the Placement Agent upon the date that the Company receives
the proceeds of the Qualified Financing.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if the Company conducts a Qualified
Offering during the twelve (12) months following the termination of this
Agreement, it shall not be obligated to accept any subscriptions received by the
Placement Agent or any Qualified Financing by virtue of this Section VII and the
Company reserves the right to accept or reject any such subscriptions or
Qualified Financing in whole or in part.
SECTION VIII
In consideration for the performance of the Services hereunder, the Company
hereby agrees to pay to the Placement Agent such fees ("The Placement Agent Fee
or the Financing Fee") as outlined below:
(a) If the Placement Agent receives subscriptions for Financing as a part of the
Offering (the "Placement Agent Investors"), the Company shall:
1) Pay to the Placement Agent in US dollars at closing an amount equal to ten
percent (10%) of the principal amount of the Financing purchased by the
Placement Agent Investors (the "Financing Fee") plus three percent (3%) for
nonaccountable expenses.
2) On each closing date of a Financing on which aggregate consideration is paid
or becomes payable to the Company for its Equity Securities, the Company shall
issue to the Placement Agent or its permitted assigns warrants (the "Warrants")
to purchase such number of shares of' the common stock of the Company equal to
the number of shares as equals 20% of the Investment Amount (as defined in the
Purchase Agreement), divided by $3.60, The number of shares of common stock
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants shall include all shares of common stock
issuable under the Securities, including, without limitation, shares issuable
upon conversion or exercise of' the Securities, The Warrants granted hereunder
shall otherwise have the same terms and conditions as the Warrants Granted to
Investors,
3) An escrow with a third party agent approved by the parties hereto will be
used for each closing to which the Placement Agent shall be a party. All
consideration due the Placement Agent shall be paid to the Placement Agent
directly there from.
4) Cause its affiliates to, pay to the Placement Agent all compensation
described in this Section VIII with respect to all Securities sold to a
purchaser or purchasers at any time prior to the expiration of twenty four (24)
months after the expiration of this Agreement (the "Tail Period") if (i) such
purchaser or purchasers were identified to the Company by the Placement Agent
during the Term authorized, (ii) the Placement Agent advised the Company with
respect to such purchaser or purchasers during the Term authorized or (iii) the
Company or the Placement Agent had discussions with such purchaser or purchasers
during the Term authorized.
(b) It is acknowledged and agreed that the Company shall bear all costs and
expenses incident to the issuance, offer, sale and delivery of the Financing.
These costs and expenses will include but are not limited to state "Blue Sky"
fees, legal fees, printing costs, travel costs, mailing, couriers, personal
background checks, and other expenses incidental to the advancement and
completion of the Offering. Full payment of Placement Agent's expenses shall be
made in same day funds at the Closing or, if the Offering is terminated for any
reason, within ten (10) days of receipt by the Company of a written request from
the Placement Agent for reimbursement of expenses, including documentation
therefore satisfactory to the Company.
(c) Subject to the other requirements set forth in this Agreement, the Placement
Agent may introduce investors to the Offering directly or through other NASD
member broker-dealers. If the Placement Agent utilizes any intermediaries, the
Placement Agent shall be the Company's point of contact, not the intermediary,
and the Placement Agent, not the Company, shall be responsible for any
compensation arrangement with the intermediary, The Company's sole compensation
arrangement, responsibility and obligation are with the Placement Agent. The
Placement Agent will disclose the identity and compensation arrangements with
all of its intermediaries in order to allow the Company to adequately disclose
such arrangements, where necessary.
SECTION IX
The Company agrees to indemnify the Placement Agent and hold it harmless against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred by the Placement Agent, in
connection with, or relating in any manner, directly or indirectly, to the
Placement Agent rendering the Services in accordance with the Agreement, unless
it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities arose out of the Placement Agent's breach of this
Agreement, sole negligence, gross negligence, willful misconduct, dishonesty,
fraud or violation of any applicable law. Additionally, the Company agrees to
reimburse the Placement Agent immediately for any and all expenses, including,
without limitation, attorney fees, incurred by the Placement Agent in connection
with investigating, preparing to defend or defending, or otherwise being
involved in, any lawsuits, claims or other proceedings arising out of or in
connection with or relating in any manner, directly or indirectly, to the
rendering of any Services by the Placement Agent in accordance with the
Agreement (as defendant, nonparty, or in any other capacity other than as a
plaintiff, including, without limitation, as a party in an interpleader action);
provided, however, that in the event a determination is made by a court of
competent jurisdiction that the losses, claims, damages or liability arose
primarily out of the Placement Agent's breach of this Agreement, sole
negligence, gross negligence, willful misconduct, dishonesty, fraud or any
violation of any applicable law, the Placement Agent will remit to the Company
any amounts for which it had been reimbursed under this paragraph. The Company
further agrees that the indemnification and reimbursement commitments set forth
in this paragraph shall extend to any controlling person, strategic alliance,
partner, member, shareholder, director, officer, employee, agent or
subcontractor of the Placement Agent and their heirs, legal representatives,
successors and assigns. The provisions set forth in this Section IX shall
survive any termination of this Agreement.
SECTION X
All notices, demands or other communications given hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or
transmitted by facsimile transmission or the fifth calendar day after being
mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, to the addresses herein above first mentioned or to such other address
as any party hereto shall designate to the other for such purpose manner herein
set forth.
SECTION XI
GOVERNING LAW. The subject matter of this Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (without
reference to its choice of law principles), and to the exclusion of the law of
any other forum, without regard to the jurisdiction in which any action or
special proceeding may be instituted.
ASSIGNMENTS AND BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. The rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement may not
be assigned or delegated without the prior written consent of both parties, and
any purported assignment without such written consent shall be null and void.
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. Only an instrument in writing executed by the parties
hereto may amend this Agreement. The failure of any party to insist upon strict
performance of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed as
a waiver of any subsequent default of the same or similar nature, or any other
nature.
CONSTRUCTION. The captions used in this Agreement are provided for convenience
only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this
Agreement.
FACSIMILE SIGNATURES. Facsimile transmission of any signed original document,
and re-transmission of any signed facsimile transmission, shall be the same as
delivery of an original. At the request of either party, the parties shall
confirm facsimile transmitted signatures by signing an original document. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same agreement.
SEVERABILITY, If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity and enforceability of
any such provision in any other respect, and of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement, shall not be in any way impaired.
NON-CIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby irrevocably agrees not to circumvent,
avoid, bypass, or obviate, directly or indirectly, the intent of this Agreement.
The Company agrees not to accept any business opportunity from any third party
to whom Placement Agent introduces to the Company without the consent of
Placement Agent, unless for each business opportunity accepted by the Company
from a third party introduced by Placement Agent, the Company remits a term
sheet and then a contract which defines a mutually agreeable compensation
structure for Placement Agent.
SURVIVABILITY. Neither the termination of this Agreement nor the completion of
any services to be provided by the Placement Agent hereunder, shall affect the
provisions of this Agreement that shall remain operative and in frill force and
effect.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements, whether
written or oral, among the parties with respect to such subject matter.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Placement
Agent and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that
purpose. The undersigned parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by their authorized representatives, pursuant to corporate board
approval and intend to be legally bound.
BY:
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xx
--------------------------------
China Natural Gas, Inc.
By: Xxxxxxx Xx
Its: CEO
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
New York Global Securities, Inc.
By: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Its: Chief Operating Officer
