Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 5)
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appropriate box):
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o Preliminary
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þ Definitive
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Material Pursuant to
§240.14a-12
TM ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in
its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy
Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
o
No fee required.
o
Fee computed on table below per
Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(1)
and 0-11.
(1)
Title of each class of securities
to which transaction applies:
(2)
Aggregate number of securities to
which transaction applies:
(3)
Per unit price or other underlying
value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11
(set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined):
(4)
Proposed maximum aggregate value of
transaction:
(5)
Total fee paid:
þ
Fee paid previously with
preliminary materials: $17,220
o
Check box if any part of the fee is
offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
You are cordially invited to attend the special meeting (the
“Special Meeting”) of stockholders of
TM Entertainment and Media, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“TM”), to be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on
October 15, 2009. At the Special Meeting, you will be asked
to consider, among other things, proposals relating to the
purchase of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
Hong Kong Mandefu Holding Limited (“CME”) resulting in
CME becoming a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of TM.
The Proxy Statement following this letter is dated
October 2, 2009 and is first being mailed to
TM stockholders on or about October 5, 2009.
CME operates the largest digital television advertising network
on inter-city express buses in China. CME commenced operations
in the advertising industry in November 2003 as one of the first
participants in advertising on inter-city express buses in
China. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of CME is
owned by Zheng Cheng, Thousand Space Holdings Limited and Bright
Elite Management Limited (collectively, the “Sellers”).
The Special Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. local time, on
October 15, 2009, at the offices of Morrison Cohen LLP
located at 909 Third Avenue, New York, New York10022. At this
important meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon
the following proposals:
• to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation to remove the prohibition on the
consummation of a Business Combination if holders of an
aggregate of 30% or more in interest of the shares of our common
stock issued in our initial public offering (“IPO
Shares”) exercise their conversion rights (the
“Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 1”);
•
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to remove the requirement that only holders of the
IPO Shares who vote against the Transaction (as defined below)
may convert their IPO Shares into cash (the “Initial
Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2”); (FOR THE AVOIDANCE
OF DOUBT, CONSISTENT WITH TM’S IPO PROSPECTUS, THE
2,250,000 SHARES ISSUED TO THE FOUNDERS OF TM SHALL NOT BE
PERMITTED TO CONVERT OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATE IN THE LIQUIDATION
OF THE TRUST ACCOUNT SHOULD TM LIQUIDATE.)
•
to approve the purchase by TM of CME pursuant to a Share
Exchange Agreement (the “Share Exchange Agreement”)
dated as of May 1, 2009 among TM, CME, the Sellers, Fujian
Zong Heng Express Information Technology Co., Ltd., Fujian
Fenzhong Media Co., Ltd., Ou Wen Lin and Qingping Lin (referred
to as the “Transaction”) and the transactions
contemplated thereby (the “Transaction Proposal”);
•
to approve the issuance of shares (the “Share Issuance
Proposal”) of TM common stock, par value $0.001 (“TM
Common Stock”) pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement to
the Sellers (whereby the number of shares of TM Common Stock
that will be issued to the Sellers is 20.915 million with
the possibility for the Sellers to earn up to an additional
15.0 million shares subject to the achievement of certain
net income targets);
•
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to change TM’s corporate name to “China
MediaExpress Holdings, Inc.,” delete certain provisions
that relate to us as a blank check company and create perpetual
existence (the “Charter Amendment Proposal”);
•
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the number of shares authorized for
issuance (the “Authorized Share Increase Proposal”);
•
to elect six persons to TM’s board of directors to serve
for the respective term of office of the class to which the
nominee is elected and until their successors are duly elected
and qualified (the “Election of Directors
Proposal”); and
•
to approve any adjournment or postponement of the Special
Meeting to a later date or time or dates or times if necessary
for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies (the
“Adjournment Proposal”).
Please be aware that if the Transaction is completed, each
holder of IPO Shares who votes such shares either
“FOR” or “AGAINST” the Transaction may, at
the time of such vote, elect to convert those IPO Shares to cash
following the procedures described in this document.
Pursuant to TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, TM is required to obtain stockholder approval of
the Transaction. Pursuant to certain rules of the NYSE Amex, TM
is required to obtain stockholder approval of the issuance of TM
Common Stock in connection with the Transaction. In addition, TM
and CME have agreed that they will work together to, subject to
stockholder approval, use their commercially reasonable efforts
to cause the name of TM to be changed to “China
MediaExpress Holdings, Inc.” (or such other name as TM and
the Sellers mutually agree upon) immediately after the
consummation of the Transaction.
The Transaction Proposal is conditioned upon the approval of the
Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 and, in the event
the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 does not
receive the necessary vote to approve that proposal, then the
Transaction Proposal will not be presented for approval. Each of
the Share Issuance Proposal, the Charter Amendment Proposal and
the Authorized Share Increase Proposal are conditioned upon the
approval of the Transaction Proposal and, in the event the
Transaction Proposal does not receive the necessary vote to
approve that proposal, then none of those proposals will be
presented for approval. If the Transaction Proposal is approved
but the Share Issuance Proposal or the Charter Amendment
Proposal are not approved, TM could be deemed to have failed to
perform certain covenants under the Share Exchange Agreement,
allowing the Sellers to terminate the Share Exchange Agreement
or seek indemnification thereunder.
The Election of Directors Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal
are not conditioned upon the approval of any of the other
proposals, but if the Transaction Proposal is not approved, none
of the proposals will be presented for approval.
In connection with the vote required for the Transaction, our
pre-IPO stockholders (our “Initial Stockholders”),
directors and officers have previously agreed to vote all of the
2,250,000 shares of TM Common Stock which are
beneficially owned by them, representing approximately 18.0% of
the shares of TM Common Stock outstanding as of the record date,
in accordance with the vote of the majority of shares of TM
Common Stock voted by the public shareholders other than our
Initial Stockholders (our “public stockholders”). This
voting arrangement does not apply to any other shares our
Initial Stockholders may purchase in the future. Accordingly,
they may vote these shares on a proposed business combination
any way they chose. Currently, our Initial Stockholders do not
own any shares of TM Common Stock which are not subject to this
voting arrangement. In addition, TM’s officers, directors,
initial stockholders or their affiliates who may purchase IPO
Shares, would be entitled to convert such shares in accordance
with the procedures described in this Proxy Statement. In no
event will our Initial Stockholders be entitled to convert the
2,250,000 shares they acquired before the IPO. Currently, no
such persons own such IPO Shares and should they acquire such
IPO Shares, they do not intend to exercise conversion rights
with respect thereto. The ability of TM’s officers,
directors, initial stockholders and their affiliates to convert
any IPO Shares they purchase to help secure approval of the
Transaction may facilitate the purchase of more shares for this
purpose.
In addition, if the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal
No. 2 is approved and the Transaction is consummated, each
public stockholder who votes either for or against the
Transaction will have the right to contemporaneously elect to
have his or her shares of TM Common Stock converted into cash
regardless of whether he or she votes for or against the
Transaction. If the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal
No. 2 is not approved by the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common
stock on the record date, the Transaction Proposal will not be
presented to the stockholders for a vote and the Transaction
will not be consummated. The per share conversion price will be
calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of
the Transaction, and will equal the amount in the trust account
(the “Trust Account”) into which were placed the
proceeds of our initial public offering (the “IPO”),
divided by the number of shares sold in our IPO (10,255,000). As
of August 31, 2009, $81,075,868 (equating to approximately
$7.91 per share), net of taxes payable, was in the
Trust Account.
TM will proceed with the Transaction only if (1) the
Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 is approved, and
(2) a majority of the shares of common stock present at the
meeting and voted by the public stockholders are voted in favor
of the Transaction. The Initial Stockholders have previously
agreed not to demand conversion of any shares of TM Common Stock
owned by them.
If a stockholder vote on this Transaction is held and the
Transaction is not approved, TM will not try to consummate a
business combination with a different target. If TM does not
consummate a business combination
by October 17, 2009, its corporate existence will cease by
operation of law and it will promptly distribute only to its
public stockholders (including its existing stockholders to the
extent they have purchased shares in its IPO or in the
aftermarket) the amount in the Trust Account (including any
accrued interest then remaining in the Trust Account) plus
any remaining net assets. If a liquidation were to occur, based
on the amount in the Trust Account as of August 31,2009, $81,075,868, net of estimated taxes payable), the initial
per share liquidation price would be approximately $7.91.
Because the Trust Account will continue to earn interest
and incur taxes on such interest until the date of liquidation,
and because the Trust Account may be subject to the claims
of creditors, the actual liquidation price may be more or less
than approximately $7.91 per share.
TM shares of common stock, warrants and units are quoted on the
NYSE Amex under the symbols “TMI”, “TMI.WS”
and “TMI.U,” respectively. On September 25, 2009,
the closing price of TM Common Stock, warrants and units was
$7.90, $0.20 and $7.80, respectively.
After careful consideration, TM’s board of directors
unanimously recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote
“FOR” the approval of each of the following proposals:
(i) the Initial Charter Amendment No. 1, (ii) the Initial
Charter Amendment No. 2, Proposal, (iii) the Transaction
Proposal, (iv) the Share Issuance Proposal, (v) the
Charter Amendment Proposal, (vi) the Authorized Share
Increase Proposal, (vii) the Election of Directors
Proposal, and (viii) the Adjournment Proposal.
The accompanying Proxy Statement provides detailed information
concerning the foregoing proposals and certain additional
information, including, without limitation, the information set
forth under the section entitled “Risk Factors”, all
of which you are urged to read carefully. It is important that
your TM Common Stock be represented at the Special Meeting,
regardless of the number of shares you hold. Therefore, please
sign, date and return your proxy card as soon as possible,
whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting. This will
not prevent you from voting your shares in person if you
subsequently choose to attend the Special Meeting.
Certain financial and other information from TM’s annual
report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and from
TM’s quarterly report on
Form 10-Q
for the six months ended June 30, 2009 is included in the
accompanying Proxy Statement.
I look forward to seeing you at the Special Meeting.
Sincerely,
/s/ Theodore
S. Green
Theodore
S. Green
Chairman of the Board, Co-Chief Executive Officer
and Interim Chief Financial Officer
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE
SPECIAL MEETING, PLEASE PROMPTLY VOTE YOUR SHARES AND
SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR BY INTERNET, OR BY COMPLETING,
SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING YOUR PROXY FORM IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. IF YOU RETURN A PROXY WITH YOUR SIGNATURE BUT
WITHOUT AN INDICATION OF HOW YOU WISH TO VOTE, YOUR PROXY WILL
BE VOTED “FOR” EACH OF THE PROPOSALS.
SEE “RISK FACTORS” FOR A DISCUSSION OF VARIOUS FACTORS
THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED
ACQUISITION SINCE, UPON THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTION, THE
OPERATIONS AND ASSETS OF CME WILL ESSENTIALLY CONSTITUTE ALL OF
THE OPERATIONS AND ASSETS OF TM.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE
SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE
TRANSACTION, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE
TRANSACTION OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE
DISCLOSURE IN THIS DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the special meeting (the
“Special Meeting”) of stockholders of
TM Entertainment and Media, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“TM”), will be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on
October 15, 2009, at the offices of Morrison Cohen LLP
located at 909 Third Avenue, New York, New York10022
for the purpose of considering and voting upon the following
proposals:
•
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to remove the prohibition on the consummation
of a Business Combination if holders of an aggregate of 30% or
more in interest of the shares of our common stock issued in our
initial public offering (“IPO Shares”) exercise their
conversion rights (the “Initial Charter Amendment Proposal
No. 1”);
•
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to remove the requirement that only holders
of the IPO Shares who vote against the Transaction (as defined
below) may convert their IPO Shares into cash (the “Initial
Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2”); (FOR THE AVOIDANCE
OF DOUBT, CONSISTENT WITH TM’S IPO PROSPECTUS, THE
2,250,000 SHARES ISSUED TO THE FOUNDERS OF TM SHALL NOT BE
PERMITTED TO CONVERT OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATE IN THE LIQUIDATION
OF THE TRUST ACCOUNT SHOULD TM LIQUIDATE.)
•
to approve the purchase by TM of all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of Hong Kong Mandefu Holding Limited
(“CME”) pursuant to a Share Exchange Agreement (the
“Share Exchange Agreement”) dated as of May 1,2009 among TM, CME, Zheng Cheng, Thousand Space Holdings Limited
and Bright Elite Management Limited (collectively, the
“Sellers”), Fujian Zong Heng Express Information
Technology Co., Ltd., Fujian Fenzhong Media Co., Ltd., Ou Wen
Lin and Qingping Lin, referred to as the “Transaction”
and the transactions contemplated thereby (the “Transaction
Proposal”), resulting in CME becoming a direct wholly-owned
subsidiary of TM;
•
to approve the issuance of shares (the “Share Issuance
Proposal”) of TM common stock, par value $0.001 per share
(“TM Common Stock”), pursuant to the Share Exchange
Agreement to the Sellers (whereby the number of shares of TM
Common Stock that will be issued to the Sellers is
20.915 million with the possibility for the Sellers to earn
up to an additional 15.0 million shares subject to the
achievement of certain net income targets;
•
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to change TM’s corporate name to “China
MediaExpress Holdings, Inc.,” delete certain provisions
that relate to us as a blank check company and create perpetual
existence (the “Charter Amendment Proposal”);
•
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the number of shares authorized for
issuance (the “Authorized Share Increase Proposal”);
•
to elect six persons to CME’s board of directors to serve
for the respective term of office of the class to which the
nominee is elected and until their successors are duly elected
and qualified (the “Election of Directors
Proposal”); and
•
to approve any adjournment or postponement of the Special
Meeting to a later date or time or dates or times if necessary
for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies (the
“Adjournment Proposal”).
Please be aware that if the Transaction is completed, each
holder of IPO Shares who votes such shares either
“FOR” or “AGAINST” the Transaction may, at
the time of such vote, elect to convert those IPO Shares to cash
following the procedures described in this document.
Our board of directors has fixed the close of business on
September 21, 2009 as the record date (the “Record
Date”) for determining TM stockholders entitled to receive
notice of and vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournment or
postponement thereof. Only holders of record of TM Common Stock
on that date are entitled to have their votes counted at the
Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement.
Your vote is important. Please submit your
proxy card as soon as possible to make sure that your shares are
represented at the Special Meeting.
If you are a stockholder of record, you may also cast your vote
in person at the Special Meeting. If your shares are held of
record by a broker, bank or nominee, you may provide the record
holder of your shares with instructions on how to vote your
shares, or you may also cast your vote in person at the Special
Meeting by obtaining a proxy from your broker, bank or nominee.
On the Record Date, there were 12,505,000 outstanding shares of
TM Common Stock, of which 10,255,000 were issued to the public
in TM’s initial public offering (the “IPO”; such
shares, the “IPO Shares”) and 2,250,000 were issued
prior to its IPO to its Initial Stockholders, each of which is
entitled to one vote per share at the Special Meeting. The
holders of the shares issued prior to TM’s IPO are
beneficially held by its directors and executive officers, each
of whom has agreed to vote all of his shares with respect to the
Transaction Proposal only in accordance with the majority of the
votes cast by the holders of the IPO Shares. If holders of a
majority of the IPO Shares voting in person or by proxy at the
Special Meeting vote against, or abstain with respect to, the
Transaction Proposal, such proposal shall not be approved.
Your vote is important, whether or not you plan to attend the
special meeting, please promptly vote your shares and submit
your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning your
proxy form in the enclosed envelope. You may also vote by
telephone or the internet, as described on the proxy card. If
you are a stockholder of record, you may also cast your vote in
person at the special meeting. If your shares are held in an
account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct your
broker or bank how to vote your shares, or you may cast your
vote in person at the special meeting by obtaining a proxy from
your brokerage firm or bank. If you return a proxy with your
signature but without an indication of how you wish to vote,
your proxy will be voted “for” each of the proposals.
Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by
delivery of a later dated proxy, by notifying Theodore S. Green,
our Co-Chief Executive Officer, in writing before the Special
Meeting, or by voting in person at the Special Meeting. By
authorizing your proxy promptly, you can help us avoid the
expense of further proxy solicitations.
Your attention is directed to the Proxy Statement accompanying
this notice (including the annexes thereto) for a more complete
statement regarding the matters proposed to be acted on at the
Special Meeting. We encourage you to read this Proxy Statement
carefully. If you have any questions or need assistance voting
your shares, please contact either TM and its representatives at
(212) 289-6942
or our proxy solicitor MacKenzie Partners, Inc., by telephone at
(800) 322-2885
or by email at proxy@mackenziepartners.com.
This Proxy Statement includes “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding
our expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies
regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to
projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future
events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions,
are forward-looking statements. The words
“anticipate,”“believe,”“continue,”“could,”“estimate,”“expect,”“intend,”“may,”“might,”“plan,”“possible,”“potential,”“predict,”“project,”“should,”“would” and similar expressions
may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of
these words does not mean that a statement is not
forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this report may
include, for example, statements about our:
•
Ability to complete the Transaction;
•
Success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in,
our management or directors following the Transaction;
•
Potential inability to obtain additional financing to
complete a business combination;
•
Change in control if we acquire CME for stock;
•
Public securities’ limited liquidity and trading;
•
The delisting of our securities from the NYSE Amex or an
inability to have our securities listed on the NYSE Amex
following the Transaction;
•
Our goals and strategies;
•
Our future prospects and market acceptance of our advertising
network;
•
Our future business development, financial condition and
results of operations;
•
Projected changes in revenues, costs, expense items, profits,
earnings, and other estimated financial information;
•
Our ability to manage the growth of our existing advertising
network on inter-city express buses and expansion to prospective
advertising network on high speed railways;
•
Trends and competition in the
out-of-home
advertising media market in China;
•
Changes in general economic and business conditions in China;
and
•
Chinese laws, regulations and policies, including those
applicable to the advertising industry.
The forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by
reference in this Proxy Statement are based on our current
expectation and beliefs concerning future developments and their
potential effects on us and speak only as of the date of such
statement. There can be no assurance that future developments
affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These
forward-looking statements involve a number of risks,
uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other
assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be
materially different from those expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to, those factors described in this
Proxy Statement, including in the section entitled “RISK
FACTORS”, and our other SEC Filings. Should one or more of
these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our
assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material
respects from those projected in these forward-looking
statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as may be
required under applicable securities laws.
References in this report as to “we,”“us” or “our Company” refer to TM
Entertainment and Media, Inc. References in this report to
“CME” refer to Hong Kong Mandefu Holding Limited.
References to “public stockholders” refer to holders
of shares of common stock sold as part of the units in our IPO,
including any of our stockholders existing prior to our IPO to
the extent that they purchased or acquired such shares.
References in this report as to “we,”“us”
or “our Company” refer to TM Entertainment and Media,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (“TM”). References to
“Public Stockholders” refer to holders of shares of
common stock sold as part of the units in our initial public
offering (the “IPO”), including any of our
stockholders existing prior to our IPO to the extent that they
purchased or acquired such shares.
This Proxy Statement relates to a proposed purchase of all of
the issued and outstanding capital stock of Hong Kong Mandefu
Holding Limited (“CME”) pursuant to a Share Exchange
Agreement (the “Share Exchange Agreement”) dated as of
May 1, 2009 and amended as of September 30, 2009,
among TM, CME, Zheng Cheng, Thousand Space Holdings Limited and
Bright Elite Management Limited (collectively, the
“Sellers”), Fujian Zong Heng Express Information
Technology Co., Ltd. (“Fujian Express”), Fujian
Fenzhong Media Co., Ltd. (“Fujian Fenzhong”), Ou Wen
Lin and Qingping Lin (collectively, Fujian Express, Fujian
Fenzhong, Ou Wen Lin, Qingping Lin and the Sellers are referred
to herein as the “CME Parties”) resulting in CME
becoming a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of TM, referred to
herein as (the “Transaction.”)
This summary highlights selected information from this Proxy
Statement and does not contain all of the information that is
important to you. To better understand the proposals being
considered at the Special Meeting, you should carefully read
this entire Proxy Statement and the other documents to which it
refers you, including the Share Exchange Agreement attached as
Annex A to this Proxy Statement, and the other agreements,
instruments and documents attached as annexes to this Proxy
Statement.
TM is a Delaware blank check company incorporated on May 1,2007 in order to serve as a vehicle for the acquisition of an
operating business in the entertainment, media, digital and
communications industries. See section entitled
“INFORMATION ABOUT TM ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.”
As discussed in this Proxy Statement, on May 4, 2009, we
announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement to,
among other things, purchase from the Sellers all of the issued
and outstanding capital stock of CME.
The mailing address of TM’s principal executive office is
307 East 87th Street, New York, New York10128, and its
telephone number is
(212) 289-6942.
The
Sellers
The Sellers own collectively all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of CME.
CME
CME, through contractual arrangements with Fujian Fenzhong, an
entity majority owned by CME’S majority shareholder,
operates the largest television advertising network on
inter-city express buses in China. All references in this Proxy
Statement to “CME’s advertising network”,
“CME’s customers”, CME’s operations in
general and similar connotations, refer to Fujian Fenzhong, an
entity which is controlled by CME through contractual agreements
and which operates the advertising network. While CME has no
direct equity ownership in Fujian Fenzhong, through the
contractual agreements CME receives the economic benefits of
Fujian Fenzhong’s operations. See the sections entitled
“RISK FACTORS — Risks Related to CME’s
Corporate Structure” and “CME’S CORPORATE
STRUCTURE — Contractual Arrangements”. CME
generates revenues by selling advertising on its network of
television displays installed on inter-city express buses in
China. See section entitled “INFORMATION ABOUT HONG KONG
MANDEFU HOLDING LIMITED (“CME”) — Business
Summary.”
As of June 30, 2009, the number of inter-city express buses
within CME’s network exceeded 16,000 and covered inter-city
express bus services originating in eleven regions, including
the four municipalities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and
Chongqing and seven economically prosperous provinces, namely
Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui and Hebei.
CME has entered into long-term framework agreements with 40 bus
operator partners for terms ranging from five to eight years.
Pursuant to these agreements, CME pays the bus operators
concession fees for the right to install its displays and
automated control systems inside their buses and display
entertainment content and advertisements. CME’s
entertainment content is provided by third parties and
advertisements are provided by its clients.
In October 2007, CME entered into a five-year cooperation
agreement with an entity affiliated with the Ministry of
Transport of the People’s Republic of China to be the sole
strategic alliance partner in the establishment of a nationwide
in-vehicle television system that displays copyrighted programs
on buses traveling on highways in China. The cooperation
agreement also gave CME exclusive rights to display
advertisements on the system. CME believes its status as the
sole strategic alliance partner designated by an entity
affiliated with the Ministry of Transport and the exclusive
rights to display advertisements on the system has facilitated
its historical expansion and is expected to continue to provide
them with a competitive advantage in the future.
During the year ended December 31, 2008, more than 400
advertisers had purchased advertising time on CME’s network
either through advertising agents or directly from CME. Some of
these clients have purchased advertising time from CME for more
than three years, including Hitachi, China Telecom, Toyota,
Siemens and China Pacific Life Insurance. CME has attracted
several well-known international and national brands to its
advertising network, including Coca Cola, Pepsi, Wahaha,
Siemens, Hitachi, China Telecom, China Mobile, China Post,
Toyota, Bank of China, and China Pacific Life Insurance. While
CME is unable to determine the exact dollar amount paid by these
individual advertisers who purchase advertising through a third
party agency, CME is able to determine, based on the number of
ads run for these advertisers, that these advertisers comprise a
significant portion the advertising on CME’s network. For
the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, CME
generated total net revenues of $4.0 million,
$25.8 million and $63.0 million, respectively. During
the same periods, CME had net income of $0.9 million,
$7.0 million and $26.4 million, respectively.
Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, TM will purchase from
the Sellers 100% of the outstanding equity of CME and TM will
issue at closing 20.915 million newly issued shares of
common stock of TM (the “TM Common Stock”), and pay
$10.0 million in three year, no interest promissory notes.
See sections entitled “THE TRANSACTION PROPOSAL” and
“THE SHARE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT”. Following the
consummation of the Transaction, TM will own 100% of the issued
and outstanding capital stock of CME.
•
In addition, the Sellers may earn up to an additional
15.0 million shares of TM subject to the achievement of the
following net income targets for 2009, 2010 and 2011:
Year
Net Income (RMB)
Net Income (US$)(1)
Shares
2009
287.0 million
$42.0 million
1.0 million
2010
570.0 million
$83.5 million
7.0 million
2011(2)
889.0 million
$130.2 million
7.0 million
(1)
Based on current exchange rate of 6.83 RMB/US$.
(2)
If TM’s adjusted net income for 2009, 2010 or 2011 does not
equal or exceed the targeted net income threshold for such
fiscal year, the earn-out shares in respect of such fiscal year
will not be issued to the Sellers; provided, however, that if
TM’s adjusted net income in the fiscal year immediately
succeeding such non-achieving fiscal year exceeds the sum of
(i) the targeted net income threshold for such immediately
succeeding fiscal year (which, for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2012, the targeted net income threshold shall
be RMB1,155,700,000 ($169.2 million)) and (ii) the
shortfall amount for the non-achieving fiscal year, then the
earn-out shares in respect of such non-achieving fiscal year
will be issued to the Sellers.
CME’s net income in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
was US$26.4 million.
Sellers will also be entitled to receive up to
$20.9 million of the cash proceeds from the exercise of
TM’s publicly held warrants to the extent a sufficient
number of these warrants are exercised. These warrants are held
publicly and it is unknown if or when any of these warrants will
be exercised. Warrants to purchase approximately 3.8 million
shares of TM Common Stock would need to be exercised in order to
generate sufficient proceeds to pay the full $20.9 million to
the Sellers. We are required to pay the applicable proceeds from
the exercise of these warrants to the Sellers within 15 days
after the end of the first full fiscal quarter ending after the
closing of the Transaction and each fiscal quarter ending
thereafter, until the full amount is paid to the Sellers. TM may
redeem these warrants at a price of $0.01 per warrant at any
time while the warrants are exercisable, if, and only if, the
last sales price of TM’s Common Stock equals or exceeds
$11.50 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day
period ending 3 business days before TM sends a notice of
redemption. While we may have the right to redeem the warrants
prior to the payment of the proceeds from their exercise to the
Sellers, it is expected that holders of warrants will exercise
such warrants before the conditions to our right to redeem are
met. The $20.9 million of additional consideration payable
to the existing shareholders of CME when and if TM’s
publicly-traded warrants are exercised was part of the
negotiation of the transaction consideration between TM and CME.
We believe that such additional consideration was a material
factor to the existing CME shareholders, and that the existing
CME shareholders evaluated the likelihood that they would
receive such proceeds in deciding whether or not to enter into
the Share Exchange Agreement with TM.
•
Based on the closing price of TM Common Stock as of September25, 2009, the total value of the of the consideration to be
received by the Sellers (assuming all of the
‘‘earn-out” shares are earned) is approximately
$320.5 million.
•
In addition, TM paid $150,000 to CME’s certified public
accountants as partial payment of such accountants’ fees
for the account of CME on May 4, 2009.
In addition, as part of an amendment to the Share Exchange
Agreement, our Initial Stockholders agreed to transfer
750,000 shares of TM Common Stock owned by them to the
Sellers upon the closing of the transaction contemplated by the
Share Exchange Agreement and to sign lock-ups of up to 2 years
with respect to 2,100,000 warrants owned by them.
A copy of the Share Exchange Agreement is attached as
Annex A to this Proxy Statement. We encourage you to read
it in its entirety.
Post-Closing
Ownership of TM Common Stock
Immediately prior to consumation of the Transaction, the
officers and directors of TM will beneficially own 18.0% of the
TM Common Stock outstanding at the time. The following tables
set forth the projected ownership of TM’s Common Stock
immediately following Transaction, based on various scenarios,
after giving effect to the sale of 750,000 shares owned by our
Initial Stockholders to the Sellers and assuming that (i) the
Sellers achieve the maximum equity earn-out from 2009 to 2012,
(ii) the holders of 100% of the outstanding TM Common Stock
issued in our IPO vote for or against the Transaction and demand
such stock be converted into cash (“Maximum
Conversions”), (iii) that all outstanding warrants are
exercised, and (iv) that Pali exercises its option to purchase
700 units and the exercise of the warrants issuable pursuant to
such option, for a total of 1,400,000 shares of TM Common Stock
(the “Pali Option”).
The following table sets forth the projected ownership of
TM’s Common Stock immediately following the Transaction,
excluding any warrants held by TM stockholders and the Pali
Option.
Current TM stockholders (including current TM officers and
directors)
35.1
%
6.4
%
24.2
%
3.9
%
Sellers
64.6
%
93.1
%
75.6
%
95.8
%
The following table sets forth the projected ownership of
TM’s Common Stock immediately following the Transaction,
assuming the currently outstanding warrants of TM are exercised
and the Pali Option is exercised in full.
Excluding Earn-Out
Including Earn-Out
Assuming
Assuming
Assuming No
Maximum
Assuming No
Maximum
Conversions
Conversions
Conversions
Conversions
Current TM officers and directors
7.6
%
9.7
%
5.8
%
6.9
%
Current TM stockholders (including current TM officers and
directors)
51.0
%
37.4
%
38.7
%
26.6
%
Sellers
45.8
%
58.5
%
58.9
%
70.5
%
Representations,
Warranties and Covenants
In the Share Exchange Agreement, each of TM and the CME Parties
make customary representations and warranties (subject to
certain exceptions), including agreements by TM and CME relating
to the conduct of their respective business between the time the
Share Exchange Agreement was signed and the consummation of the
Transaction, as well as agree not to solicit alternative
transactions to the Transaction.
See the sections entitled “THE SHARE EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT — Representations and Warranties” and
“THE SHARE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT — Covenants”.
Conditions
to Closing
Consummation of the Transaction is conditioned on the TM Common
Stockholders, voting as a group, approving the transactions.
The obligations of the CME Parties to consummate the
transactions contemplated by Share Exchange Agreement, in
addition to the conditions described above, are conditioned
upon, among other things, that (i) there shall have been no
material adverse effect with respect to TM since
December 31, 2008, and (ii) TM shall have a sufficient
amount of cash to pay $3.8 million of its fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the proposed Transaction.
The obligations of TM to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement are conditioned
upon there having been no material adverse effect with respect
to CME since December 31, 2008;
See the section entitled “THE SHARE EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT — Conditions to Closing”.
Indemnification
The Sellers have agreed, on a pro rata basis and not jointly, to
indemnify TM from any damages arising from breaches of any basic
representation or warranty relating to capital structure and
title to shares, proper corporate organization and similar
corporate matters and authorization, execution, delivery and
enforceability of the Share Exchange Agreement and other
transaction documents and breaches of any covenants, agreements
or obligations in the Share Exchange Agreement to be performed
or complied with by CME, Fujian Express or Fujian Fenzhong.
See the section entitled “THE SHARE EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT — Indemnification”.
Termination
The Share Exchange Agreement contains certain termination rights
for both TM and the Sellers under specified circumstances,
including the Sellers’ right to terminate if the
Transaction has not been consummated forty-five (45) days
after TM receive final approval from and clearance by the SEC to
mail the Proxy Statement to TM’s stockholders. See the
section entitled “THE SHARE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT —
Termination”.
Board
of Directors
The parties have agreed that upon the closing of the Share
Exchange Agreement, and for a period ending not sooner than
March 31, 2012 (or March 31, 2013 if the shares
subject to the earn-out provision have not been issued prior to
such date), the TM board of directors will consist of seven
persons, of which the Sellers will initially designate five
directors and TM will initially designate two directors. Of the
five directors designated by the Sellers, at least three will be
“independent directors” as such term is defined by
Section 803 of the AMEX Company Guide, provided that the
Company may amend, modify or terminate the requirement that the
Sellers designate five directors and how many of those five must
be independent directors with the consent of a majority of the
independent directors then serving on the TM board.
See the section entitled “THE SHARE EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT — Additional Agreements and Covenants”.
Lock-up
Agreements
At the closing of the Transaction, the Sellers will enter into
lock-up
agreements with TM, providing, among other things, that they not
sell or otherwise transfer any of the shares of TM Common Stock
received in the business combination, subject to certain
exceptions, for a period of 12 months from the closing date
of the business combination or, with respect to the earn-out
shares, from the date of issuance of such shares, for those
shares beneficially owned by Mr. Cheng; and six months from
the closing date of the business combination or, with respect to
the earn-out shares, from the date of issuance of such shares,
for those shares beneficially owned by Thousand Space Holdings
Limited and Bright Elite Management Limited.
See the section entitled “CERTAIN AGREEMENTS RELATING TO
THE TRANSACTION —
Lock-Up
Agreements”. Copies of the forms of
Lock-up
Agreements are attached as Annex B to this Proxy Statement.
We encourage you to read them in their entirety.
Upon consummation of the Transaction, TM and the Sellers will
enter into a Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to which TM
will grant to the Sellers certain “demand” and
“piggyback” registration rights with respect to the
shares of TM Common Stock received by the Sellers as
consideration in the Transaction.
See the section entitled “CERTAIN AGREEMENTS RELATING TO
THE TRANSACTION — Registration Rights Agreement”.
A copy of the form of the Registration Rights Agreement is
attached as Annex C to this Proxy Statement. We encourage
you to read it in its entirety.
Voting
Agreement
At the consummation of the Transaction, Theodore S. Green and
Malcolm Bird will enter into a Voting Agreement with the
Sellers. The Voting Agreement provides, among other things,
that, until March 31, 2012 (or March 31, 2013 if the
shares subject to the earn-out provision have not been issued
prior to such date) at any meeting called or action taken for
the purpose of electing directors to the TM board of directors,
each Seller agrees to vote for two directors nominated by
Mr. Green and Mr. Bird on behalf of the TM
stockholders. See the section entitled “CERTAIN AGREEMENTS
RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION —
Voting Agreement”. A copy of the form of the Voting
Agreement is attached as Exhibit D to this Proxy Statement.
We encourage you to read it in its entirety.
Employment
Agreement
Mr. Cheng has entered into a 5 year employment agreement
with Fujian Fenzhong effective as of December 1, 2008,
which will continue in effect following the consummation of the
business combination. See the section entitled “CERTAIN
AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION — Employment
Agreement”.
Satisfaction
of Requirement that the Transaction has a Fair Market Value
Equal to at least 80.0% of TM’s Net Assets
It is a requirement of TM’s Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation that the initial business acquired
by TM has a fair market value equal to at least 80.0% of
TM’s net assets at the time of acquisition. Based solely on
its evaluation of the consideration to be paid in the
Transaction, TM’s board of directors determined that this
requirement was met and exceeded. See the sections entitled
“THE TRANSACTION PROPOSAL — Recommendation of the
Board of Directors and Reasons for the Transaction” and
“— Satisfaction of Requirement that the
Transaction has a Fair Market Value Equal to at least 80.0% of
TM’s Net Assets”.
Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, TM will purchase from
the Sellers 100% of the outstanding equity of CME and TM will
issue at closing 20.915 million newly issued shares of TM
Common Stock and pay $10.0 million in three year, no
interest promissory notes. In addition, the Sellers may also
earn up to an additional 15.0 million newly issued shares
of TM Common Stock subject to the achievement of certain net
income targets for 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Certain NYSE Amex rules require that we obtain the approval of
our stockholders in connection with any transaction in which
(i) the present or potential issuance of TM Common Stock
could result in an increase in the shares of TM Common Stock
outstanding of 20.0% or more or (ii) the issuance of such
securities will result in a change of control of TM. As a
result, we have decided to seek the approval of our stockholders
for the issuance of TM Common Stock in connection with the
Transaction and the listing of such issued TM Common Stock on
the NYSE Amex. See the section entitled “THE SHARE ISSUANCE
PROPOSAL”.
The
Initial Charter Amendment Proposals
The initial amendments of TM’s Amended and restated
Certificate of Incorporation are being proposed in order to
(i) remove the prohibition on the consummation of a
Business Combination if holders of an aggregate of 30% or more
in interest of the shares of our common stock issued in our
initial public offering (“IPO Shares”) exercise their
conversion rights, and (ii) remove the requirement that
only holders of the IPO Shares who vote against the Transaction
(as defined below) may convert their IPO Shares into cash. (FOR
THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, CONSISTENT WITH TM’S IPO
PROSPECTUS, THE 2,250,000 SHARES ISSUED TO THE FOUNDERS OF
TM SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO CONVERT OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATE IN
THE LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST ACCOUNT SHOULD TM LIQUIDATE.)
See section entitled “THE INITIAL CHARTER AMENDMENT
PROPOSALS”.
Since our initial public offering prospectus did not disclose
the amendments contemplated by the Initial Charter Amendment
Proposals, holders of IPO Shares at the time of the Transaction
who purchased such shares in the IPO may have securities law
claims against us for recission. See section entitled “THE
INITIAL CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSALS — Recission
Rights”.
The purpose of the Initial Charter Amendment Proposals is to
increase the likelihood that the Transaction is approved and all
allow all shareholders who either vote for or against the
Transaction to convert their IPO Shares. By eliminating the
requirement that no more than 30% of the IPO Shares seek
conversion in order to consummate the Transaction and by
allowing shareholders to vote for or against the Transaction to
convert, we
are eliminating the ability of holders of 30% of TM’s IPO
Shares to “veto” the Transaction notwithstanding its
approval by a majority, effectively reducing the threshold vote
needed to approve the transaction from 70% to 50% of the votes
cast and reducing the incentive for shareholders to vote against
the Transaction.
We have conditioned the Transaction Proposal on the adoption of
the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 in order
to assure that stockholders whose primary goal is to receive the
Trust value for their shares, whether through conversion or
liquidation, receive such value even if they choose to vote in
favor of the Transaction Proposal. By doing so we have precluded
the possibility that a stockholder who intends to convert and
who votes in favor of the Transaction Proposal would not receive
the Trust value if the Transaction Proposal is approved but the
Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 is not. As
presented, such a stockholder can provide a proxy to vote in
favor of the Transaction Proposal knowing that under all
circumstances he will be guaranteed to receive the Trust value.
We believe that had we not made the presentation of the
Transaction Proposal conditioned on the adoption of Initial
Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2, in order to preserve
these rights for stockholders, we would have had to give such
stockholders the opportunity to vote on the Transaction Proposal
on a conditional basis, voting in favor only if Initial Charter
Amendment Proposal No. 2 was adopted, and voting
against if it was not.
The amendment of TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation is being proposed in order to change TM’s
corporate name to “China MediaExpress Holdings, Inc.,”
increase the number of shares authorized for issuance, delete
certain provisions that relate to us as a blank check company
and create perpetual existence. The increase in the number of
shares authorized for issuance is necessary to have sufficient
shares available to issue in the Transaction, including the
potential earn-out shares. The additional authorized shares may
also be used in securing stockholder approval of the
Transaction, including through a “permitted
financing.” See the section entitled “THE SPECIAL
MEETING — Actions That May be Taken to Secure Approval
of TM’s Stockholders”. See the sections entitled
“THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL” and “THE
AUTHORIZED SHARE INCREASE PROPOSAL”.
The form of the certificate of amendment of TM’s Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to change TM’s
corporate name, increase the number of shares authorized for
issuance, delete certain provisions that relate to us as a blank
check company and create perpetual existence is attached as
Annex E to this Proxy Statement. We encourage you to read
it in its entirety.
TM’s board of directors currently consists of five
directors, divided into three classes. Each year, one class is
elected to serve for a term of three years. However, since we
did not hold an annual meeting in 2008, we are asking
stockholders to elect the first class of directors to serve for
a term of two years and to elect the second class of directors
to serve for a term of three years. Messrs. Jonathan F.
Miller and Malcolm Bird currently serve in classes one and two,
respectively. Theodore S. Green currently serves as a class
three director whose term does not expire until our annual
meeting to be held in 2010. However, Mr. Green has agreed
to stand for re-election a year early and, if elected, will be
elected for a new three-year term in the second class of
directors.
The parties have agreed that upon the closing of the Share
Exchange Agreement, and for a period ending not sooner than
March 31, 2012 (or March 31, 2013 if the shares
subject to the earn-out provision have not been issued prior to
such date), the TM board of directors will consist of seven
persons, of which the Sellers will initially designate five
directors and TM will initially designate two directors. Of the
five directors designated by the Sellers, at least three will be
“independent directors” as such term is defined by
Section 803 of the AMEX Company Guide, provided that the
Company may amend, modify or terminate the requirement that the
Sellers designate five directors and how many of those five must
be independent directors with the consent of a majority of the
independent directors then serving on the TM board.
The board of directors shall establish and maintain an Audit
Committee which shall consist of three Independent Directors, of
which one shall be designated as the Chairman of the Audit
Committee, who shall
be an expert in the field of media finance, and whom shall be
designated as part of the class of directors whose term expires
three years after he or she is elected.
We expect that, subject to election at the Special Meeting by
our stockholders, Theodore S. Green and Malcolm Bird, current
directors of TM, will continue serving as members of TM’s
board of directors immediately following the consummation of the
Transaction. In addition, upon consummation of the Transaction,
subject to election at the Special Meeting by all stockholders,
Zheng Cheng, Jacky Lam, George Zhou and Marco Kung, will fill
the vacancies created by the expansion of TM’s board of
directors to six members.
In connection with the consummation of the Transaction, we
expect that Theodore S. Green and Malcolm Bird will resign as
officers of TM, and that we will appoint Zheng Cheng as Chief
Executive Officer of TM.
For more information, please see the sections entitled
“MANAGEMENT — Directors, Management and Key
Employees Following the Transaction”.
In the event there are not sufficient votes at the time of the
Special Meeting to approve the Transaction Proposal, the Share
Issuance Proposal, the Election of Directors Proposal and the
Charter Amendment Proposal, the chairperson of the Special
Meeting may adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or time
or dates or times, if necessary, to permit further solicitation
of proxies. Approval of the adoption of the Adjournment Proposal
requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the
shares of TM Common Stock present, in person or by proxy, at the
Special Meeting. See the section entitled “THE ADJOURNMENT
PROPOSAL” starting on page 102.
The Special Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on
October 15, 2009, at the offices of Morrison Cohen LLP
located at 909 Third Avenue, New York, New York10022.
Voting
Power; Record Date
You will be entitled to vote or direct the vote of your TM
Common Stock at the Special Meeting if you owned TM Common Stock
at the close of business on September 21, 2009, the record
date for the Special Meeting. You will have one vote for each
share of TM Common Stock you own at that time. Warrants to
purchase TM Common Stock do not have voting rights.
Quorum
The presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of all the
outstanding shares of TM Common Stock constitutes a quorum at
the Special Meeting.
Required
Vote
Pursuant to TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, TM is required to obtain stockholder approval of
the Transaction. Approval of the Transaction Proposal requires
the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of TM Common
Stock that were issued in our IPO and voted on the matter in
person or by proxy entitled to vote at the Special Meeting.
Approval of the Share Issuance Proposal and the Adjournment
Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the
shares of TM Common Stock voted on the matter either in person
or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, and the
Initial Charter Amendment Proposals (No. 1 and No. 2),
the Charter Amendment Proposal and the Authorized Share Increase
Proposal will require the affirmative vote of holders of a
majority of the outstanding TM Common Stock. To be elected under
the Election of Directors Proposal, a nominee must receive a
plurality of the votes cast on the matter either in person or by
proxy and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting.
At the close of business on September 21, 2009, there were
12,505,000 shares of TM Common Stock outstanding and
entitled to vote, which includes 2,250,000 shares
beneficially owned by TM’s Initial Stockholders, officers
and directors and 10,255,000 shares that were issued in our
IPO. Each share of TM Common Stock entitles its holder to cast
one vote per proposal.
In connection with the vote required for the Transaction, our
Initial Stockholders, directors and officers have previously
agreed to vote all of the 2,250,000 shares of TM Common
Stock, representing approximately 18.0% of the shares of TM
Common Stock outstanding as of the record date (excluding any
warrants held by such persons), which are beneficially owned by
them in accordance with the vote of the majority of shares of TM
Common Stock held by our public stockholders, other than such
shares held by our Initial Shareholders.
On March 31, 2009, TM announced that it reached an
agreement with Opportunity Partners L.P., a fund in the Bulldog
Investors (“Bulldog”) group of private investment
funds in connection with Bulldog’s then ongoing consent
solicitation and proposed proxy solicitation. In connection with
the settlement, Bulldog agreed (i) to cease its efforts to
effectuate an early windup of TM, (ii) not to oppose the
board of directors at the next meeting of stockholders or
otherwise seek to exercise control over the management of TM,
(iii) to withdraw its demand to force TM to hold an annual
meeting of stockholders, and (iv) to enter into a forward
contract with TM or a third party whereby Bulldog would not vote
its shares against a proposed business combination. As part of
the settlement, TM agreed to name Gerald Hellerman to its Board
of Directors, who is independent of both Bulldog and TM. In
addition, TM reimbursed Bulldog for certain expenses it incurred
in connection with its consent solicitation and proposed proxy
solicitation. As of the date of this proxy, Bulldog owns
2,500,078 shares of TM Common Stock, representing an 20.0%
ownership interest. A total of approximately $19.8 million
would be paid to Bulldog to purchase its shares following the
consummation of the Transaction, assuming all of Bulldog’s
shares are acquired for the Trust value per share of $7.91. We
believe the fact that Bulldog agreed to enter into a forward
contract with TM enhances the likelihood that TM will receive
stockholder approval for each of the proposals being voted upon
at the Special Meeting. To date, no such forward contract has
been entered into. It is expected that a forward contract with
Bulldog will be entered into prior to the mailing of the proxy
statement, although the parties may enter into such contract any
time prior to the Special Meeting. The terms of such contract
have not been agreed upon, but it is expected that TM would
agree to purchase Bulldog’s shares of TM Common Stock
following the consummation of the Transaction at a fixed price
equal to the per share Trust Account liquidation value,
which based on the amount in the Trust Account as of
August 31, 2009, equals to approximately $7.91.
Our IPO prospectus did not disclose that funds in the trust
account might be used to purchase common stock from holders
thereof who have indicated their intention to vote against the
acquisition and convert their shares into cash. Consequently,
such use of the funds in the trust account might be grounds for
a holder of our public stock who purchased such shares in our
IPO, to seek rescission of the purchase of the units the holder
acquired in the IPO. A successful claimant for damages under
federal or state law could be awarded an amount to compensate
for the decrease in value of the shares caused by the alleged
violation, together with interest, while retaining the shares.
Actions
that May be Taken to Secure Approval of TM’s
Stockholders
If, following the date of this proxy statement, TM determines
that the Transaction Proposal may not receive sufficient votes
at the Special Meeting for the acquisition to be consummated,
TM, CME and the Initial Stockholders
and/or their
affiliates may enter into negotiations for one or more
transactions with existing stockholders who have indicated, or
are believed to have indicated, an intention to vote against the
Transaction Proposal to sell their shares to one or more parties
who would vote in favor of, the Transaction Proposal. See
section entitled “THE SPECIAL MEETING — Actions
That May be Taken to Secure Approval of TM’s
Stockholders”. There can be no certainty that any such
transactions would in fact be sought to be negotiated or, if
negotiations are commenced, would be consummated. If any such
transactions are consummated, TM, TM’s executive officers
and directors, the Initial Stockholders and any other applicable
parties will promptly disclose such transactions by means of a
supplement to this Proxy Statement
and/or the
filing of a Current Report on
Form 8-K
with the SEC and any other required filings.
TM believes that eliminating the requirement that holders of no
more than 30.0% of the IPO Shares vote against the Transaction
and extending the right to elect conversion to those holders of
IPO Shares who vote for the Transaction, will increase the
likelihood that the Transaction will be approved. Under the
terms of Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2, if the
Transaction is approved and completed, stockholders holding IPO
Shares who vote those shares either for or against the
Transaction will have the opportunity to either
(1) continue to hold their IPO Shares, or (2) elect at
the time they vote to convert their IPO Shares into cash upon
the closing of the Transaction. The Transaction Proposal is
conditioned upon the approval of the Initial Charter Amendment
Proposal No. 2 and, in the event the Initial Charter
Amendment Proposal No. 2 does not receive the necessary
vote to approve that proposal, then the Transaction Proposal
will not be presented for approval.
See the section entitled “THE SPECIAL MEETING —
Conversion Rights”.
The Share Exchange Agreement expressly allows TM to raise
$50,000,000 in debt or equity to purchase shares of TM Common
Stock issued in our IPO. We may use the proceeds of this
financing in a variety of ways to secure the required vote to
approve the Transaction, including through entering into
agreements with our current public shareholders to purchase
their shares if the Transaction is approved. Assuming such
shares are acquired for the Trust value per share of $7.91 and
that we raise and utilize a total of $50 million to
purchase shares, we could potentially purchase up to
approximately 6,321,113 shares, which represents more than
50% of our outstanding public shares. In addition to such
“permitted financing”, we have an agreement with one
of our existing public stockholders to enter into a contract to
purchase 2,500,078 shares from such stockholder if the
Transaction is approved. Together with the shares which could
potentially be purchased in the “permitted financing”,
these represent approximately 86% percent of our publicly
outstanding shares, which would ensure that the Transaction is
approved. These actions to obtain stockholder approval of the
Transaction could significantly reduce the amount of funds
available to the combined company following the transaction,
materially increase such company’s debt and impact its
relative ownership following the Transaction. Purchase of shares
currently owned by TM stockholders will increase the
Seller’s ownership of TM following the Transaction, as well
as increase the relative percentage ownership of current TM
stockholders who do not convert their shares. TM, CME or
affiliates may purchase TM’s common stock to help secure
approval of the Initial Charter Amendment Proposals.
See the section entitled “THE SPECIAL MEETING —
Actions That May be Taken to Secure Approval of TM’s
Stockholders”.
In the event that any purchases of TM’s shares of common
stock are made by TM, CME or affiliates of either of them after
the mailing of this proxy statement to stockholders but prior to
the Special Meeting, TM will file a Current Report on
Form 8-K
relating to such purchases within four business days of such
purchases or otherwise prior to the Special Meting. TM’s
stockholders may not have sufficient time to consider the impact
of such purchases before submitting their proxy, or if they have
submitted a proxy, to revoke such proxy prior to the Special
Meeting.
CME intends to purchase such number of TM’s publicly traded
warrants as it determines in its sole discretion following the
closing of the Transaction.
Proxies;
Board Solicitation
Your proxy is being solicited by TM’s board of directors on
each proposal being presented to stockholders at the Special
Meeting. TM’s board of directors has hired Mackenzie
Partners Inc., a proxy solicitation firm, to assist it in
soliciting proxies. Proxies may be solicited in person or by
mail, telephone or other electronic means. If you grant a proxy,
you may still vote your shares of TM Common Stock in person, if
you revoke your proxy before the Special Meeting.
The costs of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and
distributing the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the
Proxy Statement, the Proxies and the annual report will be borne
by us. We have engaged MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
(“Mackenzie”) as an independent proxy solicitor to
assist in the distribution of proxy materials and the
solicitation of votes for approximately $25,000 and reasonable
out-of-pocket
expenses. We expect that approximately 20 employees of
MacKenzie will solicit proxies from our public’s
stockholders. In addition, we have retained Pali Capital, Inc.
(“Pali”), the representative of the underwriters of
our IPO, as financial advisor, and in such role Pali will assist
us in soliciting proxies. Pali will receive no consideration for
this role, but will be
reimbursed by us for reasonable
out-of-pocket
expenses. We expect that up to 20 employees of Pali will
assist in soliciting proxies. In connection with our IPO we sold
to Pali an option to purchase up to 700,000 units
(consisting of one share of Common Stock and one warrant to
purchase one share of Common Stock) for $10.00 per unit. In
addition, $3,281,600 of the underwriting commissions and
discounts payable to the underwriters in our IPO (including
Pali) were deferred and placed in our trust account and will not
be paid to the underwriters if we do not complete a business
combination by October 17, 2009. Pali has agreed to waive
its deferred underwriting fee in exchange for such number of
shares of TM’s Common Stock owned by our Initial
Stockholders to be agreed upon. We also will reimburse brokers
who are holders of record of Common Stock for their reasonable
out-of-pocket
expenses in forwarding proxies and accompanying materials to the
beneficial holders of such Common Stock. In addition to the use
of the mails, Proxies may be solicited without extra
compensation by our directors, officers and employees by
telephone, telecopy, telegraph, email or personal interview.
Significant
Stockholdings
The holdings of TM’s directors, officers and significant
stockholders are detailed in the section entitled
“BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF TM SECURITIES”.
Neither TM nor its stockholders will recognize any gain or loss
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a result of the
Transaction. A stockholder of TM that exercises its IPO
conversion rights generally will recognize gain or loss for
U.S. federal income tax purposes on the conversion equal to
the difference between (1) the amount of cash received by
such stockholder pursuant to the conversion and (2) such
stockholder’s tax basis in its stock in TM.
See the section entitled “THE TRANSACTION
PROPOSAL — Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences of the Transaction”.
These Questions and Answers are only summaries of the matters
they discuss. Please read this entire Proxy Statement.
I. Q:
Why am I receiving this Proxy Statement?
A:
TM has agreed to purchase 100% of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of CME under the terms of the Share Exchange
Agreement dated as of May 1, 2009 as amended as of
September 30, 2009, among TM, CME and the Sellers, which
are described in this Proxy Statement. A copy of the Share
Exchange Agreement is attached to this Proxy Statement as
Annex A. We encourage you to read it in its entirety. In
this Proxy Statement we refer to the purchase by TM of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of CME and the related
transactions contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement as the
“Transaction.” Pursuant to TM’s Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, TM is required to obtain
stockholder approval of the Transaction.
In addition to voting on the Transaction Proposal, the
stockholders of TM will be asked to vote on: (i) the
Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 1, (ii) the
Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2, (iii) the
Share Issuance Proposal, (iv) the Charter Amendment
Proposal, (v) the Authorized Share Increase Proposal,
(vi) the Election of Directors Proposal, and (vii) the
Adjournment Proposal.
Pursuant to certain rules of the NYSE Amex, TM is required to
obtain stockholder approval of the issuance of TM Common Stock
in connection with the Transaction. In addition, TM and CME have
agreed that they will work together to, subject to stockholder
approval, use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
name of TM to be changed to “China MediaExpress Holdings,
Inc.” (or such other name as TM and the Sellers mutually
agree upon) immediately after the consummation of the
Transaction.
TM will hold a special meeting (the “Special Meeting”)
of its stockholders at 10:00 a.m., local time, on
October 15, 2009 to obtain these approvals. This Proxy
Statement contains important information about the Special
Meeting, the proposed Transaction and the other proposals to be
presented to the TM stockholders. You should read it carefully.
Your vote is important. We encourage you to vote as soon as
possible after carefully reviewing this Proxy Statement.
II. Q:
Why are we allowed to make the amendments contemplated by the
Initial Charter Amendment Proposals?
A:
As part of the Initial Charter Amendment Proposals (No. 1 and
No. 2) we are removing (i) the prohibition on the
consummation of a Business Combination if holders of an
aggregate of 30% or more in interest of IPO Shares exercise
their conversion rights and (ii) the requirement that only
holders of IPO Shares who vote against the Transaction may
convert their IPO Shares into cash. While our Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation states that each of these
relevant provisions cannot be amended prior to the consummation
of a business combination, we have obtained the opinion of
Delaware counsel, included in this proxy statement as
Annex G, that the Initial Charter Amendment Proposals, if
duly adopted by our board of directors and duly approved by the
holders of a majority of our outstanding capital stock, all in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the Delaware
General Corporations Law, or DGCL, would be valid and effective
when filed in accordance with the DGCL. See the section entitled
“THE INITIAL CHARTER AMENMENT PROPOSALS —
Rescission Rights.”
III. Q:
Why is TM proposing the Transaction?
A:
TM was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital
stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase and/or other
similar transaction with one or more businesses in the
entertainment, media, digital and communications industries and
to seek out opportunities both
domestically and internationally to take advantage of our
management team’s experience in these markets. CME operates
the largest digital television advertising network on inter-city
express buses in China.
TM believes that CME is well positioned for growth and that
ownership of CME will provide TM stockholders with an
opportunity to participate in a business with a history of
earnings and with growth potential. However, CME has a limited
operating history, derives a significant portion of its revenues
from a limited number of advertising clients, depends on one
equipment supplier and relies on contractual arrangements with a
third party to conduct its advertising business in China. The
Transaction is intended to be a “business combination”
under TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, which TM must submit to its stockholders for
approval prior to completion.
IV. Q:
What is being voted on?
A:
You are being asked to vote upon the following proposals:
• to approve the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal
No. 1;
• to approve the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal
No. 2;
• to approve the purchase by TM of CME pursuant to the
Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby (the “Transaction Proposal”);
• to approve the Share Issuance Proposal;
• to approve the Charter Amendment Proposal;
• to approve the Authorized Share Increase Proposal;
• to approve the Election of Directors Proposal; and
• to approve the Adjournment Proposal.
V. Q:
What is the relation between the Proposals?
A:
The Transaction Proposal is conditioned upon the approval of the
Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 and, in the event
the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 does not
receive the necessary vote to approve that proposal, then the
Transaction Proposal will not be presented for approval. Each of
the Share Issuance Proposal, the Charter Amendment Proposal and
the Authorized Share Increase Proposal are conditioned upon the
approval of the Transaction Proposal and, in the event the
Transaction Proposal does not receive the necessary vote to
approve that proposal, then none of those proposals will be
presented for approval. If the Transaction Proposal is approved
but any of the Share Issuance Proposal, or the Charter Amendment
Proposal are not approved, TM would not be able to perform its
obligations under Share Exchange Agreement, allowing the Sellers
to terminate the Share Exchange Agreement.
Adoption of the Election of Directors Proposal and the
Adjournment Proposal are not conditioned upon the adoption of
any of the other proposals, but if the Transaction Proposal is
not approved the Election of Directors Proposal will not be
presented for approval.
VI. Q:
Who can vote at the Special Meeting?
A:
Holders of TM Common Stock at the close of business on
September 21, 2009, the record date for the Special
Meeting, may vote in person or by proxy on the proposals at the
Special Meeting. On the record date, 12,505,000 shares of
TM Common Stock were outstanding and entitled to vote at the
Special Meeting. As of the record date, our Initial
Stockholders, officers and directors beneficially owned
approximately 18.0% of the outstanding shares of TM Common Stock
(excluding any warrants held by such persons).
TM is proposing to initially amend its Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation prior to the vote on the
Transaction Proposal to: (i) remove the prohibition on the
consummation of a Business Combination if holders of an
aggregate of 30% or more in interest of the shares of our common
stock issued in our initial public offering (“IPO
Shares”) exercise their conversion rights, and
(ii) remove the requirement that only holders of the IPO
Shares who vote against the Transaction may convert their IPO
Shares into cash. (FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, CONSISTENT WITH
TM’S IPO PROSPECTUS, THE 2,250,000 SHARES ISSUED TO
THE FOUNDERS OF TM SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO CONVERT OR
OTHERWISE PARTICIPATE IN THE LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST ACCOUNT
SHOULD TM LIQUIDATE.) This will increase the likelihood that the
Transaction will be approved and will allow all holders of IPO
Shares to convert such shares into cash if the Transaction is
consummated regardless of whether they vote for or against the
Transaction Proposal. These amendments would effectively reduce
the threshold vote required to approve the Transaction from 70%
to 50% of the votes cast, and would reduce the incentive for
stockholders who wish to receive the Trust value for their
shares to vote against the Transaction.
VIII. Q:
What vote is required in order to approve the Initial Charter
Amendment Proposal?
A:
The approval of the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal will
require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of TM Common Stock.
IX. Q:
Since our initial public offering prospectus did not disclose
what is being proposed at the meeting, what are my legal
rights?
A:
You should be aware that neither our Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation nor our initial public offering
prospectus contemplated the possibility of (i) removing the
prohibition on the consummation of a Business Combination if
holders of an aggregate of 30% or more in interest of the shares
of our common stock issued in our initial public offering
(“IPO Shares”) exercise their conversion rights, or
(ii) removing the requirement that only holders of the IPO
Shares who vote against the Transaction may convert their IPO
Shares into cash. This will allow all holders of IPO Shares to
convert such shares into cash if the Transaction is consummated
regardless of whether they vote for or against the Transaction
Proposal. Accordingly, each holder of IPO Shares at the time of
the Transaction who purchased such shares in the initial public
offering may have securities law claims against us for
rescission (under which a successful claimant has the right to
receive the total amount paid for his or her securities pursuant
to an allegedly deficient prospectus, plus interest and less any
income earned on the securities, in exchange for surrender of
the securities) or damages (compensation for loss on an
investment caused by alleged material misrepresentations or
omissions in the sale of a security). Such claims may entitle
stockholders asserting them to up to $8.00 per share, based on
the initial offering price of the initial public offering units
comprised of stock and warrants, less any amount received from
sale of the original warrants purchased with them, plus interest
from the date of our initial public offering (which, in the case
of holders of IPO Shares, may be more than the pro rata share of
the trust account to which they are entitled on conversion or
liquidation). See the section entitled “THE INITIAL CHARTER
AMENDMENT PROPOSALS — Rescission Rights.”
X. Q:
What vote is required in order to approve the Transaction
Proposal?
A:
Under TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, the approval of the Transaction will require the
affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of TM
Common Stock that were issued in the IPO and voted on the matter
either in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Special
Meeting. Warrants to purchase TM Common Stock do not have voting
rights, and TM is not asking the warrant holders to vote on the
Transaction Proposal or the other proposals. If the Transaction
Proposal is not approved, none of the other proposals will be
presented for approval.
How do the TM insiders intend to vote their shares?
A:
In connection with the vote required for any business
combination, all of our Initial Stockholders, including all of
our officers and directors, have agreed to vote their respective
initial shares in accordance with the majority of the shares of
common stock voted by the Public Stockholders. If the majority
of Public Stockholders voting at the meeting, regardless of
percent, vote to approve the business combination, our Initial
Stockholders will vote all shares owned by them prior to our IPO
in favor of the business combination. Similarly, if the majority
of Public Stockholders voting at the meeting, regardless of
percent, vote against the business combination, our Initial
Stockholders will vote all shares owned by them prior to our IPO
against the business combination. This voting arrangement does
not apply to any other shares our Initial Stockholders may
purchase in the future. Accordingly, they may vote these shares
on a proposed business combination any way they chose.
Currently, our Initial Stockholders do not own any shares of TM
Common Stock which are not subject to this voting arrangement.
TM will proceed with the business combination only if a majority
of the shares of common stock voted by the Public Stockholders
are voted in favor of the business combination.
XII. Q:
What will I receive in the proposed Transaction?
A:
TM stockholders will continue to hold the shares of TM Common
Stock that they owned prior to the Transaction.
XIII. Q:
Do TM stockholders have conversion rights?
A:
Yes. Assuming the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal is
approved, with respect to a business combination which is
approved and consummated, any public stockholder who voted
either for or against the business combination may, at the time
of voting, demand that TM convert his, hers, or its shares. If
the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 is not
approved, TM will not complete the Transaction and will
liquidate. The per share conversion price will equal the amount
in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days
prior to the consummation of the proposed business combination,
divided by the number of shares of TM Common Stock held by
public stockholders at the consummation of the Transaction. The
per share conversion price will be calculated as of two business
days prior to the consummation of the Transaction, and will
equal the amount in the Trust Account divided by the number
of shares of TM Common Stock issued in our IPO (10,255,000).
Based on the amount in the Trust Account as of
August 31, 2009 ($81,075,868, net of taxes payable), the
per share conversion price would be approximately $7.91.
However, the Trust Account will continue to earn interest
and incur taxes on such interest until the consummation of the
Transaction. In addition, our placing of funds in the
Trust Account may not protect those funds from third party
claims against us or other liabilities of TM. We cannot assure
you that the per-share distribution from the Trust Account,
if we liquidate, will not be less than $7.91. While we have
sought and will continue to seek to have all vendors and service
providers (which would include any third parties we engaged to
assist us in any way in connection with our search for a target
business) and prospective target businesses execute agreements
with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind
they may have in or to any monies held in the
Trust Account, there is no guarantee that they will execute
such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if such
entities execute such agreements with us, they will not seek
recourse against the Trust Account or that a court would
not conclude that such agreements are not legally enforceable.
Accordingly, the funds held in the Trust Account could be
subject to claims that take priority over the claims of our
public stockholders, and the actual per share conversion price
may be less than approximately $7.91. Furthermore, two of our
Initial Stockholders have personally agreed, pursuant to
agreements with us and our underwriter, that, if we liquidate
prior to the consummation of a business combination, they will
be personally liable to pay debts and obligations to target
businesses or vendors or other entities that are owed money by
us for services rendered or contracted for products sold to us
in excess of the proceeds of our IPO not held in the Trust
Account, but only
if, and to the extent, the claims reduce the amounts in the
Trust Account. However, our Initial Stockholders will not have
any personal liability as to any claimed amounts owed to a third
party who executed a valid and enforceable waiver.
Our Initial Stockholders, directors and officers will not have
any conversion rights attributable to their shares of TM Common
Stock acquired before the IPO in the event that the Transaction
is or is not approved by a majority of our Public Stockholders.
XIV. Q:
If I have conversion rights, how do I exercise them?
A:
If you wish to exercise your conversion rights, you must vote
either for or against the Transaction Proposal and
contemporaneously demand that TM convert your shares of TM
Common Stock into cash. Abstensions or broker non-votes will not
allow you to exercise your conversion rights. You may
exercise your conversion rights either by checking the
appropriate box on the proxy card or by submitting your request
in writing to Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company (“Continental”) at 17 Battery
Place,
8thFloor, New York, NY10004, Attn: Mark Zimkind. In
addition, TM stockholders who hold their stock in street name
must ensure their bank or broker complies with the requirements
identified below. If, prior to the Special Meeting, you
(i) initially vote for the Transaction Proposal but then
wish to vote against it and exercise your conversion rights or
(ii) initially vote against the Transaction Proposal and
wish to exercise your conversion rights but do not check the box
on the proxy card providing for the exercise of your conversion
rights or do not send a written request to Continental to
exercise your conversion rights, you may request that
Continental send to you another proxy card on which you may
indicate your intended vote and exercise your conversion rights
by checking the box provided for such purpose on the proxy card.
You may make such request by contacting Mark Zimkind of
Continental by telephone at
(212) 845-3287
or by email at mzimkind@continentalstock.com. Any corrected or
changed proxy card or written demand of conversion rights must
be received by Continental prior to the Special Meeting. You may
also change a prior vote by attending the Special Meeting where
you will be able to revoke your proxy and vote in person. If,
notwithstanding your negative vote and exercise of your
conversion rights, the Transaction is consummated, then you will
be entitled to have your shares converted. If you exercise your
conversion rights, then you will be exchanging your shares of TM
Common Stock issued in the IPO for cash and will no longer own
these shares. You will be entitled to receive cash for these
shares only if you continue to hold these shares through the
consummation of the Transaction and your stock certificate for
the shares you wish to convert are tendered for conversion.
Exercise of your conversion rights does not result in either the
conversion or a loss of your warrants. Any warrants that you own
will continue to be outstanding and exercisable following a
conversion of your shares of TM Common Stock and the
consummation of the Transaction. If the Transaction is not
consummated, and TM is forced to liquidate, our warrants will
expire with no value. See the section entitled “THE SPECIAL
MEETING — Conversion Rights”.
XV. Q:
What additional conversion procedures are required if my
shares are held in “street name”?
A:
If your shares are held in “street name,” your bank or
broker must, by 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on
October 14, 2009, the business day prior to the special
meeting, electronically transfer your shares to the DTC account
of Continental, in its capacity as our stock transfer agent, and
provide Continental with the necessary stock powers, written
instructions to the effect that you want to convert your shares
and a written certificate addressed to Continental stating that
you were the owner of such shares as of the record date, you
have owned such shares since the record date and you will
continue to own such shares through the consummation of the
Transaction. If you demand conversion of your shares, and later
decide that you do not want to convert such shares, your bank or
broker must make arrangements with Continental, at the telephone
number stated above, to cancel the conversion. To be effective,
withdrawals
of shares previously submitted for conversion must be completed
prior to the commencement of the annual meeting.
Continental can assist with this process. Continental can be
reached by phone at
(212) 845-3287,
by email at mzimkind@continentalstock.com, and by mail at 17
Battery Place,
8thFloor, New York, NY10004, Attn: Mark Zimkind. We urge
stockholders who hold shares in street name and who may wish to
exercise their conversion rights to promptly contact the account
executive at the organization holding their account to
accomplish these additional procedures. If such stockholders
fail to act promptly, they may be unable to timely satisfy the
conversion requirements.
XVI. Q:
Do I need to send in my stock certificates now?
A:
TM stockholders who hold stock certificates themselves rather
than in street name should submit their stock certificates by
5.00 p.m., New
York City time, on October 14, 2009, the business day prior
to the special meeting to Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company at 17 Battery Place,
8th
Floor, New York, NY10004, Attn: Mark Zimkind. In the event
the proposed transaction is not approved, Continental Stock
Transfer & Trust Company will retain any stock certificates
submitted to it and you will receive payment therefor following
the liquidation of TM. In addition you may bring your stock
certificates to the special meeting if you plan to attend in
person. There is no cost to tender your shares. TM stockholders
who hold shares in street name should have their bank or broker
contact Continental with respect to the procedure to complete
the conversion of such shares.
XVII. Q:
What if I object to the proposed Transaction? Do I have
appraisal rights?
A:
Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, TM
stockholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with the
Transaction or any of the other proposals to be presented at the
Special Meeting. However, if you hold TM Common Stock issued in
our IPO (and you are not an initial stockholder), you may
exercise your conversion rights. See the section entitled
“THE SPECIAL MEETING — Conversion Rights”.
XVIII. Q:
What happens to the funds deposited in the Trust Account
after consummation of the Transaction?
A:
Upon consummation of the Transaction, TM stockholders electing
to exercise their conversion rights will receive their pro rata
portion of the Trust Account. The balance of the funds in
the Trust Account will be utilized to fund transaction
expenses. Any remaining funds will be available for operations
and the conduct of our business subsequent to the consummation
of the Transaction.
XIX. Q:
What happens if the Transaction is not consummated?
A:
The deadline under our Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to consummate a business combination is
October 17, 2009. If a stockholder vote on this Transaction
is held and the Transaction is not approved, we will not
continue to try to consummate a business combination with a
different target due to the limited time remaining to consummate
a business combination and the cost involved in doing so. If we
do not consummate a business combination by October 17,2009, our corporate existence will cease by operation of law and
we will promptly distribute only to our public stockholders
(including our existing stockholders to the extent they have
purchased shares in our IPO or in the aftermarket) the amount in
the Trust Account (including any accrued interest then
remaining in the Trust Account) plus any remaining net
assets. Furthermore, two of our Initial Stockholders have
personally agreed, pursuant to agreements with us and our
underwriter, that, if we liquidate prior to the consummation of
a business combination, they will be personally liable to pay
debts and obligations to target businesses or vendors or other
entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or
contracted for products sold to us in excess of the proceeds of
our IPO not held in the Trust
Account, but only if, and to the extent, the claims reduce the
amounts in the Trust Account. However, our Initial Stockholders
will not have any personal liability as to any claimed amounts
owed to a third party who executed a valid and enforceable
waiver.
Our Initial Stockholders, directors and officers have agreed to
waive their respective rights to participate in any liquidation
distribution occurring upon our failure to consummate a business
combination, but only with respect to those shares of TM Common
Stock beneficially owned and acquired by them prior to our IPO.
They will participate in any liquidation distribution with
respect to any shares of TM Common Stock acquired in connection
with or following our IPO. There will be no distribution from
the Trust Account with respect to the warrants, and all
rights with respect to the warrants will effectively terminate
upon our liquidation.
If a liquidation were to occur, based on the amount in the
Trust Account as of August 31, 2009 (approximately
$81,075,868 which is net of estimated taxes payable), the
initial per share liquidation price would be approximately
$7.91. However, the Trust Account will continue to earn
interest and incur taxes on such interest until the date of
liquidation. In addition, our placing of funds in the
Trust Account may not protect those funds from third party
claims against us or other liabilities of TM. While we have
sought and will continue to seek to have all vendors and service
providers (which would include any third parties we engaged to
assist us in any way in connection with our search for a target
business) and prospective target businesses execute agreements
with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind
they may have in or to any monies held in the
Trust Account, there is no guarantee that they will execute
such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if such
entities execute such agreements with us, they will not seek
recourse against the Trust Account or that a court would
not conclude that such agreements are not legally enforceable.
Accordingly, the funds held in the Trust Account could be
subject to claims that take priority over the claims of our
public stockholders, and the actual per share liquidation price
may be less than approximately $7.91. See the section entitled
“RISK FACTORS — Risks Relating to the Proposed
Transaction” for risks associated with the dissolution of
TM.
XX. Q:
When is the Transaction expected to be completed?
A:
If the Transaction is approved, it is anticipated that the
Transaction will be consummated promptly following the Special
Meeting and the satisfaction of all conditions to completion of
the Transaction. For a description of the conditions to
completion of the Transaction, see the section entitled
“THE SHARE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT — Conditions to
Closing”.
XXI. Q:
What vote is required in order to approve the Share Issuance
Proposal?
A:
The approval of the Share Issuance Proposal will require the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of
TM Common Stock voted on the matter either in person or by proxy
and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting.
XXII. Q:
What vote is required in order to approve the Charter
Amendment Proposal?
A:
The approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal will require the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of TM Common Stock.
XXIII. Q:
What vote is required in order to approve the Authorized
Share Increase Proposal?
A:
The approval of the Authorized Share Increase Proposal will
require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of TM Common Stock.
XXIV. Q:
What vote is required to elect Theodore S. Green, Malcolm
Bird, Zheng Cheng, Jacky Lam, George Zhou and Marco Kung to
TM’s board of directors under the Election of Directors
Proposal?
A:
To be elected, a nominee must receive a plurality of the votes
cast on the matter either in person or by proxy and entitled to
vote at the Special Meeting.
What vote is required to approve the Adjournment Proposal, if
needed?
A:
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal will require the
affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of TM
Common Stock represented in person or by proxy and entitled to
vote at the Special Meeting.
TM is proposing to amend its Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation at the time of the Transaction to change TM’s
corporate name to “China MediaExpress Holdings, Inc.”
We believe that changing our name to “China MediaExpress
Holdings, Inc.” will better reflect our operating business
upon completion of the Transaction. In addition, TM and CME have
agreed that they will work together to, subject to stockholder
approval, use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
name of TM to be changed to “China MediaExpress Holdings,
Inc.” (or such other name as TM and the Sellers mutually
agree upon) immediately after the consummation of the
Transaction. The amendment of TM’s Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation would effectuate such name change.
In addition, this amendment would increase the number of shares
authorized for issuance, delete existing provisions that relate
to us as a blank check company and create perpetual corporate
existence.
XXVII. Q:
Does TM’s board of directors recommend voting in favor
of the Initial Charter Amendment Proposals, Transaction
Proposal, the Share Issuance Proposal, the Charter Amendment
Proposal, the Authorized Share Increase Proposal, the Election
of Directors Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal?
A:
Yes. After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of
the Initial Charter Amendment Proposals, the Transaction
Proposal, the Share Issuance Proposal, the Charter Amendment
Proposal, the Authorized Share Increase Proposal the Election of
Directors Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal, TM’s
board of directors has unanimously (i) approved and
declared advisable the Share Exchange Agreement and the
Transaction, (ii) approved and authorized the issuance of
TM Common Stock in connection with the Transaction,
(iii) approved the various amendments to TM’s Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (iv) recommended
that each of the nominees for election to TM’s board of
directors be elected to serve for the respective term of office
of the class to which the nominee is elected and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified, and (v) approved
adjournment or postponement of the Special Meeting to a later
date or time or dates or times if necessary for the purpose of
soliciting additional proxies.
After careful consideration, TM’s board of directors
recommends that TM stockholders vote or give instruction to vote
FOR each of the Transaction Proposal, the Share Issuance
Proposal, the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Election of
Directors Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal. However, you
should note that the members of TM’s board of directors
have interests in the Transaction that are different from, or in
addition to, your interests as a stockholder. For a description
of such interests, please see the section entitled “THE
TRANSACTION PROPOSAL — Interests of TM’s
Management in the Transaction”.
XXVIII. Q:
Who will manage TM after consummation of the Transaction?
A:
We expect that, subject to election at the Special Meeting by
our stockholders, Theodore S. Green and Malcolm Bird, current
directors of TM, will continue serving as members of TM’s
board of directors immediately following the consummation of the
Transaction. In addition, immediately following the consummation
of the Transaction, we expect to increase the size of TM’s
board of directors to six members, and appoint as directors
Zheng Cheng, Jacky Lam, George Zhou and Marco Kung. For a
description of these management agreements, see the sections
entitled “MANAGEMENT FOLLOWING THE TRANSACTION”.
TM urges you to read carefully and consider the information
contained in this Proxy Statement, including the annexes, and to
consider how the Transaction will affect you as a stockholder of
TM. You should then vote as soon as possible in accordance with
the instructions provided in this Proxy Statement and on the
enclosed proxy card.
XXX. Q:
How do I vote?
A:
If you are a holder of record of TM Common Stock, you may vote
by submitting a proxy for the Special Meeting or in person at
the Special Meeting. You may submit your proxy by completing,
signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the
accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope. If you hold
your shares of TM Common Stock in “street name,” which
means your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or
nominee, you must provide the record holder of your shares with
instructions on how to vote your shares.
XXXI. Q:
If I am not going to attend the Special Meeting in person,
should I return my proxy card instead?
A:
Yes. After carefully reading and considering the information in
this Proxy Statement, please fill out and sign your proxy card.
Then return it in the return envelope as soon as possible, so
that your shares of TM Common Stock may be represented at the
Special Meeting. A properly executed proxy will be counted for
the purpose of determining the existence of a quorum.
XXXII. Q:
Can I change my vote after I have mailed my signed proxy
card?
A:
Yes. Send a later-dated, signed proxy card to Mackenzie,
TM’s proxy solicitor, at 105 Madison Avenue New York, NY10016, prior to the date of the Special Meeting or attend the
Special Meeting in person and vote. You also may revoke your
proxy by sending a notice of revocation to Mackenzie before the
Special Meeting. You can reach Mackenzie at
proxy@mackenziepartners.com.
XXXIII. Q:
If my shares are held in “street name,” will my
broker, bank or nominee automatically vote my shares for me?
A:
No. Your broker, bank or nominee cannot vote your shares of
TM Common Stock unless you provide instructions on how to vote
in accordance with the information and procedures provided to
you by your broker, bank or nominee. You should instruct your
broker, bank or nominee to vote your shares of TM Common Stock,
following the procedures provided by your broker, bank or
nominee.
XXXIV. Q:
What will happen if I abstain from voting or fail to instruct
my broker, bank or nominee to vote?
A:
Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, an
abstention, or the failure to instruct your broker, bank or
nominee how to vote (also known as a broker non-vote), is not
considered a vote cast at the Special Meeting with respect to
the Transaction Proposal and therefore, will have no effect on
the vote relating to the Transaction Proposal. An abstention or
broker non-vote will not enable you to exercise your conversion
rights. A broker non-vote will have the same effect as a vote
against the Initial Charter Amendment Proposals, the Charter
Amendment Proposal and the Authorized Share Increase Proposal,
but will have no effect on the Share Issuance Proposal and the
Adjournment Proposal. Stockholders may only vote for or withhold
votes for the nominees for election pursuant to the Election of
Directors Proposal. Votes that are withheld and broker
non-votes, if any, will be counted for purposes of determining
the presence or absence of a quorum, but will have no effect on
the election of directors.
XXXV. Q:
What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting
materials?
A:
You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including
multiple copies of this Proxy Statement and multiple proxy cards
or voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your
shares of TM Common Stock in more than one brokerage account,
you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each
brokerage account in which you hold shares of TM Common Stock.
If you are a holder of record and your shares of TM Common Stock
are registered in more than one name, you will receive more than
one proxy card. Please complete, sign, date and return each
proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order
to cast a vote with respect to all of your shares of TM Common
Stock.
XXXVI. Q:
Who can help answer my questions?
A:
If you have questions about the Transaction or this Proxy
Statement, or if you need additional copies of this Proxy
Statement or the enclosed proxy card, you may contact Mackenzie,
our proxy solicitor by telephone at
(800) 322-2885
or by email at proxy@mackenziepartners.comYou may also
obtain additional information about TM from documents filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by
following the instructions in the section entitled “WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION”.
You should carefully consider the following risk factors,
together with all of the other information included in this
Proxy Statement, before you decide whether to vote or direct
your vote to be cast to approve the Transaction and related
proposals. The following risk factors consist of risks relating
to the proposed Transaction, risks relating to doing business in
China, risks relating to CME, risks relating to CME’s
corporate structure and risks relating to TM. In addition,
references in these “Risk Factors” to “CME’s
advertising network”, “CME’s customers”,
CME’s operations in general and similar connotations, refer
to Fujian Fenzhong, an entity which is controlled by CME
through contractual agreements and which operates the
advertising network. While CME has no direct equity ownership in
Fujian Fenzhong, through the contractual agreements CME receives
the economic benefits of Fujian Fenzhongs’s operations. See
the sections entitled “RISK FACTORS — Risks
Related to CME’s Corporate Structure” and
“CME’S CORPORATE STRUCTURE — Contractual
Arrangements”.
Various
stockholder approvals are required to complete the Transaction,
and we cannot assure you that it will be consummated; TM, CME,
our initial stockholders and their respective affiliates may
enter into transactions to secure the required stockholder
approvals, which could reduce the amount of funds available to
CME following the Transaction.
We will proceed with the Transaction only if (1) the
Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 is approved, and
(2) a majority of the shares of TM Common Stock voted by
the public stockholders are voted in favor of the Transaction.
The Share Exchange Agreement contains a number of other
conditions to closing, some or all of which may not be
satisfied. Many of these conditions are beyond our control and
include, among other things, the continued accuracy of the
representations and warranties in the Share Exchange Agreement.
We cannot be certain that we will obtain the necessary
stockholder approval or that we and the Sellers will satisfy
other closing conditions.
In order to ensure that that the Transaction Proposal is
approved TM, CME, TM’s initial stockholders and their
respective affiliates or other third parties may enter into
transactions to purchase shares of common stock of TM from
stockholders who have indicated their intention to vote against
the acquisition and seek conversion of their shares. Such
transactions could reduce the amount of funds available to CME
following the Transaction. While TM will publicly disclose any
such transactions, TM’s stockholders may not have
sufficient time to consider the impact of such purchases before
submitting their proxy, or if they have submitted a proxy, to
revoke such proxy prior to the Special Meeting.
If we
consummate the Transaction, we will be issuing additional shares
of TM Common Stock. This would reduce the percentage of the
equity interest held by our current stockholders in our company,
and will cause a change in control of TM and could adversely
affect the market price of the TM Common Stock and discourage
certain business combinations in which our stockholders could be
offered a premium for their shares.
Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, TM will purchase from
the Sellers 100% of the outstanding equity of CME and TM will
issue at closing 20.915 million newly issued shares of TM
Common Stock, and pay $10.0 million in three year, no
interest promissory notes. In addition, the Sellers may also
earn up to an additional 15.0 million newly issued shares
of TM Common Stock subject to the achievement of certain net
income targets for 2009, 2010 and 2011.
As a consequence of such issuance, our current stockholders will
experience immediate dilution of their percentage ownership
interest in TM, with the Sellers owning approximately 64.6% of
the outstanding shares of TM Common Stock immediately after the
consummation of the Transaction assuming no conversions and
93.1% assuming a maximum of 100% conversions. The presence of
the foregoing additional number of shares of TM Common Stock
eligible for trading in the public market, or the perception
that such additional shares may become eligible for trading, may
have an adverse effect on the market price of the TM Common
Stock.
In addition, if and when the Sellers hold a controlling interest
in TM, such control could discourage certain business
combinations that could offer our stockholders a premium for
their shares.
In addition, at the consummation of the Transaction, TM and the
Sellers will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement pursuant
to which TM will grant to the Sellers certain piggyback and
demand registration rights with respect to the shares of TM
Common Stock issued to the Sellers as consideration paid
pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, the exercise of which
may have an adverse effect on the market price of the TM Common
Stock, and the existence of which may make it more difficult to
effect certain business combinations. See the section entitled
“RISK FACTORS — Risks Relating to TM”.
If we consummate the Transaction, our outstanding warrants may
be exercised, which would increase the number of shares of TM
Common Stock eligible for future resale in the public market and
result in dilution of our stockholders’ percentage
ownership interest in TM. This might have an adverse effect on
the market price of the TM Common Stock.
Outstanding warrants to purchase an aggregate of 12,355,000
(including warrants to purchase 10,255,000 shares issued in our
IPO and warrants to purchase 2,100,000 shares issued to our
Initial Stockholders) shares of TM Common Stock issued in
conjunction with our IPO will become exercisable if we
consummate the Transaction. We expect that these warrants will
be exercised only if the $5.50 per share exercise price is below
the then market price of the TM Common Stock.
In addition, in connection with our IPO, TM sold to Pali
Capital, Inc. (“Pali”), for $100, an option to
purchase up to a total of 700,000 units, consisting of one
share of TM Common Stock and one warrant, for $10.00 per unit,
exercisable commencing on the later of the consummation of our
initial business combination and one year after the date of the
final prospectus for our IPO and expiring October 17, 2012.
The warrants underlying the units have terms that are identical
to those issued in our IPO. The purchase option also contains a
cashless exercise feature that allows the holder or holders of
the purchase option to receive units on a net exercise basis. In
addition, the purchase option provides for registration rights
that permit the holder or holders of the purchase option to
demand that a registration statement be filed with respect to
all or any part of the securities underlying the purchase option
within five years of the completion of the Offering. Further,
the holder or holders of the purchase option are entitled to
piggyback registration rights in the event TM undertakes a
subsequent registered offering within seven years of the
completion of our IPO. Warrants issued and outstanding as a
result of the exercise of the purchase option will be subject to
TM’s right of redemption. Therefore, an aggregate of
approximately 13,755,000 million shares of TM Common Stock
may be issued in the future upon exercise of currently
outstanding warrants and options.
To the extent that any of the foregoing warrants
and/or
options are exercised, additional shares of TM Common Stock will
be issued, which will result in dilution of our
stockholders’ percentage ownership interest in TM and
increase the number of shares of TM Common Stock eligible for
resale in the public market. Sales of a substantial number of
shares of TM Common Stock issued on exercise of the warrants in
the public market could adversely affect the market price of the
TM Common Stock.
The
pro forma financial statements are not necessarily indicative of
the financial position or results of operations of TM
(Post-Transaction).
The pro forma financial statements contained in this Proxy
Statement are not an indicator of CME’s financial condition
or results of operations following the Transaction. The pro
forma financial statements have been derived from the historical
financial statements of CME and TM and many adjustments and
assumptions have been made regarding CME after giving effect to
the Transaction. The information upon which these adjustments
and assumptions have been made is preliminary, and these kinds
of adjustments and assumptions are difficult to make with
complete accuracy. As a result, the actual financial condition
and results of operations of TM (after the consummation of the
Transaction; “TM Post-Transaction”) following the
Transaction may not be consistent with, or evident from, these
pro forma financial statements or past results.
Our
working capital will be reduced if TM stockholders exercise
their right to convert their shares into cash. This would reduce
our cash reserve after the Transaction.
Assuming the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal is approved,
pursuant to our certificate of incorporation, all holders of
shares issued in our IPO may vote either for or against the
Transaction and elect that we convert their shares into a pro
rata share of the Trust Account calculated as of two
business days prior to the consummation of the merger. To the
extent the merger is consummated and holders of a significant
number of shares issued in our IPO have properly elected to
convert their shares, there will be a corresponding reduction in
the amount of funds available to the combined company following
the merger. Additionally, if holders properly elect to convert
their shares, there may be a corresponding reduction in the
value of each share of common stock of the combined company. Any
payment upon exercise of conversion rights will reduce our cash
after the merger. As a company in the early stage of its growth
and development, the combined company will require significant
capital to grow and eventually become profitable and may require
additional sources of capital to the extent that funds disbursed
to our stockholders upon the exercise of their conversion rights
result in working capital shortfalls.
An
active market for our common stock may not
develop.
Our common stock is currently listed on the NYSE Amex. If the
Transaction is approved we cannot assure you a regular trading
market of our shares will develop or that any market will be
sustained. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the likelihood
that an active trading market for our shares will develop or be
maintained, the liquidity of any trading market, your ability to
sell your shares when desired, or at all, or the prices that you
may obtain for your shares.
The
value of our common stock and warrants may be adversely affected
by market volatility.
Even if an active trading market develops, the market price of
our shares and warrants may be highly volatile and could be
subject to wide fluctuations. In addition, the trading volume in
our shares and warrants may fluctuate and cause significant
price variations to occur. If the market prices of our shares
and warrants decline significantly, you may be unable to resell
your shares and warrants at or above your purchase price, if at
all. We cannot assure you that the market price of our shares
and warrants will not fluctuate or decline significantly in the
future. Some of the factors that could negatively affect the
price of our shares and warrants or result in fluctuations in
the price or trading volume of our shares and warrants include:
•
actual or anticipated fluctuations in quarterly and annual
results;
•
limited operating history;
•
market conditions in the industry;
•
shortfalls in TM’s operating results from levels forecasted
by securities analysts;
•
the failure of securities analysts to cover our shares after the
Transaction;
•
announcements concerning TM or its competitors;
•
low average trading volume levels of TM Common Stock following
the Transaction; and
•
the general state of the securities markets.
•
departures of CME key personnel;
•
adverse market reaction to any indebtedness we may incur or
securities we may issue in the future;
•
actions by stockholders;
•
speculation in the press or investment community;
•
changes or proposed changes in laws or regulations or differing
interpretations thereof affecting our business or enforcement of
these laws and regulations, or announcements relating to these
matters;
The economies of individual foreign countries may differ
significantly from the U.S. economy in such respects as
growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, currency
depreciation, capital reinvestment, resource self sufficiency
and balance of payments position. With respect to some foreign
countries there is the possibility of nationalization,
expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political changes,
governmental regulation, economic or social instability, or
diplomatic developments (including war) which could adversely
affect investments in those countries.
Laws and regulations of foreign countries may impose
restrictions that would not exist in the United States.
Some foreign countries have laws and regulations that currently
limit or preclude direct foreign investment. Even where
permitted, direct investments may require significant government
approvals and may require financing and structuring alternatives
that differ significantly from those customarily used in the
United States. In addition, in certain countries such laws
and regulations have been subject to frequent and unforeseen
change, potentially exposing an investment to restrictions,
taxes, and other obligations that were not anticipated at the
time the initial investment was made.
Investments in international companies may be subject to
significant currency exchange risks. Any fluctuations in foreign
currency exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar and the
respective foreign currencies may significantly affect the value
of international companies and the returns ultimately achieved.
We may enter into financial arrangements designed to hedge such
currency exchange risks. Such hedging arrangements are
themselves subject to various risks different from those of the
related investment. For example, unanticipated changes in
interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may
result in a poorer overall performance than if the hedging
arrangement had not been entered into. Moreover, there can be no
assurance that instruments suitable for hedging currency will be
available, or that such instruments will be attractively priced,
at the time we wish to use them.
Adverse
changes in economic and political policies of the PRC government
could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic
growth of China, which could adversely affect CME’s
business.
CME conducts substantially all of its business operations in
China. Accordingly, CME’s business, results of operations,
financial condition and prospects are subject to a significant
degree to economic, political and legal conditions in China or
in countries in the same geographic region. China’s economy
differs from the economies of developed countries in many
respects, including with respect to government regulation and
control of foreign exchange, the level of development and growth
rate, and the allocation of resources.
While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the
past 20 years, growth has been uneven across different
regions and economic sectors. The PRC government has implemented
certain measures to encourage economic development and guide the
allocation of resources. While some of these measures benefit
the PRC economy generally, they may also negatively affect CME.
For example, CME’s business, financial condition and
results of operations may be adversely affected by government
control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations
applicable to CME.
The PRC economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to
a more market-oriented economy. Although the PRC government has
implemented measures since the late 1970s emphasizing
market-oriented reforms, the reduction of state ownership of
productive assets and improved corporate governance, the PRC
government still owns a substantial portion of productive assets
in China and continues to play a significant role in regulating
industrial development. In addition, the PRC government
exercises significant control over China’s economic growth
by controlling the allocation of resources and payment of
foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary
policy and giving preferential treatment to particular
industries or companies.
Since late 2003, the PRC government has implemented a number of
measures, such as raising bank reserves against deposit rates
and placing additional limitations on the ability of commercial
banks to make loans and raise interest rates, in an attempt to
slow down specific segments of China’s economy that the
government believed to be overheating. In 2008, however, in
response to the world economic crisis, the PRC government cut
internal rates and announced a stimulus plan in an attempt to
help sustain growth. These actions, as well as future actions
and policies of the PRC government, could materially affect
CME’s liquidity and access to capital, as well as its
ability to operate its business.
Uncertainties
with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect
CME.
CME conducts its business primarily through operations in China.
CME’s operations in China are governed by PRC laws and
regulations. CME’s operating companies are generally
subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign
investments in China and, in particular, laws and regulations
applicable to wholly foreign-owned enterprises. The PRC legal
system is principally based on statutes. Prior court decisions
may be cited for reference but typically have limited
precedential value.
Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly
enhanced the protections afforded to foreign investments in
China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal
system, and recently enacted laws and regulations may not
sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China.
In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively
new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions
(and the nonbinding nature of such decisions), the
interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations
raise uncertainties. In addition, the PRC legal system is based
in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which
are not published on a timely basis or at all) that may have
retroactive effect. As a result, CME may not be aware of its
violation of these policies and rules until after a violation
occurs. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted
and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and
management attention.
CME
may have difficulty establishing adequate management, legal and
financial controls in the PRC.
Most PRC companies historically have been less focused on
establishing Western style management and financial reporting
concepts and practices, as well as modern banking, computer and
other internal control systems, than companies in the
U.S. and certain other Western countries. CME believes
that, with the hiring of its new CFO, it will be able to
maintain sufficient internal control systems to comply with
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. However, CME may have
difficulty in hiring and retaining a sufficient number of
qualified internal control employees to work in the PRC. As a
result of these factors, CME may experience difficulty in
establishing management, legal and financial controls,
collecting financial data, preparing financial statements, books
of account and corporate records, and instituting business
practices that meet Western standards. CME’s inability to
maintain sufficient internal controls to meet the requirements
of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could impair our
ability to timely meet our ongoing Exchange Act reporting
obligations, may result in the failure to identify and assess
the risks of their business and internal control system which
may cause misstatements in its financial reporting and may
result in a qualified opinion on its audit of internal control.
PRC
regulation of loans to and direct investment by offshore holding
companies in PRC entities may delay or prevent CME from making
loans or additional capital contributions to its PRC operating
companies, which could materially and adversely affect its
liquidity and ability to fund and expand its
business.
As an offshore holding company of its PRC operating companies,
CME may make loans or additional capital contributions to its
PRC operating companies. Any loans to CME’s PRC operating
companies are subject to PRC regulations. For example, loans by
CME to its operating companies in China, which are
foreign-invested enterprises, to finance their activities may
not exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the PRC
State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE.
CME may also decide to finance its operating companies, in which
it has equity ownership, by making capital contributions to such
entities. The PRC Ministry of Commerce (or its local
counterpart) must approve these capital contributions. CME
cannot assure you that it will be able to obtain these
government approvals
on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to any such capital
contributions. If CME fails to receive such approvals, its
ability to use the proceeds of such transactions and to
capitalize its PRC operations may be negatively affected, which
could adversely affect CME’s liquidity and ability to fund
and expand its business.
Governmental
control of foreign exchange markets in the PRC may affect the
value of an investment in certain securities of TM
(Post-Transaction).
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the
RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the
remittance of currency out of China. CME receives substantially
all of its revenues in RMB. CME’s income is primarily
derived from dividend payments from its PRC operating companies.
Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict
the ability of CME’s PRC operating companies to remit
sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or make other
payments, or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency
denominated obligations.
Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of
current account items, including profit distributions, interest
payments and expenditures from trade-related transactions, can
be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE
by complying with certain procedural requirements. However,
approval from appropriate government authorities is required
where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted
out of China to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of
loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may
also at its discretion restrict future access to foreign
currencies for current account transactions. If the Chinese
foreign exchange control system prevents CME from obtaining
sufficient foreign currency to satisfy its currency demands, CME
may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to
shareholders.
Fluctuation
in the value of the RMB may have a material adverse effect on
the value of an investment in certain securities of TM
(Post-Transaction).
The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other
currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things,
changes in political and economic conditions. On July 21,2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of
pegging the value of the RMB to the U.S. dollar. Under the
new policy, the RMB has been permitted to fluctuate within a
narrow and managed band against a basket of foreign currencies.
This change in policy has resulted in an approximately 17%
appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar between
July 21, 2005 and June 30, 2009. While the
international reaction to the RMB revaluation has generally been
positive, there remains significant international pressure on
the PRC government to adopt an even more flexible currency
policy, which could result in a further and more significant
appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar.
Substantially all of CME’s revenues and costs are
denominated in the RMB, and a significant portion of CME’s
financial assets is also denominated in the RMB. Further, CME
relies principally on dividends and other distributions paid to
it by its operating companies and affiliated entities in China.
Any significant revaluation of the RMB could materially and
adversely affect CME’s cash flows, revenues, earnings and
financial position, and the value of, and any dividends payable
with respect to, the shares of TM (Post-Transaction) in
U.S. dollars. Any fluctuations of the exchange rate between
the RMB and the U.S. dollar could also result in foreign
currency translation losses for financial reporting purposes.
Any
health epidemics and other outbreaks, or war, acts of terrorism
or other man-made or natural disasters could severely disrupt
CME’s business operations.
CME’s business could be materially and adversely affected
by the outbreak of avian influenza, severe acute respiratory
syndrome, or SARS, swine influenza (H1N1) or another epidemic.
In 2006 and 2007, there were reports of occurrences of avian
influenza in various parts of China, including a few confirmed
human cases and deaths. In 2009, there were reported cases of
swine influenza (H1N1) in certain parts of China. Any prolonged
recurrence of avian influenza, SARS, swine influenza (H1N1) or
other adverse public health developments in China could require
the temporary closure of CME’s offices or otherwise
severely disrupt CME’s business operations and adversely
affect its results of operations.
CME’s operations are also vulnerable to interruption and
damage from natural and other types of disasters, including
snowstorms, earthquakes, fire, floods, environmental accidents,
power loss, communications failures and similar events. In
January and February 2008, large portions of Southern and
Central China were hit with a series of snowstorms, which caused
extensive damage and transportation disruption. On May 12,2008, a severe earthquake measuring approximately 8.0 on the
Richter scale occurred in Sichuan province of China, resulting
in numerous casualties and severe property damage. The Panzhihua
earthquake struck southern Sichuan province on August 30,2008 resulting in deaths and damage to property and
infrastructure. If any disaster were to occur in the future,
CME’s ability to operate its business could be seriously
impaired.
expanded and improved administrative and operational systems;
•
enhanced information technology systems;
•
stringent cost controls and sufficient working capital;
•
strengthening of financial and management controls;
•
a reliable supply of digital television displays and other
equipment; and
•
hiring and training of new personnel.
CME’s
limited operating history may not serve as an adequate basis to
judge its future prospects and results of
operations.
CME commenced its operations in the advertising industry in
November 2003. Its limited operating history may not provide an
adequate basis for you to evaluate its business, financial
performance and
prospects. Since the market in which CME operates is rapidly
evolving, it has only limited insight into the emerging trends
that may affect its business. In addition, it is difficult to
evaluate the viability of its business and address the risks
frequently encountered by early stage companies using new forms
of advertising media. If CME is unsuccessful in addressing any
risk or uncertainty associated with its network, its business,
financial condition and results of operations may be materially
adversely affected.
If
CME’s clients or the passengers do not accept, or lose
interest in, in-vehicle digital television advertising, its
business will deteriorate.
The market for in-vehicle television advertising networks in
China is relatively new and its potential is uncertain.
CME’s success depends on the public acceptance of this
method of delivering advertising content. If the target
audiences are not receptive to its advertising network,
CME’s clients may not continue to utilize this medium as a
component of their advertising strategies. The attractiveness of
CME’s advertising network to the target audiences is
primarily affected by the appeal of its entertainment programs.
As a result, CME’s ability to continue to obtain a
sufficient range of programs attractive to the target audiences
and to switch or rotate the programs more frequently on its
advertising network is critical to maintain the appeal of its
advertising network. Currently, CME manually updates the
entertainment programs on a
fifteen-day
interval and advertisements on a
thirty-day
interval. CME expects to upgrade its existing equipment and
control systems to automatically update its entertainment
programs upon arrival of the express buses carrying its network
at the bus terminals. CME believes this upgrade will allow for
more frequent updating of the content to increase the
attractiveness of its advertising network and enable it to
reduce the costs of manual updating. However, there can be no
assurance that CME will be successful in these efforts. If CME
fails in these efforts, its network may lose its appeal and it
may not be able to draw the attention of the bus passengers. In
addition, the attention of the target audiences may be
districted by the increasing popularity and use of personal
handheld entertainment devices, such as portable media players
and handheld video game devices. If CME fails to maintain or
increase the attractiveness of its network, its business,
financial condition and results of operations may be materially
adversely affected.
Although CME has adopted various methods to enhance the
effectiveness of its advertising network, passengers may find
some elements of in-vehicle digital television advertising
disruptive or intrusive. For example, passengers are not able to
turn off entertainment programs and advertisement content during
transit because the switches of CME’s equipment and systems
are connected to the electric doors of the buses, which cannot
be opened while the buses are traveling on expressways. In
addition, CME’s systems are programmed to play the
entertainment programs and advertisements at or above a fixed
minimum volume. Because passengers are effectively confined to
their seat during their journey, they may react negatively to
having to see and hear CME’s content. While there have been
no significant complaints received to date and there are
currently no regulations or laws restricting the broadcasting of
CME’s programs in the vehicles, if a substantial number of
passengers complain about CME’s services, bus operators may
become less willing or unwilling to carry CME’s network on
their buses and advertising agencies and advertisers may become
less willing or unwilling to use CME’s network to deliver
their advertisements. As a result, its business, financial
condition and results of operations would be materially
adversely affected.
CME
may not be able to renew its existing long-term framework
agreements with inter-city express bus operators or enter into
new long-term framework agreements with additional inter-city
express bus operators
CME has entered into long-term framework agreements (including
the supplementary agreements, if any) with 40 inter-city express
bus operators in China to install its equipment and control
systems and display entertainment programs and advertisements
for a term ranging from five to eight years. These agreements
will begin to expire December 31, 2011. As a result,
CME’s future growth is dependent upon its ability to
continue to enter into long-term framework agreements with
existing and new inter-city express bus operators. If it is
unable to renew its existing long-term framework agreements upon
expiration, it may lose advertising network coverage over
municipalities and provinces highly desirable for its clients
and consequently, it may lose its competitive advantage in the
industry. Moreover, in order to replace the network coverage
represented by the
loss of such long-term arrangements, CME may have to enter into
short-term contracts with other inter-city express bus operators
on less favorable terms, which could adversely affect the
attractiveness of its advertising network for its clients and
increase its costs. Further, if it is unable to enter into
long-term framework agreements with additional inter-city
express bus operators on commercially reasonable terms, CME may
not be able to expand its network as planned which would reduce
its ability to grow its revenues and maximize average
advertising fees.
CME has not experienced any difficulties or disputes with
respect to the performance of its long-term agreements with
inter-city express bus operators. However, if any inter-city
express bus operator ceases to engage CME to exclusively provide
entertainment programs and advertisements on its buses, chooses
not to renew its long-term framework agreement with CME upon
expiration or terminates its long-term framework agreement with
CME before it expires or otherwise fails to perform its
obligations to CME, there can be no assurance that CME will be
able to seek adequate recourse and its business, financial
condition and results of operations could be materially
adversely affected.
CME
does not have direct contractual relationships with third-party
owners of certain inter-city express buses carrying its network
and its purchase of digital television displays originally
installed on these buses may be subject to claims by third
parties.
Less than 10% of the inter-city express buses carrying
CME’s network are not owned by the inter-city express bus
operators participating in its network with which it has entered
into long-term framework agreements. Instead, these inter-city
express buses are owned by third parties and commissioned by the
inter-city express bus operators participating in its network to
provide transportation services. CME is not a party to the
contracts between these third-party bus owners and the
inter-city express bus operators participating in its network.
CME does not have direct contractual relationships with
third-party owners of certain inter-city express buses carrying
its network. Therefore, it does not have control over such
third-party bus owners. Although the inner-city express bus
operators are responsible for maintaining the number of buses
provided by the third-party owners, in the event that any
third-party bus operator fails to provide transportation
services or unilaterally terminates its contracts with the
inter-city express bus operators participating in its network
for any reason, CME would not be able to fulfill its obligations
to display advertisements for its clients on those buses. If
this occurs, CME’s business, financial condition and
results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
In addition, CME has purchased digital television displays
originally installed on the buses owned by third-parties from
some of the bus operators participating in its network. However,
the bus operators that sold the digital television displays to
CME may not have ownership over such displays. CME has been
advised by its PRC counsel, that it has legally acquired
ownership over such digital television displays in accordance
with PRC law because it has acquired such displays in good faith
as a bona fide third-party purchaser (that is, it was not aware
of the fact that the bus operators did not have ownership over
the digital television displays at the time of the purchase), it
paid reasonable considerations for such displays, and it has
received delivery of such displays. In addition, CME entered
into supplementary agreements with such bus operators in the
summer of 2008, whereby the bus operators guaranteed their full
title to the displays they transferred to CME, and if any third
party asserts ownership to the displays which causes any loss to
CME, the bus operators shall be responsible for the settlement
of such dispute and compensate CME in full for the amount of the
loss suffered by CME. All digital television displays purchase
agreements entered into after August 2008 contain similar
guarantees by bus operators. Nonetheless, there can be no
assurance that the original owners of the digital television
displays will not assert claims against the bus operators and
include CME as a defendant in the claims. If any plaintiff
prevails, CME may be jointly and severally liable with the bus
operators for monetary compensation of residual value of the
digital television displays or for an injunction to return the
digital television displays to the original owner, and there can
be no assurance that the bus operators will compensate CME in
full the amount of the loss suffered by CME as provided in the
supplementary agreements. Either case will cause CME to incur
cash outlays to pay for monetary compensation or to fund the
replacement of digital television displays.
A
business disruption of any bus operator participating in
CME’s network or a downturn in the inter-city express bus
transportation industry in general could adversely affect its
business.
CME’s business depends heavily on the continued operation
of the inter-city express bus transportation services. Prior to
January 1, 2006, CME relied on no more than ten bus
operators to carry its network. For the year ended
December 31, 2007, although the number of bus operators
participating in its network increased to more than 30, CME
relied heavily on the top ten bus operators to carry its
network. For the years ended December 31, 2007 and
December 31, 2008, the amount of concession fees paid to
the top ten bus operators participating in its network accounted
for 62.3% and 61.0%, respectively of total concession fees paid
to all bus operators participating in its network. Currently,
more than one-fifth of inter-city express buses carrying its
network are operated by three bus operators participating in its
network. If any major bus operator participating in CME’s
network experiences a business disruption, insolvency or
bankruptcy, it might suspend or stop its transportation services
partially or completely. If this occurs, the number of
inter-city express buses carrying CME’s network could
decrease significantly, which could materially adversely affect
the scope of its market share.
Furthermore, inter-city bus travel in China is largely driven by
economic growth. Therefore, inter-city express bus
transportation services are susceptible to downturns in the
economy. In the event of an economic downturn, the number of
passengers, including business, leisure and other travelers, may
decrease, which would result in a smaller target audience and in
turn impact the effectiveness of its advertising network for
advertisers and advertising agencies. Moreover, further
increases in crude oil prices could result in increases in bus
fares payable by the passengers, particularly if government
subsidies are insufficient to cover resulting increases in fuel
costs incurred by bus operators, which may adversely affect the
demand for travel on inter-city express buses. Further, the
introduction and the expanded reach of high speed railway
networks as the government continues to increase expenditure on
high speed railway construction in China are likely to impose
competition for inter-city express bus operators in the future.
If an increased number of inter-city travelers choose to travel
on high speed railways, or alternative transportation options,
such as automobiles or airplanes, instead of on inter-city
express buses in the future, the size of the target audience
reachable by its advertising network may not grow or may even
decrease and the attractiveness of its advertising network for
advertisers may suffer.
If CME
is unable to continue to obtain a wide range of free
entertainment programs from its content suppliers or from other
content suppliers on substantially the same terms in the future,
its business could be materially adversely
affected.
On September 1, 2006, CME entered into a cooperation
agreement with Fujian SouthEastern Television Channel for a term
of nine years starting from September 1, 2006 to
August 31, 2015. In addition, on August 25, 2008, CME
entered into a cooperation agreement with Hunan Satellite
Television for a term of two years starting from
September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2010. As a result, CME
obtains a wide range of free entertainment programs from Fujian
SouthEastern Television Channel and Hunan Satellite Television
each month. However, there can be no assurance that CME will be
able to continue to obtain free content from these content
suppliers or at all. CME is obligated to perform certain
obligations under these agreements. For example, CME is
obligated to display the logo of Fujian SouthEastern Television
Channel while showing its content on its network. In the event
of a breach of such obligations, Fujian SouthEastern Television
Channel could terminate its agreement with CME. The payment of
penalty charges in the event of an early termination may not be
sufficient to compensate CME for the loss of its ability to
obtain free entertainment content each month. Moreover, if CME
fails to renew its agreements with its content suppliers on
substantially the same terms upon expiration, CME may have to
pay for content provided by third-party suppliers which would
increase CME’s costs and adversely affect its
profitability. If CME is unable to locate alternative content
suppliers to provide comparable content on commercially
reasonable terms in the event of an early termination or upon
expiration, the attractiveness of its advertising network could
be reduced and its business could be materially adversely
affected.
CME
relies on third-party advertising agencies to source
advertisers. CME’s failure to retain key
third-party
agencies or attract additional agencies on favorable terms could
materially adversely affect its revenue growth.
CME currently generates a majority of its revenues by selling
advertising time slots to advertising agencies that purchase
advertising time slots from it and in turn resell such time
directly to advertisers. Consequently, the success of its
business is significantly reliant on such third-party
advertising agencies to source advertisers. CME typically enters
into advertising contracts with its advertising agency clients
with terms ranging from several months to one year. If it fails
to renew these advertising contracts for any reason with any of
its key advertising agency clients, its revenues may be
materially adversely affected.
CME has also entered into long-term framework agreements with
some of its advertising agency clients for three year terms that
commenced January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. These
long-term framework agreements specify the permissible range of
annual increase in the average selling prices, which is between
a minimum of 20% and a maximum of 50%. However, CME has entered
into such long-term framework agreements with a small portion of
its clients. If it is unable to increase its average selling
prices with a sufficient number of its clients each year, it may
not be able to grow its revenues or maximize its average
advertising fees as planned. In addition, the advertising
industry is highly competitive and fragmented. If it is unable
to closely monitor the changing trends in the advertising agency
industry or fail to retain any of its key third-party
advertising agency clients, its business, financial condition
and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
CME
derives a substantial portion of its revenues from a limited
number of advertising clients.
CME derives a majority of its revenues from a limited number of
advertising clients. For the year ended December 31, 2008,
revenues generated from its top ten clients and the single
largest client accounted for 64.3% and 7.6%, respectively, of
its total revenues. CME generated all its revenues in the year
ended December 31, 2005 directly from advertisers. It
started generating revenues from advertising agency clients who
purchase advertising time slots from it and resell such time to
their end clients in the year ended December 31, 2006 and
the top two clients in that year were advertising agency
clients. For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008,
all of the top ten clients were advertising agency clients. The
change of mix of advertising agency clients in relation to
direct advertising clients in its client base significantly
increased its reliance on advertising agency clients for the
generation of its revenues. The loss of sales from any of its
clients, in particular, its advertising agency clients, could
have a material adverse effect on its business. Moreover, CME
typically enters into one-year contracts with its advertising
agency clients. CME’s revenues may decline if it is unable
to renew the one-year contracts with its advertising agency
clients.
CME
relies on one equipment supplier, Hangzhou Yusong Electronic
Technology Co., Ltd., or Hangzhou Yusong, to deliver its digital
television displays and related equipment and automated control
systems.
CME purchases its digital television displays and related
equipment and control systems exclusively from Hangzhou Yusong,
an independent third party. Because it relies exclusively on
Hangzhou Yusong for the supply of its equipment and control
systems, any interruption or delay in Hangzhou Yusong’s
production could materially adversely affect CME’s ability
to install its equipment and control systems on additional
inter-city express buses to expand its network as planned, and
CME may not be able to find an alternative equipment supplier in
a timely or cost-effective manner, if at all. In addition,
although Hangzhou Yusong has been its equipment supplier since
2003, CME does not have any exclusive contractual arrangements
with Hangzhou Yusong. As a result, Hangzhou Yusong may produce
equipment and control systems for CME’s competitors in the
future, and may refuse to renew its agreement with CME or may
enter into agreements with it on less favorable terms, which may
substantially increase CME’s costs and materially adversely
affect CME’s operations.
Moreover, on August 1, 2008, Zheng Cheng, Fujian Fenzhong
and Hangzhou Yusong entered into a patent licensing agreement
pursuant to which Hangzhou Yusong obtained a license to
manufacture its equipment and control systems based on
CME’s patented technology. According to the patent
licensing
agreement, Hangzhou Yusong is subject to confidentiality
obligations to keep the production procedures or other
information necessary for the production of CME’s patented
automated control systems in strict confidence. However, there
can be no assurance that Hangzhou Yusong will abide by its
confidentiality obligations. In the event that Hangzhou Yusong
breaches its confidentiality obligations and discloses
production procedures or other information necessary for the
production of CME’s patented automated control systems to
any third party, including CME’s competitors, CME’s
business may be materially adversely affected. In addition,
although CME obtained patent protection for its automated
control systems, in the event of any third-party infringement of
its patent, the costs and other resources necessary to prosecute
any claim may be large and could have a material adverse effect
on CME’s business.
Further, certain key components of CME’s equipment and
control systems, such as hard disk drives and integrated circuit
chips are imported from overseas. Although the importation of
such equipment and systems is the responsibility of Hangzhou
Yusong, any delay resulting from custom inspections or otherwise
of these imported key components could in turn result in the
delay of Hangzhou Yusong’s production and supply of
CME’s equipment and control systems to it, which could
adversely affect its business.
CME
may reach saturation in terms of advertising time slots
available for sale and, conversely, it may experience
difficulties in selling advertising time slots, either of which
could adversely affect its revenues and profitability over
time.
CME sells the advertising time slots on its network placed on
inter-city express buses. CME sells its advertising time slots
by the number of minutes or seconds in a particular municipality
or province for a period of a few months to one year. Although
inter-city express buses carrying its network frequently travel
across municipalities and provinces in China, CME sells its
advertising time slots based on the municipality or province
from which the buses depart. Therefore, CME’s advertising
time slots available for sale are limited by the municipalities
and provinces included in its network. CME’s existing
network comprises all four municipalities, namely, Beijing,
Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing, and seven economically
prosperous provinces, namely, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian,
Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui and Hebei. CME expects to enter into new
provinces and regions in the future. If CME is unable to enter
into new provinces according to its plans, it would not be able
to increase the number of advertising time slots available for
sale on its network. In addition, advertisers usually target
audiences located in economically prosperous regions to promote
their products and services. In provinces and municipalities
where demand for advertising time slots by advertisers is
particularity strong, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu and
Guangdong, CME may run out of advertising time slots for sale to
its clients. On the other hand, it may not be able to sell all
advertising time slots on inter-city express buses traveling in
economically less prosperous provinces or regions as it
continues to expand its geographic coverage in the future, which
could adversely affect its ability to generate higher levels of
revenues and profitability over time.
A
downturn in the businesses of advertisers, advertising agencies
or the advertising industry in general, could materially
adversely affect CME’s business.
CME generates all of its revenues from advertisers who purchase
advertising time slots directly from it or through advertising
agencies. If there is a downturn in the business of the
advertisers, they may decrease their overall advertising
spending on new
out-of-home
advertising networks, including CME. Moreover, the businesses of
some advertisers may be subject to seasonal or unpredictable
fluctuations, making it difficult for them to determine the
amount of advertising spending to be used on CME’s
advertising network, if at all. In the event of a downturn in
the businesses of the advertisers, the advertisers may decrease
or cease purchases of advertising time slots from CME.
Similarly, CME’s business from advertising agencies could
be materially adversely affected if the advertisers who purchase
advertising time slots through the advertising agencies decrease
their advertising spending. All of CME’s historical
revenues have been generated from advertising services. CME does
not currently have any plans to diversify revenue sources beyond
the provision of selling advertising time slots. As a result, if
there were any business disruption or a downturn in the
advertising industry in general for any reason, CME may be
unable to diversify its revenue sources and its ability to
generate revenues and its results of operations could be
materially adversely affected.
CME
operates in the advertising industry, which is particularly
sensitive to changes in economic conditions and advertising
trends.
CME operates in the advertising industry where demand for
advertising time and the resulting advertising spending are
particularly sensitive to changes in general economic conditions
with advertising spending typically decreasing during periods of
economic downturn. The amount of advertising spending on
CME’s network may decrease for a number of reasons,
including:
•
a general decline in economic conditions;
•
a decline in economic conditions in the particular geographical
regions in which CME conducts business;
•
a decision to shift advertising spending to other advertising
media; and
•
a decline in advertising spending in general.
A decrease in demand for advertising media in general, and for
CME’s advertising services in particular, would materially
adversely affect its business, financial condition and results
of operations.
If CME
fails to attract advertising clients to its network, it will be
unable to maintain or increase its advertising prices, which
would negatively affect its ability to grow
revenues.
The actual prices CME can charge its advertising clients who
purchase advertising time slots on its network, either directly
or through advertising agencies, depend on the coverage and
quality of its networks and the demand by advertisers for
advertising time. CME’s advertising clients choose to
advertise on its advertising network in part based on the extent
of its coverage and the desirability of the cities where it
operates. If CME fails to maintain or expand its geographic
coverage, or solidify its brand name and reputation as a quality
provider of advertising services, advertisers may be unwilling
to purchase time on its network or pay the advertising fees it
requires to remain profitable. A decrease in demand for its
services could cause it to lower the prices it charges for
advertising time on its network and could negatively affect its
ability to increase its prices in the future, either of which
would materially adversely affect its business, financial
condition, prospects and results of operations.
If CME
fails to compete successfully with existing and new competitors,
its business and results of operations may be adversely
affected.
CME competes directly with existing smaller advertising network
operators who place their network on inter-city buses that
travel primarily between villages or on highways in China. In
addition, CME competes with other alternative advertising media,
such as the Internet, street furniture and frame, as well as
traditional advertising media, such as television, newspapers,
magazines and radio for overall advertising spending by its
clients. CME also competes for overall advertising spending by
its clients with new
out-of-home
advertising network operators including Focus Media, a
multi-platform digital media company with its primary platform
in office buildings or other building structure; VisionChina
Media, Towona and Bus Online, digital television advertising
network operators with their primary platforms on public mass
transportation systems inside cities; and AirMedia, a digital
television advertising network operator with its primary
platform on airplanes and airports.
In the future, CME may also face competition from new entrants
into the
out-of-home
advertising network sector. In addition, since December 2005,
the establishment of wholly foreign-owned advertising companies
has been permitted and a large number of wholly foreign-owned
advertising companies have been established since then. CME
believes China’s ongoing deregulation of its advertising
market will expose it to greater competition with existing or
new advertising companies in China, including PRC subsidiaries
of larger or better established multi-national companies that
may have more experience in the advertising industry and
significantly greater financial resources.
If CME
loses its status as the sole strategic alliance partner
designated by TTAVC, it may be unable to maintain or expand its
advertising network.
In October 2007, CME entered into a five-year cooperation
agreement with Transport Television and Audio-Video Center, or
TTAVC, an entity affiliated with the Ministry of Transport of
the People’s Republic of China to be the sole strategic
alliance partner in the establishment of a nationwide in-vehicle
television system that displays copyrighted programs on buses
traveling on highways in China. The cooperation agreement also
gave CME exclusive rights to display advertisements on the
system. In November 2007, TTAVC issued a notice to
municipalities, provinces and transportation enterprises in
China regarding facilitating the implementation of the system
contemplated under the cooperation agreement. Its ability to
maintain its status as the sole strategic alliance partner
designated by TTAVC is important to its future growth. If CME is
unable to maintain such status because TTAVC refuses to renew
the agreement upon expiration or for any other reason, CME may
be unable to expand its network as planned. Moreover, CME would
lose its exclusive rights and other advertising network
operators may establish in-vehicle television systems on buses
traveling on highways in China to compete with it. If this
occurs, it may lose its market share to these competitors.
Further, CME’s clients may decide to place their
advertisements on such competing networks or otherwise decrease
their advertising spending on its network, which would
materially adversely affect its financial condition and results
of operations.
If CME
is unable to adapt to changing trends and technologies in the
advertising industry, it will not be able to compete
effectively.
Trends and technologies in the advertising industry are
continuously evolving. The ability to quickly identify new
advertising trends and to develop new technology to meet the
demand of advertisers and target audiences is essential to the
continued success in the advertising industry. To enable more
frequent updating of the content displayed on its network, CME
plans to upgrade its existing equipment and control systems to
automatically update its programs upon arrival of the buses at
bus terminals. However, there can be no assurance that it will
be able to successfully upgrade its existing equipment as
planned. If it is unsuccessful in these efforts, CME may incur
substantial research and development costs without the ability
to recoup such expenses with future revenues derived from such
efforts and it may not be able to grow its business as planned.
In addition, if advertisers find other advertising networks to
be more attractive, it may be required to expand into new
advertising networks to adapt to new trends in the advertising
industry, which may require substantial capital expenditure to
develop or acquire new technologies. It may not have sufficient
financial or technological resources necessary to fund or
otherwise implement needed technological innovations. If CME
fails to respond to the changing advertising trends, it may be
unable to increase or maintain its market share and revenues,
which may materially adversely affect its business prospects.
CME
may be unable to obtain sufficient funds for future development
on commercially reasonable terms, which could materially
adversely affect its liquidity and financial
condition.
CME may need additional capital for future developments. If
current sources are insufficient to satisfy cash requirements,
it may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or
obtain a credit facility. This could result in additional
dilution to shareholders and increased debt service obligations.
The incurrence of indebtedness could also result in operating
and financing covenants that could restrict operations and
liquidity.
In addition, its ability to obtain additional capital on
acceptable terms is subject to a variety of uncertainties,
including:
•
investors’ perception of, and demand for, securities of new
out-of-home
advertising media companies;
•
economic conditions in the United States and other capital
markets in which CME may seek to raise funds;
•
its future financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows;
PRC government regulation of foreign investment in advertising
services companies and restrictions on
out-of-home
advertising media companies in China;
•
economic, political and other conditions in China; and
There can be no assurance that financing will be available in
amounts or on terms acceptable to CME in a timely manner, if at
all. Any failure to raise additional funds on favorable terms
could have a material adverse effect on its liquidity and
financial condition.
The
loss of key employees, including any member of senior
management, or a failure to recruit qualified personnel as
needed could weaken CME’s strategic, technological and
operational expertise, and lower the quality of its
services.
CME’s future success depends upon the continued services of
its senior executives and other key employees. In particular, it
relies on the expertise and experience of its chief executive
officer, Zheng Cheng and its chief financial officer, Jacky Lam
Wai Kei. It relies on their industry expertise, their experience
in its business operations, and their working relationships with
CME’s employees, its clients, the inter-city express bus
operators, and relevant government authorities. Its success also
depends on its ability to attract and retain qualified personnel
for strategic planning, programming and enhanced services. The
competition for qualified personnel in new
out-of-home
advertising industry may increase in the future, making it
difficult for it to attract and retain qualified personnel.
CME’s operations could suffer with the loss of any member
of the senior management team or any key employee. If one or
more of its senior executives were unable or unwilling to
continue in their present positions, CME might be unable to find
suitable replacements for them. In addition, although CME has
entered into non-competition agreements with its senior
executives and key employees, there can be no assurance that
they will abide by their non-competition obligations. If any of
them work for its competitors in the future, it may suffer from
losses of clients, content suppliers, equipment suppliers, key
professionals and staff members, which could materially
adversely affect its operations and revenues.
CME
may be subject to the risk of labor disputes.
CME is subject to laws and regulations in relation to labor
protection in China, including representation of employees by a
labor union. Currently, the employees of Fujian Fenzhong are
represented by a labor union. The labor union typically
represents the majority of employees and assists with collective
bargaining of compensation and benefits and other legal matters
with the employers on behalf of employees, monitors compliance
with labor laws and internal labor procedures and mediates labor
disputes in the case of conflicts and lawsuits against the
employer. The labor union can also enter into a collective
bargaining agreement with the employer in writing and all
employment contracts separately entered into with each employee
can be no less favorable than the terms contained in such
collective bargaining agreement. In addition, employers are
required to make contributions to the union fund at a rate of 2%
of salaries paid to the employees. For the year ended
December 31, 2006, CME’s contribution to the union
fund amounted to $12,000, which increased by 93.0% to $23,000
for the year ended December 31, 2007, which further
increased by 5% to $27,000 for the year ended December 31,2008. Such contributions are subject to increase as it recruits
new employees or increase the salaries of its existing
employees. Moreover, it has not experienced strikes or labor
protests in the past; however, there is no assurance that such
events will not occur in the future if it is unable to maintain
a satisfactory relationship with its employees or the labor
union. If this occurs, it could experience a disruption to its
operations which would materially adversely affect its financial
condition and results of operations.
CME
may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims,
which may force it to incur substantial legal expenses and could
potentially result in judgments against it, which may materially
disrupt its business.
CME cannot be certain that its advertising content,
entertainment content or other aspects of its business do not or
will not infringe upon patents, copyrights or other intellectual
property rights held by third parties. Although it is not aware
of any such claims, it may become subject to legal proceedings
and claims from time to time relating to the intellectual
property of others in the ordinary course of its business. If it
is found to
have violated the intellectual property rights of others, it may
be enjoined from using such intellectual property, and it may
incur licensing fees or be forced to develop alternatives.
Successful infringement or licensing claims against it may also
result in substantial monetary liabilities, which may materially
adversely affect its business.
CME’s
failure to protect its intellectual property rights could have a
negative impact on its business.
CME believes its brand, trade name, patented automated control
systems and other intellectual property rights are critical to
its success. The success of its business depends in part upon
its continuing ability to use its brand, trade names, trademarks
and patented automated control systems to increase brand
awareness and to further develop its brand and expand its
advertising network. In particular, CME’s patented
automated control system is a key component of its competitive
advantage and its growth strategy. The unauthorized use of its
patented automated control systems or other infringements on its
intellectual property rights could diminish the value of its
brand and its market acceptance, competitive advantages or
goodwill.
CME
does not have any business liability, disruption, property or
litigation insurance in China.
The insurance industry in China is still at an early stage of
development. Insurance companies in China offer limited business
insurance products. CME has determined that the cost of such
insurance and the difficulties associated with acquiring such
insurance on commercially reasonable terms make it impractical
for it to have such insurance. As a result, except for the
mandatory vehicle insurance, CME does not have any business
liability, disruption, litigation or other property insurance
coverage for its operations in China. Any business disruption,
loss of properties or litigation it experiences might result in
substantial costs incurred and diversion of resources which may
materially adversely affect its business, financial condition
and results of operations.
Failure
to comply with PRC laws and regulations relating to
advertisement content restrictions governing the advertising
industry in China may result in severe penalties and civil
liabilities.
Advertisers, advertising operators, and advertising distributors
are required by PRC advertising laws and regulations to ensure
that the content of the advertisements they prepare or
distribute is fair, accurate and in full compliance with
applicable laws, rules and regulations. In providing advertising
services, advertising agencies and advertising distributors must
review the supporting documents provided by advertisers and
verify that the content of the advertisements complies with
applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations. Prior to
distributing advertisements that are subject to government
censorship and approval, such as advertisements for patented
products or processes, pharmaceutical products, medical
procedures, alcohol, tobacco, and cosmetics, advertising
distributors are obligated to verify that such governmental
review has been performed and approval has been obtained.
Violation of these regulations may result in penalties,
including fines, confiscation of advertising income, orders to
cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish
corrections of the advertisement containing restricted or
prohibited content. In circumstances involving serious
violations, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce,
or SAIC, or its local branches may revoke violators’
licenses or permits for their advertising business operations.
CME is an advertising operator that places advertisements
provided by its clients on inter-city express buses. As a
result, it is obligated under PRC laws and regulations to ensure
that the content of the advertisements displayed on its
advertising network is in full compliance with applicable laws
and regulations. CME endeavors to take all required measures,
including independent verification of whether the advertisers
have performed requisite reviews and obtained necessary
approvals prior to distribution of relevant advertisements.
However, if it fails to comply with applicable laws and
regulations for any reason, CME may face severe penalties.
Moreover, civil claims may be filed against CME for fraud,
defamation, subversion, negligence, copyright or trademark
infringements or other violations due to the nature and content
of the information displayed on its network. If viewers find the
content displayed on its advertising network to be offensive,
bus companies
that display its content on their buses and bus terminals may
seek to hold CME responsible for any claims by their passengers
or they may terminate their relationships with CME.
If the
PRC government determines that CME was obligated to register as
an
out-of-home
advertising network operator, it may be subject to
administrative sanctions, including discontinuation of its
business for failure to complete such
registration.
The SAIC promulgated the
Out-of-Home
Advertising Registration Administrative Regulations, or the
Out-of-Home
Advertising Regulations, on December 8, 1995 as amended on
December 3, 1998 and May 22, 2006. Under the
Out-of-Home
Advertising Regulations,
out-of-home
advertisements in China must be registered with the local branch
of the SAIC before dissemination. The advertising distributors
are required to submit a registration application form and other
supporting documents for registration. After review and
examination, if an application complies with applicable
requirements, the local branch of the SAIC will issue an
Out-of-Home
Advertising Registration Certificate for such advertisement. A
change of registration with local SAICs must be made in the
event of a change in the distributor, the location of
dissemination, the periods, the content, the format, or the
specifications of the advertisements.
According to the
Out-of-Home
Advertising Regulations, advertisements posted or placed on
public transportation vehicles, such as inter-city express
buses, are considered
out-of-home
advertisements and must be registered as advertising
distributors. However, it is unclear whether the advertisements
displayed on CME’s network would be considered
out-of-home
advertisements. Further, although the PRC Advertising Law
defines an “advertising distributor” as a legal person
or other economic entity that distributes advertisements for
advertisers or an advertising operator entrusted by advertisers,
the
Out-of-Home
Advertising Regulations do not define “advertising
distributor.” Therefore, CME is unable to determine whether
it is considered as an advertising distributor for purposes of
the
Out-of-Home
Advertising Regulations and therefore is obligated to obtain the
registration certificate.
To ensure that CME’s business complies with the
Out-of-Home
Advertising Regulations, CME made inquiries with the local SAICs
in the cities in which it has operations regarding whether it is
required to obtain
Out-of-Home
Advertising Registration Certificates or to proceed with other
procedures, such as filing, in these cities. With the exception
of the local SAIC in Jiangsu province and Xiamen city of Fujian
province, all the local SAICs with whom CME consulted do not
expressly require CME to register with them. The officials at
different levels within the local SAIC in Jiangsu and Xiamen
city expressed different views on whether the advertisements
shown on CME’s digital television displays should be
regarded as
out-of-home
advertisements. CME recently again inquired with the local SAIC
of Xiamen whether it is required to be registered and was
verbally told that the advertisements displayed on CME’s
digital television displays do not need to be registered with
Xiamen SAIC and that CME does not need to obtain the
Out-of-Home
Advertising Registration Certificate according to
Out-of-Home
Advertising Regulations, but is only required to file the
content of advertisement with the Xiamen SAIC. However, the
filing procedures are unclear and it is also unclear whether
penalties will be imposed if CME fails to make such filings. In
addition, CME tried to re-apply for
Out-of-Home
Advertising Registration with the local SAICs in Jiangsu, but
the officials rejected such applications saying that CME does
not need to register under current applicable regulations. In
light of such circumstances, there can be no assurance that CME
will be able to complete the registration procedure in
compliance with the new
out-of-home
advertisement provisions in Jiangsu, or at all. If CME is
required to complete the registration procedure with the local
SAIC in Jiangsu but fails to do so, the relevant authorities in
Jiangsu may require CME to forfeit its advertising income
sourced in Jiangsu or subject it to fines. CME may also be
required to discontinue its operations in Jiangsu, which would
result in a breach of contracts with its clients and its
business, financial condition and results of operations would be
materially adversely affected.
Future
acquisitions may have an adverse effect on CME’s ability to
manage its business.
CME may acquire businesses, technologies, services or products
which are complementary to its core advertising network
business. Future acquisitions may expose it to potential risks,
including risks associated with:
•
the integration of new operations, services and personnel;
•
unforeseen or hidden liabilities;
•
the diversion of resources and management attention from its
existing business and technology;
•
its potential inability to generate sufficient revenue to offset
new costs;
•
the expenses of acquisitions; or
•
the potential loss of or harm to relationships with its
employees and clients resulting from its integration of new
businesses.
Any of the potential risks listed above could have a material
and adverse effect on its ability to manage its business, its
revenues and net income.
See also Risk Factor
“CME may be unable to obtain sufficient funds for future
development on commercially reasonable terms, which could
materially adversely affect its liquidity and financial
condition”.
CME
may be required to obtain an approval from the PRC State
Administration of Radio, Film and Television, or SARFT, under
the Notice on Strengthening the Administration of Audio and
Visual Media on Vehicles, Buildings and Other Public Arena, or
December 2007 Notice.
On December 6, 2007, SARFT promulgated the December 2007
Notice pursuant to which the broadcasting of audio and visual
programs, including news, drama series, sports, technology,
entertainment and other programs, through radio and television
networks, the Internet and other information systems affixed to
vehicles and buildings and in airports, bus and railway
stations, shopping malls, banks, hospitals and other
out-of-home
public media is subject to approval by the SARFT. The December
2007 Notice requires the local branches of SARFT to investigate
and record any organization or company engaging in the
activities described in the December 2007 Notice without any
permissions, send written notices to such organizations or
companies demanding their compliance with the December 2007
Notice, and report the results of such investigations to SARFT
by January 15, 2008. To date, CME has not received any
notice from the SARFT, or any of its local branches in the
municipalities and provinces included in its network, demanding
its compliance with the December 2007 Notice. CME made inquiries
with SARFT regarding whether it is required to obtain an
approval and the procedures of obtaining such an approval. Due
to the lack to clear implementing rules and regulations for the
December 2007 Notice, CME is unable to obtain a written
confirmation from SARFT as to whether it is required to obtain
an approval under the December 2007 Notice and the procedures
thereof. To ensure that its business complies with the December
2007 Notice, CME submitted an application for approval with the
local SARFT in Fujian in July 2008 and expects to receive an
approval by the end of 2009. In the event that the SARFT, or any
of its local branches in the municipalities and provinces
included in CME’s network, requires it to obtain an
approval, there is no assurance that it will be able to obtain
such approval. If it is unable to obtain such approval, it may
be required to discontinue its operations, which will decrease
the attractiveness of its advertising network may cause its
clients to reduce or cease the purchase of advertising time
slots from it, and could materially adversely affect its
business, financial condition and results of operations.
CME
faces risks relating to health epidemics and natural disasters,
which could materially adversely affect its financial condition
and results of operations.
The effect of a health epidemic or outbreak could materially
adversely affect CME’s business. Any prolonged recurrence
of avian flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, or
another epidemic or
outbreak in China may result in restrictions on long-distance
travel, including highway transportation on inter-city express
buses, and have a material adverse effect on demand for
transportation on inter-city express buses in China. In
addition, the government authorities may require the closure of
CME’s offices or other businesses to temporarily cease
their operations, including transportation services provided by
inter-city express bus operators critical to CME’s
continued operations. For example, during SARS outbreak in 2003
and 2004, many businesses closed their offices and many
businesses were temporarily forced to cease operations under the
order of the government authorities. From 2005 to present, there
have also been reports on the occurrence of avian flu in various
parts of China, including a few confirmed human cases and
deaths. The recurrence of any health epidemic in China could
result in similar government measures to contain dissemination
of diseases, which would have a material adverse effect on the
Chinese economy in general and result in an impact on CME’s
business if the inter-city express buses were required to
temporarily cease operations. Further, a significant disruption
to long-distance bus services resulting from major construction
or renovation projects, terrorist attacks, natural disasters,
weather conditions or other factors beyond CME’s control
could render its advertising media inoperative or materially
limit the effectiveness of CME’s advertising network. If
any of these occurs, CME would not be able to display
advertisements for its clients, which would result in a breach
of contracts with its clients and have a material adverse effect
on its business.
If the
PRC government determines that the agreements that establish the
structure of CME’s business operations in China do not
comply with applicable PRC laws and regulations, CME could be
subject to severe penalties, including an order to cease its
business operations.
The PRC government requires any foreign entities that invest in
the advertising services industry to have at least two years of
direct operations in the advertising industry outside China. CME
has not directly operated any advertising business outside China
and therefore, CME currently does not qualify under PRC
regulations to directly provide advertising services. TM is a
Delaware corporation and a foreign legal person under Chinese
laws. Therefore, as a potential subsidiary, Fujian Express is
currently ineligible to apply for the required licenses to
provide advertising services in China. CME’s advertising
business is currently provided through its contractual
arrangements with Fujian Fenzhong, its consolidated entity in
China. Fujian Fenzhong is currently owned by Zheng Cheng and
Chunlan Bian. Fujian Fenzhong holds the requisite licenses to
provide advertising services in China. Fujian Fenzhong directly
operates its advertising network and sells advertising time
slots to its clients. CME has been and expects to continue to be
dependent on Fujian Fenzhong to operate its advertising
business. CME does not have any equity interest in Fujian
Fenzhong but receives the economic benefits of it through
various contractual arrangements.
CME has been advised by its PRC counsel that each of the
contracts under the structure of its business operations in
China through contractual arrangements with Fujian Fenzhong and
its shareholders complies, and immediately after the completion
of this Transaction, will comply with all applicable PRC laws
and regulations and does not violate, breach, contravene or
otherwise conflict with any applicable PRC laws, rules or
regulations. However, there exist substantial uncertainties
regarding the application, interpretation and enforcement of
relevant current and future PRC laws and regulations and their
potential effect on its corporate structure and contractual
arrangements. The interpretation of these laws and regulations
are subject to the discretion of competent PRC authorities.
There can be no assurance that the PRC regulatory authorities
will not take a view different from the opinions of CME’s
PRC counsel and determine that its corporate structure and
contractual arrangements violate PRC laws, rules and
regulations. In the event that the PRC regulatory authorities
determine in their discretion that its corporate structure and
contractual arrangements violate applicable PRC laws, rules and
regulations, including restrictions on foreign investment in the
advertising industry in the future, CME may be subject to severe
penalties, including an order to cease its business operations.
If CME or any of its current or future subsidiaries are found to
be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or
regulations, or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required
permits or approvals, PRC regulatory authorities would have
broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including:
•
revoking the business and operating licenses of such subsidiary
and consolidated entity;
•
discontinuing or restricting the conduct of any related-party
transactions between such subsidiary and consolidated entity;
•
imposing fines, confiscating the income of Fujian Fenzhong or
CME’s income, or imposing other requirements with which CME
or any subsidiary or consolidated entity may not be able to
comply;
•
shutting down CME’s advertising network; or
•
requiring CME or any subsidiary or consolidated entity to
restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations.
The imposition of any of these penalties would result in a
material adverse effect on CME’s ability to conduct its
business.
CME
relies on contractual arrangements with Fujian Fenzhong, its
consolidated entity in China, and its shareholders, which may
not be as effective in providing CME with operational control or
enabling CME to derive economic benefits as through ownership of
controlling equity interest.
CME has in the past relied, and will continue in the future to
rely, on contractual arrangements with Fujian Fenzhong, its
consolidated entity in China, and its shareholders to operate
its advertising business. These contractual arrangements may not
be as effective as ownership of controlling equity interest
would be in providing CME with control over, or enabling CME to
derive economic benefits from operations of, Fujian Fenzhong. If
CME had direct ownership of Fujian Fenzhong, it would be able to
exercise its rights as a shareholder to (i) effect changes
in the board of directors of Fujian Fenzhong, which in turn
could effect changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary
obligations, at the management level, and (ii) derive
economic benefits from operations of Fujian Fenzhong by causing
Fujian Fenzhong to declare and pay dividends. However, under the
current contractual arrangements, as a legal matter, if Fujian
Fenzhong and any of its shareholder fails to perform its, his or
her respective obligations under these contractual arrangements,
CME may have to incur substantial costs and resources to enforce
such arrangements, and rely on legal remedies under PRC law,
including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and
claiming damages, which it cannot assure you will be effective.
For example, if shareholders of Fujian Fenzhong were to refuse
to transfer their equity interests in Fujian Fenzhong to CME or
its designated persons when it exercises the purchase option
pursuant to these contractual arrangements, CME may have to take
legal actions to compel them to fulfill their contractual
obligations.
CME expects to continue to depend upon its contractual
arrangements among Fujian Express, Fujian Fenzhong and its
shareholders to operate its advertising business in China due to
the PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investments in its
industry. If (i) the applicable PRC authorities invalidate
these contractual arrangements for violation of PRC laws, rules
and regulations, (ii) Fujian Fenzhong or its shareholders
terminate these contractual arrangements or (iii) Fujian
Fenzhong or its shareholders fail to perform their obligations
under these contractual arrangements, CME would not be able to
continue its business operations in China or to derive economic
benefits from the operations of Fujian Fenzhong. Further, if
Fujian Express (on behalf of CME) fails to renew these
contractual arrangements upon their expiration, CME would not be
able to continue its business operations unless the then current
PRC law allows CME or its direct subsidiary to directly operate
advertising businesses in China. In addition, if Fujian Fenzhong
or all or part of its assets become subject to liens or rights
of third-party creditors, CME may be unable to continue some or
all of its business activities, which could severely disrupt its
business and cause grave damaging effects on its financial
condition and results of operations. If Fujian Fenzhong
undergoes a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, its
shareholders or unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights
to some or all of these assets, thereby hindering CME’s
ability to operate its business or derive economic benefits from
Fujian Fenzhong, which could materially adversely affect its
business and its ability to generate revenues.
All of these contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law
and provide for the resolution of disputes through either
arbitration or litigation in the PRC. Therefore, these contracts
would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes
would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The
legal environment in the PRC may not be as well developed as in
some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a
result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit
CME’s ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. In
the event CME is unable to enforce these contractual
arrangements, it may not be able to exercise effective control
over its operating entities, and its ability to conduct its
business or derive economic benefits from operations of Fujian
Fenzhong may be negatively affected.
In addition, the equity interest in Fujian Fenzhong are pledged
to secure the obligations of Fujian Fenzhong and the loans of
Fujian Fenzhong’s shareholders according to the contractual
arrangements. Pursuant to the PRC Property Law effective on
October 1, 2007, the pledge of equity interest could take
effect only after being registered with the competent local
SAIC. Fujian Express and Fujian Fenzhong’s shareholders
have received the Notice on Pledge of Equity Interest
Registration issued by the Fuzhou Administration of Industry and
Commerce dated June 15, 2009, announcing the respective
equity interest pledged by Zheng Cheng and Chunlan Bian became
effective as of such date.
The
beneficial owners of Fujian Fenzhong may have potential
conflicts of interest with CME.
The beneficial owners of Fujian Fenzhong are also the founders
of CME and own a substantial portion of its common shares.
Conflicts of interests between their dual roles as beneficial
owners of both Fujian Fenzhong and CME may arise. There can
be no assurance that when conflicts of interest arise, any or
all of these individuals will act in the best interests of CME
or that any conflict of interest will be resolved in its favor.
In addition, these individuals may breach or cause Fujian
Fenzhong to breach or refuse to renew the existing contractual
arrangements that allow CME to effectively control Fujian
Fenzhong and receive economic benefits from it. If CME cannot
resolve any conflicts of interest or disputes between CME and
the beneficial owners of Fujian Fenzhong, CME would have to rely
on legal proceedings, the outcome of which is uncertain and
which could be disruptive to CME’s business.
Fujian
Express’ contractual arrangements with Fujian Fenzhong may
be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and may result
in a finding that it owes additional taxes or is ineligible for
tax exemption, or both, which could substantially increase its
taxes owed and thereby reduce its net income.
Under applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, arrangements
and transactions among related parties may be subject to audits
or challenges by the PRC tax authorities. Neither CME nor its
PRC counsel are able to determine whether any of these
transactions will be regarded by the PRC tax authorities as
arm’s length transactions because, based on its knowledge,
the PRC tax authorities have not issued a ruling or
interpretation in respect of the type of transaction structure
similar to that of CME. The relevant tax authorities may
determine that CME’s contractual relationships with Fujian
Fenzhong were not entered into on an arm’s length basis. If
any of the transactions between Fujian Express and Fujian
Fenzhong, including the contractual relationships with Fujian
Fenzhong, are determined not to have been entered into on an
arm’s length basis, or are found to result in an
impermissible reduction in taxes under PRC law, the PRC tax
authorities may adjust the profits and losses of Fujian Fenzhong
and assess more taxes on it. In addition, the PRC tax
authorities may impose late payment surcharges and other
penalties to Fujian Fenzhong for underpaid taxes. CME’s net
income may be materially adversely affected if Fujian
Fenzhong’s tax liabilities increase or if it is found to be
subject to late payment surcharges or other penalties.
CME
relies principally on dividends and other distributions on
equity paid by its wholly-owned operating subsidiary to fund any
cash and financing requirements it may have, and any limitation
on the ability of its operating subsidiary to pay dividends to
it could have a material adverse effect on its ability to
conduct its business.
CME is a holding company, and it relies principally on dividends
and other distributions on equity paid by Fujian Express, its
PRC operating subsidiary, for its cash requirements, including
the funds necessary to service any debt it may incur. If Fujian
Express incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the
instruments
governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends
or make other distributions to it. In addition, the PRC tax
authorities may require CME to adjust its taxable income under
the contractual arrangements Fujian Express currently has in
place with Fujian Fenzhong in a manner that would materially
adversely affect Fujian Express’s ability to pay dividends
and other distributions to CME. Furthermore, relevant PRC laws,
rules and regulations permit payments of dividends by Fujian
Express only out of its retained earnings, if any, determined in
accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Under
PRC laws, rules and regulations, the statutory general reserve
fund requires annual appropriations of 10% of after-tax income
to be set aside prior to payment of dividends until the
cumulative fund reaches 50% of the registered capital. As a
result of these PRC laws, rules and regulations, Fujian Express
is restricted in its ability to transfer a portion of its net
assets to CME whether in the form of dividends, loans or
advances. As of December 31, 2008, its contribution to the
reserve funds pursuant to PRC laws and regulations totaled
$4,314,000. Any limitation on the ability of its subsidiary or
consolidated entity to pay dividends to it could materially
adversely limit its ability to grow, make investments or
acquisitions that could be beneficial to its businesses, pay
dividends or otherwise fund and conduct its business.
Adverse
changes in the political and economic policies of the PRC
government could have a material adverse effect on the overall
economic growth of China, which could reduce the demand for
CME’s services and have a material adverse effect on its
business.
Substantially all of CME’s assets are located in China and
substantially all of its revenues are derived from its
operations in China. Accordingly, economic, political and legal
developments of China will substantially affect its business,
financial condition, results of operations and prospects. The
Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed
countries in many respects, including:
•
the amount of government involvement;
•
the level of development;
•
the growth rate;
•
the control of foreign exchange; and
•
the allocation of resources.
While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth in
the past 30 years, growth has been uneven both
geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The PRC
government has implemented various measures to encourage
economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of
these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may
also have a negative effect on CME. CME cannot predict the
future direction of political or economic reforms or the effects
such measures may have on CME’s business, financial
position or results of operations. Any adverse change in the
political or economic conditions in China, including any
decrease in the government expenditure on highway transportation
infrastructure construction, could have a material adverse
effect on CME’s business, lead to reduction in demand for
its services and materially adversely affect its business.
The Chinese economy has been transitioning from a planned
economy to a more market-oriented economy. Although the PRC
government has in recent years implemented measures emphasizing
the utilization of market forces for economic reforms, the
reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the
establishment of sound corporate governance in business
enterprises, a substantial portion of the productive assets in
China is still owned by the PRC government. The continued
control of these assets and other aspects of the national
economy by the PRC government could materially adversely affect
CME’s business. The PRC government also exercises
significant control over China’s economic growth through
the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign
currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and
providing preferential treatment to particular industries or
companies. Since late 2003, the PRC government implemented a
number of measures, such as raising bank reserves against
deposit rates to place additional limitations on the ability of
commercial banks to make loans and raise interest rates, in
order to control the growth rate of specific segments of
China’s economy which it believed to be overheating. China
has experienced a period of relatively high inflation since
August 2007 and the PRC government has introduced
and implemented a number of measures in an effort to control
inflation. The PRC government may continue these and other
measures to control inflation and manage economic growth. These
measures may cause decreased economic activity in the PRC,
including a slow-down or decline in advertising spending, which
in turn could adversely affect its financial condition and
results of operations. These measures, as well as future actions
and policies of the PRC government, could also materially affect
CME’s liquidity and access to capital and CME’s
ability to operate its business. Substantially all of CME’s
assets are located in China and substantially all of its
revenues are derived from its operations in China. Accordingly,
CME’s business, financial condition, results of operations
and prospects are subject, to a significant extent, to economic,
political and legal developments in China.
Uncertainties
with respect to the PRC legal system could limit the legal
protections available to TM
(Post-Transaction)
and CME or result in substantial costs and the diversion of
resources and management attention.
The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Prior court
decisions may be cited for reference but have limited
precedential value. Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations
have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various
forms of foreign investments in China. However, since the PRC
legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of
many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform.
Enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involve
uncertainties, which may limit the legal protections available
to CME. For example, CME may have to resort to administrative
and court proceedings to enforce the legal protection that it
enjoys either by law or contract. However, since PRC
administrative authorities and courts have significant
discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and
contractual terms, it may be more difficult than in more
developed legal systems to evaluate the outcome of
administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal
protection CME enjoys. These uncertainties may impede CME’s
ability to enforce the contracts it has entered into with its
business partners, clients and suppliers. In addition, such
uncertainties, including the inability to enforce its contracts,
could materially adversely affect its business and operations.
Furthermore, intellectual property rights and confidentiality
protections in China may not be as effective as in the United
States or other countries. Accordingly, CME cannot predict the
effect of future developments in the PRC legal system, including
the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws or the
interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the preemption of
national laws by local regulations. These uncertainties could
limit the legal protections available to TM and other foreign
investors, including you. In addition, any litigation in China
may be protracted and result in substantial costs and the
diversion of resources and management attention.
TM
(Post-Transaction) may experience difficulties effecting service
of process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing original
actions in China based on United States or other foreign laws,
against CME or its management as approved by this Proxy
Statement.
CME conducts substantially all of its operations in China and
substantially all of its assets are located in China. In
addition, all of its senior executive officers reside within
China and Hong Kong. As a result, it may not be possible to
effect service of process within the United States or elsewhere
outside China upon CME or its senior executive officers,
including with respect to matters arising under
U.S. federal securities laws or applicable state securities
laws. Moreover, the PRC does not have treaties with the United
States or many other countries providing for the reciprocal
recognition and enforcement of legal judgments.
Restrictions
on currency exchange may limit our ability to receive and use
our revenues and may affect the value of your
investment.
According to the existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, RMB
is freely convertible only to the extent of current account
items, such as trade-related receipts and payments and
dividends. Capital account items, such as direct equity
investments, loans and repatriation of investment, require the
prior approval from or registration with the SAFE or its local
branch for conversion of RMB into a foreign currency, such as
U.S. dollars, and remittance of the foreign currency
outside the PRC
Under the current corporate structure of CME, income is
primarily derived from dividend payments, a substantial part of
which is derived from the legally distributable profits of
subsidiary and consolidated entity. All revenues and expenses
are denominated in RMB. CME’s PRC subsidiary must remit
sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or make other
payments to it. Although the payments of current account items,
including profit distributions, can be made in foreign
currencies without prior approval by complying with certain
procedural requirements, PRC government may restrict access to
foreign currencies for current account transactions in the
future, which would limit its ability to pay dividends in
foreign currencies to its shareholders.
If CME needs to convert RMB into foreign currency and remit it
out of China to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of
loans denominated in foreign currencies, CME must obtain
approval from SAFE or its local branch. These limitations could
affect its ability to obtain foreign exchange through debt or
equity financing, and could affect its business and financial
condition.
If any
of CME’s PRC significant subsidiaries or consolidated
entity becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or liquidation
proceeding, CME may lose the ability to use and enjoy those
assets, which could reduce the size of its advertising network
and materially adversely affect its business, ability to
generate revenues and the market price of its
products.
To comply with PRC laws, rules and regulations relating to
foreign ownership restrictions in the advertising industry, CME
currently conducts its operations in China through contractual
arrangements among Fujian Express, Fujian Fenzhong and its
shareholders. As part of these arrangements, Fujian Fenzhong
holds substantially all the assets that are important to the
operation of the business. If Fujian Fenzhong becomes bankrupt
and all or part of its assets become subject to liens or rights
of third-party creditors, its may be unable to continue some or
all of its business activities, which could materially adversely
affect CME’s business, financial condition and results of
operations. If Fujian Fenzhong undergoes a voluntary or
involuntary liquidation proceeding, its shareholders or
unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all
of its assets, thereby hindering CME’s ability to operate
its business, which could materially adversely affect its
business, its ability to generate revenues.
Under
the EIT Law, we and CME each may be classified as a
“resident enterprise” of the PRC. Such classification
could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us, CME and our
non-PRC shareholders.
On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress
approved and promulgated a new tax law, the PRC Enterprise
Income Tax Law, or “EIT Law,” which took effect on
January 1, 2008. Under the EIT Law, an enterprise
established outside of China with “de facto management
bodies” within China is considered a “resident
enterprise,” meaning that it can be treated in a manner
similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax
purposes, although the dividends paid to one resident enterprise
from another may qualify as “tax-exempt income”. The
implementing rules of the EIT Law define de facto management as
“substantial and overall management and control over the
production and operations, personnel, accounting, and
properties” of the enterprise. The EIT Law and its
implementing rules are relatively new and ambiguous in terms of
some definitions, requirements and detailed procedures;
therefore, it is unclear how the PRC tax authorities will
determine tax residency based on the facts of each case.
If the PRC tax authorities determine, after the consummation of
the Transaction, that we
and/or CME
is a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income
tax purposes, a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could
follow. First, we
and/or CME
may be subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our
and/or
CME’s worldwide taxable income, as the case may be, as well
as PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. Second,
although under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, dividends
we and/or
CME receive from Fujian Express may qualify as “tax-exempt
income,” assuming we and CME are each treated as a
“resident enterprise” under the EIT Law, there is no
guarantee that such dividends will not be subject to PRC
withholding tax, which generally will be imposed at a rate of
10% (or, if the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement between Hong
Kong and Mainland China applies, 5%). Finally, the new
“resident enterprise” classification could result in a
situation in which a 10% PRC tax is imposed on dividends we pay
to our non-PRC security holders and gains derived by our non-PRC
security holders from transferring our securities, if
such income is considered PRC-sourced income by the relevant PRC
authorities. If any such PRC taxes apply, a non-PRC security
holder may be entitled to a reduced rate of PRC taxes under an
applicable income tax treaty
and/or
foreign tax credit against such security holder’s domestic
income tax liability (subject to applicable conditions and
limitations). TM stockholders should consult with their own tax
advisors regarding the applicability of any such taxes, the
effects of any applicable income tax treaties, and any available
foreign credits.
CME
may need to obtain the approval from the China Securities
Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, in connection with this
Transaction under a recently adopted PRC regulation. CME cannot
currently predict whether it will be able to obtain such
approval.
On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including
the CSRC, MOC, the State Owned Assets Supervision and
Administration Commission, or SASAC, the State Administration
for Taxation, or SAT, SAIC, and SAFE, jointly promulgated a rule
entitled Provisions Regarding Mergers and Acquisitions of
Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A rule,
which was amended and took effect on June 22, 2009, to
regulate foreign investment in PRC domestic enterprises. The
M&A rule provides that the MOC must be notified in advance
of any
change-of-control
transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC
domestic enterprise and any of the following situations exist:
(i) the transaction involves an important industry in
China; (ii) the transaction may affect national
“economic security”; or (iii) the PRC domestic
enterprise has a well-known trademark or historical Chinese
trade name in China. The M&A rule also contains a provision
purporting, among other things, to require offshore special
purpose vehicles, or SPVs, formed for the purpose of overseas
listing of equity interests in PRC companies and entities
directly or indirectly controlled by PRC companies or PRC
individuals, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the
listing and trading of their securities on overseas stock
exchanges. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published
guidelines to this provision of the M&A rule.
To date, the application of the M&A rule is unclear.
CME’s PRC counsel has advised CME that:
•
the CSRC approval required under the M&A rule applies to
SPVs that, for purposes of achieving overseas listing, acquire
the equity interests in PRC companies through share
exchanges; and
•
based on their understanding of the current PRC laws, rules and
regulations and the M&A rule, unless there are new PRC laws
and regulations or clear requirements from the CSRC in any form
that require the prior approval of the CSRC for the listing and
trading of any overseas SPVs securities on an overseas stock
exchange, the M&A rule does not require that CME obtains
prior CSRC approval for the listing and trading on the NYSE Amex
because CME completed its reorganization whereby Fujian Express
was established as a wholly foreign owned enterprise and the
restructuring between Fujian Express and Fujian Fenzhong was
carried out prior to September 8, 2006, the effective date
of the M&A rule.
However, the interpretation and application of the M&A rule
remain unclear, and the PRC government authorities have the sole
discretion to determine whether the Transaction is subject to
the approval of the CSRC. If the CSRC or another PRC regulatory
agency subsequently determines that CSRC approval is required
for the Transaction, CME cannot predict how long it would take
to obtain the approval. In addition, CME may need to apply for a
remedial approval from the CSRC and may be subject to certain
administrative or other sanctions from these regulatory agencies.
Further, new rules and regulations or relevant interpretations
may be issued from time to time that may require CME to obtain
retroactive approval from the CSRC in connection with the
business combination. If this were to occur, CME’s failure
to obtain or delay in obtaining the CSRC approval for the
business combination would subject CME to sanctions imposed by
the CSRC and other PRC regulatory agencies. These sanctions
could include fines and penalties on CME’s operations in
China, restrictions or limitations on CME’s ability to pay
dividends outside of China, and other forms of sanctions that
may materially and adversely affect CME’s business, results
of operations and financial condition.
If the CSRC or another PRC regulatory agency subsequently
determines that CSRC approval is required for the business
combination, CME may need to apply for a remedial approval from
the CSRC and may be subject to certain administrative
punishments or other sanctions from these regulatory agencies.
New rules and regulations or relevant interpretations may
require that CME retroactively obtain approval from the CSRC in
connection with the business combination. If this were to occur,
CME’s failure to obtain or delay in obtaining the CSRC
approval for the Transaction would subject CME to sanctions
imposed by the CSRC and other PRC regulatory agencies. These
sanctions could include fines and penalties on CME’s
operations in China, restrictions or limitations on CME’s
ability to pay dividends outside of China, and other forms of
sanctions that may materially and adversely affect CME’s
business, results of operations and financial condition.
CME cannot predict when the CSRC may promulgate additional rules
or other guidance, if at all. If implementing rules or guidance
are issued prior to the completion of this Transaction and
consequently it concludes it is required to obtain CSRC
approval, this Transaction will be delayed until CME obtains the
CSRC approval, which may take several months or longer.
Furthermore, any delay in the issuance of such implementing
rules or guidance may create additional uncertainties with
respect to this Transaction. Moreover, implementing rules or
guidance, to the extent issued, may fail to resolve current
ambiguities under the M&A rules. Uncertainties
and/or
negative publicity regarding the M&A rules could have a
material adverse effect on TM’s trading price.
The new regulations also established additional procedures and
requirements expected to make merger and acquisition activities
in China by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex,
including requirements in some instances that the MOC be
notified in advance of any
change-of-control
transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC
domestic enterprise. These rules may also require the approval
from the MOC where overseas companies established or controlled
by PRC enterprises or residents acquire affiliated domestic
companies. Complying with the requirements of the new
regulations to complete such transactions could be
time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including
MOC approval, may delay or inhibit CME’s ability to
complete such transactions, which could affect CME’s
ability to expand its business.
PRC
regulations relating to the offshore investment by PRC residents
and employee stock options held by PRC residents may limit
CME’s operations and subject it to
liabilities.
Pursuant to SAFE’s Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning
Foreign Exchange Administration for PRC Residents to Engage in
Financing and Inbound Investment via Overseas Special Purpose
Vehicles, or Circular No. 75, issued on October 21,2005 (i) a PRC resident, including a PRC resident natural
person or a PRC company, shall register with the local branch of
SAFE before it establishes or controls an overseas SPV for the
purpose of overseas equity financing (including convertible debt
financing); (ii) when a PRC resident contributes the assets
of or its equity interests in a domestic enterprise to an SPV,
or engages in overseas financing after contributing assets or
equity interests to an SPV, such PRC resident shall register his
or her interest in the SPV and the change thereof with the local
SAFE branch; and (iii) when the SPV undergoes a material
event outside China, such as a change in share capital, or
merger or acquisition, the PRC resident shall, within
30 days of the occurrence of such event, register such
change with the local branch of SAFE. Under the Circular
No. 75, if the subsidiary of a SPV purchases or controls
the assets of domestic companies through contractual
arrangements in China, this practice constitutes “Inbound
Investment” and shall be registered with SAFE. PRC
residents who are shareholders of SPVs established before
November 1, 2005 were required to register with the local
SAFE branch before March 31, 2006. Failure to comply with
the various SAFE registration requirements described above could
result in liability under PRC laws for evasion of applicable
foreign exchange restrictions.
Mr. Zheng Cheng, CME’s CEO and a PRC resident,
established CME on April 25, 2001. CME owns a 100% interest
and directly controls its PRC subsidiary, Fujian Express. On
November 2, 2003 and December 1, 2003, Fujian Express,
Fujian Fenzhong and its shareholders, Zheng Cheng and Chunlan
Bian, entered into two agreements, respectively, and on
April 17, 2009, Fujian Express, Fujian Fenzhong and its
shareholders, Zheng Cheng and Chunlan Bian, entered into a
series of contractual documents, under which Zheng Cheng and
Chunlan Bian granted Fujian Express all their voting rights as
shareholders of Fujian Fenzhong, and Fujian
Fenzhong agreed to distribute all its economic benefits, after
deduction of taxes and expenses, to Fujian Express. According to
the Circular No. 75. CME may be deemed to be an SPV and
these arrangements may constitute “Inbound
Investment.” To ensure the compliance with the Circular
No. 75, Zheng Cheng and the other CME related parties filed
the registration as required in the circular No. 75 with
the Fujian SAFE on September 9, 2008. However, after the
consummation of this transaction, Zheng Cheng and the other CME
related parties will be required to register the change of
CME’s shareholding structure with the Fujian SAFE. If such
registration for change is not completed in a timely manner, or
at all, Fujian Express, as the PRC subsidiary of the SPV, may be
prohibited from distributing its profits and the proceeds from
any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation, to CME,
and CME may also be prohibited from injecting additional capital
into Fujian Express.
In addition, on December 25, 2006, the People’s Bank
of China promulgated the “Measures for the Administration
of Individual Foreign Exchange,” and on January 5,2007, SAFE promulgated the implementation rules on those
measures. These regulations became effective on February 1,2007. Pursuant to these regulations, PRC citizens who are
granted shares or share options by an overseas listed company
according to its employee share option or share option plan are
required, through a qualified PRC agent which may be the PRC
subsidiary of such overseas listed company, to register with the
SAFE and complete certain other procedures related to the share
option or share option plan. Foreign exchange income received
from the sale of shares or dividends distributed by the overseas
listed company must be remitted into a foreign currency account
of such PRC citizen or be exchanged into RMB. Its PRC citizen
employees who have been granted share options, or PRC option
grantees, will be subject to these regulations. If CME or its
PRC option grantees fail to comply with these regulations, it or
its PRC option grantees may be subject to fines and legal
sanctions.
There can be no assurance that all of CME’s shareholders or
options grantees who are PRC residents will appropriately make
or obtain any applicable registrations or approvals required by
these SAFE regulations. The failure or inability of CME’s
PRC resident shareholders or option grantees to comply with the
registration procedures set forth therein may subject it to
fines and legal sanctions, restrict its cross-border investment
activities, or limit its PRC subsidiary’s ability to
distribute dividends or obtain foreign-exchange-dominated loans
to itself.
If we
are forced to dissolve and liquidate, payments from the
Trust Account to our public stockholders may be
delayed.
If we do not consummate the Transaction by October 17,2009, we anticipate notifying the trustee of the
Trust Account to begin liquidating such assets promptly
after such date and anticipate it will take no more than 10
business days to effectuate such distribution.
We currently expect that the costs associated with the
implementation and completion of the plan of dissolution and
liquidation will be no more than approximately $15,000. We will
pay the costs of liquidation from our remaining assets outside
of the trust fund. If such funds are insufficient, Theodore S.
Green and Malcolm Bird have agreed to advance us the funds
necessary to complete such dissolution
and/or
liquidation and have agreed not to seek repayment of such
expenses; however, there is no guarantee that the assets of
Messrs. Green and Bird will be sufficient to satisfy our
dissolution
and/or
liquidation expenses.
If we
are forced to liquidate before a business combination and
distribute the Trust Account, our public stockholders will
receive less than $8.00 per share and our warrants will expire
worthless.
If we are unable to complete the Transaction and are forced to
liquidate our assets, the per-share liquidation distribution
will be less than $8.00 because of the expenses of our IPO, our
general and administrative expenses and the costs of seeking a
business combination. Furthermore, there will be no distribution
with respect to our outstanding warrants which will expire
worthless if we liquidate before the completion of a business
combination.
Exercise
of conversion rights must be effected pursuant to a specific
process which may take time to complete and may result in the
expenditure of funds by stockholders seeking
conversion.
A stockholder requesting conversion of his, her or its common
stock into cash may do so at any time after the mailing to our
stockholders of the Proxy Statement and prior to the vote taken
with respect to a proposed business combination. A stockholder
would have from the time we send out our Proxy Statement through
the vote on the business combination to tender (either
electronically or through the delivery of physical stock
certificates) his, her or its shares of common stock if he, she
or it wishes to seek to exercise his, her or its conversion
rights, a period which is expected to be not less than 10 nor
more than 60 days. There is a nominal cost associated with
the above-referenced tendering process and the act of
certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC
system. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering
broker $35 and it would be the broker’s decision whether or
not to pass this cost on to the converting holder. There may be
additional mailing and other nominal charges depending on the
particular process used to tender common stock. Although we
believe the time period, costs and other potential burdens
associated with the tendering process are not onerous for an
average investor, this process may result in additional burdens
for our stockholders, including mis-delivery or any other defect
in the tendering process.
If
third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in
trust could be reduced and the per-share liquidation price
received by stockholders will be less than approximately $7.91
per share.
Our placing of funds in trust may not protect those funds from
third party claims against us. Although we have sought to have
all vendors and service providers we engage and prospective
target businesses we negotiate with, execute agreements with us
waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to
any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of our
public stockholders, there is no guarantee that, even if such
entities have executed such agreements with us, they will not
seek recourse against the Trust Account. Nor is there any
guarantee that a court would uphold the validity of such
agreements. Accordingly, the proceeds held in trust could be
subject to claims which could take priority over those of our
public stockholders. If we liquidate before the completion of a
business combination and distribute the proceeds held in trust
to our public stockholders, our management stockholders have
agreed that they will be personally liable to ensure that the
proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced by the claims
of target businesses or vendors or other entities that are owed
money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products
sold to us. Based on representations made to us by our
management stockholders, we currently believe that they are
capable of funding a shortfall in our Trust Account to
satisfy their foreseeable indemnification obligations. However,
we have not asked them to reserve for such an eventuality.
Although we have a fiduciary obligation to pursue our management
stockholders to enforce their indemnification obligations, and
intend to pursue such actions as and when we deem appropriate,
there can be no assurance they will be able to satisfy those
obligations, if required to do so or that the proceeds in the
Trust Account will not be reduced by such claims.
Furthermore, our management stockholders will not have any
personal liability as to any claimed amounts owed to a third
party who executed a valid and enforceable waiver (including a
prospective target business).
Additionally, if we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an
involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not
dismissed, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be
subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our
bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties
with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent
any bankruptcy claims deplete the Trust Account, we cannot
assure our stockholders we will be able to return to our public
stockholders at least $7.91 per share.
If any
funds held in our trust account are used to purchase TM Common
Stock from holders who would have otherwise voted against the
transaction, our shareholders who purchased shares in our IPO
may be entitled to rescission rights.
Our IPO prospectus did not disclose that funds in the trust
account might be used to purchase common stock from holders
thereof who have indicated their intention to vote against the
acquisition and convert their shares into cash. Consequently,
such use of the funds in the trust account might be grounds for
a holder of our public stock who purchased such shares in our
IPO, to seek rescission of the purchase of the units the holder
acquired in the IPO. A successful claimant for damages under
federal or state law could be awarded an
amount to compensate for the decrease in value of the shares
caused by the alleged violation, together with interest, while
retaining the shares.
Our
stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties
against us to the extent of distributions received by
them.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides
that we will continue in existence only until 24 months
from the date of our IPO. If we have not completed a business
combination by such date and amended this provision in
connection thereto, pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation
Law, our corporate existence will cease except for the purposes
of winding up our affairs and liquidating. Under
Sections 280 through 282 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, our stockholders may be held liable for claims
by third parties against a corporation to the extent of
distributions received by them in a dissolution. If the
corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in
Section 280 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all
claims against it, including a
60-day
notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought
against the corporation, a
90-day
period during which the corporation may reject any claims
brought, and an additional
150-day
waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to
stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a
liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such
stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount
distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the
stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the
dissolution. However, it is our intention to make liquidating
distributions to our stockholders as soon as reasonably possible
after the expiration of the twenty four month period and,
therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures.
Because we will not be complying with those procedures, we are
required, pursuant to Section 281 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, to adopt a plan that will provide for our
payment, based on facts known to us at such time, of
(i) all existing claims, (ii) all pending claims and
(iii) all claims that may be potentially brought against us
within the subsequent 10 years. Accordingly, we would be
required to provide for any creditors known to us at that time
or those that we believe could be potentially brought against us
within the subsequent 10 years prior to distributing the
funds held in the trust to stockholders. We cannot assure our
public stockholders that we will properly assess all claims that
may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders
could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of
distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability
of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary
of the date of distribution. Accordingly, we cannot assure our
public stockholders that third parties will not seek to recover
from our stockholders amounts owed to them by us.
If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary
bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, any
distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under
applicable debtor/creditor or bankruptcy laws as either a
“preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent
conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to
recover all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore,
because we intend to distribute the proceeds held in the
Trust Account to our public stockholders promptly after
October 17, 2009, this may be viewed or interpreted as
giving preference to our public stockholders over any potential
creditors with respect to access to or distributions from our
assets. Furthermore, our board may be viewed as having breached
their fiduciary duties to our creditors or may have acted in bad
faith, thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of
punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the
Trust Account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
We cannot assure our public stockholders that claims will not be
brought against us for these reasons.
An
effective registration statement may not be in place when an
investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such
investor from being able to exercise his, her or its warrants
and causing such warrants to be practically
worthless.
No warrant held by public stockholders will be exercisable and
we will not be obligated to issue shares of common stock unless
at the time such holder seeks to exercise such warrant, a
registration statement relating to the common stock issuable
upon exercise of the warrant is effective and current and the
common stock has been registered or qualified or deemed to be
exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of
the holder of the warrants. Under the terms of the warrant
agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to
meet these conditions and to maintain a current prospectus
relating to the common stock issuable upon exercise of the
warrants until the expiration of the warrants. However, we
cannot assure our stockholders that we will be able to do so,
and if we do not maintain a current prospectus related to the
common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, holders
will be unable to exercise their warrants and we will not be
required to settle any such warrant exercise. In no event will
we be required to net cash settle any warrant exercise. If the
prospectus relating to the common stock issuable upon the
exercise of the warrants is not current, the warrants held by
public stockholders may have no value, the market for such
warrants may be limited and such warrants may expire worthless.
As a result, a purchaser of a unit may pay the full unit
purchase price solely for the shares underlying the unit.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the insider warrants may be
exercisable for unregistered shares of common stock even if no
registration relating to the common stock issuable upon exercise
of the warrants is effective and current.
We
have not obtained an opinion from an unaffiliated third party as
to the fair market value of the target acquisition or that the
price we are paying for the business is fair to our
stockholders.
We have not obtained an opinion from an unaffiliated third party
that either the target acquisition we select has a fair market
value in excess of 80.0% of our net assets held in the
Trust Account (net of taxes and amounts disbursed for
working capital purposes and excluding the amount held in the
Trust Account representing a portion of the
underwriters’ discount) or that the price we are paying is
fair to our stockholders unless (i) our board is not able
to independently determine that a target acquisition has a
sufficient market value or (ii) there is a conflict of
interest with respect to the transaction. As no opinion will be
obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of
our board of directors.
All of
our officers and directors own shares of our common stock issued
prior to our IPO and warrants issued at our IPO. These shares
will not participate in liquidation distributions and,
therefore, our officers and directors may have a conflict of
interest in determining whether a particular target business is
appropriate for a business combination.
All of our officers and directors own shares of our common stock
that were issued prior to our IPO. Such individuals have waived
their right to receive distributions with respect to their
initial shares upon our liquidation if we are unable to
consummate the Transaction. Accordingly, the shares acquired
prior to our IPO, as well as the insider warrants, and any
warrants purchased by our officers or directors in our IPO or in
the aftermarket will be worthless if we do not consummate the
Transaction. The personal and financial interests of our
directors and officers may influence their motivation in
selecting CME and completing the Transaction. Consequently, our
directors’ and officers’ discretion in identifying and
selecting CME may result in a conflict of interest when
determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of the
Transaction are appropriate and in our stockholders’ best
interest.
The
NYSE Amex may delist our securities from quotation on its
exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make
transactions in our securities and subject us to additional
trading restrictions.
Our securities are listed on the NYSE Amex, a national
securities exchange. We cannot assure our stockholders that our
securities will continue to be listed on the NYSE Amex in the
future prior to a business combination. In February 2009, TM
received a notice from NYSE Amex indicating that it is below
certain of the exchange’s continued listing standards due
to its failure to hold an annual meeting of stockholders in
2008. TM submitted a plan of compliance with NYSE Amex and the
exchange accepted the plan and granted TM an extension until
August 11, 2009 to regain compliance with continued listing
standards. TM has requested that the NYSE Amex grant an
additional extension until October 17, 2009. Additionally,
in connection with our business combination, the NYSE Amex will
require us to file a new initial listing application and meet
its initial listing requirements as opposed to its more lenient
continued listing requirements. We cannot assure our
stockholders that we will be able to meet these initial listing
requirements at that time.
If the NYSE Amex delists our securities from trading on its
exchange, we could face significant material adverse
consequences, including:
•
a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
•
a determination that our common stock is a “penny
stock” which will require brokers trading in our common
stock to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a
reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading
market for our common stock;
•
a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our
company; and
•
a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain
additional financing in the future.
Our
Initial Stockholders, including our officers and directors,
control a substantial interest in us and thus may influence
certain actions requiring a stockholder vote.
Our Initial Stockholders (including all of our officers and
directors) collectively own approximately 18.0% of our issued
and outstanding shares of common stock. However, if a
significant number of stockholders vote, or indicate an
intention to vote, against the Transaction, our officers,
directors and stockholders and their affiliates could make such
purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order
to influence the vote. Our board of directors is divided into
three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of
three years with only one class of directors being elected in
each year. It is unlikely that there will be an annual meeting
of our stockholders to elect new directors prior to the
consummation of the Transaction, in which case all of the
current directors will continue in office until at least the
consummation of the business combination. If there is an annual
meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of
directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be
considered for election and our Initial Stockholders, because of
their ownership position, will have considerable influence
regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our Initial Stockholders
will continue to exert control at least until the consummation
of a business combination.
If we
effect the Transaction, we will be subject to a variety of
additional risks that may negatively impact our
operations.
We will be subject to any special considerations or risks
associated with companies operating in China, including any of
the following:
•
tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws;
•
currency fluctuations; our revenues, costs and assets would be
denominated in RMBs and fluctuations in the exchange rate
between RMBs and US$ could adversely affect our results and
financial condition in US$ terms;
•
cultural and language differences; our board of directors would
be comprised of individuals with different language skills and
cultural backgrounds, which could make it harder for the board
to make decisions; and
•
employment regulations; our employees would be represented by a
labor union and we would be required to make contributions to
the union fund.
We cannot assure our stockholders that we would be able to
adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to
do so, our operations might suffer.
If we
effect the Transaction, the laws applicable to CME will likely
govern all of our material agreements and we may not be able to
enforce our legal rights.
If we effect the Transaction, the laws of China will govern
almost all of the material agreements relating to its
operations. We cannot assure our stockholders that CME will be
able to enforce any of its material agreements or that remedies
will be available in China. The system of laws and the
enforcement of existing laws in China may not be as certain in
implementation and interpretation as in the United States.
The inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our
future agreements could result in a significant loss of
business, business opportunities or capital. Additionally, if we
acquire CME, it is likely that substantially all of our assets
would be located outside of the United States and some of our
officers and directors will reside outside of the United States.
As a result, it may not be possible for investors in the
United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect
service of process upon our directors or officers or to enforce
judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil
liabilities and criminal penalties against our directors and
officers under Federal securities laws.
Risks
Related to the Initial Charter Amendment Proposals
Holders
of IPO Shares at the time of the Transaction who purchased their
units in the initial public offering and have not redeemed their
shares for cash may have rights to rescind their purchases and
assert a claim for damages therefor against us and our directors
and officers.
The initial public offering prospectus disclosed that we would
not seek to amend any of the provisions of Article Seventh
of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Neither our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
nor our initial public offering prospectus contemplated the
possibility of (i) removing the prohibition on the
consummation of a Business Combination if holders of an
aggregate of 30% or more in interest of the IPO Shares exercise
their conversion rights, or (ii) removing the requirement
that only holders of the IPO Shares who vote against the
Transaction may convert their IPO Shares into cash. Our initial
public offering prospectus stated that these specific provisions
in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation may not
be amended prior to the consummation of an initial business
combination. Our initial public offering prospectus further
stated that while the validity under Delaware law of a provision
restricting the ability to amend the charter has not been
settled, we would not take any actions to waive or amend any of
those provisions. Consequently, each holder of IPO Shares at the
time of the Transaction who purchased his IPO Shares in the
initial public offering and who has not converted his shares
into cash may have securities law claims against us for
rescission (under which a successful claimant has the right to
receive the total amount paid for his or her securities pursuant
to an allegedly deficient prospectus, plus interest and less any
income earned on the securities, in exchange for surrender of
the securities) or damages (compensation for loss on an
investment caused by alleged material misrepresentations or
omissions in the sale of a security). Such claims may entitle
stockholders asserting them to up to $8.00 per share, based on
the initial offering price of the initial public offering units
comprised of stock and warrants, less any amount received from
sale of the original warrants purchased with them, plus interest
from the date of our initial public offering (which, in the case
of holders of Public Shares, may be more than the pro rata share
of the trust account to which they are entitled on conversion or
liquidation). See the section entitled “THE INITIAL CHARTER
AMENDMENT PROPOSALS — Rescission Rights.”
Our
working capital will be reduced if our stockholders exercise
their right to convert their shares into cash, and our reduced
working capital may adversely affect our business strategy and
future operations, and you may hold shares in a smaller company
than anticipated.
If the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal is approved by the
holders of a majority of our outstanding shares there will be no
express limit in our Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation on the number of stockholders who may vote with
respect to the Transaction and elect to convert their shares.
The removal of the prohibition against closing an acquisition if
more than 30% of the shareholders exercise their conversation
rights, could result in substantial conversions, which would
leave us with less working capital available to pursue
CME’s growth strategy, and the remaining shareholders may
own shares in a significantly smaller company. We are not
required to deliver any minimum working capital amount at the
closing of the Transaction.
In the
event that a significant number of our IPO shares are converted,
our stock may become less liquid following the
Transaction.
If a significant number of our IPO Shares are converted, we may
be left with a significantly smaller number of shareholders. As
a result, trading in our stock following the Transaction may be
limited and your ability to sell your shares in the market could
be adversely affected.
The summary historical financial information of TM set forth
below is derived from the audited and unaudited financial
statements of TM included in this Proxy Statement. TM’s
summary historical balance sheet data as of December 31,2008 and 2007, and historical summary statement of operations
data for the year ended December 31, 2008 and the period
from May 1, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007 have
been derived from TM’s audited financial statements. The
summary historical statement of operations data for the six
months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, and for the period
May 1, 2007 (inception) to June 30, 2009 and the
balance sheet data as of June 30, 2009 have been derived
from TM’s unaudited financial statements and, in the
opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting only
of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation
of TM’s financial position and results of operations as of
the dates and for the periods indicated.
This information should be read in conjunction with the section
entitled “TM’s Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”
and the financial statements and the notes thereto included
elsewhere in this Proxy Statement.
The summary historical consolidated financial information of CME
set forth below is derived from the audited and unaudited
consolidated financial statements of CME included in this proxy
statement. CME’s summary historical consolidated balance
sheet data as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008
and 2007, and historical summary consolidated statement of
operations data for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and
2008, the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 have been
derived from CME’s unaudited and audited consolidated
financial statements. The summary historical consolidated
statement of operations data for the six months ended
June 30, 2009 and 2008 has been derived from CME’s
unaudited consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion
of management, include all adjustments (consisting only of
normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of
CME’s financial position and results of operations as of
the dates and for the periods indicated.
This information should be read in conjunction with the section
entitled “CME’s Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”
of CME and the consolidated financial statements and the notes
thereto included elsewhere in this proxy statement.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information set forth below is derived from, and should be read
in conjunction with, the unaudited pro forma condensed
consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this
proxy statement. The following unaudited pro forma condensed
combined statement of operations data presents the combined
company’s results of operations for the year ended
December 31, 2008 and the six months ended June 30,2009 assuming the merger occurred on January 1, 2008. The
following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet
data presents the combined company’s financial position
assuming that the merger occurred on June 30, 2009. The
unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
does not purport to represent what the combined company’s
results of operations or financial condition would actually have
been had the merger in fact occurred as of such dates or to
project the combined company’s results of operations for
any future period or as of any future date.
This information should be read together with CME’s and
TM’s audited and unaudited financial statements and related
notes, provided in the sections entitled “Unaudited Pro
Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information,”“CME’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of CME,
“TM’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of TM and
other financial information included elsewhere in this proxy
statement.
The unaudited pro forma condensed financial information has been
prepared using two different levels of approval of the
Transaction by the TM stockholders, as follows:
•
Assuming No Exercise of Conversion Rights: This presentation
assumes that no TM stockholders properly exercise their
conversion rights; and
•
Assuming Maximum Exercise of Conversion Rights: This
presentation assumes that 100% of the TM stockholders
properly exercise their conversion rights. Additionally,
this presentation includes $3.8 million of additional
capital through long-term debt that TM is required to secure
prior to or contemporaneously with the closing of the
Transaction, which is reflected in the pro forma balance sheet
and pro forma statement of operations. Since the terms of such
long-term debt are not currently known, the pro forma statement
of operations data reflects interest expense at 10% per annum, a
rate indicative of the current borrowing costs of the combined
company based on terms provided by potential financing sources.
The following tables set forth the financial data of TM and CME
on a stand-alone basis for the historical periods of the six
months ended June 30, 2009 and the unaudited pro forma
combined financial data and per share ownership information of
TM and CME after giving effect to the Transaction, assuming
(1) that no TM stockholders properly exercise their
conversion rights and (2) that 100% of TM stockholders
properly exercise their conversion rights. You should read this
information in conjunction with the selected summary historical
financial information included elsewhere in this proxy
statement, and the historical financial statements of TM and CME
and related notes included elsewhere in this proxy statement.
The unaudited pro forma combined per share information is
derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the
unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and
related notes included elsewhere in this proxy statement.
The unaudited pro forma combined earnings per share information
below does not purport to represent the earnings per share which
would have occurred had the companies been combined during the
periods presented, nor earnings per share for any future date or
period. The unaudited pro forma combined book value per share
information below does not purport to represent what the value
of TM and CME would have been had the companies been combined
during the periods presented.
Our equity securities trade on the NYSE Amex. Each of our units
consists of one share of common stock and one warrant and trades
on the NYSE Amex under the symbol “TMI.U.” On
November 14, 2007, the common stock and warrants included
in the units began to trade separately. Those units not
separated will continue to trade on the NYSE Amex under the
symbol “TMI.U,” and each of the common stock and
warrants trade on the NYSE Amex under the symbols
“TMI” and “TMI.WS,” respectively.
Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of our
common stock at a price of $5.50. Each warrant will become
exercisable only on our completion of a business combination and
will expire on October 17, 2011, or earlier upon redemption.
The following table sets forth, for each quarter of the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2008 and for a portion of the
fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007,
the high and low sales price of TM Common Stock, units, and
warrants as reported on the NYSE Amex. Prior to October 17,2007, there was no established trading market for our securities.
On September 21, 2009, there were 15 holders of record of
our units, 25 holders of record of our warrants and 41 holders
of record of TM Common Stock. Such numbers do not include
beneficial owners holding shares, warrants or units through
nominee names.
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date
and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion
of a business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the
future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any,
capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent
to completion of a business combination. The payment of any
dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within
the discretion of our then board of directors. It is the present
intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if
any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our
board does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the
foreseeable future.
TM is furnishing this Proxy Statement to its stockholders as
part of the solicitation of proxies by TM’s board of
directors for use at the Special Meeting in connection with the
proposed Transaction. This Proxy Statement provides you with the
information you need to know to be able to vote or instruct your
vote to be cast at the Special Meeting.
The Special Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on
October 15, 2009, at the offices of Morrison Cohen
LLP located at 909 Third Avenue, New York, New York10022.
At the Special Meeting, holders of TM Common Stock will be asked
to vote upon the following proposals:
•
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to remove the prohibition on the consummation of a
Business Combination if holders of an aggregate of 30% or more
in interest of the shares of our common stock issued in our
initial public offering (“IPO Shares”) exercise their
conversion rights (the “Initial Charter Amendment Proposal
No. 1”),
•
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated certificate of
Incorporation to remove the requirement that only holders of the
IPO Shares who vote against the Transaction (as defined below)
may convert their IPO Shares into cash (the “Initial
Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2”, and together with
the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal, the “Initial
Charter Amendment Proposals”); (FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT,
CONSISTENT WITH TM’S IPO PROSPECTUS, THE 2,250,000
SHARES ISSUED TO THE FOUNDERS OF TM SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED
TO CONVERT OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATE IN THE LIQUIDATION OF THE
TRUST ACCOUNT SHOULD TM LIQUIDATE.)
•
to approve the purchase by TM of CME pursuant to the Share
Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby;
•
to approve the issuance of shares of TM Common Stock pursuant to
the Share Exchange Agreement to the Sellers (whereby the number
of shares of TM Common Stock that will be issued to the Sellers
is 20.915 million and up to an additional 15.0 million
shares if certain net income targets are met;
•
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to change TM’s corporate name to “China
MediaExpress Holdings, Inc.,” increase the number of shares
authorized for issuance, delete certain provisions that relate
to us as a blank check company and create perpetual
existence; and
•
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the number of shares authorized for
issuance (the “Authorized Share Increase Proposal”);
•
to elect six persons to TM’s board of directors to serve
for the respective term of office of the class to which the
nominee is elected and until their successors are duly elected
and qualified; and
•
to approve any adjournment or postponement of the Special
Meeting to a later date or time or dates or times if necessary
for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies (the
“Adjournment Proposal”).
Please be aware that if the Transaction is completed, each
holder of IPO Shares who votes such shares either
“FOR” or “AGAINST” the Transaction may, at
the time of such vote, elect to convert those IPO Shares to cash
following the procedures described in this document.
Pursuant to TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, TM is required to obtain stockholder approval of
the proposed Transaction. Pursuant to certain rules of the NYSE
Amex, TM is required to obtain stockholder approval of the
issuance of TM Common Stock in connection with the Transaction.
In addition, TM and CME have agreed that they will work together
to, subject to stockholder approval, use their commercially
reasonable efforts to cause the name of TM to be changed to
“China
After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of the
Initial Charter Amendment Proposals, the Transaction Proposal,
the Share Issuance Proposal, the Charter Amendment Proposal, the
Authorized Share Increase Proposal, the Election of Directors
Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal, TM’s board of
directors has unanimously (i) approved and declared
advisable the Share Exchange Agreement and the Transaction,
(ii) approved and authorized the issuance of TM Common
Stock in connection with the Transaction, (iii) approved
the various amendments to TM’s Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, (iv) recommended that each of
the nominees for election to TM’s board of directors be
elected to serve for the respective term of office of the class
to which the nominee is elected and until their successors are
duly elected and qualified, and (v) approved adjournment or
postponement of the Special Meeting to a later date or time or
dates or times if necessary for the purpose of soliciting
additional proxies.
Our board of directors has also determined that the fair market
value of the Transaction is at least 80.0% of TM’s net
assets at the time of acquisition, which is necessary to satisfy
the provisions of TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation enabling it to consummate the Transaction.
We have fixed the close of business on September 21, 2009
as the record date for determining TM stockholders entitled to
notice of and to attend and vote at the Special Meeting. As of
the close of business on September 21, 2009, there were
12,505,000 shares of TM Common Stock outstanding and
entitled to vote, which includes 2,250,000 shares
beneficially owned by TM’s Initial Stockholders, officers
and directors and 10,255,000 shares that were issued in our
IPO. Each share of TM Common Stock is entitled to one vote per
share at the Special Meeting. TM’s warrants do not have
voting rights.
Pursuant to TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, TM is required to obtain stockholder approval of
the Transaction. Approval of the Transaction Proposal requires
the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of TM Common
Stock that were issued in our IPO and voted on this matter
either in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Special
Meeting.
Approval of the Share Issuance Proposal and the Adjournment
Proposal require the affirmative vote of a majority of the
shares of TM Common Stock present either in person or by proxy
and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, and the Initial
Charter Amendment Proposals, the Charter Amendment Proposal and
the Authorized Share Increase Proposal will require the
affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding TM
Common Stock. To be elected under the Election of Directors
Proposal, a nominee must receive a plurality of the votes cast
either in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Special
Meeting.
In connection with the vote required for the Transaction, our
Initial Stockholders, directors and officers have agreed to vote
all of the initial shares of TM Common Stock which are
beneficially owned by them, or in which they have disclaimed
beneficial ownership, in accordance with the vote of the
majority of our public stockholders other than the Initial
Stockholders. As of the record date, our Initial Stockholders,
directors and officers beneficially owned 2,250,000 shares
of TM Common Stock (excluding any warrants held by such
persons), representing approximately 18.0% of the outstanding
shares of TM Common Stock. TM’s Initial Stockholders,
directors and officers will cast the 2,250,000 shares of TM
Common Stock owned by them in the same manner as such majority
votes on such proposal.
On March 31, 2009, TM announced that it reached an
agreement with Opportunity Partners L.P., a fund in the Bulldog
Investors (“Bulldog”) group of private investment
funds in connection with Bulldog’s then ongoing consent
solicitation and proposed proxy solicitation. In connection with
the settlement, Bulldog agreed (i) to cease its efforts to
effectuate an early windup of TM, (ii) not to oppose the
board of directors at the next meeting of stockholders or
otherwise seek to exercise control over the management of TM,
(iii) to withdraw its demand to force TM to hold an annual
meeting of stockholders, and (iv) to enter into a forward
contract with TM or a third party whereby Bulldog would not vote
its shares against a proposed business combination. As part of
the settlement, TM agreed to name Gerald Hellerman to its Board
of Directors, who is independent of both Bulldog and TM. In
addition, TM reimbursed Bulldog for certain expenses it incurred
in connection with its consent solicitation and proposed proxy
solicitation. As of the date of this proxy, Bulldog owns
2,500,078 shares of TM Common Stock, representing an 20.0%
ownership interest. A total of approximately $19.8 million
would be paid to Bulldog to purchase its shares following the
consummation of the Transaction, assuming all of Bulldog’s
shares are acquired for the Trust value per share of $7.91. We
believe the fact that Bulldog agreed to enter into a forward
contract with TM enhances the likelihood that TM will receive
stockholder approval for each of the proposals being voted upon
at the Special Meeting. To date, no such forward contract has
been entered into. It is expected that a forward contract with
Bulldog will be entered into prior to the mailing of the proxy
statement, although the parties may enter into such contract any
time prior to the Special Meeting. The terms of such contract
have not been agreed upon, but it is expected that TM would
agree to purchase Bulldog’s shares of TM Common Stock
following the consummation of the Transaction at a fixed price
equal to the per share Trust Account liquidation value,
which based on the amount in the Trust Account as of
August 31, 2009, equals to approximately $7.91.
TM believes that eliminating the requirement that holders of no
more than 30.0% of the IPO Shares vote against the Transaction
and extending the right to elect conversion to those holders of
IPO Shares who vote for the Transaction, will increase the
likelihood that the Transaction will be approved. Under the
terms of Initial Charter Amendment Proposals, if the Transaction
is approved and completed, stockholders holding IPO Shares who
vote those shares either for or against the Transaction will
have the opportunity to either (1) continue to hold their
IPO Shares, or (2) elect, at the time of such vote, to
convert their IPO Shares into cash upon the closing of the
Transaction. The Transaction Proposal is conditioned upon the
approval of the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2
and, in the event the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2
does not receive the necessary vote to approve that proposal,
then the Transaction Proposal will not be presented for approval.
In order to ensure that the Transaction Proposal is approved,
TM, CME, the Initial Stockholders and their respective
affiliates or other third parties may enter into transactions to
purchase shares of common stock of TM from stockholders who have
indicated their intention to vote against the acquisition and
seek conversion of their shares. Transactions of such nature
would only be entered into and effected at a time when the
purchasers of such securities or any of their affiliates are not
aware of any material nonpublic information regarding TM, CME or
the acquisition. Such purchases could result in all or
substantially all of TM’s trust fund being expended to pay
for such purchases post transaction, which would result in CME
not receiving any working capital from the trust account. No
transactions have been entered into, but may include:
•
Purchases by TM, CME or their respective affiliates of shares of
common stock of TM;
•
Agreements with third parties to purchase shares of common stock
of TM that may then be exchanged into a new security or loan
issued by the combined company in conjunction with the
acquisition;
•
Agreements with third parties to purchase shares of common stock
of TM that may then be resold to the combined company subsequent
to the acquisition using funds that were previously in the trust
account.
•
Agreements with third parties pursuant to which TM, CME or their
respective affiliates would borrow funds to make purchases of
shares of common stock of TM. The combined company would repay
such borrowings using funds that were previously in the trust
account; and
The granting of securities to third party purchasers of shares
of common stock of TM as an inducement for such third parties to
purchase such securities.
The Share Exchange Agreement expressly allows TM to raise
$50,000,000 in debt or equity to purchase shares of TM Common
Stock issued in our IPO. We may use the proceeds of this
financing in a variety of ways to secure the required vote to
approve the Transaction, including through entering into
agreements with our current public shareholders to purchase
their shares if the Transaction is approved. Assuming such
shares are acquired for the Trust value per share of $7.91 and
that we raise and utilize a total of $50 million to
purchase shares, we could potentially purchase up to
approximately 6,321,113 shares, which represents more than
50% of our outstanding public shares. In addition to such
“permitted financing”, we have an agreement with one
of our existing public stockholders to enter into a contract to
purchase 2,500,078 shares from such stockholder if the
Transaction is approved. Together with the shares which could
potentially be purchased in the “permitted financing”,
these represent approximately 86% percent of our publicly
outstanding shares, which would ensure that the Transaction is
approved. These actions to obtain stockholder approval of the
Transaction could significantly reduce the amount of funds
available to the combined company following the transaction,
materially increase such company’s debt and impact its
relative ownership following the Transaction. Purchase of shares
currently owned by TM stockholders will increase the
Seller’s ownership of TM following the Transaction, as well
as increase the relative percentage ownership of current TM
stockholders who do not convert their shares. TM, CME or
affiliates may purchase TM’s common stock to help secure
approval of the Initial Charter Amendment Proposals.
In the event that it appeared that the acquisition would not be
consummated at the meeting of TM’s stockholders, such
meeting could be adjourned (assuming that such adjournment was
not past October 17, 2009, the date on which TM’s
corporate existence terminates unless it consummates a business
combination) to enter into arrangements similar to the foregoing.
In the event that any purchases of TM’s shares of common
stock are made by TM, CME or affiliates of either of them after
the mailing of this proxy statement to stockholders but prior to
the Special Meeting, TM will file a Current Report on
Form 8-K
relating to such purchases within four business days of such
purchases or otherwise prior to the Special Meting. TM’s
stockholders may not have sufficient time to consider the impact
of such purchases before submitting their proxy, or if they have
submitted a proxy, to revoke such proxy prior to the Special
Meeting. In the event that members of the management team of TM
purchase TM shares of common stock, such purchasers will also be
required to make beneficial ownership filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Members of TM management
have an obligation to disclose changes in their beneficial
ownership of TM securities within two business days of any such
changes.
CME intends to purchase such number of TM’s publicly traded
warrants as it determines in its sole discretion following the
closing of the Transaction.
TM will file a Current Report on
Form 8-K
with respect to any arrangements entered into by TM, CME or
their respective affiliates which is intended to increase the
likelihood that the arrangement and related proposals are
approved by TM’s stockholders. Any TM shares purchased by
TM prior to the Special Meeting will not be considered
outstanding for purposes of the Special Meeting and will
therefore not be permitted to vote at the meeting. In the event
that public shares are purchased by TM, such shares would no
longer be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of determining
the vote required for the approval of any of the proposals
presented at the Special Meeting. Therefore, this would reduce
(i) the number of public shares outstanding and entitled to
vote on each matter, and (ii) the number of shares required
to be voted in favor of each proposal. Conversely, if TM agrees
to purchase such shares under a forward sale arrangement or
TM’s directors and officers purchased such shares, those
shares would still be considered to be outstanding and could be
voted in favor of such proposals, reducing the number of shares
required to be voted in favor of such proposals by a number of
shares equal to those purchased. Neither TM nor its officers or
directors purchasing shares would affect the number of shares
that could be converted by TM with the acquisition still being
permitted to be consummated.
Our IPO prospectus did not disclose that funds in the trust
account might be used to purchase common stock from holders
thereof who have indicated their intention to vote against the
acquisition and convert their shares into cash. Consequently,
such use of the funds in the trust account might be grounds for
a holder of our public stock who purchased such shares in our
IPO, to seek rescission of the purchase of the units the holder
acquired in the IPO. A successful claimant for damages under
federal or state law could be awarded an amount to compensate
for the decrease in value of the shares caused by the alleged
violation, together with interest, while retaining the shares.
As of the record date for the Special Meeting, TM’s Initial
Stockholders, either directly or beneficially, owned and were
entitled to vote 2,250,000 shares, or approximately 18% of
TM’s outstanding common stock. With respect to the
Transaction Proposal, TM’s Initial Stockholders have agreed
to vote their respective shares of common stock owned by them
prior to our IPO in accordance with the majority of the votes
cast by the Public Stockholders with respect to the Transaction
Proposal and related proposals. This voting arrangement shall
not apply to any shares included in units purchased in our IPO
or purchased following our IPO in the open market by any of our
Initial Stockholders, officers and directors. Accordingly, they
may vote these shares on a proposed business combination any way
they choose.
Each share of TM Common Stock that you own in your name entitles
you to one vote per proposal. Your proxy card shows the number
of shares of TM Common Stock you own. There are three ways to
vote your shares of TM Common Stock at the Special Meeting:
•
You can vote by signing and returning the enclosed proxy card.
If you vote by proxy card, your “proxy,” whose name is
listed on the proxy card, will vote your shares of TM Common
Stock as you instruct on the proxy card. If you sign and return
the proxy card but do not give instructions on how to vote your
shares of TM Common Stock, your shares of TM Common Stock will
be voted as recommended by our board “FOR” the
adoption of the Transaction Proposal, the Share Issuance
Proposal, the Charter Amendment Proposal, the Authorized Share
Increase Proposal, the election of the nominees to TM’s
board of directors, and, if required, the Adjournment Proposal.
Votes received after a matter has been voted upon at the Special
Meeting will not be counted.
•
You can submit a proxy to vote your shares by following the
telephone or Internet voting instructions included with your
proxy and, if you do, you should not return the proxy card. If
you vote this way, however, you will not be able to exercise
conversion rights.
•
You can attend the Special Meeting and vote in person. We will
give you a ballot when you arrive. However, if your shares of TM
Common Stock are held in the name of your broker, bank or
another nominee, you must get a proxy from the broker, bank or
other nominee. That is the only way we can be sure that the
broker, bank or nominee has not already voted your shares of TM
Common Stock.
Assuming the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 is
approved, any holder of shares of TM Common Stock that were
issued in our IPO (other than an initial stockholder) who votes
either for or against the Transaction Proposal may, at the time
of such vote, demand that TM convert his or her shares of TM
Common Stock into a pro rata portion of the Trust Account.
If the Initial Charter Amendment is not approved, TM will not
complete the Transaction and will liquidate. The per share
conversion price will be calculated as of two business days
prior to
the consummation of the Transaction, and will equal the amount
in the Trust Account divided by the number of shares of TM
Common Stock issued in our IPO (10,255,000). Based on the amount
in the Trust Account as of August 31, 2009
($81,075,868, net of taxes payable), the per share conversion
price would be approximately $7.91. However, the
Trust Account will continue to earn interest and incur
taxes on such interest until the consummation of the
Transaction. In addition, our placing of funds in the
Trust Account may not protect those funds from third party
claims against us or other liabilities of TM. While we have
sought and will continue to seek to have all vendors and service
providers (which would include any third parties we engaged to
assist us in any way in connection with our search for a target
business) and prospective target businesses execute agreements
with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind
they may have in or to any monies held in the
Trust Account, there is no guarantee that they will execute
such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if such
entities execute such agreements with us, they will not seek
recourse against the Trust Account or that a court would
not conclude that such agreements are not legally enforceable.
Accordingly, the funds held in the Trust Account could be
subject to claims that take priority over the claims of our
public stockholders, and the actual per share conversion price
may be less than approximately $7.91. You will only be entitled
to receive cash for these shares if you continue to hold them
through the consummation of the Transaction and then tender your
stock certificate(s) to TM. If you exercise your conversion
rights, you will be exchanging your shares of TM Common Stock
for cash and will no longer own these shares. Do not send your
stock certificate(s) with your proxy. If the Transaction is
consummated, converting stockholders will be sent instructions
on how to tender their shares of TM Common Stock and when they
should expect to receive the conversion amount. Stockholders
will not be requested to tender their share of TM Common Stock
before the Transaction is consummated.
In order to exercise your conversion rights, you must vote
either for or against the Transaction Proposal. Abstentions and
broker non-votes do not satisfy this requirement. If you vote
for or against the Transaction Proposal, you may exercise your
conversion rights either by checking the box on the proxy card
or by submitting your request in writing to Mackenzie at the
address listed on page 193. If you
(i) initially vote for the Transaction Proposal but then
wish to vote against or (ii) initially vote for or against
the Transaction Proposal and wish to exercise your conversion
rights but do not check the box on the proxy card providing for
the exercise of your conversion rights or do not send a written
request to Mackenzie to exercise your conversion rights, you may
request that Mackenzie send to you another proxy card on which
you may indicate your intended vote and exercise your conversion
rights by checking the box provided for such purpose on the
proxy card. You may make such request by contacting TM at the
phone number or address listed above. Any corrected or changed
proxy card or written demand of conversion rights must be
received by TM prior to the Special Meeting to be effective. You
may also change a prior vote by attending the Special Meeting
where you will be able to revoke your proxy and vote in person.
It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to eligible
stockholders who elect conversion will be distributed promptly
after completion of the Transaction. Public stockholders who so
convert their TM Common Stock will retain the warrants that they
received as part of the units issued in our IPO and continue to
have the right to exercise them.
If you have any questions about how to vote or direct a vote in
respect of your TM Common Stock, you may call Mackenzie our
proxy solicitor, at
(800) 322-2885.
You may also want to consult your financial and other advisors
about the vote.
The Special Meeting has been called only to consider the
adoption of the Transaction Proposal, Share Issuance Proposal,
Charter Amendment Proposal, the Authorized Share Increase
Proposal, the Election of Directors Proposal, and the
Adjournment Proposal. Under our bylaws, other than procedural
matters incidental to the conduct of the meeting, no other
matters may be considered at the Special Meeting if they are not
included in the notice of the meeting.
If your broker, bank or nominee holds your shares of TM Common
Stock in its name and you do not give the broker, bank or
nominee specific voting instructions, certain NYSE Amex rules
would prohibit your broker, bank or nominee from voting your
shares of TM Common Stock on the Initial Charter Amendment
Proposals, Transaction Proposal, the Share Issuance Proposal,
the Charter Amendment Proposal and the Authorized Share Increase
Proposal. Failure to provide specific voting instructions to
your broker, bank or nominee with respect to such non-routine
matters is known as a “broker non-vote.”
Abstaining from voting or not voting (including broker
non-votes), either in person or by proxy or voting instruction,
will not have an effect on the vote relating to the Transaction
Proposal, since our Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides that only votes cast at the Special
Meeting will count toward the vote on the Transaction Proposal.
An abstention and broker non-votes will not have an effect on
the votes relating to the Shares Issuance Proposal, but
will have the effect of a vote against the Initial Charter
Amendment Proposals, the Charter Amendment Proposal and the
Authorized Share Increase Proposal. Stockholders may only vote
for or withhold votes for the nominees for election pursuant to
the Election of Directors Proposal. Votes that are withheld and
broker non-votes, if any, will be counted for purposes of
determining the presence or absence of a quorum, but will have
no effect on the election of directors.
A broker non-vote will not entitle you to exercise your
conversion rights. To exercise your conversion rights, you must
affirmatively vote for or against the Transaction and elect to
convert your shares of TM Common Stock by checking the
appropriate box, or direct your broker, bank or nominee to check
the appropriate box, on the proxy card and ensure that the proxy
card is delivered prior to the Special Meeting.
The costs of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and
distributing the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the
Proxy Statement, the Proxies and the annual report will be borne
by us. We have engaged MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
(“Mackenzie”) as an independent proxy solicitor to
assist in the distribution of proxy materials and the
solicitation of votes for approximately $25,000 and reasonable
out-of-pocket
expenses. We expect that approximately 20 employees of
MacKenzie will solicit proxies from our public’s
stockholders. In addition, we have retained Pali Capital, Inc.
(“Pali”), the representative of the underwriters of
our IPO, as financial advisor, and in such role Pali will assist
us in soliciting proxies. Pali will receive no consideration for
this role, but will be reimbursed by us for reasonable
out-of-pocket
expenses. We expect that up to 20 employees of Pali will
assist in soliciting proxies. In connection with our IPO we sold
to Pali an option to purchase up to 700,000 units
(consisting of one share of Common Stock and one warrant to
purchase one share of Common Stock) for $10.00 per unit. In
addition, $3,281,600 of the underwriting commissions and
discounts payable to the underwriters in our IPO (including
Pali) were deferred and placed in our trust account and will not
be paid to the underwriters if we do not complete a business
combination by October 17, 2009. Pali has agreed to waive
its deferred underwriting fee in exchange for such number of
shares of TM’s Common Stock owned by our Initial
Stockholders to be agreed upon. We also will reimburse brokers
who are holders of record of Common Stock for their reasonable
out-of-pocket
expenses in forwarding proxies and accompanying materials to the
beneficial holders of such Common Stock. In addition to the use
of the mails, Proxies may be solicited without extra
compensation by our directors, officers and employees by
telephone, telecopy, telegraph, email or personal interview.
The discussion in this Proxy Statement of the Transaction and
the principal terms of the Share Exchange Agreement, among TM,
CME and the Sellers is subject to, and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to, the full text of the Share Exchange
Agreement. A copy of the Share Exchange Agreement is attached as
Annex A to this Proxy Statement. We encourage you to read
it in its entirety.
Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, TM will purchase from
the Sellers 100% of the outstanding equity of CME and TM will
issue at closing 20.915 million newly issued shares of TM
Common Stock, and pay $10.0 million in three year, no
interest promissory notes. Following the consummation of the
Transaction, TM will directly own 100% of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of CME. In addition, the Sellers may
earn up to an additional 15.0 million shares of TM subject
to the achievement of the following net income targets for 2009,
2010 and 2011:
Year
Net Income (RMB)
Net Income (US$)(1)
Shares
2009
287.0 million
$42.0 million
1.0 million
2010
570.0 million
$83.5 million
7.0 million
2011(2)
889.0 million
$130.2 million
7.0 million
(1)
Based on current exchange rate of 6.83 RMB/US$.
(2)
If TM’s adjusted net income for 2009, 2010 or 2011 does not
equal or exceed the targeted net income threshold for such
fiscal year, the earn-out shares in respect of such fiscal year
will not be issued to the Sellers; provided, however, that if
TM’s adjusted net income in the fiscal year immediately
succeeding such non-achieving fiscal year exceeds the sum of
(i) the targeted net income threshold for such immediately
succeeding fiscal year (which, for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2012, the targeted net income threshold shall
be RMB1,155,700,000 ($169.2 million)) and (ii) the
shortfall amount for the non-achieving fiscal year, then the
earn-out shares in respect of such non-achieving fiscal year
will be issued to the Sellers.
CME’s net income in the fiscal year ended December 31,2008 was US$26.4 million.
The Sellers will also be entitled to receive up to
$20.9 million of the cash proceeds from the exercise of
TM’s publicly held warrants to the extent a sufficient
number of these warrants are exercised. These warrants are held
publicly and it is unknown if or when any of these warrants will
be exercised. Warrants to purchase approximately
3.8 million shares of TM Common Stock would need to be
exercised in order to generate sufficient proceeds to pay the
full $20.9 million to the Sellers. We are required to pay
the applicable proceeds from the exercise of these warrants to
the Sellers within 15 days after the end of the first full
fiscal quarter ending after the closing of the Transaction and
each fiscal quarter ending thereafter, until the full amount is
paid to the Sellers. TM may redeem these warrants at a price of
$0.01 per warrant at any time while the warrants are
exercisable, if, and only if, the last sales price of TM’s
Common Stock equals or exceeds $11.50 per share for any 20
trading days within a 30 trading day period ending 3 business
days before TM sends a notice of redemption.
Based on the closing price of TM Common Stock as of September25, 2009, the total value of the of the consideration to be
received by the Sellers (assuming all of the
“earn-out” shares are earned) is approximately $320.5
million.
In addition, TM paid $150,000 to CME’s certified public
accountants as partial payment of such accountants’ fees
for the account of CME on May 4, 2009.
In addition, as part of an amendment to the Share Exchange
Agreement, our Initial Stockholders agreed to transfer 750,000
shares of TM Common Stock owned by them to the Sellers upon the
closing of the transaction contemplated by the Share Exchange
Agreement and to sign lock-ups of up to 2 years with respect to
2,100,000 warrants owned by them.
The terms of the Share Exchange Agreement are the result of
arms-length negotiations between representatives of TM and CME.
The following is a brief discussion of TM’s search for its
business combination and the background of the negotiations
related to the Share Exchange Agreement between TM and CME.
TM was incorporated in Delaware on May 1, 2007 as a blank
check company formed with the purpose of effecting a merger,
capital stock exchange, asset acquisition or other similar
business combination with a domestic or foreign operating
business in the entertainment, media, digital or communications
industries and whose net assets are at least 80.0% of the value
of our net assets, including the funds held in the trust account
that holds TM’s IPO proceeds (excluding the deferred
underwriting discounts and commissions from our IPO).
TM completed its IPO on October 17, 2007, raising net
proceeds of $78,978,000 including net proceeds from the sale of
units on the partial exercise of the underwriter’s
overallotment option, of which $78,878,000 was deposited into
the trust account. In addition, all of the proceeds from the
private sale of warrants ($2,100,000) were deposited into the
trust account, for a total of $80,978,800 held in trust (or
approximately $7.90 per share sold in the offering). In
accordance with TM’s certificate of incorporation, these
funds will be released upon either its consummation of a
business combination or its liquidation. TM must liquidate
unless it has consummated a business combination by
October 17, 2009. As of August 31, 2009, approximately
$81,075,868 (net of taxes payable) was held on deposit in the
trust account.
During the period immediately subsequent to the IPO on
October 17, 2007 through November 2008, our officers and
directors and other representatives were involved in identifying
and evaluating prospective businesses regarding a potential
business combination for TM. After the consummation of our IPO,
we convened our management and representatives of Pali, our
investment banker, to discuss and begin implementing our overall
plan for identifying, evaluating and, where appropriate,
pursuing potential acquisition opportunities. Given our
commitment to source, review and negotiate a transaction within
the prescribed timeframe, we agreed to immediately identify and
begin the process of making contact with various prospective
sources of deal flow, including business contacts and
relationships we have established to encourage them to contact
us with ideas or specific acquisition opportunities that they
might have for us to consider and explore.
TM was able to source opportunities both proactively and
reactively, and given the mandate to find a suitable business
combination partner, did not limit itself to any one transaction
structure (e.g., cash vs. stock issued to potential seller,
straight merger, corporate spin-out or management buy-out).
Proactive sourcing involved TM management, and in certain cases,
Pali, among other things:
•
Initiating conversations with third-party companies which they
believed could make attractive combination partners;
•
attending conferences or industry events to meet prospective
business combination partners;
•
contacting professional service providers (lawyers, accountants,
consultants and bankers);
•
utilizing their own network of business associates and former
colleagues for leads;
•
working with third-party intermediaries, including other
investment bankers; and
•
inquiring of business owners, including private equity firms, of
their interest in selling their business.
Reactive sourcing involved fielding inquiries or responding to
solicitations by either (i) companies looking for capital
or investment alternatives or (ii) investment bankers or
other similar professionals who represented a company engaged in
a sale or fund-raising process. TM considered numerous companies
in the entertainment, media, digital and communications
industries.
In considering potential targets for a business combination,
TM’s management considered the following factors as being
material to their decision:
•
financial condition and results of operations;
•
cash flow potential;
•
growth potential;
•
experience and skill of management and availability of
additional personnel;
stage of development of the products, processes or services;
•
degree of current or potential market acceptance of the
products, processes or services;
•
contributions TM could make to the potential target’s
business;
•
relative valuation to comparable companies;
•
regulatory environment of the industry; and
•
costs associated with effecting the business combination.
The evaluation relating to the merits of a particular business
combination were based, to the extent relevant, on the above
factors. In evaluating certain prospective business targets,
TM’s management conducted a due diligence review which
encompassed, among other things, business, financial and
industry analysis, meetings with management, and, where
applicable, inspection of facilities as well as review of
financial and other information which were available.
As a result of these efforts, TM initiated contact, either
directly or through a third-party intermediary, with over 100
potential targets. TM signed non-disclosure agreements relating
to approximately 15 of these potential business combination
opportunities. TM also had discussions with numerous target
companies with which a non-disclosure agreement was not signed.
With respect to several business combination opportunities,
discussions among TM’s management and the targets included
financial disclosures, site visits, reviews of potential
transaction structures, preliminary estimates of transaction
values, discussions of management objectives, business plans and
projections and the engagement of third party service providers.
Discussions, including introductory meetings attended by some
combination of Messrs. Green and Bird and other designated
individuals on behalf of TM occurred with potential targets on a
regular basis during the period from October 2007 through
November 2008. Our board of directors’ initial review and
analysis determined that a transaction with many of the
potential target companies would not be successful based on
purchase price, valuation, industry, conditions and market
concerns.
Based on their experience in investigating investment
opportunities, TM’s management assessed the competition for
quality companies that could be a potential target for a
business combination and determined that a company that
TM’s management identified as a suitable potential business
combination partner would typically have several alternatives to
a potential business combination with TM, including remaining
independent or selling itself to another third party, as well as
obtaining capital either privately or publicly. Additionally, in
many cases, TM’s management had to spend time educating a
prospective business combination partner about “blank
check” companies and explaining, from TM management’s
perspective, the benefits of a combination with TM over other
alternatives that it may have been considering. The reasons
varied for why TM did not reach agreement with many of the
potential business combination partners it encountered. With
respect to certain targets, the TM management team did not feel
sufficiently comfortable with the target company’s
forecasted financial performance or the likelihood that
management could reach such forecasted performance. With respect
to others, an agreement could not be reached on financial terms,
the target’s operating performance declined during the
course of negotiations or TM simply decided that it was not in
the best interests of its shareholders to pursue a particular
transaction. Of all the transactions that TM reviewed, TM
believes the transaction with CME provides the most attractive
option for its business combination.
A general timeline for meaningful business combination search
activities for TM is as follows:
In December 2007, TM was introduced to a mobile entertainment
company (“Target A”). From December 2007 though
February 2008, TM and its representatives conducted extensive
financial, business and legal due diligence on Target A,
including numerous meetings with Target A’s management and
representatives. In February 2008, TM executed a non-binding
letter of intent with Target A. Additional due diligence as well
as the negotiation of a purchase agreement with Target A
continued throughout May 2008. In May 2008, discussions with
Target A were terminated due to an unexpected deterioration in
Target A’s financial results.
In January 2008, Pali introduced TM to a telecommunications
service provider (“Target B”) that was interested in
raising capital and was considering a transaction with a blank
check company. From January through March 2008, TM and its
representatives conducted preliminary due diligence on Target B
and the industry in which Target B operated. In March 2008, TM
submitted a letter of intent to Target B that outlined the terms
of a merger between TM and Target B. Subsequently, TM and Target
B engaged in several discussions regarding the terms of the
letter of intent. However, Target B ultimately decided to pursue
another transaction.
In late May 2008, TM was contacted by the financial advisor of
an entertainment distribution company (“Target C”)
regarding a potential transaction. From late May 2008 through
November 2008, TM and its representatives conducted extensive
financial and business due diligence on Target C, including
meetings with Target C’s management and representatives and
a visit to Target C’s facilities. In October 2008, TM
submitted a non-binding letter of intent for a merger of TM and
Target C. Through the remainder of October and November, TM and
it representatives held numerous discussions with Target C and
its representatives regarding the letter of intent and potential
transaction structures. TM ended discussions with Target C in
late November 2008 as a transaction structure could not be
agreed upon between the parties.
In August 2008, TM was contacted regarding the auction of a
pay-TV
operator (“Target D”). From late August 2008 through
November 2008, TM and its representatives conducted financial
and business due diligence on Target D, including a meeting with
and numerous conference calls with Target D’s management
and a review of documents provided to TM via a virtual data
room. In early November 2008, TM submitted an offer for the
acquisition of Target D. In late November 2008, TM was notified
that it was not selected as the winning bidder in the auction of
Target D.
On November 24, 2008, Pali was contacted by a finder
regarding a potential transaction opportunity for TM with a
Chinese media company. Upon signing a non-disclosure agreement
on December 2, 2008, TM was provided with information on
CME, including a draft of a Registration Statement on
Form F-1
that had been prepared (but never filed) in connection with a
contemplated IPO in the United States of CME. As a result of
general market conditions in the United States in the fall of
2008 and since then, CME’s management determined not to
file the
Form F-1
and to pursue the proposed transaction with TM in lieu of
conducting an initial public offering. Immediately following, TM
and its representatives began conducting preliminary due
diligence on CME, other public Chinese advertising companies,
and the Chinese adverting industry in general as well as on
other blank check companies that had entered into a business
combination with a target based in China. TM was informed that
CME was planning to conduct a traditional IPO but due to the
turmoil in the global equity and credit markets during the fall
of 2008 that it had abandoned such plans for the time being.
Since TM had already raised in excess of $80 million in its
IPO in October 2007, we believed that CME might be receptive to
entering into a transaction with us.
On December 8, 2008, Messrs. Green and Bird and
representatives of Pali held a conference call with
representatives of CME to discuss CME’s historical and
projected financial results, business plan and strategy.
On December 10, 2008, TM management received a preliminary
financial model from Pali regarding the acquisition of CME. The
financial model outlined a potential transaction based on the
following information that could serve as the basis to structure
the financial terms of a transaction: (i) unsubstantiated
financial results of CME that had been provided to Pali by the
finder (which subsequently proved to be substantially
understated), and (ii) valuation metrics based on CME’s
most comparable publicly traded company, VisionChina Media, an
operator of a television advertising network on intra-city buses
and subways in China, and Focus Media and AirMedia. The
valuation metrics presented were price to earnings multiples.
The comparison of multiples presented were as follows:
Price/Earnings
2008E
2009E
2010E
VisionChina Media
8.3
x
6.5
x
5.3
x
AirMedia
11.7
x
8.7
x
7.1
x
Focus Media
5.1
x
4.7
x
3.7
x
TM/CME
8.2
x
4.5
x
2.5
x
Based on the findings from the preliminary due diligence and the
financial model, Messrs. Green and Bird decided to begin
the preparation of a preliminary non-binding letter of intent to
send to CME.
On December 11, 2008, TM provided CME with a preliminary
non-binding letter of intent outlining the terms of a
transaction between the two companies. As part of the letter of
intent, TM’s management contemplated a deal structure in
which TM would issue shares of its common stock and pay cash to
CME shareholders. The proposed structure included an earn-out
component which assured TM’s management that there would be
a strong alignment of interests between CME’s management
and TM’s stockholders following the closing of the
transaction.
From December 18 through December 19, 2008,
Messrs. Green and Bird and a representative of Pali visited
CME at its headquarters in Fuzhou, China to discuss the terms of
a transaction and to perform due diligence. TM and CME engaged
in extensive negotiations over the aggregate value to be paid to
CME’s stockholders based on TM’s valuation of CME. In
addition, TM verbally engaged Pali as its financial advisor with
respect to a transaction involving CME.
Between December 20, 2008 and January 12, 2009,
representatives of TM and CME engaged in numerous discussions
relating to the terms in the non-binding letter of intent for a
transaction between CME and TM. In addition, another
representative of Pali conducted on site due diligence of CME
within that time frame.
On January 8, 2009, CME and TM signed a non-binding letter
of intent setting forth the principal terms of the proposed
acquisition of CME by TM, which included the following principle
terms to be included in customary definitive agreements to be
negotiated by the parties:
•
Consideration — $316.9 million of total
consideration comprised of $176.0 million of initial
consideration at closing of the transaction (19.5 million
shares of TM Common Stock valued at $8.00 per share, and
$20.0 million in cash) and additional consideration of up
to $140.9 million upon achieving certain benchmarks and the
exercise of TM public warrants (15.0 million shares of TM Common
Stock valued at $8.00 per share, and $20.9 million of the cash
proceeds from the exercise of TM’s publicly held warrants);
•
Pre-Shareholder Vote Financing — TM is
permitted to raise up to $50 million of financing prior to
TM’s shareholder vote to finance or partially finance the
purchase of up to $50 million of TM Common Stock to the extent
necessary to receive shareholder approval;
•
Lock-up
— CME’s existing stockholders will agree to
customary restrictions upon the sale, pledge or other transfer
of shares of common stock that they receive;
•
Senior Management — CME will agree to add a
Chief Financial Officer conversant with US GAAP and public
company accounting standards that is mutually acceptable to both
TM and the CME;
•
Board of Directors — The board of directors
following the acquisition to initially consist of members
designated by CME, with additional customary representation for
TM as well as independent members as required by law and stock
exchange rules;
•
Exclusivity — The later of February 28,2009 and 15 days following TM’s receipt of CME’s
audited financial statements for the calendar years 2006, 2007
and 2008.
The transaction was structured to be valued at a discount to
what TM believed to be the most comparable publicly traded
company (VisionChina Media) to CME. The actual negotiation
process involved a series of discussions regarding a number of
factors, including the number of shares CME’s existing
shareholders would receive upon the closing of the transaction,
the number of shares they would receive through the achievement
of various earn-out payments related to specified net income
targets, the amount of cash they were to receive at closing and
the amount of cash they could receive through the future
exercise of TM’s warrants. The earn-out net income targets
were solely based on CME’s financial projections that were
provided to us.
From January 13 through mid-April 2009, TM continued its due
diligence review of CME’s business. The due diligence
consisted of a detailed review of information provided to TM by
CME on its business as well as a further due diligence review of
the Chinese advertising industry in general and the competitive
landscape with respect to CME in particular.
On January 23, 2009, Morrison Cohen LLP (“Morrison
Cohen”), TM’s counsel, provided a draft of a Share
Exchange Agreement to CME.
From January 2009 through April 2009, TM’s board of
directors was continuously updated on the status of the
transaction and was provided with information on CME and the
Chinese advertising industry.
On February 4, 2009, TM engaged Global Law Office
(“GLO”) to act as its Chinese legal counsel. From
January 2009 through April 2009, GLO along with Morrison Cohen
conducted extensive legal due diligence on CME.
On February 11, 2009, GLO provided to TM a preliminary
legal due diligence summary on CME.
On February 27, 2009, TM received a draft of CME’s
audited financial statements for the calendar years 2006, 2007
and 2008 prepared by AJ. Robbins, PC (“AJ Robbins”).
On March 6, 2009, TM received comments to the Share
Exchange Agreement from CME’s legal counsel,
Loeb & Loeb LLP (“Loeb”).
On March 9, 2009, GLO provided to TM a list of legal issues
surrounding the transaction with CME, including the lack of
SARFT approval, the structure following consummation of the
transaction and minor trademark issues.
On March 13, 2009, Morrison Cohen and Loeb held a
conference call to highlight the material issues relating to the
Share Exchange Agreement including the timing of the payment
related to the $20.9 million of the cash proceeds from the
exercise of TM’s publicly held warrants, the definition of
the Permitted Financing, conduct prior to closing,
indemnification, and representations and warranties.
On March 16, 2009, TM, Pali and Morrison Cohen held a
conference call with CME and Loeb to discuss the material issues
relating to the Share Exchange Agreement that were highlighted
on the March 13, 2009 conference call.
Between March 16, 2009 and April 23, 2009,
representatives of TM and CME, and their respective legal
counsel, continued to negotiate the terms of the Share Exchange
Agreement and related documents. Such negotiations were
primarily conducted telephonically. While numerous items were
negotiated, particular attention was given to the definition and
terms of TM’s Permitted Financing (as defined in the Share
Exchange Agreement) and the minimum amount of working capital
that TM would be required to deliver in the transaction. During
these negotiations, CME came to understand that a portion of
TM’s Trust could be used to purchase TM’s publicly
traded shares in order to secure approval of the Transaction and
that additional financing might be required to complete the
Transaction. As a result, CME sought to ensure that a minimum
amount of cash (in addition to the consideration payable to the
Sellers) for working capital purposes was delivered by TM at
closing. After a series of negotiations, it was ultimately
agreed that TM could secure up to $50.0 million in financing
(secured or unsecured debt, which may be convertible into TM
Common Stock, or preferred stock) with a term of at least 3
years. Additionally, TM agreed to deliver at least $10.0
million of working capital (after fees and expenses) at the
closing of the transaction, but CME subsequently agreed to
forego this requirement.
On March 30, 2009, TM formalized its previously agreed upon
engagement of Pali as its financial advisor through the
execution of a written agreement.
On April 13, 2009, TM and Pali held a conference call with
AJ Robbins to discuss the audited financials, CME’s record
keeping and internal controls, as well as the on site work
performed for the audit. Additionally, AJ Robbins confirmed the
draft received in March was substantially similar to the final
version to be received upon payment of the audit fee by CME.
On April 23, 2009, at a meeting of TM’s board of
directors, TM management reviewed the principal terms of the
proposed transaction with CME and the status of the negotiations
regarding the Share Exchange Agreement and related
documentation. The meeting included a verbal presentation from
Pali, which included a summary of the proposed transaction
consideration and structure, an overview of the business and
financials of CME, and a discussion of the advertising market in
China and the implied valuation of the transaction.
The historical financials and projections provided by the
management of CME were as follows:
2006
2007
2008
2009E
2010E
2011E
(In millions)
Net Sales
$
4.0
$
25.8
$
63.0
$
104.2
$
196.6
$
305.5
Gross Profit
$
2.5
$
12.7
$
37.9
$
71.5
$
140.9
$
219.5
EBITDA
$
2.0
$
12.6
$
38.0
$
65.5
$
128.5
$
197.8
Pre-Tax Income
$
1.6
$
11.0
$
35.2
$
60.2
$
119.4
$
186.1
Net Income
$
0.9
$
7.0
$
26.4
$
42.1
$
83.6
$
130.3
The projections provided by the management of CME were based on
their current business plan and without regard to capital
structure and the proposed Transaction.
The discussion on the implied valuation focused on a comparison
of the price to earnings multiples, enterprise value to revenue
multiples and enterprise value to EBITDA (earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) multiples of the
publicly-traded companies comparable to CME (VisionChina Media,
AirMedia, Baidu, Sohu and Sina) compared to the multiples
embedded in TM’s transaction with CME. Heavy emphasis was
placed on the price to earnings multiples of CME’s most
comparable publicly traded company, VisionChina Media, an
operator of a television advertising network on intra-city buses
and subways in China and a publicly listed company on NASDAQ, as
compared to the price to earnings multiples in TM’s
transaction with CME. The comparison of multiples analyzed were
as follows:
Debt/
Enterprise Value/Revenue
Enterprise Value/EBITDA
Price/Earnings
2008
2008
2009E
2010E
2008
2009E
2010E
2008
2009E
2010E
EBITDA
VisionChina Media
2.2
x
1.6
x
1.3
x
5.0
x
3.5
x
2.8
x
8.4
x
7.7
x
6.2
x
0.0
x
AirMedia
1.5
x
1.1
x
0.9
x
5.3
x
6.3
x
3.2
x
11.7
x
15.1
x
8.8
x
0.0
x
Baidu
14.2
x
11.4
x
8.4
x
31.2
x
25.4
x
18.8
x
42.8
x
36.5
x
27.5
x
0.0
x
Sohu
3.4
x
2.9
x
2.5
x
8.1
x
6.8
x
5.9
x
11.5
x
10.8
x
9.8
x
1.2
x
Sina
2.6
x
2.5
x
1.7
x
11.3
x
8.1
x
5.7
x
15.6
x
18.0
x
14.0
x
0.0
x
TM/CME
2.8
x
1.7
x
0.9
x
4.6
x
2.7
x
1.5
x
9.8
x
6.3
x
3.9
x
0.0
x
The analysis resulted in a conclusion by Pali that due to lower
implied multiples in most cases, TM’s transaction with CME
compared favorably to its publicly-traded comparables. Following
a full discussion, the TM board unanimously approved the Share
Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated.
Pali had been one of the underwriters of TM’s initial
public offering. Pali regularly provides investment banking
services and mergers and acquisitions advisory services and TM
management believed that the Pali investment professionals would
provide sound advice to TM and its board of directors relating
to a proposed transaction with CME, especially in connection
with structuring the transaction and helping to analyze the
financial terms to be negotiated. In addition, Pali’s
investment professionals had advised numerous special purpose
acquisition companies and were thus familiar with the various
requirements pertaining to them. Pali was not engaged to issue
an opinion to the Board of Directors regarding the fairness of
the Transaction or
whether the Transaction would satisfy the requirement that the
Transaction have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of
TM’s net assets. Pali has agreed to waive its deferred
underwriting fee in exchange for such number of shares of this
Common Stock owned by our initial Stockholders to be agreed
upon. Upon the closing of the Transaction, pursuant to the
engagement agreement Pali is to be paid a fee of approximately
$2.0 million, the exact amount to be determined based on
the total expenses incurred in the Transaction by TM. TM has
also agreed to reimburse Pali for its reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses and to indemnify Pali and certain related persons
against liabilities arising out of Pali’s services under
the engagement agreement.
Between April 23, 2009 and May 1, 2009,
representatives of TM and CME continued to finalize the Share
Exchange Agreement and related documentation.
On May 1, 2009, AJ Robbins delivered the final audit of CME
to TM.
On the evening of May 1, 2009, the Share Exchange Agreement
was executed by the parties thereto and on the morning of
May 4, 2009, TM issued a press release announcing the
transaction.
TM maintained regular contact with CME after execution of the
original Share Exchange Agreement. From June 2009 through
September 2009, and as permitted under the original Share
Exchange Agreement, TM and CME sought to secure a Permitted
Financing (as defined in the original Share Exchange Agreement)
and conducted numerous meetings, in-person and telephonically,
with approximately 30 potential debt and equity investors. The
discussions with investors all varied in terms of level of
interest. TM and CME ultimately received term sheets from
several investors. None of the term sheets received were
acceptable to both TM and CME. Therefore, in order to consummate
the transaction and preserve value for all TM shareholders
interested in the transaction, in late September, TM and CME
agreed to discuss amending the original Share Exchange Agreement
so as to reduce or defer the cash portion payable to the parties
and to reduce the need to seek alternative sources of financing.
On September 23, 2009, the terms of such changes were
verbally agreed upon by both TM and CME. The changes included
issuing 1.415 million additional shares of TM Common Stock
and $10.0 million in notes payable to CME shareholders, in
lieu of the $20.0 million cash consideration. Additionally,
it was agreed that the $10.0 working capital requirement would
be removed and that TM would limit its transaction expense.
Between September 23, 2009 and September 30, 2009,
representatives of TM and CME continued to negotiate an
amendment to the Share Exchange Agreement.
On September 30, 2009, at a meeting of TM’s board of
directors, TM management and Morrison Cohen reviewed the changes
to the transaction and the Share Exchange Agreement. The TM
board unanimously approved the amended transaction and changes
to the Share Exchange Agreement.
On September 30, 2009, the amendment to Share Exchange Agreement
was executed by the parties thereto and on the morning of
October 1, 2009, TM issued a press release announcing the
amended transaction. A copy of such amendment is included in
Annex A attached to this Proxy Statement.
In addition, during this time TM’s management began
considering ways to increase the likelihood that the Transaction
would be approved, including by way of amendments to TM’s
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. It was
determined that the amendments proposed by the Initial Charter
Amendment Proposals would meet these goals by reducing the
threshold vote required for approval of the Transaction and by
reducing the incentive for holders of IPO Shares to vote against
the Transaction. As a result, TM negotiated with CME to allow
such amendments and to eliminate the contractual requirement in
the Share Exchange Agreement that no more than 30% of the IPO
Shares elect to convert in order to consummate the Transaction.
After careful consideration, TM’s board of directors, by
unanimous vote at a meeting on April 23, 2009 and on
September 30, 2009, approved and declared advisable the Share
Exchange Agreement and the Transaction. Accordingly, our board
of directors recommends that TM’s stockholders vote
“FOR” the Transaction Proposal.
TM’s board of directors considered a wide variety of
factors in connection with its evaluation of the Transaction.
Pali’s valuation analysis was one of the factors the board
of directors considered, in addition to TM’s own due
diligence and review of CME’s business operations and
results. In light of the complexity of those factors, TM’s
board of directors did not consider it practicable to, nor did
it attempt to, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to
the specific factors it considered in reaching its decision. In
addition, individual members of TM’s board of directors may
have given different weight to different factors. In reaching
its determination, TM’s board of directors considered the
following factors, among others:
•
information with respect to the financial condition, results of
operation and business of CME, on both a historical and
prospective basis; 2006 — 2008 net revenue and
net income CAGR of 269% and 404%, respectively, with a projected
2008 — 2011 net income CAGR of 158%;
•
CME’s lower price to earnings multiples relative to its
public comparables, given its future prospects and those of the
industry;
•
CME’s management team’s quality and strength, and
proven track record of success; CME’s existing management
team has grown the business to achieve 2008 net revenue and
net income of $63.0 and $26.4 million, respectively, and
35,000 installed TV displays on over 16,000 buses in a short
period of time;
•
the earn-out and
lock-up
features of the transaction, which provide substantial
incentives to the management and stockholders of CME to realize
future value for all stockholders after the closing of the
Transaction; CME’s existing shareholders have agreed to
receive a substantial portion of the consideration based on
achieving certain net income targets that imply significant
growth in earnings and indicate their commitment and confidence
towards CME’s future growth prospects; the
lock-up
agreements that CME’s existing shareholders have agreed to
enter into and the consideration based on the exercise of the
publicly held warrants will align their interests with those of
TM’s stockholders;
•
the terms and conditions of the Share Exchange Agreement and
related transaction documents;
•
the Chinese and global advertising market, both current and
projected; advertising spending in China reached
$15.4 billion in 2007 and is expected grow to
$25.0 billion in 2011, a 12.8% CAGR; and
•
the results of TM’s business, financial, accounting, legal
and other due diligence review of CME.
Our board of directors also considered potentially negative
factors in its deliberations concerning the Transaction and the
Share Exchange Agreement, including:
•
the competitive nature of the Chinese advertising industry in
general; although the Chinese advertising industry is generally
competitive, it is also highly fragmented and growing quite
rapidly; however, CME is the only company with an advertising
network of its size and scope on inter-city express buses in
China;
•
the possibility that the benefits anticipated from the
Transaction might not be achieved or might not occur as rapidly
or to the extent currently anticipated; it is possible that the
financial and strategic benefits of having CME publicly traded
on a U.S. exchange, and that the ability of TM’s
management to leverage its business relationships to secure
additional programming for CME could fall short of our
expectations;
•
the risk that CME is unable to increase the number of buses in
its network as projected;
•
the pro forma effect of the issuance of 15,000,000 shares
of TM common stock pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement on
TM’s earnings per share, which would reduce TM’s
earnings per share on a pro forma adjusted basis; and
•
the limits on indemnification in the Share Exchange Agreement,
which restrict the remedies available to TM in the event of a
breach by CME and cap the damages recoverable by TM at $25.0
million.
In addition, TM’s board of directors relied on a number of
standards generally accepted by the financial community in
making its decision to enter into the Share Exchange Agreement
with CME. In particular, TM’s
board of directors placed heavy emphasis on the price to
earnings multiples of publicly-traded companies that it deemed
to be comparable to CME and compared those multiples to the
earnings multiple embedded in TM’s transaction with CME. In
addition, TM’s board of directors evaluated enterprise
value to revenue multiples, enterprise value to EBITDA (earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) multiples
and the capital structures of the publicly-traded companies
comparable to CME and compared the multiples and capital
structures to those in TM’s transaction with CME.
Despite not being disclosed in TM’s IPO prospectus,
TM’s board of directors, also considered various
transactions either TM or its affiliates might enter into in
order to secure the required stockholder approval of the
Transaction, including the purchase of TM’s publicly traded
shares with funds from the Trust, the entering into various debt
or equity financing arrangements to fund such purchases and the
impact of such transactions on the amounts available for the
Transaction, the debt of the combined company and its relative
equity ownership following such transactions.
This discussion of the information and factors that our board of
directors considered is not intended to be exhaustive but, we
believe, includes many of the material factors considered by our
board of directors. Each member of our board of directors made
his judgment based on the total mix of information available to
our board of directors of the overall effect of the Transaction
on our stockholders compared to other alternatives. The
judgments of individual directors may have been influenced to a
greater or lesser degree by their individual views with respect
to different factors.
Based on the factors outlined above, our board of directors
approved and declared it advisable that TM enter into the
Transaction.
When you consider the recommendation of TM’s board of
directors that you vote in favor of the Transaction, you should
keep in mind that TM’s officers and directors have
interests in the Transaction that are different from, or in
addition to, yours. These interests include the following:
•
If the Transaction is not consummated and TM is required to
liquidate, the shares of TM Common Stock owned and acquired by
TM’s directors and officers prior to our IPO will be
worthless because they will not be entitled to receive any of
the assets held in the Trust Account with respect to these
shares. In addition, if the Transaction is not consummated, and
TM is forced to liquidate, warrants held by TM’s directors
and officers will expire with no value. On April 23, 2009,
the date TM’s board of directors approved the Transaction
and the Share Exchange Agreement, our directors and officers
owned a total of 2,250,000 shares of TM Common Stock
acquired prior to our IPO having a total market value of
approximately $17.2 million based on the share price of
$7.64 of the TM Common Stock on the last trading day prior to
that date. In addition, on April 23, 2009, our directors
and officers held warrants exercisable for an aggregate of
2,100,000 shares of TM Common Stock (for which they paid
$2,100,000) having a total market value of approximately
$0.2 million based on our warrant price of $0.11 per
warrant on the last trading day prior to that date.
•
Each of Messrs. Green and Bird has agreed, that, if we
liquidate prior to the consummation of a business combination,
they will be personally liable to ensure that the proceeds of
the Trust Account are not reduced by the claims of vendors
for services rendered or products sold to us as well as claims
of prospective target businesses for fees and expenses of third
parties that we have agreed in writing to pay in the event we do
not complete a business combination. If the Transaction is
consummated, TM’s officers and directors will not have to
perform such obligations. If the Transaction is not consummated,
however, TM’s officers and directors could potentially be
liable for any claims against the Trust Account by such
vendors or prospective target businesses who did not sign
waivers. If the Transaction is not consummated, CME and the
Sellers will be responsible for their own expenses incurred in
connection with the proposed Transaction. Pursuant to the Share
Exchange Agreement, CME and the Sellers have waived any claim
they may have against the Trust Account.
All rights specified in TM’s Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation relating to the right of directors
and officers to be indemnified by TM, and of TM’s directors
and officers to be exculpated from monetary liability with
respect to prior acts or omissions, will continue after the
Transaction. If the Transaction is not consummated and TM
liquidates, it will not be able to perform its obligations under
those provisions. If the Transaction is ultimately completed,
the combined company’s ability to perform such obligations
will probably be substantially enhanced.
It is a requirement that any business acquired by TM have a fair
market value equal to at least 80.0% of TM’s net assets at
the time of acquisition. Based solely on its evaluation of the
consideration to be paid in the Transaction, TM’s board of
directors determined that this requirement was met and exceeded.
TM’s board of directors did not consider the implied
valuation of CME based on Pali’s presentation on
April 23, 2009 in making its determination that the 80%
requirement was met. TM’s board of directors did not seek
or obtain an opinion of an outside valuation advisor as to
whether the 80.0% test has been met, however, in light of the
financial background and experience of members of TM’s
management and board of directors, TM’s board of directors
believes it is qualified to determine whether the Transaction
meets this requirement. Mr. Green (in his roles at Anchor
Bay Entertainment, Greenlight Consulting and Sony Wonder),
Mr. Bird (in his roles at AOL, Hanana-Barbera and USA
Broadcasting), Mr. Hyde (in his numerous roles as a senior
executive, consultant and advisor) and Mr. Miller (in his
roles as a senior executive, investor and advisor), all have had
significant financial experience. If the Transaction is not
consummated and TM is required to liquidate, the shares of TM
Common Stock owned and acquired by TM’s directors and
officers prior to our IPO will be worthless because they will
not be entitled to receive any of the assets held in the
Trust Account with respect to these shares. In addition, if
the Transaction is not consummated, and TM is forced to
liquidate, warrants held by TM’s directors and officers
will expire with no value. These factors created a conflict of
interest for TM’s directors and officers in negotiating the
Transaction on behalf of TM, which resulted in the value of the
consideration being paid by TM exceeding 80% of TM’s net
assets.
In determining that the Transaction had a fair market value
equal to at least 80.0% of TM’s net assets, TM’s board
of directors first determined that as of March 31, 2009, TM
had approximately $77.4 million in net assets (total assets
minus total liabilities). The fair value of the Transaction was
determined through arms-length negotiations between the Sellers
and TM (Messrs. Green and Bird) and resulted in a minimum
purchase price equal to approximately $176.0 million,
assuming a value of $8.00 of the TM Common Stock being issued.
This amount exceeds 80.0% of TM’s net assets at the time
our board of directors approved the Share Exchange Agreement and
the Transaction. Therefore, the 80.0% test was satisfied.
The following discussion is a summary of the material
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Transaction to
TM and to current holders of TM Common Stock, as well as the
material U.S. federal income tax consequences to the
holders of TM Common Stock who choose to exercise their IPO
conversion rights. This discussion addresses only those TM
stockholders who are “U.S. Holders” (as defined
below) that hold each of their shares of TM Common Stock as a
“capital asset” as defined in the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).. This summary
is for the general information of TM stockholders only and does
not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax
effects of the Transaction or the exercise of the IPO conversion
rights, nor does it constitute tax advice to any particular TM
stockholder. For example, this summary does not consider the
effect of any applicable state, local or
non-U.S. tax
laws, or of any non-income tax laws. This discussion does not
address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences
that may be relevant to a particular TM stockholder in light of
their individual circumstances or to TM stockholders that are
subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax
laws, including, without limitation:
•
financial institutions, regulated investment companies, real
estate investment trusts and insurance companies;
partnerships, limited liability companies that are not treated
as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
subchapter S corporations and other pass-through entities
and investors in such entities;
•
dealers, brokers and traders in securities or foreign currencies;
•
stockholders who acquired their shares of TM Common Stock
pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options, in
connection with employee stock incentive plans or otherwise as
compensation;
•
stockholders who hold TM Common Stock as part of a hedge,
appreciated financial position, straddle, constructive sale or
conversion transaction or other integrated transaction;
•
certain expatriates or former long-term residents of the United
States;
•
stockholders who have elected
mark-to-market
accounting;
•
persons liable for the alternative minimum tax; or
•
U.S. Holders whose “functional currency” is not
the U.S. dollar.
For purposes of this discussion, “U.S. Holder”
refers to a beneficial owner that is, for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, (i) an individual citizen or resident
of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or other entity
treated as a corporation) for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, created or organized (or treated as created or
organized) in or under the laws of the United States, any state
thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the
income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation
regardless of its source, (iv) a trust if (1) a
U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the
trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons
are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the
trust, or (2) it has a valid election in effect under
applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a
U.S. person.
If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal
income tax purposes holds TM Common Stock, the U.S. federal
income tax treatment of a person holding equity interests in
such entity generally will depend upon the status of that person
and the activities of that entity. Such entities, and persons
holding equity interests in such entities, should consult their
tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the Transaction and the exercise of the IPO
conversion rights.
The following discussion is based on the Code, the applicable
Treasury Regulations, administrative rulings and interpretations
and court decisions, each as in effect as of the date of this
Proxy Statement and all of which are subject to change, possibly
with retroactive effect. Any such change could materially alter
the tax consequences described herein. This discussion does not
purport to be a comprehensive analysis or description of all
potential U.S. federal income tax consequences of the
Transaction and the exercise of the IPO conversion rights. It is
not binding on the IRS, and there can be no assurance that the
IRS (or a court, in the event of an IRS challenge) will agree
with the conclusions stated herein. TM has not obtained a ruling
from the IRS or an opinion of counsel as to any
U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. There
can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a different
position, or that such position will not be sustained if
challenged.
STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO
THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PROPOSED
TRANSACTION AND THE EXERCISE OF THEIR IPO CONVERSION RIGHTS IN
LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING THE
APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND
NON-U.S. INCOME
AND OTHER TAX LAWS.
U.S.
Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Transaction to TM and
Current U.S. Holders of TM Common Stock.
Neither TM nor current U.S. Holders of TM Common Stock will
recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes
as a result of the Transaction.
U.S.
Federal Income Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders of TM Common
Stock Who Exercise IPO Conversion Rights.
Gain or
Loss
A U.S. Holder of TM Common Stock that exercises IPO
conversion rights and effects a termination of the
stockholder’s interest in TM will generally be required to
recognize gain or loss upon the disposition of that
stockholder’s shares of TM Common Stock. Such gain or loss
will be measured by the difference between the amount of cash
received and the tax basis of that stockholder’s shares of
TM Common Stock. A U.S. Holder’s gain or loss
generally should be computed on a “per share” basis,
so that gain or loss should be calculated separately for blocks
of stock acquired at different dates or for different prices.
The amounts received by a U.S. Holder of TM Common Stock
pursuant to the conversion generally should be allocated
proportionately to each share of stock owned by such
stockholder. The gain or loss recognized by such stockholder in
connection with the conversion will generally be a capital gain
or loss and will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the
holding period for the shares of TM Common Stock disposed of is
treated as being more than one year. It is possible, however,
that our IPO conversion rights with respect to TM Common Stock
may prevent a U.S. Holder from satisfying the holding
period requirements for long-term capital gain or loss.
Long-term capital gain of non-corporate taxpayers may be subject
to more favorable tax rates than ordinary income or short-term
capital gain. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to
various limitations. U.S. Holders are urged to consult
their own tax advisors regarding the availability of long-term
capital gain or loss treatment.
Backup
Withholding
Unless a TM stockholder complies with certain reporting
and/or
Form W-9
certification procedures or is an exempt recipient under
applicable provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations, such
stockholder may be subject to backup withholding tax with
respect to payments received pursuant to the exercise of IPO
conversion rights. The backup withholding tax is currently
imposed at a rate of 28%. If backup withholding applies, the
amount withheld is not an additional tax, but generally should
be allowed as a credit against the stockholder’s
U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the
stockholder to a refund, provided that certain required
information is timely furnished to the IRS. Stockholders are
urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the
application of backup withholding and the availability of and
procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding in
their particular circumstances.
The Transaction will be accounted for as a reverse acquisition
in which CME is the accounting acquirer, equivalent to a
recapitalization. The net monetary assets of TM will be recorded
as of the closing date of the Transaction at their respective
historical costs, which is considered to be the equivalent of
fair value. No goodwill or intangible assets will be recorded as
a result of the Transaction.
The determination of CME as the accounting acquirer has been
made based on consideration of all quantitative and qualitative
factors of the Transaction, including significant consideration
given to the fact that upon consummation of the Transaction:
(i) CME will control the management of TM, (ii) CME
will control the board of directors of TM and (iii) CME
shareholders will be the largest group of shareholders of TM.
Immediately following the consummation of the Transaction, and
assuming that no TM stockholder exercises its conversion rights
and assuming that none of TM’s warrants or options are
exercised, the Sellers will own approximately 64.6% of the
outstanding TM Common Stock and the current TM stockholders will
own approximately 35.1% of the outstanding TM Common Stock. If
the Sellers achieve the maximum equity earn-out from 2009 to
2012, then the Sellers would own approximately 75.6% of the TM
Common Stock outstanding at that time.
Assuming the holders of 100% of the outstanding TM Common Stock
issued in our IPO vote either for or against the Transaction and
exercise their conversion rights, and assuming that none of
TM’s warrants or options are exercised, the Sellers will
own approximately 93.1% of the outstanding TM Common Stock and
the current TM stockholders will own approximately 6.4% of the
outstanding TM Common Stock immediately following the
consummation of the Transaction. If the Sellers achieve the
maximum equity earn-out from 2009 to 2012, then the Sellers
would own approximately 95.8% of the TM Common Stock outstanding
at that time.
the corporate headquarters and principal executive offices of TM
will be located at 22/F, Wuyi Center, 33 East Street, Fuzhou,
Fujian, People’s Republic of China;
•
TM’s corporate name will be changed to “China
MediaExpress Holdings, Inc.”; and
•
the TM Common Stock and the warrants and units of TM that are
outstanding prior to the Transaction are currently listed on the
NYSE Amex under the symbols “TMI,”“TMI.WS”
and “TMI.U”. However, as a result of the change of
TM’s corporate name to “China MediaExpress Holdings,
Inc.” such symbols will change.
The discussion in this Proxy Statement of the business
combination and the principal terms of the Share Exchange
Agreement described below are qualified in their entirety by
reference to the copy of the Share Exchange Agreement attached
as Annex A hereto and incorporated herein by reference. The
following description summarizes the material provisions of the
Share Exchange Agreement, which agreement we urge you to read
carefully because it is the principal legal document that
governs the business combination.
The representations and warranties described below and included
in the Share Exchange Agreement were made by TM and the CME
Parties as of specific dates. The assertions embodied in these
representations and warranties may be subject to important
qualifications and limitations agreed to by TM and the CME
Parties in connection with negotiating the Share Exchange
Agreement. The representations and warranties may also be
subject to a contractual standard of materiality that may be
different from what may be viewed as material to stockholders,
or may have been used for the purpose of allocating risk among
TM and the CME Parties, rather than establishing matters as
facts. The Share Exchange Agreement is described in this Proxy
Statement and included as Annex A only to provide you with
information regarding its terms and conditions at the time it
was entered into by the parties. Accordingly, you should read
the representations and warranties in the Share Exchange
Agreement not in isolation but rather in conjunction with the
other information contained in this document.
TM will acquire each share of capital stock of CME issued and
outstanding prior to the business combination in exchange for
$10,000,000 in three year, no interest promissory notes and an
aggregate of 20,915,000 shares of TM Common Stock. In
addition, TM paid $150,000 to CME on May 4, 2009 and has
agreed to issue the Sellers up to an additional
15,000,000 shares of TM Common Stock pursuant to an
earn-out provision in the Share Exchange Agreement based on the
adjusted net income of the combined company during the fiscal
years ending December 31, 2009, 2010, 2011 and potentially
2012. Furthermore, the Sellers are entitled to receive up to
$20,888,888 of the cash proceeds received from the exercise of
TM’s publicly held warrants to the extent a sufficient
number of these warrants are exercised. These warrants are held
publicly and it is unknown if or when any of these warrants will
be exercised. Warrants to purchase approximately
3.8 million shares of TM Common Stock would need to be
exercised in order to generate sufficient proceeds to pay the
full $20.9 million to the Sellers. We are required to pay
the applicable proceeds from the exercise of these warrants to
the Sellers within 15 days after the end of the first full
fiscal quarter
ending after the closing of the Transaction and each fiscal
quarter ending thereafter, until the full amount is paid to the
Sellers. TM may redeem these warrants at a price of $0.01 per
warrant at any time while the warrants are exercisable, if, and
only if, the last sales price of TM’s Common Stock equals
or exceeds $11.50 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30
trading day period ending 3 business days before TM sends a
notice of redemption.
The earn-out will be based on the adjusted net income of TM
during the fiscal years ending December 31, 2009, 2010,
2011 and potentially 2012. The term “adjusted net
income” means the “Net Income Attributable to the
Parent” as calculated and disclosed pursuant to Statement
of Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 160, as set forth on
the audited consolidated financial statements of TM comprising a
part of the
Forms 10-K
filed with the SEC for the fiscal years ending December 31,2009, 2010, 2011 or potentially 2012, adjusted to:
•
add back to the “Net Income Attributable to the
Parent” any charges for (a) “acquisition-related
costs” as defined in and charged to expense pursuant to
SFAS No. 141(R) and any other fees, expenses or payments to
any third party related to the business combination,
(b) the amortization of intangibles, (c) the
impairment of goodwill, (d) compensation expense arising
from the earn-out shares, each of (a) — (d) as it
relates to any acquisitions completed in, or pending at the end
of, the applicable period (including the business combination),
by TM or the CME entities;
•
add back to the “Net Income Attributable to the
Parent” any out of pocket (i.e., third party) expenses
incurred to design, implement and annually assess disclosure
controls and procedures and internal controls over financial
reporting by TM or the CME entities as a consequence of
TM’s compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
•
add back to the “Net Income Attributable to the
Parent” any charges for taxes payable by any of TM or the
CME entities that are directly attributable to the business
combination and that apply to the applicable period; and
•
deduct from the “Net Income Attributable to Parent”
the financial statement tax benefit of the amount in the above
bullets, computed by multiplying the amount of the adjustment in
the above bullets by the statutory tax rate applicable to TM or
the CME entity that incurred the expense.
provided, however, that if TM is no longer required or eligible
to file a
Form 10-K,
then the “Net Income Attributable to Parent” as
calculated and disclosed pursuant to SFAS No. 160 for
any particular fiscal year shall be as set forth on the audited
consolidated financial statements of TM for such fiscal year.
The 15,000,000 shares of TM Common Stock subject to the
earn-out provision will be issued to the Sellers as follows:
•
1,000,000 shares will be issued to the Sellers if TM’s
adjusted net income during the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2009 equals or exceeds RMB 287,000,000
($42.0 million)1;
•
7,000,000 shares will be issued to the Sellers if TM’s
adjusted net income during the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2010 equals or exceeds RMB 570,000,000
($83.5 million)1; and
•
7,000,000 shares will be issued to the Sellers if TM’s
adjusted net income during the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2011 equals or exceeds RMB 889,000,000
($130.2 million)1.
If TM’s adjusted net income for 2009, 2010 and 2011 does
not equal or exceed the targeted net income threshold for such
fiscal year, the earn-out shares in respect of such fiscal year
will not be issued to the Sellers; provided, however, that if
TM’s adjusted net income in the fiscal year immediately
succeeding such non-achieving fiscal year exceeds the sum of
(i) the targeted net income threshold for such immediately
succeeding fiscal year (which, for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2012, the targeted net income threshold shall
be RMB1,155,700,000) ($169.2 million) and (ii) the
shortfall amount for the non-achieving fiscal year, then the
earn-out shares in respect of such non-achieving fiscal year
will be issued to the Sellers.
Upon the consummation of the business combination, TM will own
100% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of
CME. Two of CME’s subsidiaries are also parties to the
Share Exchange Agreement: (i) Fujian Zong Heng Express
Information Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company
established in the PRC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CME, and
(ii) Fujian Fenzhong Media Co., Ltd., a limited liability
company operating in the media business established in the PRC
and controlled by Fujian Express by contractual agreements and
arrangements. We refer to CME and these subsidiaries as the
“CME entities.”
In addition, TM paid $150,000 to CME’s certified public
accountants as partial payment of such accountants’ fees
for the account of CME on May 4, 2009.
In addition, as part of an amendment to the Share Exchange
Agreement, our Initial Stockholders agreed to transfer
750,000 shares of TM Common Stock owned by them to the
Sellers upon the closing of the transaction contemplated by the
Share Exchange Agreement and to sign lock-ups of up to 2 years
with respect to 2,100,000 warrants owned by them.
In the Share Exchange Agreement, the CME Parties make certain
representations and warranties (subject to certain exceptions)
relating to, among other things:
•
capital structure and title to shares;
•
proper corporate organization and similar corporate matters;
•
authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the
Share Exchange Agreement and other transaction documents;
•
absence of conflicts with the organizational documents, material
contracts and material permits of the CME entities;
•
required consents and approvals;
•
financial information, projections and absence of undisclosed
liabilities;
TM and the CME Parties agreed to use commercially reasonable
efforts to carry on their respective businesses in the ordinary
course in substantially the same manner as previously conducted,
to pay all debts and taxes when due, to pay or perform other
obligations when due, to use all reasonable efforts consistent
with past practice and policies to preserve intact their
respective business organizations, to use commercially
reasonable efforts consistent with past practice to keep
available the services of present officers, directors and
employees, and to use commercially reasonable efforts consistent
with past practice to preserve relationships with customers,
suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees and others having
business dealings with them.
The CME Parties agreed not to, without the prior written consent
of TM (not to be unreasonably delayed or withheld) and subject
to certain exceptions:
•
amend their respective organizational documents or structure
agreements, which are those agreements which enable CME to
effectively control and consolidate the financial results of
Fujian Fenzhong with the financial statements of CME;
•
declare or pay dividends or alter their capital structure;
enter into, violate, amend or otherwise modify any material
contract, other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice;
•
issue, deliver or sell or authorize or propose the issuance,
delivery or sale of, or purchase or propose the purchase of, any
shares of their capital stock or securities convertible into
their capital stock;
•
transfer or license intellectual property other than the license
of non-exclusive rights to intellectual property in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice;
•
sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of or encumber
properties or assets that are material, individually or in the
aggregate, to its business, other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
•
issue or sell any debt securities or guarantee any debt
securities of others in excess of $100,000, in the aggregate,
except in the ordinary course of business;
•
pay, discharge or satisfy any claims, liabilities or obligations
in excess of $100,000, in any one case, or $250,000, in the
aggregate, other than in the ordinary course of business and
with respect to certain liabilities reflected or reserved
against in the CME financial statements;
•
acquire any business or assets which are material, individually
or in the aggregate, to their business, taken as a whole, or
acquire any equity securities of any entity, in each case,
except to the extent that the financial statements of or
relating to such acquired assets or business would be required
under applicable U.S. federal securities laws to be
publicly disclosed on a Report on
Form 8-K
or in this Proxy Statement;
•
except as required to comply with applicable law and except for
pre-existing agreements, (a) take any action with respect
to any employment, severance, retirement, retention, incentive
or similar agreement for the benefit of any current or former
director, executive officer or any collective bargaining
agreement, (b) increase in any material respect the
compensation or fringe benefits of, or pay any bonus to, any
director or executive officer, (c) materially amend or
accelerate the payment, right to payment or vesting of any
compensation or benefits, (d) pay any material benefit not
provided for as of the date of the Share Exchange Agreement
under any benefit plan, or (e) grant any awards under any
compensation plan or benefit plan, or remove the existing
restrictions in any such plans;
•
enter into any binding discussions, negotiations or arrangements
with any broker, investment banker, agent or finder relating to
the Share Exchange Agreement or the transactions contemplated
thereby, other than with Piper Jaffray; and
•
agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the actions
described above.
TM agreed not to, without the prior written consent of CME (not
to be unreasonably delayed or withheld) and subject to certain
exceptions:
•
amend its organizational documents;
•
change any method of accounting or accounting principles or
practices, except as required by U.S. GAAP or applicable
law;
•
fail to timely file or furnish any SEC reports;
•
declare or pay any dividends, make any distributions or alter
its capital structure;
•
sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of or encumber any of
its properties or assets;
•
enter into, violate, amend or otherwise modify any material
contract other than contracts that involve the payment or
receipt by TM of less than $100,000, individually, or in the
aggregate, that, TM reasonably determines are necessary for
the completion of the transactions
•
issue, deliver or sell or authorize or propose the issuance,
delivery or sale of, or purchase or propose the purchase of, any
shares of its capital stock or securities convertible into its
capital stock;
•
issue or sell any debt securities or guarantee any debt
securities of others;
•
pay, discharge or satisfy any claims, liabilities or obligations
in excess of $100,000, other than in the ordinary course of
business and with respect to any liabilities reflected or
reserved against in the TM financial statements;
make any capital expenditures, additions or improvements;
•
make any acquisitions;
•
make or change any material tax election, adopt or change any
accounting method in respect of taxes, file any tax return or
any amendment to a tax return, enter into any closing agreement,
settle any claim or assessment in respect of taxes, or consent
to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable
to any claim or assessment in respect of taxes;
•
initiate, compromise or settle any material litigation or
arbitration proceedings; and
•
agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the actions
described above.
The Share Exchange Agreement also contains additional covenants
of the parties, including covenants providing for:
•
the parties to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all
necessary approvals from stockholders that are required for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Share
Exchange Agreement;
•
the protection of confidential information of the parties
subject to certain exceptions as required by law, regulation or
legal or administrative process, and, subject to the
confidentiality requirements, the provision of reasonable access
to information;
•
the parties to supplement or amend their respective disclosure
schedules with respect to any matter that resulted in or could
reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on
such party;
•
the parties to cooperate in the preparation of any press release
or public announcement related to the Share Exchange Agreement
or related transactions;
•
the parties to cooperate and use their commercially reasonable
best efforts to secure the permitted financing, which means
(i) the incurrence or issuance by TM or the combined
company of up to $50,000,000 of secured or unsecured
indebtedness (which may be convertible into shares of
TM Common Stock) or preferred stock, the net proceeds of
which may be utilized to purchase up to $50,000,000 of public
held shares of TM Common Stock; (ii) the exchange of shares
of TM Common Stock for any senior ranking security that shall
remain outstanding following the closing of the business
combination; or (iii) forward contracts with existing TM
stockholders to be settled contemporaneously with the closing of
the business combination using TM’s cash, including cash
proceeds from another permitted financing or cash from the trust
account (such cooperation to include involving Piper Jaffray as
an additional financial advisor in the event such becomes
necessary to ensure the completion of the permitted financing);
•
the CME entities to deliver to TM no later than May 6, 2009
the audited consolidated financial statements of CME for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008;
•
the CME entities to deliver to TM within 30 days after the
end of each fiscal quarter the unaudited consolidated balance
sheets and the related consolidated statements of income and
statements of cash flows of CME for the period then ended;
•
the CME entities to deliver to TM within 15 days after the
end of each calendar month any financial information regarding
the CME entities prepared by its management in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice;
•
the CME entities to maintain insurance policies providing
insurance coverage for their businesses and for the assets and
properties of the CME entities;
•
the CME entities and Sellers to waive all right, title, interest
or claim of any kind against the trust account that they may
have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any
negotiations, contracts or agreements with TM, and to not seek
recourse against the trust account;
the CME Parties to cause CME to continue to consolidate the
financial results of Fujian Fenzhong with the financial
statements of CME;
•
TM to prepare, file and mail this Proxy Statement and to hold a
stockholder meeting to approve the transactions contemplated by
the Share Exchange Agreement and to agree to provide CME with
any correspondence received from or to be sent to the SEC and
allow CME the opportunity to review and comment on any responses
thereto;
•
the CME Parties to provide any information reasonably required
or appropriate for inclusion in this Proxy Statement, and any
such information so provided shall not contain, at the time this
Proxy Statement is filed with the SEC or becomes effective under
the Securities Act, any untrue statement of material fact nor
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
•
TM, the CME entities and the Sellers to use commercially
reasonable efforts to fulfill the closing conditions in the
Share Exchange Agreement, including engaging in a road show at
mutually agreed to times and places to seek the approval of the
transactions;
•
TM and the CME entities to timely file all tax returns and other
documents required to be filed with applicable governmental
authorities, and to pay all taxes due on such returns;
•
TM and the CME entities to provide prompt written notice to the
other party of any event or development that occurs that is of a
nature that, individually or in the aggregate, would have or
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
disclosing party, or would require any amendment or supplement
to this Proxy Statement; and
•
TM to ensure that the shares of common stock of TM to be issued
to the Sellers will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable and enforceable in accordance with their
terms in compliance with applicable securities laws.
Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, none of the CME
entities and the Sellers may take, directly or indirectly, any
action to initiate, assist, solicit, negotiate, or encourage any
offer, inquiry or proposal from any person other than TM:
•
relating to an acquisition proposal, which means the acquisition
of any capital stock or other voting securities of CME entities
or any assets of CME entities other than sales of assets in the
ordinary course of business;
•
to reach any agreement or understanding for, or otherwise
attempt to consummate, any acquisition proposal with any of the
CME entities
and/or any
CME shareholder;
•
to participate in discussions or negotiations with or to furnish
or cause to be furnished any information with respect to any of
the CME entities or afford access to the assets and properties
or books and records of CME entities who any of the CME entities
knows or has reason to believe is in the process of considering
any acquisition proposal relating to any of the CME entities;
•
to facilitate any effort or attempt by any person to do or seek
any of the foregoing; or
•
to take any other action that is inconsistent with the
transactions contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement.
The foregoing restrictions on the CME entities and Sellers
described above will remain binding and in full force and effect
unless and until the Share Exchange Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby are terminated by the CME
Parties by reason of the closing of the transactions not having
occurred within forty-five (45) days after TM receives
final approval from and clearance by the SEC enabling TM to mail
this Proxy Statement to TM’s stockholders.
Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, TM may not take
directly or indirectly, any action to initiate, assist, solicit,
negotiate, or encourage any offer, inquiry or proposal from any
person relating to the acquisition by TM of that person or any
affiliate of that person, or take any other action that is
inconsistent with the Share Exchange Agreement.
The parties have agreed that upon the closing of the Share
Exchange Agreement, and for a period ending not sooner than
March 31, 2012 (or March 31, 2013 if the shares
subject to the earn-out provision have not been issued prior to
such date), the TM board of directors will consist of seven
persons, of which the Sellers will initially designate five
directors and TM will initially designate two directors. Of the
five directors designated by the Sellers, at least three will be
“independent directors” as such term is defined by
Section 803 of the AMEX Company Guide, provided that the
Company may amend, modify or terminate the requirement that the
Sellers designate five directors and how many of those five must
be independent directors with the consent of a majority of the
independent directors then serving on the TM board.
At the closing of the Transaction, the Sellers, Theodore S.
Green and Malcolm Bird and TM will enter into a voting
agreement. The voting agreement provides, among other things,
that, until March 31, 2012 (or March 31, 2013 if the
shares subject to the earn-out provision have not been issued
prior to such date) at any meeting of stockholders called or
action taken for the purpose of electing directors to the TM
(Post-Transaction) board of directors, the Sellers will agree to
vote for two directors nominated by Mr. Green and
Mr. Bird on behalf of the TM stockholders. The initial
designated directors for the TM stockholders are Mr. Green
and Mr. Bird. See the section entitled “THE ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS PROPOSAL”.
The TM board of directors shall, within 60 days following
the closing of the Share Exchange Agreement, establish an audit
committee consisting of not less than three independent
directors.
Director
and Officer Insurance
As soon as practicable, TM will file an application with a
reputable insurance company seeking a tail liability insurance
policy that will be paid for by the combined company upon the
closing and covering those persons who are currently covered by
TM’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance
policy. The Sellers have agreed to use commercially reasonable
efforts to cause the combined company to purchase (to the extent
available in the market) such policy with coverage in amount and
scope at least as favorable to such persons as TM’s
existing coverage (or as much as available for a price of up to
$200,000), which policy shall continue for at least six years
following the closing.
Estimates,
Projections and Forecasts
Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, except as otherwise
expressly set forth therein, TM has acknowledged that none of
the CME entities or Sellers made any representations or
warranties whatsoever with respect to any estimates, projections
or other forecasts and plans (including the reasonableness of
the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections or
forecasts) regarding the CME entities or Sellers, their business
or any other matters. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in
the Share Exchange Agreement, TM agreed to take
responsibility for making its own evaluation of the adequacy and
accuracy of all estimates, projections and other forecasts and
plans (including the reasonableness of the assumptions
underlying such estimates, projections and forecasts), and that
TM has no claim against the CME entities or Sellers with respect
to the foregoing.
Consummation of the Share Exchange Agreement and the related
transactions is conditioned on the TM Common Stockholders,
voting as a group, approving the transactions.
In addition, the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the Share Exchange Agreement is conditioned upon certain
closing conditions, including:
•
the delivery by each party to the other party of a certificate
to the effect that the representations and warranties of the
delivering party are true and correct in all material respects
(except that those representations and warranties which are
qualified by materiality, material adverse effect or words of
similar import shall be true and correct in all respects) as of
the closing, and all covenants contained in the Share Exchange
Agreement have been materially complied with by the delivering
party;
•
no action, suit or proceeding shall have been instituted before
any court or governmental or regulatory body or instituted or
threatened by any governmental authorities to restrain, modify
or prevent the carrying out of the transactions contemplated by
the Share Exchange Agreement; and
•
no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order issued by any court of competent
jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory restraint provision
limiting or restricting the party’s conduct or operations
shall be in effect, nor shall any proceeding brought by an
administrative agency or commission or other governmental
authority, domestic or foreign, seeking the foregoing shall be
pending.
CME’s
Conditions to Closing
The obligations of the CME Parties to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement, in
addition to the conditions described above, are conditioned upon
each of the following, among other things:
•
there shall have been no material adverse effect with respect to
TM since December 31, 2008;
•
the receipt of necessary consents and approvals by third parties
and the completion of necessary proceedings;
•
the resignation of those officers and directors who are not
continuing as officers and directors of TM, free of any claims
for employment compensation in any form and including a full
release of any claims for past or future employment compensation;
•
CME shall have received a legal opinion, which is customary for
transactions of this nature, from counsel to TM;
•
TM shall have made appropriate arrangements with the trustee of
the trust account to have the trust account disbursed
immediately upon the closing;
•
TM shall have filed this Proxy Statement with the SEC and mailed
it to TM’s stockholders and filed all reports and other
documents required to be filed by TM under the U.S. federal
securities laws through the closing date of the Share Exchange
Agreement;
•
TM’s Common Stock and Warrants shall continue to be
approved for listing on the NYSE Amex;
•
TM shall have a sufficient amount of cash to pay
$3.8 million of its fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the proposed Transaction; and
•
no formal or informal SEC investigation or proceeding shall have
been initiated by the SEC against any of the TM parties or any
of their officers or directors.
TM’s
Conditions to Closing
The obligations of TM to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement, in addition to the
conditions described above in the second paragraph of this
section, are conditioned upon each of the following, among other
things:
•
there shall have been no material adverse effect with respect to
CME since December 31, 2008;
CME shall have furnished TM with the audited consolidated
financial statements of the CME for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, along with the quarterly
and monthly financial statements required to have been delivered
pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement;
•
TM shall have received a legal opinion, which is customary for
transactions of this nature, from counsel to CME;
•
CME shall have appointed a chief financial officer that is
mutually acceptable for CME and TM, acting reasonably;
•
all fees and expenses incurred by TM in connection with the
Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby up to $3.8 million, in amounts consistent with the
estimates provided by TM to CME prior to the effective date of
the Share Exchange Agreement, shall have been paid;
•
TM shall have received investor representation letters executed
by the Sellers; and
•
no formal or informal SEC investigation or proceeding shall have
been initiated by the SEC against any of the CME Parties or any
of their officers or directors.
If permitted under the applicable law, either TM or the CME
Parties may waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties made to such party contained in the Share Exchange
Agreement and waive compliance with any agreements or conditions
for the benefit of itself or such party contained in the Share
Exchange Agreement. We cannot assure you that all of the
conditions will be satisfied or waived. In the event either
party waives a material condition which results in a change in
the terms of the transaction rendering prior disclosure
materially misleading, the board of directors of TM intends to
supplement this proxy statement and re-solicit proxies.
TM is in discussions with a number of prospective investors
related to the permitted financing. However, no firm agreement
has been reached with any investor at this point in time.
CME has appointed a chief financial officer acceptable to TM,
Mr. Jacky Wai Kei Lam.
The legal opinions to be delivered by the respective parties
relate to customary transactional matters such as the legal
existence of such parties, the due authorization of the proposed
transaction, the enforceability of the respective parties’
obligations and non-contravention of existing agreements. The
opinions are expected to be delivered at the closing of the
Share Exchange Agreement transaction.
In February 2009 TM received a notice from NYSE Amex indicating
that it is below certain of the exchange’s continued
listing standards due to its failure to hold an annual meeting
of stockholders in 2008. TM submitted a plan of compliance with
NYSE Amex and the exchange accepted the plan and granted TM an
extension until August 11, 2009 to regain compliance with
continued listing standards. TM has requested that the NYSE Amex
grant an additional extension until October 17, 2009.
The Sellers have agreed, on a pro rata basis and not jointly, to
indemnify TM from any damages arising from: (a) any breach
of any basic representation or warranty made by the CME
entities, which mean those representations and warranties
relating to capital structure and title to shares, proper
corporate organization and similar corporate matters and
authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the
Share Exchange Agreement and other transaction documents;
(b) any breach by any CME entity of its covenants,
agreements or obligations in the Share Exchange Agreement to be
performed or complied with by such CME entity; (c) any
breach of any basic representation and warranty made by any CME
shareholder; and (d) any breach by any CME shareholder of
its covenants, agreements or obligations in the Share Exchange
Agreement to be performed or complied with by such CME
shareholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, the
representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and
obligations that relate specifically and solely to a particular
CME shareholder are the obligations of that particular CME
shareholder only.
The amount of damages suffered by TM may be paid in cash or, at
the option of the Sellers, may be recovered by the repurchase by
TM of a specified number of TM shares owned by the Sellers. If
the Sellers opt to deliver shares instead of cash, the number of
shares to be returned by the Sellers shall be equal to the
aggregate amount of the damages agreed to be paid by the
Sellers, divided by $8.00. Further, the repurchase price payable
by TM will be equal to the amount of the damages suffered by TM.
Indemnification
by TM
TM agreed to indemnify each of the CME Parties from any damages
arising from: (a) any breach of any basic representation or
warranty made by TM, which mean those representations and
warranties relating to capital structure, proper corporate
organization and similar corporate matters, authorization,
execution, delivery and enforceability of the Share Exchange
Agreement and other transaction documents, SEC filings and
information with respect to the trust account; or (b) any
breach by TM of its covenants, agreements or obligations in the
Share Exchange Agreement to be performed or complied with by TM.
The amount of damages suffered by the CME Parties shall be paid
in cash or, at the option of TM, newly issued TM shares. The
number of TM shares to be issued to the CME Parties shall be
equal to the aggregate amount of the damages agreed to be paid
by TM, divided by $8.00.
Limitations
on Indemnity
TM will not be entitled to indemnification in respect of
breaches of any basic representations or warranties made by the
CME entities and the Sellers unless the aggregate amount of
damages to TM exceeds $1,000,000, and then only to the extent
such damages exceed $1,000,000; provided that, with limited
exceptions, the aggregate amount of damages payable by the
Sellers to TM shall not exceed $25,000,000.
The CME Parties will not be entitled to indemnification unless
the aggregate amount of damages to the CME Parties exceeds
$1,000,000, and then only to the extent such damages exceed
$1,000,000; provided that, with limited exceptions, the
aggregate amount of damages payable by TM to the CME Parties
shall not exceed $25,000,000.
The Share Exchange Agreement may be terminated or abandoned at
any time prior to the closing by:
•
mutual written consent of the parties;
•
the CME Parties, if the closing has not occurred within
forty-five (45) days after TM receives final approval from
and clearance by the SEC enabling TM to mail this Proxy
Statement to TM’s stockholders;
•
any CME party, if TM has breached any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement contained in the Share Exchange Agreement
which has prevented the satisfaction of the conditions to the
obligations of the CME Parties under the Share Exchange
Agreement and the violation or breach has not been waived by the
CME Parties or cured by TM within ten business days after
written notice from the CME Parties;
•
TM, if the CME Parties have breached any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement contained in the Share Exchange
Agreement which has prevented the satisfaction of the conditions
to the obligations of TM under the Share Exchange Agreement and
such violation or breach has not been waived by TM or cured by
the CME Parties within ten business days after written notice
from TM;
•
TM, if CME’s net income for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2008, as derived from the audited financial
statements of CME, is less than $15,000,000;
•
any CME party, if the TM board of directors fails to recommend
or withdraws its approval or recommendation of the Share
Exchange Agreement and the transactions contemplated under the
Share Exchange Agreement; or
either TM or the CME Parties, if, at any meetings of the
stockholders of TM (including any adjournments thereof), the
Share Exchange Agreement and the transactions and payments
contemplated thereby are not approved, or if holders of 30.0% or
more of TM’s publicly held common stock exercise their
right to convert their common stock into cash from the trust
account (in light of the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal, we
are currently seeking a waiver from the CME Parties of this
condition).
In addition, even if the Transaction Proposal is approved, in
the event that either of the Share Issuance Proposal on the
Charter Amendment Proposal are not approved, TM would not be
able to perform its obligations under the Share Exchange
Agreement, allowing the Sellers to terminate the Share Exchange
Agreement.
In the event of termination and abandonment by either TM or the
CME Parties, all further obligations of the parties shall
terminate, no party shall have any right against the other
party, and each party shall bear its own costs and expenses.
The Share Exchange Agreement may be amended by the parties
thereto at any time by execution of an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of each of the parties. At any time prior to
the closing, either TM or CME may, to the extent allowed by
applicable law, extend the time for the performance of the
obligations under the Share Exchange Agreement, waive any
inaccuracies in representations and warranties made to the other
party and waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions for the benefit of the other party. Any such
extension or waiver must be in writing signed by both parties.
Except for approvals required by the General Corporate Law of
the State of Delaware and compliance with applicable securities
laws and rules and regulations of the SEC, no federal, state or
foreign regulatory requirements remain to be complied with or
other material approvals to obtain or filings to make in order
to consummate the business combination.
At the closing of the Transaction, the Sellers will enter into
lock-up
agreements with TM, providing, among other things, that they not
sell or otherwise transfer any of the shares of TM Common Stock
received in the Transaction, subject to certain exceptions, for
a period of:
•
twelve months from the closing date of the Transaction or, with
respect to the earn-out shares, from the date of issuance of
such shares, for those shares beneficially owned by
Mr. Cheng; and
•
six months from the closing date of the Transaction or, with
respect to the earn-out shares, from the date of issuance of
such shares, for those shares beneficially owned by Thousand
Space Holdings Limited and Bright Elite Management Limited.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the
lock-up
agreements will restrict transfers of the shares by the Sellers
in a secondary underwritten public offering, or, with respect to
the shares beneficially owned by Thousand Space Holdings Limited
and Bright Elite Management Limited, to an institutional
investor.
The forms of
Lock-up
Agreements are attached Annex B hereto. We encourage you to
read the forms of
Lock-up
Agreements in their entirety.
Upon consummation of the Transaction, the initial TM board of
directors will consist of seven directors, of which the Sellers
will designate five directors to TM’s board and
Mr. Green and Mr. Bird, on behalf of the TM
stockholders, will designate two directors. The initial
designated directors for the TM stockholders are expected to be
Mr. Green and Mr. Bird.
At the closing of the Transaction, the Sellers, Mr. Green
and Mr. Bird, as representatives of TM, and TM will
enter into a voting agreement. The voting agreement provides,
among other things, that, until March 31, 2012 (or
March 31, 2013 if the shares subject to the earn-out
provision have not been issued prior to such date) at any
meeting called or action taken for the purpose of electing
directors to the TM board of directors, each CME shareholder
agrees to vote for two directors nominated by Mr. Green and
Mr. Bird on behalf of the TM stockholders.
During the term of the voting agreement, Mr. Green and
Mr. Bird, on behalf of TM, shall have the right to request
the resignation or removal of the directors they have nominated.
In such event, each CME shareholder agrees to vote all of its
shares in a manner that would cause the removal of such
director, whether at any annual or special meeting called, or,
in connection with any other action (including the execution of
written consents) taken for the purpose of removing such
director. In the event of the resignation, death, removal or
disqualification of any TM director, Mr. Green and
Mr. Bird, on behalf of TM, shall promptly nominate a new
director and, after written notice of the nomination has been
given to the Sellers, they will each vote all their shares to
elect such nominee to the TM board of directors.
The form of Voting Agreement is attached as Annex C hereto.
We encourage you to read the form of Voting Agreement in its
entirety.
At the closing of the Transaction, TM and the Sellers will enter
into a registration rights agreement pursuant to which the
Sellers will be entitled to registration rights for their shares
of TM Common Stock received in connection with the business
combination. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement, at
any time and from time to time following the one (1) year
anniversary of the closing of the business combination, the
Sellers are entitled to make up to two (2) demands on TM
that TM register the shares of TM Common Stock held by the
Sellers. In addition, the Sellers have “piggyback”
registration rights on registration statements filed subsequent
to the one (1) year anniversary of the closing of the
business combination. TM will bear the expenses incurred in
connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
The form of Registration Rights agreement is attached as
Annex D hereto. We encourage you to read the form of
Registration Rights Agreement in its entirety.
Mr. Cheng has entered into a 5 year employment agreement with
Fujian Fenzhong as of December 1, 2008, which will continue in
effect following the consummation of the business combination.
Under his employment agreement, Mr. Cheng serves as the General
Manager of Fujian Fenzhong and is entitled to a monthly pre-tax
salary of 15,000RMB. Mr. Cheng is subject to a non-competition
restriction during the term of his employment and for 24 months
after his employment agreement is terminated.
The approval of the Transaction Proposal will require the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of
TM Common Stock that were issued in the IPO and voted on the
matter either in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the
Special Meeting.
If the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 is not
approved, the Transaction Proposal will not be presented at the
Special Meeting.
We are proposing to initially amend our Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to revise paragraph A and
paragraph B of Article SEVENTH of our Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Paragraph A and
paragraph B of Article SEVENTH of our Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation currently state as follows:
“A. Prior to the consummation of any Business Combination,
the Corporation shall submit such Business Combination to its
stockholders for approval regardless of whether the Business
Combination is of a type which normally would require such
stockholder approval under the GCL. In the event a majority of
the IPO Shares (as defined below) present and entitled to vote
at the meeting to approve the Business Combination are voted for
the approval of such Business Combination, the Corporation shall
be authorized to consummate the Business Combination; provided
that the Corporation shall not consummate any Business
Combination if holders of an aggregate of 30% or more in
interest of the IPO Shares exercise their conversion rights
described in paragraph B below.
B. In the event a Business Combination is approved in
accordance with the above paragraph (A) and is consummated
by the Corporation, any stockholder of the Corporation holding
shares of Common Stock issued in the IPO (“IPO
Shares”) who voted against the Business Combination may,
contemporaneous with such vote, demand the Corporation convert
his IPO Shares into cash. If so demanded, the Corporation shall,
promptly after consummation of the Business Combination, convert
such shares into cash at a per share conversion price equal to
the quotient determined by dividing (i) the amount in the
Trust Account (as defined below), inclusive of any interest
thereon, calculated as of two business days prior to the
consummation of the Business Combination), by (ii) the
total number of IPO Shares. “Trust Account” shall
mean the trust account established by the Corporation at the
consummation of its IPO and into which a certain amount of the
net proceeds of the IPO is deposited.”
In order to increase the likelihood that the Transaction is
approved, we are proposing an amendment to Article SEVENTH of
our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would
remove the prohibition on the consummation of a business
combination if holders of more than 30% of our IPO Shares elect
to exercise their conversion rights (the “Initial Charter
Amendment No. 1”). Currently, our Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation states that we are not authorized
to consummate a business combination if holders of more than 30%
of our IPO Shares exercise their conversion rights. By
eliminating the ability of holders of 30% of the IPO Shares to
“veto” the Transaction, this amendment would
effectively reduce the threshold vote required to ensure
approval of the Transaction from 70% to 50% of the votes cast.
In addition, in order to allow all holders of IPO Shares who do
not wish to remain invested in us to recoup a significant
portion of their initial investment by exercising their
conversion rights, we are proposing an amendment to
Article SEVENTH of our Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to allow any holder of our IPO Shares who votes
affirmatively or negatively with respect to the Transaction
Proposal simultaneously to elect to convert their shares into
their pro rata portion of the trust account (the “Initial
Charter Amendment No. 2”, and together with the Initial
Charter Amendment Proposal No. 1, the “Initial Charter
Amendment Proposals,”). (FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT,
CONSISTENT WITH TM’S IPO PROSPECTUS, THE 2,250,000
SHARES ISSUED TO THE FOUNDERS OF TM SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED
TO CONVERT OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATE IN THE LIQUIDATION OF THE
TRUST ACCOUNT SHOULD TM LIQUIDATE.) Currently, our Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation only allows for
holders who vote against our initial business combination to
convert their IPO Shares. This amendment would reduce the
incentive for stockholders who wish to receive the Trust value
for
their shares to vote against the Transaction, therefore
increasing the likelihood that the Transaction is approved.
The Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 1 and the Initial
Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 (the “Initial Charter
Amendment Proposals”) are being presented as separate
proposals, and will be voted upon separately, at the Special
Meeting. If Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 1 is not
approved and Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 is
approved, the Board of Directors will delete the non-approved
proposal from any certificate of amendment that may be filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
If a significant number of our IPO Shares are converted, TM
likely would be left with a significantly smaller number of
shareholders. As a result, trading in TM’s Common Stock
following the Transaction may be limited and TM’s
stockholders’ ability to sell their shares in the market
could be adversely affected.
We will file an initial Certificate of Amendment to our Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a copy of which is
included as Annex F to this proxy statement, with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to amend and restate
the second sentence of paragraph A of Article SEVENTH
to read in its entirety as follows:
“In the event a majority of the IPO Shares (as defined
below) present and entitled to vote at the meeting to approve
the Business Combination are voted for the approval of such
Business Combination, the Corporation shall be authorized to
consummate the Business Combination.”
The initial Certificate of Amendment to our Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation will also amend and restate the
first sentence of paragraph B of Article SEVENTH to
read in its entirety as follows:
“In the event a Business Combination is approved in
accordance with the above paragraph (A) and is consummated
by the Corporation, any stockholder of the Corporation holding
shares of Common Stock issued in the IPO (“IPO
Shares”) who voted his, her or its IPO Shares affirmatively
or negatively with respect to the Business Combination may,
contemporaneously with such vote, demand the Corporation convert
his, her or its IPO Shares into cash.”
The provisions of Article SEVENTH that are proposed to be
deleted relate directly to our operation as a blank check
company. Article SEVENTH, paragraph A, requires that
the business combination be submitted to our stockholders for
approval and be authorized by the vote of a majority of the IPO
Shares cast at a meeting of stockholders called to approve the
business combination, provided that the business combination
shall not be consummated if the holders of 30% or more of the
IPO Shares exercise their conversion rights.
Article SEVENTH, paragraph B, specifies the procedures
for exercising conversion rights.
We believe that these provisions were included to protect our
stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an
unreasonably long period if we failed to find a suitable
business combination in the timeframe contemplated by our
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Given the
expenditure of time, effort and money on the proposed
acquisition of CME, we also believe that circumstances warrant
providing those stockholders who find the Transaction to be an
attractive investment an opportunity to have the transaction
consummated. Stockholders who do not find the Transaction to be
an attractive investment opportunity may exercise their
conversion rights, in connection with their vote on the
Transaction Proposal. If the Initial Charter Amendment Proposals
are approved, we will pay converting stockholders as soon as
practicable following the consummation of the Transaction. If
these proposals are not approved, we will likely be forced to
liquidate all of our assets in trust.
Prohibition
on amending Article SEVENTH
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation purports
to prohibit amendment to Article SEVENTH prior to
consummation of an initial business combination. Our initial
offering prospectus stated that we had been advised that such
provision limiting our ability to amend our Amended and Restated
certificate of incorporation may not be enforceable under
Delaware law. We believe that the Transaction is an extremely
attractive opportunity in the current market environment and,
therefore, our stockholders should be given the opportunity to
consider the Transaction. In considering the Initial Charter
Amendment Proposals, our
board of directors came to the conclusion that the potential
benefits of the proposed acquisition outweighed the possibility
of any liability described below as a result of the initial
charter proposals being approved. Moreover, we are still
offering holders of IPO Shares the right to vote their IPO
Shares against the Transaction Proposal and demand that such
shares be redeemed for a pro rata portion of the trust account.
Accordingly, we believe that the proposed amendments to our
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is consistent
with the spirit in which we offered our securities to the public.
We have received an opinion from special Delaware counsel,
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, concerning the
enforceability of the restriction on amending
Article SEVENTH. Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
concluded in its opinion, based upon the analysis set forth
therein and its examination of Delaware law, and subject to the
assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set
forth in its opinion, that the proposed amendments to
Articles SEVENTH of our Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, “if duly adopted by the Board of Directors
of the Company (by vote of the majority of the directors present
at a meeting at which a quorum is present or, alternatively, by
unanimous written consent) and duly approved by the holders of a
majority of the outstanding stock of the Company entitled to
vote thereon, all in accordance with Section 242(b) of the
General Corporation Law, would be valid and effective when filed
with the Secretary of State in accordance with Sections 103
and 242 of the General Corporation Law.” A copy of Potter
Anderson & Corroon’s opinion is included as
Annex G to this proxy statement, and stockholders are urged
to review it in its entirety.
Our initial public offering prospectus disclosed that we would
not seek to amend any of the provisions of Articles SEVENTH
of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
Consequently, each holder of IPO Shares at the time of the
Transaction who purchased his IPO Shares in the initial public
offering and who has not converted his shares into cash may have
securities law claims against us for rescission (under which a
successful claimant has the right to receive the total amount
paid for his or her securities pursuant to an allegedly
deficient prospectus, plus interest and less any income earned
on the securities, in exchange for surrender of the securities)
or damages (compensation for loss on an investment caused by
alleged material misrepresentations or omissions in the sale of
a security).
Such claims may entitle stockholders asserting them to up to
$8.00 per share, based on the initial offering price of the
initial public offering units comprised of stock and warrants,
less any amount received from sale of the original warrants
purchased with them, plus interest from the date of our initial
public offering (which, in the case of holders of IPO Shares,
may be more than the pro rata share of the trust account to
which they are entitled on conversion or liquidation).
In general, a person who purchased shares pursuant to a
defective prospectus or other representation must make a claim
for rescission within the applicable statute of limitations
period, which, for claims made under Section 12 of the
Securities Act and some state statutes, is one year from the
time the claimant discovered or reasonably should have
discovered the facts giving rise to the claim, but not more than
three years from the occurrence of the event giving rise to the
claim. A successful claimant for damages under federal or state
law could be awarded an amount to compensate for the decrease in
value of his or her shares caused by the alleged violation
(including, possibly, punitive damages), together with interest,
while retaining the shares. Claims under the anti-fraud
provisions of the federal securities laws must generally be
brought within two years of discovery, but not more than five
years after occurrence. Rescission and damages claims would not
necessarily be finally adjudicated by the time the Acquisition
may be completed, and such claims would not be extinguished by
consummation of the transactions.
Even if you do not pursue such claims, others, who may include
all holders of IPO Shares, may. Neither TM nor CME can predict
whether our stockholders will bring such claims, how many might
bring them or the extent to which they might be successful.
The approval of each of the Initial Charter Amendment Proposals
will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of our common stock on the record date.
If the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 is not approved
by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of our common stock on the record date, the
Transaction Proposal will not be presented to the stockholders
for a vote and the Transaction will not be consummated.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT OUR
STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE INITIAL
CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL NO. 1 AND THE INITIAL CHARTER
AMENDMENT PROPOSAL NO. 2.
Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, TM will purchase from
the Sellers 100% of the outstanding equity of CME and TM will
issue at closing 20.915 million newly issued shares of TM
Common Stock and pay to the Sellers $10.0 million in three
year, no interest promissory notes. In addition, the Sellers may
earn up to an additional 15.0 million newly issued shares
of TM Common Stock subject to the achievement of the certain net
income targets.
Certain NYSE Amex rules require that we obtain the approval of
our stockholders in connection with any transaction in which
(i) the present or potential issuance of TM Common Stock
could result in an increase in the shares of TM Common Stock
outstanding of 20.0% or more or (ii) the issuance of such
securities will result in a change of control of TM.
As of the record date, there were 12,505,000 shares of TM
Common Stock outstanding. An additional 20.915 million
shares of TM Common Stock will be issued upon consummation of
the Transaction and up to an additional 15.0 million shares
of TM Common Stock might be issued after the Transaction so long
as certain net income targets are met. In addition, up to an
additional 13,755,000 of TM Common Stock may be issued pursuant
to currently outstanding warrants and an option by Pali to
purchase 700,000 Units, each unit consisting of 1 share and a
warrant to purchase 1 share.
Because the number of shares of TM Common Stock that could be
issued to the Sellers in connection with the Transaction could
result in an increase of 20.0% or more in the outstanding shares
of TM Common Stock, or a change of control of TM as defined by
the rules of the NYSE Amex, we are seeking shareholder approval
of the issuance of shares of TM Common Stock in connection with
the Transaction to comply with the rules of the NYSE Amex, and
the listing of such shares of TM Common Stock on the NYSE Amex.
The approval of the Share Issuance Proposal will require the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of
TM Common Stock voted on the matter either in person or by proxy
and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting.
If the Transaction Proposal is not approved, this proposal will
not be presented at the Special Meeting.
We are seeking your approval to authorize TM’s board of
directors, in its discretion, to amend its Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to change TM’s corporate name
to “China MediaExpress Holdings, Inc.,” delete certain
provisions that relate to us as a blank check company and create
perpetual existence.
If the Transaction Proposal is not approved, this proposal will
not be presented at the Special Meeting. In addition, if the
Transaction is approved at the Special Meeting, but is not
subsequently consummated, TM’s board of directors will not
effect this amendment of TM’s Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation.
This summary is qualified by reference to the complete text of
the proposed amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy
Statement as Annex E. All stockholders are encouraged to
read the proposed charter in its entirety for a more complete
description of its terms.
Current Charter
Proposed Charter
Name
Our current charter provides that our name is “TM
Entertainment and Media, Inc.”
The proposed charter provides that our name is “China
MediaExpress Holdings, Inc.”
Number of Authorized Shares
Our current charter authorizes 40,000,000 shares of common stock
for issuance.
The proposed charter authorizes 70,000,000 shares of common
stock for issuance.
Duration of Existence
Our current charter provides that TM’s existence shall
terminate on October 17, 2009.
The proposed charter is silent as to TM’s existence, and
under the DGCL, unless specified otherwise, a corporation has
perpetual existence.
Provisions Specific to a Blank Check Company
Under our current charter, Section 7 sets forth various
provisions related to our operations as a blank check company
prior to the consummation of a business combination.
The proposed charter does not include these blank check company
provisions because, upon consummation of the Transaction, we
will operate CME and cease to be a blank check company.
Voting Rights
Under our current charter, TM Common Stock is entitled to one
vote per share. Our current charter does not provide for
cumulative voting rights.
The proposed charter provides that each holder of common stock
is entitled to one vote per share, except that shares of common
stock have no vote with respect to any amendments to the charter
that relate solely to the terms of a series of preferred stock
if the holders of the series are entitled to vote separately or
with the holders of one or more other series. The proposed
charter does not provide for cumulative voting rights.
In the event that a majority of the shares issued in our IPO
approve a business combination, any TM stockholder holding
shares of common stock issued at our IPO who votes against the
business combination, may at the same time demand that we
convert the stockholder’s shares from our IPO to cash.
The proposed charter does not provide for conversion rights.
Special Stockholders Meetings
Our current charter is silent as to special stockholders
meetings. Under the DGCL, special meetings of the stockholders
may be called by the board or by any such person as may be
authorized by a corporation’s charter or bylaws. Our bylaws
currently provide that a special stockholders meeting may only
be called by a majority of the board, our chief executive
officer or chairman, and by our secretary at the request in
writing of stockholders holding a majority of the voting power
of the outstanding TM Common Stock.
Under the proposed charter, special meetings of the stockholders
may be called only by a majority of the board.
Action by Consent of the Stockholders
Under the DGCL, unless a company’s charter provides
otherwise, stockholders may execute an action by written consent
in lieu of any annual or special meeting.
The proposed charter prohibits stockholders from taking any
action by written consent in lieu of a meeting, and stockholders
must take any actions at a duly called annual or special meeting
of the stockholders and the power of the stockholders to consent
in writing without a meeting is specifically denied. However,
the preceding prohibition does not apply at any time when TM
Common Stock is not registered under Section 12 of the Exchange
Act.
The approval of the Charter Amendment Proposal will require the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of TM Common Stock. Stockholders will not be required to
exchange outstanding stock certificates for new stock
certificates if the Charter Amendment Proposal is adopted. If
the Charter Amendment Proposal is not approved, and if the
Sellers choose not to waive the failure of TM to change its
name, the Sellers would not be obligated to consummate the
Transaction.
If the Transaction Proposal is not approved, this proposal will
not be presented at the Special Meeting.
We are seeking your approval to authorize TM’s board of
directors, in its discretion, to amend its Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares
authorized for issuance from 40,000,000 shares of common stock
to 70,000,000 shares of common stock.
The increase in the number of shares authorized for issuance is
necessary to have sufficient shares available to issue in the
Transaction, including the potential earn-out shares. The
additional authorized shares may also be used in securing
stockholder approval of the Transaction, including through a
“permitted financing.” See the section entitled
“THE SPECIAL MEETING — Actions That May be Taken
to Secure Approval of TM’s Stockholders”. Assuming the
Transaction is consummated, there would be 33,520,000 shares of
common stock issued and outstanding, 15,000,000 shares of common
stock reserved for issuance to satisfy the potential earn out
issuances, 12,355,000 shares of common stock reserved for
issuance pursuant to currently outstanding warrants and
1,400,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant
to a 700,000 unit purchase option we issued to our underwriter,
each unit consisting of 1 share of common stock and a warrant to
purchase 1 share of common stock. This would leave
7,725,000 shares authorized and not reserved for issuance,
representing approximately 11.0% of the total number of shares
on a fully-diluted basis. We do not currently have any plans for
such shares, although some or all may be used in the future to
secure stockholder approval of the Transaction and for employee
equity incentive purposes. In addition, having a large number of
authorized and unissued shares may have anti-takeover effects as
such shares could be used to fend off potential takeovers.
If the Transaction Proposal is not approved, this proposal will
not be presented at the Special Meeting. In addition, if the
Transaction is approved at the Special Meeting, but is not
subsequently consummated, TM’s board of directors will not
effect the amendment of TM’s Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares
authorized for issuance.
Approval of the Authorized Share Increase Proposal will require
the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of TM Common Stock.
The board of directors currently consists of five directors,
divided into three classes. Each year, one class is elected to
serve for a term of three years. However, since we did not hold
an annual meeting in 2008, we are asking stockholders to elect
the first class of directors to serve for a term of two years
and to elect the second class of directors to serve for a term
of three years. Messrs. Jonathan F. Miller and Malcolm Bird
currently serve in classes one and two, respectively. Theodore
S. Green currently serves as a class three director whose term
does not expire until our annual meeting to be held in 2010.
However, Mr. Green has agreed to stand for re-election a
year early and, if elected, will be elected for a new three-year
term in the second class of directors. Messrs. Zheng Cheng,
Jacky Lam, George Zhou and Marco Kung do not currently serve on
the board of directors. Unless otherwise directed, the persons
named in the Proxy intend to cast all Proxies received FOR the
election of Messrs. Zheng Cheng, Jacky Wai Kei Lam, and
George Zhou as the first class of directors, to serve on the
board of directors until the 2011 annual meeting of
stockholders, Messrs. Green and Bird as the second class of
directors, to serve on the board of directors until the 2012
annual meeting, and Mr. Marco Kung as a third class
director to serve on the board of directors until the 2010
annual meeting of stockholders (collectively, the
“Nominees”). Each Nominee has advised the Company of
his willingness to serve as a director of the Company. In case
any Nominee should become unavailable for election to the board
of directors for any reason, the persons named in the Proxies
will have discretionary authority to vote the Proxies for one or
more alternative nominees who will be designated by the board of
directors, subject to prior recommendation by the Nominating
Committee.
The names of the nominees, their ages, their respective class
designation and term of office are set forth below:
To be elected, a nominee must receive a plurality of the votes
cast on the matter either in person or by proxy and entitled to
vote at the Special Meeting. Stockholders may only vote for or
withhold votes for the nominees for election pursuant to the
Election of Directors Proposal. Votes that are withheld and
broker non-votes, if any, will be counted for purposes of
determining the presence or absence of a quorum, but will have
no effect on the election of directors. Unless otherwise
instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by
them “FOR” the nominees named above.
If the Transaction Proposal is not approved, this proposal will
not be presented at the Special Meeting.
The parties have agreed that upon the closing of the Share
Exchange Agreement, and for a period ending not sooner than
March 31, 2012 (or March 31, 2013 if the shares
subject to the earn-out provision have not been issued prior to
such date), the TM board of directors will consist of seven
persons, of which the Sellers
will initially designate five directors and TM will initially
designate two directors. Of the five directors designated by the
Sellers, at least three will be “independent
directors” as such term is defined by Section 803 of
the AMEX Company Guide, provided that the Company may amend,
modify or terminate the requirement that the Sellers designate
five directors and how many of those five must be independent
directors with the consent of a majority of the independent
directors then serving on the TM board.
The board of directors shall establish and maintain an Audit
Committee which shall consist of three Independent Directors, of
which one shall be designated as the Chairman of the Audit
Committee, who shall be an expert in the field of media finance,
and whom shall be designated as part of the class of directors
whose term expires three years after he or she is elected.
For additional information about TM’s board of directors
and committees thereof, see the section entitled
“MANAGEMENT FOLLOWING THE TRANSACTION”.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT OUR
STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE PROPOSAL TO ELECT
MESSRS. GREEN, BIRD, ZHENG CHENG, JACKY LAM, GEORGE ZHOU, AND
MARCO KUNG TO TM’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
In the event there are not sufficient votes present, in person
or by proxy, at the Special Meeting to approve the Transaction
Proposal, the Share Issuance Proposal, the Election of
Directors Proposal and the Charter Amendment Proposal, the
chairperson of the Special Meeting may propose an adjournment of
the Special Meeting to a later date or time or dates or times to
permit further solicitation of proxies.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal will require the
affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of TM
Common Stock voted on the matter either in person or by proxy,
at the Special Meeting.
CME’s business is primarily conducted in China and a
substantial majority of its revenues and expenses are
denominated in RMB. For your convenience, this proxy statement
contains translations of RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at
specified rates. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from
RMB to U.S. dollar amounts were made at the noon buying
rate in the City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as
certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York, as of December 31, 2008, which was RMB 6.8255 to
$1.00. On September 18, 2009, the noon buying rate was RMB
6.8270 to $1.00. We make no representation that the RMB or
U.S. dollar amounts referred to in this prospectus could
have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars or RMB,
as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. The PRC
government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in
part through direct regulation of the conversion of RMB into
foreign currencies and the conversion of foreign currencies into
RMB and through restrictions on foreign trade.
The following table sets forth information concerning exchange
rates between the RMB and the U.S. dollar for the periods
indicated. These rates are provided solely for your convenience
and are not necessarily the exchange rates that we used in this
Proxy Statement or will use in the preparation of our periodic
reports or any other information to be provided to you.
Annual averages are calculated using the exchange rates for the
last day of each month during the calendar year. Monthly
averages are calculated using daily exchange rates during the
month.
The People’s Bank of China issued a public notice on
July 21, 2005 increasing the exchange rate of the RMB
against the U.S. dollar by approximately 2% to RMB8.11 per
US$1.00. Further to this notice, the PRC government reformed its
exchange rate regime by adopting a managed floating exchange
rate regime based on market supply and demand with reference to
a portfolio of currencies. Under this regime, the RMB is no
longer pegged to the U.S. dollar. This change in policy has
resulted in a significant appreciation of the RMB against the
U.S. dollar.
All of CME’s operations are conducted in China, and
substantially all of its assets are located outside the United
States. In addition, most of CME’s directors and officers
who will become directors and officers of the Company are
nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United
States and all or a substantial portion of their assets are
located outside the United States. As a result, it may be
difficult for investors to effect service of process within the
United States upon these persons, or to enforce against them
judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments
predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities
laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
CME’s counsel as to PRC law has advised TM that there is
uncertainty as to whether the courts of the PRC would
(i) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts
obtained against the Company’s directors or officers
predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal
securities laws of the United States or any state in the United
States, or (ii) entertain original actions brought in the
courts of the PRC against the Company’s directors or
officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the
securities laws of the United States or any state in the United
States.
CME’s counsel as to PRC law has advised TM further that the
recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided
for under the PRC Civil Procedure Law. PRC courts may recognize
and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the
requirements of the PRC Civil Procedure Law based either on
treaties between China and the country where the judgment is
made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions;
provided that the foreign judgments do not violate the basic
principles of the laws of the PRC or its sovereignty, security,
or social and public interest.
CME commenced operations in the advertising industry through
Fujian Fenzhong in November 2003. Fujian Fenzhong was formerly
known as Fuzhou Mandefu Food Co., Ltd., a limited liability
company established in China on May 31, 2002 and
subsequently changed its names to Fuzhou Fenzhong Media Co.,
Ltd. and Fujian Fenzhong on November 17, 2003 and
January 21, 2008, respectively. Fujian Fenzhong is
currently 80% owned by Zheng Cheng, CME’s founder, chairman
of CME’s board of directors and CME’s chief executive
officer and the remaining 20% is owned by Chunlan Bian,
CME’s director and the mother of Zheng Cheng. Zheng Cheng
and Chunlan Bian are PRC citizens. Fujian Fenzhong holds the
licenses and permits necessary to operate CME’s businesses
and provides CME’s advertising services in China.
CME was incorporated in Hong Kong on April 25, 2001 and
upon closing of the Transaction will be 100% owned by TM which
will change its name to China MediaExpress Holdings Inc. Fujian
Express was incorporated in China on June 23, 2003 and 100%
owned by CME. Fujian Express changed its name from Fuzhou
Shoushan Waterfall Group EM Polder Co., Ltd. to Fujian Zong Heng
Express Information Technology Co., Ltd. on July 10, 2008.
Due to PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investments in the
advertising industry in China, CME operates its advertising
business in China through Fujian Fenzhong. CME’s
relationships with Fujian Fenzhong and its shareholders are
governed by a series of contractual arrangements among Fujian
Express, Fujian Fenzhong and its shareholders that allow CME to
effectively control and derive economic benefits from Fujian
Fenzhong. See the section entitled “CME’S CORPORATE
STRUCTURE — Contractual Arrangements”.
Accordingly, CME treats Fujian Fenzhong as a significant
subsidiary for accounting purposes and has consolidated its
historical financial results in CME’s financial statements
in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
As of the date of this proxy statement, Zheng Cheng beneficially
owned 59.5% of CME’s equity interests, Ou Wen Lin
beneficially owned 30.5% of CME’s equity interests through
Thousand Space Holdings Limited and Qing Ping Lin, the brother
of Ou Wen Lin, beneficially owned the remaining 10.0% of
CME’s equity interest through Bright Elite Management
Limited.
Since December 10, 2005, foreign investors have been
permitted to own directly a 100% interest in PRC advertising
companies if the foreign investor has at least three years of
direct operation outside China. CME is a foreign legal person
under PRC laws and has not directly operated any advertising
business outside China. Since CME has not been involved in the
direct operation of an advertising business outside China,
Fujian Express, CME’s wholly foreign owned enterprise in
China, is currently ineligible to apply for the requisite
advertising services licenses in China.
CME’s advertising business is operated through its
contractual arrangements with Fujian Fenzhong. Fujian Express,
Fujian Fenzhong and its shareholders entered into a series of
agreements on April 17, 2009, including an exclusive
business cooperation agreement, loan agreements, powers of
attorney, exclusive option agreements and equity interest pledge
agreements. These contractual arrangements enable CME to
exercise effective control over Fujian Fenzhong and receive
substantially all of the economic benefits of Fujian Fenzhong in
consideration for CME’s services provided by Fujian Express
in China. CME intends to continue its business operations in
China upon the expiration of these contractual arrangements by
renewing them or entering into new contractual arrangements if
the then current PRC law does not allow it to directly operate
advertising businesses in China. CME believes that, under these
contractual arrangements, CME has sufficient control over Fujian
Fenzhong and its shareholders to renew or enter into new
contractual arrangements prior to the expiration of the current
arrangements on terms that would enable CME to continue to
operate its business in China after the expiration of the
current arrangements.
Agreements
that Transfer Economic Benefit to CME
Exclusive Business Cooperation
Agreement. Pursuant to the exclusive business
cooperation agreement entered into on April 17, 2009
between Fujian Express and Fujian Fenzhong, Fujian Express
provides
technology support, consulting services and other commercial
services related to the business operations of Fujian Fenzhong.
As consideration for such services, Fujian Fenzhong has agreed
to pay service fees. The term of this agreement is ten years
from the date thereof, and it can be automatically renewed for
an additional ten years upon expiration, provided that no
objection is made by Fujian Express within 20 days prior to
each tenth anniversary.
Agreements
that Provide CME Effective Control over Fujian
Fenzhong
Framework Agreements. On November 2, 2003
and December 1, 2003, Fujian Express, Fujian Fenzhong,
Zheng Cheng and Chunlan Bian, entered into two agreements,
respectively, under which Zheng Cheng and Chunlan Bian granted
Fujian Express all their voting rights as shareholders of Fujian
Fenzhong, and Fujian Fenzhong agreed to distribute all its
economic benefits to Fujian Express. These agreements do not
have a term or any indemnification provisions, and do not
expressly provide the parties with the right to terminate such
agreements.
Loan Agreements. Fujian Express entered into
two loan agreements with Zheng Cheng and Chunlan Bian
respectively on April 17, 2009 that allow CME to capitalize
its PRC significant subsidiaries, which facilitate the
establishment of CME’s current corporate structure. Fujian
Express made an interest-free loan of RMB20.0 million in
total to the shareholders of Fujian Fenzhong. The term of each
loan is ten (10) years from the date of the receipt of the
funds, and will be automatically renewed for an additional ten
(10) years, provided that no objection is made by the
lender within twenty (20) days prior to each tenth year
anniversary. Upon the occurrence of any of the following events
of default, the entire loan is due and payable immediately:
(i) 30 days elapse after borrower receives written
notice from lender requesting repayment of the loan;
(ii) borrower’s death, lack or limitation of civil
capacity; (iii) borrower ceases (for any reason) to be an
employee of Fujian Fenzhong or any of its affiliated entities,
or ceases to be a shareholder of Fujian Fenzhong;
(iv) borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in
criminal activities; (v) any third party files a claim
against borrower that exceeds RMB1,000,000; or (vi) the
lender determines to exercise the exclusive option under the
Exclusive Option Agreement described below. Fujian Express has
the sole right to determine the shareholders’ method of
repayment of the loan as follows, (1) transfer the equity
interest in whole to Fujian Express or Fujian Express’s
designated persons (legal or natural persons) pursuant to the
Exclusive Option Agreements as discussed below; and (2) in
case of liquidation, the shareholders shall repay the loan with
all the remaining assets of Fujian Fenzhong distributed after
liquidation to Fujian Express or its designees.
Powers of Attorney. Zheng Cheng and Chunlan
Bian each signed a power of attorney on April 17, 2009,
pursuant to which Zheng Cheng and Chunlan Bian have respectively
and irrevocably granted Fujian Express the right to exercise all
their rights as shareholders of Fujian Fenzhong as provided
under its articles of association and the PRC laws and
regulations. The powers of attorney shall be irrevocable and
continuously valid from the date thereof, as long as Zheng Cheng
or Chunlan Bian, or both, is a shareholder of Fujian Fenzhong.
Exclusive Option Agreements. Fujian Express,
Zheng Cheng, and Chunlan Bian respectively entered into an
exclusive option agreement on April 17, 2009, pursuant to
which Fujian Express has an exclusive option to purchase, or to
designate any qualified person to purchase, part or all of the
equity interests in Fujian Fenzhong owned by Zheng Cheng and
Chunlan Bian, to the extent permitted by PRC law and foreign
investment policies, and to require Zheng Cheng and Chunlan Bian
to complete relevant approval and registration procedures. The
purchase price for the entire equity interest shall equal the
actual capital contributions paid in the registered capital of
Fujian Fenzhong by the shareholders. If appraisal is required by
the PRC laws and regulations when Fujian Express exercises its
exclusive purchase option, the parties shall negotiate in good
faith and make necessary adjustment to the purchase price based
on the appraisal result to be in compliance with the laws and
regulations then applicable in China. The exclusive option
agreements remain in effect for a term of 10 years, and may
be automatically renewed for an additional 10 years upon
expiration, provided that no objection is made by Fujian Express
within 20 days prior to each tenth anniversary.
Equity Interest Pledge Agreements. Pursuant to
the equity interest pledge agreements entered into on
April 17, 2009, Zheng Cheng and Chunlan Bian have
respectively pledged their equity interest in Fujian Fenzhong to
Fujian Express to secure the obligations of Zheng Cheng, Chunlan
Bian, and Fujian Fenzhong under the loan agreements and the
exclusive business cooperation agreement (including all
ancillary agreements, if any). In addition, shareholders of
Fujian Fenzhong agree not to transfer, sell, pledge, dispose of
or create any encumbrance on any equity interests in Fujian
Fenzhong that would affect the pledgee’s interests. The
equity interest pledge agreements will expire upon the full
payment of the consulting and service fees under the exclusive
business cooperation agreement and upon termination of Fujian
Fenzhong’s obligations under the exclusive business
cooperation agreement, or upon fulfillment of all the
obligations due under the loan agreements by the shareholders of
Fujian Fenzhong (the later of the fulfillment of the
obligations). The equity interest pledge was registered with the
Fuzhou SAIC effective June 15, 2009.
Exclusive Business Cooperation
Agreement. Fujian Express and Fujian Fenzhong
entered into an exclusive business cooperation agreement on
April 17, 2009, pursuant to which Fujian Express provides
technology support, consulting services and other commercial
services related to the business operations of Fujian Fenzhong.
The term of this agreement is ten years from the date thereof,
and it can be automatically renewed for an additional ten years
upon expiration, provided that no objection is made by Fujian
Express within 20 days prior to each tenth year
anniversary. During the term of this agreement, unless Fujian
Express commits willful misconduct or a fraudulent act against
Fujian Fenzhong, Fujian Fenzhong may not terminate the agreement
prior to its expiration date. Nevertheless, Fujian Express has
the right to terminate the agreement upon giving
30 days’ prior written notice to Fujian Fenzhong at
any time.
In the opinion of CME’s PRC legal counsel:
•
the ownership structure of Fujian Fenzhong complies with and
immediately after this Transaction, will comply with the current
PRC laws, rules and regulations; and
•
each of the contracts under CME’s contractual arrangements
among Fujian Express, Fujian Fenzhong and its shareholders are
valid and binding on all parties to these arrangements, and do
not violate current PRC laws, rules or regulations.
CME’s PRC legal counsel has further advised TM that there
are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and
application of current and future PRC laws and regulations.
Therefore, the PRC regulatory authorities may take a view that
is contrary to the above opinion of CME’s PRC legal counsel
in the future. TM and CME has been further advised by CME’s
PRC counsel that if the PRC government determines that the
agreements that establish the structure for operating CME PRC
advertising network businesses do not comply with applicable
restrictions on foreign investment in the advertising industry,
CME could be subject to severe penalties, including an order
from the government to cease CME’s business operation. See
the section entitled “RISK FACTORS — Risks
Relating to CME’s Corporate Structure”.
CME, through contractual arrangements with Fujian Fenzhong, an
entity majority owned by CME’s majority shareholder,
operates the largest television advertising network on
inter-city express buses in China. All references in this Proxy
Statement to “CME’s advertising network”,
“CME’s customers”, CME’s operations in
general and similar connotations, refer to Fujian Fenzhong, an
entity which is controlled by CME through contractual agreements
and which operates the advertising network. While CME has no
direct equity ownership in Fujian Fenzhong, through the
contractual agreements CME receives the economic benefits of
Fujian Fenzhong’s operations. See the sections entitled
“RISK FACTORS — Risks Related to CME’s
Corporate Structure” and “CME’S CORPORATE
STRUCTURE — Contractual Arrangements”. CME
generates revenues by selling advertising on its network of
television displays installed on inter-city express buses in
China. As of July 31, 2008, CME’s advertising network
accounted for 81% of all inter-city express buses
installed with hard disk drive players, and 55% of all
inter-city express buses installed with any type of television
display, according to CTR Market Research. CME commenced its
advertising services business in November 2003 as one of the
first participants in advertising on inter-city express buses in
China. CME believes its early entry into this business has
enabled them to achieve an audience reach that is highly
attractive to advertisers.
CME’s extensive and growing network covers inter-city
express bus services originating in China’s most prosperous
regions. As of June 30, 2009, CME’s network covered
inter-city express bus services originating in eleven regions,
including the four municipalities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin
and Chongqing and seven economically prosperous provinces,
namely Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan Hubei, Anhui and
Hebei. These eleven regions in aggregate generated nearly half
of China’s gross domestic product, or GDP, in 2007,
according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China.
CME’s network is capable of reaching a substantial and
growing audience. In the first seven months of 2008, a monthly
average of 53 million passengers traveled on inter-city
express buses within CME’s network, representing 57% of all
passengers traveling on inter-city express buses installed with
television displays in China, according to CTR Market Research.
Many of the cities connected in CME’s network are major
transportation hubs, which serve as points of transfer for large
numbers of leisure, business and other travelers in China to
other modes of transportation. CME’s network also includes
airport buses connecting major cities to airports and tour buses
traveling on routes that connect major cities with popular
tourist destinations in China. As of June 30, 2009,
CME’s network covered six out of seven of the
transportation hubs designated by the Ministry of Transport, and
CME expects to further increase this percentage as it continues
to expand the geographic coverage of its network. In addition to
major transportation hubs, the network also covers small to
medium-sized cities in China, some of which rely on highway
transportation as the primary transportation option for
connection outside these cities.
CME has entered into long-term framework agreements with 40 bus
operator partners for terms ranging from five to eight years.
Pursuant to these agreements, CME pays the bus operators
concession fees for the right to install its displays and
automated control systems inside their buses and display
entertainment content and advertisements. CME’s
entertainment content is provided by third parties and
advertisements provided by its clients. CME obtains a wide range
of free entertainment content from Fujian SouthEastern
Television Channel and Hunan Satellite Television each month and
purchases a limited amount of copyrighted programs from the
Audio and Video Publishing House of Fujian Province. As of
June 30, 2009, the number of inter-city express buses
within CME’s network exceeded 16,000.
In October 2007, CME entered into a five-year cooperation
agreement with TTAVC, an entity affiliated with the Ministry of
Transport of the People’s Republic of China, to be the sole
strategic alliance partner in the establishment of a nationwide
in-vehicle television system that displays copyrighted programs
on buses traveling on highways in China. The cooperation
agreement also gave CME exclusive rights to display
advertisements on the system. In November 2007, TTAVC issued a
notice regarding the facilitation of implementation of the
system contemplated under the cooperation agreement to
municipalities, provinces and transportation enterprises in
China. CME believes its status as the sole strategic alliance
partner designated by TTAVC and the exclusive rights to display
advertisements on the system has facilitated its historical
expansion and is expected to continue to provide them with a
competitive advantage in the future.
CME believes its network is a highly effective advertising
medium. The network is capable of reaching audiences on
inter-city express buses while they remain in a comfortable and
enclosed environment with minimal distraction. The majority of
the inter-city express buses within the network are equipped
with leather seats and air-conditioning, providing a comfortable
environment which makes the audiences more receptive to the
content displayed on CME’s network. Inter- city travel in
China typically takes a number of hours. Audiences are therefore
exposed to the content displayed on its advertising platform for
a significantly longer period of time than on shorter-distance
travel. In addition, CME’s patented automated control
systems ensure that the programs and advertisements are
displayed continuously throughout the journey.
CME has grown significantly since it commenced its advertising
services business in November 2003. During the year ended
December 31, 2008, more than 400 advertisers had purchased
advertising time on CME’s network either through
advertising agents or directly from CME. Some of these clients
have purchased
advertising time from CME for more than three years, including
Hitachi, China Telecom, Toyota, Siemens and China Pacific Life
Insurance. CME has attracted several well-known international
and national brands to its advertising network, including Coca
Cola, Pepsi, Wahaha, Siemens, Hitachi, China Telecom, China
Mobile, China Post, Toyota, Bank of China and China Pacific Life
Insurance. While CME is unable to determine the exact dollar
amount paid by these individual advertisers who purchase
advertising through a third party agency, CME is able to
determine, based on the number of ads run for these advertisers,
that these advertisers comprise a significant portion the
advertising on CME’s network. For the years ended
December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, CME generated total net
revenues of $4.0 million, $25.8 million and
$63.0 million, respectively. During the same periods, CME
had net income of $0.9 million, $7.0 million and
$26.4 million, respectively.
CME’s principal executive offices are located at 22/F, Wuyi
Center, 33 East Street, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic
of China. CME’s telephone number at this address is (86
591) 2837 7977 and its fax is (86 591) 8761
0415.
Advertising on inter-city express buses represents a new and
emerging segment of the advertising market in China. CME
believes the growth in demand for advertising and continued
development of the express bus sector in China will continue to
drive the growth of inter-city express bus advertising.
The
Advertising Market in China
One of
the Largest and Fastest Growing Advertising Markets
China has the largest advertising market in Asia, excluding
Japan, and is the fifth largest advertising market in the world
in 2007 by media expenditure. According to ZenithOptimedia,
advertising spending in China in 2007 was approximately
$15.4 billion, accounting for 15.6% of the total
advertising spending in the Asia-Pacific region. ZenithOptimedia
also projected that the advertising market in China will be one
of the fastest growing advertising markets in the world, at a
CAGR of 12.8% from 2007 to 2011. By 2011, China is projected to
account for 19.6% of the total advertising spending in the
Asia-Pacific region.
The growth of China’s advertising market is driven by a
number of factors, including the rapid and sustained economic
growth and increases in disposable income and consumption in
China.
CME believes the advertising market in China has significant
potential for future growth due to relatively low levels of
advertising spending per capita and as a percentage of GDP
compared to more developed countries or regions.
The following table sets forth the advertising spending per
capita and as a percentage of GDP in 2007 in China compared to
more developed countries or regions:
Advertising
Spending Driven by Rapid Growth in GDP and Disposable
Income
The growth of China’s advertising market is driven by a
number of factors, including the rapid and sustained growth of
China’s GDP and increases in disposable income and
consumption of urban residents in China. According to the
National Bureau of Statistics of China, China was the third
largest economy in the world in 2008 with a GDP of
RMB30.1 trillion, which amounted to US$4.4 trillion. In
addition, the annual disposable income per capita in urban
households increased from RMB7,703 in 2002 to RMB15,781 in 2008,
representing a CAGR of 12.7%.
Increasing
Significance of New
Out-Of-Home
Advertising Medium
The advertising market in China can generally be divided into
television, newspaper, radio, magazine, Internet, cinema and
out-of-home
advertising media.
Out-of-home
advertising is the third largest advertising medium in China
after television and newspapers, accounting for 16.7% of total
advertising spending in 2007, according to ZenithOptimedia. The
percentage is larger than that of Europe, the United States and
some other countries in Asia Pacific. Total advertising spending
on
out-of-home
media in China was $2.6 billion in 2007, and is projected
to grow to $5.0 billion in 2011, representing a CAGR of
18.0% from 2007 to 2011.
CME believes
out-of-home
advertising networks are gaining increasing acceptance in China.
Out-of-home
advertising networks offer advertisers alternative new media to
reach audiences more effectively and supplement traditional
advertising media such as television, magazine and radio, which
may have more limited geographic coverage. Moreover, due to the
high cost of advertising on traditional advertising media, in
particular, during peak hours on television,
out-of-home
advertising offers advertisers a more cost effective alternative.
Express
Bus Travel in China
The overall economic growth and development of highway systems
in China have resulted in increased leisure and business travel
among cities in China through highways. According to the
National Bureau of Statistics, the total number of passengers
traveling on highways reached 22.1 billion in 2008,
representing a 7.6% growth from 2007.
Express bus travel is a primary means of transportation in China
due to various reasons, including the more comprehensive
coverage of highway networks compared to other modes of
transportation and relatively low private vehicle ownership in
China. Many cities in China are highly dependent on highway
transportation and many small and medium-sized cities in China
rely on highways as the primary means of transportation outside
cities and towns. Inter-city buses on highways also offer the
advantages of lower cost, higher frequency and
point-to-point
convenience relative to rail and air travel, an additional
factor which explains the prevalence and continued growth of
this mode of inter-city transportation. According to the
Ministry of Transport, as of July 31, 2008, there were over
43,000 inter-city express buses with a seating capacity of more
than 27 passengers in China. The average monthly passenger
traffic on inter-city express buses totaled over
158 million in the seven months ended July 31, 2008.
In addition to its large size and continued growth, the express
bus market is highly fragmented, with a large number of
small-scale operators operating services primarily within
certain provinces or regions. At present, there are few large
operators with nationwide networks.
China intends to outlay significant expenditures on highway
infrastructure construction to promote balanced development in
urban and rural areas in China. CME believes the sustained
economic growth and a more comprehensive, efficient and
convenient highway system will continue to drive express bus
travel in China
Advertising
on Inter-City Express Buses in China
Advertising on inter-city express buses represents a new and
emerging segment of the advertising market in China, and can be
considered part of the
out-of-home
advertising market. Given the high fragmentation of the express
bus market, few bus operators possess the scale to operate a
sizable advertising services business
by themselves. The large advertising network operators on
inter-city express buses therefore tend to be independent
advertising companies who have entered into concession
agreements with numerous bus operators to display advertising
inside their buses. The advertising market on inter-city express
buses is itself also highly fragmented, with only a few large
players known to possess significant market share in China.
According to the Ministry of Transport, as at July 31,2008, over 90,000 television displays were installed on
inter-city express buses in China. Out of these, over 37,000
television displays utilized hard disk drive players, and the
remainder used DVD players, CF cards and other audio-visual
technologies. CME believes hard disk drives represent the most
effective technology at present to operate television
advertising on inter-city express buses.
As an advertising medium, CME believes advertising on inter-city
express buses possesses the following characteristics:
•
Effective audience reach. The large number of
passengers on inter-city express buses in China provide
advertisers with a large and growing target audience. The
displays installed on inter-city express buses are often the
only form of media provided in such environments. Passengers are
more willing to watch the programs on the displays and the
accompanying advertisements.
•
Cost effectiveness. Advertising placed on
inter-city express buses, where a large number of people
congregate, can reach consumers at a lower cost than most other
traditional media advertising, such as on television at home.
•
Attractive target demographics. Most of the
passengers traveling on inter-city express buses belong to
China’s emerging middle class, with higher than average
income and purchasing power. Many of the passengers are business
travelers, including distributors who own their businesses in
small- and medium-sized cities and frequently travel to larger
cities to engage in wholesale procurement and trading. These
passengers have strong purchasing and decision-making power for
their businesses, presenting wholesale and long-term business
opportunities to advertisers in addition to retail sales. The
volume and the quality of such target audience are attractive to
advertisers for the promotion of their products and services.
•
Increasing acceptance. CME believes that
television advertising networks on inter-city express buses have
gained increasing acceptance among three major groups: express
bus operators, highway travelers and advertisers. CME believes
many express bus operators have chosen to partner with digital
media companies to reduce their operational costs, and improve
the overall passenger experience. Digital media networks provide
passengers with informative and entertaining content or
otherwise provide an outlet to fill idle time, which may help to
enhance the overall passenger experience and add value to the
services provided by express bus operators. CME believes
advertisers have increasingly chosen digital media advertising
on inter-city express buses due to their high receptivity among
passengers and ability to reach large audiences with favorable
demographics in a cost effective manner.
The
largest television advertising network on inter-city express
buses with an early entrant advantage in China
CME believes it operates the largest television advertising
network on inter-city express buses in China. According to CTR
Market Research, as of July 31, 2008, CME’s
advertising network accounted for 81% of all inter-city express
buses installed with hard disk drive players and 55% of all
inter-city express buses installed with any type of television
display. In the first seven months of 2008, a monthly average of
over 53 million passengers traveled on inter-city express
buses within CME’s network, representing 85% and 57%,
respectively, of the passenger traffic on inter-city express
buses installed with hard disk drive players and with any type
of television display, respectively. CME believes its
large-scale network capable of reaching a sizeable audience
traveling within economically prosperous regions in China
presents an attractive proposition to advertisers.
The
ability to maintain and enhance CME’s leading market
position
CME believes it has the following competitive strengths that
would allow it to maintain and enhance its position as the
largest television advertising network on inter-city express
buses in China:
•
Early entrant advantage. CME commenced its
advertising services business in November 2003 and was amongst
the first companies to engage in digital television advertising
on inter-city express buses in China. CME rapidly established a
sizeable nationwide network, occupying a significant market
share. CME’s early entry into the market has also enabled
it to accumulate a significant amount of knowledge and
experience in this nascent segment of the advertising industry.
•
Long-term agreements with a large number of bus
operators. CME has entered into long-term
framework agreements with a large number of bus operators,
enabling it to occupy a significant market share and to create
significant entry barriers for potential competitors. CME has
entered into long-term framework agreements with 40 inter-city
express bus operators for terms ranging from five to eight
years. As of July 31, 2008, the number of buses within
CME’s network accounted for 81% of all inter-city express
buses installed with hard disk drive players and 55% of all
inter-city express buses installed with any type of television
display, according to CTR Market Research.
•
Scale of operations. CME believes it has
achieved the scale of operations that is not only attractive to
advertisers but also allow it to capitalize on cost synergies.
CME’s network with over 16,000 inter-city express buses
covers all four municipalities and seven economically prosperous
provinces in China. The large number of inter-city express buses
in CME’s network in economically prosperous regions in
China has enabled it to attract a significant number of clients.
During 2008, more than 400 advertisers directly or indirectly
purchased advertising time on CME’s network.
•
The sole strategic partner designated by an entity affiliated
with the Ministry of Transport. In October 2007,
CME entered into a five-year cooperation agreement with an
entity affiliated with the Ministry of Transport of the
People’s Republic of China to be the sole strategic partner
in the establishment of a nationwide in-vehicle television
system displaying copyrighted programs on buses traveling on
highways in China. The cooperation agreement gave CME exclusive
rights to display advertisements on the system. In November
2007, this entity issued a notice regarding the facilitation of
implementation of the system contemplated under the cooperation
agreement to municipalities, provinces and transportation
enterprises in China.
A
highly effective and efficient advertising network
CME believes its network is a highly effective and efficient.
According to a survey conducted by CTR Market Research in July
2008 on bus services originating in eight major cities, on
average, 81% of all passengers said they had watched the
television displays on CME’s network, and almost 80% said
they regularly watched the displays on the network. CME believes
the effectiveness of its advertising network is demonstrated by
the following characteristics:
•
Enclosed and comfortable environment with minimal
distraction. The majority of the inter-city
express buses within CME’s network are equipped with
leather seats and air-conditioning, providing a comfortable
environment which makes the audiences more receptive to the
content displayed. Passengers are required by law to be seated
during journeys on expressways, thereby enabling passengers to
view the content displayed on CME’s network with little
view obstruction.
•
Inter-city travel increases length of
exposure. Inter-city travel in China typically
takes a number of hours. Audiences are therefore exposed to the
content displayed on CME’s network for a significantly
longer period of time than on shorter-distance travel. According
to a survey conducted by CTR Market Research in July 2008 on bus
services originating in eight major cities, the average duration
of a journey on buses within CME’s network took two and a
half hours. As CME displays advertisements in ten-minute blocks
after every 30 minutes of entertainment content, the audiences
can potentially view the same advertisement up to three times
per journey. CME believes repeated exposure to the same
advertisement significantly increases its effectiveness.
CME’s patented automated control systems ensure
uninterrupted display. CME’s patented
automated control systems are designed to ensure the automatic
initiation of the entertainment content and advertisements on
the displays whenever the driver opens the doors of the buses,
and ensure continuous display throughout the journey. This
prevents interruption due to actions of bus drivers or
passengers during the journey.
The
audience reach of CME’s network
CME believes its network allows its clients to launch campaigns
for both products with mass appeal as well as campaigns
targeting specific geographies and audience profiles. Clients
who wish to promote widely consumed products such as food and
beverage are able to reach a large number of passengers through
CME’s network. Clients wishing to promote luxury or
high-end products and services may focus their advertising on
airport shuttle buses, or in selected municipalities and
provinces with more affluent travelers.
In addition, CME believes many advertisers are drawn to its
network because of the penetration of small to medium-sized
cities in China. Due to the penetration of CME’s network,
advertisers are able to target wholesalers and distributors in
small to medium-sized cities who travel frequently to larger
cities to engage in wholesale procurement and trading. Many
wholesalers and distributors rely on inter-city express buses as
their primary means of transportation between cities. The
ability to target such distributors further enhances the appeal
of CME’s advertising network.
CME believes that the effectiveness and extensive coverage of
its network will continue to allow it to maintain its existing
clients, enhance client loyalty and attract new clients.
A
highly price competitive advertising medium
The CPM, or cost of reaching a thousand viewers, of advertising
on CME’s network is significantly lower than that of other
advertising media, including local television channels and other
out-of-home
advertising media. According to CTR Market Research, as of
July 31, 2008, the CPM for every 15 seconds of advertising
on CME’s network in eight major cities represented only a
small fraction of the CPM for advertising on local television
channels in those cities. CME believes the low CPM of
advertising on its network presents a highly compelling
proposition to advertisers, and presents potential room for
future increases in its rates.
CME believes its success has resulted from its strong value
proposition to various parties involved in its business,
including its clients, the inter-city express bus operators
participating in its network, and the content providers of
entertainment programs. CME provides its clients with an
alternative advertising medium that it believes is more
effective and price competitive than other advertising media. In
addition, CME provide its bus operator partners with a source of
incremental revenue from concession fees, and a source of
entertainment for their passengers which enhances their service,
without the need for them to invest in and incur ongoing costs
of operating the displays. Moreover, CME’s extensive
network in China offers its content providers an
alternative channel to effectively promote their brand to a
wider audience otherwise more difficult or expensive to reach
through conventional distribution channels. CME believes its
strong value proposition to various parties involved in its
business will enable it to sustain its long-term business growth.
Strong
Management Team with Extensive Experience
CME has an experienced management team. In particular, Zheng
Cheng, its founder, chairman and chief executive officer has
over ten years’ experience in business management. He
demonstrated his entrepreneurship and business leadership by
starting up CME’s business in November 2003 and having
successfully grown CME’s business to become the largest
digital television advertising network operator on inter-city
express buses in China with a strong client base and significant
financial growth in less than five years. He also secured
CME’s status as the sole strategic alliance partner of
TTAVC and initiated the invention, application and registration
of patent protection for its automated control systems. In order
to successfully manage and grow CME’s business in an
efficient and cost effective manner, he exerted significant
efforts in the refinement of its management system and business
process. Fujian Fenzhong received recognition in December, 2007
by the China Advertising Association, an independent industry
association, as a first-class media advertising enterprise in
China. CME believes its certification demonstrates its ability
to pass stringent evaluation standards, including its scale of
operation, quality of human resources, quality of services and
influence in the industry. In addition, on January 17,2008, Fujian Fenzhong received ISO 9001:2000 certification
according to the standards of China National Accreditation
Service and International Accreditation Forum. CME believes such
ISO certification demonstrates its ability to meet international
standards in its management system. In addition to
Mr. Cheng, CME’s management’s team includes Jacky
Wai Kei Lam, its Chief Financial Officer, Jian Yu, its Chief
Operating Officer, Jinlong Du, its Chief Marketing Officer,
Biaoxing Chen, its Chief Technology Officer, Weisheng Liu,
its Chief Administration Officer and Zhuofeng Zheng, its
financial controller, all of which have indicated they intend to
continue in their current positions following the proposed
transaction. See section entitled “MANAGEMENT —
Directors, Management and Key Employees following the
Transaction”. CME believes a well established management
system allows it to operate its business to the satisfaction of
clients in an efficient and cost effective manner.
CME’s objectives are to strengthen its position as the
largest digital television advertising network on inter-city
express buses in China and continue to achieve rapid growth. CME
intends to achieve these objectives by implementing the
following strategies:
Expand
the Coverage and Penetration of its Advertising Network on
Inter-City Express Buses
CME intends to expand the coverage and penetration of its
out-of-home
digital televisions advertising network on inter-city express
buses to further grow its revenues. CME intends to achieve this
through the following means:
•
Increase the number of inter-city express buses within its
network. CME intends to enter into new long-term
framework agreements with other express bus operators not
already participating in its advertising network. Such efforts
would enable CME to have a more comprehensive coverage and
deeper penetration into small and medium-sized cities in China.
•
Expand the geographic converge of its
network. CME intends to expand into new regions
to increase the geographic coverage of its network. For example,
CME expects to enter into new provinces and regions in the
future, including Shandong, Zhejiang, Hunan, Heilongjiang,
Jilin, Liaoning, Yunnan, Guangxi, Shanxi. To further increase
the penetration of its network, CME intends to increase the
coverage of its advertising network to county level cities in
various provinces in China highly dependent on highway
transportation for connection outside these cities. CME believes
the breadth and penetration of its advertising network with
nationwide coverage would provide its clients with a wider and
more diverse distribution network for their advertisements.
Increase coverage of routes connecting prosperous coastal
cities. CME intends to expand the fleet of
inter-city express buses traveling in economically prosperous
coastal cities and provinces, including those traveling to and
from airports and tour buses, to enhance the reach of its
network to more affluent and business travelers with strong
purchasing power.
Broaden
Revenue Sources
CME aims to seek to broaden its revenue sources to further
augment its potential revenue growth through providing
additional advertising channels to advertisers and new services
to passengers:
•
Separately package advertising time slots on airport shuttle
buses, tour buses and buses servicing the commute between
supermarkets and residential communities for sale to its
clients. CME intends to separate advertising time
slots on buses based on the purpose of travels for sale to its
clients. This will enable advertisers to effectively target more
specific audience profiles. For example, advertisers who wish to
promote luxury and high-end products and services may focus
their advertisings on airport shuttle buses, or in selected
municipalities and provinces with more affluent travelers. To
further increase the number of airport shuttle buses carrying
its network, CME intends to enter into contracts with bus
operators that connect Beijing, Tianjin and Xiamen with the
airports servicing these metropolitan areas. Advertisers in the
hotel, dining and travel and leisure industries are able to
purchase advertising time slots on tour buses carrying
CME’s network. Advertisers with their products for sale on
supermarket shelves are able to purchase advertising time slots
on buses that service the commute between supermarkets and
residential communities. CME believes the development of these
separate networks would enable it to broaden its revenue sources
and generate incremental revenues.
•
Generate revenues from the display of soft advertisements
packaged as entertainment content. CME seeks to
generate revenues from displaying entertainment programs which
are effectively soft advertisements, for a variety of products
and services. Examples of such advertisements include travel
programs featuring hotels, restaurants and tourist destinations,
and fashion shows featuring lines of clothing being the subject
of promotion.
•
Establish stationary advertising media. CME
intends to establish stationary advertising media at inter-city
express bus terminals to complement its business. These include
digital billboards or liquid emitting diodes, or LEDs, installed
at bus terminals to target passengers during their waiting time.
CME expects this expansion would increase the value of its
network by increasing the size of the audience reachable and by
extending the exposure for advertisers. In addition to providing
an additional source of revenue, CME believes this initiative
would increase demand for its services and enable it to charge
higher rates.
•
Offer new services to advertisers and
passengers. CME intends to feature hotels, spa
resorts, local restaurants on its network while displaying the
logo, telephone numbers and other contact information of
relevant service providers and charge advertising fees. In
addition, CME plans to handle bookings through call centers or
short messages for the convenience of passengers who are
attracted to relevant services featured on its network. CME
plans to share revenues resulting from bookings through call
centers or short messages with relevant service providers
participating in its value-added service programs. CME may also
seek to provide drinks sponsored by advertisers or offer other
merchandise for sale on the inter-city express buses carrying
its network.
Increase
CME’s Average Advertising Rates
CME aims to maximize its average advertising rates through the
following means:
•
Sell first few minutes of the advertising time slots at
higher rates. Advertisers generally consider the
first few minutes of each advertising time slot to be more
effective than the remaining few minutes toward the end of the
advertising time slot. As a result, CME intends to separately
package the first few minutes of each advertising time slot for
sale at a higher price, which CME believes would increase its
average advertising rates.
Expand the coverage and penetration of its advertising
network. CME believes expanded coverage and
penetration of its advertising network would increase the
effectiveness and attractiveness of its network to advertisers,
thereby enabling it to increase its average advertising rates.
•
Capture increased advertising spending on its advertising
network from its clients. CME intends to compete
for a larger portion of its clients’ advertising budget
relative to other media. CME believes increased demand for
advertising time on its network will enable it to charge higher
average advertising rates. CME’s network is capable of
reaching a large audience in transit who are otherwise more
difficult or expensive to reach through conventional media.
Currently, the CPM of advertising on CME’s network is
significantly lower than that in other advertising media,
including both traditional and new
out-of-home
media. Compared to other
out-of-home
advertising networks with coverage limited to buildings,
airplanes, airports or public transportation of a particular
city, CME’s network has a wider geographic coverage with
lower CPM. In light of the characteristics of its advertising
network, CME believes it will be able to capture an increasingly
larger portions of its clients’ advertising budgets while
charging higher advertising rates, as the acceptance of its
advertising medium continues to grow.
•
Enhance the effectiveness of its advertising
network. CME intends to continue to improve the
environment in inter-city express buses by installing additional
digital television displays on each bus and offering a wider
range of content attractive to the target audience. CME believes
such enhancements will make its advertising network more
effective and attractive to advertisers and advertising agencies.
•
Attract national and international brand name advertisers to
purchase its advertising time. CME believes the
effectiveness of its network would continue to attract more
international and national brand name advertisers to purchase
advertising time slots from it through advertising agencies or
directly. CME believes increased demand from advertising agency
clients and direct clients would enable it to charge higher
average selling price. CME also intends to penetrate further the
local advertising markets by appealing to local advertisers who
typically utilized other types of advertising media.
Seek
and Maintain Strategic Partnerships and Merger and Acquisition
Opportunities
CME intends to continue to maintain and pursue strong
relationships with government authorities in China in charge of
regulating the industries related to its business. CME seeks to
maintain communication channels with the Ministry of Transport
to facilitate the delivery of its services and implementation of
the government’s policy initiatives with respect to the
display of copyrighted programs on inter-city express buses. CME
seeks to leverage its government relationships and industry
connections to increase the penetration of its services in its
existing and prospective advertising network.
CME aims to continue expanding the scale of its advertising
network and the type of media platforms it employs through
strategic relationships and mergers and acquisitions. CME seeks
to enter into strategic relationships or merger and acquisition
agreements with local companies capable of delivering
customized, time-specific and local-oriented content. CME
believes strategic partnership and merger and acquisition
opportunities would allow it to utilize their resources to
facilitate local penetration.
CME displays entertainment programs and advertisements on
inter-city express buses carrying its network. Inter-city
express buses refer to buses traveling directly in between
cities through expressways in China with a seating capacity of
more than 27 passengers per bus. Typically, two to three digital
television displays are installed on each inter-city express bus
participating in CME’s network. As of June 30, 2009,
CME’s digital television advertising network consisted of
over 16,000 express buses and over 34,000 digital television
displays. For the seven months ended July 31, 2008, on
average 53 million passengers traveled on inter-city
express buses within CME’s network every month.
According to reports CME commissioned from CTR Market Research,
CME had an approximate 85% share of passenger traffic on
inter-city express buses installed with hard disk drive players,
and an approximate
57% share of passenger traffic on inter-city express buses
installed with all types of display technologies in China. The
following table sets forth CME’s market share for
inter-city express buses installed with hard disk drive players,
and inter-city express buses installed with all types of display
technologies, in terms of the number of buses, the number of
displays and passenger traffic, as of July 31, 2008.
As of June 30, 2009, CME’s network covered inter-city
express bus services originating in eleven regions, including
the four municipalities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and
Chongqing and seven economically prosperous provinces, namely
Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui and Hebei.
These eleven regions in aggregate generated nearly half of
China’s GDP in 2007, according to the National Bureau of
Statistics of China. Many of the cities connected in CME’s
network are major transportation hubs, which serve as points of
transfer for large numbers of leisure, business and other
travelers in China to other modes of transportation. CME’s
network also includes airport buses connecting major cities to
airports and tour buses traveling on routes that connect major
cities with popular tourist destinations in China.
CME displays entertainment programs interspersed with
advertisements, with a ten-minute block of advertising shown
after every thirty minutes of entertainment programming. The
entertainment programs enable CME to capture the attention of
the passengers to increase the effectiveness of advertisements
displayed on its platform. The passengers traveling on
inter-city express buses included in CME’s advertising
network are the target audience of its clients.
The advertisements displayed on CME’s network are provided
by its clients approximately seven days prior to their display
on CME’s network. The design and production of
advertisements displayed on CME’s network are undertaken by
independent third party professional advertising agencies. CME
inspects the content of the advertisements for purposes of
compliance with applicable laws and regulations and reserves the
right to request a revision of content it believes may be in
violation of applicable laws and regulations and to reject the
display of such advertisements if the content is not revised or
if the content may still be, in CME’s view, in violation of
applicable laws and regulations after revision. CME’s
in-house production department combines the entertainment
programs provided by CME’s content suppliers with
advertisements provided by CME’s clients for display on
CME’s platform.
According to the surveys conducted by the CTR Market Research in
selected cities, namely, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin,
Nanjing, Fuzhou, Xiamen and Changzhou, in July 2008, the
audience of CME’s network have the following overall
characteristics:
•
the average age is 30 years old;
•
the average household income is over RMB5,800 per month and the
average individual income is over RMB3,300 per month;
•
the primary purposes of travel include business, travel and
leisure and visiting families and friends;
•
over 50% of the target audiences have received a diploma,
college degree or higher education;
over 40% of the target audiences are professionals, managers,
executives and business owners; and
•
over 40% of the target audiences are frequent travelers that
take inter-city express buses for more than once a month.
CME believes its network is highly attractive to advertisers
because they are capable or reaching large amounts of relatively
young, income generating, well-educated and successful
passengers who travel frequently on inter-city express buses in
China.
Clients
CME derives all of its revenues from selling advertising time
slots to its clients. CME generates revenues from two types of
clients: advertising agencies which purchase advertising time
slots from it and resell such time to advertisers and
advertising clients which directly purchase advertising time
slots from CME. CME generates a majority of its revenues from
selling advertising time slots to advertising agencies which in
turn sell such time to advertisers. For the year ended
December 31, 2008, CME derived 97.7% of its revenues from
selling advertising time slots to advertising agencies and the
remaining 2.3% of its revenues directly from advertisers. During
the same period, CME’s top ten clients and the single
largest client accounted for 64.3% and 7.6%, respectively, of
its total revenues.
As of June 30, 2009, CME employed an advertising sales
force of 63 employees. CME’s sales force focuses their
efforts on studying CME’s clients’ sales and marketing
strategies, analyzing their needs and providing tailored
advertising solutions to suit their needs. CME also utilizes its
network to promote its own brand and business.
To provide assurance to its clients that CME performs its
contractual obligations by displaying their advertisements on
CME’s network according to CME’s contracts, CME
commissions CTR Market Research each month to conduct
independent verification studies. In this connection, CTR Market
Research dispatches personnel to take the inter-city express
buses carrying CME’s network to conduct random inspections
of CME’s advertising services without its knowledge and
compiles reports based on the findings they gathered. CME
provides such reports to its clients on a monthly basis.
CME typically enters into one-year contracts with its
advertising agency clients. CME’s advertising agency
clients usually enter into contracts with it at the beginning of
the year and purchase a specified amount of advertising time for
the entire year.
The key terms of one-year contracts with advertising agency
clients include:
•
the average advertising rate for every thirty seconds;
•
the number of minutes the advertisements will be displayed each
month; and
•
the aggregate advertising fees payable in that year.
CME has also entered into long-term framework agreements with
two of its advertising agency clients for a term of three years
starting from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. In
addition to the contract terms typically included in the
contracts with advertising agency clients, the long-term
framework agreements also specify the permissible range of
annual increase in the average selling prices, which is between
a minimum of 20% and a maximum of 50%.
CME usually enters into six-month or short-term contracts with
its direct advertising clients. Such short-term contracts are
intended to give the clients flexibility to purchase advertising
time slots or increase orders
for CME’s advertising time slots as the clients introduce
new products or services or when they augment their marketing
efforts during peak seasons. The key terms of such short-term
contracts include:
•
the municipality or province in which the advertisements will be
displayed;
•
the number of buses on which the advertisements will be
displayed in any given municipality or province;
•
the duration of advertising time in terms of seconds;
•
the number of months in which the advertisements will be
displayed; and
•
the aggregate advertising fees payable.
CME sells advertising time slots by the number of minutes or
seconds in a particular municipality or province for a period of
a few months to one year. Moreover, although inter-city express
buses carrying CME’s network frequently travel across
municipalities and provinces in China, it sells advertising time
slots based on the municipality or province from which the buses
depart. Further, CME typically uses the price to display
advertisements for thirty seconds per month as the unit price.
As a result, the total contract price payable by CME’s
clients is calculated by multiplying the unit price with the
units contained in the number of minutes displayed per month and
the number of months in which the advertisements are displayed.
The outstanding advertising fees are typically paid by clients
on a monthly basis.
List prices are set by reference to a combination of factors,
including local economic conditions, the advertising fees
charged by other advertising media, including local satellite
television operators, and the number of inter-city express buses
carrying CME’s network. Generally, the list prices in
Shanghai and Jiangsu are higher than those in Beijing, Tianjin,
Guangdong and Fujian, which, in turn, are higher than those in
Sichuan and Hebei. The actual selling prices are lower than the
list prices because CME usually offers its clients volume
discounts at a certain discount rate based on negotiations with
its clients.
CME adjusts advertising fees each year based on a number of
factors, including the advertising fees charged by traditional
advertising platforms such as television operators, the
advertising fees charged by other
out-of-home
advertising network operators, the number of inter-city buses
carrying CME’s network, the extent of coverage of
CME’s network and the estimated number and characteristics
of audiences reachable through CME’s network.
CME generally requires its clients to submit advertising content
at least seven days prior to the first display for compliance
review. CME also reserves the right to refuse to disseminate
advertisements that are not in compliance with applicable laws
and regulations.
As of June 30, 2009, CME has entered into long-term
framework agreements with 40 inter-city express bus operators in
China with terms ranging from five to eight years. As of
June 30, 2009, a total of over 16,000 inter-city express
buses, including airport shuttle buses and tour buses, carry its
network.
The long-term framework agreements give CME the concession
rights to install its patented automated control systems on the
inter-city express buses carrying CME’s network. CME
installs such equipment and control systems at its own cost. CME
has also purchased from the bus operators digital television
displays previously installed in a portion of the inter-city
express buses carrying CME’s network. These equipment and
control systems serve as CME’s advertising platform. CME
enters into contracts with the inter-city express bus operators
participating in its network each year to update the number of
buses carrying CME’s advertising network and the concession
fees payable per bus for that year. The concession fees payable
to the inter-city express bus operators are subject to an
increase at a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 30% per year. CME
settles its concession fees with the inter-city express bus
operators on a monthly basis based on the actual number of buses
carrying CME’s network in the preceding month.
In October 2007, CME entered into a five-year cooperation
agreement with the Transport Television and Audio-Video Center,
or TTAVC, an entity affiliated with the Ministry of Transport of
the People’s Republic of China to be the sole strategic
alliance partner in the establishment of a nationwide in-vehicle
television system that displays copyrighted programs on buses
traveling on highways in China. TTAVC was first established in
1989 and restructured as a division under the China
Communications News Press by the Ministry of Transport in
November 2007. TTAVC is the only film and television production
entity affiliated with the Ministry of Transport and is in
charge of reporting of important news through the transportation
industry. Under the cooperation agreement, CME is responsible
for the installation of hard disk drives and audio and visual
equipment, including their repair and maintenance, at its own
cost. CME retains ownership and the right to operate such
equipment and systems. CME is also obligated to ensure the
display of copyrighted programs on the system. The cooperation
agreement gives CME exclusive rights to display advertisements
on the system. The cooperation agreement also provides CME the
rights to display its logo on the buses carrying its network.
To implement a nationwide in-vehicle television system that
displays copyrighted programs on buses traveling on highways in
China, TTAVC is obligated to reaffirm CME’s status as the
sole strategic alliance partner in documents it enters into with
relevant bus operators. TTAVC is also obligated to notify and
coordinate meetings with relevant bus operators to facilitate
CME in the implementation of a nationwide
in-vehicle
television system that displays copyrighted programs on buses
traveling on highways in China. TTAVC has the right to inspect
whether content displayed on the system is copyrighted, whether
CME performs its obligations to provide content and whether the
equipment and systems CME provides function properly.
TTAVC is obligated to ensure CME’s status as its sole
strategic alliance partner. In the event TTAVC enters into
agreements with third parties to engage in the same type of
project in breach of such obligations, it is liable for damages
at ten times the value of the equipment and systems, which is
equivalent to RMB40,000 per unit.
In November 2007, TTAVC issued a notice requesting
municipalities, provinces and transportation enterprises in
China to facilitate the implementation of the system
contemplated under the cooperation agreement.
Currently, the content displayed on CME’s network includes
a wide range of free entertainment content obtained from Fujian
SouthEastern Television Channel and Hunan Satellite Television
and a limited amount of copyrighted programs obtained from the
Audio and Video Publishing House of Fujian Province. CME seeks
to secure additional content suppliers in the future to enhance
the diversity and attractiveness of its content as it continues
to expand its business.
The copyrighted programs CME obtains from the Audio and Video
Publishing House of Fujian Province include motion pictures and
other television programs. CME pays royalties or other required
consideration to the Audio and Video Publishing House of Fujian
Province in exchange for the right to display the copyrighted
programs on its network.
On September 1, 2006, CME entered into a cooperation
agreement with Fujian SouthEastern Television Channel operated
by Fujian Radio, Film, and Television Group. Under this
agreement, CME obtains five to ten hours of free entertainment
content from Fujian SouthEastern Television Channel each month.
CME is obligated to display Fujian SouthEastern Television
Channel’s logo while showing the content on its network.
Currently, CME is the only in-vehicle advertising network
operator to receive free content from Fujian SouthEastern
Television Channel. The agreement with Fujian SouthEastern
Television Channel has a term of nine years starting from
September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2015 and CME expects
to renew the agreement upon expiration.
On August 25, 2008, CME entered into a cooperation
agreement with Hunan Satellite Television operated by Hunan
Satellite Programming Company Limited to obtain additional
entertainment content to further enhance the variety of its
programming. Under this agreement, Hunan Satellite Television
provides CME with five to twelve hours of free entertainment
content each month. In addition, the agreement authorized CME to
act as the agent to source advertisers within Fujian to show
advertisements on Hunan Satellite Television. CME expects to
enter into additional agreements with Hunan Satellite Television
to separately govern the arrangement and pricing of such
advertising agency business. The agreement with Hunan Satellite
Television has a term of two years starting from
September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2010 and CME expects
to renew the agreement upon expiration.
The arrangements with Fujian SouthEastern Television Channel and
Hunan Satellite Television allow CME to obtain quality
entertainment programming at no cost. In addition, CME’s
network offers its content providers a new alternative channel
to promote their brands to a wider audience which would
otherwise be more difficult or expensive to reach through
conventional distribution channels.
Equipment
Supplier
The primary equipment and control systems required for the
operation of CME’s business consists of digital television
displays, hard disk drives and firmware, and CME’s patented
automated control systems. Maintaining a steady supply of such
equipment and control systems is important to its operations and
the growth of its digital television advertising network. CME
purchases all of CME’s equipment and control systems
exclusively from Hangzhou Yusong, an independent third party. On
August 1, 2008, CME entered into a patent license agreement
with Hangzhou Yusong which contains specific provisions on
Hangzhou Yusong’s strict confidentiality obligations as
regards the information of CME’s patent to protect its
patented technology. See the section entitled “RISK
FACTORS — Risks Relating to CME’s
Business — CME relies on one equipment supplier,
Hangzhou Yusong Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., or Hangzhou
Yusong, to manufacture its patented automated control
systems”. Other than certain components incorporated in
CME’s equipment and control systems, such as hard disk
drives and integrated circuit chips that are imported from
overseas, Hangzhou Yusong manufactures CME’s equipment and
control systems in house.
Hangzhou Yusong is a supplier of audio and visual equipment and
control systems for bus companies and
out-of-home
advertising network operators on intra-city public mass
transportation and inter-city long-distance buses in China.
Hangzhou Yusong has approximately 25 branch offices and more
than 300 service centers in China to meet CME’s after-sale
service needs. The equipment and control systems provided by
Hangzhou Yusong are covered by a warranty period of five years,
after which CME pays for the cost of replacement of parts for
repair and maintenance. Hangzhou Yusong has been CME’s
supplier since 2003 and CME has not experienced any material
delay or interruption in the supply of its digital television
displays or its patented automated control systems in the past.
CME uses liquid crystal displays, or LCDs, on its digital
television advertising network. LCD is a thin and flat digital
display device. The sizes of digital television displays
installed on CME’s network range from 15 by 15 inch to
17 by 17 inch. On average, two to three digital television
displays are installed on each inter-city express bus within
CME’s network. For the years ended December 31, 2006,
2007 and 2008, the number of digital television displays
installed on CME’s network was 2,252, 22,361 and 33,306,
respectively.
Hard
Disk Drives and Firmware
CME employs hard disk drives and firmware therein to store
entertainment programs and advertisements. Hard disk drives are
connected to the digital television displays to deliver image.
Hard disk drives are also connected to amplifiers for connection
with the audio systems to deliver sound.
The employment of hard disk drives and firmware therein enables
CME to upload and download data in high volumes, ensure the
display of advertisements for ten minutes after every thirty
minutes’ display of entertainment programs. Compared to the
employment of DVDs or CF cards, the employment of hard disk
drives and firmware make the quality of image and sound display
on CME’s system less susceptible to interruptions while the
buses are in motion.
Patented
Automated Control Systems
The principal components of CME’s patented automated
control systems include a switch, a decompressing and pressure
stabilizing device and a transmitter. The switch is connected to
the electric doors of the buses, making it possible to initiate
CME’s equipment and systems whenever the driver opens or
closes the electric doors of the buses in preparation for
departure. The decompressing and pressure stabilizing device
lowers the voltage from the switch from 24 to 12 voltage and
keeps the voltage at that level. The transmitter is connected to
the hard disk drive, the amplifier and the digital television
displays to deliver image and sound.
The advantage of CME’s utility patent is that the switch is
connected with and automatically controlled by the opening and
closing of the electric doors on the buses and there are no
separate switches affixed to the hard disk drive and related
equipment installed on the buses carrying CME’s network. By
automatically controlling its equipment and systems through the
opening of the electric doors, CME is able to ensure initiation
of its entertainment programs and advertisements whenever the
driver opens the electric doors of the buses in preparation for
departure and continuous display of the programs throughout the
long-distance journey. Moreover, the lack of separate switches
affixed to the hard disk drive and related equipment makes it
less likely for drivers or passengers to turn off the program
during the journey. See the section entitled “INFORMATION
ABOUT HONG KONG MANDEFU HOLDING LIMITED — Intellectual
Properties — Patent”.
Fujian Fenzhong holds the Permit to Produce and Distribute Radio
and Television Programs issued by the Fujian Provincial Bureau
of Radio and Television on May 4, 2009 with a validity
period of 2 years, which allows Fujian Fenzhong to produce
and distribute a series of programs, including TV dramas,
special coverage, entertainments and cartoons. CME expects that
upon expiration, the Permit to Produce and Distribute Radio and
Television Programs will be renewed by the Fujian Provincial
Bureau of Radio and Television. CME intends to submit the annual
audit information to the Fujian Provincial Bureau of Radio and
Television, which the bureau will use to assess the annual
operation of CME as a producer and distributor of radio and
television programs for the purpose of determining whether CME
has the ability to produce good quality radio and television
programs. No costs are expected to be incurred in connection
with such renewal.
CME has an in-house production department in charge of combining
the entertainment programs provided by its content suppliers and
advertisements provided by its clients. CME pays royalties to
obtain the right to display certain foreign and domestic films
on its network and obtain other copyrighted content for free
from SouthEastern Satellite Television and Hunan Satellite
Television. Currently, CME has the following major categories of
entertainment programs:
•
Express Phantom, a movie channel with foreign and domestic
films, movie preview and information on recent box office hits;
•
Express Tunes, a music video channel with pop songs of artists
from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, classical music and other
types of music;
•
Express Opera, a channel with classical Chinese opera and drama,
talk shows, dancing shows and circus shows;
Express Travel Companion, a travel channel with introduction of
popular foreign and domestic destinations and travel
information; and
•
various other entertainment programs provided by SouthEastern
Satellite Television, such as Super Star Face.
Currently, CME manually updates its entertainment programs on
twice a month and advertisements once a month. CME expects to
upgrade its existing equipment and control systems to
automatically update its entertainment programs upon arrival of
the express buses included in its advertising network at the bus
terminals. CME believes such upgrade would not only allow for
more frequent updating of the content to increase the
attractiveness of its advertising network among the target
audience and the advertisers but also enable it to reduce cost
of overhead incurred from manual update.
CME strives to deliver its services to the satisfaction of all
relevant parties, including inter-city express bus operators,
its clients and passengers. Pursuant to CME’s agreement
with Hangzhou Yusong, its local service centers would respond to
CME’s repair and maintenance request within 3 hours in
the event of a bus operator notifies CME of a breakdown of its
equipment and control systems. In addition, CME has a client
service hotline to handle clients’ feedback on the display
of their advertisements, including whether their advertisements
are displayed according to agreements and the color and sound
quality of the display of their advertisements. Further, CME has
two toll free
24-hour
service hot lines to handle feedback from or complaints by
passengers.
CME obtains copyrighted entertainment programs from Fujian
SouthEastern Satellite Television and Hunan Satellite
Television. Unless the copyright protection for the content CME
displays on its platform has expired and belongs to the public
domain where payment of royalties is no longer required, CME
pays royalties to relevant copyright holders, currently the
Audio and Video Publishing House of Fujian Province, to obtain
the right to display the content on its advertising platform.
For example, CME pays royalties to obtain the right to display
certain copyrighted films on its network. Such business practice
complies with the policy initiative by the TTAVC under the
Notice to establish a nationwide television system that displays
copyrighted programs on buses traveling on highways in China.
Patent
CME’s automated control systems received utility patent
protection granted by the State Intellectual Property Office to
Zheng Cheng, its chairman and chief executive officer for a term
of ten years beginning from July 16, 2005. Zheng Cheng and
Fujian Fenzhong executed a Patent Transfer Contract on
January 2, 2007, by which Zheng Cheng transferred the
patent to Fujian Fenzhong. Fujian Fenzhong submitted an
application to transfer such patent from Zheng Cheng to it on
January 2, 2007 and the registration of patent transfer
with State Intellectual Property Office of the PRC is still in
process. Moreover, on August 1, 2008, Zheng Cheng and
Fujian Fenzhong entered into a patent licensing agreement with
Hangzhou Yusong pursuant to which Hangzhou Yusong obtains a
license to manufacture CME’s equipment and control systems
based on CME’s patented technology.
No third parties, including other advertising network operators,
are permitted to use the technology protected by CME’s
patent to engage in their businesses.
Trademark
Zheng Cheng, CME’s chairman and chief executive officer,
submitted an application to register the graphic and characters
incorporated in its logo in Category 35 with the Trademark
Bureau in his own name on July 11, 2005. The Trademark
Bureau accepted his application on September 27, 2005 but
partly rejected the
application in December 2008. On December 29, 2008, Zheng
Cheng filed an application for review of the rejection, which is
still pending the examination of the Trademark Bureau. Zheng
Cheng transferred his application rights under such trademark
application to Fujian Express which was approved by the
Trademark Bureau on May 20, 2009.
The trademarks “Fenzhong TV” and “Mandefu”,
each owned by Zheng Cheng, have been registered with the
Trademark Bureau. On June 30, 2009, Zheng Cheng signed a
trademark transfer agreement with Fujian Express and transferred
his rights to these trademarks to Fujian Express. Such transfer
is subject to, and will become effective upon, approval of the
Trademark Bureau.
Fenzhong also filed, in its own name, applications for seven
trademarks it uses or intends to use in CME’s business in
Categories 35 and 38 on July 14, 2008. The Trademark Bureau
accepted these applications but has not issued the trademark
registration certificates to date.
Domain
name
CME has also registered the domain name for its website at
www.MediaExpress.cc with Computer Network Information Center
under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and www.gstv.cc with the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.
CME’s competes directly with existing smaller advertising
network operators who place their network on inter-city buses
that travel primarily between villages or on highways in China,
including Riri Express, Northern Express and Longyum Media
(Company has translated directly from Chinese) which are
believed to have less than 1,000 buses. In addition, CME
competes with other alternative advertising media, such as the
Internet, street furniture and frame, as well as traditional
advertising media, such as television, newspapers, magazines and
radio for overall advertising spending by its clients. CME also
competes for overall advertising spending by its clients with
new
out-of-home
advertising network operators including Focus Media, a
multi-platform digital media company with its primary platform
in office buildings or other building structure; VisionChina
Media, Towona and Bus Online, digital television advertising
network operators with their primary platforms on public mass
transportation systems; and AirMedia, a digital television
advertising network operator with its primary platform on
airplanes and airports.
In the future, CME may also face competition from new entrants
into the
out-of-home
advertising network sector. In addition, since December 2005,
the establishment of wholly foreign owned advertising companies
has been permitted and a large number of wholly foreign owned
advertising companies have been established since then. CME
believes China’s ongoing deregulation of its advertising
market will expose it to greater competition with existing or
new advertising companies in China, including PRC subsidiaries
of larger or better established multi-national companies that
may have more experience in the advertising industry and
significantly greater financial resources.
CME has entered into long-term framework agreements with 40
inter-city express bus operators in China. Moreover, in October
2007, CME became the sole strategic alliance partner designated
by Transport Television and Audio-Video Center, or TTAVC, being
the institution under the China Communication News Press, or
CCNP, which is an organization under the Ministry of Transport
of the People’s Republic of China. CME believes that its
status as the sole strategic partner, patented automated control
systems and well established management practices impose
relatively high entry barriers that limit competition and the
threat of new entrants. For risks relating to CME’s
maintenance of its status as the sole designated strategic
alliance partner by the TTAVC, see the section entitled
“RISK FACTORS — Risks Relating to CME —
If CME fails to compete successfully with existing and new
competitors, its business and results of operations may be
adversely affected”.
As of June 30, 2009, CME had a total of 156 employees
consisting of 5 senior management members overseeing its
business operations and development, 63 employees in
business operation, 40 employees in equipment installation
and maintenance, 16 employees in program production,
9 employees in finance, 8 employees in administration,
5 employees in human resources, 7 employees in client
service and 3 employees in procurement.
CME plans to hire additional employees in all functions as is
grows its business. CME maintains harmonious relationships with
its employees and has never experienced business interruption
resulting from a strike or any other forms of labor dispute
since its inception.
The remuneration package of CME’s employees includes salary
and bonus. In accordance with applicable PRC regulations, CME
participates in a pension contribution plan, a medical insurance
plan, an unemployment insurance plan, a personal injury
insurance plan and a housing reserve fund. For the years ended
December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, CME’s total
contribution for such employee benefits required by applicable
PRC regulations amounted to $296,000, $376,000 and $394,000,
respectively.
CME’s principal executive offices are located at its
headquarters comprising approximately 2,000 square meters
at 22/F, Wuyi Center, 33 East Street, Fuzhou, Fujian Province,
People’s Republic of China.
Except for mandatory vehicle insurance, CME does not maintain
any property insurance policies covering equipment and
facilities for losses due to earthquake, flood or any other
natural disasters. Consistent with customary industry practice
in China, CME does not maintain business interruption insurance
or key employee insurance for its executive officers. Uninsured
damage to any of its equipment or buildings or a significant
product liability claim could have a material adverse effect on
CME’s results of operations. See the section entitled
“RISK FACTORS — Risks Relating to CME”.
CME is currently not a party to any legal or administrative
proceedings and is not aware of any material pending or
threatened legal or administrative proceedings against it. CME
may from time to time become a party to various legal or
administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of its
business.
Under the Administrative Provision on Foreign Investment in the
Advertising Industry, jointly promulgated by the SAIC and MOFCOM
on March 2, 2004, or the 2004 Provision, foreign investors
can invest in PRC advertising companies either through wholly
owned enterprises or joint ventures with Chinese parties. Since
December 10, 2005, foreign investors have been allowed to
own up to 100% equity interest in PRC advertising companies.
However, the foreign investors must have at least three years of
direct operations outside China in the advertising industry as
their core business. This requirement is reduced to two years if
foreign investment in the advertising company is in the form of
a joint venture. Such requirement is also provided similarly in
the newly promulgated regulation that is to replace the 2004
provision from October 1, 2008 on, except that according to
the new regulation, the establishment of wholly foreign-owned
advertising, companies shall be approved by the SAIC or its
authorized provincial counterparts and provincial MOFCOM instead
of the SAIC and MOFCOM only. Foreign-invested advertising
companies can engage in advertising design, production,
publishing and agency, provided that certain conditions are met
and necessary approvals are obtained.
CME has not engaged in direct operations outside China in the
advertising industry as its core business. Therefore, its
subsidiary in China, Fujian Express, is ineligible to apply for
the required licenses for providing advertising services in
China. Its advertising business is operated by its significant
subsidiary in China, namely Fujian Fenzhong. Fujian Fenzhong is
currently owned by Zheng Cheng and Chunlan Bian. Fujian Fenzhong
holds the requisite licenses to provide advertising services in
China. Fujian Fenzhong directly operates its advertising
network, enters into long-term framework agreements with
inter-city express bus operators, and sells advertising time to
its clients. CME has been, and is expected to continue to be,
dependent on Fujian Fenzhong to operate its advertising
business. CME does not have any equity interest in Fujian
Fenzhong, but its subsidiary, Fujian Express, receives its
economic benefits through contractual arrangements.
CME has been advised by its PRC counsel, that each of the
contracts under the structure of its business operations in
China through contractual arrangements with Fujian Fenzhong and
its shareholders complies, and immediately after the completion
of the Transaction, will comply with all applicable PRC laws and
regulations and does not violate, breach, contravene or
otherwise conflict with any applicable PRC laws, rules or
regulations. However, there exist substantial uncertainties
regarding the application, interpretation and enforcement of
current and future PRC laws and regulations and its potential
effect on its corporate structure and contractual arrangements.
The interpretation of these laws and regulations are subject to
the discretion of competent PRC authorities. There can be no
assurance that the PRC regulatory authorities will not take a
view different from the opinions of its PRC counsel and
determine that its corporate structure and contractual
arrangements violate PRC laws, rules and regulations. In the
event that the PRC regulatory authorities determine in their
discretion that its corporate structure and contractual
arrangements violate applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations,
including restrictions on foreign investment in the advertising
industry in the future, CME may be subject to severe penalties,
including an order to cease its business operations.
Business
License for Advertising Companies
On October 27, 1994, the Tenth Session of the Standing
Committee of the Eighth National People’s Congress adopted
the Advertising Law which became effective on February 1,1995. According to the currently effective Advertising Law and
its various implementing rules, companies engaging in
advertising activities must obtain from the SAIC or its local
branches a business license which specifically includes within
its scope the operation of an advertising business. Companies
conducting advertising activities without such a license may be
subject to penalties, including fines, confiscation of
advertising income and orders to cease advertising operations.
The business license of an advertising company is valid for the
duration of its existence, unless the license is suspended or
revoked due to a violation of any relevant law or regulation.
CME has obtained such a business license from the local branches
of the SAIC as required by existing PRC regulations. CME does
not expect to encounter any difficulties in maintaining it
business license. However, if CME seriously violates the
relevant advertising laws and regulations, the SAIC or its local
branches may revoke its business license.
Out-of-Home
Advertising
The Advertising Law in China stipulates that the exhibition and
display of
out-of-home
advertisements must comply with certain requirements. It
provides that the exhibition and display of
out-of-home
advertisements must not:
•
utilize traffic safety facilities and traffic signs;
•
impede the use of public facilities, traffic safety facilities
and traffic signs;
•
obstruct commercial and public activities or create an
unpleasant sight in urban areas;
•
be placed in restrictive areas near government offices, cultural
landmarks or historical or scenic sites; or
•
be placed in areas prohibited by the local governments from
having
out-of-home
advertisements.
In addition to the Advertising Law, the SAIC promulgated the
Out-of-Home
Advertising Registration Administrative Regulations on
December 8, 1995, as amended on December 3, 1998 and
May 22, 2006, which
also governs the
out-of-home
advertising industry in China. Under these regulations,
out-of-home
advertisements in China must be registered with the local SAIC
before dissemination. The advertising distributors are required
to submit a registration application form and other supporting
documents for registration. After review and examination, if an
application complies with the requirements, the local SAIC will
issue an
Out-of-home
Advertising Registration Certificate for such advertisement. The
content, quantity, format, specifications, periods,
distributors’ name, and locations of dissemination of the
out-of-home
advertisement must be submitted for registration with the local
SAIC. A change of registration with local SAICs must be effected
in the event of a change in the distributor, the location of
dissemination, the periods, the content, the format, or the
specifications of the advertisements. It is unclear whether the
SAIC, or any of its local branches in the municipalities and
provinces covered by CME’s network, will deem CME’s
business as
out-of-home
advertising business, and thus require CME to obtain the
Out-of-Home
Advertising Registration Certificate. See the section entitled
“RISK FACTORS — Risks Relating to CME —
If the PRC government determines that CME was obligated to
register as an
out-of-home
advertising network operator, it may be subject to
administrative sanctions, including discontinuation of its
business for failure to complete such registration”.
In addition, on December 6, 2007, SARFT promulgated the
December 2007 Notice pursuant to which the broadcasting of audio
and visual programs, including news, drama series, sports,
technology, entertainment and other programs, through radio and
television networks, the Internet and other information systems
affixed to vehicles and buildings and in airports, bus and
railway stations, shopping malls, banks, hospitals and other
out-of-home
public media is subject to approval by the SARFT. The December
2007 Notice requires the local branches of SARFT to investigate
and record any organization or company engaging in the
activities described in the December 2007 Notice without any
permissions, send written notices to such organizations or
companies demanding their compliance with the December 2007
Notice, and report the results of such investigations to SARFT
by January 15, 2008. CME has not received any notice from
the SARFT or any of its local branch demanding its compliance
with the December 2007 Notice. For risks relating to the
December 2007 Notice, see the section entitled “RISK
FACTORS — Risks Relating to CME — CME may
be required to obtain an approval from the PRC State
Administration of Radio, Film and Television, or SARFT, under
the Notice on Strengthening the Administration of Audio and
Visual Media on Vehicles, Buildings and Other Public Arena, or
December 2007 Notice, or be required to remove entertainment
programs from its advertising network”.
Advertising
Content
PRC advertising laws, rules and regulations set forth certain
content requirements for advertisements in China including,
among other things, prohibitions on false or misleading content,
superlative wording, socially destabilizing content or content
involving obscenities, superstition, violence, discrimination or
infringement of the public interest. Advertisements for
anesthetic, psychotropic, toxic or radioactive drugs are
prohibited. There are also specific restrictions and
requirements regarding advertisements that relate to matters
such as patented products or processes, pharmaceutical products,
medical procedures, alcohol, tobacco, and cosmetics. In
addition, all advertisements relating to pharmaceuticals,
medical instruments, agrochemicals and veterinary
pharmaceuticals, together with any other advertisements which
are subject to censorship by administrative authorities
according to relevant laws or regulations, must be submitted to
relevant authorities for content approval prior to dissemination.
Advertisers, advertising operators, including advertising
agencies, and advertising distributors are required by PRC
advertising laws and regulations to ensure that the content of
the advertisements they prepare or distribute is true and in
full compliance with applicable law. In providing advertising
services, advertising operators and advertising distributors
must review the supporting documents provided by advertisers for
advertisements and verify that the content of the advertisements
complies with applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations. Prior
to distributing advertisements that are subject to government
censorship and approval, advertising distributors are obligated
to verify that such censorship has been performed and approval
has been obtained. Violation of these regulations may result in
penalties, including fines, confiscation of advertising income,
orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders
to publish an advertisement correcting the misleading
information. In circumstances involving serious violations, the
SAIC or its local branches may
revoke violators’ licenses or permits for their advertising
business operations. Furthermore, advertisers, advertising
operators or advertising distributors may be subject to civil
liability if they infringe on the legal rights and interests of
third parties in the course of their advertising business.
CME does not believe that advertisements containing content
subject to restriction or censorship comprise a material portion
of the advertisements displayed on its network. However, there
can be no assurance that each advertisement displayed on
CME’s network complies with relevant PRC advertising laws
and regulations. See the section entitled “RISK
FACTORS — Risks Relating to CME — Failure
to comply with PRC laws and regulations relating to
advertisement content restrictions governing the advertising
industry in China may result in severe penalties and civil
liabilities”.
Regulation
on Intellectual Property
Regulation
on Trademark
The Trademark Law of the PRC was adopted at the
24th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Fifth
National People’s Congress on August 23, 1982 and
amended on February 22, 1993 and October 27, 2001. The
Trademark Law sets out the guidelines on administration of
trademarks and protection of the exclusive rights of trademark
owners. In order to enjoy an exclusive right to use a trademark,
one must register the trademark with the Trademark Bureau of the
SAIC and obtain a registration certificate.
Zheng Cheng, CME’s chairman and chief executive officer,
submitted an application to register the graphic and characters
incorporated in its logo in category 35 with the Trademark
Bureau in his own name on July 11, 2005. The Trademark
Bureau accepted his application on September 27, 2005 but
partly rejected the application in December 2008. On
December 29, 2008, Zheng Cheng filed an application for
review of the rejection, which is still pending the examination
of the Trademark Bureau. Zheng Cheng transferred his rights
under such trademark application to Fujian Express which was
approved by the Trademark Bureau on May 20, 2009.
Another two of Zheng Cheng’s trademarks “Fenzhong
TV” and “Mandefu” have been registered with the
Trademark Bureau, and licensed to Fujian Express and Fujian
Fenzhong pursuant to the trademark license agreements between
Zheng Cheng, Fujian Express and Fujian Fenzhong dated
August 1, 2008.
Fujian Fenzhong also filed, in its own name, applications for
seven trademarks it uses or intends to use during the business
operation in Categories 35 and 38 on July 14, 2008. The
Trademark Bureau accepted these applications but has not issued
the trademark registration certificates to date.
Regulation
on Patent
The Patent Law of the PRC was adopted at the 4th Meeting of
the Standing Committee of the Sixth National People’s
Congress on March 12, 1984 and subsequently amended in 1992
and 2000. The Patent Law extends protection to three kinds of
patent: invention patent, utility patent and design patent.
According to the Implementing Regulations of the Patent Law,
promulgated by the State Council of the PRC on December 28,2002 and effective on February 1, 2003, an invention patent
refers to a new technical solution relating to a product, a
process or improvement. When compared to existing technology, an
invention patent has prominent substantive features and
represents notable progress. A utility patent refers to any new
technical solution relating to the shape, the structure, or
their combination, of a product. Utility patents are granted for
products only, not processes. A design patent (or industrial
design) refers to any new design of the shape, pattern or color
of a product or their combinations, that create an aesthetic
feeling and are suitable for industrial application. Inventors
or designers must register with the State Intellectual Property
Office to obtain patent protection. The term of protection is
twenty years for invention patents and ten years for utility
patents and design patents. Unauthorized use of patent
constitutes an infringement and the patent holders are entitled
to claims of damages, including royalties, to the extent
reasonable, and lost profits.
CME’s automated control systems obtained utility patent
protection from the State Intellectual Property Office on
August 9, 2006 for a term of ten years beginning from
July 16, 2005. CME’s patented automated
control systems are designed to automatically initiate its
entertainment programs and advertisements through the opening
and closing of the electric doors on the buses.
Regulation
on Copyright
The Copyright Law of the PRC was adopted at the
15th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh
National People’s Congress on September 7, 1990 and
amended on October 27, 2001. Unlike patent and trademark
protection, copyrighted works do not require registration for
protection in China. However, copyright owners may wish to
voluntarily register with China’s National Copyright
Administration to establish evidence of ownership in the event
enforcement actions become necessary. Consent from the copyright
owners and payment of royalties are required for the use of
copyrighted works. Copyrights of movies or other audio or video
works usually expire fifty years after their first publication.
CME is the sole strategic alliance partner designated by TTAVC
to establish a nationwide in-vehicle television system that
displays copyrighted programs on buses traveling on highways in
China. Unless the copyright protection for the content CME
displays on its platform has expired and belongs to the public
domain where payment of royalties is no longer required, CME
pays royalties or other forms of consideration to relevant
copyright holders to obtain the right to display the content on
its advertising platform. CME expects to continue to receive
additional copyrighted contents from its third-party content
suppliers in the future.
Regulations
on Foreign Currency Exchange
Foreign
Currency Exchange
Pursuant to the Foreign Currency Administration Rules
promulgated on August 5, 2008 and various regulations
issued by SAFE and other relevant PRC government authorities,
RMB is freely convertible only to the extent of current account
items, such as trade-related receipts and payments, interest and
dividends. Capital account items, such as direct equity
investments, loans and repatriation of investment, require the
prior approval from SAFE or its local branch for conversion of
RMB into a foreign currency, such as U.S. dollars, and
remittance of the foreign currency outside the PRC. Payments for
transactions that take place within the PRC must be made in RMB.
Domestic companies or individuals can repatriate foreign
currency payments received from abroad or deposit these payments
abroad subject to applicable regulations that expressly require
repatriation within certain period. Foreign-invested enterprises
may retain foreign exchange in accounts with designated foreign
exchange banks. Foreign currencies received under current
account items can be either retained or sold to financial
institutions engaged in the foreign exchange settlement or sales
business without prior approval from SAFE by complying with
relevant regulations. Foreign exchange income under capital
account can be retained or sold to financial institutions
engaged in foreign exchange settlement and sales business, with
prior approval from SAFE unless otherwise provided.
The business operations of CME, which are subject to the foreign
currency exchange regulations, have all been in accordance with
these regulations. CME will take steps to ensure that its future
operations are in compliance with these regulations.
Foreign
Exchange Registration of Offshore Investment by PRC
Residents
Pursuant to SAFE’s Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning
Foreign Exchange Administration for PRC Residents to Engage in
Financing and Inbound Investment via Overseas Special Purpose
Vehicles, or Circular No. 75, issued on October 21,2005 and effective on November 1, 2005, (i) a PRC
resident, including a PRC resident natural person or a PRC
company, shall register with the local branch of SAFE before it
establishes or controls an overseas SPV for the purpose of
overseas equity financing (including convertible debt
financing); (ii) when a PRC resident contributes the assets
of or its equity interests in a domestic enterprise to an SPV,
or engages in overseas financing after contributing assets or
equity interests to an SPV, such PRC resident shall register his
or her interest in the SPV and the change thereof with the local
SAFE branch; and (iii) when the SPV undergoes a material
event outside China, such as a change in share capital, or
merger or acquisition, the PRC resident shall, within
30 days of the occurrence of such event, register such
change with the local branch
of SAFE. PRC residents who are shareholders of SPVs established
before November 1, 2005 were required to register with the
local SAFE branch before March 31, 2006. Such deadline has
been further extended by the Circular 106.
Under Circular No. 75, failure to comply with the
registration procedures set forth above may result in penalties,
including restrictions on a PRC subsidiary’s foreign
exchange activities in capital accounts and its ability to
distribute dividends to the SPV. On May 29, 2007, SAFE
issued Circular 106 as the implementing rules of Circular 75,
which provides more detailed provisions and requirements for the
registration procedures.
CME’s affiliates subject to the SAFE registration
requirements have informed CME of their registrations with SAFE,
and to CME’s knowledge, its shareholders
and/or
beneficial owners subject to the SAFE registration requirements
have registered with SAFE. The failure of these shareholders
and/or
beneficial owners to timely amend their SAFE registrations
pursuant to the Circular No. 75 or the failure of future
shareholders
and/or
beneficial owners of CME who are PRC residents to comply with
the registration procedures set forth in the Circular
No. 75 may subject such shareholders, beneficial owners
and/or
CME’s PRC operating companies to fines and legal sanctions.
Any such failure may also limit CME’s ability to contribute
additional capital into its PRC operating companies, limit
CME’s PRC operating companies’ ability to distribute
dividends to CME or otherwise adversely affect CME’s
business.
On December 25, 2006, the People’s Bank of China
promulgated the “Measures for the Administration of
Individual Foreign Exchange,” and on January 5, 2007,
SAFE promulgated the implementation rules on those measures.
These regulations became effective on February 1, 2007.
Pursuant to these regulations, PRC citizens who are granted
shares or share options by an overseas listed company according
to its employee share option or share option plan are required,
through a qualified PRC agent which may be the PRC subsidiary of
such overseas listed company, to register with the SAFE and
complete certain other procedures related to the share option or
share option plan. Foreign exchange income received from the
sale of shares or dividends distributed by the overseas listed
company must be remitted into a foreign currency account of such
PRC citizen or be exchanged into RMB. In addition, Circular 106
requires a PRC resident to make the SPV filing together with the
employee stock option filing. Moreover, the PRC resident is
required to make an amendment to the previous filings when he or
she exercises his or her employee stock options.
Dividend
Distribution
The principal laws, rules and regulations governing dividends
paid by PRC operating subsidiaries include the Company Law of
the PRC (1993), as amended in 2006, the Wholly Foreign Owned
Enterprise Law (1986), as amended in 2000, and the Wholly
Foreign Owned Enterprise Law Implementation Rules (1990), as
amended in 2001. Under these laws and regulations, PRC
subsidiaries, including wholly owned foreign enterprises, or
WFOEs, and domestic companies in China, may pay dividends only
out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in
accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In
addition, CME’s PRC significant subsidiaries, including
WFOEs and domestic companies, are required to set aside at least
10% of their after-tax profit based on PRC accounting standards
each year to their statutory capital reserve fund until the
cumulative amount of such reserve reaches 50% of their
respective registered capital. These reserves are not
distributable as cash dividends.
After the Transaction, TM and CME may each be considered to be
“resident enterprise” under the EIT Law and could be
subject to the uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate for its
global income. See section entitled “Tax” below (if
they are considered “non-resident enterprise” under
the EIT Law, they may be subject to the enterprise income tax
rate of 10% on their income sourced from China). As a result,
the amount available for distribution to TM’s stockholders
would be reduced.
Tax
On March 16, 2007, the Fifth Session of the Tenth National
People’s Congress of PRC passed the Enterprise Income Tax
Law of the People’s Republic of China, or EIT Law, which
became effective on January 1, 2008. On November 28,2007, the State Council at the 197th Executive Meeting
passed the Regulation on the Implementation of the Enterprise
Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China (the
“Implementation Rules”), which became effective on
January 1, 2008. The EIT Law adopted a uniform tax rate of
25% for all enterprises (including foreign-invested enterprises)
and revoked the existing tax exemption, reduction and
preferential treatments applicable to foreign-invested
enterprises. However, there is a transition period for
enterprises, whether foreign-invested or domestic, that received
preferential tax treatments granted by relevant tax authorities
prior to the effectiveness of the EIT Law. Enterprises that were
subject to an enterprise income tax rate lower than 25% may
continue to enjoy the lower rate and gradually transit to the
new tax rate within five years after the effective date of the
EIT Law.
Under the EIT Law, enterprises are classified as either
“resident enterprises” or “non-resident
enterprises.” Pursuant to the EIT Law and the
Implementation Rules, enterprises established under PRC laws, or
enterprises established outside China whose “de facto
management bodies” are located in China, are considered
“resident enterprises” and subject to the uniform 25%
enterprise income tax rate for their global income. According to
the Implementation Rules, “de facto management body”
refers to a managing body that in practice exercises overall
management and control over the production and business,
personnel, accounting and assets of an enterprise. CME’s
management is currently based in China and is expected to remain
in China in the future. In addition, although the EIT Law
provides that “dividends, bonuses and other equity
investment proceeds between qualified resident enterprises”
is exempted income, and the Implementation Rules refer to
“dividends, bonuses and other equity investment proceeds
between qualified resident enterprises” as the investment
proceeds obtained by a resident enterprise from its direct
investment in another resident enterprise, however, it is
unclear whether CME’s circumstance is eligible for
exemption.
Furthermore, the EIT Law and Implementation Rules provide that
the “non-resident enterprises” are subject to the
enterprise income tax rate of 10% on their income sourced from
China, if such “non-resident enterprises” (i) do
not have establishments or premises of business in China or
(ii) have establishments or premises of business in China,
but the relevant income does not have actual connection with
their establishments or premises of business in China. Such
income tax may be exempted or reduced by the State Council of
the PRC or pursuant to a tax treaty between China and the
jurisdictions in which the non-resident enterprise reside. Under
the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement between Hong Kong and
Mainland China and the Notice on Certain Issues with Respect to
the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties issued on
February 20, 2009 by the State Administration of Taxation,
if the Hong Kong resident enterprise owns more than 25% of the
equity interest in a company in China for at least
12 months before receiving dividends from the company in
China, the 10% withholding tax on the dividends the Hong Kong
resident enterprise received from such company in China is
reduced to 5%. If CME is considered as a Hong Kong resident
enterprise under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement and is
considered as a “non-resident enterprise” under the
EIT Law, the dividends paid to CME by Fujian Express may be
subject to the reduced income tax rate of 5% under the Double
Tax Avoidance Arrangement. However, based on the Notice on
Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend
Provisions in Tax Treaties, if the relevant PRC tax authorities
determine, in their discretion, that a company benefits from
such reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement
that is primarily tax-driven, such PRC tax authorities may
adjust the preferential tax treatment.
Provisions
Regarding Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by
Foreign Investors
On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including
the CSRC, MOC, SASAC, SAT, SAIC, and SAFE, jointly promulgated a
rule entitled Provisions Regarding Mergers and Acquisitions of
Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A rule,
which became effective on September 8, 2006, to regulate
foreign investment in PRC domestic enterprises. The M&A
rule provides that the MOC must be notified in advance of any
change-of-control
transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC
domestic enterprise and any of the following situations exist:
(i) the transaction involves an important industry in
China; (ii) the transaction may affect national
“economic security”; or (iii) the PRC domestic
enterprise has a well-known trademark or historical Chinese
trade name in China. The M&A rule also contains a provision
purporting, among other things, to require offshore SPVs formed
for the purpose of overseas listing of equity interests in PRC
companies and controlled directly or indirectly by PRC companies
or PRC individuals, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to
listing and trading their securities on overseas stock
exchanges. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published
guidelines with respect to this provision of the M&A rule.
To date, the application of this new M&A rule is unclear.
CME’s PRC counsel, Han Kun Law Offices, has advised CME
that:
•
the CSRC approval required under the M&A rule applies to
SPVs that, for purposes of achieving overseas listing, acquire
the equity interests in PRC companies through share
exchanges; and
•
based on their understanding of the current PRC laws, rules and
regulations and the M&A rule, unless there are new PRC laws
and regulations or clear requirements from the CSRC in any form
that require the prior approval of the CSRC for the listing and
trading of any overseas SPV’s securities on an overseas
stock exchange, the M&A rule does not require that CME
obtain prior CSRC approval for the listing and trading of CME on
the NYSE Amex because CME completed its reorganization whereby
Fujian Express was established as a wholly foreign owned
enterprise and the restructuring between Fujian Express and
Fujian Fenzhong was carried out prior to September 8, 2006,
the effective date of the M&A rule.
However, the interpretation and application of the M&A rule
remain unclear, and the PRC government authorities have the sole
discretion to determine whether the Transaction is subject to
the approval of the CSRC. If the CSRC or another PRC regulatory
agency subsequently determines that CSRC approval is required
for the Transaction, CME cannot predict how long it would take
to obtain the approval. In addition, CME may need to apply for a
remedial approval from the CSRC and may be subject to certain
administrative or other sanctions from these regulatory agencies.
Further, new rules and regulations or relevant interpretations
may be issued from time to time that may require CME to obtain
retroactive approval from the CSRC in connection with the
business combination. If this were to occur, CME’s failure
to obtain or delay in obtaining the CSRC approval for the
business combination would subject CME to sanctions imposed by
the CSRC and other PRC regulatory agencies. These sanctions
could include fines and penalties on CME’s operations in
China, restrictions or limitations on CME’s ability to pay
dividends outside of China, and other forms of sanctions that
may materially and adversely affect CME’s business, results
of operations and financial condition.
If the CSRC or another PRC regulatory agency subsequently
determines that CSRC approval is required for the business
combination, CME may need to apply for a remedial approval from
the CSRC and may be subject to certain administrative
punishments or other sanctions from these regulatory agencies.
New rules and regulations or relevant interpretations may
require that CME retroactively obtain approval from the CSRC in
connection with the business combination. If this were to occur,
CME’s failure to obtain or delay in obtaining the CSRC
approval for the Transaction would subject CME to sanctions
imposed by the CSRC and other PRC regulatory agencies. These
sanctions could include fines and penalties on CME’s
operations in China, restrictions or limitations on CME’s
ability to pay dividends outside of China, and other forms of
sanctions that may materially and adversely affect CME’s
business, results of operations and financial condition.
The new regulations also established additional procedures and
requirements expected to make merger and acquisition activities
in China by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex,
including requirements in some instances that the MOC be
notified in advance of any
change-of-control
transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC
domestic enterprise. These rules may also require the approval
from the MOC where overseas companies established or controlled
by PRC enterprises or residents acquire affiliated domestic
companies. Complying with the requirements of the new
regulations to complete such transactions could be
time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including
MOC approval, may delay or inhibit CME’s ability to
complete such transactions, which could affect CME’s
ability to expand its business.
The following selected condensed consolidated statement of
operations data for years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and
2008 condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of
December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, have been derived from
CME’s audited consolidated financial statements included
elsewhere in this proxy statement, which have been audited by
A.J. Robbins, P.C., an independent registered public
accounting firm, and were prepared and presented in accordance
with U.S. GAAP. The following selected condensed
consolidated statements of operations data for six months ended
June 30, 2008 and 2009, and the condensed consolidated
balance sheet data as of June 30, 2009 have been derived
from CME’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated
financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement.
CME has prepared the unaudited interim condensed consolidated
financial statements on the same basis as CME’s audited
consolidated financial statements. The unaudited interim
condensed consolidated financial statements include all
adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring
adjustments, which CME considers necessary for a fair
presentation of CME’s financial position and operating
results for the period presented.
You should read the selected consolidated financial data in
conjunction with CME’s financial statements and the related
notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations of CME”
included elsewhere in this proxy statement. CME’s
historical results do not necessarily indicate CME’s
expected results for any future periods.
You should read the following discussion and analysis of
CME’s financial condition and results of operations in
conjunction with the section entitled “Selected
Consolidated Financial and Operating Data” and CME’s
consolidated financial statements and the related notes included
elsewhere in this proxy statement. This discussion contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
CME’s actual results and the timing of selected events
could differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements as a result of various factors,
including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and
elsewhere in this proxy statement.
CME, through contractual arrangements with Fujian Fenzhong, an
entity majority owned by CME’s majority shareholder,
operates the largest television advertising network on
inter-city express buses in China. All references in this Proxy
Statement to “CME’s advertising network”,
“CME’s customers”, CME’s operations in
general and similar connotations, refer to Fujian Fenzhong, an
entity which is controlled by CME through contractual agreements
and which operates the advertising network. While CME has no
direct equity ownership in Fujian Fenzhong, through the
contractual agreements CME receives the economic benefits of
Fujian Fenzhong’s operations. See the sections entitled
“RISK FACTORS — Risks Related to CME’s
Corporate Structure” and “CME’S CORPORATE
STRUCTURE — Contractual Arrangements”. CME
generates revenues by selling advertising on its network of
television displays installed on inter-city express buses in
China. As of July 31, 2008, CME’s advertising network
accounted for 81% of all inter-city express buses installed with
hard disk drive players, and 55% of all inter-city express buses
installed with any type of television display, according to CTR
Market Research. CME commenced its advertising services business
in November 2003 as one of the first participants in advertising
on inter-city express buses in China. CME believes its early
entry into this business has enabled them to achieve an audience
reach that is highly attractive to advertisers.
CME’s extensive and growing network covers inter-city
express bus services originating in China’s most prosperous
regions. As of June 30, 2009, CME’s network covered
inter-city express bus services originating in eleven regions,
including the four municipalities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin
and Chongqing and seven economically prosperous provinces,
namely Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan, Anhui, Hubei and
Hebei. These eleven regions in aggregate generated nearly half
of China’s gross domestic product, or GDP, in 2007,
according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China.
CME’s network is capable of reaching a substantial and
growing audience. In the first seven months of 2008, a monthly
average of 53 million passengers traveled on inter-city
express buses within CME’s network, representing 57% of all
passengers traveling on inter-city express buses installed with
television displays in China, according to CTR Market Research.
Many of the cities connected in CME’s network are major
transportation hubs, which serve as points of transfer for large
numbers of leisure, business and other travelers in China to
other modes of transportation. CME’s network also includes
airport buses connecting major cities to airports and tour buses
traveling on routes that connect major cities with popular
tourist destinations in China. As of June 30, 2009,
CME’s network covered six of the seven transportation hubs
designated by the Ministry of Transport, and CME expects to
further increase this percentage as it continues to expand the
geographic coverage of its network. In addition to major
transportation hubs, the network also covers small to
medium-sized cities in China, some of which rely on highway
transportation as the primary transportation option for
connection outside these cities.
CME has entered into long-term framework agreements with 40 bus
operator partners for terms ranging from five to eight years.
Pursuant to these agreements, CME pays the bus operators
concession fees for the right to install its displays and
automated control systems inside their buses and display
entertainment content and advertisements. CME’s
entertainment content is provided by third parties and
advertisements provided by its clients. CME obtains a wide range
of free entertainment content from Fujian SouthEastern
Television Channel and Hunan Satellite Television each month and
purchases a limited amount of copyrighted programs from time to
time.
In October 2007, CME entered into a five-year cooperation
agreement with an entity affiliated with the Ministry of
Transport of the People’s Republic of China to be the sole
strategic alliance partner in the establishment of a nationwide
in-vehicle television system that displays copyrighted programs
on buses traveling on highways in China. The cooperation
agreement also gave CME exclusive rights to display
advertisements on the system. In November 2007, this entity
issued a notice regarding the facilitation of implementation of
the system contemplated under the cooperation agreement to
municipalities, provinces and transportation enterprises in
China. CME believes its status as the sole strategic alliance
partner designated by an entity affiliated with the Ministry of
Transport and the exclusive rights to display advertisements on
the system has facilitated its historical expansion and is
expected to continue to provide them with a competitive
advantage in the future.
CME believes its network is a highly effective advertising
medium. The network is capable of reaching audiences on
inter-city express buses while they remain in a comfortable and
enclosed environment with minimal distraction. The majority of
the inter-city express buses within the network are equipped
with leather seats and air-conditioning, providing a comfortable
environment which makes the audiences more receptive to the
content displayed on CME’s network. Inter-city travel in
China typically takes a number of hours. Audiences are therefore
exposed to the content displayed on its advertising platform for
a significantly longer period of time than on shorter-distance
travel. In addition, CME’s patented automated control
systems ensure that the programs and advertisements are
displayed continuously throughout the journey.
CME has grown significantly since it commenced its advertising
services business in November 2003. During the year ended
December 31, 2008, more than 400 advertisers had purchased
advertising time on CME’s network either through
advertising agents or directly from CME. Some of these clients
have purchased advertising time from CME for more than three
years, including Hitachi, China Telecom, Toyota, Siemens and
China Pacific Life Insurance. CME has attracted several
well-known international and national brands to its advertising
network, including Coca Cola, Pepsi, Wahaha, Siemens, Hitachi,
China Telecom, China Mobile, China Post, Toyota, Bank of China
and China Pacific Life Insurance. For the years ended
December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, CME generated total net
revenues of $4.0 million, $25.8 million and
$63.0 million, respectively. During the same periods, CME
had net income of $0.9 million, $7.0 million and
$26.4 million, respectively.
CME commenced operations in the advertising industry through
Fujian Fenzhong in November 2003. Fujian Fenzhong was formerly
known as Fuzhou Mandefu Food Co., Ltd., a limited liability
company established in China on May 31, 2002 and
subsequently changed its names to Fuzhou Fenzhong Media Co.,
Ltd. and Fujian Fenzhong Media Co., Ltd. on November 17,2003 and January 21, 2008, respectively. On
February 16, 2007, Zheng Cheng, CME’s founder,
chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer,
transferred a 40.5% equity interest in Fujian Fenzhong to
Thousand Space Holdings Limited, which is 100% beneficially
owned by Ou Wen Lin. As a result, Zheng Cheng and Chunlan Bian,
a director and the mother of Zheng Cheng, in the aggregate own
the remaining 59.5% interest in Fujian Fenzhong. Fujian Fenzhong
holds the licenses and permits necessary to operate CME’s
Businesses and provide CME’s advertising services in China.
Fujian Express was incorporated in China on June 23, 2003
and is 100% owned by CME. Fujian Express was formerly known as
Fuzhou Shoushan Waterfall Group EM Polder Co., Ltd. and changed
to its current name on July 10, 2008.
Due to PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investments in the
advertising industry in China, CME operates its advertising
business in China through Fujian Fenzhong. CME’s
relationships with Fujian Fenzhong and its shareholders are
governed by a series of contractual arrangements that allow CME
to effectively control and derive economic benefits from Fujian
Fenzhong. See the section entitled “CME’s CORPORATE
STRUCTURE”. As a result, CME treats Fujian Fenzhong as its
significant subsidiary for accounting purposes and has
consolidated its historical financial results in CME’s
financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In
addition, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, CME’s
consolidated financial statements have been
prepared as if the current corporate structure had been in
existence throughout the period presented and all transactions
between CME and CME’s significant subsidiaries have been
eliminated upon consolidation.
CME’s Business, financial condition and results of
operations are significantly affected by a number of factors and
trends, including:
The
overall economic growth and growth in demand for advertising in
China
The demand for CME’s advertising services is expected to be
driven in part by the overall economic growth and consumer
spending in China, which CME expects to contribute to an
increase in advertising spending by advertisers. According to
the National Bureau of Statistics of China, China was the third
largest economy in the world in 2008 with a GDP of
RMB30.1 trillion, which amounted to $4.4 trillion. In
addition, the annual disposable income per capita in urban
households increased from RMB7,703 in 2002 to RMB15,781 in 2008,
representing a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 12.7%.
China has the largest advertising market in Asia, excluding
Japan, and is the fifth largest advertising market in the world
in 2007 by media expenditure. According to ZenithOptimedia,
advertising spending in China in 2007 was approximately
$15.4 billion, accounting for 15.6% of the total
advertising spending in the Asia-Pacific region. ZenithOptimedia
also projected that the advertising market in China will be one
of the fastest growing advertising markets in the world, at a
CAGR of 12.8% from 2007 to 2011. By 2011, China is projected to
account for 19.6% of the total advertising spending in the
Asia-Pacific region.
Concession
Fees
Concession fees constitute a significant portion of CME’s
cost of sales. CME’s ability to maintain or increase
profitability as it grows is dependent on, among other things,
securing additional concession rights with new inter-city
express bus operator partners and maintaining its concession
rights with existing bus operator partners on commercially
favorable terms.
CME has entered into framework agreements with its 40 existing
bus operator partners for terms ranging from five to eight
years. Every year CME enters into contracts with these bus
operators, which specify the concession fee for that year based
on the number of buses and the concession fees per bus agreed
for the year. The framework agreements specify the permissible
range of annual increase in concession fees per bus, which is in
all cases between a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 30%.
CME pays concession fees to its bus operator partners on a
monthly basis. However, the total estimated concession fees
payable under each long-term framework agreement are charged to
its consolidated statement of income as concession fees on a
straight-line basis over the duration of the agreement.
The factors that affect the concession fee cost charged to
CME’s consolidated statement of income therefore include
the following:
•
The number of buses of its existing bus operator
partners. The number of buses may change from
time to time depending on its bus operator partners’
expansion plans, which is beyond CME’s control. The number
of buses affects its concession fee payments for the year, and
therefore the basis on which CME estimates future concession fee
payments, and the concession fee cost charged to its
consolidated statement of income. An increase in the number of
buses in its network will increase CME’s concession fee
payments and concession fee cost, but will also enable CME to
charge higher advertising rates.
•
Concession agreements with new bus operator
partners. As CME signs concession agreements with
new bus operator partners, the number of buses in its network
will increase and so will its concession fee payments, the
estimated future concession fee payments and the concession fee
cost charged to its consolidated statement of income.
•
Concession fee per bus. CME renegotiates its
concession fees per bus annually with its existing bus operator
partners, with a permissible increase of between 10% and 30% as
stipulated in the long-term
framework agreements. The agreed concession fee per bus affects
the concession fee payments for the year, and therefore the
basis on which CME estimates future concession fee payments, and
the concession fee cost charged to its consolidated statement of
income.
•
Estimated annual increase in concession fee per bus and in
the number of buses. The estimated total
concession fee payments over the life of the long-term framework
agreements are determined by the estimated increase in
concession fee per bus, and the estimated increase in number of
buses in the future. CME currently estimates that the concession
fee per bus will increase by 10% per annum over the life of the
agreements, based on the minimum increase stipulated in the
agreements. CME currently estimates that the number of buses
under existing agreements will not increase over the life of the
agreements. The amounts of actual concession fee payments and
the concession fee cost charged to its consolidated statement of
income are subject to increase if the annual concession fee per
bus increases by more than 10% or if its bus operator partners
increase the number of their inter-city express buses during the
life of the framework agreements.
CME believes the growth in its advertising revenues will exceed
the increase in its concession fee costs as it expands its
business. However, if the increase in the concession fee costs
in the future exceeds the increase in its revenues, CME’s
profitability would be adversely affected.
Advertising
time available for sale
CME generates its revenues by selling advertising time slots on
its network placed on inter-city express buses. CME sells its
advertising time slots by the number of minutes or seconds in a
particular municipality or province for a period of a few months
to one year. Moreover, although inter-city express buses
carrying its network frequently travel across municipalities and
provinces in China, CME sells its advertising time slots based
on the municipality or province from which the buses depart.
Therefore, CME’s advertising time slots available for sale
are limited by the municipalities and provinces included in its
network. CME’s existing network comprises all four
municipalities, namely, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and
Chongqing, and seven economically prosperous provinces, namely,
Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan, Hebei, Anhui and Hubei.
CME’s advertising time available for sale can therefore be
increased by expanding its network to new regions or by
increasing the ratio of advertisements to entertainment content:
•
Expanding into new provinces. In 2007, CME
expanded its network to eight regions from one region in 2006,
thereby significantly increasing the advertising time available
for sale. In 2008, CME added three more regions, Anhui, Hubei
and Chongqing, to its network. By the end of 2009, CME plans to
expand into six more provinces: Shandong, Zhejiang, Hunan,
Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning. By the end of 2010, CME plans
to expand into another three provinces: Yunnan, Guangxi and
Shanxi.
•
Increasing the advertisements to entertainment content
ratio. By increasing the length of the
advertising time slot relative to the length of entertainment
content, CME can increase the amount of advertising time
available for sale. CME believes an optimal mix of
advertisements and entertainment content will enable it to
maximize revenues.
CME believes it will be able to grow its revenues both through
expanding into new regions and increasing the ratio of
advertisements relative to entertainment content.
Advertising
rates
The advertising rates CME charges directly affects its revenues.
CME’s actual rates are lower than the list prices because
CME usually offers its clients volume discounts at a certain
discount rate based on negotiations. CME list prices and actual
rates also vary from region to region.
The major factors that affect CME’s advertising rates
include the following:
•
The numbers of inter-city express buses within its network
for a particular region. The larger the number of
inter-city express buses within its network in a particular
region, the larger the potential passenger traffic, and
therefore audience size. CME believes there is a direct
relationship between the
number of inter-city express buses, and therefore potential
audience size, and the advertising rates that it can command. As
the number of inter-city express buses within its network in a
particular region grows, CME expects to be able to increase the
rates that it charges for advertising in that region. The number
of inter-city express buses within its network can either grow
through its existing bus operator partners’ expansion, or
by entering into agreements with new bus operator partners.
•
Local economic conditions. Local economic
conditions, including income levels and purchasing power,
influence the pricing of advertising locally, including
CME’s advertising rates. Generally, CME is able to command
higher advertising rates per bus (being average advertising
rates divided by number of buses) in the more affluent regions
in which it operates relative to less affluent regions.
•
Advertising rates charged by other media. The
rates charged by other media, including local satellite
television operators, affect the rates that CME charges. CME
believes its rates are currently set at a substantial discount
to rates charged by local television media, as indicated by
significantly lower CPM, or cost of reaching a thousand viewers,
of advertising on its network relative to advertising on local
television media. See the section entitled “INFORMATION
ABOUT HONG KONG MANDEFU HOLDING LIMITED — Competitive
Strengths”. CME believes this presents potential room for
future increases in its rates.
•
The effectiveness of advertising on its
network. CME believes its network is a highly
effective advertising medium. The large number of passengers on
inter-city express buses in China provide advertisers with a
large and growing target audience. Moreover, the displays
installed on inter-city express buses are often the only form of
media provided in such environments. Therefore, passengers are
more willing to watch the content on the displays and the
accompanying advertisements CME believes the effectiveness of
advertisements on its network directly influences the rates
advertisers are willing to pay.
•
The mix of advertising agency clients relative to direct
clients. CME generated all or substantially all
of its revenues from direct clients for the years ended
December 31, 2005 and 2006, whereas it generated a majority
of its revenues from advertising agency clients for the years
ended December 31, 2007 and 2008. This change in client mix
resulted in a decrease in the average advertising rates for the
year ended December 31, 2007 and 2008 compared to the years
ended December 31, 2005 and 2006 because CME typically
offers larger volume discounts for sales to advertising agency
clients than to direct clients. CME expects to continue to
generate a majority of its revenues from advertising agency
clients in the future.
•
Differentiated pricing of premium or specialty
advertising. CME currently displays
advertisements for ten minutes after every 30 minutes of
entertainment programs. Advertisers generally consider the first
few minutes of each advertising time slots to be more effective
than the remaining minutes of the ten-minute time slot. As a
result, CME intends to separately package the first minute or
the first few minutes of each advertising time slot for sale at
premium rates. In addition, CME intends to separate advertising
time slots on airport shuttle buses and tour buses for sale to
its clients at higher rates because advertisers are able to more
effectively target more affluent passengers on these vehicles.
CME believes the offering of such targeted advertising networks
will enable it to charge higher average advertising rates.
New
sources of revenues
CME intends to grow its revenues by broadening its revenue
sources through the following means:
•
Separate advertising time slots on airport shuttle buses,
tour buses and buses servicing the commute between supermarkets
and residential communities for sale to CME’s
clients. Currently, CME generates revenues from
selling advertising time slots on inter-city express buses,
including airport shuttle buses and tour buses. CME intends to
separately package advertising time slots on airport shuttle
buses, tour buses and buses servicing the commute between
supermarkets and residential communities for sale to CME’s
clients in the future. CME believes the division of target
audiences by
the purpose of their travels would enable advertisers to more
effectively target audiences of a more specific demographic
focus, and thereby be willing to pay higher rates relative to
advertising to an audience of the same size but with more varied
demographics. CME believes this initiative will therefore be
able to deliver incremental revenue.
•
Generate revenues from the display of soft advertisements
packaged as entertainment content. CME seeks to
generate revenues from displaying entertainment content which
are effectively soft advertisements, for a variety of products
and services. Examples of such advertisements include travel
programs featuring hotels, restaurants and tourist destinations,
and fashion shows featuring lines of clothing being the subject
of promotion.
•
Establish stationary advertising media. CME
intends to establish stationary advertising media at inter-city
express bus terminals to complement its business. In addition to
providing an additional source of revenue, CME expects this
expansion would increase the value of its network by increasing
the size of the audience reachable and by extending the exposure
for advertisers.
•
Offer new services to advertisers and
passengers. To better service the passengers
traveling on inter-city express buses carrying its network, CME
intends to handle bookings of hotels, spa resorts, restaurants
and other services through call centers or short messages in
collaboration with relevant service providers and share revenues
generated from such value-added service programs.
CME prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance
with U.S. GAAP, which requires CME to make judgments,
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
its assets and liabilities, the disclosure of its contingent
assets and liabilities at the end of each reporting period and
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during each
reporting period. CME continually evaluates these estimates and
assumptions based on the most recently available information,
CME’s own historical experiences and other factors that CME
believes to be relevant under the circumstances. Since
CME’s financial reporting process inherently relies on the
use of estimates and assumptions, CME’s actual results
could differ from its expectations. Certain accounting policies
require higher degrees of judgment, some of which are inherently
subjective and involve higher degrees of estimates and
assumptions, than others in their application, due to, among
other reasons, limited information available at the time
CME’s financial statement is prepared. To the extent that
the estimates used materially differ from actual results,
adjustments or restatements to the statement of operations and
corresponding balance sheet accounts could be necessary. CME
considers the policies discussed below to be critical to an
understanding of its consolidated financial statements because
they involve higher degrees of reliance on CME’s
management’s judgment.
When reading CME’s financial statements, you should
consider CME’s critical accounting policies, the judgment
and other uncertainties affecting the application of such
policies and the sensitivity of reported results to changes in
conditions and assumptions. CME believes the following
accounting policies involve the most significant judgment and
estimates used in the preparation of its financial statements.
CME has not made any material changes in the methodology used in
these accounting policies since it commenced operations in the
advertising industry in November 2003.
Revenue
Recognition
CME derives revenues from selling advertising time slots on its
network. CME recognizes revenues ratably over the contract
performance period during which the advertisements are
displayed, so long as collection of the fees remains probable.
In accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, CME considers the
following factors in its revenue recognition:
•
Whether persuasive evidence of an arrangement
exists. CME typically enter into short term
contracts with its advertising agency clients and its direct
advertising clients that require CME to display their
advertisements in exchange for a certain amount of advertising
fees specified in the contracts.
Whether the services have been rendered. CME
receives payments from its clients on a monthly basis based on
the advertisements displayed on its network in the preceding
month.
•
Whether the fees are fixed or
determinable. The advertising fees specified in
the contract are final and not subject to any subsequent
amendment.
•
Whether collectability is reasonably
assured. CME mitigates its collection risk by
evaluating the creditworthiness of its clients and monitoring
outstanding balances payable by CME’s clients. Therefore,
CME did not have significant bad debts during the periods
presented in its consolidated financial statements included
elsewhere in this proxy statement.
Depreciation
of Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and are
depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated
useful lives of the assets, which are 20 years for
buildings, ten years for motor vehicles and five years for
electronic and office equipment and media display equipment.
Repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred,
whereas the cost of renewals and betterment that extends the
useful lives of property, plant and equipment are capitalized as
additions to the related assets. Retirements, sales and
disposals of assets are recorded by removing the cost and
accumulated depreciation from the asset and accumulated
depreciation accounts with any resulting gain or loss reflected
in the consolidated statements of income.
Accrual
of Concession Fees
CME has entered into long-term framework agreements with more
than 40 inter-city express bus operators in China. Such
contracts provide for CME’s concession rights to install
its equipment and control systems inside their inter-city
express buses at CME’s own cost and CME pays the bus
operators participating in its network a pre-determined
concession fee. CME has entered into framework agreements with
all the bus operators participating in CME’s network for
terms ranging from five to eight years. CME enters into
contracts with these bus operators each year to update the
number of buses carrying its network and the concession fees per
bus for that year. The framework agreements specify the
permissible range of annual increase in concession fees per bus,
which is in all cases between a minimum of 10% and a maximum of
30%.
CME pays concession fees to the bus operators participating in
its network on a monthly basis. However, the total concession
fees payable under each long-term contract are charged to the
consolidated statements of operations as concession expenses on
a straight-line basis over the course of the contract period,
based on the assumption that the concession fees increase by 10%
per year. The differences between concession fee payments and
concession fee expenses charged to the consolidated statements
of income are accrued as liability or recorded as reversal to
the corresponding previously accrued liability.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
CME evaluates its long-lived assets or asset group with finite
lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying amount of a group of long-lived
assets may not be fully recoverable, such as a significant
adverse change in market conditions that will impact the future
use of the assets. When these events occur, CME evaluates the
impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to
future undiscounted net cash flows expected to result from the
use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of
the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying
amount of the assets, CME recognizes an impairment loss based on
the excess of the carrying amount of the asset group over its
fair value that is generally based on the expected discounted
cash flows using a risk-free rate. CME did not have any
impairment of long-lived assets during the periods presented in
CME’s consolidated financial statements included elsewhere
in this proxy statement.
CME accounts for the expected future tax consequences by
recognition of deferred income taxes arising from temporary
differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and
their reported amounts in the financial statements by applying
the statutory tax rates applicable under the EIT Law. CME
records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to
the value CME believes is more likely than not to be realized.
In the event CME was to determine that it would be able to
realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their
recorded amount, an adjustment to CME’s valuation allowance
would increase its income in the period such determination was
made. Likewise, if CME determines that it would not be able to
realize all or part of its net deferred tax assets in the
future, an adjustment to its valuation allowance would be
charged to its income in the period such determination is made.
Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the
laws of the relevant taxing authorities. CME remeasured its
deferred tax assets as a result of the reduction in tax rate
from 33% to 25% under the EIT Law and recognized a reduction in
income tax expenses of $0.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2007.
Leases
CME classifies leases at the inception of the lease as either a
capital lease or an operating lease. A lease is classified as a
capital lease if any of the following conditions is met
(i) the ownership of the leased property is transferred to
the lessee by the end of the lease term; (ii) there is a
bargaining purchase option; (iii) the lease term is at
least 75% of the property’s estimated remaining economic
life; or (iv) the present value of the minimum lease
payments at the beginning of the lease term is 90% or more of
the fair value of the leased property. All other leases are
accounted for as operating leases. A capital lease is accounted
for as if there was an acquisition of an asset and an incurrence
of an obligation at the inception of the lease. Rental payments
under an operating lease are expensed as incurred. CME did not
have any capital lease obligations during the periods presented
in its consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in
this proxy statement.
Earnings
per Share
CME calculates earnings per share in accordance with the
Statements of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS,
No. 128, “Earnings Per Share.” Basic earnings per
ordinary share is computed by dividing income attributable to
holders of ordinary shares by the weighted average number of
ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings
per ordinary share reflects the potential dilution that could
occur if securities or other contracts to issue ordinary shares
were exercised or converted into ordinary shares.
Comprehensive
Income
SFAS No. 130 “Reporting Comprehensive
Income” establishes standards for reporting and display of
comprehensive income, its components and accumulated balances.
Comprehensive income is defined to include all changes in equity
except those resulting from investments by and distributions to
owners. Among other disclosures, SFAS No. 130 requires
that all items that are required to be recognized under current
accounting standards as components of comprehensive income be
reported in a financial statement that is displayed with the
same prominence as other financial statements.
CME records its sales, net of business tax and related
surcharges (“net revenues”). CME generates advertising
service revenues from the sales of advertising time slots on its
digital television advertising network placed on inter-city
express buses. Fujian Fenzhong is subject to business tax and
other surcharges on the revenues arising from the provision of
advertising services in China. Other surcharges consist of
culture and education construction fees and embankment
protection fees for services provided in the PRC. The rates of
business tax, culture and education construction fees and
embankment protection fees are 5%, 3% and 0.09%, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, the
amount of business tax and other surcharges were
$0.4 million,
$2.4 million and $6.0 million, respectively. In
addition, CME offers its clients volume discounts from its list
price. CME records its advertising service revenues net of any
discounts it offers to its clients.
The geographic coverage of CME’s advertising network was
limited to Fujian for the years ended December 31, 2005 and
2006. CME significantly expanded its geographic coverage to
include Shanghai, Jiangsu, Beijing, Tianjin, Guangdong, Sichuan
and Hebei in the year ended December 31, 2007 and to
include Chongquing, Anhui and Hubei in the year ended
December 31, 2008. Partly as a result of such geographic
expansion, CME’s sales of advertising time slots increased
significantly from a total of 196 minutes in the year ended
December 31, 2006 to a total of 1,680 minutes in the year
ended December 31, 2007 and to a total of the 2,240 minutes
in the year ended December 31, 2008. CME believes it will
be able to continue to increase its revenues through the
geographic expansion of its network coverage.
CME sets its list prices by reference to a combination of
factors, including local economic conditions, the advertising
fees charged by other advertising media, including local
satellite television operators, and the number of inter-city
express buses carrying its network. Generally, the list prices
in Shanghai and Jiangsu are higher than those in Beijing,
Tianjin, Guangdong and Fujian, which, in turn, are higher than
those in Sichuan and Hebei. The actual selling prices are lower
than the list prices because CME usually offers its clients
volume discounts at a certain discount rate based on
negotiations with CME’s clients.
CME generates revenues from two types of clients: advertising
agencies which purchase advertising time slots from CME and
resell such time slots to advertisers and advertising clients
which directly purchase advertising time slots from CME. All of
CME’s clients in the year ended December 31, 2005 were
direct advertising clients. CME started to have advertising
agency clients in the year ended December 31, 2006 and the
top two clients in that year were advertising agency clients. In
the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, all of the top
ten clients were advertising agency clients. During the year
ended December 31, 2008, revenues generated from
advertising agency clients accounted for 97.7% of CME’s
total revenues whereas revenues generated from direct clients
accounted for the remaining 2.3% of CME’s total revenues.
In particular, revenues generated from the two advertising
agency clients with which CME has entered into long-term
framework agreements accounted for 16.7% and 13.3% of CME’s
total revenues in the year ended December 31, 2007, and
2008, respectively. Because the amount of purchases by
advertising agency clients is significantly larger than that by
direct advertising clients, advertising agency clients usually
enjoy greater volume discounts than direct advertising clients.
As advertising agency clients in CME’s client mix in
relation to direct clients continue to increase in the future,
CME believes its gross profit margins could be adversely
affected by the greater volume discounts CME offers to
advertising agency clients. On the other hand, CME incurs less
operating expenses for sales to advertising agency clients than
sales to direct advertising clients due to synergies arising
from a large amount of sales to one single advertising agency
client. As a result, CME believes its net profit margins could
increase in the future if CME is able to continue to reduce its
operating expenses as its advertising agency client base
continues to grow.
CME’s cost of sales consists of concession fees charged by
inter-city express bus operators, depreciation of CME’s
equipment and control systems, business tax and surcharges,
salary and other operating costs. The
Concession fees. Concession fees charged by
inter-city express bus operators amounted to 25.2%, 41.3% and
31.7% as a percentage of CME’s net revenues for the years
ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively, and
31.0% and 30.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and
2009, respectively. Such concession fees represented the largest
component of CME’s cost of sales, accounting for 66.3%,
81.0% and 79.6% for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007
and 2008, respectively, and 79.4% and 79.9% for the six months
ended June 30, 2008 and 2009, respectively. CME expects
concession fees to remain the largest component of its cost of
sales in the future.
The primary factors affecting CME’s concession costs
include its geographic coverage, the number of inter-city
express buses carrying its network and the unit concession fees
charged by inter-city express bus operators participating in
CME’s network. CME’s existing network consists of all
four municipalities and seven provinces and CME expects to enter
into six new provinces, namely Shandong, Zhejiang, Hunan,
Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning by the end of 2009 and three
new provinces namely Yunnan, Guangxi and Shaanxi by the end of
2010. Moreover, the framework agreements CME enters into with
all the inter-city express bus operators participating in its
network specify the permissible range of annual increase in the
concession fees per bus, which is in all cases between a minimum
of 10% and a maximum of 30%. CME charges concession fees payable
under such long-term agreements as concession expenses to the
consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis
over the course of the contract period, based on the assumption
that the concession fees increase by 10% per year. As CME
continues to expand the geographic coverage of its network and
the number of inter-city express buses carrying its network, CME
expects to incur a substantially increased amount of concession
fees in the future.
Depreciation. Depreciation for CME’s
equipment and control systems, which primarily include digital
television displays and hard disk drives, amounted to 8.5%, 6.2%
and 4.5% as a percentage of CME’s net revenues for the
years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively,
and 4.4% and 4.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2008
and 2009, respectively. CME procures digital television displays
and related equipment and control systems from Hangzhou Yusong.
CME also purchases digital television displays originally
installed on the inter-city express buses from some of the bus
operators participating in CME’s network to serve as
CME’s advertising platform. CME capitalizes the acquisition
cost of its digital television displays and hard disk drives and
recognize depreciation on a straight-line basis over the course
of their useful lives, which CME estimates to be five years.
The primary factors affecting CME’s depreciation include
the number of digital television displays and hard disk drives
installed in its network, the unit cost of each of its digital
television displays and hard disk drives, and the remaining
useful life of its digital television displays and hard disk
drives. CME expects its depreciation to increase in the future
as a result of expansion of its network by adding more digital
television displays and hard disk drives.
Business tax. CME’s business tax amounted
to 2.2%, 2.9% and 3.3% as a percentage of its net revenues for
the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008,
respectively, and 3.2% and 3.2% for the six months ended
June 30, 2008 and 2009, respectively. Business tax included
in CME’s cost of sales relates to business tax arising from
consulting services provided by Fujian Express to Fujian
Fenzhong.
Salary. CME’s salary costs in CME’s
cost of sales amounted to 1.8%, 0.6% and 0.3% as a percentage of
its net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2006,
2007 and 2008, respectively, and 0.3% and 0.3% for the six
months ended June 30, 2008 and 2009, respectively. Salary
costs in CME’s cost of sales relate to salaries paid to the
personnel in its production department in charge of combining
the entertainment programs provided by its content suppliers and
advertisements provided by CME’s clients, as well as the
personnel in the engineering department in charge of
periodically updating the entertainment programs and
advertisements at the bus terminals.
Other operating costs. For the years ended
December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and the six months ended
June 30, 2008 and 2009, other operating costs represented
less than 0.5% of net revenue in each period. Other operating
costs consist of welfare costs, programming fees and repair and
maintenance costs. Programming fees relate to the acquisition
costs of copyrighted foreign and domestic films from third
parties. Repair and maintenance costs arise from the repair and
maintenance of CME’s equipment and control systems.
CME’s operating expenses consist of selling expenses and
general and administrative expenses. The following table sets
forth CME’s operating expenses, divided into their major
categories by amount and as a percentage of net revenues for the
periods indicated:
Selling expenses. CME’s selling expenses
primarily consist of salaries and commissions for CME’s
sales staff, marketing and promotional expenses and other costs
related to supporting CME’s sales force. Selling expenses
amounted to 11.1%, 3.6% and 1.7% as a percentage of CME’s
net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007
and 2008, respectively, and 1.7% and 1.4% of CME’s net
revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2009,
respectively. The increases in selling expenses during the same
periods were attributable to increases in headcounts as well as
increases in salaries and commissions.
Although CME’s selling expenses increased significantly
from the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to the year
ended December 31, 2008, selling expenses as a percentage
of net revenues have decreased significantly over that time
period because CME’s net revenues increased at a greater
rate than selling expenses increased. CME expects selling
expenses to increase in the future as CME’s operations
continue to grow. However, CME expects selling expenses as a
percentage of net revenues to continue to decrease as CME’s
net revenues increase at a greater rate than selling expenses.
General and administrative
expenses. CME’s general and administrative
expenses primarily consist of salaries, social insurance and
housing fund for management, accounting and administrative
personnel,
depreciation of office equipment, statutory union fees, office
rentals, professional fees and other office expenses. General
and administrative expenses amounted to 11.6%, 2.8% and 2.7% as
a percentage of CME’s net revenues for the years ended
December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively, and 3.0%
and 3.6% of CME’s net revenues for the six months ended
June 30, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The increases in
general and administrative expenses during the same periods were
attributable to increases in headcounts, salaries, and
professional fees.
Although the amount of general and administrative expenses
increased during the same period, general and administrative
expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased because
CME’s net revenues increased at a greater rate than general
and administrative expenses increased. CME expects that its
general and administrative expenses will increase in the future
as it hires additional personnel and incurs additional costs in
connection with the expansion of its business and with being a
publicly traded company. However, CME expects general and
administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues to
continue to decrease as its net revenues increase at a greater
rate than general and administrative expenses.
CME conducts substantially all of its business though Fujian
Fenzhong and Fujian Express. Fujian Fenzhong is subject to
business taxes and other surcharges consisting of culture and
education construction fees and embankment protection fees. The
rates of business tax, culture and education construction fees
and embankment protection fees are 5%, 3% and 0.09%,
respectively. CME accounts for the business taxes relating to
the services provided by Fujian Express as cost of sales in its
consolidated statements of income. In addition, Fujian Fenzhong
and Fujian Express are subject to enterprise income taxes. Under
the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of
China, or EIT Law, passed by the Fifth Plenary Session of the
Tenth National People’s Congress on March 16, 2006,
the rate of enterprise income tax was reduced from 33% to 25%
with effect from January 1, 2008. In this connection, CME
measured CME’s deferred tax assets as a result of the
reduction in tax rate and recognized a reduction in income tax
expenses of $0.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2007.
Deferred tax assets reflect the tax effects of temporary
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts
used for assessment of income tax purposes. CME’s deferred
tax assets relate to the accrued concession fees payable under
the long-term framework agreements with the inter-city express
bus operators participating in CME’s network. CME
determines the carrying amount of such concession fees subject
to an increase at a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 30% per year
over a five- to eight-year period using the accrual method on a
straight line basis for financial reporting purposes. To date,
all CME’s long-term framework agreements with the
inter-city express bus operators were entered into beginning in
the year ended December 31, 2007. As a result, CME
recognized deferred tax assets arising from the non-current
portion of accrued concession fees in the amount of
$0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 and
$1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008,
whereas CME did not recognize such deferred tax assets for the
year ended December 31, 2006. CME also records the deferred
tax in relation to the accrued severance payments for employees.
For the year ended December 31, 2008, $0.3 million was
recognized as the deferred tax asset arising from the accrued
severance payments while CME did not recognize the deferred tax
assets in relation to the accrued severance payments for the
years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007.
The EIT Law provides that enterprises established outside China
whose “de facto management bodies” are located in
China are considered “resident enterprises,” and will
generally be subject to the uniform 25% enterprise income tax
rate as to their global income, including income CME receives
from its subsidiary and consolidated affiliates. According to
the implementation rules, “de facto management body”
refers to a managing body that exercises, in substance, overall
management control over the production and Business, personnel,
accounting and assets of an enterprise. Substantially all of
CME’s management is currently based in China, and may
remain in China in the future. In addition, although the EIT Law
provides that dividend income between “qualified resident
enterprises” is exempted income, and the implementing rules
refer to “qualified resident enterprises” as
“direct equity interest,” it is still unclear whether
the dividends CME receives from its subsidiaries in China
constitute dividend income between “qualified resident
enterprises” and
therefore qualify for tax exemption. If CME is required to pay
income tax for any dividends it receives from its subsidiary,
the amount of dividends CME can pay to its shareholders.
Furthermore, the implementation rules of the EIT Law provide
that an income tax rate of 10% will normally be applicable to
dividends declared to non-PRC resident investors after
January 1, 2008 for income sourced in China. Such income
tax may be exempted or reduced by the State Council of the PRC
or pursuant to a tax treaty between China and the jurisdictions
in which CME’s non-PRC shareholders reside. The 10%
withholding tax is reduced to 5% pursuant to the Double Tax
Avoidance Agreement between Hong Kong and Mainland China if the
beneficial owner in Hong Kong owns more than 25% of the
registered capital in a company in China. Following the
Transaction, TM will be a Delaware holding company with a
subsidiary in Hong Kong which in turn owns a 100% equity
interest in Fujian Express. Further, CME derives substantially
all of CME’s income from dividends it receives from
CME’s significant subsidiaries in China. If CME declares
dividends from such income, it is unclear whether the income
will be deemed to be sourced in China under the EIT Law and
enjoy a reduced income tax rate of 5% under the Double Tax
Avoidance Agreement Between Hong Kong and Mainland China. If CME
is required under the EIT Law to withhold income tax on
dividends payable to CME’s non-PRC resident shareholders
and ADS holders, your investment in CME may be materially
adversely affected.
The following table sets forth a summary of CME’s
consolidated statement of operations for the periods indicated.
CME’s historical results presented below are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for
any other future period.
Net revenues. CME’s sales, net of
business tax and related surcharges increased to
$37.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009
from $30.5 million for the six months ended June 30,2008. The increase was primarily attributable to the
significantly increased total amount of advertising time that
CME sold and an increase in average rates resulting from the
expansion of the geographic coverage of CME’s network. In
addition, increased sales of advertising time was attributable
to the growth of CME’s advertising client base for the six
months ended June 30, 2009.
Cost of sales. CME’s cost of sales
increased to $14.4 million for the six months ended
June 30, 2009 from $11.9 million for the six months
ended June 30, 2008 due to the following reasons:
Concession fees. Concession fees charged by
inter-city express bus operators increased to $11.5 million
for the six months ended June 30, 2009 from
$9.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008. The increase was attributable to the
increase in the concession fees payable to the group of bus
operators participating in CME’s network through the
execution of long-term framework agreements for the six months
ended June 30, 2009 as well as an increase in the number of
inter-city express buses carrying CME’s network.
Depreciation. Depreciation for CME’s
digital television displays and hard disk drives increased to
$1.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009
from $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30,2008. The increase was attributable to installation of new
equipment and control systems in connection with the increase in
the number of inter-city express buses in the CME’s networks
Business tax. Business tax increased to
$1.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009
from $1.0 million for the six months ended June 30,2008. The increase was primarily attributable to Business taxes
arising from consulting services Fujian Express provided to
Fujian Fenzhong in the six months ended June 30, 2009.
Salary. Salaries increased to $126,000 for the
six months ended June 30, 2009, from $104,000 for the six
months ended June 30, 2008. The increase was due to the
increase in number of staff in the production and maintenance
departments in the six months ended June 30, 2009.
Other operating costs. Other operating costs
increased to approximately $16,000 for the six months ended
June 30, 2009 from approximately $15,000 for the six months
ended June 30, 2008. The increase was primarily
attributable to the increase in production costs in the six
months ended June 30, 2009.
Gross profit. As a result of the foregoing,
CME’s gross profit increased to $23.5 million for the
six months ended June 30, 2009 from $18.6 million for
the six months ended June 30, 2008. CME’s gross profit
margin for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was 62.1%
compared to the gross profit margin of 60.9% for the six months
ended June 30, 2008.
Operating expenses. CME’s operating
expenses increased to $1.9 million for the six months ended
June 30, 2009 from $1.4 million for the six months
ended June 30, 2008 due to the following reasons:
Selling expenses. Selling expenses were
$0.5 million and $0.5 million for the six months ended
June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, which were
comparable. The majority of selling expenses consisted of the
salary and staff welfare of the sales force as well as travel
and rent expense. There were no significant difference in the
size of the sales force for the six months ended June 30,2009 and 2008. Salaries and rent did increase for the six months
ended June 30, 2009, which was offset by a decrease in
travel and the removal of the staff welfare expense, which was
an accrual previously required by the PRC for bonus and meal
expenses for staff. This accrual was not required in 2009.
Hence, the selling expenses for the six months ended
June 30, 2009 and 2008 remained constant.
General and administrative expenses. General
and administrative expenses increased by 45.8% to
$1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009
from $0.9 million for the six months ended June 30,2008. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase
salaries, rental expenses on various offices in the PRC,
professional fees, housing fund and welfare paid to additional
management and administrative personnel to meet the demand
arising from CME’s enlarged scale of operations.
Operating income. As a result of the
foregoing, CME’s operating income increased by 26.3% to
$21.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009
from $17.1 million for the six months ended June 30,2008.
Interest income. CME’s interest income
increased by 10.3% to $43,000 for the six months ended
June 30, 2009 from $39,000 for the six months ended
June 30, 2008, primarily as a result of higher cash and
cash equivalent balances provided by CME’s operating
activities.
Income tax expenses. CME’s income tax
expenses increased by 37.3% to $5.9 million for the six
months ended June 30, 2009 from $4.3 million for the
three months ended June 30, 2008. The increase was
primarily attributable to the increase in income before income
taxes and additional taxes relating to dividends paid, which
were partially offset by the recognition of the deferred tax of
$86,000 in relationship to the accrued concession fee and
accrued severance payment for the six months ended June 30,2009.
Net income. As a result of the foregoing,
CME’s net income increased by 22.6% to $15.7 million
for the six months ended June 30, 2009 from
$12.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008.
CME’s net profit margin decreased to 41.6% for the six
months ended June 30, 2009 from 42.2% for the six months
ended June 30, 2008, primarily attributable to an increase
in general and administrative expenses and additional taxes
relating to dividends paid in the six months ended June 30,2009.
Net revenues. CME’s sales, net of
business tax and related surcharges increased to
$63.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008
from $25.8 million for the year ended December 31,2007. The increase was primarily attributable to the
significantly increased total amount of advertising time that
CME sold resulting from the expansion of the geographic coverage
of CME’s network and an increase in the number of
inter-city express buses carrying its network. For the year
ended December 31, 2008, CME expanded its geographic
coverage to include one municipality, Chongqing and two
economically prosperous provinces, Anhui and Hubei. Partly as a
result of such geographic expansion, CME’s sales of
advertising time slots increased significantly from a total of
1,680 minutes in the year ended December 31, 2007 to a
total of 2,240 minutes in the year ended December 31, 2008.
In connection with such expansion, the number of inter-city
express buses carrying CME’s network increased
significantly from 10,053 as of December 31, 2007 to 15,260
as of December 31, 2008. In addition, increased sales of
advertising time was attributable to the growth of CME’s
advertising agency client base for the year ended
December 31, 2008.
Cost of sales. CME’s cost of sales
increased to $25.1 million for the year ended
December 31, 2008 from $13.2 million for the year
ended December 31, 2007 due to the following reasons:
Concession fees. Concession fees charged by
inter-city express bus operators increased to $20.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2008 from
$10.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.
The substantial increase was attributable to the concession fees
payable to the group of bus operators participating in
CME’s network through the execution of long-term framework
agreements for the year ended December 31, 2008 as well as
an increase in the number of inter-city express buses carrying
CME’s network to 15,260 as of December 31, 2008 from
10,053 as of December 31, 2007.
Depreciation. Depreciation for CME’s
digital television displays and hard disk drives increased to
$2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 from
$1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The
increase was attributable to installation of new equipment and
control systems in connection with the increase in the number of
inter-city express buses in the CME’s networks.
Business tax. Business tax increased to
$2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 from
$0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The
increase was primarily attributable to business taxes arising
from consulting services Fujian Express provided to Fujian
Fenzhong in the year ended December 31, 2008.
Salary. Salaries increased to the amount of
$203,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008 from the
amount of $156,000 for year ended December 31, 2007. The
increase was primarily attributable to the increase in number of
staff in production and maintenance department in 2008.
Other operating costs. Other operating costs
decreased slightly to approximately $9,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2008 from approximately $13,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2007. The decrease was primarily
attributable to the decrease in production costs in 2008.
Gross profit. As a result of the foregoing,
CME’s gross profit increased to $37.9 million for the
year ended December 31, 2008 from $12.7 million for
the year ended December 31, 2007. CME’s gross profit
margin increased to 60.2% for the year ended December 31,2008 from 49.0% for the year ended December 31, 2007
because the rate of increase in CME’s net revenues exceeded
the rate of increase in cost of sales for the year ended
December 31, 2008 compared to the year ended
December 31, 2007.
Operating expenses. CME’s operating
expenses increased to $2.8 million for the year ended
December 31, 2008 from $1.7 million for the year ended
December 31, 2007 due to the following reasons:
Selling expenses. Selling expenses increased
to $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008
from $0.9 million for the year ended December 31,2007. The increase was attributable to new marketing and
promotional expenses resulting from the geographic expansion of
CME’s network coverage and the growth of CME’s client
base for the year ended December 31, 2008, offset by a
decrease in salaries and commissions paid to CME’s sale
force.
General and administrative expenses. General
and administrative expenses increased by 134.1% to
$1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 from
$0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The
increase was primarily attributable to the increase in salaries,
rental expenses on various offices in the PRC, professional
fees, housing fund and welfare paid to additional management and
administrative personnel to meet the demand arising from
CME’s enlarged scale of operations.
Operating income. As a result of the
foregoing, CME’s operating income increased by 218.8% to
$35.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008
from $11.0 million for the year ended December 31,2007.
Interest income. CME’s interest income
increased by 316.7% to $100,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2008 from $24,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2007, primarily as a result of higher cash and
cash equivalent balances provided by CME’s operating
activities.
Income tax expenses. CME’s income tax
expenses increased by 117.4% to $8.9 million for the year
ended December 31, 2008 from $4.1 million for the year
ended December 31, 2007. The increase was primarily
attributable to the increase in income before income taxes,
which also partially offset by the recognition of the deferred
tax of $0.7 million in relation to the accrued concession
fee and accrued severance payment for the year ended
December 31, 2008.
Net income. As a result of the foregoing,
CME’s net income increased by 278.5% to $26.4 million
for the year ended December 31, 2008 from $7.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2007. CME’s net profit
margin increased to 41.8% for the year ended December 31,2008 from 26.9% for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Net revenues. CME’s sales net of business
tax and related surcharges increased to $25.8 million for
the year ended December 31, 2007 from $4.0 million for
the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase was
primarily attributable to the significantly increased total
amount of advertising time that CME sold resulting from the
expansion of the geographic coverage of CME’s network and
an increase in the number of inter-city express buses carrying
its network. For the year ended December 31, 2006,
CME’s geographic coverage was limited to Fujian. For the
year ended December 31, 2007, CME expanded its geographic
coverage to include three municipalities, namely, Beijing,
Shanghai and Tianjin, and five other economically prosperous
provinces, including Guangdong, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Hebei and
Fujian. Partly as a result of such geographic expansion,
CME’s sales of advertising time slots increased
significantly from a total of 196 minutes in the year ended
December 31, 2006 to a total of 1,680 minutes in the year
ended December 31, 2007. In connection with such expansion,
the number of inter-city express buses carrying CME’s
network increased significantly to 10,053 as of
December 31, 2007 from 1,126 as of December 31, 2006.
In addition, increased sales of advertising time was
attributable to the growth of CME’s advertising agency
client base for the year ended December 31, 2007, because
sales to each advertising agency client, which resells
advertising time to a couple of their end-client advertisers,
are larger than sales to each direct client representing one
advertiser.
The increase in net revenues was partially offset by the
decrease in average selling prices in the year ended
December 31, 2007 compared to the year ended
December 31, 2006 because of the increase in the proportion
of CME’s time slots sold to advertising agency clients to
whom CME offers larger volume discounts than to direct clients.
Cost of sales. CME’s cost of sales
increased to $13.2 million for the year ended
December 31, 2007 from $1.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 2006 due to the following reasons:
Concession fees. Concession fees charged by
inter-city express bus operators increased to $10.7 million
for the year ended December 31, 2007 from $1.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2006. The substantial
increase was attributable to the commencement of accrual of
concession fees payable to an enlarged group of bus operators
participating in CME’s network through the execution of
long-term framework agreements in the year ended
December 31, 2007 as well as a significant increase in the
number of inter-city express buses carrying CME’s network
to 10,053 as of December 31, 2007 from 1,126 as of
December 31, 2006.
Depreciation. Depreciation for CME’s
digital television displays and hard disk drives increased to
$1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 from
$0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. The
significant increase was attributable to installation of new
equipment and control systems CME procured from Hangzhou Yusong
in connection with the increase in the number of inter-city
express buses.
Business tax. Business tax increased to
$737,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007 from $87,000
for the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase was
primarily attributable to the increase in business taxes arising
from consulting services Fujian Express provided to Fujian
Fenzhong in the year ended December 31, 2007.
Salary. Salaries increased to $156,000 for the
year ended December 31, 2007 from $73,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2006. The increase was primarily
attributable to the increase in the personnel in the production
department and the increase in salaries paid to these employees.
Other operating costs. Other operating costs
decreased slightly to approximately $13,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2007 from approximately $14,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2006.
Gross profit. As a result of the foregoing,
CME’s gross profit increased to $12.7 million for the
year ended December 31, 2007 from $2.5 million for the
year ended December 31, 2006. CME’s gross profit
margin decreased to 49.0% for the year ended December 31,2007 from 62.0% for the year ended December 31, 2006
because the rate of increase in CME’s cost of sales
exceeded the rate of increase in revenues for the year ended
December 31, 2007 compared to the year ended
December 31, 2006. The increase in CME’s cost of sales
in the year ended December 31, 2007 primarily resulted from
the commencement of concession fees payable under the long-term
framework agreements with the bus operators participating in
CME’s network as CME signed more contracts to build up its
network, whereas concession fees payable to the bus operators
participating in CME’s network under short-term contracts
prior to the year ended December 31, 2007 were expensed as
they were incurred. The accrued concession fees for the year
ended December 31, 2007 amounted to $3.1 million. Had
it not been for such accrued concession fees, CME’s profit
margin would have been 60.9% in the year ended December 31,2007.
Operating expenses. CME’s operating
expenses increased to $1.7 million for the year ended
December 31, 2007 from $0.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 2006 due to the following reasons:
Selling expenses. Selling expenses increased
to $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2007
from $0.4 million for the year ended December 31,2006. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in
employees in CME’s sales force from 58 as of
December 31, 2006 to 76 as of December 31, 2007 as
well as the increase in salaries and commissions paid to
CME’s sales force. The increase was also attributable to
new marketing and promotional expenses resulting from the
geographic expansion of CME’s network coverage and the
growth of CME’s client base for the year ended
December 31, 2007.
General and administrative expenses. General
and administrative expenses increased by 56.8% to
$0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 from
$0.5 million for the year ended December 31,
2006. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in
salaries, social insurance, housing fund and welfare paid to
additional management and administrative personnel to meet the
demand arising from CME’s enlarged scale of operations.
Operating income. As a result of the
foregoing, CME’s operating income increased by 594.6% to
$11.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2007
from $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2006.
Interest income. CME’s interest income
increased by 200.0% to $24,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2007 from $8,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2006, primarily as a result of higher cash and
cash equivalent balances provided by CME’s operating
activities.
Income tax expenses. CME’s income tax
expenses increased by 491.1% to $4.1 million for the year
ended December 31, 2007 from $0.7 million for the year
ended December 31, 2006. The increase was primarily
attributable to the increase in income before income taxes. The
increase was partially offset by the recognition of reduction of
income tax expenses in the amount of $0.7 million in the
year ended December 31, 2007 in relation to the accrued
concession fee for the year ended December 31, 2007 and due
to remeasurement of CME’s deferred tax assets resulting
from the reduced enterprise income tax rate under the EIT Law
effective from January 1, 2008.
Net income. As a result of the foregoing,
CME’s net income increased by 669.8% to $7.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2007 from $0.9 million
for the year ended December 31, 2006. CME’s net profit
margin increased to 26.9% for the year ended December 31,2007 from 22.4% for the year ended December 31, 2006.
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period/year
559
1,485
6,364
6,364
29,997
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period/year
1,485
6,364
29,997
15,848
29,437
As of June 30, 2009, CME had net cash and cash equivalents
of $29.4 million. CME’s cash primarily consists of
cash on hand and cash deposited in banks and interest-bearing
savings accounts. CME’s liquidity requirements primarily
include cash required to install its equipment and control
systems on the inter-city express buses carrying its network,
concession fees payable to the inter-city express bus operators
participating in its network and its working capital needs.
To date, CME has financed its liquidity needs primarily through
cash flows from operating activities. For the years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2007, CME borrowed $0.1 million
and $3.3 million, respectively, from CME’s
shareholders, Zheng Cheng and Chunlan Bian, to fund the working
capital of Fujian Fenzhong. These shareholder loans were
unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on demand, and
were fully settled in 2007.
As of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, CME’s
accounts receivable, one of the principal components of
CME’s current assets, were $7.4 million and
$6.1 million, respectively. CME’s accounts receivable
relate to advertising fees payable by its clients. CME expects
its accounts receivable to increase as it continues to grow its
business. CME intends to maintain its current policies for
collections of accounts receivable, which provide a
30-60-day
credit period following the month in which the advertisements
are
displayed. CME mitigates its collection risk by evaluating the
creditworthiness of its clients and monitoring outstanding
balances payable by its clients. In addition, as of
June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, CME’s
accounts payable, one of the principal components of its current
liabilities, were $1.8 million and $1.6 million,
respectively. CME’s accounts payable relate to concession
fees payable to the inter-city express bus operators
participating in CME’s networks. CME expects its accounts
payable to increase as the number of inter-city express buses
carrying its network increases. CME settles such concession fees
on a monthly basis based on the actual number of buses carrying
its network in the preceding month. Moreover, as of
December 31, 2007 and 2008, CME’s accrued liabilities
for the purchase of property, plant and equipment were
$1.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively. Such
liabilities relate to CME’s purchase of equipment and
control systems from Hangzhou Yusong, CME’s equipment
supplier. CME typically pays Hangzhou Yusong 20% of the purchase
price within one month after delivery, 40% of the purchase price
within six months after delivery and the remaining 40% within
12 months after delivery. CME believes the cash it
generates from its clients, together with the cash retained in
TM after the Transaction, will be sufficient to fund its
expansions and payment obligations to the inter-city express bus
operators and CME’s equipment supplier.
CME believes that its existing cash resources, the anticipated
cash flows from operating activities, and the cash retained in
TM after the Transaction, will be sufficient to meet both its
short-term and long-term liquidity needs, including capital
expenditure requirements to achieve its expansion plans and the
potential increase in costs as a result of becoming a public
reporting company. CME recognizes that a substantial portion of
the funds remaining in the Trust will be used to pay holders of
TM’s public shares who exercise their right to convert such
shares, TM’s fees from the Transaction, and the payment to
Bulldog pursuant to financial contracts that it may enter into
with TM of up to approximately $19.8 million. CME expects
that TM will be required to secure a “permitted
financing” of approximately $4.0 million to provide capital
to offset a portion of these payments. In addition to the
“permitted financing”, TM will have outstanding $10.0
million of promissory notes payable to CME’s shareholders.
Notwithstanding these payments, CME expects that by virtue of
its existing cash (approximately $29.4 million at June 30),
to have adequate liquidity immediately following the closing of
the Transaction. In addition, CME believes there will be minimal
impact on its liquidity if TM stockholders exercise their
conversion rights, due to CME’s existing cash resources and
the anticipated positive cash flows from operating activities.
Furthermore, CME expects to have adequate liquidity over the
long-term and the payment of $20.9 million of the cash
proceeds from the exercise of TM’s publicly held warrants
to the Sellers is not expected to have a material impact on the
operations and liquidity of CME. However, CME’s liquidity
needs, including capital expenditure requirements are based on
current estimates only and the actual amounts that it incurs may
vary if CME changes its business plans or for reasons beyond
CME’s control. In addition, CME may need additional cash
resources in the future if it finds and wishes to pursue
opportunities for investments, mergers and acquisitions or
strategic partnership opportunities. If CME determines that its
cash requirements exceed the amounts of cash on hand after the
Transaction is completed, we may seek to issue debt or equity
securities or obtain short-term or long-term bank financing.
Any issuance of equity securities could cause dilution for our
shareholders. Any incurrence of indebtedness could increase our
debt service obligations and cause us to be subject to
restrictive operating and financial covenants.
Net
cash provided by generated from operating
activities
For the six months ended June 30, 2009, cash generated in
operating activities was $17.7 million, consisting
primarily of net income of $15.7 million, changes in
operating assets and liabilities of $0.6 million and
$1.5 million of depreciation, offset by $0.2 million
of deferred tax benefits. For the six months ended June 30,2008, cash generated in operating activities was
$12.6 million, consisting primarily of net income of
$12.8 million and $1.6 million of depreciation, offset
by changes in operating assets and liabilities of
$1.4 million, $0.4 million of deferred tax benefits.
For the year ended December 31, 2008, cash generated in
operating activities was $27.4 million, consisting
primarily of net income of $26.4 million and
$2.9 million of depreciation, offset by changes in
operating assets and liabilities of $1.0 million,
$0.8 million of deferred tax benefits. For the year ended
December 31, 2007, cash generated in operating activities
was $12.1 million, consisting primarily of net income of
$7.0 million, changes in operating assets and liabilities
of $4.3 million and $1.6 million of depreciation,
offset by $0.8 million of deferred tax benefits. For the
year ended December 31, 2006, cash
generated in operating activities was $1.7 million,
consisting primarily of net income of $0.9 million, changes
in operating assets and liabilities of $0.4 million and
$0.4 million of depreciation.
Net
cash used in investing activities
For the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2009, cash used
in investing activities was $4.0 million and
$0.6 million, respectively, reflecting the procurement of
equipment and control systems and the acquisition of digital
television displays.
For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 cash
used in investing activities was $0.8 million,
$6.6 million and $4.2 million, respectively,
reflecting the procurement of equipment and control systems and
the acquisition of digital television displays.
Net
cash generated from financing activities
For the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2009, cash used
in financing activities was $0.0 million and
$17.6 million, respectively, reflecting the payment of
dividends to shareholders of CME.
For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, cash
used in financing activities was $0.0 million,
$1.3 million and $0.0 million, respectively,
reflecting the payment of dividends to shareholders of CME.
For the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2009, CME had
capital expenditures of $4.0 million and $0.6 million,
respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007
and 2008, CME had capital expenditures of $0.8 million,
$6.6 million and $4.2 million, respectively.
CME’s capital expenditures were made primarily to procure
equipment and control systems from Hangzhou Yusong and acquire
digital television displays originally installed on inter-city
express buses from some bus operators participating in
CME’s network. CME’s capital expenditures were
primarily funded by net cash generated from CME’s operating
activities.
Based on current estimates, CME expects its capital expenditures
in the future to primarily consist of:
•
approximately $1,000 on equipment and a control system for each
bus added to its network as it expands its geographic coverage
and increases the number of inter-city express buses within its
network; and
•
approximately $150,000 per bus station and less than $100 per
bus to upgrade CME’s technological capability to change
programs and advertisements from a manual system to local
wireless network technology; CME’s expects that the number
of bus stations and number of buses that will be upgraded with
the wireless network technology will be approximately 255 and
31,000, respectively, by the end of 2010.
In addition, as opportunities arise, CME may make acquisitions
of other businesses that complement its operations or enter into
strategic relationships. CME expects to fund its future capital
expenditures by cash generated from operating activities and the
cash retained by TM after the Transaction. CME may, however,
require additional cash due to changing business conditions or
other future developments, including investments, acquisitions
or strategic relationships that CME may decide to pursue. If
CME’s cash requirements exceed the amounts of cash on hand,
CME may seek to issue debt or equity securities or obtain
short-term or long-term bank financing.
Dividends
In the three months ended March 31, 2009 and prior to the
execution of the Share Exchange Agreement, CME’s board of
directors, in its sole discretion, approved a cash dividend
payment of $17.6 million to its existing shareholders. In
the Share Exchange Agreement dated May 1, 2009, the CME
Parties agreed not to, without the prior written consent of TM,
declare or pay any further dividends prior to the closing of the
Transaction.
The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent
upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and
general financial condition subsequent to completion of a
business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to
a business combination will be within the discretion of our then
board of directors. It is the present intention of our board of
directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our
business operations and, accordingly, our board does not
anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.
The following table sets forth CME’s contractual
obligations as of June 30, 2009:
Payment Due by Period
Total
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
(In thousands)
Concession fee obligations
$
80,575
$
10,799
$
23,757
$
26,132
$
14,168
$
4,420
$
1,299
Capital commitments
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Lease obligations
443
67
124
106
103
43
—
Concession fee obligations represent the future minimum
concession fees that CME is obliged to pay under the long-term
framework agreements (assuming a 10% increase per year) that CME
has entered into with inter-city express bus operators
participating in its network. These agreements have terms
ranging from five to eight years and the concession fees
provided in these agreements are subject to an increase at a
minimum of 10% and a maximum of 30% per year.
Capital commitments represent CME’s unperformed purchase
obligations under all agreements that it has entered into for
the purchase of equipment and control systems to expand its
network.
Operating lease obligations represent CME’s payment
obligations under the rental agreements that it entered into for
its office spaces.
As of June 30, 2009, CME did not have any off-balance sheet
commitments or arrangements. CME does not anticipate entering
into any such commitments or arrangements in the foreseeable
future. CME has not entered into any financial guarantees or
other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any
third parties. In addition, CME has not entered into any
derivative contracts that are indexed to CME’s own shares
and classified as shareholder’s equity, or that are not
reflected in CME’s consolidated financial statements.
Furthermore, CME does not have any retained or contingent
interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that
serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such
entity. Moreover, CME does not have any variable interest in any
unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market
risk or credit support to CME or engages in leasing, hedging or
research and development services with CME.
In recent years, China has not experienced significant
inflation, and thus inflation has not had a material impact on
CME’s results of operations. According to the PRC National
Bureau of Statistics, the change in Consumer Price Index in
China was 1.5%, 4.8% and 5.9% in 2006, 2007 and 2008,
respectively. See the section entitled “RISK
FACTORS — Risks Relating to Doing Business in
China — Adverse changes in the political and
economic policies of the PRC government could have a material
adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China, which
could reduce the demand for CME’s services and have a
material adverse effect on its business”.
All of CME’s revenues, costs and expenses are denominated
in RMB. Although the conversion of the RMB is highly regulated
in China, the value of the RMB against the value of the
U.S. dollar or any other currency nonetheless may fluctuate
and be affected by, among other things, changes in China’s
political and economic conditions. Under current policy, the
value of the RMB is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow band
against a basket of certain foreign currencies. China is
currently under significant international pressures
to liberalize this government currency policy, and if such
liberalization were to occur, the value of the RMB could
appreciate or depreciate against the U.S. dollar.
Because all of CME’s earnings and cash assets are
denominated in RMB, appreciation or depreciation in the value of
the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar would affect CME’s
financial results reported in U.S. dollar terms without
giving effect to any underlying change in CME’s business or
results of operations. Fluctuations in the exchange rate will
also affect the relative value of any dividend CME issues after
this offering that will be exchanged into U.S. dollars and
earnings from, and the value of, any
U.S. dollar-denominated investments CME makes in the future.
Very limited hedging transactions are available in China to
reduce CME’s exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To
date, CME has not entered into any hedging transactions in an
effort to reduce CME’s exposure to foreign currency
exchange risk. While CME may decide to enter into hedging
transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness
of these hedging transactions may be limited and CME may not be
able to successfully hedge CME’s exposure at all. In
addition, CME’s currency exchange losses may be magnified
by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict CME’s
ability to convert RMB into foreign currency.
Interest
Rate Risk
CME has not been, nor does it anticipate being, exposed to
material risks due to changes in interest rates. CME’s risk
exposure to changes in interest rates relates primarily to the
interest income generated by cash deposited in interest-bearing
savings accounts. CME has not used, and does not expect to use
in the future, any derivative financial instruments to hedge its
interest risk exposure. However, CME’s future interest
income may fall short of its expectation due to changes in
interest rates in the market.
In October 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
(“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position
FAS 157-3
“Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the
Market for That Asset is Not Active” (“FSP
FAS 157-3”)
which clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 in an
inactive market and illustrates how an entity would determine
fair value when the market for a financial asset is not active.
FSP
FAS 157-3
was effective upon issuance, including prior periods for which
financial statements had not been issued. The adoption of FSP
FAS 157-3
did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial
statements.
On June 16, 2008, the FASB issued final Staff Position
(FSP)
No. EITF 03-6-1,
“Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based
Payment Transaction Are Participating Securities”, to
address the question of whether instrument granted in
share-based payment transaction are participating securities
prior to vesting. The FSP determines that unvested share-based
payment awards that contain rights to dividend payments should
be included in earnings per share calculations. The guidance
will be effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2008. The adoption of (FSP)
No. EITF 03-6-1
did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial
statements.
In May 2008, the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard
No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles”
(“SFAS No. 162”). The statement is intended
to improve financial reporting by identifying a consistent
hierarchy for selecting accounting principles to be used in
preparing financial statements that are prepared in conformance
with GAAP. The statement is effective 60 days following the
SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board amendments to AU Section 411, “The Meaning of
Present Fairly in Conformity with GAAP”. The Group is
currently assessing the impact of this statement, but believes
it will not have a material impact on its financial position,
results of operations, or cash flows upon adoption.
In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities — an amendment of
FASB Statement No. 133” (SFAS No. 161). The
standard requires additional quantitative disclosures (provided
in tabular form) and qualitative disclosures for derivative
instruments. The required disclosures include how derivative
instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s
financial position, financial performance, and cash flows; the
relative volume of derivative activity; the objectives and
strategies for using derivative instruments; the accounting
treatment for those derivative instruments formally designated
as the hedging instrument in a hedge relationship; and the
existence and nature of credit-risk-related contingent features
for derivatives. SFAS No. 161 does not change the
accounting treatment for derivative instruments.
SFAS No. 161 is effective for the Group’s
financial statements for the year beginning on January 1,2009. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 did not have a
material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP
FAS 157-2,
Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157
(“FSP FAS 157-2”).
FSP
FAS 157-2
delays the effective date of FASB Statement No. 157, Fair
Value Measurements for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial
liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed
at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis
(at least annually). For purposes of FSP
FAS 157-2,
nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities would include
all assets and liabilities other than those meeting the
definition of a financial asset or financial liability as
defined in paragraph 6 of FASB Statement No. 157. FSP
FAS 157-2
defers the effective date for items within its scope to fiscal
years beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of
FSP
FAS 157-2
did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial
statements.
In September 2008, the FASB issued
FSP 133-1
and FASB Interpretation Number (“FIN”)
45-4,
“Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain
Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB
Interpretation No. 45; and Clarification of the Effective
Date of FASB Statement No. 161”
(“FSP FAS 133-1”
and
“FIN 45-4”).
FSP
FAS 133-1
and
FIN 45-4
amend disclosure requirements for sellers of credit derivatives
and financial guarantees. It also clarifies the disclosure
requirements of SFAS No. 161 and is effective for
quarterly periods beginning after November 15, 2008, and
fiscal years that include those periods. The adoption of FSP
FAS 133-1
and
FIN 45-4
did not have a material impact on our current financial
position, results of operation or cash flows.
In April 2008, the FASB Staff Position issued
FAS No. 142-3
“Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible
Assets” (“FSP
FAS 142-3”)
which applies to all entities that requires to consider in
developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine
the useful life of a recognized intangible assets under FASB
Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim
periods which those fiscal years. Early adoption is prohibited.
The adoption of FSP
FAS 142-3
did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial
statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160
“Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements” (“SFAS No. 160”) to improve
the relevance, comparability, and transparency of financial
information provided to investors by requiring all entities to
report net income attributable to both the parent and
noncontrolling (minority) interests in subsidiaries in the
consolidated financial statements. Moreover,
SFAS No. 160 eliminates the diversity that currently
exists in accounting for transactions between an entity and
noncontrolling interests by requiring them be treated as equity
transaction. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal
years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning
on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of
SFAS No. 160 did not have a material impact on the
consolidated financial statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141
(revised 2007) “Business Combination”
(“SFAS No. 141R”) which establishes
principles and requirements for how the acquirer of a business
recognizes and measures in its financial statements the
identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any
noncontrolling interest in the acquiree. The statements also
provides guidance for recognizing and measuring the goodwill
acquired in the business combination and determines what
information to disclose to enable users of the financial
statement to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the
business combination. SFAS No. 141R is effective for
financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 141R
did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial
statements.
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 163,
“Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance
Contracts — an interpretation of FASB Statement
No. 60” (“SFAS No. 163”).
SFAS No. 163 requires expanded disclosures about
financial guarantee insurance contracts. SFAS No. 163
is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods
within those fiscal years. Disclosure requirements in
paragraphs 30(g) and 31 are effective for the first period
(including interim periods) beginning after issuance of this
statement. Except for the disclosures effective for the first
period (including interim periods) beginning after issuance of
this statement, earlier application is prohibited. The adoption
of SFAS No. 163 did not have a material impact on the
consolidated financial statements.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance
sheet presents the combined financial position of TM and CME
giving effect to the Transaction as if the Transaction occurred
on June 30, 2009. The following unaudited pro forma
condensed combined statements of operations combines CME’s
and TM’s results of operations for the year ended
December 31, 2008 and the six months ended June 30,2009 giving effect to the Transaction as if it had occurred on
January 1, 2008. TM’s historical balance sheet and
statements of operations information was derived from its
Quarterly Reports
Form 10-Q
for the six months ended June 30, 2009 (unaudited
condensed) and Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008. CME’s balance
sheet and statements of operations information was derived from
its unaudited results for the six months ended June 30,2009 and its audited results for the year ended
December 31, 2008. We are providing this unaudited pro
forma condensed combined financial information to aid you in
your analysis of the financial aspects of the Transaction.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
should be read in conjunction with “CME’s
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations of CME,”“TM’s
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations of TM,” the consolidated
financial statements of CME and the related notes thereto and
the consolidated financial statements of TM and the related
notes thereto included elsewhere in this proxy statement.
The historical financial information has been adjusted to give
effect to pro forma events that are related
and/or
directly attributable to the Transaction, are factually
supportable and are expected to have a continuing impact on the
combined results. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined
financial statements are presented for illustrative purposes
only and do not purport to represent what the results of
operations or financial condition of the combined company would
actually have been had the Transaction in fact occurred as of
such date or to project the combined company’s results of
operations for any future period or as of any future date.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
presented herein does not include the additional
15.0 million shares of TM Common Stock issuable to CME
shareholders subject to achievement of certain net income
targets. The achievement of these future annual net income
targets are not reasonably estimateable at the measurement
period, nor does the information available indicate the
probability of achieving these targets; in accordance with
SFAS 141R and FSP
FAS 141R-1,
CME shareholders will only be issued these shares if the future
net income targets are met. Additionally the unaudited pro forma
condensed combined financial information presented herein does
not include $20.9 million of cash proceeds CME shareholders
are entitled to receive from the exercise of TM’s publicly
held warrants. The acquisition date fair value of these warrants
can not be determined at the measurement period as the warrants
are only exercisable upon completion of a business combination
with a target business. The current transaction requires
issuance of common stock to the acquiree as part of the purchase
price, for which the potential dilution to the market price is
unknown. Therefore, as the exercisability of the warrants is
dependent upon the market value, the TM is unable to determine
the acquisition date fair value. Additionally, those warrants
will only be exercisable if a registration statement relating to
the common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is
effective and current. The holders of such warrants have until
October 17, 2011 to exercise their warrants.
For accounting purposes CME is considered to be acquiring TM in
the Transaction The reverse acquisition by CME, an operating
company, with TM, a non-operating company with cash, is viewed
as the issuance of equity by the accounting acquirer for the
cash of TM. Accordingly, the Transaction is considered to be a
capital transaction in substance. The Transaction will be
treated as the equivalent of CME issuing stock for the net
monetary assets of TM, accompanied by the recapitalization at
book value which approximated fair value with no goodwill or
other intangible assets recorded. Costs of the Transaction
incurred by CME and by TM will be expensed.
The determination of CME as the accounting acquirer has been
made based on consideration of all quantitative and qualitative
factors of the Transaction, including significant consideration
given to the fact that upon consummation of the Transaction:
(i) directors nominated by CME will constitute a majority
of the board of directors of TM, (ii) CME shareholders will
be the largest group of shareholders of TM and (iii) CME
senior management will manage the combined entity.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed financial
information has been prepared using two different levels of
approval of the Transaction by the TM stockholders, as follows:
•
Assuming No Conversions: This presentation
assumes that none of the holders of shares issued in our IPO
exercise their conversation rights; and
•
Assuming Maximum Conversions: This
presentation assumes that 100% of the holders of shares issued
in our IPO exercise their conversion rights. Additionally, this
presentation includes $3.8 million of additional capital
through long-term debt that TM is required to secure prior to or
contemporaneously with the closing of the Transaction, which is
reflected in the pro forma balance sheet and pro forma statement
of operations. Since the terms of such long-term debt are not
currently known, the pro forma statement of operations data
reflects interest expense at 10% per annum, a rate indicative of
the current borrowing costs of the combined company based on
terms provided by potential financing sources.
UNAUDITED
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
Pro Forma
Pro Forma
Adjustments
Pro Forma
Adjustments
Pro Forma
(Assuming
(Assuming
(Assuming No
(Assuming No
Maximum
Maximum
TM
CME
Conversions)
Conversions)
Conversions)
Conversions)
(In thousands, except share data)
Sales, net of business tax and related surcharges
$
—
$
37,861
$
—
$
37,861
$
—
$
37,861
Cost of sales
—
(14,362
)
—
(14,362
)
—
(14,362
)
Gross profit
—
23,499
—
23,499
—
23,499
Operating expenses:
Selling expenses
—
(526
)
—
(526
)
—
(526
)
General and administrative expenses
(1,026
)
(1,353
)
—
(2,379
)
—
(2,379
)
Total operating expenses
(1,026
)
(1,879
)
—
(2,905
)
—
(2,905
)
Operating income
(1,026
)
21,620
—
20,594
—
20,594
Interest expense
(3
)
—
(367
) (2)
(370
)
(190
) (12)
(560
)
Interest income
148
43
—
191
(148
) (9)
43
Income (loss) before income taxes
(881
)
21,663
(367
)
20,415
(338
)
20,077
Income taxes
—
(5,927
)
(5,927
)
(5,927
)
Net (loss) income
(881
)
15,736
(367
)
14,488
(338
)
14,150
Foreign currency translation adjustment
—
(47
)
—
(47
)
—
(47
)
Comprehensive income (loss)
$
(881
)
$
15,689
$
(367
)
$
14,441
$
(338
)
$
14,103
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic
$
(0.07
)
$
1,573.60
$
0.43
$
0.61
Diluted
$
(0.07
)
$
1,573.60
$
0.39
$
0.53
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic
12,505,000
10,000
(6)
33,520,000
(10,255,000
) (9)
23,265,000
Diluted
12,505,000
10,000
36,927,995
26,672,995
(1)
Reflects the release of TM’s cash held in trust (including
the amount held in the trust account representing the deferred
portion of the underwriters’ fee), and the transfer of the
balance to cash and cash equivalents at the completion of the
Transaction.
(2)
Reflects the $10.0 million in notes payable to CME
shareholders as consideration pursuant to the Agreement. The
notes payable is recorded as a liability in the amount of
$7.513 million, net of a discount in the amount of
$2.487 million, which has been credited to additional
paid-in capital, based on a 3 year maturity and an imputed
interest rate of 10% per annum, a rate indicative of the current
borrowing costs of the combined company. As the transaction is
deemed to be a recapitalization, the value of the note and
related debt discount are debited to additional paid-in capital.
Interest expense calculated at the imputed interest rate of 10%
per annum has been included if the pro-forma statements of
operations. See note 6 below.
(3)
To record the deferred underwriting fee charged to capital at
the time of the IPO which was contingently payable upon the
consummation of a business combination and that had been waived
by the underwriters on September 30, 2009 in exchange for such
number of shares owned by our Initial Stockholders to be
agreed upon. Upon transfer of these shares to the underwriters,
the company will record a compensation charge for the fair value
of such shares.
(4)
Payment of estimated costs related to the Transaction, including
advisory fees, accumulated accounting fees, loan repayment,
deferred service fees, and other miscellaneous transaction fees.
(5)
Reversal of common stock subject to possible redemption and
attributable interest due to assumed 0 shares converted.
(6)
Recognition of issuance of 20.915 million common shares to
CME shareholders as consideration pursuant to the Agreement, the
issuance of 100,000 shares of common stock to a finder and
elimination of CME’s stockholders’ ordinary shares and
statutory reserves and elimination of TM’s deficit.
(7)
Repayment of 10,255,000 shares of common stock (100%)
converted at an estimated conversion price of $7.91 per share as
of June 30, 2009. Upon actual conversion, the amount paid
will equal the initial per share conversion price plus the per
share portion of interest accumulated within the trust that is
allocated to the shares subject to possible conversion as of the
date of the consummation of the Transaction.
(8)
Reduction in interest income resulting from conversion of shares.
(9)
Reduction of shares resulting from conversion.
(10)
Fair value of the 750,000 shares sold by the Initial
Stockholders to the Sellers at par, was $5.9 million based
on $7.90 per share as of September 25, 2009. The
transaction is deemed to be a transaction of the company.
(11)
Fair value of the 100,000 shares issued as a finders fee
was $0.8 million based on $7.90 per share as of
September 25, 2009.
(12)
TM is required to secure approximately $3.8 million of
additional capital through long-term debt prior to or
contemporaneously with the closing of the Transaction, which is
reflected in the pro forma balance sheet and pro forma statement
of operations. Since the terms of such long-term debt are not
currently known, the data reflects interest expense at 10% per
annum, a rate indicative of the current borrowing costs of the
combined company. Since actual rates may vary, the effect on
income for the results of operations for the year ended
December 31, 2008 and the six months ended June 30,2009 for a
1/8 percent
variance in the interest rate is $4,750 and $2,375 respectively.
Our management team has extensive experience in the
entertainment, media, digital and communications industries as
senior executives, business consultants or entrepreneurs.
We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of our IPO,
our capital stock, debt or a combination of these in effecting
the Transaction. Although substantially all of the net proceeds
of our IPO are intended to be applied generally toward effecting
the Transaction, the proceeds were not otherwise designated for
any more specific purposes. These include time delays,
significant expense, loss of voting control and compliance with
various Federal and state securities laws.
Selection
of a target business and structuring of a business
combination
Subject to the requirement that our initial business combination
must be with a target business with a fair market value that is
at least 80.0% of our net assets at the time of such
acquisition, our management has had virtually unrestricted
flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective target
business. We have not established any other
specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for
prospective target businesses. In evaluating a prospective
target business, our management has considered a variety of
factors, including one or more of the following:
•
financial condition and results of operation;
•
growth potential;
•
experience and skill of management and availability of
additional personnel;
•
capital requirements;
•
competitive position;
•
barriers to entry;
•
stage of development of the products, processes or services;
•
degree of current or potential market acceptance of the
products, processes or services;
•
proprietary features and degree of intellectual property or
other protection of the products, processes or services;
•
regulatory environment of the industry; and
•
costs associated with effecting the business combination.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation
relating to the merits of a particular business combination were
based, to the extent relevant, on the above factors as well as
other considerations deemed relevant by our management in
effecting a business combination consistent with our business
objective. In evaluating a prospective target business, we have
conducted an extensive due diligence review which has
encompassed, among other things, meetings with incumbent
management and inspection of facilities, as well as review of
financial and other information which is made available to us.
This due diligence review was conducted either by our management
or by unaffiliated third parties we may engage. We have had all
prospective target businesses execute agreements with us waiving
any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any
monies held in the Trust Account. If any prospective target
business refused to execute such agreement, we did not continue
negotiations with such target business.
All costs incurred with respect to the identification and
evaluation of a prospective target business with which a
business combination was not ultimately completed resulted in a
loss to us and reduced the amount of capital available to
otherwise complete a business combination. While we are entitled
to have released to us for the purpose of, among other things,
covering such costs up to $1.5 million of interest earned
on the funds, the Trust Account as discussed elsewhere
herein, we have received the full amount allowed and accordingly
we have borrowed funds from one of our initial stockholder to
operate. Our Initial Stockholders were under no obligation to
advance funds to us.
Fair
market value of target business
The target business or businesses that we acquire must
collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80.0% of
our net assets at the time of such acquisition, although we may
acquire a target business whose fair market value significantly
exceeds 80.0% of our net assets. The fair market value of CME
was determined by our board of directors based upon one or more
standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as
actual and potential sales, earnings and cash flow or book
value).
Lack
of business diversification
By consummating a business combination with only CME, our lack
of diversification may:
•
subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory
developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse
impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate
subsequent to a business combination, and
result in our dependency upon the performance of a single
operating business or the development or market acceptance of a
single or limited number of products, processes or services.
Limited
ability to evaluate the target business’
management
Although we scrutinized the management of CME when evaluating
the desirability of effecting the Transaction, we cannot assure
our stockholders that our assessment of CME’s management
will prove to be correct. In addition, we cannot assure our
stockholders that the future management will have the necessary
skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.
Furthermore, the future role of our officers and directors, if
any, in TM (Post-Transaction) following the Transaction cannot
presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible
that some of our key personnel will remain associated in senior
management or advisory positions with us following the
Transaction, it is unlikely that they will devote their full
time efforts to our affairs subsequent to the Transaction. While
the personal and financial interests of our key personnel might
have influenced their motivation in identifying and selecting
CME as a target business, their ability to remain with the
company after the consummation of the Transaction was not the
determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will
proceed with the Transaction.
Following approval of the Transaction, we may seek to recruit
additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of
CME’s business. We cannot assure our stockholders that we
will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that
any such additional managers we do recruit will have the
requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance
the incumbent management.
Opportunity
for stockholder approval of the Transaction
In connection with the vote required for the Transaction, all of
our Initial Stockholders, including all of our officers and
directors, have agreed to vote their respective initial shares
in accordance with the majority of the shares of common stock
voted by the public stockholders. If the majority of public
stockholders voting at the meeting, regardless of percent, vote
to approve the Transaction, our Initial Stockholders will vote
all shares owned by them prior to our IPO in favor of the
Transaction. Similarly, if the majority of public stockholders
voting at the meeting, regardless of percent, vote against the
Transaction, our Initial Stockholders will vote all shares owned
by them prior to our IPO against the Transaction. This voting
arrangement shall not apply to shares included in units
purchased in our IPO or purchased following our IPO in the open
market by any of our Initial Stockholders, officers and
directors. Accordingly, they may vote these shares on a proposed
business combination any way they choose. We will proceed with
the Transaction only if a majority of the shares of common stock
voted by the public stockholders are voted in favor of the
Transaction.
Conversion
rights
Assuming the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal is approved, we
will offer each public stockholder the right to have such
stockholder’s shares of common stock converted to cash if
the stockholder votes either for or against the business
combination and the business combination is approved and
completed. If the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal is not
approved, we will not complete the Transaction and we will
liquidate. Our Initial Stockholders will not have such
conversion rights with respect to the initial shares, but will
have such conversion rights with respect to any shares they
purchase in our IPO or in the aftermarket. The actual per-share
conversion price will be equal to the amount in the trust
account, inclusive of any interest (calculated as of two
business days prior to the consummation of the proposed business
combination), divided by the number of shares sold in our IPO.
Without taking into account any interest earned on the trust
account, the initial per-share conversion price would be
approximately $7.91.
See the section entitled “The Special Meeting —
Voting Your Shares”, — “Revoking Your
Proxy”, and “Conversion Rights”.
If a vote on the Transaction is held and the Transaction is not
approved, we will not continue to try to consummate a business
combination with a different target. If the Transaction is not
approved or completed for any reason, then public stockholders
voting either for or against this Transaction who exercised
their conversion rights would not be entitled to convert their
shares of common stock into a pro rata share of the aggregate
amount then on deposit in the trust account. In such case, if we
have required public stockholders to
tender their certificates prior to the meeting, we will promptly
return such certificates to the tendering public stockholder.
Public stockholders would be entitled to receive their pro rata
share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the trust account
only in the event that this Transaction, which they voted
against, was duly approved and subsequently completed, or in
connection with our liquidation.
Liquidation
if no business combination
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides
that we will continue in existence only until October 17,2009. This provision may not be amended except in connection
with the consummation of a business combination. If we have not
completed a business combination by such date, our corporate
existence will cease except for the purposes of winding up our
affairs and liquidating, pursuant to Section 278 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law. This has the same effect as if
our board of directors and stockholders had formally voted to
approve our dissolution pursuant to Section 275 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law. Accordingly, limiting our
corporate existence to a specified date as permitted by
Section 102(b)(5) of the Delaware General Corporation Law
removes the necessity to comply with the formal procedures set
forth in Section 275 (which would have required our board
of directors and stockholders to formally vote to approve our
dissolution and liquidation and to have filed a certificate of
dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of State). We view this
provision terminating our corporate life by October 17,2009 as an obligation to our stockholders and will not take any
action to amend or waive this provision to allow us to survive
for a longer period of time except in connection with the
consummation of a business combination.
If we are unable to complete the Transaction by October 17,2009, we will distribute to all of our public stockholders, in
proportion to their respective equity interests, an aggregate
sum equal to the amount in the Trust Account, inclusive of
any interest, plus any remaining net assets (subject to our
obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of
creditors as described below). We anticipate notifying the
trustee of the Trust Account to begin liquidating such
assets promptly after such date and anticipate it will take no
more than 10 business days to effectuate such distribution. Our
Initial Stockholders have waived their rights to participate in
any liquidation distribution with respect to their initial
shares. There will be no distribution from the
Trust Account with respect to our warrants, which will
expire worthless. We will pay the costs of liquidation from our
remaining assets outside of the Trust Account. If such
funds are insufficient, our Initial Stockholders have agreed to
advance us the funds necessary to complete such liquidation
(currently anticipated to be no more than approximately $15,000)
and have agreed not to seek repayment of such expenses.
The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could, however,
become subject to the claims of our creditors (which could
include vendors and service providers we have engaged to assist
us in any way in connection with our search for a target
business and that are owed money by us, as well as target
businesses themselves) which could have higher priority than the
claims of our public stockholders. Our management stockholders
have personally agreed, pursuant to agreements with us and Pali
that, if we liquidate prior to the consummation of a business
combination, they will be personally liable to pay debts and
obligations to target businesses or vendors or other entities
that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted
for or products sold to us in excess of the net proceeds of our
IPO not held in the Trust Account, but only if, and to the
extent, the claims reduce the amounts in the Trust Account.
Although we have a fiduciary obligation to pursue our management
stockholders to enforce their indemnification obligations, and
intend to pursue such actions as and when we deem appropriate,
there can be no assurance they will be able to satisfy those
obligations, if required to do so. Furthermore, our management
stockholders will not have any personal liability as to any
claimed amounts owed to a third party (including target
businesses) who executed a valid and enforceable waiver.
Accordingly, the actual per-share liquidation price could be
less than approximately $7.90, plus interest, due to claims of
creditors. Additionally, in the case of a prospective target
business that did not execute a waiver, such liability will only
be in an amount necessary to ensure that public stockholders
receive no less than $8.00 per share upon liquidation.
Furthermore, if we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an
involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not
dismissed, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be
subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our
bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties
with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent
any bankruptcy claims deplete the Trust Account, we cannot
assure our stockholders we will be able to return to our public
stockholders at least approximately $7.90 per share.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from
the Trust Account only in the event of the expiration of
our corporate existence and our liquidation or if they seek to
convert their respective shares into cash upon a business
combination which the stockholder voted against and which is
completed by us. In no other circumstances will a stockholder
have any right or interest of any kind to or in the
Trust Account.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, stockholders may be
held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to
the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution.
If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in
Section 280 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all
claims against it, including a
60-day
notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought
against the corporation, a
90-day
period during which the corporation may reject any claims
brought, and an additional
150-day
waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to
stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a
liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such
stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount
distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the
stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the
dissolution. However, as stated above, it is our intention to
make liquidating distributions to our stockholders as soon as
reasonably possible after October 17, 2009 and, therefore,
we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our
stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the
extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any
liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third
anniversary of such date. Because we will not be complying with
Section 280, Section 281(b) of the Delaware General
Corporation Law requires us to adopt a plan that will provide
for our payment, based on facts known to us at such time, of
(i) all existing claims, (ii) all pending claims and
(iii) all claims that may be potentially brought against us
within the subsequent 10 years. Accordingly, we would be
required to provide for any claims of creditors known to us at
that time or those that we believe could be potentially brought
against us within the subsequent 10 years prior to our
distributing the funds in the Trust Account to our public
stockholders. However, because we are a blank check company,
rather than an operating company, and our operations are limited
to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the
only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors and
service providers (such as accountants, lawyers, investment
bankers, etc.) and potential target businesses. As described
above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting
agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers,
except for the independent accountants, and prospective target
businesses execute agreements with us waiving any right, title,
interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies
held in the Trust Account. As a result, the claims that
could be made against us will be limited, thereby lessening the
likelihood that any claim would result in any liability
extending to the trust. We therefore believe that any necessary
provision for creditors will be reduced and should not have a
significant impact on our ability to distribute the funds in the
Trust Account to our public stockholders. Nevertheless, we
cannot assure our stockholders of this fact as there is no
guarantee that vendors, service providers and prospective target
businesses will execute such agreements. Nor is there any
guarantee that, even if they execute such agreements with us,
they will not seek recourse against the Trust Account. A
court could also conclude that such agreements are not legally
enforceable. As a result, if we liquidate, the per-share
distribution from the Trust Account could be less than
approximately $7.90 due to claims or potential claims of
creditors.
If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary
bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, any
distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under
applicable debtor/creditor or bankruptcy laws as either a
“preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent
conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to
recover all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore,
because we intend to distribute the proceeds held in the
Trust Account to our public stockholders promptly after
October 17, 2009, this may be viewed or interpreted as
giving preference to our public stockholders over any potential
creditors with respect to access to or distributions from our
assets. Furthermore, our board may be viewed as having breached
their fiduciary duties to our creditors or may have acted in bad
faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of
punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the
Trust Account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
We cannot assure our stockholders that claims will not be
brought against us for these reasons.
If the Transaction is completed, TM will become subject to
competition from competitors of CME. Please see the section
entitled “INFORMATION ABOUT TM ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA,
INC. — Competition”.
We have two executive officers. These individuals are not
obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters
and intend to devote only as much time as they deem necessary to
our affairs. We presently expect each of our executive officers
to devote time not in excess of 40 hours per week to our
business. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior
to the consummation of a business combination.
We currently maintain our executive offices at 307 East
87th Street, New York, New York, 10128. Our management
stockholders have agreed to provide us with, or to arrange for
third parties to provide, certain administrative, technology and
secretarial services, as well as the use of certain limited
office space, at this location or another location pursuant to
letter agreements between us and our management stockholders.
Although we committed to pay $7,500 per month for these
services, our management stockholders have elected to receive
$6,400 per month. We believe, based on rents and fees for
similar services in the New York City metropolitan area, that
the fee charged is at least as favorable as we could have
obtained from an unaffiliated person. We consider our current
office space adequate for our current operations.
TM has registered its securities under the Exchange Act and has
reporting obligations, including the requirement to file annual
and quarterly reports with the SEC. In accordance with the
requirements of the Exchange Act, TM’s annual reports
contain financial statements audited and reported on by
TM’s independent registered public accountant.
We were formed under the laws of the State of Delaware on
May 1, 2007 to serve as a vehicle to effect a merger,
capital stock exchange, asset acquisition or other similar
business combination with an operating business in the
entertainment, media and communication industries. We intend to
utilize cash derived from the proceeds of our initial public
offering, our capital stock, debt or a combination of cash,
capital stock and debt, in effecting a business combination.
On October 17, 2007, our initial public offering of
9,000,000 units at $8.00 per unit was declared effective
and we sold an additional aggregate 1,255,000 units
pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option of the
initial public offering. Simultaneously with the consummation of
our initial public offering we sold an aggregate of 2,100,000
insider warrants to certain initial shareholders including
Theodore S. Green, Malcolm Bird, Jonathan F. Miller and the John
W. Hyde Living Trust, at a price of $1.00 per warrant, for an
aggregate price of $2,100,000. The total gross proceeds from the
initial public offering, excluding the warrants sold on a
private placement basis but including the over-allotment,
amounted to $82,040,000. After the payment of offering expenses,
inclusive of the deferred underwriting fees, the net proceeds to
us amounted to $75,748,282. Each unit consists of one share of
the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value, and one
redeemable common stock purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles
the holder to purchase from us one share of common stock at an
exercise price of $5.50 commencing the later of the completion
of an initial business combination or one year from the
effective date of the initial public offering (October 17,2008) and expiring four years from the effective date of
the initial public offering (October 17, 2011).
Accordingly, the warrants are currently exercisable by their
terms. However, there is not currently an effective registration
statement with respect to the exercise of such warrants and
accordingly the warrants could not be exercised.
In connection with our initial public offering, we issued an
option, for $100, to the representatives of the underwriters in
our initial public offering, to purchase 700,000 units.
This option is exercisable at $10.00 per unit, and may be
exercised on a cashless basis, commencing on the later of the
consummation of a business combination and one year from the
date of our initial public offering and expiring five years from
the date of our initial public offering. The option and the
700,000 units, the 700,000 shares of common stock and
the 700,000 warrants underlying such units, and the
700,000 shares of common stock underlying such warrants,
have been deemed compensation by the NASD and are therefore
subject to a
180-day
lock-up
pursuant to Rule 2710(g)(1) of the NASD Conduct Rules. The
underwriters will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or
hypothecate this option or the securities underlying this
option, nor will they engage in any hedging, short sale,
derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the
effective economic disposition of this option or the underlying
securities for a period of 360 days from the effective date
of our initial public offering.
We estimate that the value of the representative’s unit
purchase option is approximately $2,207,000 using a
Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of the
representative’s unit purchase option is estimated as of
the date of the grant using the following assumptions:
(1) expected volatility of 45.2%, (2) risk-free
discount rate of 4.95%, (3) contractual life of five years
and (4) dividend rate of zero. Additionally, the option may
not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for
a one-year period (including the foregoing
180-day
period) following the date of our initial public offering except
to any underwriter and selected dealers participating in the
offering and their bona fide officers or partners. Although the
purchase option and its underlying securities have been
registered under the registration statement of which our initial
public offering forms a part, the option grants to holders
demand and “piggy back” rights for periods of five and
seven years, respectively, from the date of our initial public
offering with respect to the registration under the Securities
Act of the securities directly and indirectly issuable upon
exercise of the option. We will bear all fees and expenses
attendant to registering the securities, other than underwriting
commissions which will be paid for by the holders themselves.
The exercise price and number of units issuable upon exercise of
the option may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in
the event of a stock dividend, or our recapitalization,
reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the option
will not be adjusted for issuances of common stock at a price
below its exercise price.
Since our initial public offering, we have been actively
searching for a suitable business combination candidate. We have
met with service professionals and other intermediaries to
discuss our company, the background of our management and our
combination preferences. In the course of these discussions, we
have also spent time explaining the capital structure of the
initial public offering, the combination approval process and
the timeline within which we must either enter into a letter of
intent or definitive agreement for a business combination, or
return the proceeds of the initial public offering held in the
trust account to investors.
We are not presently engaged in, and will not engage in, any
substantive commercial business until we consummate an initial
transaction. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds
of our initial public offering, the private placement, our
capital stock, debt or a combination of cash, capital stock and
debt, in effecting an initial transaction. The issuance of
additional shares of our capital stock:
•
may significantly reduce the equity interest of our current
stockholders;
•
may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if
preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded
to our common stock;
•
may cause a change in control if a substantial number of our
shares of common stock or preferred stock are issued, which may
affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating
loss carry forwards, if any, and most likely also result in the
resignation or removal of one or more of our present officers
and directors; and
•
could enhance or adversely affect prevailing market prices for
our securities.
Similarly, if we issued debt securities, it could result in:
•
default and foreclosure on our assets, if our operating revenues
after an initial transaction were insufficient to pay our debt
obligations;
•
acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness, even
if we have made all principal and interest payments when due, if
the debt security contained covenants that required the
maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves and any such
covenant were breached without a waiver or renegotiation of that
covenant;
•
our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if
any, if the debt security was payable on demand; and
•
our inability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, if
the debt security contained covenants restricting our ability to
obtain additional financing while such security was outstanding.
We anticipate that we would only consummate such a financing
simultaneously with the consummation of a business combination,
although nothing would preclude us from raising more capital in
anticipation of a possible business combination.
We may use all or substantially all of the proceeds held in
trust other than the deferred portion of the underwriter’s
fee to acquire one or more target businesses. We may not use all
of the proceeds held in the trust account in connection with a
business combination, either because the consideration for the
business combination is less than the proceeds in trust or
because we finance a portion of the consideration with capital
stock or debt securities that we can issue. In that event, the
proceeds held in the trust account as well as any other net
proceeds not expended will be used to finance the operations of
the target business or businesses. The operating businesses that
we acquire in such business combination must have, individually
or collectively, a fair market value equal to at least 80% of
our net assets (all of our assets, including the funds held in
the trust account, less our liabilities) at the time of such
acquisition. If we consummate multiple business combinations
that collectively have a fair market value of 80% of our net
assets, then we would require that such transactions are
consummated simultaneously.
If we are unable to find a suitable target business by
October 17, 2009, we will be forced to liquidate. If we are
forced to liquidate, the per share liquidation amount may be
less than the initial per unit offering price because of the
underwriting commissions and expenses related to our initial
public offering and because of the value of the warrants in the
per unit offering price. Additionally, if third parties make
claims against us, the initial public offering proceeds held in
the trust account could be subject to those claims, resulting in
a further reduction to the per share liquidation price. Under
Delaware law, our stockholders who have received
distributions from us may be held liable for claims by third
parties to the extent such claims have not been paid by us.
Furthermore, our warrants will expire worthless if we liquidate
before the completion of a business combination.
On May 1, 2009, the Company and privately-held Hong Kong
Mandefu Holdings Limited (d/b/a China MediaExpress)
(“CME”) entered into a definitive share exchange
agreement as amended as of September 30, 2009, whereby the
Company will acquire 100% of the outstanding equity of CME,
subject to approval of shareholder of the Company. Upon the
closing of the transaction, which is anticipated in the third
quarter of 2009, the Company will change its name to China
MediaExpress Holdings, Inc.
Under the terms of the transaction, the CME’s shareholders
will receive 20.915 million newly issued shares of the
Company’s common stock and $10.0 million in three
year, no interest promissory notes upon the closing of the
transaction. CME shareholders may earn up to an additional
15.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock,
subject to the achievement of the following net income targets
for 2009 — 2011:
Year
Net Income (RMB)
Net Income (US$)(1)
Shares
2009
287.0 million
$
42.0 million
1.0 million
2010
570.0 million
$
83.5 million
7.0 million
2011
889.0 million
$
130.2 million
7.0 million
(1)
Based on exchange rate of 6.83 RMB/USD.
In addition, CME shareholders are entitled to receive up to
$20.9 million of the cash proceeds from the exercise of the
Company’s publicly held common stock purchase warrants.
In addition, as part of an amendment to the Share Exchange
Agreement, our Initial Stockholders agreed to transfer
750,000 shares of TM Common Stock owned by them to the
Sellers upon the closing of the transaction contemplated by the
Share Exchange Agreement and to sign lock-ups of up to 2 years
with respect to 2,100,000 warrants owned by them.
CME generates revenue by selling advertisements on its network
of television displays installed on express buses originating in
nine of China’s regions, including the four municipalities
of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing and five provinces,
namely Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan and Hebei.
The transaction will be accounted for as a reverse acquisition
in which CME is the accounting acquirer, equivalent to a
recapitalization. The net monetary assets of the Company will be
recorded as of the closing date of the transaction at their
respective historical costs, which is considered to be the
equivalent of fair value. No goodwill or intangible assets will
be recorded as a result of the transaction. The Company has
filed a preliminary proxy statement with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) with respect to the
proposed transaction. Upon the approval by the SEC, the proxy
statement will be sent to stockholders in connection with a
meeting to approve of the proposed transaction.
There can be no assurance that the transaction with CME will be
approved by the Company’s shareholders, in which event the
transaction with CME will not be consummated.
$80,978,800 of the net proceeds of our initial public
offering, over-allotment exercise, private sale of warrants, and
a portion of the underwriters’ discounts and expense
allowance were deposited in trust, with the remaining net
proceeds being placed in our operating account. Since inception,
we used the interest income earned on the trust proceeds of
$1,500,000 to identify, evaluate and negotiate with prospective
acquisition candidates as well as cover our ongoing operating
expenses until a transaction is approved by our shareholders or
the trust funds are returned to them.
We will use substantially all of the net proceeds of the initial
public offering to acquire a target business, including
identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates,
selecting the target business, and structuring, negotiating and
consummating the business combination and funding the conversion
by our stockholders who elect to convert their public shares. To
the extent that our capital stock is used in whole or in part as
consideration to effect a business combination, the proceeds
held in the trust fund as well as any other net proceeds not
expended will be used to finance the operations of the target
business. We may need to
raise additional funds through a private or public offering of
debt or equity securities if such funds are required to
consummate a business combination that is presented to us and to
fund the conversion by our stockholders who elect to convert
their public shares. We would only consummate such a financing
contemporaneously with the consummation of a business
combination. There can be no assurance, however, that adequate
financing will be available at all or upon terms and conditions
acceptable to us. At June 30, 2009, we had cash outside of
the trust fund of $13,089 and other current assets of $37,184
and total liabilities of $4,377,783 (including $3,281,600 of
deferred underwriting fees). Therefore, at June 30, 2009,
the Company has incurred liabilities, which exceed cash
available. The Company is seeking to obtain deferrals of
payables from its vendors, including its professional advisors,
except its independent accountants.
On May 4, Theodore S. Green, the Chairman and Co-CEO and
interim CFO of the Company, loaned the Company $200,000 (the
“Loan”) as evidenced by a promissory note issued by
the Company (the “Note”). On July 1, 2009
Mr. Green loaned the Company an additional $35,000.
Mr. Green may lend the Company up to an additional $65,000
in his discretion. The principal balance of the Note outstanding
is payable on the earlier of (i) October 17, 2009 and
(ii) the date on which the Company consummates a business
combination as contemplated by its prospectus for its initial
public offering. The principal balance of the Note bears
interest at a rate of 10% per year, compounded semiannually. The
proceeds of the loans were used to fund certain expenses
incurred in connection with the proposed transaction with CME
and the balance for working capital.
Upon the failure of the Company to repay the Note within 1
business day of when it is due, Mr. Green may declare the
entire amount due under the Note (including interest) due and
payable. Upon the filing of a voluntary bankruptcy by the
Company or an involuntary bankruptcy which is not dismissed
within 60 days, the entire amount due under the Note will
automatically become due and payable.
In connection with the Loan, Mr. Green and Mr. Malcolm
Bird, a director and Co-CEO of the Company, have entered into an
agreement pursuant to which Mr. Bird has agreed to
reimburse Mr. Green for 7/18ths of the amount of the Loan
and corresponding interest thereon in the event the Company does
not consummate a business combination by October 17, 2009
and is dissolve
Commencing on October 17, 2007 we began incurring a fee of
$6,400 per month for certain administrative services. In
addition, in 2007, one of our initial stockholders loaned to us
an aggregate of $100,000 for payment of offering expenses on our
behalf. This loan plus interest was repaid on December 12,2007 from the proceeds of the initial public offering that were
allocated to pay offering expenses.
Going concern consideration — As indicated in the
accompanying financial statements, at June 30, 2009, the
Company had unrestricted cash of $13,089 and a note payable of
$200,000 and $896,183 in accrued expenses. Additionally, the
Company has incurred and expects to incur additional significant
costs in pursuit of its acquisition plans. In addition, there is
no assurance that the Company will successfully complete a
Business Combination by October 17, 2009. If such business
combination is not consummated the Company will be forced to
liquidate upon expiration of this time constraint. In the event
of such liquidation, the Company will have no means of
satisfying any of such accrued expenses or other liabilities.
The Company’s Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive
Officer, and the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officer have
agreed that they will be liable under certain circumstances to
ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not
reduced by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors
or other entities that are owed money by the Company for
services rendered or contracted for or products sold to the
Company. However, there can be no assurance that they will be
able to satisfy those obligations. Furthermore, they will not
have any personal liability as to any claimed amounts owed to a
third party who executed a waiver (including a prospective
target business).
As of June 30, 2009the Company withdrew $1,500,000 of
interest from the trust for operating expenses (excluding
$593,996 of interest earned and used to pay taxes). Since
inception to March 31, 2009the Company has incurred
$2,726,956 of operating and interest expenses (excluding taxes)
of which $896,183 was payable as of June 30, 2009. The
Company had cash available at June 30, 2009 of $13,089 for
operating expenses. Therefore, at June 30, 2009, the
Company has incurred liabilities which exceed cash available.
The Company expects to incur additional significant costs in
pursuit of its acquisition plans. The Company is
seeking to obtain deferrals of payables from its vendors,
including its professional advisors except for its independent
accountants. As noted above on May 4, 2009, Theodore S.
Green, the Chairman and Co-CEO and interim CFO of the Company,
loaned the Company $200,000, and on July 1, 2009, an
additional $35,000. These factors, among others, raise
substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue
operations as a going concern. The accompanying financial
statements do not include any adjustments that may result from
the outcome of this uncertainty.
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any
revenues to date, other than in connection with our initial
public offering. Our entire activity since inception has been to
prepare for and consummate our initial public offering and to
identify and investigate targets for a potential business
combination. We will not generate any operating revenues until
we are successful consummating a business combination. We will
generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on
cash and cash equivalents from the funds held in our trust
account which we invested mainly in a New York Tax Free Money
Market.
Net loss for the three month period ended June 30, 2009 was
$(573,100), excluding ($3,359) reduction of interest income net
of taxes, attributable to stockholders subject to possible
conversion, consisting of interest income of $47,415 earned
predominantly on the trust account, offset by a $59,161
provision for New York State, New York City, and Delaware
Franchise and Capital Taxes and $561,354 of general and
administrative expenses (primarily attributable to $463,200 of
due diligence and acquisition related expenses, $26,700 of legal
and accounting expenses, $26,900 of insurance expense, $19,200
of fees for a monthly administrative services agreement and
approximately $8,000 of travel and business expenses).
Net loss for the six month period ended June 30, 2009 was
$(881,206) excluding $4,625 of interest income net of taxes,
attributable to stockholders subject to possible conversion,
consisting of interest income of $147,700 earned predominantly
on the trust account, offset by a $132,661 provision for New
York State, New York City, and Delaware Franchise and Capital
Taxes and $896,245 of general and administrative expenses
(primarily attributable to $548,000 of due diligence and
acquisition related expenses, $170,900 of legal and accounting
expenses, $55,575 of insurance expense, $38,400 of fees for a
monthly administrative services agreement and approximately
$15,000 of travel and business expenses).
For the period from May 1, 2007 (inception) to
June 30, 2009, we had a net loss of $(1,066,217), excluding
$46,761 of interest income net of taxes, attributable to
stockholders subject to possible conversion, consisting of
$2,254,735 of interest income earned predominantly on the trust
account, less $3,315,087 of formation and operating expenses.
The main components of the formation and operating expenses
include approximately $1,580,000 of due diligence and
acquisition related expenses, $594,400 of New York State, New
York City and Delaware Capital and Franchise Taxes, $122,000 of
travel and business expense, $528,900 of legal and accounting
fees.
Interest income in for the six month period ended June 30,2009, and fiscal 2008 and 2007 was primarily earned on the net
proceeds from our initial public offering which was placed in a
trust account.
We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing
arrangements and have not established any special purpose
entities. We have not guaranteed any debt or commitments of
other entities or entered into any options on non-financial
assets.
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and
results of operations are based upon our financial statements,
which have been prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The preparation of these financial statements requires us to
make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of
assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an ongoing basis,
we re-evaluate all of our estimates. We base our estimates on
historical experience and on various other assumptions that are
believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results
of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying
values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent
from other sources. Actual results may materially differ from
these estimates under different assumptions or conditions as
additional information becomes available in future periods.
Management has discussed the development and selection of
critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors and the Audit Committee has reviewed our
disclosure relating to critical accounting estimates in the
Company’s Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. We believe the
following sets forth the more significant judgments and
estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial
statements.
In December 2007, FASB issued SFAS No. 160,
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51
(“FASB 160”). This statement amends ARB 51 to
establish accounting and reporting standards for the
noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the
deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It clarifies that a
noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest
in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in
the consolidated financial statements. In addition, FASB 160
changes the way the consolidated income statement is presented
by requiring consolidated net income to be reported at amounts
that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the
noncontrolling interest. This statement also establishes a
single method of accounting for changes in a parent’s
ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in
deconsolidation and requires that a parent recognize a gain or
loss in net income when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. This
statement is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods
within those fiscal years, beginning on or after
December 15, 2008 and earlier adoption is prohibited. FASB
160 shall be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the
fiscal year in which this statement is initially applied, except
for the presentation and disclosure requirement which shall be
applied retrospectively for all periods presented. We have not
yet determined the impact that this requirement may have on our
condensed consolidated financial position, results of
operations, cash flows or financial statement disclosures for
future acquisitions.
In December 2007, FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, Business
Combinations (“FASB 141R”). FASB 141R replaces FASB
Statement No. 141 Business Combinations but retains the
fundamental requirements in FASB 141. This statement
defines the acquirer as the entity that obtains control of one
or more businesses in the business combination and establishes
the acquisition date as the date that the acquirer achieves
control. FASB 141R also requires that an acquirer recognized the
assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling
interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, measured at
their fair values as of that date. In addition, this statement
requires that the acquirer in a business combination achieved in
stages to recognize the identifiable assets and liabilities, as
well as the noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, at the full
amounts of their fair values. FASB 141R is applied prospectively
to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or
after the beginning of the first annual reporting period
beginning on or after December 15, 2008. An entity may not
apply the standard before that date. FASB 141R will be applied
prospectively for acquisitions beginning in 2009 or thereafter.
In October 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position
FAS 157-3,
“Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the
Market for That Asset Is Not Active”
(“FSP 157-3”),
FSP 157-3
clarified the application of FAS 157.
FSP 157-3
demonstrated how the fair value of a financial asset is
determined when the market for that financial asset is inactive.
FSP 157-3
was effective upon issuance, including prior periods for which
financial statements had not been issued. The implementation of
this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s
financial statements.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161
(“SFAS 161”). Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities — an amendment of
FASB Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities
(“SFAS No. 133”). SFAS No. 161
requires companies to provide enhanced disclosures regarding
derivative instruments and hedging activities in order to better
convey the purpose of derivative use in terms of risk
management. Disclosures about (i) how and why an entity
used derivative instruments, (ii) how derivative
instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under
SFAS No. 133 and its related
interpretations, and (iii) how derivative instruments and
related hedged items affect a company’s financial position,
financial performance, and cash flows, are required. This
Statement retains the same scope as SFAS No. 133 and
is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning
after November 15, 2008. The Company is currently
evaluating the impact, if any, that the adoption of
SFAS No. 161 will have on its consolidated financial
position and results of operations.
In June 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position
EITF 03-6-1,
Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment
Transactions Are Participating Securities (“FSP
EITF 03-6-1),
which is effective January 1, 2009. FSP
EITF 03-6-1
clarifies that share-based payment awards that entitle holders
to receive nonforfeitable dividends before they vest will be
considered participating securities and included in the basic
earnings per share calculation. The Company is assessing the
impact of adoption FSP
EITF 03-6-1
on its results of operations.
On April 1, 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP)
FAS 141(R) -1, Accounting for Assets Acquired and
Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from
Contingencies. This FSP provides additional guidance and
disclosure requirements regarding the recognition and
measurement of contingent assets acquired and contingent
liabilities assumed in a business combination where the fair
value of the contingent assets and liabilities cannot be
determined as of the acquisition date. This FSP is effective for
acquisitions occurring after January 1. 2009. The adoption
of this FSP did not have any impact on the Company, and its
future impact will be dependent upon the specific terms of
future business combinations, if any.
On April 9, 2009, the FASB simultaneously issued the
following three FSPs:
•
FSP
FAS 157-4,
Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for
the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and
Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly, provides
additional guidance to companies for determining fair values of
financial instruments for which there is no active market or
quoted prices may represent distressed transactions. The
guidance includes a reaffirmation of the need to use judgment in
certain circumstances.
•
FSP
FAS 107-1
and APB
28-1,
Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,
requires companies to provide additional fair value information
for certain financial instruments in interim financial
statements, similar to what is currently required to be
disclosed on an annual basis.
•
FSP
FAS 115-2,
FAS 124-2,
and
EITF 99-20-2,
Recognition and Presentation of
Other-Than-Temporary
Impairments, amends the existing guidance regarding impairments
for investments in debt securities. Specifically, it changes how
companies determine if an impairment is considered to be
other-than-temporary
and the related accounting. This standard also provides for
increased disclosures.
These FSPs apply to both interim and annual periods and will be
effective for us beginning April 1, 2009. We have evaluated
these standards and believe they will have no impact on our
financial condition and results of operations.
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165
“Subsequent Events” (“SFAS 165”).
SFAS 165 establishes general standards of accounting for
and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date
but before financial statements are issued or are available to
be issued. SFAS 165 sets forth (1) The period after
the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting
entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for
potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements,
(2) The circumstances under which an entity should
recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance
sheet date in its financial statements and (3) The
disclosures that an entity should make about events or
transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date.
SFAS 165 is effective for interim or annual financial
periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Company adopted
SFAS 165 and it had no impact on the financial statements
except for disclosure of consideration of subsequent events.
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166
“Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets —
an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140”
(“SFAS 166”). SFAS 166 improves the
relevance, representational faithfulness, and comparability of
the information that a reporting entity provides in its
financial statements about a transfer of financial assets; the
effects of a transfer on its financial position, financial
performance, and cash flows; and a transferor’s continuing
involvement, if any, in transferred financial assets.
SFAS 166 is effective as of the beginning of each reporting
entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after
November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first
annual reporting period and for interim and annual reporting
periods thereafter. The Company is evaluating the impact the
adoption of SFAS 166 will have on its financial statements.
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167
“Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)”
(“SFAS 167”). SFAS 167 improves financial
reporting by enterprises involved with variable interest
entities and to address (1) the effects on certain
provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 46 (revised December
2003), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”,
as a result of the elimination of the qualifying special-purpose
entity concept in SFAS 166 and (2) constituent
concerns about the application of certain key provisions of
Interpretation 46(R), including those in which the accounting
and disclosures under the Interpretation do not always provide
timely and useful information about an enterprise’s
involvement in a variable interest entity. SFAS 167 is
effective as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s
first annual reporting period that begins after
November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first
annual reporting period, and for interim and annual reporting
periods thereafter. The Company is evaluating the impact the
adoption of SFAS 167 will have on its financial statements.
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168 “The
FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles — a
replacement of FASB Statement No. 162”. The FASB
Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”)
will be the single source of authoritative nongovernmental
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Rules and
interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal
securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC
registrants. SFAS 168 is effective for interim and annual
periods ending after September 15, 2009. All existing
accounting standards are superseded as described in
SFAS 168. All other accounting literature not included in
the Codification is nonauthoritative. The Company is evaluating
the impact the adoption of SFAS 168 will have on its
financial statements.
Immediately following the consummation of the Transaction, our
directors, executive officers and key employees will be as
follows:
Name
Age
Position
Theodore S. Green
56
Director
Malcolm Bird
41
Director
Zheng Cheng
38
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
George Zhou
46
Director
Marco Kung
35
Director
Jacky Wai Kei Lam
35
Director and Chief Financial Officer
Jian Yu
33
Chief Operating Officer
Jinlong Du
38
Chief Marketing Officer
Biaoxing Chen
32
Chief Technology Officer
Weisheng Liu
41
Chief Administration Officer
Zhuofeng Zheng
32
Financial Controller
Theodore
S. Green
Theodore (Ted) S. Green has served as our Chairman,
Co-Chief Executive Officer, interim Chief Financial Officer and
a director since our inception. From 2003 to 2006,
Mr. Green was the Chief Executive Officer of Anchor Bay
Entertainment, which at such time was the subsidiary of IDT
Entertainment, Inc. that focused on the production, marketing
and distribution of various media. Mr. Green began serving
as Chief Executive Officer, with the acquisition of Anchor Bay
from The Handleman Co. Mr. Green had full operating
authority over the marketing, financial, sales, products,
operations, legal, business and corporate resources departments.
Prior to that, in 2001, Mr. Green established Greenlight
Consulting Inc., a project-based consulting practice focused on
the media and entertainment industry. Greenlight
Consulting’s clients include Sony Music and
Vivendi-Universal as well as numerous other regional media
organizations. Prior to founding Greenlight Consulting, in 2000,
Mr. Green was President and Chief Operating Officer of
MaMaMedia, Inc., an Internet company that creates activity-based
learning products for children and their families. From 1992 to
2000, Mr. Green was the founder and President of Sony
Wonder, the division of Sony BMG Music Entertainment responsible
for the production and distribution of media geared toward
youthful audiences and also for all home video distribution.
Mr. Green was responsible for all creative, production,
operations, finance, marketing and business efforts. Beginning
in 1989, Mr. Green was the Executive Vice President of
Administration and Operations for ATCO Records, a music industry
label co-owned with The Warner Music Group. Mr. Green was
responsible for all business, legal and financial operations.
From 1982 until 1989, Mr. Green served as the Senior Vice
President of Polygram Records, overseeing the Business Affairs
and Music Publishing divisions of the company. Mr. Green
was responsible for negotiations, administration, rights and
contracts. Mr. Green’s career in the entertainment
industry began first in the legal department and thereafter as
the Director of Business Affairs for CBS Records. Prior to that
Mr. Green practiced general entertainment law at the firm
of Moses Singer. Mr. Green holds a BS from Cornell
University and received his JD from Columbia University School
of Law.
Malcolm
Bird
Malcolm Bird has served as our Co-Chief Executive Officer
and a director since our inception. Mr. Bird has worked in
the entertainment industry for the past 25 years.
Mr. Bird served as senior vice president of kids and teens
for AOL from December 2002 through his resignation in March
2007. Mr. Bird was responsible for strategy, development,
instigation, sales, staffing, business development, marketing,
and public relations. From 1995 to 1997 Mr. Bird was
Director of International Programming at Hanna-Barbera Studio
responsible for program development, negotiation with
international broadcasters, production, licensing development,
liaison with International Cartoon Network and branding for
Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. From 1997 to
1999, Mr. Bird was head of youth programming at USA
Broadcasting. Working with the senior management team, (Jon
Miller and Barry Diller), Mr. Bird was responsible for
20 hours of Barry Diller’s new “CityVision”
network, WAMI. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. Bird was President of
Craftsman Productions, Inc., a company he co-founded in 1995 to
develop and produce innovative programs for television.
Mr. Bird created, developed and sold into broadcast and
cable networks programming. Mr. Bird has been involved in
publishing, marketing, public relations, radio, television
development, television production, international business
(overseeing operations in Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin
America for a Hollywood studio), and multi-platform business
development. Mr. Bird has received two Emmy awards and two
Telly awards. Mr. Bird sits on the executive board of
directors of the National Children’s Museum in
Washington, D.C.
Zheng
Cheng
Zheng Cheng is the founder of CME and has served as the
chairman of the board of directors and the chief executive
officer since its incorporation in 2002. He has over ten
years’ experience in enterprise management and is primarily
in charge of the government relations, formulation of the growth
strategies and management of the business. Prior to the
establishment of CME, he had held a number of senior executive
positions in various government agencies, state-owned
enterprises and other companies, including the agriculture
department of the Chinese Communist Youth League in Yunnan
Province, Yunnan Qingnian Xinchangzheng Trading Company, Fuzhou
Shoushan Waterfall Group EM Polder Co., Ltd., Fuzhou Electronics
Mall Co., Ltd. and Fuzhou Mandefu Food Co., Ltd. He is also a
philanthropist dedicated to community development in China. In
2002, he was recognized by the Industry and Commerce Association
in Fuzhou for his reputation for charity and assistance of
children in need of education. He launched activities to raise
funds to help relieve damage resulting from the earthquake in
Sichuan in May 2008. In 2005, he was awarded Fuzhou
Distinguished Young Entrepreneur of the Year. In addition, he
currently serves as the vice president of Fuzhou Advertising
Association, as well as the vice president of the Industry and
Commerce Association of Jin’an District and Gulou District
of Fuzhou. He is also a director in the standing committee of
Fuzhou Industry and Commerce Association, the Sixth Political
Consultative Conference Committee of Jin’an District of
Fuzhou, and the Fujian Entrepreneurs’ Association. Further,
he is a visiting professor of Minjiang College who teaches
subjects relating to the advertising industry in China.
Mr. Cheng received his bachelor’s degree in economics
from Yunnan University in China in 1994.
George
Zhou
Mr. George Zhou is currently the CEO and a director of
Beijing Tengzhong Investment Ltd. and a director of Sichuan
Tengzhong Heavy Machinery Industrial Co., Ltd. Prior to joining
Beijing Tengzhong, Mr. Zhou was Chief Operation Officer of
Benda Pharmaceutical. Prior to joining Benda Pharmaceutical,
Mr. Zhou was a Partner and Managing Director of Eos Funds,
where he directed investments in Chinese companies which
intended to list on U.S. and Canadian exchanges. Prior to
that, Mr. Zhou served as Co-Founder, President &
CEO, and member of the Board of Directors of Abepharma Ltd. and
Red Mountain Pharmaceuticals (China) Ltd. respectively. He was
also a Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors
of Kangjian Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Before entrering the
pharmaceutical industry, Mr. Zhou was a post-doctoral
fellow in molecular biology at the University of Victoria,
Canada, and received a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Umea
University, Sweden. He had his Master degree in Genetics at
Southwest University, China. He also worked as an Associate
Professor at Chongqing University, China.
Marco
Kung
Mr. Marco Kung Wai Chiu, is currently serving as a
financial controller, qualified accountant and company secretary
of Wuyi International Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a company
listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. He has over ten
years’ experience in business advisory services and
financial management. He graduated from Hong Kong Lingnan
University in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in business
administration. He further obtained two master degrees in
business administration from the University of Wollongong,
Australia, in 2005, and in corporate governance from the Hong
Kong Polytechnic University in 2008. He is a fellow member of
both the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and
the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. He
registered as a Certified Public Accountant (practising) in
Hong Kong since 2007. He is also an associate member of both the
Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and the
Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries.
Jacky Wai
Kei Lam
Jacky Wai Kei Lam has served as Chief Financial Officer
since May 2009. He is experienced in public company accounting
and is primarily in charge of CME’s finance and accounting
related matters. Prior to joining CME, he spent over eight years
at PricewaterhouseCoopers Hong Kong and was most recently a
senior manager. He also served as an accounting supervisor in a
multinational company and was employed by a local audit firm
before joining PricewaterhouseCoopers Hong Kong. He received his
bachelor degree of business administration in accounting from
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 1996 and a
masters degree in financial engineering from the City University
of Hong Kong in 2004.
Jian
Yu
Jian Yu has served as Chief Operating Officer of CME
since January 2007. He is primarily in charge of business
development, the procurement of content and equipment from
CME’s content and equipment suppliers and execution of
CME’s business strategies. Prior to joining CME’s
company, he worked for several other media companies in China.
He was the director and general manager of Quanzhou New
Continent Cultural Media Co., Ltd. from April 2004 to December
2006, and has served as the deputy general manager of Fujian
Tang Culture Media Co., Ltd. from January 2003 to April 2004. He
received his diploma in computer science from Fuzhou University
in 2005.
Jinlong
Du
Jinlong Du has served as chief marketing officer of CME
since January 2006. He is primarily in charge of CME’s
daily business operation and management as well as its business
planning and strategies. Prior to joining CME, he served in
several senior positions in the electrical equipment industry.
He was the general manager of Fuzhou Baoli Tongfang Electronics
Co., Ltd. and the general manager of Fuzhou Wuzhou Mechanical
and Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd. from January 2003 to January
2006. He received his diploma in electrical engineering and
automation from Nanjing Architecture and Civil Engineering
Institute in 1991.
Biaoxing
Chen
Biaoxing Chen has served as Chief Technology Officer of
CME since December 2003. He is primarily in charge of technology
and system installation and maintenance. He is experienced in
business operations, management and formulation of strategies.
Prior to joining CME, he served in several senior positions in
the media industry, including marketing manager of Fujian Tang
Culture Media Co., Ltd. from September 2002 to November 2003,
project manager of Fujian Enterprise Culture Exchange Center
from August 2001 to August 2002 and project specialist of
Guoguang Enterprise Brand Strategizing Co., Ltd. from October
2000 to July 2001. He received his diploma in trade and
economics from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in
2001.
Weisheng
Liu
Weisheng Liu has served as Chief Administration Officer
of CME since June 2008. He is primarily in charge of
administration of CME. He is experienced in human resources and
administration. Prior to joining CME, he held a number of senior
executive positions in the banking and finance industry. He was
the president of the Hualin
Sub-branch
of the Fuzhou Branch of China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited
from November 2006 to May 2008. He has also served as the vice
president in the Fuzhou Branch of China Minsheng Banking Corp.,
Ltd from July 2001 to October 2006. He received his first
bachelors degree in credit management and investment from Fuzhou
University in 1990, and his second bachelors degree in finance
from China Central Radio and Television University in 2003.
Zhuofeng
Zheng
Zhuofeng Zheng has served as CME’s financial
controller since January 2003. She is experienced in accounting
management and is primarily in charge of CME’s finance and
accounting function. Prior to joining CME’s company, she
served as the manager in the investment department of Fujian
Fengquan Environmental
Protection Group Co., Ltd. from August 2002 to August 2003 as
well as the deputy manager in the finance department of Fujian
Chaoda Group Co., Ltd. from July 1999 to July 2002. She received
her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Shanghai Ocean
University in 1999.
The board of directors, after the Transaction, will consist of
seven directors, divided into three classes. Each year, one
class is elected to serve for a term of three years. However,
since we did not hold an annual meeting in 2008, we are asking
stockholders to elect the first class of directors to serve for
a term of two years and to elect the second class of directors
to serve for a term of three years.
The parties have agreed that upon the closing of the Share
Exchange Agreement, and for a period ending not sooner than
March 31, 2012 (or March 31, 2013 if the shares
subject to the earn-out provision have not been issued prior to
such date), the TM board of directors will consist of seven
persons, of which the Sellers will initially designate five
directors and TM will initially designate two directors. Of the
five directors designated by the Sellers, at least three will be
“independent directors” as such term is defined by
Section 803 of the AMEX Company Guide, provided that the
Company may amend, modify or terminate the requirement that the
Sellers designate five directors and how many of those five must
be independent directors with the consent of a majority of the
independent directors then serving on the TM board.
The board of directors shall establish and maintain an Audit
Committee which shall consist of three Independent Directors, of
which one shall be designated as the Chairman of the Audit
Committee, who shall be an expert in the field of media finance,
and whom shall be designated as part of the class of directors
whose term expires three years after he or she is elected.
None of our directors or officers has been or currently is a
principal of, or affiliated with, entities, including other
“blank check” companies, engaged in business
activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us.
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
requires our officers, directors and persons who own more than
ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities to
file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC.
Officers, directors and ten percent stockholders are required by
regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file. Based solely on copies of such forms received,
we believe that, during the fiscal year ended December 31,2008, all filing requirements applicable to our officers,
directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were
complied with.
There were six meetings of the Board of Directors of TM during
2008 (TM’s last fiscal year). No director attended fewer
than 75 percent of the board meetings. The Audit Committee
of the Board of Directors also held four meetings during 2008.
No member of the Audit Committee attended fewer than
75 percent of such meetings.
We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to all of our
executive officers, directors and employees. The code of ethics
codifies the business and ethical principles that govern all
aspects of our business. We have filed copies of our code of
ethics and our board committee charters as exhibits to the
registration statement in connection with our IPO. These
documents can be accessed by reviewing our public filings on the
SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the
code of ethics will be provided without charge upon request to
us in writing at 307 East 87th Street, New York, NY10128
or by telephone at
(212) 289-6942.
We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain
provisions of our code of ethics in a Current Report on
Form 8-K.
Our board of directors has established the following standing
committees: nominating, compensation and audit.
Nominating
Committee
Effective upon completion of the Transaction, our nominating
committee of the board of directors will consist of Messrs.
Green, Bird and Zhou, all of whom will be Independent Directors.
The nominating committee is responsible for overseeing the
selection of persons to be nominated to serve on our board of
directors. The nominating committee considers persons identified
by its members, management, shareholders, investment bankers and
others.
Guidelines
for Selecting Director Nominees
The guidelines for selecting nominees, which are specified in
the Nominating Committee Charter, generally provide that persons
to be nominated:
•
should have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in
business, education or public service;
•
should possess the requisite intelligence, education and
experience to make a significant contribution to the board of
directors and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and
backgrounds to its deliberations; and
•
should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of
professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests
of the stockholders.
The nominating committee considers a number of qualifications
relating to management and leadership experience, background and
integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s
candidacy for membership on the board of directors. The
nominating committee may require certain skills or attributes,
such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific
board needs that arise from time to time. The nominating
committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by
shareholders and other persons.
Compensation
Committee
Effective upon completion of the Transaction, our compensation
committee of the board of directors will consist of Messrs.
Green, Bird and Kung, all of whom will be Independent Directors.
The compensation committee’s duties, which are specified in
our Compensation Committee Charter, include, but are not limited
to:
•
evaluating the performance of our named executive officers and
approve their compensation;
•
preparing an annual report on executive compensation for
inclusion in our Proxy Statement;
•
reviewing and approving compensation plans, policies and
programs, considering their design and competitiveness;
•
administering and reviewing changes to our equity incentive
plans pursuant to the terms of the plans; and
•
reviewing our non-employee independent director compensation
levels and practices and recommending changes as appropriate.
The compensation committee reviews and approves corporate goals
and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officers’
compensation, evaluate our Chief Executive Officers’
performance in light of those goals and objectives, and
recommend to the board our Chief Executive Officers’
compensation levels based on its evaluation.
Audit
Committee
Prior to the completion of the Transaction, our audit committee
consisted of Messrs. Theodore Green, John Hyde, Jonathan
Miller and Gerald Hellerman. Mr. Theodore Green had served on
the audit committee until Mr. Hellerman’s appointment in
June 2009. Mr. Green, as the Co-Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board was not “independent.” The audit
committee discussed with our independent auditors all matters
required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 61, as amended, received the written disclosures and
the letter from the independent accountants required by
applicable requirements of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent
accountant’s communications with the audit committee
concerning independence and discussed with the independent
accountants the independent accountant’s independence, and
based on these discussions and disclosures recommended to the
board of directors that the audited financial statements be
included in the our annual report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Effective upon completion of the Transaction, our Audit
Committee of the board of directors will consist of Messrs.
Green, Zhou and Kung, all of whom will be Independent Directors.
The Audit Committee’s duties, which are specified in our
Audit Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:
•
reviewing and discussing with management and the independent
auditor the annual audited financial statements, and
recommending to the board whether the audited financial
statements should be included in our
Form 10-K;
•
discussing with management and the independent auditor
significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in
connection with the preparation of our financial statements;
•
discussing with management major risk assessment and risk
management policies;
•
monitoring the independence of the independent auditor;
•
verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit
partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the
audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by
law;
•
reviewing and approving all related-party transactions;
•
inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with
applicable laws and regulations;
•
pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit
services to be performed by our independent auditor, including
the fees and terms of the services to be performed;
•
appointing or replacing the independent auditor;
•
determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the
independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements
between management and the independent auditor regarding
financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an
audit report or related work; and
•
establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment
of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal
accounting controls or reports which raise material issues
regarding our financial statements or accounting policies.
Financial
Experts on Audit Committee
The Audit Committee will consist of Messrs. Green, Zhou and
Kung. This committee will be composed exclusively of Independent
Directors who are “financially literate” as defined
under the NYSE Amex listing standards. The NYSE Amex listing
standards define “financially literate” as being able
to read and understand fundamental financial statements,
including a company’s balance sheet, income statement and
cash flow statement.
We designate Mr. Kung to be our Financial Expert, as required by
the NYSE Amex as he has, and will continue to have, past
employment experience in finance or accounting, the requisite
professional certification in accounting, or other comparable
experience or background that results in his financial
sophistication.
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by
GGK for the period ended December 31, 2007 for (a) the
audit of our financial statements dated as of October 23,2007 and filed on our current report on
Form 8-K
on October 29, 2007 and (b) reviews of SEC filings
amounted to approximately $47,500.
The aggregate fees incurred for professional services rendered
by Eisner for (a) the audit of our annual financial
statements and (b) the review of quarterly financial
statements, amounted to approximately $40,000 for the period
ended December 31, 2007, and $60,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2008.
We did not receive audit-related services that are not reported
as Audit Fees for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2007
and the year ended December 31, 2008.
Tax
Fees
During the year ended December 31, 2008 and the period
ended December 31, 2007, we did not pay any fees to Eisner
or GGK related to tax compliance and advice.
All
Other Fees
For the year ended December 31, 2008 we engaged Eisner to
perform financial due diligence in regard to a potential
acquisition. Fees of $121,835 were paid to Eisner for these
services. We did not receive products and services from Eisner
or GGK other than those discussed above, for the year ended
December 31, 2008 or the period ended December 31,2007.
TM’s stockholders may communicate with TM’s board of
directors and executive officers by sending written
communications addressed to such person or persons in care of TM
Entertainment and Media, Inc., 307 East 87th Street, NewYork, New York10128, Attention: Theodore S. Green. All
communications will be compiled and submitted to the addressee.
No executive officer has received any cash compensation for
services rendered to us. Commencing on the date of our IPO
through the acquisition of a target business, we will pay our
management stockholders, an affiliate of our management
stockholders or third parties a fee of $6,400 per month for
providing CME with certain administrative, technology and
secretarial services, as well as the use of certain limited
office space. However, this arrangement is solely for our
benefit and is not intended to provide our management
stockholders compensation in lieu of a salary. Although we
committed to pay $7,500 per month for these services, our
management stockholders have elected to receive $6,400 per
month. Other than the $6,400 per month administrative fee, no
compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other
similar fees, will be paid to any of our management
stockholders, including our directors, or any of their
respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render
in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business
combination. However, our Initial Stockholders will be
reimbursed for any
out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf
such as identifying potential target businesses and performing
due diligence on suitable business combinations. There is no
limit on the amount of these
out-of-pocket
expenses and there will be no review of the reasonableness of
the expenses by anyone other than our board of directors, which
includes persons who may seek reimbursement, or a court of
competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged.
Anticipated
Executive Compensation for Certain Executive Officers
Following the consummation of the Transaction, the compensation
and other terms of employment of the executive officers of TM
Post-Transaction will be comparable to the compensation packages
of comparable level executives at similarly situated companies.
At present, there have been no agreements or discussions
regarding the terms of employment with such executive officers
other than those agreements described below.
Other
Executive Management Agreements
Prior to consummation of the Transaction, TM will use
commercially reasonable efforts to enter into management
agreements, to be effective as of the consummation of the
Transaction, with Mr. Zheng Cheng.
Historical
Compensation of Directors
No director other than Mr. Hellerman has received any cash
compensation for his services to TM. No compensation of any kind
will be paid to any of our directors other than
Mr. Hellerman for services rendered
prior to or in connection with the initial business combination.
For his services as a director, Mr. Hellerman is to be paid
a monthly fee at the rate of $25,000 per year, but in no event
less than $10,000 in the aggregate. He was paid $2,083 in June
2009.
Anticipated
Compensation of Directors
Following the consummation of the Transaction, we anticipate
that our directors who are also employees of TM or any of its
affiliates will not receive any compensation (other than certain
expense reimbursement as described below) for their services on
our board of directors or any committee thereof. We anticipate
that each director who is not an employee of TM or any of its
affiliates will receive an annual fee, the amount and form of
payment of which is to be determined.
In addition, we anticipate that all of the directors, whether
non-employees or employees of TM or any of its affiliates, will
be reimbursed for significant travel expenses, if any, incurred
in attending meetings of the board of directors and its
committees.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Compensation Committee of the board of directors has
reviewed and discussed with our management the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis. Based on this review and these
discussions with management, the Compensation Committee
recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.
The holders of our initial shares and insider warrants (and
underlying securities), are entitled to registration rights
pursuant to an agreement executed in connection with our IPO.
The holders of the majority of these securities are entitled to
make up to two demands that we register such securities. The
holders of the majority of the initial shares can elect to
exercise these registration rights at any time commencing on the
date on which these shares of common stock are to be released
from escrow. The holders of a majority of the insider warrants
(or underlying securities) can elect to exercise these
registration rights at any time after we consummate a business
combination. In addition, the holders have certain
“piggyback” registration rights with respect to
registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of
a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in
connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Our management stockholders have agreed to provide us with, or
to arrange for third parties to provide, certain administrative,
technology and secretarial services, as well as the use of
certain limited office space pursuant to letter agreements
between us and our management stockholders. Although we
committed to pay $7,500 per month for these services, our
management stockholders have elected to receive $6,400 per month.
Stockholders should be aware of the following potential
conflicts of interest:
•
In the course of their other business activities, our officers
and directors may become aware of investment and business
opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to our
company as well as the other entities with which they are
affiliated. Our management may have conflicts of interest in
determining to which entity a particular business opportunity
should be presented. Accordingly, due to this affiliation, he
may have a fiduciary obligation to present potential business
opportunities to such entities in addition to presenting them to
us which could cause additional conflicts of interest. No other
officers or directors have a fiduciary obligation to present
potential business opportunities to affiliated entities.
Our officers and directors may in the future become affiliated
with entities, including other blank check companies, engaged in
business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by
our company.
•
The initial shares owned by our officers and directors will be
released from escrow only if a business combination is
successfully completed, and the insider warrants purchased by
our officers and directors and any warrants which they may
purchase in our IPO or in the aftermarket will expire worthless
if a business combination is not consummated. Additionally, our
officers and directors will not receive liquidation
distributions with respect to any of their initial shares. The
purchasers of the insider warrants have agreed that such
securities will not be sold or transferred by them (except to an
affiliate of such purchaser, to relatives and trusts for estate
planning purposes, or to our directors at the same cost per
warrant originally paid by them) until the later of
October 17, 2008 and 60 days after the consummation of
our business combination. For the foregoing reasons, our board
may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a
particular target business is appropriate to effect a business
combination with.
•
Our directors and officers may purchase shares of common stock
in the open market. If they did, they would be entitled to vote
such shares as they choose on a proposal to approve a business
combination.
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated
under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present
business opportunities to a corporation if:
•
the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
•
the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of
business; and
•
it would not be fair to the corporation and its stockholders for
the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the
corporation.
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our
officers and directors may have similar legal obligations
relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the
above-listed criteria to multiple entities. In addition,
conflicts of interest may arise when our board evaluates a
particular business opportunity with respect to the above-listed
criteria. We cannot assure our stockholders that any of the
above mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may
arise from multiple corporate affiliations, each of our
management stockholders has agreed, until the earliest of a
business combination, our liquidation or such time as he ceases
to be a management stockholder, to present to our company for
our consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity,
any business opportunity which may reasonably be required to be
presented to us under Delaware law, subject to any pre-existing
fiduciary or contractual obligations he might have.
In connection with the vote required for any Transaction, all of
our existing stockholders, including all of our officers and
directors, have agreed to vote their respective initial shares
in accordance with the vote of the public stockholders owning a
majority of the shares of our common stock sold in our IPO. In
addition, they have agreed to waive their respective rights to
participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to
those shares of common stock acquired by them prior to our IPO.
Any common stock acquired by existing stockholders in our
initial offering or aftermarket will be considered part of the
holdings of the public stockholders. Except with respect to the
conversion rights afforded to public stockholders, these
existing stockholders will have the same rights as other public
stockholders with respect to such shares, including voting
rights in connection with a potential business combination.
Accordingly, they may vote such shares on a proposed business
combination any way they choose.
Beginning one year after our IPO, the NYSE Amex requires that a
majority of our board must be composed of “independent
directors,” which is defined generally as a person other
than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries
or any other individual having a relationship, which, in the
opinion of the company’s board of directors would interfere
with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in
carrying out the responsibilities of a director.
Upon consummation of our IPO, Mr. Miller and Mr. Hyde
became our independent directors. On June 1, 2009,
Mr. Gerald Hellerman joined our board as an independent
director and member of our audit committee.
Any affiliated transactions will be on terms no less favorable
to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any
affiliated transactions must be approved by a majority of our
independent and disinterested directors (to the extent that we
have any).
Upon the completion of the Transaction, Messrs. Green, Bird,
Zhou and Kung will become our Independent Directors.
Except as set forth in the footnotes to this table, the persons
named in the table below have sole voting and dispositive power
with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them.
The following table does not reflect record or beneficial
ownership of the Initial Stockholders’ warrants, as these
warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date
hereof.
The following table sets forth, as of September 25, 2009,
(i) the actual beneficial ownership of TM’s Common
Stock and (ii) the projected beneficial ownership of
TM’s Common Stock immediately following the Transaction
assuming no holders of shares of TM Common Stock issued in our
IPO exercise their conversion rights by (a) person owning
(or expected to own) greater than 5% of TM’s outstanding
common stock; (b) each current director and named executive
officers of TM; (c) each current director and executive
officer as a group prior to the Transaction; (d) each
person that is expected to be a director or named executive
officer following the Transaction; and (e) each person that
is expected to be a director or executive officer following the
15G, Block A, Huakaifugui Building
No. 36 Dongda Road
Gulou District
Fuzhou City
Fujian Province, China
Thousand Space Holdings Limited
—
—
6,095,085
18.2
%
6,095,085
26.2
%
10,670,085
22.0
%
10,670,085
27.9
%
P.O. Box 957
Offshore Incorporators Centre
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands
Bright Elite Management Limited
—
—
2,303,231
6.9
%
2,303,231
9.9
%
3,803,231
7.8
%
3,803,231
9.9
%
P.O. Box 957
Offshore Incorporators Centre
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands
All directors and executive officers as a group (4 individuals)
2,250,000
18.0
%
1,500,000
4.5
%
1,500,000
6.4
%
1,500,000
3.1
%
1,500,000
3.9
%
(1)
Amount and applicable percentage of ownership is based on
12,505,000 shares of TM Common Stock outstanding on
September 25, 2009 before the Transaction,
33,520,000 shares outstanding after the Transaction
(without earn-out) assuming no conversions,
23,265,000 shares outstanding after the Transaction
(without earn-out) assuming maximum conversions,
48,520,000 shares outstanding after the Transaction (with
earn-out) assuming no conversions, and 38,265,000 shares
outstanding after the Transaction (with earn-out) assuming
maximum conversions.
(2)
The business address of each of the individuals is
c/o TM
Entertainment and Media, Inc., 307 East 87th Street, New York,
NY10128.
(3)
Includes an aggregate of 375,000 shares of TM Common Stock
owned by two trusts established for the benefit of
Mr. Green’s daughters. Effective upon consummation of
the our IPO, Mr. Green and the trustee of the trusts
entered into a voting agreement under which Mr. Green has
the right to vote the shares owned by the trusts on all matters
that come before the shareholders of the company, and
accordingly Mr. Green has beneficial ownership of such
shares. Mr. Green disclaims any other beneficial or
pecuniary interest in such shares.
(4)
Includes 112,500 shares of TM Common Stock owned by the
John W. Hyde Living Trust.
(5)
Based on a Schedule 13D/A filed on September 25, 2009
with the SEC on behalf of Bulldog Investors, Phillip Goldstein
and Andrew Dakos (collectively, “Bulldog”), Bulldog
has sole voting power over
1,816,017 shares of TM Common Stock, shared voting power
over 674,161 shares of TM Common Stock and sole dispositive
power over 2,500,078 shares of TM Common Stock.
(6)
Based on a Schedule 13D filed on May 15, 2009 with
the SEC on behalf of Malibu Partners LLC (“Malibu”),
Malibu has sole voting and dispositive power over
498,000 shares of TM Common Stock and shared voting and
dispositive power over 969,650 shares of TM Common Stock.
(7)
Based on a
Form 13-F
filed on May 15, 2009 with the SEC on behalf of QVT
Financial LP.
(8)
Based on a
Form 13-F
filed on May 15, 2009 with the SEC on behalf of HBK
Investments L.P.
(9)
Based on a 13-F filed on May 15, 2009 with the SEC on
behalf of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Citigroup Financial
Products Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. and
Citigroup Inc.
After consummation of the Transition, it is estimated that there
will be approximately 33,520,000 shares of TM Common Stock
outstanding, of which all but 1,500,000 shares of TM Common
Stock owned by our current officers and our current or former
directors and their respective affiliates and
21,665,000 shares of TM Common Stock to be issued or
transferred to the Sellers upon consummation of the Transaction)
shares will be registered and freely tradable without securities
law restriction. In addition, there are outstanding 12,505,000
warrants, each to purchase one share of TM Common Stock, and the
warrants issued to the underwriter in our initial public
offering to purchase 700,000 units, each consisting of one
share of common stock and one warrant to purchase common stock.
The 2,250,000 shares of TM Common Stock owned by our
current officers and current or former directors and their
respective affiliates are being held in escrow, and, subject to
certain limited exceptions, such as transfers to family members
and trusts for estate planning purposes and upon death, these
shares will not be transferable during the escrow period and
will not be released from escrow until three years after our
IPO, unless we were to consummate a transaction after the
consummation of the initial business combination which results
in all of the stockholders of the combined entity having the
right to exchange their shares of TM Common Stock for cash,
securities or other property.
In general, under Rule 144, a person who has owned
restricted shares beneficially for at least one year is entitled
to sell, within any three-month period, a number of shares that
does not exceed the greater of the then-average preceding four
weeks’ average weekly trading volume or one percent of the
total number of shares outstanding. Sales under Rule 144
are also subject to manner of sale provisions, notice
requirements and the availability of current public information
about the company. A person who has not been an affiliate of the
company for at least the three months immediately preceding the
sale and who has beneficially owned shares for at least two
years is entitled to sell the shares under Rule 144 without
regard to the limitations described above.
No prediction can be made about the effect that market sales of
TM Common Stock or the availability for sale of TM Common Stock
will have on its market price. Sales of substantial amounts of
TM Common Stock in the public market could adversely affect the
market price for TM’s securities and could impair TM’s
future ability to raise capital through the sale of TM Common
Stock or securities linked to it.
We are authorized to issue 40 million shares of Common
Stock, par value $0.001, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $0.001. As of September 21, 2009,
12,505,000 shares of TM Common Stock are outstanding, held
by 41 record holders.
Each unit consists of one share of common stock and one warrant.
Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common
stock. The common stock and warrants began to trade separately
on November 14, 2007.
Our stockholders of record are entitled to one vote for each
share held on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. In
connection with the vote required for any business combination,
all of our existing stockholders, including all of our officers
and directors, have agreed to vote their respective shares of
common stock owned by them immediately prior to our IPO in
accordance with the majority of the shares of our common stock
voted by our public stockholders. This voting arrangement shall
not apply to shares included in units purchased in our IPO or
purchased following our IPO in the open market by any of our
existing stockholders, officers and directors. Our existing
stockholders, officers and directors will vote all of their
shares in any manner they determine, in their sole discretion,
with respect to any other items that come before a vote of our
stockholders.
We will proceed with the Transaction only if a majority of the
shares of common stock voted by the public stockholders are
voted in favor of the business combination.
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation, if we do not consummate a business combination by
October 17, 2009, our corporate existence will cease except
for the purposes of winding up our affairs and liquidating. If
we are forced to liquidate prior to a business combination, our
public stockholders are entitled to share ratably in the trust
fund, including any interest, and any net assets remaining
available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities.
Our existing stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to
share in any distribution with respect to their initial shares.
Our stockholders have no conversion, preemptive or other
subscription rights and there are no sinking fund or redemption
provisions applicable to the common stock, except that public
stockholders have the right to have their shares of common stock
converted to cash equal to their pro rata share of the
Trust Account if they vote against the business combination
and the business combination is approved and completed. Public
stockholders who convert their stock into their share of the
Trust Account still have the right to exercise the warrants
that they received as part of the units.
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of
1,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock with such
designation, rights and preferences as may be determined from
time to time by our board of directors. No shares of preferred
stock were issued or registered in our IPO. Accordingly, our
board of directors is empowered, without stockholder approval,
to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion,
voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting
power or other rights of the holders of common stock. However,
the underwriting agreement prohibits us, prior to a business
combination, from issuing preferred stock which participates in
any manner in the proceeds of the Trust Account, or which
votes as a class with the common stock on a business combination.
Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 10,255,000 shares of TM
Common Stock (excluding the insider warrants and the
underwriter’s purchase option, each described below) are
currently outstanding. The material terms of the warrants are
set forth herein. Each warrant entitles the registered holder to
purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $5.50 per
share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time
commencing on the later of:
•
the completion of a business combination; and
•
one year from the date of our IPO.
However, the warrants will be exercisable only if a registration
statement relating to the common stock issuable upon exercise of
the warrants is effective and current. The warrants will expire
October 17, 2011 at 6:00 p.m., New York City time.
We may call the warrants for redemption (including any warrants
held by the underwriters as a result of the exercise of their
option, but excluding any insider warrants held by our existing
stockholders or their affiliates), without the consent of Pali
Capital, Inc.:
•
in whole and not in part,
•
at a price of $0.01 per warrant at any time after the warrants
become exercisable,
upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of
redemption to each warrant holder, and
•
if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the common
stock equals or exceeds $11.50 per share, for any 20 trading
days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third business
day prior to the notice of redemption to warrant holders.
The right to exercise will be forfeited unless they are
exercised prior to the date specified in the notice of
redemption. On and after the redemption date, a record holder of
a warrant will have no further rights except to receive the
redemption price for such holder’s warrant upon surrender
of such warrant.
The redemption criteria for our warrants was established at a
price which is intended to provide warrant holders a reasonable
premium to the initial exercise price and provide a sufficient
differential between the then-prevailing common stock price and
the warrant exercise price so that if the stock price declines
as a result of our redemption call, the redemption will not
cause the stock price to drop below the exercise price of the
warrants.
The warrants were issued in registered form under a warrant
agreement between Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. Although the
material provisions of the warrants are set forth herein, a copy
of the warrant agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement.
The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable
on exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain
circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, or our
recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation.
However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of
common stock at a price below their respective exercise prices.
The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant
certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of
the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of
the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated,
accompanied by full payment of the exercise price, by certified
or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants
being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or
privileges of holders of common stock and any voting rights
until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of common
stock. After the issuance of shares of common stock upon
exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one
vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on
by stockholders.
No warrants held by public stockholders will be exercisable and
we will not be obligated to issue shares of common stock unless
at the time a holder seeks to exercise such warrant, a
registration statement relating to the common stock issuable
upon exercise of the warrants is effective and current and the
common stock has been registered or qualified or deemed to be
exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of
the holder of the warrants. Under the terms of the warrant
agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to meet these
conditions and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the
common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the
expiration of the warrants. However, we cannot assure our
stockholders that we will be able to do so and, if we do not
maintain a current prospectus relating to the common stock
issuable upon exercise of the warrants, holders will be unable
to exercise their warrants and we will not be required to settle
any such warrant exercise. If the prospectus relating to the
common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants is not
current or if the common stock is not qualified or exempt from
qualification in the jurisdictions in which the holders of the
warrants reside, we will not be required to net cash settle or
cash settle the warrant exercise, the warrants may have no
value, the market for the warrants may be limited and the
warrants may expire worthless.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the
warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be
entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will,
upon exercise, round up or down to the nearest whole number the
number of shares of common stock to be issued to the warrant
holder.
Simultaneously with the consummation of our IPO we privately
sold an aggregate of 2,100,000 warrants to our Initial
Stockholders at a purchase price of $1.00 per warrant, for an
aggregate purchase price of $2,100,000. All of the proceeds we
received from these purchases were placed in the
Trust Account. The insider warrants are identical to the
warrants underlying the units were offered in our IPO except
that the insider warrants are exercisable on a cashless basis
and are not redeemable by us so long as they are still held
by the purchasers or their affiliates. Each of the purchasers
agreed not to sell or transfer the insider warrants (except to
an affiliate of such purchaser, to relatives and trusts for
estate planning purposes, or to our directors at the same cost
per warrant originally paid by them) until the later of
October 17, 2008 or 60 days after the consummation of
our business combination.
The price per share for the insider warrants was determined
based on a survey of recently completed IPOs of blank check
companies in which management of the issuers were purchasing
warrants or units simultaneously with the completion of the
offering in a private placement.
We agreed to sell to the representative of the underwriters an
option for $100 to purchase up to a total of 700,000 units
at a per unit price of $10.00. The units issuable upon exercise
of this option were identical to those offered in our IPO. In no
event are we required to net cash settle this option or the
underlying warrants.
A number of provisions in (i) TM’s Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (ii) TM’s
bylaws and (iii) under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, may make it more difficult to acquire control
of TM. These provisions may have the effect of delaying,
deferring, discouraging, preventing or rendering more difficult
a future takeover attempt which is not approved by TM’s
board of directors, but which individual stockholders may deem
to be in their best interests or in which they may receive a
substantial premium over then-current market prices. As a
result, stockholders who might desire to participate in such a
transaction may not have an opportunity to do so. These
provisions may also adversely affect the prevailing market price
of the TM Common Stock. These provisions, which are described
below, are intended to:
•
Enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the board
of directors;
•
Discourage some types of transactions that may involve an actual
or threatened change in control;
•
Discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights;
•
Ensure that the board of directors will have sufficient time to
act in what it believes to be in the best interests of the
company and its stockholders; and
•
Encourage persons seeking to acquire control to consult first
with the board of directors to negotiate the terms of any
proposed business combination or offer.
TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
provides that no director will be personally liable to TM or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty
as a director, except to the extent this limitation or exemption
is not permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware. As currently enacted, the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware permits a corporation to provide in its
certificate of incorporation that a director will not be
personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director,
except for liability for: (i) any breach of the
director’s duty of loyalty; (ii) acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, (iii) payments of unlawful
dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions or
(iv) any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit.
The principal effect of this provision is that a stockholder
will be unable to recover monetary damages against a director
for breach of fiduciary duty unless the stockholder can
demonstrate that one of the exceptions listed above applies.
This provision, however, will not eliminate or limit liability
arising under federal securities laws. TM’s Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation will not eliminate its
directors’ fiduciary duties. The inclusion of this
provision in the Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation may, however, discourage or deter stockholders or
management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for a
breach of their fiduciary duties, even though such an action, if
successful, might otherwise have benefited TM and its
stockholders. This provision should not affect the availability
of equitable remedies such as injunction or rescission based
upon a director’s breach of his or her fiduciary duties.
The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides
that a corporation may indemnify its directors and officers as
well as its other employees and agents against judgments, fines,
amounts paid in settlement and expenses, including
attorneys’ fees, in connection with various proceedings,
other than an action brought by or in the right of the
corporation, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner
he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, if he or she had no reasonable
cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A similar
standard is applicable in the case of an action brought by or in
the right of the corporation (commonly known as “derivative
suits”), except that indemnification in such a case may
only extend to expenses, including attorneys’ fees,
incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such
actions, and the statute requires court approval before there
can be any indemnification where the person seeking
indemnification has been found liable to the corporation.
TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and,
with regard to its officers, its bylaws provide that TM will
indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent
permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware. Under these provisions and subject to the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, TM will be required to
indemnify its directors and officers for all judgments, fines,
settlements, legal fees and other expenses incurred in
connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings because
of the director’s or officer’s position with TM or
another entity that the director or officer serves as a
director, officer, employee or agent at TM’s request,
subject to various conditions, and to advance funds to TM’s
directors and officers before final disposition of such
proceedings to enable them to defend against such proceedings.
To receive indemnification, the director or officer must have
been successful in the legal proceeding or have acted in good
faith and in what was reasonably believed to be a lawful manner
in the best interest of TM. The bylaws also specifically
authorize TM to maintain insurance on behalf of any person who
is or was or has agreed to become a director, officer, employee
or agent of TM, or is or was serving at TM’s request as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another entity, against
certain liabilities.
Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, TM
stockholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with the
Transaction or any of the other proposals to be presented at the
Special Meeting. However, if you hold TM Common Stock issued in
our IPO (and you are not an initial stockholder), you may
exercise your conversion rights. See the section entitled
“THE SPECIAL MEETING — Conversion Rights”.
Stockholders may present proposals for action at an annual
meeting of stockholders only if they comply with the proxy rules
under the Exchange Act, applicable Delaware law and our bylaws.
Under the Exchange Act, in order for a stockholder proposal to
be included in our proxy solicitation materials for our next
annual meeting of stockholders, it must be delivered to our
principal executive offices within a reasonable time before we
begin to print and mail our proxy materials for such annual
meeting. We have not established a date for our next annual
meeting of stockholders.
The consolidated financial statements of CME as of
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 and for the years then
ended included in this Proxy Statement have been audited by AJ
Robbins, P.C. as set forth in their report appearing in
this Proxy Statement, and are included in this Proxy Statement
in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm
as experts in accounting and auditing.
The financial statements of TM as of December 31, 2008 and
2007, and for the year ended December 31, 2008 and for the
period from May 1, 2007 (inception) through
December 31, 2007, and for the period from May 1, 2007
(inception) through December 31, 2008 included in this
Proxy Statement have been audited by Eisner LLP as set forth in
their report (which contains an explanatory paragraph about
TM’s ability to continue
as a going concern) appearing in this Proxy Statement and are
included in this Proxy Statement in reliance upon such report
given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
Representatives of Eisner are not expected to be present at the
Special Meeting but will be available by telephone with the
opportunity to make statements and respond to appropriate
questions.
Pursuant to the rules of the SEC, TM and the services that it
employs to deliver communications to its stockholders are
permitted to deliver to two or more stockholders sharing the
same address a single copy of each of TM’s annual report to
stockholders and Proxy Statement. Upon written or oral request,
TM will deliver a separate copy of the annual report to
stockholders
and/or Proxy
Statement to any stockholder at a shared address who wishes to
receive separate copies of such documents in the future.
Stockholders receiving multiple copies of such documents may
likewise request that TM deliver single copies of such documents
in the future. Stockholders may notify TM of their requests by
calling or writing TM’s proxy solicitor, MacKenzie
Partners, Inc., by telephone at
(800) 322-2885
or by email at proxy@mackenziepartners.com.
TM files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements
and other documents with the SEC as required by the Exchange Act.
You may read and copy such annual, quarterly and current
reports, proxy statements and other information filed by TM with
the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room located at
100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549-1004.
You may obtain information on the operation of the Public
Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. You
may also obtain copies of the materials described above at
prescribed rates by writing to the SEC, Public Reference
Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549-1004.
TM files its annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy
statements and other information electronically with the SEC.
You may access information on TM at the SEC web site containing
reports, Proxy Statements and other information at
http://www.sec.gov.
This Proxy Statement describes the material elements of relevant
contracts, exhibits and other information described in this
Proxy Statement. Information and statements contained in this
Proxy Statement are qualified in all respects by reference to
the copy of the relevant contract or other document included as
an annex to this Proxy Statement.
All information contained or incorporated by reference in this
Proxy Statement relating to TM has been supplied by TM, and all
such information relating to CME has been supplied by the
Sellers and CME. Information provided by either of us does not
constitute any representation, estimate or projection of the
other.
If you would like additional copies of this Proxy Statement, or
if you have questions about the Transaction, you should contact:
We undertake to provide without charge to any person
solicited upon written request of such person a copy of our
annual report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, including the
financial statements and the financial statement schedules
contained therein. Such requests should be directed in writing
to TM Entertainment and Media, Inc., 307 East 87th Street,
New York, New York10128, Attention: Theodore S.
Green, Co-Chief Executive Officer.
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of TM
Entertainment and Media, Inc (a development stage company) (the
“Company”) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and
the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity,
and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2008, the
period from May 1, 2007 (inception) through
December 31, 2007 and for the period from May 1, 2007
(inception) through December 31, 2008. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company’s
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are
free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an
audit of the Company’s internal controls over financial
reporting. Our audits include consideration of internal controls
over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit
procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not
for the purposes of expressing an opinion of the effectiveness
of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position
of the Company as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the
results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended
December 31, 2008, the period from May 1, 2007
(inception) through December 31, 2007 and for the period
from May 1, 2007 (inception) through December 31,2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As
discussed in Note 1, the Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation provides for mandatory liquidation of the Company
in the event that the Company does not consummate a business
combination within 24 months of the Company’s IPO. The
possibility of such business combination not being consummated
within the required time raises substantial doubt about the
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The
financial statements do not include any adjustments that might
result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Sale of 10,255,000 units through public offering (net of
underwriter’s discount and offering expenses) Including
3,075,475 shares subject to possible Conversion
10,255,000
10,255
75,738,027
75,748,282
Proceeds from sale of underwriters’ purchase option
Organization
and Business Operations/Going Concern Considerations
TM Entertainment and Media, Inc. (the “Company”) was
incorporated in Delaware on May 1, 2007 for the purpose of
effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition or
other similar business combination with an operating business in
the entertainment, media, digital and communications industry.
At December 31, 2008, the Company had not yet commenced any
operations. All activity through December 31, 2008 relates
to the Company’s formation and the public offering (the
“Offering”) described below, and activities relating
to identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates
and is subject to the risks associated with activities of
development stage companies. The Company has selected December
31 as its fiscal year-end.
The registration statement for the Company (described in
Note 2) was declared effective October 17, 2007.
The Company consummated the Offering on October 23, 2007,
and received net proceeds of $77,848,282, including $2,100,000
of proceeds from the private placement (the “Private
Placement”) sale of 2,100,000 insider warrants to the
officers and directors of the Company, and their affiliates. The
insider warrants purchased by these individuals and their
affiliates are identical to the warrants underlying the Units
sold in the Offering (see Note 3) except that the
insider warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis and
will not be redeemable by the Company so long as they are still
held by the purchasers or their affiliates. The purchasers of
the insider warrants have agreed that they will not sell or
transfer the insider warrants (except in certain cases) until
60 days after the consummation of the Company’s
business combination. The sale of the warrants to management
will not result in the recognition of any stock-based
compensation expense because they were sold above fair market
value.
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect
to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Offering,
although substantially all of the net proceeds of the Offering
are intended to be generally applied toward consummating a
business combination with an operating business (“Business
Combination”). Furthermore, there is no assurance that the
Company will be able to successfully affect a Business
Combination. Following the closing of the Offering and Private
Placement, $80,978,800, including $3,281,600 of the
underwriters’ discount as described in Note 2 has been
and continues to be held in a trust account
(“Trust Account”) and will be invested in United
States “government securities” within the meaning of
Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
having a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market
funds meeting certain conditions under
Rule 2a-7
promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 until the
earlier of (i) the consummation of its first Business
Combination and (ii) liquidation of the Company. The
placing of funds in the Trust Account may not protect those
funds from third party claims against the Company. Although the
Company will seek to have all vendors and service providers
(which would include any third parties engaged by the Company to
assist it in any way in connection with the Company’s
search for a target business) and prospective target businesses
execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title,
interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the
Trust Account, there is no guarantee that they will execute
such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if such
entities execute such agreements with the Company, they will not
seek recourse against the Trust Account or that a court
would not conclude that such agreements are not legally
enforceable. The Company’s Chairman of the Board and
Co-Chief Executive Officer, and the Company’s Co-Chief
Executive Officer have agreed that they will be liable under
certain circumstances to ensure that the proceeds in the
Trust Account are not reduced by the claims of target
businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed
money by the Company for services rendered or contracted for or
products sold to the Company. However, there can be no assurance
that they will be able to satisfy those obligations.
Furthermore, they will not have any personal liability as to any
claimed amounts owed to a third party who executed a waiver
(including a prospective target business).
The remaining net proceeds, initially $100,000, (not held in the
Trust Account) were used to pay for business, legal and
accounting due diligence on prospective acquisitions and
continuing general and administrative expenses. Additionally, up
to an aggregate of $1,500,000 of interest earned on the
Trust Account
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Financial
Statements — (Continued)
balance has been released to the Company to fund working capital
requirements and additional amounts will be released to the
Company as necessary to satisfy income or other tax obligations.
The Company, after signing a definitive agreement for the
acquisition of a target business, is required to submit such
transaction for stockholder approval. In the event that
stockholders owning 30.0% or more of the shares sold in the
Offering vote against the Business Combination and exercise
their conversion rights described below, the Business
Combination will not be consummated. All of the Company’s
stockholders prior to the Offering, including all of the
officers and directors of the Company (“Initial
Stockholders”), have agreed to vote their initial shares of
Common Stock in accordance with the vote of the majority in
interest of all other stockholders of the Company (“Public
Stockholders”) with respect to any Business Combination.
After consummation of a Business Combination, these voting
safeguards will no longer be applicable.
With respect to a Business Combination which is approved and
consummated, any Public Stockholder who voted against the
Business Combination may demand that the Company convert his,
hers, or its shares. The per share conversion price will equal
the amount in the Trust Account, calculated as of two
business days prior to the consummation of the proposed Business
Combination, divided by the number of shares of Common Stock
held by Public Stockholders at the consummation of the Proposed
Offering, approximately $7.90 per share. Accordingly, Public
Stockholders holding 29.99% of the aggregate number of shares
owned by all Public Stockholders may seek conversion of their
shares in the event of a Business Combination. Such Public
Stockholders are entitled to receive their per share interest in
the Trust Account computed without regard to the shares
held by Initial Stockholders. Accordingly, a portion of the net
proceeds from the Offering (29.99% of the amount held in
Trust Account, including the deferred portion of the
underwriters’ discount) has been classified as common stock
subject to possible conversion in the accompanying financial
statements.
The Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides that the Company will continue in
existence only until 24 months from the effective date of
the IPO. If the Company has not completed a Business Combination
by such date, its corporate existence will cease and it will
dissolve and liquidate for the purposes of winding up its
affairs. In the event of liquidation, it is likely that the per
share value of the residual assets remaining available for
distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be less
than the IPO price per share in the Offering (assuming no value
is attributed to the Warrants contained in the Units sold in the
Offering discussed in Note 2).
Going concern consideration — As indicated in
the accompanying financial statements, at December 31, 2008the Company had unrestricted cash of $159,689 and $398,793 in
accrued expenses exclusive of income taxes payable of $15,770.
However, the Company has incurred and expects to incur
significant costs in pursuit of its acquisition plans which is
in excess of its unrestricted cash available at
December 31, 2008. In addition, there is no assurance that
the Company will successfully complete a Business Combination as
required under the terms of the public offering and the
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation. If such business
combination is not consummated the Company will be forced to
liquidate upon expiration of this time constraint.
As of December 31, 2008the Company withdrew $1,500,000 of
interest from the trust for operating expenses (excluding
$446,710 of interest earned and used to pay taxes). Since
inception to December 31, 2007the Company has incurred
$1,829,561 of operating expenses (excluding taxes) of which
$398,793 was payable as of December 31, 2008. The Company
had cash available at December 31, 2008 of $159,689 for
operating expenses. Therefore, at December 31, 2008, the
Company has incurred liabilities which exceed cash available.
The Company expects to incur additional costs in pursuit of its
acquisition plans. The Company is seeking to obtain deferrals of
payables from its vendors, including its professional advisors
except for its independent accountants. In the event the Company
is unsuccessful in obtaining these deferrals, it may seek
additional financing, including loans from its Initial
Stockholders. These factors, among others, raise substantial
doubt about the Company’s ability to continue operations as
a going concern. The accompanying financial statements do not
include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Financial
Statements — (Continued)
Cash and cash equivalents — The Company
considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three
months or less when purchased, to be cash equivalents. At
December 31, 2008, cash includes unrestricted cash for
taxes of $15,770 in the trust fund.
Concentration of Credit Risk — The Company
maintains cash in a bank deposit account which, at times,
exceeds federally insured (FDIC) limits. The Company has not
experienced any losses on this account. The Company’s Money
Market account is currently guaranteed by the
U.S. Department of Treasury through April 30, 2009.
Net (Loss) Income Per Share — Basic and diluted
net (loss) income per share is computed by dividing net (loss)
income applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding for the period.
The Company’s 12,355,000 outstanding warrants are
contingently exercisable on the completion of a business
combination, provided there is an effective registration
statement covering the shares issuable upon exercise of the
warrants. Hence, these are presented in the proforma diluted EPS
for the period ended December 31, 2007.
Pro forma diluted EPS includes the determinants of basic and
diluted EPS plus to the extent dilutive, the incremental number
of shares of common stock to settle outstanding common stock
purchase warrants, as calculated using the treasury stock
method. The 12,355,000 warrants outstanding for the year ended
December 31, 2008 were not included in the computation of
pro-forma dilutive loss per share because the net effect would
have been anti-dilutive.
Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial
statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from
those estimates.
Fair Value Measurements — The fair values of
the Company’s financial instruments reflect the estimates
of amounts that would be received from selling an asset in an
orderly transaction between market participants at the
measurement date. The fair value estimates presented in this
report are based on information available to the Company as of
December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007.
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 157, Fair Value Measurements
(“SFAS 157”), the Company applies a fair value
hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first
two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that
may be used to measure fair value. The three levels are the
following:
•
Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets
for identical assets or liabilities.
•
Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1
that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as
quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices
in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are
observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for
substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
•
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are
supported by little or no market activity and that are
significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
The fair value of cash and investments held in the trust account
were estimated using Level 1 inputs and approximates the
fair value because of their nature and respective duration.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, The Fair
Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
(“SFAS 159”), which permits entities to
choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other
items at fair value. SFAS 159 is effective for the first
quarter of 2008. The Company did not have certain
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Financial
Statements — (Continued)
financial instruments to elect fair value accounting; therefore,
the adoption of SFAS 159 did not have an impact on the
Company’s financial statements.
In October 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position
FAS 157-3,
“Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the
Market for That Asset Is Not Active”
(“FSP 157-3”),
FSP 157-3
clarified the application of FAS 157.
FSP 157-3
demonstrated how the fair value of a financial asset is
determined when the market for that financial asset is inactive.
FSP 157-3
was effective upon issuance, including prior periods for which
financial statements had not been issued. The implementation of
this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s
financial statements.
Recently
Issued Accounting Pronouncements, Not Yet Effective
Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial
Statements — In December 2007, the FASB issued
SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated
Financial Statements (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160
re-characterizes
minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries as
non-controlling interests and requires the classification of
minority interests as a component of equity. Under
SFAS 160, a change in control will be measured at fair
value, with any gain or loss recognized in earnings. The
effective date for SFAS 160 is for annual periods beginning
on or after December 15, 2008. Early adoption and
retroactive application of SFAS 160 to fiscal years
preceding the effective date are not permitted. The Company will
evaluate the impact of SFAS 160 on the financial statements
should it complete a business acquisition within its required
timeframe (prior to October 24, 2009).
Business Combinations — In December 2007, FASB
issued SFAS No. 141R, Business Combinations
(“FASB 141R”). FASB 141R replaces FASB Statement
No. 141 Business Combinations but retains the fundamental
requirements in FASB 141. This statement defines the acquirer as
the entity that obtains control of one or more businesses in the
business combination and establishes the acquisition date as the
date that the acquirer achieves control. FASB 141R also requires
that an acquirer recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities
assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the
acquisition date, measured at their fair values as of that date.
In addition, this statement requires that the acquirer in a
business combination achieved in stages to recognize the
identifiable assets and liabilities, as well as the
noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, at the full amounts of
their fair values. FASB 141R is applied prospectively to
business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or
after the beginning of the first annual reporting period
beginning on or after December 15, 2008. An entity may not
apply the standard before that date. FASB 141R will be applied
prospectively for acquisitions beginning in 2009 or thereafter.
2.
Initial
Public Offering
On October 17, 2007the Company sold 10,255,000 Units in
the Offering at a price of $8.00 per Unit, including 1,255,000
Units of their over-allotment option. Each Unit consists of one
share of the Company’s common stock and one redeemable
common stock purchase Warrant. Each Warrant will entitle the
holder to purchase from the Company one share of common stock at
an exercise price of $5.50 commencing on the later of the
completion of a Business Combination and one year from the
effective date of the Offering (October 17, 2007) and
expiring four years from the effective date of the Offering. The
Company may redeem the Warrants, at a price of $.01 per Warrant
upon 30 days’ notice while the Warrants are
exercisable, only in the event that the last sale price of the
common stock is at least $11.50 per share for any 20 trading
days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third day
prior to the date on which notice of redemption is given. In
accordance with the warrant agreement relating to the Warrants
sold and issued in the Offering, the Company is only required to
use its best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the
registration statement covering the Warrants. The Company will
not be obligated to deliver securities, and there are no
contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities, if a
registration statement is not effective at the time of exercise.
Additionally, in the event that a registration is not effective
at the time of exercise, the holder of such Warrant will not be
entitled to exercise such Warrant and in no event (whether in
the case of a registration statement
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Financial
Statements — (Continued)
not being effective or otherwise) will the Company be required
to net cash settle the warrant exercise. Consequently, the
Warrants may expire unexercised, unredeemed and worthless.
The Company paid the underwriters in the Offering an
underwriting discount of 7% of the gross proceeds of the
Offering. However, the underwriters have agreed that 4% of the
gross proceeds will be held in the Trust Account and will
not be payable unless and until the Company completes a Business
Combination and have waived their right to receive such payment
upon the Company’s liquidation if it is unable to complete
a Business Combination.
The Company sold to Pali Capital, Inc. (“Pali”), as
representatives of the underwriters, for $100, an option to
purchase up to a total of 700,000 Units at $10.00 per Unit. The
Units issuable upon the exercise of this option are identical to
those sold in the Offering. This option is exercisable at $10.00
per Unit, and may be exercised on a cashless basis, commencing
on the later of the consummation of a Business Combination and
one year from the date of the effectiveness of the Offering and
expiring five years from the date of the effectiveness of the
Offering. The estimated fair value of this option is
approximately $2,207,000, $3.15 per Unit, using a Black-Scholes
option-pricing model. The fair value of the option granted is
estimated as of the date of the grant using the following
assumptions: (1) expected volatility of 45.2%,
(2) risk-free discount rate of 4.95%, (3) expected
life of five years and (4) dividend rate of zero. The
volatility is based on the average five year daily volatility of
the 20 smallest (by market capitalization) media companies in
the Russell 2000 Index. Although an expected life of five years
was used in the calculation, if the Company does not consummate
a Business Combination within the prescribed time period and
automatically dissolves and subsequently liquidates the trust
account, the option will become worthless.
3.
Related
Party Transactions
The Company may occupy office space provided by the Initial
Stockholders, or an affiliate of one of the Initial
Stockholders, or a third party. Such Initial Stockholders,
affiliate or third party has agreed that, until the Company
consummates a Business Combination, it will make such office
space, as well as certain office and secretarial services,
available to the Company, as may be required by the Company from
time to time. The Company has agreed that it will pay up to
$7,500 per month for such services commencing on the effective
date of the Offering. However, such Initial Stockholders have
elected to receive $6,400 per month instead. For the year ended
December 31, 2008, the Company has incurred $76,800 of
expense relating to this agreement which is included in
formation and operating expenses in the accompanying Statements
of Operations, of which $44,800 was payable as of
December 31, 2008. For the period from May 1, 2007
(inception) through December 31, 2007the Company has
incurred $15,897 of expense relating to this agreement which is
included in formation and operating expenses in the accompanying
Statement of Operations.
Pursuant to letter agreements which the Initial Stockholders
have entered into with the Company and the underwriters, the
Initial Stockholders waived their right to receive distributions
with respect to their initial shares upon the Company’s
liquidation.
The Company’s officers and directors purchased a total of
2,100,000 Warrants (“Insider Warrants”) at $1.00 per
Warrant (for an aggregate purchase price of $2,100,000)
concurrently with the consummation of the Offering pursuant to a
private placement agreement with the Company. All of the
proceeds received from these initial purchases were placed in
the Trust Account. The Insider Warrants are identical to
the Warrants underlying the Units included in the Offering
except that the Insider Warrants may not be called for
redemption and the Insider Warrants are exercisable on a
“cashless basis,” at the holder’s option, so long
as such securities are held by such purchaser or his affiliates.
Furthermore, the purchasers have agreed that the Insider
Warrants will not be sold or transferred by them, except for
estate planning purposes, until after the Company has completed
a Business Combination. The sale of the warrants to management
did not result in the recognition of any stock-based
compensation expense because they were sold above fair market
value. The holder of these Insider Warrants will not have any
right to any liquidation distributions with respect to shares
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Financial
Statements — (Continued)
underlying these warrants if the Company fails to consummate a
Business Combination, in which event these warrants will expire
worthless.
The Initial Stockholders and the holders of the Insider Warrants
(or underlying securities) will be entitled to registration
rights with respect to their initial shares or Insider Warrants
(or underlying securities) pursuant to an agreement signed on
the date of the Offering. The holders of the majority of these
securities may elect to exercise these registration rights with
respect to such securities at any time after the Company
consummates a Business Combination. The holders have certain
“piggyback registration rights” with respect to
registration statements filed after the Company’s
consummation of a Business Combination. The Insider Warrants may
be exercisable for unregistered shares of common stock even if
no registration relating to the common stock issuable upon
exercise of the warrants is effective and current.
4.
Income
Taxes
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for
differences between the financial statements and tax basis of
assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or
deductible amounts and are based on enacted tax laws and rates
applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected
to effect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established
when necessary to reduce deferred income tax assets to the
amount expected to be realized.
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets
are as follows:
The Company is considered in the development stage for income
tax reporting purposes. Federal income tax regulations require
that the Company defer certain expenses for tax purposes.
Therefore, the Company has recorded a deferred income tax asset
of $1,020,000 for deferred expenses. The Company believes that
it is not more likely than not that it will be able to realize
this deferred tax asset in the future and, therefore, it has
provided a valuation allowance against this deferred tax asset.
The effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 34%
due to state and local taxes and deferred start up costs, an
increase in the valuation allowance and permanent differences
relating to tax free interest income.
The Company has adopted the provisions of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation
(FIN) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement
No. 109. FIN 48 contains a two-step approach to
recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for
in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income
Taxes. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for
recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence
indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be
sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or
litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the
tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely
of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company
considers many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax
positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic
adjustments and which may not accurately anticipate actual
outcomes. Accordingly, the Company reports a liability for
unrecognized tax benefits resulting from the uncertain tax
positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and
recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain
tax positions in income tax expense. The Company intends to
classify any future expense for income tax related interest and
penalties as component of tax expense. The adoption of
FIN 48 had no impact on the Company’s financial
position.
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Financial
Statements — (Continued)
5.
Common
Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company will not proceed with a Business Combination if
Public Stockholders owning 30.0% or more of the shares sold in
the Offering vote against the Business Combination and exercise
their redemption rights. Accordingly, the Company may effect a
Business Combination only if stockholders owning less than
29.99% of the shares sold in this Offering exercise their
redemption rights. If this occurred, the Company would be
required to redeem for cash up to 29.99% of the
10,255,000 shares of common stock sold in the Offering, or
3,075,475 shares of common stock, at an initial per-share
redemption price of $7.90 (plus a portion of the interest earned
on the trust account, but net of (i) taxes payable on
interest earned and (ii) up to $1,500,000 of interest
income released to the Company to fund its working capital),
which includes $0.32 per share of deferred underwriting discount
and commissions.
The actual per-share redemption price will be equal to:
•
the initial amount in the trust account which includes the
amount attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and
commissions and including all accrued interest (less taxes
payable and up to $1,500,000 of interest income released to the
Company to fund its working capital), as of two business days
prior to the proposed consummation of the Business Combination,
divided by
•
the number of shares of common stock sold in the Offering.
The dissenting stockholders will receive their proportionate
share of the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and
the underwriters will be paid the full amount of the deferred
underwriting fees at the time of the consummation of the initial
business combination. The Company will be responsible for such
payments to both the converting stockholders and underwriters.
6.
Preferred
Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of
preferred stock with such designations, voting and other rights
and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the
Board of Directors.
The agreement with the underwriters prohibits the Company, prior
to a Business Combination, from issuing preferred stock which
participates in the proceeds of the Trust Account or which
votes as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination.
7.
Subsequent
Events
In the first quarter of 2009, the Company withdrew $80,770 of
interest earned on the funds held in the trust account for the
purpose of paying 2008 Franchise taxes and to pay 2009 estimated
Franchise and Capital taxes.
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (including related
parties of $86,679 and $46,350 respectively)
896,183
414,563
Total current liabilities
1,096,183
414,563
Deferred underwriting fee
3,281,600
3,281,600
Total liabilities
4,377,783
3,696,163
Commitments and contingencies
Common stock, subject to possible conversion of
3,075,475 shares
24,285,542
24,285,542
Interest income attributable to common stock, subject to
possible conversion (net of taxes of $0 and $4,731 respectively)
46,747
42,136
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock — 1,000,000 shares authorized,
$.001 par value, none issued and outstanding
—
—
Common stock — 40,000,000 authorized, $.001 par
value, 12,505,000 issued and outstanding (which includes
3,075,475 shares subject to possible conversion)
12,505
12,505
Additional paid-in capital
53,575,335
53,575,335
(Deficit) accumulated during the development stage
(1,112,964
)
(227,147
)
Total stockholders’ equity
52,474,876
53,360,693
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
81,184,948
$
81,384,534
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed
financial statements.
Issuance of common stock to Initial Stockholders on May 1,2007 at $.011 per share
2,250,000
$
2,250
$
22,750
$
25,000
Sale of Private Placement Warrants
2,100,000
2,100,000
Sale of 10,255,000 units through public offering (net of
underwriter’s discount and offering expenses) Including
3,075,475 shares subject to possible conversion
10,255,000
10,255
75,738,027
75,748,282
Proceeds from sale of underwriters’ purchase option
Organization
and Business Operations/Going Concern Considerations
TM Entertainment and Media, Inc. (the “Company”) was
incorporated in Delaware on May 1, 2007 for the purpose of
effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition or
other similar business combination with an operating business in
the entertainment, media, digital and communications industry.
At June 30, 2009, the Company had not yet commenced any
operations. All activity through June, 2009 relates to the
Company’s formation and the public offering (the
“Offering”) described below, and activities relating
to identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates
and is subject to the risks associated with activities of
development stage companies. The Company has selected December
31 as its fiscal year-end.
The registration statement for the Company (described in
Note 3) was declared effective October 17, 2007.
The Company consummated the Offering on October 23, 2007,
and received net proceeds of $77,848,282, including $2,100,000
of proceeds from the private placement (the “Private
Placement”) sale of 2,100,000 insider warrants to the
officers and directors of the Company, and their affiliates. The
insider warrants purchased by these individuals and their
affiliates are identical to the warrants underlying the Units
sold in the Offering (see Note 3), except that the insider
warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis and will not be
redeemable by the Company so long as they are still held by the
purchasers or their affiliates. The purchasers of the insider
warrants have agreed that they will not sell or transfer the
insider warrants (except in certain cases) until 60 days
after the consummation of the Company’s business
combination. The sale of the warrants to management will not
result in the recognition of any stock-based compensation
expense because they were sold above fair market value.
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect
to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Offering,
although substantially all of the net proceeds of the Offering
are intended to be generally applied toward consummating a
business combination with an operating business (“Business
Combination”). Furthermore, there is no assurance that the
Company will be able to successfully affect a Business
Combination. Following the closing of the Offering and Private
Placement, $80,978,800, including $3,281,600 of the
underwriters’ discount as described in Note 3 has been
and continues to be held in a trust account
(“Trust Account”) and will be invested in United
States “government securities” within the meaning of
Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
having a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market
funds meeting certain conditions under
Rule 2a-7
promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 until the
earlier of (i) the consummation of its first Business
Combination and (ii) liquidation of the Company. The
placing of funds in the Trust Account may not protect those
funds from third party claims against the Company. Although the
Company will seek to have all vendors and service providers
(which would include any third parties engaged by the Company to
assist it in any way in connection with the Company’s
search for a target business) and prospective target businesses
execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title,
interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the
Trust Account, there is no guarantee that they will execute
such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if such
entities execute such agreements with the Company, they will not
seek recourse against the Trust Account or that a court
would not conclude that such agreements are not legally
enforceable. The Company’s Chairman of the Board and
Co-Chief Executive Officer, and the Company’s Co-Chief
Executive Officer have agreed that they will be liable under
certain circumstances to ensure that the proceeds in the
Trust Account are not reduced by the claims of target
businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed
money by the Company for services rendered or contracted for or
products sold to the Company. However, there can be no assurance
that they will be able to satisfy those obligations.
Furthermore, they will not have any personal liability as to any
claimed amounts owed to a third party who executed a waiver
(including a prospective target business).
The remaining net proceeds, initially $100,000, (not held in the
Trust Account) were used to pay for business, legal and
accounting due diligence on prospective acquisitions and
continuing general and administrative expenses. Additionally,
$1,500,000 of interest earned on the Trust Account balance
has been released to
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(unaudited) — (Continued)
the Company to fund working capital requirements and additional
amounts will be released to the Company as necessary to satisfy
income or other tax obligations.
The Company, after signing a definitive agreement for the
acquisition of a target business, is required to submit such
transaction for stockholder approval. In the event that
stockholders owning 30% or more of the shares sold in the
Offering vote against the Business Combination and exercise
their conversion rights described below, the Business
Combination will not be consummated. All of the Company’s
stockholders prior to the Offering, including all of the
officers and directors of the Company (“Initial
Stockholders”), have agreed to vote their initial shares of
Common Stock in accordance with the vote of the majority in
interest of all other stockholders of the Company (“Public
Stockholders”) with respect to any Business Combination.
After consummation of a Business Combination, these voting
safeguards will no longer be applicable.
With respect to a Business Combination which is approved and
consummated, any Public Stockholder who voted against the
Business Combination may demand that the Company convert his,
hers, or its shares. The per share conversion price will equal
the amount in the Trust Account, calculated as of two
business days prior to the consummation of the proposed Business
Combination, divided by the number of shares of Common Stock
held by Public Stockholders at the consummation of the Proposed
Offering, approximately $7.91 per share. Accordingly, Public
Stockholders holding 29.99% of the aggregate number of shares
owned by all Public Stockholders may seek conversion of their
shares in the event of a Business Combination. Such Public
Stockholders are entitled to receive their per share interest in
the Trust Account computed without regard to the shares
held by Initial Stockholders. Accordingly, a portion of the net
proceeds from the Offering (29.99% of the amount held in
Trust Account, including the deferred portion of the
underwriters’ discount) has been classified as common stock
subject to possible conversion in the accompanying financial
statements.
The Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides that the Company will continue in
existence only until 24 months from the effective date of
the initial public offering. If the Company has not completed a
Business Combination by such date, its corporate existence will
cease and it will dissolve and liquidate for the purposes of
winding up its affairs. In the event of liquidation, it is
likely that the per share value of the residual assets remaining
available for distribution (including Trust Account assets)
will be less than the initial public offering price per share in
the Offering (assuming no value is attributed to the Warrants
contained in the Units sold in the Offering discussed in
Note 3).
Going concern consideration — As indicated in the
accompanying financial statements, at June 30, 2009 the
Company had unrestricted cash of $13,089 and a note payable of
$200,000 and $896,183 of accounts payable and accrued
liabilities. Additionally, the Company has incurred and expects
to incur additional significant costs in pursuit of its
acquisition plans which is in excess of its unrestricted cash
available at June 30, 2009. In addition, there is no
assurance that the Company will successfully complete a Business
Combination as required under the terms of the public offering
and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation. If such
business combination is not consummated by the Company on or
before October 17, 2009, the Company will be forced to
liquidate upon expiration of this time constraint.
Through June 30, 2009the Company withdrew $1,500,000 of
interest from the trust for operating expenses (excluding
$593,996 of interest earned and used to pay taxes). Since
inception to June 30, 2009the Company has incurred
$2,726,956 of operating and interest expenses (excluding taxes)
of which $896,183 was payable as of June 30, 2009. The
Company had cash available at June 30, 2009 of $13,089 for
operating expenses. Therefore, at June 30, 2009, the
Company has incurred liabilities which exceed cash available.
The Company expects to incur additional significant costs in
pursuit of its acquisition plans. The Company is seeking to
obtain deferrals of payables from its vendors, including its
professional advisors except for its independent accountants. In
the event the Company is unsuccessful in obtaining these
deferrals, it may seek additional financing, including loans
from its Initial Stockholders. On May 4, 2009, Thoedore S.
Green, the Chairman, Co-CEO and interim CFO of the Company,
loaned the Company $200,000. These factors, among others, raise
substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue
operations as a going concern. The
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(unaudited) — (Continued)
accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments
that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
2.
Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis
of Reporting
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have
been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United Sates (“GAAP”) for interim
financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Accordingly, they do not include all the information and
footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In
the opinion of management, such statements include all
adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items which are
considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial
position of TM Entertainment and Media, Inc. (the
“Company”) and the results of operations and cash flow
for the periods presented). The results of operations for the
period ended June 30, 2009 are not necessarily indicative
of the operating results for the full year. It is suggested that
these financial statements be read in conjunction with the
financial statements and related disclosures for the period
ended December 31, 2008 included in the Annual Report of
the Company on
Form 10-K
filed with the SEC on March 31, 2009. The Condensed Balance
Sheet at December 31, 2008 is derived from the
December 31, 2008 audited financials statements.
Cash
and cash equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with
maturities of three months or less when purchased, to be cash
equivalents.
Concentration
of Credit Risk
The Company maintains cash in a bank deposit account which, at
times, exceeds federally insured (FDIC) limits. The Company has
not experienced any losses on this account. The Company’s
Money Market account is currently guaranteed by the
U.S. Department of Treasury through September 18, 2009.
Net
(Loss) Income Per Share
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share is computed by
dividing net (loss) income applicable to common stockholders by
the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the
period.
Pro forma diluted EPS includes the determinants of basic and
diluted EPS plus to the extent dilutive, the incremental number
of shares of common stock to settle outstanding common stock
purchase warrants, as calculated using the treasury stock
method. The 12,355,000 warrants outstanding for the period ended
June 30, 2009 and 2008 were not included in the computation
of pro-forma dilutive loss per share because the net effect
would have been anti-dilutive.
Use of
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results
could differ from those estimates.
Fair
Value Measurements
The fair values of the Company’s financial instruments
reflect the estimates of amounts that would be received from
selling an asset in an orderly transaction between market
participants at the measurement date. The fair value estimates
presented in this report are based on information available to
the Company as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(unaudited) — (Continued)
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 157, Fair Value Measurements
(“SFAS 157”), the Company applies a fair value
hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first
two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that
may be used to measure fair value. The three levels are the
following:
•
Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets
for identical assets or liabilities.
•
Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1
that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as
quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices
in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are
observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for
substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
•
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are
supported by little or no market activity and that are
significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
The fair value of cash and investments held in the trust account
were estimated using Level 1 inputs and approximates the
fair value because of their nature and respective duration.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, The Fair Value
Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
(“SFAS 159”), which permits entities to choose to
measure many financial instruments and certain other items at
fair value. SFAS 159 is effective for the first quarter of
2008. The Company did not have certain financial instruments to
elect fair value accounting; therefore, the adoption of
SFAS 159 did not have an impact on the Company’s
financial statements.
In October 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position
FAS 157-3,
“Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the
Market for That Asset Is Not Active”
(“FSP 157-3”),
FSP 157-3
clarified the application of FAS 157.
FSP 157-3
demonstrated how the fair value of a financial asset is
determined when the market for that financial asset is inactive.
FSP 157-3
was effective upon issuance, including prior periods for which
financial statements had not been issued. The implementation of
this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s
financial statements.
Consideration
of Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated all events and transactions occurring
after June 30, 2009 through August 14, 2009, the date
these condensed financial statements were issued, to identify
subsequent events which may need to be recognized or
non-recognizable events which would need to be disclosed. No
recognizable events were identified. See Note 12 for
non-recognizable events identified for disclosure.
Recently
Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial
Statements — In December 2007, the FASB issued
SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated
Financial Statements (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160
re-characterizes minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
as non-controlling interests and requires the classification of
minority interests as a component of equity. Under
SFAS 160, a change in control will be measured at fair
value, with any gain or loss recognized in earnings. The
effective date for SFAS 160 is for annual periods beginning
on or after December 15, 2008. Early adoption and
retroactive application of SFAS 160 to fiscal years
preceding the effective date are not permitted. The Company will
evaluate the impact of SFAS 160 on the financial statements
should it complete a business acquisition within its required
timeframe (prior to October 24, 2009).
Business Combinations — In December 2007, FASB issued
SFAS No. 141R, Business Combinations (“FASB
141R”). FASB 141R replaces FASB Statement No. 141
Business Combinations but retains the fundamental requirements
in FASB 141. This statement defines the acquirer as the entity
that obtains control of one or more businesses in the business
combination and establishes the acquisition date as the date
that the acquirer achieves control. FASB 141R also requires that
an acquirer recognize the assets acquired, the
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(unaudited) — (Continued)
liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the
acquiree at the acquisition date, measured at their fair values
as of that date. In addition, this statement requires that the
acquirer in a business combination achieved in stages to
recognize the identifiable assets and liabilities, as well as
the noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, at the full amounts
of their fair values. FASB 141R is applied prospectively to
business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or
after the beginning of the first annual reporting period
beginning on or after December 15, 2008. An entity may not
apply the standard before that date. FASB 141R will be applied
prospectively for acquisitions beginning in 2009 or thereafter.
On April 1, 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP)
FAS 141(R) -1, Accounting for Assets Acquired and
Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from
Contingencies. This FSP provides additional guidance and
disclosure requirements regarding the recognition and
measurement of contingent assets acquired and contingent
liabilities assumed in a business combination where the fair
value of the contingent assets and liabilities cannot be
determined as of the acquisition date. This FSP is effective for
acquisitions occurring after January 1. 2009. The adoption
of this FSP did not have any impact on the Company, and its
future impact will be dependent upon the specific terms of
future business combinations, if any.
On April 9, 2009, the FASB simultaneously issued the
following three FSPs:
•
FSP
FAS 157-4,
Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for
the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and
Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly, provides
additional guidance to companies for determining fair values of
financial instruments for which there is no active market or
quoted prices may represent distressed transactions. The
guidance includes a reaffirmation of the need to use judgment in
certain circumstances.
•
FSP
FAS 107-1
and APB
28-1,
Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,
requires companies to provide additional fair value information
for certain financial instruments in interim financial
statements, similar to what is currently required to be
disclosed on an annual basis.
•
FSP
FAS 115-2,
FAS 124-2,
and
EITF 99-20-2,
Recognition and Presentation of
Other-Than-Temporary
Impairments, amends the existing guidance regarding impairments
for investments in debt securities. Specifically, it changes how
companies determine if an impairment is considered to be
other-than-temporary
and the related accounting. This standard also provides for
increased disclosures.
These FSPs apply to both interim and annual periods and will be
effective for us beginning April 1, 2009. We have evaluated
these standards and believe they will have no impact on our
financial condition and results of operations.
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165
“Subsequent Events” (“SFAS 165”).
SFAS 165 establishes general standards of accounting for
and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date
but before financial statements are issued or are available to
be issued. SFAS 165 sets forth (1) The period after
the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting
entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for
potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements,
(2) The circumstances under which an entity should
recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance
sheet date in its financial statements and (3) The
disclosures that an entity should make about events or
transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date.
SFAS 165 is effective for interim or annual financial
periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Company adopted
SFAS 165 and it had no impact on the financial statements
except for disclosure of consideration of subsequent events.
3.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements, Not Effective
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166
“Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets —
an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140”
(“SFAS 166”). SFAS 166 improves the
relevance, representational faithfulness, and comparability of
the information that a reporting entity provides in its
financial statements
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(unaudited) — (Continued)
about a transfer of financial assets; the effects of a transfer
on its financial position, financial performance, and cash
flows; and a transferor’s continuing involvement, if any,
in transferred financial assets. SFAS 166 is effective as
of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual
reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for
interim periods within that first annual reporting period and
for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter. The Company
is evaluating the impact the adoption of SFAS 166 will have
on its financial statements.
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167
“Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)”
(“SFAS 167”). SFAS 167 improves financial
reporting by enterprises involved with variable interest
entities and to address (1) the effects on certain
provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 46 (revised December
2003), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”,
as a result of the elimination of the qualifying special-purpose
entity concept in SFAS 166 and (2) constituent
concerns about the application of certain key provisions of
Interpretation 46(R), including those in which the accounting
and disclosures under the Interpretation do not always provide
timely and useful information about an enterprise’s
involvement in a variable interest entity. SFAS 167 is
effective as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s
first annual reporting period that begins after
November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first
annual reporting period, and for interim and annual reporting
periods thereafter. The Company is evaluating the impact the
adoption of SFAS 167 will have on its financial statements.
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168 “The
FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles — a
replacement of FASB Statement No. 162”. The FASB
Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”)
will be the single source of authoritative nongovernmental
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Rules and
interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal
securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC
registrants. SFAS 168 is effective for interim and annual
periods ending after September 15, 2009. All existing
accounting standards are superseded as described in
SFAS 168. All other accounting literature not included in
the Codification is non authoritative.
4.
Initial
Public Offering
On October 17, 2007the Company sold 10,255,000 Units in
the Offering at a price of $8.00 per Unit, including 1,255,000
Units of their over-allotment option. Each Unit consists of one
share of the Company’s common stock and one redeemable
common stock purchase Warrant. Each Warrant will entitle the
holder to purchase from the Company one share of common stock at
an exercise price of $5.50 commencing on the later of the
completion of a Business Combination and one year from the
effective date of the Offering (October 17, 2007) and
expiring four years from the effective date of the Offering. The
Company may redeem the Warrants, at a price of $.01 per Warrant
upon 30 days’ notice, while the Warrants are
exercisable only in the event that the last sale price of the
common stock is at least $11.50 per share for any 20 trading
days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third day
prior to the date on which notice of redemption is given. In
accordance with the warrant agreement relating to the Warrants
sold and issued in the Offering, the Company is only required to
use its best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the
registration statement covering the Warrants. The Company will
not be obligated to deliver securities, and there are no
contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities, if a
registration statement is not effective at the time of exercise.
Additionally, in the event that a registration is not effective
at the time of exercise, the holder of such Warrant will not be
entitled to exercise such Warrant and in no event (whether in
the case of a registration statement not being effective or
otherwise) will the Company be required to net cash settle the
warrant exercise. Consequently, the Warrants may expire
unexercised, unredeemed and worthless.
The Company sold to Pali Capital, Inc. (“Pali”), as
representatives of the underwriters, for $100, an option to
purchase up to a total of 700,000 Units at $10.00 per Unit. The
Units issuable upon the exercise of this option are identical to
those sold in the Offering. This option is exercisable at $10.00
per Unit, and may
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(unaudited) — (Continued)
be exercised on a cashless basis, commencing on the later of the
consummation of a Business Combination and one year from the
date of the effectiveness of the Offering and expiring five
years from the date of the effectiveness of the Offering. The
estimated fair value of this option is approximately $2,207,000,
$3.15 per Unit, using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The
fair value of the option granted is estimated as of the date of
the grant using the following assumptions: (1) expected
volatility of 45.2%, (2) risk-free discount rate of 4.95%,
(3) expected life of five years and (4) dividend rate
of zero. The volatility is based on the average five year daily
volatility of the 20 smallest (by market capitalization) media
companies in the Russell 2000 Index. Although an expected life
of five years was used in the calculation, if the Company does
not consummate a Business Combination within the prescribed time
period and automatically dissolves and subsequently liquidates
the trust account, the option will become worthless.
5.
Related
Party Transactions
The Company may occupy office space provided by the Initial
Stockholders, or an affiliate of one of the Initial
Stockholders, or a third party. The Initial Stockholders agreed
that, until the Company consummates a Business Combination, it
will make such office space, as well as certain office and
secretarial services, available to the Company, as may be
required by the Company from time to time. The Company has
agreed that it will pay up to $7,500 per month for such services
commencing on the effective date of the Offering. However, such
Initial Stockholders have elected to receive $6,400 per month
instead. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, the
Company has incurred $38,400 of expense relating to this
agreement, which is included in formation and operating expenses
in the accompanying Statements of Operations, which was payable
as of June 30, 2009. For the period from May 1, 2007
(inception) through June 30, 2009the Company has incurred
$131,097 of expense relating to this agreement, which is
included in formation and operating expenses in the accompanying
Statement of Operations, of which $83,200 was payable as of
June 30, 2009.
Pursuant to letter agreements, which the Initial Stockholders
have entered into with the Company and the underwriters, the
Initial Stockholders waived their right to receive distributions
with respect to their initial shares upon the Company’s
liquidation.
The Company’s officers and directors purchased a total of
2,100,000 Warrants (“Insider Warrants”) at $1.00 per
Warrant (for an aggregate purchase price of $2,100,000)
concurrently with the consummation of the Offering pursuant to a
private placement agreement with the Company. All of the
proceeds received from these initial purchases were placed in
the Trust Account. The Insider Warrants are identical to
the Warrants underlying the Units included in the Offering
except that the Insider Warrants may not be called for
redemption and the Insider Warrants are exercisable on a
“cashless basis,” at the holder’s option, so long
as such securities are held by such purchaser or his affiliates.
Furthermore, the purchasers have agreed that the Insider
Warrants will not be sold or transferred by them, except for
estate planning purposes, until after the Company has completed
a Business Combination. The sale of the warrants to management
did not result in the recognition of any stock-based
compensation expense because they were sold above fair market
value. The holder of these Insider Warrants will not have any
right to any liquidation distributions with respect to shares
underlying these warrants if the Company fails to consummate a
Business Combination, in which event these warrants will expire
worthless.
The Initial Stockholders and the holders of the Insider Warrants
(or underlying securities) will be entitled to registration
rights with respect to their initial shares or Insider Warrants
(or underlying securities) pursuant to an agreement signed on
the date of the Offering. The holders of the majority of these
securities may elect to exercise these registration rights with
respect to such securities at any time after the Company
consummates a Business Combination. The holders have certain
“piggy-back registration rights” with respect to
registration statements filed after the Company’s
consummation of a Business Combination. The Insider Warrants may
be exercisable for unregistered shares of common stock even if
no registration relating to the common stock issuable upon
exercise of the warrants is effective and current.
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(unaudited) — (Continued)
6.
Note
Payable
On May 4, 2009, Theodore S. Green, the Chairman and Co-CEO
and interim CFO and initial stockholder of the Company, loaned
the Company $200,000 (the “Loan”) as evidenced by a
promissory note issued by the Company (the “Note”).
Mr. Green may lend the Company up to an additional $100,000
in his discretion (see Note 10). The principal balance of
the Note outstanding is payable on the earlier of
(i) October 17, 2009 and (ii) the date on which
the Company consummates a business combination as contemplated
by its prospectus for its initial public offering. The principal
balance of the Note bears interest at a rate of 10% per year,
compounded semiannually. The proceeds of the loans were used to
fund certain expenses incurred in connection with the proposed
transaction with CME and the balance for working capital.
Upon the failure of the Company to repay the Note within 1
business day of when it is due, Mr. Green may declare the
entire amount due under the Note (including interest) due and
payable. Upon the filing of a voluntary bankruptcy by the
Company or an involuntary bankruptcy which is not dismissed
within 60 days, the entire amount due under the Note will
automatically become due and payable.
In connection with the Loan, Mr. Green and Mr. Malcolm
Bird, a director and Co-CEO and initial stockholder of the
Company, have entered into an agreement pursuant to which
Mr. Bird has agreed to reimburse Mr. Green for 7/18ths
of the amount of the Loan and corresponding interest thereon in
the event the Company does not consummate a business combination
by October 17, 2009 and is dissolved.
7.
Commitments
and contingencies
The Company paid the underwriters in the Offering an
underwriting discount of 7% of the gross proceeds of the
Offering. However, the underwriters have agreed that 4% of the
gross proceeds will be held in the Trust Account and will
not be payable unless and until the Company completes a Business
Combination and have waived their right to receive such payment
upon the Company’s liquidation if it is unable to complete
a Business Combination.
8.
Income
Taxes
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for
differences between the financial statements and tax basis of
assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or
deductible amounts and are based on enacted tax laws and rates
applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected
to effect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established
when necessary to reduce deferred income tax assets to the
amount expected to be realized.
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets
are as follows:
The Company is considered in the development stage for income
tax reporting purposes. Federal income tax regulations require
that the Company defer certain expenses for tax purposes.
Therefore, the Company has recorded a deferred income tax asset
of $1,470,000 for deferred expenses. The Company believes that
it is not more likely than not that it will be able to realize
this deferred tax asset in the future and, therefore, it has
provided a valuation allowance against this deferred tax asset.
The effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 34%
due to state and local taxes and deferred start up costs, an
increase in the valuation allowance and permanent differences
relating to tax free interest income.
The Company has adopted the provisions of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation
(FIN) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes — an interpretation of FASB
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(unaudited) — (Continued)
Statement No. 109. FIN 48 contains a two-step approach
to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted
for in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for
Income Taxes. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for
recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence
indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be
sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or
litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the
tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely
of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company
considers many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax
positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic
adjustments and which may not accurately anticipate actual
outcomes. Accordingly, the Company reports a liability for
unrecognized tax benefits resulting from the uncertain tax
positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and
recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain
tax positions in income tax expense. The Company intends to
classify any future expense for income tax related interest and
penalties as component of tax expense. The adoption of
FIN 48 had no impact on the Company’s financial
position.
9.
Common
Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company will not proceed with a Business Combination if
Public Stockholders owning 30% or more of the shares sold in the
Offering vote against the Business Combination and exercise
their redemption rights. Accordingly, the Company may effect a
Business Combination only if stockholders owning less than
29.99% of the shares sold in this Offering exercise their
redemption rights. If this occurred, the Company would be
required to redeem for cash up to 29.99% of the
10,255,000 shares of common stock sold in the Offering, or
3,075,475 shares of common stock, at an initial per-share
redemption price of $7.90 (plus a portion of the interest earned
on the trust account, but net of (i) taxes payable on
interest earned and (ii) up to $1,500,000 of interest
income released to the Company to fund its working capital),
which includes $0.32 per share of deferred underwriting discount
and commissions.
The actual per-share redemption price will be equal to:
•
the initial amount in the trust account which includes the
amount attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and
commissions and including all accrued interest (less taxes
payable and up to $1,500,000 of interest income released to the
Company to fund its working capital), as of two business days
prior to the proposed consummation of the Business Combination,
divided by
•
the number of shares of common stock sold in the Offering.
The dissenting stockholders will receive their proportionate
share of the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and
the underwriters will be paid the full amount of the deferred
underwriting fees at the time of the consummation of the initial
business combination. The Company will be responsible for such
payments to both the converting stockholders and underwriters.
10.
Preferred
Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of
preferred stock with such designations, voting and other rights
and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the
Board of Directors.
The agreement with the underwriters prohibits the Company, prior
to a Business Combination, from issuing preferred stock which
participates in the proceeds of the Trust Account or which
votes as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination.
11.
Acquisition
On May 1, 2009, the Company and the shareholders of
privately-held Hong Kong Mandefu Holdings Limited (d/b/a China
MediaExpress) (“CME”) entered into a definitive share
exchange agreement whereby the Company will acquire 100% of the
outstanding equity of CME, subject to approval of the
Company’ stockholders. Upon the closing of the transaction,
which is anticipated in the third quarter of 2009, the Company
will change its name to China MediaExpress Holdings, Inc.
TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
(A CORPORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(unaudited) — (Continued)
Under the terms of the transaction, the CME’s shareholders
will receive 19.5 million newly issued shares of the
Company’s common stock and $20.0 million in cash upon
the closing of the transaction. CME shareholders may earn up to
an additional 15.0 million shares of the Company’s
common stock, subject to the achievement of the following net
income targets for 2009 — 2011:
Year
Net Income (RMB)
Net Income (US$)(1)
Shares
2009
287.0 million
$42.0 million
1.0 million
2010
570.0 million
$83.5 million
7.0 million
2011
889.0 million
$130.2 million
7.0 million
(1)
Based on exchange rate of 6.83 RMB/USD.
In addition, CME shareholders are entitled to receive up to
$20.9 million of the cash proceeds from the exercise of the
Company’s publicly held common stock purchase warrants.
CME generates revenue by selling advertisements on its network
of television displays installed on express buses originating in
nine of China’s regions, including the four municipalities
of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing and five provinces,
namely Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan and Hebei.
The transaction will be accounted for as a reverse acquisition
in which CME is the accounting acquirer, equivalent to a
recapitalization. The net monetary assets of the Company will be
recorded as of the closing date of the transaction at their
respective historical costs, which is considered to be the
equivalent of fair value. No goodwill or intangible assets will
be recorded as a result of the transaction. The Company has
filed a preliminary proxy statement with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) with respect to the
proposed transaction. Upon the approval by the SEC, the proxy
statement will be sent to stockholders in connection with a
meeting to approve of the proposed transaction.
12.
Subsequent
Events
On July 1, 2009 Theodore S. Green loaned the Company an
additional $35,000 pursuant to the promissory note, and on the
same terms as the loan, described in Note 6.
The Company has evaluated events and transactions that occurred
between July 1, 2009 and August 14, 2009, which is the
date the financial statements were issued and through
September 30, 2009 (date of reissue) for possible
disclosure or recognition in the financial statements. The
Company has determined that there were no such events or
transactions that warrant disclosure or recognition in the
financial statements except as disclosed.
On September 30, 2009, the Company amended the Share
Exchange Agreement with CME. The changes included issuing
1.415 million additional shares of TM Common Stock and
$10.0 million in notes payable to CME shareholders, in lieu
of the $20.0 million cash consideration. Additionally, it
was agreed that the $10.0 working capital requirement would be
removed and that TM would limit its transaction expenses to a
maximum of $3.8 million. The note payable will not bear
interest and be repaid on the earlier of a financing following
the business combination or at such times the Board of Directors
determines. In addition, the sellers of CME would be entitled to
purchase 750,000 shares from the initial stockholders at
$.01 per share.
On September 30, 2009, Pali agreed to waive its deferred
underwriting fee in exchange for such number of shares of TM
Common Stock owned by the initial stockholders to be agreed upon.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the
financial statements of Hong Kong Mandefu Holding Limited (the
“Company”) and its subsidiaries, including Fujian
Across Express Information (“Across Express”)
Technology Co., Ltd. (Formerly known as Fuzhou Shoushan Water
Fall Group Em Polder Co., Ltd.) (“Fuzhou Shoushan”)
and Fujian Fengzhong Media Co., Ltd. (“Fengzhong
Media”). The Company and its subsidiaries are collectively
referred to as the “Group”.
The Company was incorporated in Hong Kong on April 25, 2001
and does not conduct any business operation since its
incorporation, other than being the holding company of the
Group. The Group is principally engaged in operating mobile
television advertising networks on passenger buses traveling on
highways in the People’s Republic of China (the
“PRC”). The Group develops and operates its business
through its subsidiaries. Details of the Company’s
subsidiaries are as follows:
Fengzhong Media operated all the business of the Group prior to
December 1, 2003. Fengzhong Media was 100% owned by
Mr. Zheng Cheng, the controlling shareholder, and his
mother (the “Cheng Family”) since its establishment
through December 31, 2008.
In order to comply with PRC laws and regulations which prohibit
foreign control of companies in certain industries and in
contemplation of an IPO or reverse merger in the United States,
effective control over Fengzhong Media was transferred to the
Company through a series of contractual arrangements without
transferring legal ownership in Fengzhong Media. As a result of
these contractual arrangements, the Company maintained the
ability to approve decisions made by Fengzhong Media and was
entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits of
Fengzhong Media. Therefore, the Company consolidates Fengzhong
Media in accordance with Accounting Research
Bulletin No. 51 “Consolidated Financial
Statements” and its related interpretations (including but
not limited to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 94, “Consolidation of All
Majority-Owned Subsidiaries”, and FASB Interpretation
No. 46R “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,
an Interpretation of ARB No. 51”
(“FIN 46R”)) and Regulations S-X 3A-02.
Immediately before and after the Reorganization, the Cheng
Family controlled Fengzhong Media; therefore, the Reorganization
is accounted for as a transaction between entities under common
control in a manner similar to pooling of interests.
Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements
have been prepared as if the current corporate structure had
been in existence throughout the periods presented.
2. SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis
of presentation and use of estimates
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America
(“U.S. GAAP”).
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in
conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and
liabilities at the balance sheet dates and the reported amounts
of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.
Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in the
Company’s financial statements include, but are not limited
to the useful lives of property, plant and equipment, accrual of
concession fees and realization of deferred tax assets. Actual
results could materially differ from those estimates.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
Principles
of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All transactions
and balances between the Company and its subsidiaries have been
eliminated upon consolidation.
PRC laws and regulations restrict foreign ownership of companies
that provide advertising services, including out-of-home
television advertising services. To comply with these foreign
ownership restrictions, the Company operates its television
advertising services in the PRC through Fengzhong Media, which
is an entity legally owned by the Cheng Family, and holds the
license and approvals to provide television advertising services
in the PRC. A series of agreements were entered into amongst
Across Express, Fengzhong Media and Fengzhong Media’s
direct equity holders, providing Across Express the ability to
control Fengzhong Media, including its financial interest as
described below.
Pursuant to the contractual arrangements, Across Express
provides certain technical and consulting services to Fengzhong
Media in exchange for fees. As Across Express has a contractual
controlling interest in Fengzhong Media, the Company, through
its wholly-owned equity interest in Across Express, has
unilateral discretion in setting the fees charged to Fengzhong
Media.
In addition to the exclusive technical support and consulting
services agreement, in which Across Express provides exclusive
technical and consulting services to Fengzhong Media, Across
Express has entered into an agreement with Fengzhong Media and
its equity holders with respect to certain shareholder rights
that provide Across Express with the ability to control
Fengzhong Media. Pursuant to this contractual arrangement, the
equity holders of Fengzhong Media would not exercise their
equity holders’ right without obtaining the consent from
Across Express and all the beneficial interests and rights of
the equity holders of Fengzhong Media belong to Across Express.
With the above agreements, the Company demonstrates its ability
to control Fengzhong Media, through the Company’s right to
all residual benefits of Fengzhong Media and the Company’s
obligation to fund losses of Fengzhong Media. Thus Fengzhong
Media’s results are consolidated in the consolidated
financial statements. Business taxes relating to service fees
charged by Across Express are recorded as cost of services in
the consolidated statements of operations.
Foreign
currency
The Group’s functional currency is the Chinese Renminbi
(RMB). The Group maintains its financial statements in the
functional currency. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated
in currencies other than the functional currency are translated
into the functional currency at rates of exchange prevailing at
the balance sheet dates. Transactions denominated in currencies
other than the functional currency are translated into the
functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the
dates of the transaction. Exchange gains or losses arising from
foreign currency transactions are included in the determination
of net income for the respective period.
For financial reporting purposes, the financial statements of
the Group, which are prepared using the functional currency, are
then translated into United States dollars. Assets and
liabilities are translated at the exchange rates at the balance
sheet dates and revenue and expenses are translated at the
average exchange rates and shareholders’ equity is
translated at historical exchange rates. Any translation
adjustments resulting are not included in determining net income
but are included in foreign currency translation adjustment in
other comprehensive income, a component of shareholders’
equity.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
Cash
and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and bank
deposits, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal and use.
Allowance
for doubtful accounts
An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded in the period
when the loss is determined to be probable based on an
assessment of collectability, historical bad debts, account
balance characteristics such as aging and prevailing economic
condition. The Group has not experienced such loss to date and
as such the allowance is $0 for the years ended
December 31, 2006, 2007 or 2008.
Property,
Plant and Equipment, net
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and are
depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated
useful lives of the assets, as follows:
Category
Estimated Useful Life
Buildings
20 years
Electronic and office equipment
5 years
Motor vehicles
10 years
Display network equipment
5 years
Payments for purchase of display network equipment are made by
installment. Outstanding unpaid installments for purchase of
display network equipment are recognized as liabilities and
recorded as accrued liabilities for the purchase of property,
plant and equipment on the accompanying consolidated balance
sheets. Repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense as
incurred, whereas the cost of renewals and betterment that
extends the useful lives of property, plant and equipment are
capitalized as additions to the related assets. Retirements,
sales and disposals of assets are recorded by removing the cost
and accumulated depreciation from the asset and accumulated
depreciation accounts with any resulting gain or loss reflected
in the consolidated statements of operations as general and
administrative expense.
Accrued
severance payments
The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Employment
Contracts (the “Employment Contract Law”) was adopted
by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress
of the PRC in 2007 and became effective on January 1, 2008.
Pursuant to the Employment Contract Law, the Group’s PRC
subsidiaries are required to make severance payment to an
employee when the term of the employment contract expires unless
the employee voluntarily terminates the contract or voluntarily
rejects the offer to renew the contract in which the terms are
no worse off than the terms of other employment contracts
available to the employee. The severance payment will be equal
to one month’s wages times the number of years that the
employee has been working for the employer. For employment
periods less than six months, the severance payment will be
equal to one-half of one month’s salary. If the employment
period is more than six months but less than one year, the
severance payment will be equal to one month’s salary. The
Group has calculated the potential severance payments in
accordance with the Employment Contract Law and has recorded an
amount for this potential liability as accrued severance
payments on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
The Group evaluates its long-lived assets or asset group with
finite lives for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a group of
long-lived assets may not be fully recoverable, such as a
significant adverse change in market conditions that will impact
the future use of the assets. When these events occur, the Group
evaluates the impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the
assets to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to result
from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If
the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the
carrying amount of the assets,
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
the Group recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of
the carrying amount of the asset group over its fair value that
is generally based on the expected discounted cash flows using a
risk-free rate. There was no such impairment charge for the
periods presented.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of cash, accounts receivable, prepayment
and other current assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses and
other liabilities, and amounts due to related parties
approximate their fair value due to the short-term maturity of
these instruments.
Revenue
Recognition
Revenue is recognized when the following four criteria are met
in accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104
(“SAB 104”): (i) persuasive evidence of an
arrangement exists, (ii) the service has been rendered,
(iii) the fees are fixed or determinable, and
(iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
The Group’s revenues are derived from selling advertising
time slots on the Group’s mobile television advertising
network placed in contracted buses in the PRC.
The Group typically signs standard contracts with its customers,
who require the Group to broadcast the advertisements provided
by customers on the Group’s network in specified areas (or
specified provinces) and on specified passenger buses for a
period of time generally ranging from 3 to 12 months. The
service price, agreed at the contract date, is final and not
subject to any adjustment. The Group recognizes advertising
revenues ratably over the contracted performance period for
which the advertisements are broadcasted, so long as the
collection of such fees is probable. Generally, the Group’s
customers pay the monthly service amount ratably over the
contracts one month after the services are provided. The Group
assesses customer’s creditworthiness before accepting
service contracts; historically the Group has not experienced
any credit losses related to sales.
Fengzhong Media is subject to business tax and other surcharges
on the revenues earned for services provided in the PRC. The
applicable rate of business tax is 5%. Fengzhong Media is also
subject to culture and education construction fees and
embankment protection fees on the revenues earned for services
provided in the PRC. The applicable rates of the culture and
education construction fee and embankment protection fees are 3%
and 0.09%, respectively. The Group records revenue net of these
taxes and surcharges. Such business tax and related surcharges
for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 were
approximately, $382,000, $2,443,000 and $5,958,000, respectively.
Cost
of Sales
Cost of sales consists primarily of concession fees charged by
the operators of passenger buses, depreciation of media display
equipment and other operating costs.
The Group enters into long-term exclusive agreements with the
operators of various inter-city express passenger buses in the
PRC generally ranging from 5 to 8 years, providing the
Group the concession right to install its mobile digital
televisions and patented automatic control system on inter-city
express passenger buses. Such equipment and systems on the
inter-city express passenger buses serve as the Group’s
advertising platform. The Group pays a pre-determined network
concession fee each year, which is based upon the number of
busses operated, subject to an increase by 10% to 30% per year,
to the passenger bus operators for the exclusive rights to
install the Group’s advertising network equipment on their
buses.
Fees under concession agreements with the passenger bus
operators are generally due every month. The Group accounts for
the increase by the provisions of FAS 13 “Accounting
for Leases (as amended)” as well as FTB
85-3
“Accounting for Operating Leases with Schedule Rent
Increases”. In accordance with FAS 13 and FTB
85-3, if
rent payments are not made on a straight-line basis, rental
expense shall be recognized on a straight line basis. As the
concession fees increase by 10% to 30% per year and the
agreements are long term
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
(5 to 8 years), the Group calculates the minimum concession
fees due over the term of the agreement and amortizes that
amount using the straight line method over the term of the
agreement. Since the Company does not know exactly what the
increase will be each year, the minimum 10% increase is used in
its calculation for each yearly increase. If an increase is any
higher than the 10% increase, that amount is expensed as
incurred on a monthly basis. The total concession fees under
each agreement are charged to the consolidated statements of
operations on a straight-line basis over the agreement period.
Differences between concession fee payments and concession
expenses charged to the consolidated statements of operations on
a straight-line basis over the agreement periods are recorded as
deferred concession fees on the accompanying consolidated
balance sheets.
Advertising
Expense
Advertising costs are expensed when incurred and are included in
“selling expenses” in the consolidated statements of
operations. For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and
2008, advertising expenses were approximately $1,000, $1,000 and
$5,000, respectively.
Leases
Leases are classified at the inception date as either a capital
lease or an operating lease. For the lessee, a lease is a
capital lease if any of the following conditions is met:
a) the ownership of the leased property is transferred to
the lessee by the end of the lease term, b) there is a
bargaining purchase option, c) the lease term is at least
75% of the property’s estimated remaining economic life or
d) the present value of the minimum lease payments at the
beginning of the lease term is 90% or more of the fair value of
the leased property. A capital lease is accounted for as if
there was an acquisition of an asset and an incurrence of an
obligation at the inception of the lease. All other leases are
accounted for as operating leases wherein rental payments are
expensed as incurred. The Group had no capital leases for any of
the periods stated herein.
Income
Taxes
The Group accounts for deferred income taxes using the liability
method, under which the expected future tax consequences of
temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax
basis of its assets and liabilities are recognized as deferred
tax assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is established
for any deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that
the deferred tax asset will not be recovered. The effect on
deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the
consolidated statement of operations in the period that includes
the enactment date.
In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation
(“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty
in Income Taxes,” which prescribes a comprehensive model
for how a company should recognize, measure, present and
disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions
that the Group has taken or expects to take on a tax return
(including a decision whether to file or not to file a return in
a particular jurisdiction). The accounting provisions of
FIN No. 48 are effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2006. The adoption of this
Interpretation had no impact on the Group’s consolidated
financial position or results of operations.
Earnings
per Share
Earnings per share are calculated in accordance with
SFAS No. 128, “Earnings Per Share”. Basic
earnings per ordinary share is computed by dividing income
attributable to holders of ordinary shares by the weighted
average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted earnings per ordinary share reflects the potential
dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to
issue ordinary shares were exercised or converted into ordinary
shares. There were no potentially dilutive securities for the
years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Comprehensive
Income
SFAS No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive
Income” establishes standards for reporting and display of
comprehensive income, its components and accumulated balances.
Comprehensive income is defined to
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
include all changes in equity except those resulting from
investments by owners and distributions to owners. Among other
disclosures, SFAS No. 130 requires that all items that
are required to be recognized under current accounting standards
as components of comprehensive income be reported in a financial
statement that is displayed with the same prominence as other
financial statements.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159,
“The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial
Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”). This statement
permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments
and certain other items at fair value. A business entity shall
report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair
value option has been elected in earnings (or another
performance indicator if the business entity does not report
earnings) at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 is
effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15,2007. The Group does not believe that SFAS 159 will have a
material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
On December 4, 2007, the FASB issued
SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements — An Amendment of
ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160
establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the
non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the
deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Specifically, this statement
requires the recognition of a non-controlling interest (minority
interest) as equity in the consolidated financial statements and
separate from the parent’s equity. The amount of net income
attributable to the non-controlling interest will be included in
consolidated net income on the face of the income statement.
SFAS 160 clarifies that changes in a parent’s
ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in
deconsolidation are equity transactions if the parent retains
its controlling financial interest. In addition, this statement
requires that a parent recognize a gain or loss in net income
when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. Such gain or loss will be
measured using the fair value of the non-controlling equity
investment on the deconsolidation date. SFAS 160 also
includes expanded disclosure requirements regarding the
interests of the parent and its non-controlling interest.
SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods
within those fiscal years, beginning on or after
December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. The
Group is currently assessing the impact, if any, that the
adoption of SFAS 160 will have on its consolidated
financial statements.
On December 4, 2007 the FASB issued SFAS No. 141
(Revised 2007), “Business Combinations”
(SFAS 141(R)). SFAS 141(R) will significantly change
the accounting for business combinations. Under SFAS 141(R)
an acquiring entity will be required to recognize all the assets
acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the
acquisition-date fair value with limited exceptions.
SFAS 141(R) will change the accounting treatment for
certain specific item, including:
•
Acquisition costs will be generally expensed as incurred;
•
Non-controlling interests (formerly known as “minority
interests”) will be valued at fair value at the acquisition
date;
•
Acquired contingent liabilities will be recorded at fair value
at the acquisition date and subsequently measured at either the
higher of such amount or the amount determined under existing
guidance for non-acquired contingencies;
•
In process research and development will be recorded at fair
value as an indefinite-lived intangible asset at the acquisition
date;
•
Restructuring costs associated with a business combination will
be generally expensed subsequent to the acquisition
date; and
•
Charges in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and income
tax uncertainties after the acquisition date generally will
affect income tax expense.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
SFAS 141(R) also includes a substantial number of new
disclosure requirements. The statement applies prospectively to
business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or
after the beginning of the first annual reporting period
beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption
is prohibited. The Group is currently assessing the impact, if
any, that the adoption of SFAS 141(R) will have on its
consolidated financial statements.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161,
“Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities”, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133.
The new standard requires enhanced disclosures to help investors
better understand the effect of an entity’s derivative
instruments and related hedging activities on its financial
position, financial performance, and cash flows. Statement 161
is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years
and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with
early application encouraged. The Group is currently assessing
the impact, if any, that the adoption of SFAS No. 161
will have on its consolidated financial statements.
On May 23, 2008 the FASB issued FASB Statement
No. 163, “Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance
Contracts” clarifies how FASB Statement No. 60,
“Accounting and Reporting” by Insurance Enterprises,
applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts issued by
insurance enterprises, including the recognition and measurement
of premium revenue and claim liabilities. It also requires
expanded disclosures about financial guarantee insurance
contracts. The Statement is effective for financial statements
issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008,
and all interim periods within those fiscal years, except for
disclosures about the insurance enterprise’s
risk-management activities. Disclosures about the insurance
enterprise’s risk-management activities are effective the
first period beginning after issuance of the Statement. The
Group is currently assessing the impact, if any, that
SFAS 163 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
Concentration
of Risks
Concentration
of credit risk
Assets that potentially subject the Group to significant
concentration of credit risk primarily consist of cash and
accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2008, substantially
all of the Group’s cash was deposited in financial
institutions located in the PRC, which management believes are
of high credit quality. Accounts receivable are typically
unsecured and are derived from revenues earned from customers in
the PRC. The risk with respect to accounts receivable is
mitigated by credit evaluations the Group performs on its
customers and its ongoing monitoring process of outstanding
balances. The Group has not experienced a loss in such account.
Concentration
of customers and vendors
The Group currently provides a substantial portion of its
service to a limited number of customers. There are revenues
from customers which individually represent greater than 10% of
the total revenues (see Note 15). The loss of sales from any of
these customers would have a significant negative impact on the
Group’s business. Sales to customers are mostly made
through non-exclusive, short-term arrangements. Due to the
Group’s dependence on a limited number of customers, any
negative events with respect to the Group’s customers may
cause material fluctuations or declines in the Group’s
revenue and have a material adverse effect on the Group’s
financial condition and results of operations.
The Group currently conducts a substantial portion of its
services with a limited number of vendors. There are concessions
paid to vendors which individually represent greater than 10% of
the total concession fees included in cost of sales and accounts
payable balances to vendors which individually represent greater
than 10% of accounts payable (see Note 15). The loss of any
of these vendors could have a significant negative impact on the
Group’s business. Concessions paid to vendors are mostly
made through contracts ranging from 5-8 years. Due to the
Group’s dependence on a limited number of vendors, any
negative events with respect to the Group’s vendors may
cause material fluctuations or declines in the Group’s
revenue and have a material adverse effect on the Group’s
financial condition and results of operations.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
Current
vulnerability due to certain other concentrations
The Group’s operations may be adversely affected by
significant political, economic and social uncertainties in the
PRC. Although the PRC government has been pursuing economic
reform policies for more than 20 years, no assurance can be
given that the PRC government will continue to pursue such
policies or that such policies may not be significantly altered,
especially in the event of a change in leadership, social or
political disruption or unforeseen circumstances affecting the
PRC’s political, economic and social conditions. There is
also no guarantee that the PRC government’s pursuit of
economic reforms will be consistent or effective.
The Group transacts all of its business in RMB, which is not
freely convertible into foreign currencies. On January 1,1994, the PRC government abolished the dual rate system and
introduced a single rate of exchange as quoted daily by the
People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”). However, the
unification of the exchange rates does not imply that the RMB
may be readily convertible into United States dollars or other
foreign currencies. All foreign exchange transactions continue
to take place either through the PBOC or other banks authorized
to buy and sell foreign currencies at the exchange rates quoted
by the PBOC. Approval of foreign currency payments by the PBOC
or other institutions requires submitting a payment application
form together with suppliers’ invoices, shipping documents
and signed contracts.
Additionally, the value of the RMB is subject to changes in
central government policies and international economic and
political developments affecting supply and demand in the PRC
foreign exchange trading system market.
Foreign ownership of advertising businesses is subject to
significant restrictions under current
PRC laws and regulations. Currently, the Group conducts its
operations in the PRC through a series of contractual
arrangements entered into among Across Express, Fengzhong Media
and its shareholders.
The relevant regulatory authorities may find the current
ownership structure, contractual arrangements and businesses to
be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or
regulations. If so, the relevant regulatory authorities would
have broad discretion in dealing with such violations.
The amounts represent the remaining balance of consideration
payable for purchasing of display network equipment. The amounts
are non-interest bearing and payable within one year.
8.
ORDINARY
SHARES
Authorized, issued and outstanding 10,000 shares at par
value of $0.13.
The Company’s ability to pay dividends is primarily
dependent on the Company receiving distributions of funds from
its subsidiaries. Relevant PRC statutory laws and regulations
permit payments of dividends by the Company’s PRC
subsidiaries only out of their retained earnings, if any, as
determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and
regulations. The results of operations reflected in the
financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP
differ from those reflected in the statutory financial
statements of the Company’s subsidiaries.
In accordance with the Regulations on Enterprises with Foreign
Investment of China and their articles of association, a foreign
invested enterprise established in the PRC is required to
provide certain statutory
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
reserves, namely a general reserve fund, the enterprise
expansion fund and a staff welfare and bonus fund which are
appropriated from net profit as reported in the
enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. A wholly-owned foreign
invested enterprise is required to allocate at least 10% of its
annual after-tax profit to the general reserve until such
reserve has reached 50% of its respective registered capital
based on the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts.
Appropriations to the enterprise expansion fund and staff
welfare and bonus fund are at the discretion of the board of
directors for all foreign invested enterprises. The
aforementioned reserves can only be used for specific purposes
and are not distributable as cash dividends. Across Express was
established as a wholly-owned foreign invested enterprise and
therefore is subject to the above mandated restrictions on
distributable profits.
Additionally, in accordance with the Company Law of the PRC, a
domestic enterprise is required to provide statutory common
reserve at least 10% of its annual after-tax profit until such
reserve has reached 50% of its respective registered capital
based on the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. A
domestic enterprise is also required to provide for
discretionary surplus reserve, at the discretion of the board of
directors, from the profits determined in accordance with the
enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. The aforementioned
reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not
distributable as cash dividends. Fengzhong Media was established
as a domestic invested enterprise and therefore is subject to
the above mandated restrictions on distributable profits.
As a result of these PRC laws and regulations that require
annual appropriations of 10% of after-tax income to be set aside
prior to payment of dividends as general reserve fund, the
Company’s PRC subsidiaries are restricted in their ability
to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company.
Amounts restricted include paid-in capital and statutory reserve
funds of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries, as determined
pursuant to PRC generally accepted accounting principles,
totaling approximately $8,256,000 as of December 31, 2008;
therefore in accordance with Rules 504 and 4.08 (e)
(3) of
Regulation S-X,
the condensed parent company only financial statements as of
December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 2008 are disclosed
in Note 17.
10.
TAXATION
Income
taxes
Hong
Kong
The Company was incorporated in Hong Kong and does not conduct
any substantive operations since its incorporation other than
being the holding company of the Group.
No provision for Hong Kong profits tax has been made in the
financial statements as the Company has no assessable profits
for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008,
respectively. In addition, upon payments of dividends by the
Company to its shareholders, no Hong Kong withholding tax will
be imposed.
China
PRC enterprise income tax, “EIT”, is generally
assessed at the rate of 33% in 2006 and 2007, 25% in 2008 of
taxable income. Across Express and Fengzhong Media were
subjected to statutory EIT rates of 33% in accordance with the
relevant PRC Enterprise Income Tax Laws in 2006 and 2007 and 25%
in 2008.
On March 16, 2007, the Fifth Plenary Session of the Tenth
National People’s Congress passed the Corporate Income Tax
Law of the People’s Republic of China (“new tax
law”) which was effective on January 1, 2008. As a
result of the new tax law, the income tax rate applicable to
Fengzhong Media is 25% effectively from January 1, 2008.
Accordingly, the Group’s deferred taxes were remeasured to
reflect the enactment of the new tax law. Such a remeasure in
deferred taxes has been recognized as a reduction in income tax
expenses of $257,000 in the consolidated statement of operations
for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Deferred tax assets reflect the tax effects of temporary
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts
used for income tax purposes. The components of deferred tax
assets are as follows:
In 2007, the Group purchased a vehicle and a display patent from
Mr. Zheng Cheng for total consideration of $1,329,000. As
such transaction was considered under common control, the excess
of the consideration paid by the Group over the net carrying
value of the assets, amounting to $1,315,000, was reflected as
deemed dividends distributed to Mr. Zheng Cheng, the
controlling shareholder of the Company, in the consolidated
statement of changes in shareholders’ equity.
**
The loans were non-interest bearing and were fully settled in
2007.
All balances with related parties as of December 31, 2006,
2007 and 2008 were unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable
on demand.
12.
EMPLOYEE
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN
Full time employees of the Group in the PRC participate in a
government mandated defined contribution plan, pursuant to which
certain pension benefits, medical care, employee housing fund
and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. PRC labor
regulations require that the PRC subsidiaries make contributions
to the government for these benefits based on certain
percentages of the employees’ salaries. The Group has no
legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions made.
The total amounts for such employee benefits, which were
expensed as incurred, were approximately $292,000, $363,000 and
$384,000 for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and
2008, respectively.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
13.
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
(a) Rental
lease
Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases
with initial terms of one-year or more consist of the following
at December 31, 2008:
2009
$
167
2010
$
131
2011
$
105
2012
$
103
2013
$
43
$
549
Payments under operating leases are expensed on the
straight-line basis over the periods of their respective leases.
The terms of the leases do not contain rent escalation or
contingent rents. For the years ended December 31, 2006,
2007 and 2008, total rental expenses for all operating leases
amounted to approximately $16,000, $25,000 and $116,000
respectively.
(b)
Capital
commitments
Purchase
of property, plant and equipment
As of December 31, 2008, the Group did not have any
commitments related to the purchase of display network equipment.
(c)
Concession
fees
The Group has entered into concession right agreements with
passenger bus operators. The contract terms of such concession
rights are usually five to eight years. The concession rights
expire between 2011 and 2014 and are renewable upon negotiation.
Future minimum concession fee payments under non-cancelable
concession right agreements were as follows at December 31,2008:
(Amounts in
Thousands of US $)
2009
$
21,627
2010
23,789
2011
26,168
2012
14,187
2013
4,426
2014
1,301
$
91,498
14.
SEGMENT
REPORTING
The Group operates and manages its business as a single
reportable segment that includes primarily selling advertising
time slots on its advertising network of television screens
placed in passenger buses traveling on the highways throughout
the PRC.
Geographic
information
The Group operates in the PRC and all of the Group’s
identifiable assets are located in the PRC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
Although the Group operates in multiple cities in China which
include Fujian, Beijing Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin and
Chengdu, the chief operating decision maker evaluates the
Group’s performance as a single reportable segments and
thus the Group believes it operates in one segment as it provide
services to customers irrespective of their locations.
15.
MAJOR
CUSTOMERS AND VENDORS
Details of the customers accounting for 10% or more of total net
sales in any of the periods presented are as follows:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year
—
—
—
Cash and cash equivalents at
end of the year
$
—
$
—
$
—
Basis of Presentation
For the presentation of the parent company only condensed
financial information, the Company records its investment in
subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting as prescribed
in Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) opinion
No. 18, “The Equity Method of Accounting for
Investments in Common Stock”.
20.
SUBSEQUENT
EVENT
On February 5, 2009, the Company declared to pay a dividend
of $17,589,000 to Mr. Zheng, the sole shareholder of the
Company.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the
financial statements of Hong Kong Mandefu Holding Limited (the
“Company”) and its subsidiaries, including Fujian
Across Express Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Across
Express”) and Fujian Fengzhong Media Co., Ltd.
(“Fengzhong Media”). The Company and its subsidiaries
are collectively referred to as the “Group”.
The Company was incorporated in Hong Kong on April 25, 2001
and does not conduct any business operation since its
incorporation, other than being the holding company of the
Group. The Group is principally engaged in operating mobile
television advertising networks on passenger buses traveling on
highways in the People’s Republic of China (the
“PRC”). The Group develops and operates its business
through its subsidiaries. Details of the Company’s
subsidiaries are as follows:
Fengzhong Media operated all the business of the Group prior to
December 1, 2003. Fengzhong Media was 100% owned by
Mr. Zheng Cheng, the controlling shareholder, and his
mother (the “Cheng Family”) since its establishment.
In order to comply with PRC laws and regulations which prohibit
foreign control of companies in certain industries and in
contemplation of an initial public offering or reverse merger in
the United States, effective control over Fengzhong Media was
transferred to the Company through a series of contractual
arrangements without transferring legal ownership in Fengzhong
Media (the “Reorganization”). As a result of these
contractual arrangements, the Company maintained the ability to
approve decisions made by Fengzhong Media and was entitled to
substantially all of the economic benefits of Fengzhong Media.
Therefore, the Company consolidates Fengzhong Media in
accordance with Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51
“Consolidated Financial Statements” and its related
interpretations (including but not limited to Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 94,
“Consolidation of All Majority-Owned Subsidiaries”,
and FASB Interpretation No. 46R “Consolidation of
Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB
No. 51” (“FIN 46R”)) and Regulations
S-X 3A-02. Immediately before and after the Reorganization, the
Cheng Family controlled Fengzhong Media; therefore, the
Reorganization is accounted for as a transaction between
entities under common control in a manner similar to pooling of
interests. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial
statements have been prepared as if the current corporate
structure had been in existence throughout the periods presented.
On May 1, 2009, the Company and TM
Entertainment & Media, Inc (“TMI”), a
company listed on the American Stock Exchange, entered into a
definitive share exchange agreement whereby TMI will acquire
100% of the outstanding equity of the Company, subject to
approval of the shareholders of TMI. The closing of the
transaction is anticipated in the beginning of the fourth
quarter of 2009. See notes 17 and 18.
2.
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis
of presentation and use of estimates
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been
prepared by the Company in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America
(“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information
and with
Regulation S-X
as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). Accordingly, these financial statements do
not include all of the disclosures required by generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States of America
for complete financial statements. These
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
unaudited interim financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes
thereto for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006. In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim
financial statements furnished here include all adjustments, all
of which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair
statement of the results for the interim periods presented. In
the opinion of management, the interim financial statements
include all adjustments that are necessary in order to make the
financial statements not misleading. The results of the six
months ended June 30, 2009 are not necessarily indicative
of the results to be expected for the full year ending
December 31, 2009.
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in
conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and
liabilities at the balance sheet dates and the reported amounts
of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.
Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in the
Company’s financial statements include, but are not limited
to the useful lives of property, plant and equipment, accrual of
concession fees and realization of deferred tax assets. Actual
results could materially differ from those estimates.
Principles
of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All transactions
and balances between the Company and its subsidiaries have been
eliminated upon consolidation.
PRC laws and regulations restrict foreign ownership of companies
that provide advertising services, including
out-of-home
television advertising services. To comply with these foreign
ownership restrictions, the Company operates its television
advertising services in the PRC through Fengzhong Media, which
is an entity legally owned by the Cheng Family, and holds the
license and approvals to provide television advertising services
in the PRC. A series of agreements were entered into amongst
Across Express, Fengzhong Media and Fengzhong Media’s
direct equity holders, providing Across Express the ability to
control Fengzhong Media, including its financial interest as
described below.
Pursuant to the contractual arrangements, Across Express
provides certain technical and consulting services to Fengzhong
Media in exchange for fees. As Across Express has a contractual
controlling interest in Fengzhong Media, the Company, through
its wholly-owned equity interest in Across Express, has
unilateral discretion in setting the fees charged to Fengzhong
Media.
In addition to the exclusive technical support and consulting
services agreement, in which Across Express provides exclusive
technical and consulting services to Fengzhong Media, Across
Express has entered into an agreement with Fengzhong Media and
its equity holders with respect to certain shareholder rights
that provide Across Express with the ability to control
Fengzhong Media. Pursuant to this contractual arrangement, the
equity holders of Fengzhong Media would not exercise their
equity holders’ right without obtaining the consent from
Across Express and all the beneficial interests and rights of
the equity holders of Fengzhong Media belong to Across Express.
With the above agreements, the Company demonstrates its ability
to control Fengzhong Media, through the Company’s right to
all residual benefits of Fengzhong Media and the Company’s
obligation to fund losses of Fengzhong Media. Thus Fengzhong
Media’s results are consolidated in the consolidated
financial statements. Business taxes relating to service fees
charged by Across Express are recorded as cost of services in
the consolidated statements of operations.
Foreign
currency
The Group’s functional currency is the Chinese Renminbi
(RMB). The Group maintains its financial statements in the
functional currency. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated
in currencies other than the functional currency are translated
into the functional currency at rates of exchange prevailing at
the balance sheet dates. Transactions denominated in currencies
other than the functional currency are translated into the
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the
dates of the transaction. Exchange gains or losses arising from
foreign currency transactions are included in the determination
of net income for the respective period.
For financial reporting purposes, the financial statements of
the Group, which are prepared using the functional currency, are
then translated into United States dollars. Assets and
liabilities are translated at the exchange rates at the balance
sheet dates and revenue and expenses are translated at the
average exchange rates and shareholders’ equity is
translated at historical exchange rates. Any translation
adjustments resulting are not included in determining net income
but are included in foreign currency translation adjustment in
other comprehensive income, a component of shareholders’
equity.
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and bank
deposits, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal and use.
Allowance
for doubtful accounts
An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded in the period
when the loss is determined to be probable based on an
assessment of collectability, historical bad debts, account
balance characteristics such as aging and prevailing economic
condition. The Group has not experienced such loss to date and
as such the allowance is $0 for the six month periods ended
June 30, 2008 and 2009.
Property,
Plant and Equipment, net
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and are
depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated
useful lives of the assets, as follows:
Category
Estimated Useful Life
Buildings
20 years
Electronic and office equipment
5 years
Motor vehicles
10 years
Display network equipment
5 years
Payments for purchase of display network equipment are made by
installment. Outstanding unpaid installments for purchase of
display network equipment are recognized as liabilities and
recorded as accrued liabilities for the purchase of property,
plant and equipment on the accompanying consolidated balance
sheet. Repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense as
incurred, whereas the cost of renewals and betterment that
extends the useful lives of property, plant and equipment are
capitalized as additions to the related assets. Retirements,
sales and disposals of assets are recorded by removing the cost
and accumulated depreciation from the asset and accumulated
depreciation accounts with any resulting gain or loss reflected
in the consolidated statements of operations as general and
administrative expense.
Accrued
severance payments
The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Employment
Contracts (the “Employment Contract Law”) was adopted
by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress
of the PRC in 2007 and became effective on January 1, 2008.
Pursuant to the Employment Contract Law, the Group’s PRC
subsidiaries are required to make severance payment to an
employee when the term of the employment contract expires unless
the employee voluntarily terminates the contract or voluntarily
rejects the offer to renew the contract in which
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
the terms are no worse off than the terms of other employment
contracts available to the employee. The severance payment will
be equal to one month’s wages times the number of years
that the employee has been working for the employer. For
employment periods less than six months, the severance payment
will be equal to one-half of one month’s salary. If the
employment period is more than six months but less than one
year, the severance payment will be equal to one month’s
salary. The Group has calculated the potential severance
payments in accordance with the Employment Contract Law and has
recorded an amount for this potential liability as accrued
severance payments on the accompanying consolidated balance
sheet.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
In accordance with SFAS No. 144 “Accounting for
the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, the Group
reviews its long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets
for potential impairment based on a review of projected
undiscounted cash flows associated with these assets. Long-lived
assets and finite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for
impairment whenever events and circumstances exist that
indicates the carrying amount of these assets may not be
recoverable. If the sum of the projected undiscounted cash flows
is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Group would
recognize an impairment loss based on the difference between the
estimated fair value of the assets and the carrying amount.
There was no such impairment charge for the periods presented.
Long-lived assets to be disposed of are stated at the lower of
fair value less cost to sell or carrying amount.
Management judgment is required in the area of asset impairment,
particularly in assessing whether: (1) an event has
occurred that may affect asset values; (2) the carrying
value of an asset can be supported by the net present value of
future cash flows from the asset using estimated cash flow
projections; and (3) the cash flow is discounted using an
appropriate rate.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of cash, accounts receivable, prepayment
and other current assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses and
other liabilities, and amounts due to related parties
approximate their fair value due to the short-term maturity of
these instruments.
Revenue
Recognition
Revenue is recognized when the following four criteria are met
in accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104
(“SAB 104”): (i) persuasive evidence of an
arrangement exists, (ii) the service has been rendered,
(iii) the fees are fixed or determinable, and
(iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
The Group’s revenues are derived from selling advertising
time slots on the Group’s mobile television advertising
network placed in contracted buses in the PRC.
The Group typically signs standard contracts with its customers,
who require the Group to broadcast the advertisements provided
by customers on the Group’s network in specified areas (or
specified provinces) and on specified passenger buses for a
period of time generally ranging from 3 to 12 months. The
service price, agreed at the contract date, is final and not
subject to any adjustment. The Group recognizes advertising
revenues ratably over the contracted performance period for
which the advertisements are broadcasted, so long as the
collection of such fees is probable. Generally, the Group’s
customers pay the monthly service amount ratably over the
contracts one month after the services are provided. The Group
assesses customer’s creditworthiness before accepting
service contracts; historically the Group has not experienced
any credit losses related to sales.
Fengzhong Media is subject to business tax and other surcharges
on the revenues earned for services provided in the PRC. The
applicable rate of business tax is 5%. Fengzhong Media is also
subject to culture and education construction fees and
embankment protection fees on the revenues earned for services
provided
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
in the PRC. The applicable rates of the culture and education
construction fee and embankment protection fees are 3% and
0.09%, respectively. The Group records revenue net of these
taxes and surcharges. Such business tax and related surcharges
for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2009 were
approximately $2,880,000 and $3,581,000, respectively.
Cost
of Sales
Cost of sales consists primarily of concession fees charged by
the operators of passenger buses, depreciation of media display
equipment and other operating costs.
The Group enters into long-term exclusive agreements with the
operators of various inter-city express passenger buses in the
PRC generally ranging from 5 to 8 years, providing the
Group the concession right to install its mobile digital
televisions and patented automatic control system on inter-city
express passenger buses. Such equipment and systems on the
inter-city express passenger buses serve as the Group’s
advertising platform. The Group pays a pre-determined network
concession fee each year, which is based upon the number of
buses operated, subject to an increase by 10% to 30% per year,
to the passenger bus operators for the exclusive rights to
install the Group’s advertising network equipment on their
buses.
Fees under concession agreements with the passenger bus
operators are generally due every month. The Group accounts for
the increase by the provisions of FAS 13 “Accounting
for Leases (as amended)” as well as FTB
85-3
“Accounting for Operating Leases with Schedule Rent
Increases”. In accordance with FAS 13 and FTB
85-3, if
rent payments are not made on a straight-line basis, rental
expense shall be recognized on a straight line basis. As the
concession fees increase by 10% to 30% per year and the
agreements are long term (5 to 8 years), the Group
calculates the minimum concession fees due over the term of the
agreement and amortizes that amount using the straight line
method over the term of the agreement. Since the Company does
not know exactly what the increase will be each year, the
minimum 10% increase is used in its calculation for each yearly
increase. If an increase is any higher than the 10% increase,
that amount is expensed as incurred on a monthly basis. The
total concession fees under each agreement are charged to the
consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis
over the agreement period. Differences between concession fee
payments and concession expenses charged to the consolidated
statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the
agreement periods are recorded as deferred concession fees on
the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Advertising
Expense
Advertising costs are expensed when incurred and are included in
“selling expenses” in the consolidated statements of
operations. For the six months ended June 30, 2008 and
2009, advertising expenses were approximately $496 and $10,204,
respectively.
Leases
Leases are classified at the inception date as either a capital
lease or an operating lease. For the lessee, a lease is a
capital lease if any of the following conditions is met:
a) the ownership of the leased property is transferred to
the lessee by the end of the lease term, b) there is a
bargaining purchase option, c) the lease term is at least
75% of the property’s estimated remaining economic life or
d) the present value of the minimum lease payments at the
beginning of the lease term is 90% or more of the fair value of
the leased property. A capital lease is accounted for as if
there was an acquisition of an asset and an incurrence of an
obligation at the inception of the lease. All other leases are
accounted for as operating leases wherein rental payments are
expensed as incurred. The Group had no capital leases for any of
the periods stated herein.
Income
Taxes
The Group accounts for deferred income taxes using the liability
method, under which the expected future tax consequences of
temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax
basis of its assets and liabilities are recognised as deferred
tax assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is established
for any deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that
the deferred tax asset will not be recovered. The effect
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the
consolidated statement of operations in the period that includes
the enactment date.
In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation
(“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty
in Income Taxes,” which prescribes a comprehensive model
for how a company should recognize, measure, present and
disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions
that the Group has taken or expects to take on a tax return
(including a decision whether to file or not to file a return in
a particular jurisdiction). The accounting provisions of
FIN No. 48 are effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2006. The adoption of this
Interpretation had no impact on the Group’s consolidated
financial position or results of operations.
Earnings
per Share
Earnings per share are calculated in accordance with
SFAS No. 128, “Earnings Per Share”. Basic
earnings per ordinary share is computed by dividing income
attributable to holders of ordinary shares by the weighted
average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted earnings per ordinary share reflects the potential
dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to
issue ordinary shares were exercised or converted into ordinary
shares. There were no potentially dilutive securities for the
six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2009.
Comprehensive
Income
SFAS No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive
Income” establishes standards for reporting and display of
comprehensive income, its components and accumulated balances.
Comprehensive income is defined to include all changes in equity
except those resulting from investments by owners and
distributions to owners. Among other disclosures,
SFAS No. 130 requires that all items that are required
to be recognized under current accounting standards as
components of comprehensive income be reported in a financial
statement that is displayed with the same prominence as other
financial statements.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In October 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
(“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position
FAS 157-3
“Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the
Market for That Asset is Not Active” (“FSP
FAS 157-3”)
which clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 in an
inactive market and illustrates how an entity would determine
fair value when the market for a financial asset is not active.
FSP
FAS 157-3
was effective upon issuance, including prior periods for which
financial statements had not been issued. The adoption of FSP
FAS 157-3
did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial
statements.
On June 16, 2008, the FASB issued final Staff Position
(FSP)
No. EITF 03-6-1,
“Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based
Payment Transaction Are Participating Securities”, to
address the question of whether instrument granted in
share-based payment transaction are participating securities
prior to vesting. The FSP determines that unvested share-based
payment awards that contain rights to dividend payments should
be included in earnings per share calculations. The guidance
will be effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2008. The adoption of (FSP)
No. EITF 03-6-1
did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial
statements.
In May 2008, the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standard
No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles”
(“SFAS No. 162”). The statement is intended
to improve financial reporting by identifying a consistent
hierarchy for selecting accounting principles to be used in
preparing financial statements that are prepared in conformance
with GAAP. The statement is effective 60 days following the
SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board amendments to AU Section 411, “The Meaning of
Present Fairly in Conformity with GAAP”. The Group is
currently assessing the impact of this statement, but believes
it will not have a material impact on its financial position,
results of operations, or cash flows upon adoption.
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities — an amendment of
FASB Statement No. 133” (SFAS No. 161). The
standard requires additional quantitative disclosures (provided
in tabular form) and qualitative disclosures for derivative
instruments. The required disclosures include how derivative
instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s
financial position, financial performance, and cash flows; the
relative volume of derivative activity; the objectives and
strategies for using derivative instruments; the accounting
treatment for those derivative instruments formally designated
as the hedging instrument in a hedge relationship; and the
existence and nature of credit-risk-related contingent features
for derivatives. SFAS No. 161 does not change the
accounting treatment for derivative instruments.
SFAS No. 161 is effective for the Group’s
financial statements for the year beginning on January 1,2009. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 did not have a
material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP
FAS 157-2,
Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157 (“FSP
FAS 157-2”).
FSP
FAS 157-2
delays the effective date of FASB Statement No. 157, Fair
Value Measurements for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial
liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed
at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis
(at least annually). For purposes of FSP
FAS 157-2,
nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities would include
all assets and liabilities other than those meeting the
definition of a financial asset or financial liability as
defined in paragraph 6 of FASB Statement No. 157. FSP
FAS 157-2
defers the effective date for items within its scope to fiscal
years beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of
FSP
FAS 157-2
did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial
statements.
In September 2008, the FASB issued
FSP 133-1
and FASB Interpretation Number (“FIN”)
45-4,
“Disclosures about Credit Derivatives and Certain
Guarantees: An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 and FASB
Interpretation No. 45; and Clarification of the Effective
Date of FASB Statement No. 161” (“FSP
FAS 133-1”
and
“FIN 45-4”).
FSP
FAS 133-1
and
FIN 45-4
amend disclosure requirements for sellers of credit derivatives
and financial guarantees. It also clarifies the disclosure
requirements of SFAS No. 161 and is effective for
quarterly periods beginning after November 15, 2008, and
fiscal years that include those periods. The adoption of FSP
FAS 133-1
and
FIN 45-4
did not have a material impact on our current financial
position, results of operation or cash flows.
In April 2008, the FASB Staff Position issued
FAS No. 142-3
“Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible
Assets” (“FSP
FAS 142-3”)
which applies to all entities that requires to consider in
developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine
the useful life of a recognized intangible assets under FASB
Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim
periods which those fiscal years. Early adoption is prohibited.
The adoption of FSP
FAS 142-3
did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial
statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160
“Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements” (“SFAS No. 160”) to improve
the relevance, comparability, and transparency of financial
information provided to investors by requiring all entities to
report net income attributable to both the parent and
noncontrolling (minority) interests in subsidiaries in the
consolidated financial statements. Moreover,
SFAS No. 160 eliminates the diversity that currently
exists in accounting for transactions between an entity and
noncontrolling interests by requiring them be treated as equity
transaction. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal
years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning
on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of
SFAS No. 160 did not have a material impact on the
consolidated financial statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141
(revised 2007) “Business Combination”
(“SFAS No. 141R”) which establishes
principles and requirements for how the acquirer of a business
recognizes and measures in its financial statements the
identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any
noncontrolling interest in the acquiree. The statements also
provides guidance for recognizing and measuring the goodwill
acquired in the business combination and determines what
information to disclose to enable users of the financial
statement to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the
business combination.
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
SFAS No. 141R is effective for financial statements
issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008.
The adoption of SFAS No. 141R did not have a material
impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 163,
“Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance
Contracts — an interpretation of FASB Statement
No. 60” (“SFAS No. 163”).
SFAS No. 163 requires expanded disclosures about
financial guarantee insurance contracts. SFAS No. 163
is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods
within those fiscal years. Disclosure requirements in
paragraphs 30(g) and 31 are effective for the first period
(including interim periods) beginning after issuance of this
statement. Except for the disclosures effective for the first
period (including interim periods) beginning after issuance of
this statement, earlier application is prohibited. The adoption
of SFAS No. 163 did not have a material impact on the
consolidated financial statements.
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165,
Subsequent Events. SFAS 165 establishes general
standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur
after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are
issued or are available to be issued. Although there is new
terminology, the standard is based on the same principles as
those that currently exist in the auditing standards. The
standard also includes a required disclosure of the date through
which the entity has evaluated subsequent events and whether the
evaluation date is the date of issuance or the date the
financial statements were available to be issued. The standard
is effective for interim or annual periods ending after
June 15, 2009. The Company has complied with the disclosure
requirements.
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168, The
FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles — a
replacement of FASB Statement No. 162. The FASB
Accounting Standards Codification (Codification) will become
the source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP) recognized by the FASB to be
applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretive
releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws
are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. On
the effective date of this Statement, the Codification will
supersede all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting
standards. All other non-grandfathered non-SEC accounting
literature not included in the Codification will become
non-authoritative. This Statement is effective for financial
statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after
September 15, 2009. The Company will comply with the
requirements of the Statement beginning in the third quarter of
2009.
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 165, Subsequent Events, the
Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of this
filing. The Company does not believe there are any material
subsequent events which would require further disclosure.
Concentration
of Risks
Concentration
of credit risk
Assets that potentially subject the Group to significant
concentration of credit risk primarily consist of cash and
accounts receivable. As of June 30, 2009, substantially all
of the Group’s cash was deposited in financial institutions
located in the PRC, which management believes are of high credit
quality. Accounts receivable are typically unsecured and are
derived from revenues earned from customers in the PRC. The risk
with respect to accounts receivable is mitigated by credit
evaluations the Group performs on its customers and its ongoing
monitoring process of outstanding balances. The Group has not
experienced a loss in such account.
Concentration
of customers and vendors
The Group currently provides a substantial portion of its
service to various customers. There are no revenues from
customers which individually represent greater than 10% of the
total revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008 or
2009 (see Note 15). Sales to customers are mostly made
through non-exclusive, short-term arrangements. As the customer
base is diversified, the Group considers that the concentration
risk of its customers is not significant to the Group’s
financial condition and results of operations.
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
The Group currently conducts a substantial portion of its
services with a limited number of vendors. There are concessions
paid to a vendor which individually represents greater than 10%
of the total concession fees included in cost of sales and an
accounts payable balance to a vendor which individually
represents greater than 10% of accounts payable (see
Note 15). The loss of this vendor could have a significant
negative impact on the Group’s business. Concessions paid
to vendors are mostly made through contracts ranging from
5-8 years. Due to the Group’s dependence on a limited
number of vendors, any negative events with respect to the
Group’s vendors may cause material fluctuations or declines
in the Group’s revenue and have a material adverse effect
on the Group’s financial condition and results of
operations.
Current
vulnerability due to certain other concentrations
The Group’s operations may be adversely affected by
significant political, economic and social uncertainties in the
PRC. Although the PRC government has been pursuing economic
reform policies for more than 20 years, no assurance can be
given that the PRC government will continue to pursue such
policies or that such policies may not be significantly altered,
especially in the event of a change in leadership, social or
political disruption or unforeseen circumstances affecting the
PRC’s political, economic and social conditions. There is
also no guarantee that the PRC government’s pursuit of
economic reforms will be consistent or effective.
The Group transacts all of its business in RMB, which is not
freely convertible into foreign currencies. On January 1,1994, the PRC government abolished the dual rate system and
introduced a single rate of exchange as quoted daily by the
People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”). However, the
unification of the exchange rates does not imply that the RMB
may be readily convertible into United States dollars or other
foreign currencies. All foreign exchange transactions continue
to take place either through the PBOC or other banks authorized
to buy and sell foreign currencies at the exchange rates quoted
by the PBOC. Approval of foreign currency payments by the PBOC
or other institutions requires submitting a payment application
form together with suppliers’ invoices, shipping documents
and signed contracts.
Additionally, the value of the RMB is subject to changes in
central government policies and international economic and
political developments affecting supply and demand in the PRC
foreign exchange trading system market.
Foreign ownership of advertising businesses is subject to
significant restrictions under current PRC laws and regulations.
Currently, the Group conducts its operations in the PRC through
a series of contractual arrangements entered into among Across
Express, Fengzhong Media and its shareholders.
The relevant regulatory authorities may find the current
ownership structure, contractual arrangements and businesses to
be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or
regulations. If so, the relevant regulatory authorities would
have broad discretion in dealing with such violations.
The amounts represent the remaining balance of consideration
payable for purchasing of display network equipment. The amounts
are non-interest bearing and payable within one year.
8.
ORDINARY
SHARES
Authorized, issued and outstanding 10,000 shares at par
value of $0.13.
The Company’s ability to pay dividends is primarily
dependent on the Company receiving distributions of funds from
its subsidiaries. Relevant PRC statutory laws and regulations
permit payments of dividends by the Company’s PRC
subsidiaries only out of their retained earnings, if any, as
determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and
regulations. The results of operations reflected in the
financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP
differ from those reflected in the statutory financial
statements of the Company’s subsidiaries.
In accordance with the Regulations on Enterprises with Foreign
Investment of China and their articles of association, a foreign
invested enterprise established in the PRC is required to
provide certain statutory reserves, namely a general reserve
fund, the enterprise expansion fund and a staff welfare and
bonus fund which are appropriated from net profit as reported in
the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. A wholly-owned
foreign invested enterprise is required to allocate at least 10%
of its annual after-tax profit to the general reserve until such
reserve has reached 50% of its respective registered capital
based on the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts.
Appropriations to the enterprise expansion fund and staff
welfare and bonus fund are at the discretion of the board of
directors for all foreign invested enterprises. The
aforementioned reserves can only be used for specific purposes
and are not distributable as cash dividends. Across Express was
established as a wholly-owned foreign invested enterprise and
therefore is subject to the above mandated restrictions on
distributable profits.
Additionally, in accordance with the Company Law of the PRC, a
domestic enterprise is required to provide statutory common
reserve at least 10% of its annual after-tax profit until such
reserve has reached 50% of its respective registered capital
based on the enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. A
domestic enterprise is also required to provide for
discretionary surplus reserve, at the discretion of the board of
directors, from the profits determined in accordance with the
enterprise’s PRC statutory accounts. The aforementioned
reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not
distributable as cash dividends. Fengzhong Media was established
as a domestic invested enterprise and therefore is subject to
the above mandated restrictions on distributable profits.
As a result of these PRC laws and regulations that require
annual appropriations of 10% of after-tax income to be set aside
prior to payment of dividends as general reserve fund, the
Company’s PRC subsidiaries are restricted in their ability
to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company.
Amounts restricted include paid-in capital ($3,709,000) and
statutory reserve funds ($4,314,000) of the Company’s PRC
subsidiaries, as determined pursuant to PRC generally accepted
accounting principles, totaling approximately $8,023,000 as of
December 31, 2008. No appropriation of the reserves were
made for the six months period ended June 30, 2009 as the
reserves will be allocated on an annual basis.
10.
TAXATION
Income
taxes
Hong
Kong
The Company was incorporated in Hong Kong and does not conduct
any substantive operations since its incorporation other than
being the holding company of the Group.
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
No provision for Hong Kong profits tax has been made in the
financial statements as the Company has no assessable profits
for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2009,
respectively. In addition, upon payments of dividends by the
Company to its shareholders, no Hong Kong withholding tax will
be imposed.
China
PRC enterprise income tax, “EIT”, is generally
assessed at the rate of 25% for the six months ended
June 30, 2008 and 2009 of taxable income. Across Express
and Fengzhong Media were subjected to statutory EIT rates of 25%
in accordance with the relevant PRC Enterprise Income Tax Laws
started from 2008.
On February 22, 2008, the Ministry of Finance
(“MOF”) and the State Administration of Taxation
(“SAT”) jointly issued Cai Shui 2008 Circular 1
(“Circular 1”). According to Article 4 of
Circular 1, distributions of accumulated profits earned by a
foreign investment enterprise prior to January 1, 2008 to
foreign investor(s) in 2008 or after will be exempt from
withholding tax (“WHT”) while distribution of the
profit earned by an FIE after January 1, 2008 to its
foreign investor(s) shall be subject to WHT. As a result, the
dividends declared out of the retained earnings as of
December 31, 2007 should be exempt from WHT.
For the six months ended June 30, 2009, 2008 final
dividends of US$11,703,000 (RMB80,000,000) were declared and
paid from Across Express to the Company. Out of these total
dividends, US$6,931,000 (RMB47,379,000) was attributable to the
2008 profits of Across Express while the remaining was
attributable to the accumulated profits prior to December, 2007.
The applicable tax rate of the WHT on the dividends attributable
to the profits earned after January 1, 2008 is 5%. The
Company paid $347,000 for this tax for the six months ended
June 30, 2009.
There is no dividend policy for the Group and there is no plan
to declare dividends in the future as of now. As a result, no
deferred tax provision was provided to the financial statements
for the remaining non-distributable profits earned in 2008 by
Across Express. Should this policy be changed in future,
deferred tax liabilities would be provided on the profits that
are planned to distribute from Across Media to the Company.
Deferred tax assets reflect the tax effects of temporary
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts
used for income tax purposes. The components of deferred tax
assets are as follows:
All balances with related parties as of June 30, 2009 were
unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on demand.
12.
EMPLOYEE
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN
Full time employees of the Group in the PRC participate in a
government mandated defined contribution plan, pursuant to which
certain pension benefits, medical care, employee housing fund
and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. PRC labor
regulations require that the PRC subsidiaries make contributions
to the government for these benefits based on certain
percentages of the employees’ salaries. The Group has no
legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions made.
The total amounts for such employee
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
benefits, which were expensed as incurred, were approximately
$173,000 and $208,000 for the six months ended June 30,2008 and 2009, respectively.
13.
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
(a)
Rental
lease
Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases
with initial terms of one-year or more consist of the following
at June 30, 2009:
(Amounts in
thousands of
US dollars)
2009
$
67
2010
124
2011
106
2012
103
2013
43
$
443
Payments under operating leases are expensed on the
straight-line basis over the periods of their respective leases.
The terms of the leases do not contain rent escalation or
contingent rents. For the six months ended June 30, 2008
and 2009, total rental expenses for all operating leases
amounted to approximately $41,000 and $99,000 respectively.
(b)
Capital
commitments
Purchase
of property, plant and equipment
As of June 30, 2009, the Group did not have any commitments
related to the purchase of display network equipment.
(c)
Concession
fees
The Group has entered into concession right agreements with
passenger bus operators. The contract terms of such concession
rights are usually five to eight years. The concession rights
expire between 2011 and 2014 and are renewable upon negotiation.
Future minimum concession fee payments under non-cancelable
concession right agreements at June 30, 2009 were as
follows:
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
14.
SEGMENT
REPORTING
The Group operates and manages its business as a single
reportable segment that includes primarily selling advertising
time slots on its advertising network of television screens
placed in passenger buses traveling on the highways throughout
the PRC.
Geographic
information
The Group operates in the PRC and all of the Group’s
identifiable assets are located in the PRC.
Although the Group operates in multiple cities in China which
include Fujian, Beijing Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin and
Chengdu, the chief operating decision maker evaluates the
Group’s performance as a single reportable segments and
thus the Group believes it operates in one segment as it provide
services to customers irrespective of their locations.
15.
MAJOR
CUSTOMERS AND VENDORS (Amounts are in thousands of US
dollars)
There were no customers accounting for 10% or more of total net
sales for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2009.
Details of vendors accounting for 10% or more of concession fees
included in costs of sales in any of the periods presented are
as follows:
Basic and diluted earnings per share for each of the periods
presented are calculated as follows (Amounts in thousands except
for the number of shares and per share data):
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited) — (Continued)
17.
PROPOSED
SHARE EXCHANGE
As disclosed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the
Company entered into a definitive share exchange agreement with
TMI. TMI will issue 19.5 million new common shares of TMI
and $20 million in cash in exchange for 100% of the
outstanding equity of the Company, subject to the approval from
the shareholders of TMI. The Company’s shareholders may
earn up to an additional 15 million shares of TMI subject
to the achievement of some net income targets for
2009 — 2011. Upon the completion of this transaction,
the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of TMI, which
is listed on the American Stock Exchange. The transaction will
be treated as a reverse merger and a recapitalization of the
Company for accounting purposes. The historical financial
statements will become those of the Company.
18.
SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
The Company has evaluated events and transactions that occurred
between July 1, 2009 and September 8, 2009, which is
the date the financial statements were issued and through
September 30, 2009 (date of reissue) for possible
disclosure or recognition in the financial statements. The
Company has determined that there were no such events or
transactions that warrant disclosure or recognition in the
financial statements except as disclosed.
On September 30, 2009, the Company amended the Share
Exchange Agreement with TMI (See Note 17). The changes
included receiving 1.415 million additional shares of TMI
common stock and $10.0 million in notes payable to the
Company’s shareholders, in lieu of the $20.0 million
cash consideration. Additionally, it was agreed that a $10.0
working capital requirement would be removed and that TMI would
limit its transaction expenses to a maximum of
$3.8 million. The note payable will not bear interest and
be repaid on the earlier of a financing following the business
combination or at such times when the Board of Directors of TMI
determines. In addition, the sellers of the Company would be
entitled to purchase 750,000 shares from the initial
stockholders of TMI at $.01 per share.
SHARE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT, dated as of May 1, 2009 (this
“Agreement”), by and among TM
ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC., a corporation incorporated in the
State of Delaware, USA (“TM” or,
following the consummation of the Share Exchange (as defined
below), the “Company”), HONG KONG
MANDEFU HOLDINGS LTD, a limited company incorporated in Hong
Kong (“HMDF”), FUJIAN ZHONG HENG EXPRESS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. a limited liability company
established in the PRC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of HMDF
(“ZH”), ZHENG CHENG, an individual, OU
WEN LIN, an individual, and QINGPING LIN, an individual, FUJIAN
FENZHONG MEDIA CO., LTD., a limited liability company operating
in media business established in PRC
(“FF” and, together with HMDF and ZH,
the “HMDF Entities”), controlled by ZH
by contractual agreements and arrangements, THOUSAND SPACE
HOLDING LIMITED, a company organized under the laws of the
British Virgin Islands (“Thousand”), and
BRIGHT ELITE MANAGEMENT LIMITED, a company organized under the
laws of the British Virgin Islands
(“Bright”). Each of the HMDF Entities,
Zheng Cheng, Ou Wen Lin, Qingping Lin, Thousand and Bright is
sometimes individually referred to herein as a “HMDF
Party,” and collectively as the “HMDF
Parties” and each HMDF Party that from time to time
is also a registered shareholder of HMDF is sometimes
individually referred to herein as an “HMDF
Shareholder” and collectively as the
“HMDF Shareholders”. Each of the Parties
to this Agreement is individually referred to herein as a
“Party” and collectively as the
“Parties.” Capitalized terms used herein
that are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in Annex A hereto.
BACKGROUND
The board of directors of each of TM and HMDF have declared this
Agreement advisable and approved the Transactions, including the
acquisition by TM of the HMDF Shares from the HMDF Shareholders
through a share exchange transaction (the “Share
Exchange”) pursuant to which TM will initially
(i) issue to the HMDF Shareholders an aggregate of
19,500,000 TM Shares and (ii) pay to the HMDF Shareholders
$20,000,000, in each case, subject to adjustment as set forth in
Section 1.1(d) below, in exchange for the HMDF Shares.
The HMDF Shareholders are the direct owners of all of the
outstanding capital stock of HMDF (all such shares of capital
stock are referred to as the “HMDF
Shares”).
The Share Exchange requires the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common
Stock cast at the meeting, provided, that the Share Exchange
will only proceed if the Public Stockholders owning no more than
30% of the Publicly Held Common Stock exercise their Conversion
Rights.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Share
Exchange
Section 1.1 Share
Exchange. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, at the Closing, each of the HMDF Shareholders
shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to TM free and
clear of all Liens, all of the right, title and interest of each
such HMDF Shareholder in and to the HMDF Shares set forth
opposite such HMDF Shareholder’s name on
Schedule A. In exchange for the HMDF Shares, TM
shall sell, issue and deliver to the HMDF Shareholders free and
clear of all Liens, the number of TM Shares set forth opposite
each such HMDF Shareholder’s name on Schedule B
as well as the other consideration set forth in Section 1.2
hereof.
Section 1.2 Payments.
(a) Payment. Upon the terms and subject
to the conditions hereof, TM shall pay by wire transfer in
immediately available funds to HMDF $150,000 on the later of
(i) the date hereof and (ii) the date that HMDF
furnishes TM with the HMDF Financial Statements; provided that
(x) the HMDF Financial Statements shall have been prepared
in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are covered by an audit
report issued by an independent certified public accounting firm
reasonably acceptable to TM and are suitable for inclusion the
Proxy Statement, as determined by TM; (y) the Net Income of
the HMDF Entities for the fiscal year ended December 31,2008 (the “HMDF FY2008 Net Income”), as
derived from the HMDF Financial Statements, is not less than
$15,000,000 and (z) the HMDF Financial Statements shall
have been furnished to TM no later than five (5) days after
the date hereof.
(b) Initial Equity Payment. Subject to
Section 1.2(d) below, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, at the Closing, TM shall issue and deliver to
each HMDF Shareholder the number of TM Shares set forth opposite
such HMDF Shareholder’s name on Schedule B in
the column entitled “Initial Equity Payment,”
representing, in the aggregate, 19,500,000 TM Shares (the
“Initial Equity Payment”).
(c) Initial Cash Payment. Subject to
Section 1.2(d) below, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, at the Closing, TM shall pay by wire transfer
in immediately available funds to each HMDF Shareholder the
amount set forth opposite such HMDF Shareholder’s name on
Schedule B in the column entitled “Initial Cash
Payment,” representing, in the aggregate, $20,000,000 (the
“Initial Cash Payment”).
(d) Adjustment to Initial Equity Payment and Initial
Cash Payment. Notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, in the event that the HMDF FY2008 Net Income, as
derived from the HMDF Financial Statements, is less than
$25,000,000, the Initial Equity Payment and Initial Cash Payment
payable by TM at Closing shall each be reduced to an amount
computed by multiplying the Initial Equity Payment and Initial
Cash Payment, respectively, by a fraction, of which (x) the
numerator is the actual HMDF FY2008 Net Income and (y) the
denominator is $25,000,000; provided, however, in no event shall
such numerator be less than $15,000,000.
(e) Earn-Out Share Payments.The Company
shall issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 15,000,000 TM
Shares (the “Earn-Out Shares”) to the
HMDF Shareholders in accordance with the terms set forth below.
(i) Targeted Net Income Threshold
Achieved. If the Adjusted Net Income of the
Company, as derived from its annual report on
Form 10-K
(“Form 10-K”)
for FY2009, FY2010 or FY2011, as applicable, equals or exceeds
the Targeted Net Income Threshold for such fiscal year, as
certified in writing by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, then the Company shall issue
and deliver to each HMDF Shareholder, the number of Earn-Out
Shares set forth opposite such HMDF Shareholder’s name in
the applicable column of Schedule B with respect to
such fiscal year. Such delivery of Earn-Out Shares is referred
to herein as the “Earn-Out Share
Payment.” Subject to Section 1.2(e)(ii) below,
the applicable portion of the Earn-Out Shares shall be issued
and delivered to the HMDF Shareholders within thirty
(30) days following the filing by the Company of its
Form 10-K
with the SEC for such fiscal year, which contains audited
financial statements for such applicable year that are prepared
in accordance with U.S. GAAP and that indicates that the
Targeted Net Income Threshold for such fiscal year has been
achieved.
(ii) Targeted Net Income Threshold Not
Achieved. If the Company’s Adjusted Net
Income, as derived from its
Form 10-K
for FY2009, FY2010 or FY2011, as applicable, does not equal or
exceed the Targeted Net Income Threshold for such fiscal year,
as certified in writing by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, then the Company will not
issue any Earn-Out Shares applicable to such fiscal year (the
“Non-Achieving Fiscal Year”); provided,
however, that if the Company’s Adjusted Net Income in the
fiscal year immediately succeeding the Non-Achieving Fiscal
Year, as derived from the Company’s
Form 10-K
for such immediately succeeding fiscal year, exceeds the sum of
(x) the Targeted Net Income Threshold for such immediately
succeeding fiscal year and (y) the shortfall amount by
which Adjusted Net Income failed to achieve the Targeted Net
Income Threshold for the Non-Achieving Fiscal Year, as certified
in writing by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of the Company, then the Company shall issue and deliver
to each HMDF Shareholder, the number of Earn-Out Shares set
forth opposite such HMDF Shareholder’s name in the
applicable column of Schedule B with respect to the
Non-Achieving Fiscal Year within thirty (30) days following
the filing by the Company of its
Form 10-K
with the SEC for such immediately succeeding fiscal year.
(iii) Earn-Out Share Number. The
aggregate number of Earn-Out Shares to be issued and delivered
to the HMDF Shareholders if the Adjusted Net Income of the
Company achieves or exceeds the applicable Targeted Net Income
Threshold is (A) 1,000,000 shares for FY2009
threshold, (B) 7,000,000 shares for FY2010 threshold
and (C) 7,000,000 shares for FY2011 threshold.
(iv) Filing of
Form 10-K. From
the Closing until it has filed a
Form 10-K
(or any successor form) for FY2012 (unless the Earn-Out Shares
applicable to FY2011 have been issued and delivered), the
Company shall file its
Form 10-K
within the time-frames specified by the SEC for the filing of
such form. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company is no
longer required or eligible to file a
Form 10-K,
then for purposes of determining whether Targeted Net Income
Thresholds have been achieved under
Sections 1.2(e)(i)-(ii),
the Adjusted Net Income of the Company for any particular fiscal
year shall be as derived from the audited financial statements
of the Company for such fiscal year.
(f) Lock-Up
and Registration Rights. The TM Shares (including
the Earn-Out Shares, if any) issued and delivered to the HMDF
Shareholders shall be subject to
Lock-Up
Agreements that are substantially in the form of
Exhibit A and shall be entitled to customary
registration rights pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D.
(g) Warrants Payment. Within fifteen
(15) days after the end of the first full fiscal quarter
ending after the Closing Date and each fiscal quarter ending
thereafter, the Company shall pay to the HMDF Shareholders, by
wire transfer in immediately available funds, the cash proceeds
received by the Company from the exercise of the Publicly Held
TM Warrants during such fiscal quarter; provided, however, that
in no event shall that aggregate amount paid by the Company
under this Section 1.2(g) exceed $20,888,888. The amounts
to be paid by the Company under this Section 1.2(g) shall
be paid to each HMDF Shareholder in accordance with the
percentage ownership set forth opposite such HMDF
Shareholder’s name on Schedule A in the column
entitled “Percentage Ownership Interest.”
ARTICLE II
The Closing
Section 2.1 Closing. The
Closing (the “Closing”) of the Share
Exchange and the other transactions contemplated hereby (the
“Transactions”), shall take place at the
offices of Morrison Cohen LLP, 909 Third Avenue, New York, NewYork10022 commencing at 9:00 a.m. local time on the second
business day following the satisfaction or waiver of all
conditions and obligations of the Parties to consummate the
Transactions contemplated hereby (other than conditions and
obligations with respect to the actions that the respective
Parties will take at Closing), or on such other date and at such
other time as the Parties may mutually determine (the
“Closing Date”).
Section 2.2 Deliveries
of the Parties. At the Closing, (i) the
HMDF Parties (directly
and/or
through their nominees) shall deliver to TM the various
certificates, opinions, instruments, agreements and documents
referred to in Section 9.2 below, (ii) TM shall
deliver to the HMDF Parties, as applicable, the various
certificates, opinions, instruments, agreements and documents
referred to in Section 9.1 below, (iii) each of the
HMDF Shareholders shall deliver to TM (a) a certificate
representing the right, title and interest in and to the HMDF
Shares set forth opposite such HMDF Shareholder’s name on
Schedule A, free and clear of all Liens, (b) a
copy of resolutions of the board of directors or similar
governing body of HMDF authorizing the transfer of the HMDF
Shares and updating the register of members of HMDF, and
(c) a duly certified copy of the updated register of
members of HMDF reflecting the acquisition by TM of all HMDF
Shares, and (iv) TM shall deliver to the HMDF Shareholders
(directly or through their designated nominees in the allocation
as set forth on Schedule B) the Initial Cash
Payment, the Initial Equity Payments and a duly certified copy
of the stockholder ledger of TM reflecting the issuance of the
Initial Equity Payments to the HMDF Shareholders.
Section 2.3 Additional
Agreements. At the Closing, the following
agreements (collectively, the “Transaction
Documents”) will have been duly executed by each
party thereto, delivered or otherwise effectuated: (i) the
Lock-Up
Agreements; (ii) the Executive Employment Agreement with
Zheng Cheng; (iii) the Voting Agreement; (iv) the
Registration Rights Agreement; and (v) the Investor
Representation Letters.
Section 2.4 Further
Assurances. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, at any time or from time to time
after the Closing, each of the Parties shall execute and deliver
such other documents and instruments, provide such materials and
information and take such other actions as may be commercially
reasonable, to the extent permitted by law, to fulfill its
obligations under this Agreement and to effectuate and
consummate the Transactions.
ARTICLE III
Representations
and Warranties of HMDF Parties
Subject to the exceptions set forth in the Disclosure Schedule
of the HMDF Parties attached hereto as Schedule C
(the “HMDF Disclosure Schedule”), each
of the HMDF Parties jointly and severally represents and
warrants to TM as of the date hereof and as of the Closing as
follows:
Section 3.1 HMDF
Shares.
(a) Good Title. The HMDF Shareholders are
the registered owners of the HMDF Shares and have good and
marketable title to the HMDF Shares, with the right and
authority to sell and deliver such HMDF Shares. On the Closing
Date, the HMDF Shareholders listed on Schedule A
hereto will own the HMDF Shares in the amounts and according to
the percentage ownership set forth on Schedule A
hereto. Such shares constitute all of the registered capital
stock of HMDF. Upon delivery of any certificate or certificates
duly assigned, representing the same as herein contemplated and
upon registering of TM as the new owner of such HMDF Shares in
the share register of HMDF, TM will receive good title to such
HMDF Shares, free and clear of all Liens.
(b) Capital Structure. The registered
capital of HMDF and the total number of shares and type of all
authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of HMDF and all
shares of capital stock of HMDF reserved for issuance under
HMDF’s various option and incentive plans, are set forth in
Section 3.1(b) of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule. Except as
set forth in Section 3.1(b) of the HMDF Disclosure
Schedule: (i) no shares of capital stock or other voting
securities of HMDF are issued, reserved for issuance or
outstanding; (ii) all outstanding shares of the capital
stock of HMDF are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable and are not subject to or issued in violation
of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal,
preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under
any provision of the HMDF Constituent Instruments or any
Contract to which any of the HMDF Parties is a party or
otherwise bound; (iii) there are no bonds, debentures,
notes or other indebtedness of HMDF having the right to vote (or
convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the
right to vote) on any matters on which holders of the shares of
capital stock of HMDF may vote (“Voting HMDF
Debt”); (iv) there are no options, warrants,
rights, convertible or exchangeable securities,
“phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation rights,
stock-based performance units, commitments, Contracts,
arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which HMDF is a
party or is bound (A) obligating HMDF to issue, deliver or
sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional
shares of capital stock or other equity interests in, or any
security convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable into any
capital stock of or other equity interest in, HMDF or any Voting
HMDF Debt, or (B) obligating HMDF to issue, grant, extend
or enter into any such option, warrant, call, right, security,
commitment, Contract, arrangement or undertaking; (v) as of
the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding contractual
obligations of HMDF to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any shares of HMDF capital stock; and (vi) except for the
Structure Agreements, none of the HMDF Parties is a party to any
voting trust or other voting agreement or Contract with respect
to any of the shares of capital stock of any HMDF Party or to
any agreement relating to the issuance, sale, redemption,
transfer or other disposition of the capital stock of any HMDF
Party.
Section 3.2 Organization
and Standing. Each of the HMDF Parties (if an
entity) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation.
Except as set forth in Section 3.2 of the HMDF Disclosure
Schedule, each of the HMDF Entities is duly qualified to do
business in each of the jurisdictions in which the property
owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business
which it conducts requires qualification, except where the
failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected,
individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material
Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Section 3.2 of the
HMDF Disclosure Schedule, each of the HMDF Entities (i) has
all requisite power and
authority to own, lease and operate its tangible assets and
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted
and (ii) has no substantial encumbrance in obtaining any
Permits to conduct its business as required by PRC Law except as
otherwise set forth on Section 3.11 of the HMDF Disclosure
Schedule. HMDF has delivered to TM true and complete copies of
the HMDF Constituent Instruments.
Section 3.3 Authority;
Execution and Delivery; Enforceability. Each
of the HMDF Parties (and their respective nominees), if an
entity, has all requisite corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and the Transaction Documents
to which it is a party and to consummate the Transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. Except as set forth in
Section 3.3 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, the execution
and delivery by the HMDF Parties of this Agreement and the
consummation by them of the Transactions have been duly
authorized and approved by the boards of directors or other
governing body of each of the HMDF Parties (if an entity), such
authorization and approval remains in effect and has not been
rescinded or qualified in any way, and no other proceedings on
the part of any such entities are necessary to authorize this
Agreement and the Transactions. Each of this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents to which any HMDF Party is a party has
been duly executed and delivered by such party and constitutes
the valid, binding, and enforceable obligation of each of them,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or
similar laws of general application now or hereafter in effect
affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and by general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is
sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
Section 3.4 Subsidiaries. Section 3.4
of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule lists, as of the date hereof,
all Subsidiaries of HMDF and indicates as to each the type of
entity, its jurisdiction of organization and its stockholders or
other equity holders. Except as set forth in Section 3.4 of
the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, HMDF does not directly or
indirectly own any other equity or similar interest in or any
interest convertible or exchangeable or exercisable for, any
equity or similar interest in, any corporation, partnership,
joint venture or other business association or entity. Except as
set forth in Section 3.4 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule,
HMDF is the direct or indirect owner of all outstanding shares
of capital stock of its Subsidiaries, and all such shares are
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
and are owned by HMDF free and clear of all Liens. Except as set
forth in Section 3.4 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, there
are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, puts,
calls, rights, exchangeable or convertible securities or other
commitments or agreements of any character relating to the
issued or unissued capital stock or other securities of any
Subsidiaries of HMDF or otherwise obligating any Subsidiaries of
HMDF to issue, transfer, sell, purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any such securities.
Section 3.5 No
Conflicts. Except as set forth in
Section 3.5 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, the execution
and delivery of this Agreement or any of the Transaction
Documents contemplated hereby by each of the HMDF Parties and
the consummation of the Transactions and compliance with the
terms hereof and thereof will not, (a) conflict with, or
result in any violation of or default (with or without notice or
lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or
to loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation
of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon any of the assets
and properties of any HMDF Entity under any provision of:
(i) any HMDF Constituent Instrument; (ii) any HMDF
Material Contract (as defined in Section 3.18(a) herein) to
which any HMDF Entity is a party or to or by which it (or any of
its assets and properties) is subject or bound; or
(iii) conflict with any Material Permit of a HMDF Entity;
(b) subject to the filings and other matters referred to in
Section 3.6, any material Judgment applicable to any HMDF
Entity, or its properties or assets, (c) terminate or
modify, or give any third party the right to terminate or
modify, the provisions or terms of any Contract to which any
HMDF Entity is a party; or (d) cause any of the assets
owned by any HMDF Party to be reassessed or revalued by any
Governmental Authority, except, in the case of clauses (a)(ii),
(a)(iii), (b), (c) and (d) above, any such items that,
individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
HMDF Entities.
Section 3.6 Consents
and Approvals. Except as set forth in
Section 3.6 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, no consent,
approval, license, permit, order or authorization of, or
registration, declaration or filing with any Governmental
Authority (“Consent”) is required to be
obtained or made by or with respect to any HMDF Party, in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement or the
consummation of the Transactions, except for (a) such
Consents as may be required under applicable state securities
laws and the securities laws of any foreign country; and
(b) such other Consents which, if not obtained or made,
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the HMDF Parties and
would not prevent or materially alter or delay any of the
Transactions.
Section 3.7 Financial
Statements and Projections. The projections
furnished by the HMDF Entities to TM on or prior to the date
hereof and attached to Section 3.7 of the HMDF Disclosure
Schedule (the “Projections”) have been
prepared by HMDF in light of the past operations of its
businesses, but including future payments of known contingent
liabilities, and reflect projections for the three (3) year
period beginning on January 1, 2009 on a
year-by-year
basis. The Projections are based upon the same accounting
principles as those used in the preparation of the HMDF
Financial Statements described above and the estimates and
assumptions stated therein, all of which HMDF believes to be
reasonable and fair in light of current conditions and current
facts known to HMDF and, as of the date hereof, reflect
HMDF’s good faith and reasonable estimates of the future
financial performance of the HMDF Entities and its Subsidiaries
for the period set forth therein.
Section 3.8 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events. Except as
disclosed in the HMDF Financial Statements or in
Section 3.8 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, from
December 31, 2008 to the date of this Agreement, there has
not been:
(a) any event, situation or effect (whether or not covered
by insurance) that has resulted in, or to the HMDF
Entities’ Knowledge, is reasonably likely to result in, a
Material Adverse Effect on the HMDF Entities;
(b) any damage, destruction or loss to, or any material
interruption in the use of, any of the assets of any of the HMDF
Entities (whether or not covered by insurance) that has had or
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on the HMDF Entities;
(c) any material change to a Material Contract by which any
of the HMDF Entities or any of its respective assets is bound or
subject;
(d) any mortgage, pledge, transfer of a security interest
in, or Lien, created by any of the HMDF Entities, with respect
to any of its material properties or assets, except for
Permitted Liens;
(e) any loans or guarantees made by any of the HMDF
Entities to or for the benefit of its shareholders, officers or
directors, or any members of their immediate families, or any
material loans or guarantees made by the HMDF Entities to or for
the benefit of any of its employees or any members of their
immediate families, in each case, other than travel advances and
other advances made in the ordinary course of its business;
(f) any change of the identity of its auditors or material
alteration of any of the HMDF Entities’ method of
accounting or accounting practice;
(g) any declaration, accrual, set aside or payment of
dividend or any other distribution of cash or other property in
respect of any shares of capital stock of any of the HMDF
Entities or any purchase, redemption or agreements to purchase
or redeem by any of the HMDF Entities of any shares of capital
stock or other securities;
(h) any sale, issuance or grant, or authorization of the
issuance of equity securities of any HMDF Entity, except
pursuant to existing stock option plans of the HMDF Entities;
(i) any amendment to any HMDF Constituent Instruments, any
merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination,
recapitalization, reclassification of shares, stock split,
reverse stock split or similar transaction involving any HMDF
Entity;
(j) any creation of any Subsidiary of any HMDF Entity or
acquisition by any HMDF Entity of any equity interest or other
interest in any other Person;
(k) any material Tax election by any HMDF Entity;
(l) any commencement or settlement of any material Actions
(as defined below) by any HMDF Entity; or
(m) any negotiations, arrangements or commitments by any of
the HMDF Parties to take any of the actions described in this
Section 3.8.
Section 3.9 No
Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth
in Section 3.9 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, the HMDF
Entities have no material obligations or liabilities of any
nature (matured or unmatured, fixed or contingent, including any
obligations to issue capital stock or other securities of the
HMDF Entities) due after the date hereof in excess of $100,000,
other than (a) those set forth or adequately provided for
in the Balance Sheet included in the HMDF Financial Statements
(the “HMDF Balance Sheet”),
(b) those not required to be set forth in the HMDF Balance
Sheet under U.S. GAAP, (c) those incurred since the
HMDF Balance Sheet date and not reasonably likely to result in a
Material Adverse Effect on the HMDF Entities, and (d) those
incurred in connection with the execution of this Agreement.
Section 3.10 Litigation. As
of the date of this Agreement, there is no private or
governmental action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, claim,
arbitration, audit, proceeding (including any partial proceeding
such as a deposition) or investigation
(“Action”) pending or threatened in
writing against any of the HMDF Entities, any of their
respective executive officers or directors (in their capacities
as such) or any of their respective properties before or by any
Governmental Authority which (a) adversely affects or
challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of this
Agreement or (b) could, if there were an unfavorable
decision, individually or in the aggregate, have or would
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on
the HMDF Entities. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no
Judgment imposed upon any of the HMDF Parties or any of their
respective properties, that would prevent, enjoin, alter or
materially delay any of the Transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, or that would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the HMDF Entities. Neither the HMDF
Entities, nor any director or executive officer thereof (in his
or her capacity as such), is or has been the subject of any
Action involving a material claim or material violation of or
material liability under the company laws and securities laws of
any Governmental Authority or a material claim of breach of
fiduciary duty.
Section 3.11 Licenses,
Permits, Etc. Except as set forth in
Section 3.11 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, each of the
HMDF Entities possesses or will possess prior to the Closing all
Material Permits. Such Material Permits are described or set
forth on Section 3.11 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule.
True, complete and correct copies of the Material Permits issued
to the HMDF Entities have previously been delivered to TM. All
such Material Permits are in full force and effect.
Section 3.12 Title
to Properties.
(a) Real Property. Section 3.12(a)
of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule contains an accurate and
complete list and description of (i) all real properties
owned or leased by the HMDF Entities (except for such leased
real estate for which the annual rental payment is less than
$100,000) (collectively, the “Real
Property”), and (ii) any lease under which any
such Real Property is possessed and which involve an annual
rental payment of $100,000 or more (the “Real Estate
Leases”). None of the HMDF Entities is in default
under any of the Real Estate Leases, and, as of the date of this
Agreement, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial
Officer of the HMDF Entities are not aware of any default by any
of the lessors thereunder, except any such default that,
individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
HMDF Entities.
(b) Tangible Personal Property. Except as
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the HMDF Entities, the HMDF Entities are in possession
of and have good title to, or have valid leasehold interests in
or valid contractual rights to use all tangible personal
property as reflected in the HMDF Financial Statements, and
tangible personal property acquired (and not otherwise disposed
of in the ordinary course of business with a value not exceeding
$100,000) since December 31, 2008 (collectively, the
“Tangible Personal Property”). All
Tangible Personal Property is free and clear of all Liens other
than Permitted Liens, and is in good order and condition,
ordinary wear and tear excepted, and its use complies in all
material respects with all applicable Laws.
(c) Accounts Receivable and
Inventory. The accounts receivable and inventory
of the HMDF Entities (x) reflected in each balance sheet
included in the HMDF Financial Statements and (y) that will
be reflected in each balance sheet to be included in the HMDF
Interim Financial Statements, has been or will be (as
applicable) presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP applied
in a manner consistent with the accounting principles applied in
the preparation of the HMDF Financial Statements.
Section 3.13 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Section 3.13 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule sets
forth an accurate and complete listing of all Intellectual
Property and applications for Intellectual Property owned, used
or held for use by each of the HMDF Entities and material to the
conduct of its business, including, as applicable, the
Intellectual Property that has been registered (or regarding
which an application for registration has been submitted) with
any Governmental Authority of any kind. Except as set forth in
Section 3.13 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, there are no
Actions before any Governmental Authority challenging the
validity or any HMDF Entity’s ownership of any of such
Intellectual Property. All such Intellectual Property owned by
each HMDF Entity is owned by it free and clear of any Liens.
Except as set forth in Section 3.13(a) of the HMDF
Disclosure Schedule, the HMDF Entities’ operation of their
business, as such business is currently conducted, does not
infringe or misappropriate the Intellectual Property of any
other Person. Except as set forth in Section 3.13 of the
HMDF Disclosure Schedule, no HMDF Entity has granted to any
Person any rights in any such Intellectual Property owned or
controlled by such HMDF Entity. Except as set forth in
Section 3.13 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, (i) no
claims are pending or, to the Knowledge of the HMDF Entities,
threatened that any of the HMDF Entities is infringing or
otherwise adversely affecting the rights of any Person with
regard to any Intellectual Property owned forth on
Section 3.13 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule; and
(ii) to the Knowledge of the HMDF Entities, no Person is
infringing the rights of any of the HMDF Entities with respect
to any such Intellectual Property.
(b) Section 3.13 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule lists
(i) all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements
(“In-Bound Licenses”) pursuant to which
a third party authorizes any of the HMDF Entities to use,
practice any rights under, or grant sublicenses with respect to,
any Intellectual Property owned by such third party and material
to the conduct of the business of such HMDF Entity, other than
In-Bound Licenses that consist solely of “shrink-wrap”
and similar commercially available end-user licenses, and
(ii) all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements
(“Out-Bound Licenses”) pursuant to which
any of the HMDF Entities authorizes a third party to use,
practice any rights under, or grant sublicenses with respect to,
any Intellectual Property owned by any HMDF Entity and which
Out-Bound Licenses are material to the business of such HMDF
Entity or pursuant to which any of the HMDF Entities grants
rights to use or practice any rights under any Intellectual
Property owned by a third party.
Section 3.14 Taxes.
(a) The HMDF Entities have timely filed, or have caused to
be timely filed on their behalf, all Tax Returns that are or
were required to be filed by or with respect to any of them,
either separately or as a member of group of corporations,
pursuant to applicable Legal Requirements. All Tax Returns filed
by (or that include on a consolidated basis) any of the HMDF
Entities were (and, as to a Tax Return not filed as of the date
hereof, will be) in all respects true, complete and accurate,
except to the extent any failure to file or any inaccuracies in
any filed Tax returns, individually or in the aggregate, have
not and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the HMDF Entities. There are no unpaid Taxes
of any of the HMDF Entities claimed to be due by any
Governmental Authority in charge of taxation of any
jurisdiction, nor any claim for additional Taxes of any of the
HMDF Entities for any period for which Tax Returns have been
filed, except to the extent any failure to file or any
inaccuracies in any filed Tax Returns, individually or in the
aggregate, have not and would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect on the HMDF Entities.
(b) Section 3.14(b) of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule
lists all the relevant Governmental Authorities in charge of
taxation in which Tax Returns are filed with respect to the HMDF
Entities, and indicates those Tax Returns that have been audited
or that are currently the subject of an audit since
January 1, 2002. None of the HMDF Entities has received any
notice that any Governmental Authority will audit or examine
(except for any general audits or examinations routinely
performed by such Governmental Authorities), seek information
with respect to, or make material claims or assessments with
respect to, any Taxes of any of the HMDF Entities for any
period. The HMDF Entities have delivered or made available to TM
correct and complete copies of all
Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies
filed by, assessed against or agreed to by the HMDF Entities,
for and during fiscal years 2002 through 2007.
(c) The HMDF Financial Statements reflect an adequate
reserve for all Taxes payable by the HMDF Entities (in addition
to any reserve for deferred Taxes to reflect timing differences
between book and Tax items) for all taxable periods and portions
thereof through the date of such financial statements. None of
the HMDF Entities is a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity,
Tax sharing or similar agreement, and the HMDF Entities
currently have no material liability and will not have any
material liabilities for any Taxes of any other Person under any
agreement or by the operation of any Law. No deficiency with
respect to any Taxes has been proposed, asserted or assessed
against any of the HMDF Entities, and no requests for waivers of
the time to assess any such Taxes are pending, except to the
extent any such deficiency or request for waiver, individually
or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the HMDF Entities.
(d) None of the HMDF Entities has requested any extension
of time within which to file any Tax Return, which Tax Return
has not since been filed. None of the HMDF Entities has executed
any outstanding waivers or comparable consents regarding the
application of the statute of limitations with respect to any
Taxes or Tax Returns. No power of attorney currently in force
has been granted by any of the HMDF Entities concerning any
Taxes or Tax Return.
(e) None of the HMDF Entities (i) is currently engaged
in the conduct of a trade or business within the United States;
(ii) is a corporation or other entity organized or
incorporated in the United States; and (iii) has or has
ever owned any United States real property interests as
described in Section 897 of the Code.
Section 3.15 Employment
Matters.
(a) Benefit Plan. Except as set forth in
Section 3.15(a) of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, none of
the HMDF Entities has or maintains any material bonus, pension,
profit sharing, deferred compensation, incentive compensation,
stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option, phantom stock,
retirement, vacation, severance, disability, death benefit,
hospitalization, medical or other plan, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not legally binding) providing
material benefits to any current or former employee, officer or
director of any of the HMDF Entities (collectively,
“HMDF Benefit Plans”). Except as set
forth in Section 3.15(a) of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule,
neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
consummation of the Transactions will result in, cause the
accelerated vesting or delivery of, or increase the amount or
value of, any payment or benefit to any employee of any of the
HMDF Entities. Except as set forth in Section 3.15(a) of
the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, as of the date of this Agreement,
there are no severance or termination agreements or arrangements
currently in effect between any of the HMDF Entities and any of
its current or former employees, officers or directors, nor do
any of the HMDF Entities have any general severance plan or
policy currently in effect for any of its employees, officers or
directors. Since December 31, 2008, there has not been any
adoption or amendment in any material respect by any of the HMDF
Entities of any HMDF Benefit Plan.
(b) Labor Matters. Except as disclosed in
Section 3.15(b) of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule,
(a) there are no collective bargaining or other labor union
agreements to which any of the HMDF Entities is a party or by
which it is bound; (b) no material labor dispute exists or,
to the Knowledge of the HMDF Entities, is imminent with respect
to any of the employees of any of the HMDF Entities; (c) to
the Knowledge of the HMDF Entities, none of the HMDF Entities
is, and no event, condition or other circumstance exists as of
the date hereof which could reasonably be expected to cause any
HMDF Entity to become, the subject of any Actions asserting that
any of the HMDF Entities has committed an unfair labor practice
or seeking to compel it to bargain with any labor organization
as to wages or conditions of employment; (d) there is no
strike, work stoppage or other labor dispute involving any of
the HMDF Entities pending or, to the HMDF Entities’
Knowledge, threatened; (e) no complaint, charge or Actions
by or before any Governmental Authority brought by or on behalf
of any employee, prospective employee, former employee, retiree,
labor organization or other representative of its employees is
pending or, to HMDF Entities’ Knowledge, threatened against
any of the HMDF Entities; (f) no material grievance is
pending or, to the HMDF Entities’ Knowledge, threatened
against any of the HMDF Entities; and (g) none of the HMDF
Entities is a party to, or otherwise bound by, any
consent decree with, or to the Knowledge of the HMDF Entities,
citation by, any Governmental Authorities relating to employees
or employment practices.
Section 3.16 Transactions
With Affiliates and Employees. Except as
disclosed in Section 3.16 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule,
none of the executive officers or directors of the HMDF Entities
and none of the HMDF Shareholders is presently a party, directly
or indirectly, to any transaction with any of the HMDF Entities
that is required to be disclosed under Rule 404(a) of
Regulation S-K
(other than for services as employees, officers and directors),
including any Contract providing for the furnishing of services
to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to
or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any
executive officer, director or, to the Knowledge of the HMDF
Entities, any entity in which any executive officer or director
has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee
or partner.
Section 3.17 Insurance. Section 3.17
of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule (i) sets forth an accurate
and complete list of each insurance policy or contract which
covers any of the HMDF Entities or to which any of the HMDF
Entities is party, and (ii) lists all pending claims and
the claims history for each HMDF Entity during the current year
and the three (3) preceding years. All such insurance
policies are in full force and effect, all premiums due thereon
have been paid or provided for and the HMDF Entities have
complied with the material provisions of such policies. The HMDF
Entities have been advised of any defense to coverage in
connection with any claim to coverage asserted or noticed by the
HMDF Entities under or in connection with any of their insurance
policies. Except as set forth in Section 3.17 of the HMDF
Disclosure Schedule, the HMDF Entities are insured by insurers
of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and
risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the
businesses in which the HMDF Entities are engaged and in the
geographic areas where any of which engages in such businesses.
(a) HMDF has made available to TM, prior to the date of
this Agreement, true, correct and complete copies of each of the
following written Contracts, as amended and supplemented to
which any of the HMDF Entities is a party: (i) Contracts
that would be considered a material contract pursuant to
Item 601(b)(10) of
Regulation S-K;
(ii) Contracts (including all advertising and
advertising-related agreements) pursuant to which any of the
HMDF Entities has received or has paid amounts in excess of an
aggregate of $100,000 during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2008; (iii) Contracts that are in full
force and effect with any bus company or transportation company
or authority; (iv) Contracts that are in full force and
effect with any program or content provider (including any
television stations or video press); (v) Contracts that
relate to the acquisition, disposition or transfer of any
equipment; (vi) loan agreements, indentures or similar
Contracts relating to any indebtedness in excess of $250,000;
(vii) partnership, joint venture or similar Contracts;
(viii) Contracts with a Governmental Authority or any
Person affiliated with a Governmental Authority;
(ix) Contracts that relate to the acquisition or
disposition of any business (whether by merger, sale of stock,
sale of assets or otherwise); (x) the Structure Agreements;
and (xi) Contracts that restrict or purport to restrict the
right of any Person to engage in any line of business, acquire
any property, develop or distribute any product or provide any
service (including geographic restrictions) or to compete with
any Person or grant any exclusive distribution rights, in any
market, field or territory (each, a “HMDF Material
Contract”). A list of each such HMDF Material
Contract is set forth on Section 3.18 of the HMDF
Disclosure Schedule. Except as set forth on Section 3.18 of
the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, none of the HMDF Entities is party
to any oral or unwritten Contracts that would be considered a
material contract pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of
Regulation S-K.
Except as set forth on Section 3.18 of the HMDF Disclosure
Schedule, as of the date of this Agreement, none of the HMDF
Entities is in violation of or in default under (nor does there
exist any condition which upon the passage of time or the giving
of notice would cause such a violation of or default under) any
Contract to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
properties or assets is bound, except for violations or defaults
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the HMDF
Entities; and, to the Knowledge of the HMDF Entities, except as
set forth on Section 3.18 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule,
as of the date of this Agreement, no other Person has violated
or breached, or committed any default under, any HMDF Material
Contract, except for violations, breaches and defaults that,
individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
HMDF Entities.
(b) Each HMDF Material Contract is a legal, valid and
binding agreement and is in full force and effect. Except as set
forth on Section 3.18 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule or as
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the HMDF Entities, (i) none of the HMDF Entities
is in breach or default of any HMDF Material Contract to which
it is a party; (ii) no event has occurred or circumstance
has existed that (with or without notice or lapse of time), will
or would reasonably be expected to, (A) contravene,
conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or become a
default or event of default under, any provision of any HMDF
Material Contract; (B) permit any of the HMDF Entities or
any other Person the right to declare a default or exercise any
remedy under, or to accelerate the maturity or performance of,
or to cancel, terminate or modify any HMDF Material Contract;
and (iii) none of the HMDF Entities has received notice of
the pending or threatened cancellation, revocation or
termination of any HMDF Material Contract to which it is a
party. Except as set forth on Section 3.18 of the HMDF
Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 2008, none of the
HMDF Entities has received any notice or other communication
regarding any actual or possible violation or breach of, or
default under, any HMDF Material Contract.
(c) Section 3.18 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule sets
forth all of the Structure Agreements, which constitute all of
the Contracts enabling HMDF to effect control over and
consolidate with its financial statements each HMDF Entity
(including FF). The execution, delivery and performance of each
Structure Agreement by the parties thereto did not and is not
reasonably expected to (i) result in any material violation
of the business license, articles of association, other
constitutional documents (if any) or permits of any HMDF Party;
(ii) result in any violation of or penalty under any laws,
regulations, rules, orders, decrees, guidelines, judicial
interpretations, notices or other legislation of the PRC as in
effect as of the date hereof; or (iii) conflict with or
result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default under, any other
Contract, license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument in
effect as of the date hereof to which any of them is a party or
by which any of them is bound or to which any of their property
or assets is subject; except, in the case of clause (ii)
and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the HMDF Parties. No breach or
default under any of the Structure Agreements by any HMDF Party
will occur as a result of the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
Except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the HMDF Disclosure
Schedule, consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the other Transaction Documents will not (and will
not give any Person a right to) terminate or modify any rights
of, or accelerate or augment any obligation of, any HMDF Party
under any Structure Agreement.
Section 3.19 Compliance
with Applicable Laws. Except as set forth in
Section 3.19 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, the HMDF
Entities are in compliance with all applicable Laws, including
those relating to occupational health and safety and the
environment to which they are subject, except for instances of
noncompliance that, individually and in the aggregate, have not
had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the HMDF Entities. Except as set forth in
Section 3.19 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule, none of the
HMDF Entities has received any written communication during the
past two years from a Governmental Authority alleging that any
of the HMDF Entities is not in compliance in any material
respect with any applicable Law. This Section 3.19 does not
relate to matters with respect to Taxes, which are the subject
of Section 3.14.
Section 3.20 Foreign
Corrupt Practices. None of the HMDF Parties
and, to the Knowledge of the HMDF Entities, any of their
respective Representatives, has, in the course of its actions
for, or on behalf of, any of the HMDF Entities, directly or
indirectly, (a) used any corporate funds for any unlawful
contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses
relating to political activity; (b) made any direct or
indirect unlawful payment to any Governmental Authority or any
foreign or domestic government official or employee from
corporate funds; (c) violated or is in violation of any
provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the
“FCPA”); or (d) made any unlawful
bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other
unlawful payment in connection with the operations of the HMDF
Entities to any foreign or domestic government official or
employee.
Section 3.21 Money
Laundering Laws. None of the HMDF Parties has
violated any money laundering statute or any rules and
regulations relating to money laundering statutes (collectively,
the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no
proceeding involving any of the HMDF Parties with respect to the
Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Knowledge of the
HMDF Entities, is threatened.
Section 3.22 Brokers;
Schedule of Fees and Expenses. Except as set
forth in Section 3.22 of the HMDF 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 in connection
with this Agreement or the Transactions based upon arrangements
made by or on behalf of HMDF Parties.
Section 3.23 OFAC. None
of the HMDF Parties, any director or officer of any of the HMDF
Entities, and, to the Knowledge of the HMDF Entities, any
Representative acting on behalf of any of the HMDF Entities is
currently identified on the specially designated nationals or
other blocked person list or otherwise currently subject to any
U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets
Control of the U.S. Treasury Department
(“OFAC”); and the HMDF Parties have not,
directly or indirectly, used any funds, or loaned, contributed
or otherwise made available such funds to any Subsidiary, joint
venture partner or other Person, in connection with any sales or
operations in Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Myanmar or any other
country sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the
activities of any Person currently subject to, or otherwise in
violation of, any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
Section 3.24 Additional
PRC Representations and Warranties. Except as
set forth in Section 3.24 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule:
(a) All material consents, approvals, authorizations or
licenses required under PRC law for the due and proper
establishment and operation of FF have been duly obtained from
the relevant PRC Governmental Authority and are in full force
and effect.
(b) All filings and registrations with the PRC Governmental
Authorities required in respect of FF and its operations
including, without limitation, the registration with
and/or
approval by the Ministry of Commerce, the State Administration
for Industry and Commerce, the State Administration of Foreign
Exchange, the State Administration of Taxation, the State
Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the General
Administration of Customs of the PRC and their relevant local
counterparts, the tax bureau and other PRC Governmental
Authorities that administer foreign investment enterprises have
been duly completed in accordance with the relevant PRC rules
and regulations, except where the failure to complete such
filings and registrations does not, and would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) FF has complied with all relevant PRC laws and
regulations regarding the contribution and payment of its
registered share capital, the payment schedule of which has been
approved by the relevant PRC Governmental Authority. There are
no outstanding rights to acquire, or commitments made by FF to
sell, any of its equity interests.
(d) FF is not in receipt of any letter or notice from any
relevant PRC Governmental Authority notifying it of the
revocation, or otherwise questioning the validity, of any
licenses or qualifications issued to it or any subsidy granted
to it by any PRC Governmental Authority for non-compliance with
the terms thereof or with applicable PRC laws, or the need for
compliance or remedial actions in respect of the activities
carried out by FF.
(e) FF has conducted its business activities within its
permitted scope of business or has otherwise operated its
business in compliance, in all material respects, with all
relevant legal requirements and with all requisite licenses and
approvals granted by competent PRC Governmental Authorities. As
to licenses, approvals and government grants and concessions
required or material for the conduct of any part of FF’s
business which is subject to periodic renewal, FF does not have
any Knowledge, as of the date of this Agreement, of any grounds
on which renewals of any such licenses, approvals, grants or
concessions will not be granted by the relevant PRC Governmental
Authorities.
(f) With regard to employment and staff or labor, FF has
complied, in all material respects, with all applicable PRC laws
and regulations, including without limitation, laws and
regulations pertaining to welfare funds, social benefits,
medical benefits, insurance, retirement benefits, pensions or
the like.
Section 3.25 Environmental
Matters. Each of the HMDF Entities is in
substantial compliance with, and has not been and is not in
material violation of or subject to any material liability
under, any Environmental Law and no proceeding involving any of
the HMDF Entities with respect to any Environmental Law is
pending or, to the Knowledge of the HMDF Entities, is threatened.
(a) Set forth on Section 3.26(a) of the HMDF
Disclosure Schedule is a true and correct list of (i) the
ten (10) largest customers (measured by revenues paid
to the HMDF Entities, in the aggregate, during the
twelve-month
period ended December 31, 2008), together with the dollar
amount of sales made to such customers during such period,
(ii) the ten (10) largest suppliers in terms of
purchases and leases by the HMDF Entities during the
twelve-month period ended December 31, 2008, and
(iii) any sole source suppliers of goods or services for
which there is no ready alternative to the HMDF Entities on
comparable or better terms, together with the dollar amount paid
to such suppliers during such period.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.26(b) of the HMDF
Disclosure Schedule, the relationships of the HMDF Entities with
each supplier and customer listed in Section 3.26(a) of the
HMDF Disclosure Schedule (including each supplier and customer
listed in Section 3.26(a) of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule
party to a Contract) are good commercial working relationships.
Except as set forth in Section 3.26(b) of the HMDF
Disclosure Schedule, no such supplier or customer has canceled
or otherwise terminated, or to the HMDF Entities’
Knowledge, threatened to cancel or otherwise terminate, its
relationship with the HMDF Entities. Since December 31,2008, except as provided in Section 3.26(b) of the HMDF
Disclosure Schedule, none of the HMDF Parties has received any
written or oral notice that any such supplier or customer may
cancel, terminate or otherwise materially and adversely modify
its relationship with the HMDF Entities (including by modifying
its pricing) or limit its services, supplies or materials to the
HMDF Entities, either as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise.
ARTICLE IV
Representations
and Warranties of TM
Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule of TM attached
hereto as Schedule D (the “TM Disclosure
Schedule”), TM represents and warrants to the HMDF
Parties as follows:
Section 4.1 Capital
Structure.
(a) Section 4.1(a) of the TM Disclosure Schedule sets
forth, as of the date hereof, the share capitalization of TM and
all the outstanding options, warrants or rights to acquire any
share capital of TM. Other than those set forth on
Section 4.1(a) of the TM Disclosure Schedule:
(i) there are no options, warrants or other rights
outstanding which give any Person the right to acquire any share
capital of TM or to subscribe to any increase of any share
capital of TM; and (ii) there are no disputes, arbitrations
or litigation proceedings involving TM with respect to the share
capital of TM.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.1(b) of the TM
Disclosure Schedule: (i) no shares of capital stock or
other voting securities of TM were issued, reserved for issuance
or outstanding and there have not been any issuances of capital
securities or options, warrants or rights to acquire the capital
securities of TM; (ii) all outstanding shares of the
capital stock of TM are, and all such shares that may be issued
prior to the date hereof will be when issued, duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to
or issued in violation of any purchase option, call option,
right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or
any similar right under any provision of the DGCL, the TM
Constituent Instruments (as defined below) or any Contract to
which TM is a party or otherwise bound; and (iii) there are
no outstanding contractual obligations of TM to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of TM.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 4.1(c) of the TM
Disclosure Schedule, as of the date of this Agreement:
(i) there are no bonds, debentures, notes or other
indebtedness of TM having the right to vote (or convertible
into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote)
on any matters on which holders of Common Stock may vote
(“Voting TM Debt”); and (ii) there
are no options, warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable
securities, “phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation
rights, stock-based performance units, commitments, Contracts,
arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which TM is a Party
or by which it is bound (A) obligating TM to issue, deliver
or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional
shares of capital stock or other equity interests in, or any
security convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable into any
capital stock of or other equity interest in, TM or any Voting
TM Debt, or (B) obligating TM to issue,
grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call,
right, security, commitment, Contract, arrangement or
undertaking.
(d) Except as set forth in Section 4.1(d) of the TM
Disclosure Schedule, TM is not a party to any agreement granting
any security holder of TM the right to cause TM to register
shares of the capital stock or other securities of TM held by
such security holder under the Securities Act. The stockholder
list provided to HMDF is a current shareholder list generated by
TM’s stock transfer agent, and such list accurately
reflects all of the issued and outstanding shares of TM’s
capital stock.
Section 4.2 Organization
and Standing. TM is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware. TM is duly qualified to do business in each of the
jurisdictions in which the property owned, leased or operated by
TM or the nature of the business which it conducts requires
qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on TM.
TM has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and
operate its tangible assets and properties and to carry on its
business as now being conducted and, subject to necessary
approvals of the relevant Government Authorities, as presently
contemplated to be conducted. TM has delivered to HMDF true and
complete copies of the certificate of incorporation of TM, as
amended to the date of this Agreement and the bylaws of TM, as
amended to the date of this Agreement (the “TM
Constituent Instruments”).
Section 4.3 Authority;
Execution and Delivery; Enforceability. TM
has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which it
is a Party and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and
delivery by TM of this Agreement and the consummation by TM of
the Transactions have been duly authorized and approved by the
TM Board and no other corporate proceedings on the part of TM
are necessary to authorize this Agreement and the Transactions.
All action, corporate and otherwise, necessary to be taken by TM
to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement, the Transaction Documents and all other agreements
and instruments delivered by TM in connection with the
Transactions have been duly and validly taken. Each of this
Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which TM is a party
has been duly executed and delivered by TM and constitutes the
valid, binding, and enforceable obligation of TM, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar laws of general
application now or hereafter in effect affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at
law or in equity).
Section 4.4 No
Subsidiaries or Equity Interests. TM does not
own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock, membership
interest, partnership interest, joint venture interest or other
equity interest in any Person.
Section 4.5 No
Conflicts. Except as set forth in
Section 4.5 of the TM Disclosure Schedule, the execution
and delivery of this Agreement or any of the Transaction
Documents by TM and the consummation of the Transactions and
compliance with the terms hereof and thereof will not,
(a) conflict with, or result in any violation of or default
(with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or
give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a material benefit
under, or result in the creation of any Lien (other than a
Permitted Lien) upon any of the assets and properties of TM,
under, any provision of: (i) any TM Constituent Instrument;
(ii) any TM Material Contract (as defined in
Section 4.23(a) hereof) to which TM is a party or to or by
which it (or any of its assets and properties) is subject or
bound; or (iii) any Material Permit; (b) subject to
the filings and other matters referred to in Section 4.6,
conflict with any material Judgment or Law applicable to TM, or
its properties or assets; (c) result in any suspension,
revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal of any Permit
applicable to TM; (d) terminate or modify, or give any
third party the right to terminate or modify, the provisions or
terms of any Contract to which TM is a party; or (e) cause
any of the assets owned by TM to be reassessed or revalued by
any Governmental Authority, except, in the case of clauses
(a)(ii), (a)(iii), (b), (c), (d) and (e) above, any
such items that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had
and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on TM.
Section 4.6 Consents
and Approvals. Except as set forth in
Section 4.6 of the TM Disclosure Schedule, no Consent of,
or registration, declaration or filing with, or permit from, any
Governmental Authority is required to be obtained or made by or
with respect to TM in connection with the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation
of the Transactions, other than (i) the filing with, and
clearance by the SEC of a preliminary proxy statement (the
“Proxy Statement”) pursuant to which
TM’s stockholders must vote at a special meeting of
stockholders to approve, among other thing, this Agreement and
the Transactions; (ii) the filing of a
Form 8-K
with the SEC within four (4) business days after the
execution of this Agreement and of the Closing Date;
(iii) any filings as required under applicable securities
laws of the United States and the securities laws of any foreign
country; (iv) any filing required with the AMEX; and
(v) the procurement of such other consents, authorizations,
filings, approvals and registrations which, if not obtained or
made, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on TM and would
not prevent, or materially alter or delay consummation of any of
the Transactions.
Section 4.7 SEC
Documents. TM has filed all reports,
schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be
filed by TM with the SEC since October 17, 2007, pursuant
to Sections 13(a), 14(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (the
“TM SEC Documents”). As of its
respective filing date, each TM SEC Document complied in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder
applicable to such TM SEC Document, and did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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. Except to the extent that
information contained in any TM SEC Document has been revised or
superseded by a later filed TM SEC Document, none of the TM SEC
Documents contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state any 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.
The consolidated financial statements of TM included in the TM
SEC Documents comply as to form in all material respects with
applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared
in accordance with U.S. GAAP (except, in the case of
unaudited statements, as permitted by the rules and regulations
of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods
involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and
fairly present the consolidated financial position of TM as of
the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their
operations and cash flows as at the respective dates of and for
the periods referred to in such financial statements (subject,
in the case of unaudited financial statements, to normal
year-end audit adjustments and the omission of notes to the
extent permitted by
Regulation S-X
of the SEC).
Section 4.8 Internal
Accounting Controls. TM maintains a system of
internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurance that (a) transactions are executed in accordance
with management’s general or specific authorizations,
(b) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset
accountability, (c) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management’s general or specific
authorization, and (d) the recorded accountability for
assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable
intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences. TM’s officers have established disclosure
controls and procedures for TM and designed such disclosure
controls and procedures to ensure that material information
relating to TM is made known to the officers by others within
those entities.
Section 4.9 Solvency. Based
on the financial condition of TM as of the Closing Date (and
assuming that the Closing shall have occurred and the monies in
the Trust Fund are released to TM), (i) TM’s fair
saleable value of its assets exceeds the amount that will be
required to be paid on or in respect of TM’s existing debts
and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities)
as they mature, (ii) TM’s assets do not constitute
unreasonably small capital to carry on its business for the
current fiscal year as now conducted and as proposed to be
conducted, including its capital needs taking into account the
particular capital requirements of the business conducted by TM
and projected capital requirements and capital availability
thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of TM, together
with the proceeds TM would receive, were it to liquidate all of
its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of
the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in
respect of its debt when such amounts are required to be paid.
TM does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such
debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts
of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt).
Section 4.10 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events. Except as
disclosed in Section 4.10 of the TM Disclosure
Schedule, from the date of the most recent audited financial
statements and interim financial statements included in the
filed TM SEC documents to the date of this Agreement, there has
not been:
(a) any event, situation or effect (whether or not covered
by insurance) that has resulted in, or to TM’s Knowledge,
is reasonably likely to result in, a Material Adverse Effect on
TM;
(b) any damage, destruction or loss to, or any material
interruption in the use of, any of the assets of TM (whether or
not covered by insurance) that has had or could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on TM;
(c) any material change to a material Contract by which TM
or any of its assets is bound or subject;
(d) any material change in any compensation arrangement or
agreement with any employee, officer, director or stockholder;
(e) any resignation or termination of employment of the
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President or
the Secretary of TM;
(f) any mortgage, pledge, transfer of a security interest
in, or Lien, created by TM, with respect to any of its material
properties or assets, except for Permitted Liens;
(g) any loans or guarantees made by TM to or for the
benefit of its officers or directors, or any members of their
immediate families, or any material loans or guarantees made by
TM to or for the benefit of any of its employees or any members
of their immediate families, in each case, other than travel
advances and other advances made in the ordinary course of its
business;
(h) any declaration, setting aside or payment or other
distribution in respect of any of TM’s capital stock, or
any direct or indirect redemption, purchase, or other
acquisition of any of such stock by TM;
(i) any alteration of TM’s method of accounting or the
identity of its auditors;
(j) any issuance of equity securities to any officer,
director or affiliate, except pursuant to existing TM shares
option plans; or
(k) any negotiations, arrangements or commitments by TM to
take any of the actions described in this Section 4.10.
Section 4.11 Undisclosed
Liabilities. Except as set forth in
Section 4.11 of the TM Disclosure Schedule, TM has no
liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued,
absolute, contingent or otherwise) due after the date hereof
other than those not required to be set forth on a balance sheet
of TM or in the notes thereto under U.S. GAAP.
Section 4.11 of the TM Disclosure Schedule sets forth all
financial and contractual obligations and liabilities (including
any obligations to issue capital stock or other securities of
TM) due after the date hereof.
Section 4.12 Litigation. As
of the date hereof, there is no Action which (a) adversely
affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability
of any of this Agreement or (b) could, if there were an
unfavorable decision, individually or in the aggregate, have or
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on
TM. Neither TM, nor any director or officer thereof (in his or
her capacity as such), is or has been the subject of any Action
involving a claim or violation of or liability under federal or
state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty.
Section 4.13 Compliance
with Applicable Laws. Except as set forth in
Section 4.13 of the TM Disclosure Schedule, TM is in
compliance with all applicable Laws, including those relating to
occupational health and safety and the environment, except for
instances of noncompliance that, individually and in the
aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on TM. Except as set forth in
Section 4.13 of the TM Disclosure Schedule, TM has not
received any written communication during the past two
(2) years from a Governmental Authority alleging that TM is
not in compliance in any material respect with any applicable
Law.
Section 4.14 Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002. TM is in material compliance
with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the
“Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) applicable to it
as of the date hereof and as of the Closing. There has been no
change in TM’s accounting policies since inception except
as described in the
notes to the TM Financial Statements. Each required form, report
and document containing financial statements that has been filed
with or submitted to the SEC since inception, was accompanied by
the certifications required to be filed or submitted by
TM’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer
pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and at the time of filing or
submission of each such certification, such certification was
true and accurate and materially complied with the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder. Neither TM, nor to the Knowledge of TM, any
Representative of TM, has received or otherwise had or obtained
knowledge of any complaint, allegation, assertion or claim,
whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing
practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of TM or their
respective internal accounting controls, including any
complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that TM has engaged in
questionable accounting or auditing practices, except for
(a) any complaint, allegation, assertion or claim as has
been resolved without any resulting change to TM’s
accounting or auditing practices, procedures methodologies or
methods of TM or its internal accounting controls, and
(b) questions regarding such matters raised and resolved in
the ordinary course in connection with the preparation and
review of TM’s financial statements and periodic reports.
To the Knowledge of TM, no attorney representing TM, whether or
not employed by TM, has reported evidence of a material
violation of securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or
similar violation by TM or any of its officers, directors,
employees or agents to the TM Board or any committee thereof or
to any director or officer of TM. To the Knowledge of TM, no
employee of TM has provided or is providing information to any
law enforcement agency regarding the commission or possible
commission of any crime or the violation or possible violation
of any applicable law.
Section 4.15 Certain
Registration Matters. Except as specified in
Section 4.15 of the TM Disclosure Schedule, and except for
registration rights granted in connection with the TM Public
Offering or pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, TM
has not granted or agreed to grant to any Person any rights
(including “piggy-back” registration rights) to have
any securities of TM registered with the SEC or any other
Governmental Authority that have not been satisfied.
Section 4.16 Broker’s
and Finders’ Fees. Except for fees
payable to Pali Capital, Inc. and Sinova Capital pursuant to
agreements previously delivered to the HMDF Parties and except
for fees and expenses of finders in connection with Permitted
Financings payable in cash or as otherwise specified in
Section 4.16 of the TM Disclosure Schedule, TM has not
incurred, nor will it incur, directly or indirectly, any
liability for brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’
commissions or investment bankers’ fees or any similar
charges in connection with this Agreement or any Transaction.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Section 4.16 of the TM Disclosure Schedule may not be
amended without the consent of the HMDF Parties.
Section 4.17 Minute
Books. The minute books of TM made available
to HMDF contain in all material respects a complete and accurate
summary of all meetings of directors and stockholders or actions
by written consent of TM since inception and through the date of
this Agreement, and reflect all transactions referred to in such
minutes accurately in all material respects.
Section 4.18 Vote
Required. The approval of the TM Board and
the affirmative vote of the stockholders of TM in accordance
with Section 9.1 hereof are the only approvals or votes
necessary to approve this Agreement and the Transactions;
provided, however, that TM will not consummate the Transactions
if Public Stockholders holding 30% or more of the Publicly Held
Common Stock, vote against the Share Exchange and exercise their
Conversion Rights described in the TM Prospectus.
Section 4.19 Board
Approval. The TM Board (including any
required committee or subgroup of the TM Board) has, as of the
date of this Agreement, (i) adopted resolutions declaring
the advisability of and approving this Agreement and the
Transactions, and (ii) determined that the Transactions are
in the best interests of the stockholders of TM.
Section 4.20 AMEX
Quotation. The Common Stock and TM Warrants
are quoted on the AMEX. There is no Action pending or, to the
Knowledge of TM, threatened against TM by AMEX with respect to
any intention by such entities to prohibit or terminate the
quotation of such securities on the AMEX. The Common Stock and
TM Warrants are registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Exchange Act and TM has taken no action designed to, or which is
likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of
such
securities under the Exchange Act nor has TM received any
notification that the SEC is contemplating terminating such
registration.
Section 4.21 Trust Fund. Section 4.21
of the TM Disclosure Schedule sets forth as of March 31,2009 the dollar amount (including an accrual for the earned but
uncollected interest thereon) held in the trust account
established in connection with TM’s Public Offering for the
benefit of its Public Stockholders (the
“Trust Fund”) for use by TM in
connection with a business combination as set forth in the TM
Constituent Instruments. Section 4.21 of the TM Disclosure
Schedule sets forth as of March 31, 2009 the dollar amount
of the Trust Fund that represents deferred underwriting
commissions which will be paid to the underwriters of TM’s
Public Offering at the Closing.
Section 4.22 Transactions
With Affiliates and Employees. Except as set
forth in Section 4.22 of the TM Disclosure Schedule, none
of the officers or directors of TM and, to the Knowledge of TM,
none of the employees of TM is presently a party to any
transaction with TM that is required to be disclosed under
Rule 404(a) of
Regulation S-K
(other than for services as employees, officers and directors),
including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing
for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of
real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring
payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or,
to the Knowledge of TM, any entity in which any officer,
director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is
an officer, director, trustee or partner.
(a) TM has made available to HMDF, prior to the date of
this Agreement, true, correct and complete copies of each
material contract which would be considered a material contract
pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of
Regulation S-K
or pursuant to which TM receives or pays amounts in excess of
$100,000 (each a “TM Material
Contract”). A list of each such TM Material
Contract is set forth on Section 4.23 of the
TM Disclosure Schedule. As of the date of this Agreement,
TM is not in violation of or in default under (nor does there
exist any condition which upon the passage of time or the giving
of notice would cause such a violation of or default under) any
TM Material Contract to which it is a party or by which it or
any of its properties or assets is bound, except for violations
or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on
TM; and, to the Knowledge of TM, as of the date of this
Agreement, no other Person has violated or breached, or
committed any default under, any TM Material Contract, except
for violations, breaches and defaults that, individually or in
the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on TM.
(b) Each TM Material Contract is a legal, valid and binding
agreement, and is in full force and effect, and (i) TM is
not in breach or default of any TM Material Contract in any
material respect; (ii) no event has occurred or
circumstance has existed that (with or without notice or lapse
of time), will or would reasonably be expected to,
(A) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or
breach of, or become a default or event of default under, any
provision of any TM Material Contract; (B) permit TM or any
other Person the right to declare a default or exercise any
remedy under, or to accelerate the maturity or performance of,
or to cancel, terminate or modify any TM Material Contract; or
(iii) TM has not received notice of the pending or
threatened cancellation, revocation or termination of any TM
Material Contract to which it is a party. Since
December 31, 2008, TM has not received any notice or other
communication regarding any actual or possible violation or
breach of, or default under, any TM Material Contract, except in
each such case for defaults, acceleration rights, termination
rights and other rights that have not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on TM.
Section 4.24 Taxes.
(a) all Tax Returns that are or were required to be filed
by it have been timely filed, and all such Tax Returns are true,
complete and accurate, except to the extent any failure to file
or any inaccuracies in any filed Tax Returns, individually or in
the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on TM. There are no unpaid
Taxes of TM claimed to be due by any Governmental Authority in
charge of taxation of any jurisdiction, nor any claim for
additional Taxes of TM for any period for which Tax Returns have
been filed, except to the extent that any failure to pay,
individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on TM,
and the officers of TM know of no basis for any such claim.
(b) TM has not received any notice that any Governmental
Authority will audit or examine (except for any general audits
or examinations routinely performed by such Governmental
Authorities), seek information with respect to, or make material
claims or assessments with respect to, any Taxes of TM for any
period. TM has delivered to HMDF correct and complete
copies of all Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements
of deficiencies filed by, assessed against or agreed to by TM
from its inception.
(c) The TM financial statements reflect an adequate reserve
for all Taxes payable by TM (in addition to any reserve for
deferred Taxes to reflect timing differences between book and
Tax items) for all taxable periods and portions thereof through
the date of such financial statements. TM is neither a party to
nor is it bound by any tax indemnity, tax sharing or similar
agreement and TM currently has no material liability and will
not have any material liabilities for any Taxes of any other
Person under any agreement or by the operation of any Law. No
deficiency with respect to any Taxes has been proposed, asserted
or assessed against TM, and no requests for waivers of the time
to assess any such Taxes are pending, except to the extent any
such deficiency or request for waiver, individually or in the
aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on TM.
Section 4.25 Foreign
Corrupt Practices. Neither TM, nor to
TM’s Knowledge, any Representative of TM has, in the course
of its actions for, or on behalf of, TM (a) used any
corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift,
entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political
activity; (b) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment
to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from
corporate funds; (c) violated or is in violation of any
provision of the FCPA; or (d) made any unlawful bribe,
rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful
payment to any foreign or domestic government official or
employee, except, in the case of clauses (a) and
(b) above, any such items that, individually or in the
aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on TM.
Section 4.26 Money
Laundering Laws. The operations of TM are and
have been conducted at all times in compliance with Money
Laundering Laws and no proceeding involving TM with respect to
the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Knowledge of the
officers of TM, is threatened.
ARTICLE V
Conduct
Prior To The Closing
Section 5.1 Covenants
of HMDF Parties. During the period from the
date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the
termination of this Agreement or the Closing Date, the HMDF
Parties agree that each of the HMDF Entities shall use
commercially reasonable efforts, or cause such entities to use
commercially reasonable efforts, to (except to the extent
expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as consented to in
writing by the other Parties), (i) carry on its business in
the ordinary course in substantially the same manner as
heretofore conducted, to pay debts and Taxes when due (subject
to good faith disputes over such debts or Taxes), to pay or
perform other obligations when due, and to use all reasonable
efforts consistent with past practice and policies to preserve
intact its present business organizations, and (ii) use its
commercially reasonable efforts consistent with past practice to
keep available the services of its present officers, directors
and employees and use its commercially reasonable efforts
consistent with past practice to preserve its relationships with
customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and
others having business dealings with it, to the end that there
shall not be a Material Adverse Effect in its ongoing businesses
as of the Closing Date. The HMDF Parties agree to promptly
notify TM of any material event or occurrence not in the
ordinary course of its business that would have or reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the HMDF Entities.
Without limiting the generality of the forgoing, during the
period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the
earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the Closing
Date, except for (i) the Permitted Financing, (ii) as
listed on Section 5.1 of the HMDF Disclosure Schedule or
(iii) as otherwise expressly permitted by or provided for
in this Agreement, none of the HMDF Parties shall do, allow,
cause or permit any of the following actions to occur with
respect to any of the HMDF Entities without the prior written
consent of TM, which shall not be unreasonably delayed or
withheld:
(a) Charter Documents and Structure
Agreements. Cause or permit any amendments to or
termination of (i) any of the HMDF Constituent Instruments
or any other equivalent organizational documents or
(ii) any of the Structure Agreements, except, in each case,
as contemplated by this Agreement and necessary, to the extent
to which shall not have any effect on this Agreement;
(b) Dividends; Changes in Capital
Stock. Declare or pay any dividends on or make
any other distributions (whether in cash, stock or property) in
respect of any of its capital stock, or split, combine or
reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in
substitution for shares of its capital stock, or repurchase or
otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its
capital stock;
(c) Material Contracts. Enter into any
new Material Contract, or violate, amend or otherwise modify or
waive any of the terms of any existing Material Contract, other
than (i) in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice or (ii) upon prior consultation with, and
prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably delayed
or withheld) of TM;
(d) Issuance of Securities. Issue,
deliver or sell or authorize or propose the issuance, delivery
or sale of, or purchase or propose the purchase of, any shares
of its capital stock or securities convertible into, or
subscriptions, rights, warrants or options to acquire, or other
agreements or commitments of any character obligating it to
issue any such shares or other convertible securities;
(e) Intellectual Property. Transfer or
license to any Person or entity any intellectual property rights
other than the license of non-exclusive rights to intellectual
property rights in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice;
(f) Dispositions. Sell, lease, license or
otherwise dispose of or encumber any of its properties or assets
which are material, individually or in the aggregate, to its
business, taken as a whole, except in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(g) Indebtedness. Except in its ordinary
course of business, issue or sell any debt securities or
guarantee any debt securities of others in excess of $100,000 in
the aggregate;
(h) Payment of Obligations. Pay,
discharge or satisfy in an amount in excess of $100,000, in any
one case, or $250,000, in the aggregate, any claim, liability or
obligation (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted,
contingent or otherwise) arising other than (i) in the
ordinary course of business, and (ii) the payment,
discharge or satisfaction of liabilities reflected or reserved
against in the HMDF Financial Statements, as applicable;
(i) Acquisitions. Acquire by merging or
consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of
the assets of, or by other manner, any business or any
corporation, partnership, association or other business
organization or division thereof, or otherwise acquire any
assets which are material, individually or in the aggregate, to
its business, taken as a whole, or acquire any equity securities
of any corporation, partnership, association or business
organization, in each case, to the extent that financial
statements of or relating to such acquired assets or business
would be required under applicable U.S. federal securities
laws to be publicly disclosed on a Report on
Form 8-K
or in the Proxy Statement;
(j) Employment. Except as required to
comply with Legal Requirements or agreements or pursuant to
plans or arrangements existing on the date hereof, (i) take
any action with respect to, adopt, enter into, terminate or
amend any employment, severance, retirement, retention,
incentive or similar agreement, arrangement or benefit plan for
the benefit or welfare of any current or former director,
executive officer or any collective bargaining agreement,
(ii) increase in any material respect the compensation or
fringe benefits of, or pay any bonus to, any director, executive
officer, (iii) materially amend or accelerate the payment,
right to payment or vesting of any compensation or benefits,
(iv) pay any material benefit not provided for as of the
date of this Agreement under any benefit plan, or (v) grant
any awards under any bonus, incentive, performance or other
compensation plan or arrangement or benefit plan, including the
grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock based
or stock related awards, performance units or restricted stock,
or the removal of existing restrictions in any benefit plans or
agreements or awards made thereunder;
(k) Broker’s and Finder’s
Fees. Enter into any binding discussions,
negotiations or arrangements with any broker, investment banker,
agent or finder, whether in writing or oral, relating to this
Agreement or any Transaction, other than with Piper Jaffray in
connection with the Transactions.
(l) Other. Agree in writing or otherwise
to take any of the actions described in Sections 5.1(a)
through (k) above.
Section 5.2 Covenants
of TM. From the date hereof until the earlier
of the termination of this Agreement or the Closing Date, TM
agrees that TM shall use commercially reasonable efforts to,
except to the extent expressly contemplated by this Agreement or
as consented to in writing by the other Parties, (i) carry
on its business in the ordinary course in substantially the same
manner as heretofore conducted, to pay debts and Taxes when due
(subject to good faith disputes over such debts or taxes), to
pay or perform other obligations when due, and to use all
reasonable efforts consistent with past practice and policies to
preserve intact its present business organizations and
(ii) keep available the services of its present officers,
directors and employees and to preserve its relationships with
customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and
others having business dealings with it, to the end that there
shall not be a Material Adverse Effect in its ongoing businesses
as of the Closing Date. TM agrees to promptly notify the HMDF
Parties of any material event or occurrence not in the ordinary
course of its business and of any event that would have a
Material Adverse Effect on TM. Without limiting the generality
of the forgoing, during the period from the date of this
Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of
this Agreement or the Closing Date, except for (i) the
Permitted Financing, (ii) as listed on Section 5.2 of
the TM Disclosure Schedule or (iii) as otherwise expressly
permitted by or provided for in this Agreement, TM shall not do,
allow, cause or permit any of the following actions to occur
without the prior written consent of the HMDF Parties, which
consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld:
(a) Charter Documents. TM shall not adopt
or propose any change in any of its constituent instruments
except for such amendments required by any Legal Requirement or
the rules and regulations of the SEC or AMEX or as are
contemplated by this Agreement (or such other applicable
national securities exchange).
(b) Accounting Policies and
Procedures. TM shall not change any method of
accounting or accounting principles or practices by TM, except
for any such change required by any Legal Requirement or by a
change in any Legal Requirement or U.S. GAAP;
(c) SEC Reports. TM shall not fail to
timely file or furnish to or with the SEC all reports,
schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be
filed or furnished (except those filings by affiliates of TM
required under Section 13(d) or 16(a) of the Exchange Act
which do not have a Material Adverse Effect on TM);
(d) Dividends; Changes in Capital
Stock. TM shall not declare or pay any dividends
on or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock or
property) in respect of any of its capital stock, or split,
combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or
authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in
lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock, or
repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any
shares of its capital stock;
(e) Dispositions. Sell, lease, license or
otherwise dispose of or encumber any of its properties or assets;
(f) Material Contracts. Enter into any
new TM Material Contract, or violate, amend or otherwise modify
or waive any of the terms of any existing TM Material Contract,
other than (i) contracts involving the payment or receipt
by TM of no more than $100,000, individually, or in the
aggregate, that, in TM’s reasonable judgment, are necessary
for the completion of the Transactions; or (ii) upon prior
consultation with, and prior written consent (which shall not be
unreasonably delayed or withheld) of the HMDF Parties;
(g) Issuance of Securities. Issue,
deliver or sell or authorize or propose the issuance, delivery
or sale of, or purchase or propose the purchase of, any shares
of its capital stock or securities convertible into, or
subscriptions, rights, warrants or options to acquire, or other
agreements or commitments of any character obligating it to
issue any such shares or other convertible securities;
(h) Indebtedness. Issue or sell any debt
securities or guarantee any debt securities of other Persons;
(i) Payment of Obligations. Pay,
discharge or satisfy in an amount in excess of $100,000 in any
one case, any claim, liability or obligation (absolute, accrued,
asserted or unasserted, contingent or
otherwise) arising other than (i) in the ordinary course of
business, and (ii) the payment, discharge or satisfaction
of liabilities reflected or reserved against in the TM financial
statements, as applicable;
(j) Capital Expenditures. Make any
capital expenditures, capital additions or capital improvements;
(k) Acquisitions. Acquire by merging or
consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of
the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any
corporation, partnership, association or other business
organization or division thereof, or otherwise acquire any
assets which are material, individually or in the aggregate, to
its business, taken as a whole, or acquire any equity securities
of any corporation, partnership, association or business
organization;
(l) Taxes. Make or change any material
election in respect of Taxes, adopt or change any accounting
method in respect of Taxes, file any Tax Return or any amendment
to a Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement, settle any
claim or assessment in respect of Taxes, or consent to any
extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any
claim or assessment in respect of Taxes;
(m) Litigation. Initiate, compromise or
settle any material litigation or arbitration
proceedings; and
(n) Other. Agree in writing or otherwise
to take any of the actions described in Sections 5.2(a)
through (m) above.
ARTICLE VI
Covenants of
the HMDF Parties
Section 6.1 Access
to Information. Except as required pursuant
to any confidentiality agreement or similar agreement or
arrangement to which any HMDF Party is subject, between the date
of this Agreement and the Closing Date, subject to TM’s
undertaking to use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep
confidential and protect the Trade Secrets of the HMDF Parties
against any disclosure, the HMDF Parties will permit TM and its
Representatives reasonable access at dates and times agreed upon
by the applicable HMDF Party and TM, to all of the books and
records of HMDF which are necessary for (i) the preparation
and amendment of the Proxy Statement and such other filings or
submissions in accordance with SEC rules and regulations as are
necessary to consummate the Transactions and as are necessary to
respond to requests of the SEC’s staff, TM’s
accountants and relevant Governmental Authorities or
(ii) TM to confirm any of the financial statements or
reports delivered by the HMDF Entities pursuant to this
Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the failure to use commercially reasonable efforts to
protect against any disclosure of any Trade Secrets of HMDF
Parties by TM or any of its Representatives in violation of this
Section, shall constitute a breach of a covenant in a material
respect pursuant to Section 11.1(c) hereof; provided,
however, that TM may make a disclosure otherwise prohibited by
this Section 6.1 if required by applicable law or
regulation or regulatory, administrative or legal process
(including, without limitation, by oral questions,
interrogatories, requests for information, subpoena of
documents, civil investigative demand or similar process) or the
rules and regulations of the SEC or any stock exchange having
jurisdiction over TM. In the event that TM or any of its
Representatives is requested or required to disclose any Trade
Secrets of HMDF Parties as provided in the proviso in the
immediately preceding sentence, TM shall provide the HMDF
Entities with prompt written notice of any such request or
requirement so that the HMDF Entities may seek a protective
order or other appropriate remedy.
Section 6.2 Financial
Information.
(a) TM acknowledges and agrees that HMDF shall engage CCIF
and a US accounting firm to render accounting reports jointly
(“Report”) and that TM shall accept the
Report. On or before five (5) days following the date
hereof, HMDF shall furnish TM the audited consolidated financial
statements of the HMDF Entities for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (collectively, the
“HMDF Financial Statements”). The HMDF
Financial Statements, including the notes thereto, shall have
been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may
be otherwise specified in the notes thereto) by an independent
public accounting firm acceptable to TM and shall be suitable
for inclusion in the Proxy Statement. The HMDF Financial
Statements will fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition and operating results, change in
stockholders’ equity and cash flow of
HMDF, as of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein.
The HMDF Entities do not and shall not have any Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements.
(b) The HMDF Entities shall deliver to TM within thirty
(30) days after the end of each fiscal quarter consolidated
and consolidating financial information regarding the HMDF
Entities (the “HMDF Quarterly Interim Financial
Statements”), certified by the Chief Executive
Officer or Chief Financial Officer of HMDF, including
(i) unaudited balance sheets as of the close of such fiscal
quarter and the related statements of income and cash flow for
that portion of the fiscal year ending as of the close of such
fiscal quarter and (ii) unaudited statements of income and
cash flows for such fiscal quarter, in each case setting forth
in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period in
the prior year, all prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
(c) The HMDF Entities shall deliver to TM within fifteen
(15) days after the end of each calendar month any
financial information regarding the HMDF Entities prepared by
its management in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice (the “HMDF Monthly Interim
Financial Statements” and, together with the HMDF
Quarterly Interim Financial Statements, the “HMDF
Interim Financial Statements”), certified by the
Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of HMDF,
including (i) unaudited balance sheets as of the close of
such calendar month and the related statements of income and
cash flow for that portion of the fiscal year ending as of the
close of such calendar month and (ii) unaudited statements
of income and cash flows for such calendar month, in each case
setting forth in comparative form the figures for the
corresponding period in the prior year, all prepared in
accordance with U.S. GAAP. The HMDF Interim Financial
Statements will fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition and operating results, change in
stockholders’ equity and cash flow of the HMDF Entities, as
of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein, subject to
the normal, recurring year-end adjustments.
Section 6.3 Insurance
. Through the Closing Date, the HMDF Entities
and each HMDF Shareholder shall cause the HMDF Entities to
maintain insurance policies providing insurance coverage for the
businesses in which the HMDF Entities are engaged and the assets
and properties of the HMDF Entities of the kinds, in the amounts
and against the risks as are commercially reasonable for such
businesses and risks covered and for the geographic areas where
any of the HMDF Entities engages in such businesses.
Section 6.4 Exclusivity;
No Other Negotiations.
(a) None of the HMDF Entities and the HMDF Shareholders
shall take (or authorize or permit any Representative by or
acting for or on behalf of the HMDF Entities
and/or any
of the HMDF Shareholders to take) directly or indirectly, any
action to initiate, assist, solicit, negotiate, or encourage any
offer, inquiry or proposal from any Person other than TM:
(i) relating to the acquisition of any capital stock or
other voting securities of any of the HMDF Entities or any
assets of the HMDF Entities other than sales of assets in the
ordinary course of business (including any acquisition
structured as a merger, consolidation, share exchange or other
business combination) (an “Acquisition
Proposal”); (ii) to reach any agreement or
understanding (whether or not such agreement or understanding is
absolute, revocable, contingent or conditional) for, or
otherwise attempt to consummate, any Acquisition Proposal with
any of the HMDF Entities
and/or any
HMDF Shareholder; (iii) to participate in discussions or
negotiations with or to furnish or cause to be furnished any
information with respect to any of the HMDF Entities or afford
access to the assets and properties or books and records of the
HMDF Entities to any Person (other than as contemplated by
Section 6.1) who any of the HMDF Entities (or any such
Person acting for or on their behalf) knows or has reason to
believe is in the process of considering any Acquisition
Proposal relating to any of the HMDF Entities; (iv) to
participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding,
furnish any material non-public information with respect to,
assist or participate in, or facilitate in any other manner any
effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek any of the
foregoing; or (v) to take any other action that is
inconsistent with the Transactions and that has the effect of
avoiding the Closing contemplated hereby.
(b) The HMDF Parties will immediately cease any and all
existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any
parties conducted heretofore with respect to any of the actions
set forth in Section 6.4(a) above, if applicable. The HMDF
Parties will promptly (i) notify TM if any of the HMDF
Parties receives any proposal or inquiry or request for
information in connection with an Acquisition Proposal, and
(ii) notify TM of the
significant terms and conditions of any such Acquisition
Proposal including the identity of the party making an
Acquisition Proposal.
(c) The covenants, agreements and obligations set forth in
this Section 6.4 shall remain binding and in full force and
effect unless and until this Agreement and the Transactions are
terminated in accordance with Section 11.1(b) of this
Agreement.
Section 6.5 Fulfillment
of Conditions. The HMDF Parties shall use
their commercially reasonable efforts to fulfill the conditions
specified in Article IX to the extent that the fulfillment
of such conditions is within their control. The foregoing
obligation includes (a) the execution and delivery of
documents necessary or desirable to consummate the Transactions
contemplated hereby, (b) engaging in a road show, at
mutually agreed to times and places, to seek the approval of the
Transactions, and (c) taking or refraining from such
actions as may be necessary to fulfill such conditions
(including using their commercially reasonable efforts to
conduct their business in such manner that on the Closing Date
the representations and warranties of the each of the HMDF
Parties contained herein shall be accurate as though then made,
except as contemplated by the terms hereof).
Section 6.6 Disclosure
of Certain Matters. From the date hereof
through the Closing Date, each of the HMDF Parties shall give TM
prompt written notice of any event or development that occurs
that (a) is of a nature that, individually or in the
aggregate, would have or reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the HMDF Entities, or (b) would
require any amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement.
Section 6.7 Regulatory
and Other Authorizations; Notices and Consents.
(a) The HMDF Entities shall use their commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain all material Consents that may be
or become necessary for their execution and delivery of, and the
performance of their obligations pursuant to, this Agreement and
the Transaction Documents and will cooperate with TM in promptly
seeking to obtain all such authorizations, consents, orders and
approvals.
(b) Each HMDF Entity shall give promptly such notices to
third parties and use its commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain such third party consents and estoppel certificates as
are required to consummate the Transactions.
(c) TM shall cooperate and use commercially reasonable
efforts to assist the HMDF Entities in giving such notices and
obtaining such consents and estoppel certificates as are
required to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that
TM shall have no obligation to give any guarantee or other
consideration of any nature in connection with any such notice,
consent or estoppel certificate or to consent to any change in
the terms of any agreement or arrangement which TM in its sole
discretion may deem adverse to the interests of TM, the HMDF
Entities or the business of the HMDF Entities.
Section 6.8 Related
Tax. From the date hereof through the Closing
Date, each of the HMDF Entities, consistent with past practice,
shall (i) duly and timely file all Tax Returns and other
documents required to be filed by it with applicable
Governmental Authorities, the failure to file of which could
have a Material Adverse Effect on the HMDF Entities, subject to
extensions permitted by law and properly granted by the
appropriate authority; provided, that HMDF notifies TM that any
of the HMDF Entities is availing itself of such extensions, and
(ii) pay all Tax shown as due on such Tax Returns. Each
HMDF Shareholder covenants and agrees to pay any tax and duties
as required to be paid by such Shareholder by any Governmental
Authority of the PRC on such Shareholder’s receipt of
payments, if any, pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 6.9 Proxy
Statement. Each of the HMDF Parties shall
provide promptly to TM such information concerning its business
affairs and financial statements as may reasonably be required
for inclusion in the Proxy Statement, shall direct that its
counsel cooperate with TM’s counsel in the preparation of
the Proxy Statement and shall request the cooperation of
TM’s auditors in the preparation of the Proxy Statement.
None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on
behalf of the HMDF Parties for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in the Proxy Statement will, at the time the Proxy
Statement is filed with the SEC or at the time it becomes
effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they are made, not misleading. If any information provided
by the HMDF Parties is discovered or any event occurs with
respect to any of the HMDF Parties, or
any change occurs with respect to the other information provided
by the HMDF Parties included in the Proxy Statement which is
required to be described in an amendment of, or a supplement to,
the Proxy Statement so that such document does not include any
misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the
HMDF Parties shall notify TM promptly of such event.
Section 6.10 Covenant
Not to Sue. In consideration of TM’s
entry into this Agreement, each of the HMDF Parties waives all
right, title, interest or claim of any kind against the
Trust Fund that any of the HMDF Parties may have in the
future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations,
contracts or agreements with TM, and will not seek recourse
against the Trust Fund.
Section 6.11 Permitted
Financing. Each of the HMDF Parties, on the
one hand, and TM, on the other shall cooperate with one another
and use their commercially reasonable best efforts to secure the
Permitted Financing on or prior to the Closing Date, including
by means of involving Piper Jaffray as an additional financial
advisor in the event such becomes necessary to ensure the
completion of the Permitted Financing. Each of the HMDF Parties
shall provide reasonably promptly to TM such information
concerning such HMDF Party’s business affairs and financial
statements as may reasonably be required to secure the Permitted
Financing.
Section 6.12 Effective
Control and Consolidation. Each of the HMDF
Parties shall cause HMDF to continue to consolidate the
financial results of FF with the financial statements of HMDF.
ARTICLE VII
Covenants of
TM
Section 7.1 Proxy
Statement Filing, SEC Filings and Special Meeting.
(a) TM shall cause a meeting of its stockholders (the
“Stockholders’ Meeting”) to be duly
called and held as soon as reasonably practicable for the
purpose of voting on the adoption and approval of, among others,
this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated thereby. The TM
Board shall recommend to its stockholders that they vote in
favor of the adoption of such matters. In connection with the
Stockholders’ Meeting, TM (a) will use commercially
reasonable efforts to file with the SEC as promptly as
practicable, but in any event on or prior to May 27, 2009,
the Proxy Statement, which shall serve as a proxy statement
pursuant to Section 14(a), Regulation 14A, and
Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act and all other proxy
materials for such meeting, (b) upon receipt of any
comments from the SEC relating thereto, will respond as promptly
as practicable and otherwise use its commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain approval from the SEC, and following which,
will mail to its stockholders the Proxy Statement and any other
necessary proxy materials, (c) will use commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain the necessary approvals by its
stockholders of this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated
hereby, and (d) will otherwise comply in all material
respects with all Legal Requirements applicable to the
Stockholders’ Meeting.
(b) TM will provide to HMDF all correspondence received
from and to be sent to the SEC and will not file any amendment
to the filings with the SEC without (i) providing HMDF the
opportunity to review and comment on any responses to the SEC
and (ii) the prior consent of HMDF, which consent shall not
be unreasonably delayed or withheld.
Section 7.2 Fulfillment
of Conditions. From the date hereof to the
Closing Date, TM shall use its commercially reasonable efforts
to fulfill the conditions specified in Article IX to the
extent that the fulfillment of such conditions is within its
control. The foregoing obligation includes (a) the
execution and delivery of documents necessary or desirable to
consummate the Transactions, (b) engaging in a road show,
at mutually agreed to times and places, to seek the approval of
the Transactions, and (c) taking or refraining from such
actions as may be necessary to fulfill such conditions
(including using its commercially reasonable efforts to conduct
the business of TM in such manner that on the Closing Date the
representations and warranties of TM contained herein shall
be accurate as though then made).
Section 7.3 Disclosure
of Certain Matters. From the date hereof
through the Closing Date, TM shall give HMDF and the HMDF
Shareholders prompt written notice of any event or development
that occurs that
(a) is of a nature that, individually or in the aggregate,
would have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on TM, or (b) would require any amendment or
supplement to the Proxy Statement.
Section 7.4 Regulatory
and Other Authorizations; Notices and
Consents. TM shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain all authorizations, consents,
orders and approvals of all Governmental Authorities and
officials that may be or become necessary for its execution and
delivery of, and the performance of its obligations pursuant to,
this Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which it is a
party and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate
with HMDF in promptly seeking to obtain all such authorizations,
consents, orders and approvals (and in such regard use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause the relevant Government
Authorities to permit HMDF
and/or its
counsel to participate in the conversation and correspondence
with such Government Authorities together with TM counsel).
Section 7.5 Exclusivity;
No Other Negotiations.
(a) TM shall not take (or authorize or permit any
Representative retained by or acting for or on behalf of TM to
take) directly or indirectly, any action to initiate, assist,
solicit, negotiate, or encourage any offer, inquiry or proposal
from any Person: (i) relating to the acquisition by TM of
that Person (regardless of the structure of any such
acquisitions) or any affiliate of that Person, or (ii) take
any other action that is inconsistent with the Transactions and
that has the effect of avoiding the Closing contemplated hereby.
(b) TM will immediately cease any and all existing
activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties
conducted heretofore with respect to any of the actions set
forth in Section 7.5(a) above, if applicable. TM will
promptly (i) notify the HMDF Parties if TM receives any
such proposal or inquiry or request for information in
connection with such proposal and (ii) notify the HMDF
Parties of the significant terms and conditions of any such
proposal including the identity of the party making the proposal.
Section 7.6 Related
Tax. From the date hereof through the Closing
Date, TM, consistent with past practice, shall (i) duly and
timely file all Tax Returns and other documents required to be
filed by it with applicable Governmental Authorities, the
failure to file of which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on TM, subject to extensions permitted
by law and properly granted by the appropriate authority;
provided, that TM notifies HMDF that TM is availing itself of
such extensions, and (ii) pay all Tax shown as due on such
Tax Returns.
Section 7.7 Valid
Issuance of TM Shares. At the Closing, the TM
Shares to be issued to the HMDF Shareholders hereunder will be
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms
hereof for the consideration provided for herein, will be
validly issued and will constitute a valid, binding and
enforceable obligation of TM in accordance with their terms and
will have been issued in compliance with all applicable federal
and state securities laws.
ARTICLE VIII
Additional
Agreements and Covenants
Section 8.1 Disclosure
Schedules. Each of Parties shall, as of the
Closing Date, have the obligation to supplement or amend their
respective Disclosure Schedules being delivered concurrently
with the execution of this Agreement and annexes and exhibits
hereto with respect to any matter hereafter arising or
discovered which resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect on such Party. The
obligations of the Parties to amend or supplement their
respective Disclosure Schedules being delivered herewith shall
terminate on the Closing Date. Notwithstanding any such
amendment or supplementation, the representations and warranties
of the Parties shall be made with reference to the Disclosure
Schedules as they exist at the time of execution of this
Agreement.
Section 8.2 Confidentiality. Between
the date hereof and the Closing Date, each of TM, on the one
hand, and the HMDF Parties, on the other hand, shall hold and
shall cause their respective Representatives to hold in strict
confidence, unless compelled to disclose by judicial or
administrative process or by other requirements of law or by the
rules and regulations of, or pursuant to any agreement of a
stock exchange or trading system, all documents and information
concerning the other Party furnished to it by such other Party
or its Representatives in connection with the Transactions,
except to the extent that such information can be shown to have
been (a) previously known by the Party to which it was
furnished, (b) in the public domain
through no fault of such Party, or (c) later lawfully
acquired by the Party to which it was furnished from other
sources, which source is not a Representative of the other
Party, and each Party shall not release or disclose such
information to any other Person, except its Representatives in
connection with this Agreement. Each Party shall be deemed to
have satisfied its obligations to hold confidential information
concerning or supplied by the other Party in connection with the
Transactions, if it exercises the same care as it takes to
preserve confidentiality for its own similar information. For
the avoidance of doubt, any disclosure of information required
to be included by TM or the HMDF Parties in their respective
filings with the SEC as required by the applicable laws will not
be violation of this Section 8.2.
Section 8.3 Public
Announcements. From the date of this
Agreement until the Closing or termination of this Agreement, TM
and each of the HMDF Entities shall cooperate in good faith to
jointly prepare all press releases and public announcements
pertaining to this Agreement and the Transactions governed by
it, and none of the foregoing shall issue or otherwise make any
public announcement or communication pertaining to this
Agreement or the transaction without the prior consent of TM (in
the case of HMDF Entities) or any of the HMDF Entities (in the
case of TM), except as required by Law or by the rules and
regulations of, or pursuant to any agreement of, a stock
exchange or trading system. Each Party will not unreasonably
withhold approval from the others with respect to any press
release or public announcement. If any Party determines with the
advice of counsel that it is required to make this Agreement and
the terms of the transaction public or otherwise issue a press
release or make public disclosure with respect thereto, it shall
at a reasonable time before making any public disclosure,
consult with the other Parties regarding such disclosure, seek
such confidential treatment for such terms or portions of this
Agreement or the transaction as may be reasonably requested by
the other Parties and disclose only such information as is
legally compelled to be disclosed. This provision will not apply
to communications by any Party to its counsel, accountants and
other professional advisors.
Section 8.4 Board
Composition.
(a) For a period commencing on the Closing Date and ending
not sooner than March 31, 2012 (or March 31, 2013 if
the Earn-Out Shares applicable to FY2011 have not been issued
and delivered pursuant to
Section 1.2(e)(i)-(ii)
hereof), the Combined Board will consist of seven
(7) persons. For a period commencing from the Closing Date
until the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, or
until each director’s successor is elected and takes
office, the Combined Board shall consist of: (i) two
(2) persons nominated by the TM Representatives (with each
such person to have the right to designate an alternate) and
(ii) five (5) persons nominated by the HMDF
Shareholders (at least three (3) of which shall be
“independent directors” as such term is defined in
Section 803 of the AMEX Company Guide (the
“Independent Directors”); provided,
however, that, in the case of clause (ii) above and in the
case of clause (ii) above only, such clause may be amended,
modified or terminated by the Company after the Closing Date
with the consent of the majority of the Independent Directors
then serving on the board of the directors of the Company.
(b) Each of the HMDF Shareholders agrees, pursuant to the
Voting Agreement, that, for a period commencing from the Closing
Date and ending not sooner than March 31, 2011 (or
March 31, 2013 if the Earn-Out Shares applicable to FY2011
have not been issued and delivered pursuant to
Section 1.2(e)(i)-(ii)
hereof), they shall vote all TM Shares then owned by them in
favor of the persons nominated by TM Representatives; it being
understood that if there is any conflict between the terms of
this Section 8.4 and the Voting Agreement (as amended,
modified or supplemented in accordance with its terms), the
terms of the Voting Agreement will control.
(c) The Combined Board shall, within sixty (60) days
following the Closing, establish an audit committee consisting
of not less than three (3) Independent Directors.
Section 8.5 Fees
and Expenses. Except as expressly provided in
Article XI or Article XII, in the event there is no
Closing of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement, all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement
shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees or expenses.
Section 8.6 Director
and Officer Insurance . As soon as
practicable after the date hereof, TM will file an application
with a reputable insurance company seeking a tail liability
insurance policy (the “Tail Policy”)
that will be paid for by the Company upon the Closing and
covering those Persons who are currently covered by TM’s
directors and officers’ liability insurance policy. The
HMDF Shareholders shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause the Company to purchase (to the
extent available in the market) the Tail Policy for the coverage
available at a price of up to $200,000 with coverage in amount
and scope at least as favorable to such Persons as TM’s
existing coverage (or the maximum amount that may be purchased
for up to $200,000, which Tail Policy shall continue for at
least six (6) years following the Closing.
Section 8.7 Estimates,
Projections and Forecasts. Except as
otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement: TM acknowledges
and agrees that none of the HMDF Parties is making or has made
any representations or warranties whatsoever with respect to any
estimates, projections or other forecasts and plans (including
the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates,
projections or forecasts) regarding the HMDF Parties, their
business or any other matters; and TM acknowledges and agrees
that there are uncertainties inherent in attempting to make any
estimates, projections or other forecasts and plans, that TM is
familiar with such uncertainties, that TM is taking full
responsibility for making its own evaluation of the adequacy and
accuracy of all estimates, projections and other forecasts and
plans (including the reasonableness of the assumptions
underlying such estimates, projections and forecasts), and that
TM has no claim against the HMDF Parties or anyone else with
respect thereto.
ARTICLE IX
Conditions
to Closing
Section 9.1 HMDF
Parties Conditions Precedent. The obligations
of the HMDF Parties to enter into and complete the Closing are
subject, at the option of the HMDF Parties, to the fulfillment
on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions by
TM, any one or more of which may be waived by HMDF in writing.
(a) Representations and Covenants. The
representations and warranties of TM contained in this Agreement
(including the TM Disclosure Schedule) shall be true and correct
in all material respects (except that those representations and
warranties which are qualified by materiality, Material Adverse
Effect or words of similar import shall be true and correct in
all respects), in each case, on and as of the Closing Date, and
TM shall have performed and complied in all material respects
with all covenants and agreements required by this Agreement to
be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing
Date, and TM shall have delivered to HMDF a certificate, dated
the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect.
(b) Litigation. No action, suit or
proceeding (i) shall have been instituted before any court
or governmental or regulatory body or instituted by any
Governmental Authorities to restrain, modify or prevent the
carrying out of the Transactions, or to seek damages or a
discovery order in connection with such Transactions, or
(ii) which has would reasonably be expected to have, in the
reasonable opinion of HMDF, a Material Adverse Effect on the
HMDF Entities.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. There
shall not have been any occurrence, event, incident, action,
failure to act, or transaction since December 31, 2008
which has had or is reasonably likely to cause a Material
Adverse Effect on TM.
(d) Filing of Proxy Statement. TM shall
have filed the definitive Proxy Statement with the SEC and
mailed it to TM’s stockholders.
(e) Approval by TM’s
Stockholders. This Agreement and the Transactions
contemplated hereby shall have been approved by a majority of
the issued and outstanding Common Stock, in accordance with
Section 253 of the DGCL and other applicable laws, and the
aggregate number of shares of Publicly Held Common Stock held by
Public Stockholders who exercise their Conversion Rights with
respect to their Common Stock in accordance with the TM
Constituent Instruments shall not constitute thirty percent
(30%) or more of the Publicly Held Common Stock.
(f) Notice to Trustee. TM shall have,
prior to the Closing, delivered to the trustee of the
Trust Fund instructions to disburse on the Closing Date the
monies in the Trust Fund in accordance with the documents
governing the Trust Fund.
(g) Resignations. Effective as of the
Closing, the directors and officers of TM who are not continuing
directors and the officers of TM following the Closing will have
resigned and the copies of the resignation
letters (each of which shall include a full release of any
claims for past or future employment compensation) of such
directors and officers shall have been delivered to HMDF upon
the Closing.
(h) SEC Reports. TM shall have filed all
reports and other documents required to be filed by TM under the
U.S. federal securities laws through the Closing Date.
(i) AMEX Quotation. TM shall have
maintained its status as a Company whose Common Stock and TM
Warrants are quoted on the AMEX and no reason shall exist as to
why such status shall not continue immediately following the
Closing.
(j) Secretary’s Certificate. HMDF
shall have received a certificate from TM, signed by its
Secretary certifying that the attached copies of the TM
Constituent Instruments and resolutions of the TM Board
approving the Agreement and the Transactions are all true,
complete and correct and remain in full force and effect.
(k) Deliveries. The deliveries required
to be made by TM in Article II shall have been made by TM.
(l) Governmental Approval. Each of the
HMDF Entities shall have timely obtained from each Governmental
Authority all approvals, waivers and consents, if any, necessary
for consummation of or in connection with this Agreement and the
Transactions contemplated hereby, including such approvals,
waivers and consents as may be required under PRC Laws.
(m) Available Working Capital. Either
(i) TM shall have sufficient cash and cash equivalents upon
the Closing to make the payments required pursuant to
Sections 1.2(c) and 12.7 hereof (and any and all other fees
and expenses associated with the Transactions for the account of
TM) and to repay, perform or satisfy any Permitted Financing
(other than periodic interest payments) due by its terms within
the thirty-six (36) months following the Closing, and shall
have either an additional approximately $10 million in cash
and cash equivalents or binding commitments for Permitted
Financing in such amount, or (ii) the Permitted Financing
shall otherwise be committed by Closing on terms and conditions
satisfactory to the HMDF Parties in their reasonable discretion
(regardless of the amounts of and various forms of financing
contemplated by the definition of Permitted Financing herein or
otherwise discussed between the TM Parties and the HMDF Parties
prior or subsequent to the date of this Agreement) taking into
account the future planned development of the Company after the
Closing.
(n) Transaction Documents. The
Transaction Documents shall have been executed and delivered by
the Parties.
(o) Opinions. HMDF shall have received
the opinion of TM’s legal counsel in customary form and
substance for transactions similar to the Transactions
contemplated in this Agreement.
(p) Certificate of Good Standing. HMDF
shall have received a certificate of good standing under the
applicable Law of TM.
(q) Injunctions or Restraints on Conduct of
Business. No temporary restraining order,
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any
court of competent jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory
restraint provision limiting or restricting TM’s conduct or
operation of the business of TM following the Share Exchange
shall be in effect, nor shall any proceeding brought by an
administrative agency or commission or other Governmental
Authority, domestic or foreign, seeking the foregoing be pending.
(r) SEC Actions. No formal or informal
SEC investigation or proceeding shall have been initiated by the
SEC against TM or any of its officers or directors.
Section 9.2 TM
Conditions Precedent. The obligations of TM
to enter into and complete the Closing are subject, at the
option of TM, to the fulfillment on or prior to the Closing Date
of the following conditions by each of the HMDF Parties, any one
or more of which may be waived by TM in writing:
(a) Representations and Covenants. The
representations and warranties of the HMDF Parties contained in
this Agreement (including the HMDF Disclosure Schedule) shall be
true and correct in all material respects (except that those
representations and warranties which are qualified by
materiality, Material Adverse Effect or words of similar import
shall be true and correct in all respects), in each case, on and
as of the Closing Date, and each of the HMDF Parties shall have
performed and complied in all material respects with all
covenants and agreements required by this Agreement to be
performed or
complied with by each of them on or prior to the Closing Date,
and the HMDF Parties shall have delivered to TM a certificate,
dated the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect.
(b) Litigation. No action, suit or
proceeding (i) shall have been instituted before any court
or governmental or regulatory body or instituted by any
Governmental Authorities to restrain, modify or prevent the
carrying out of the Transactions, or to seek damages or a
discovery order in connection with such Transactions, or
(ii) which has or may have, in the reasonable opinion of
TM, a Material Adverse Effect on TM.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. There
shall not have been any occurrence, event, incident, action,
failure to act, or transaction since December 31, 2008
which has had or is reasonably likely to cause a Material
Adverse Effect on any of the HMDF Entities.
(d) Approval by TM’s
Stockholders. This Agreement and the Transactions
contemplated hereby shall have been approved by a majority of
the issued and outstanding Common Stock, in accordance with
Section 253 of the DGCL and other applicable laws, and the
aggregate number of shares of Publicly Held Common Stock held by
Public Stockholders who exercise their Conversion Rights with
respect to their Common Stock in accordance with the TM
Constituent Instruments shall not constitute thirty percent
(30%) or more of the Publicly Held Common Stock.
(e) Delivery of HMDF Interim Financial
Statements. HMDF shall have furnished TM the HMDF
Financial Statements and HMDF Interim Financial Statements in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, which financial
statements shall have been prepared in accordance with
U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the
period involved.
(f) Opinion. TM shall have received the
opinion of HMDF’s legal counsel in the PRC in the customary
form and substance for Transactions similar to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(g) Officer’s Certificate. TM shall
have received a certificate from each of HMDF Parties signed by
an authorized officer or representative of such Party,
respectively, certifying that the attached copies of each such
Party’s constituent instruments and resolutions or other
authorizing documents approving the Agreement and the
Transactions are all true, complete and correct and remain in
full force and effect.
(h) Certificate of Good Standing. TM
shall have received a certificate of good standing or equivalent
under the applicable Law of each of HMDF, FF and each other HMDF
Entity.
(i) Injunctions or Restraints on Conduct of
Business. No temporary restraining order,
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any
court of competent jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory
restraint provision limiting or restricting any HMDF
Entity’s conduct or operation of the business of any of the
HMDF Entities following the Share Exchange shall be in effect,
nor shall any proceeding brought by an administrative agency or
commission or other Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign,
seeking the foregoing be pending.
(j) Appointment of Chief Financial
Officer. HMDF shall have appointed a Chief
Financial Officer that is mutually acceptable to HMDF and TM,
acting reasonably.
(k) Expenses. All amounts required to be
paid pursuant to Section 12.7 shall have been paid in full.
(l) Deliveries. All other deliveries
required to be made by the HMDF Parties in Article II shall
have been made by them.
(m) Governmental Approval. Each of the
HMDF Entities and the HMDF Shareholders shall have timely
obtained from each Governmental Authority all approvals, waivers
and consents, if any, necessary for consummation of or in
connection with this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated
hereby, including such approvals, waivers and consents as may be
required under PRC Laws.
(n) Transaction Documents. The
Transaction Documents shall have been executed and delivered by
the Parties.
(o) Investor Representation Letters. The
Investor Representation Letters shall have been executed and
delivered by each of HMDF Shareholders.
(p) SEC Actions. No formal or informal
SEC investigation or proceeding shall have been initiated or
sent by the SEC against TM or any of its officers or directors.
ARTICLE X
Indemnification
Section 10.1 Survival
. The representations and warranties of the
Parties contained in this Agreement, including the schedules and
exhibits hereto, shall not survive the Closing; provided,
however, that the representations and warranties contained in
Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1(a), 4.2, 4.3, 4.7, 4.20 and
4.21 (the “Basic Representations”) shall
survive the Closing for a period equal to any applicable statute
of limitations. All of the covenants and obligations of the
Parties contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing
unless they expire sooner in accordance with their terms. The
term during which any representation, warranty, or covenant
survives hereunder is referred to as the “Survival
Period.” Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, if written notice is properly given pursuant to
this Article X with respect to any alleged breach of a
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement to which such
Party is entitled to be indemnified hereunder prior to the
expiration of such representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement, such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement
shall survive, with respect to the subject matter of such
written notice only, until the applicable claim is finally
resolved in accordance with the provisions of this
Article X.
Section 10.2 Indemnification
by the HMDF Shareholders.
(a) The HMDF Shareholders shall, subject to the terms
hereof, severally (pro rata in proportion to their pre-Closing
percentage ownership of the HMDF Shares) and not jointly
indemnify, defend and hold harmless TM (which term, for the
purposes of this Article X shall include any of TM’s
successors) and permitted assigns (the “TM
Indemnified Parties”) from and against any
liabilities, loss, claims, damages, fines, penalties, expenses
(including costs of investigation and defense and reasonable
attorneys’ fees and court costs) (collectively,
“Damages”) arising from: (i) any
breach of any Basic Representation made by the HMDF Entities in
this Agreement (including the HMDF Disclosure Schedule) or in
any certificate delivered by the HMDF Entities pursuant to this
Agreement; (ii) any breach by any HMDF Entity of its
covenants, agreements or obligations in this Agreement to be
performed or complied with by such HMDF Entity; (iii) any
breach of any Basic Representation made by such HMDF Shareholder
in this Agreement (including the HMDF Disclosure Schedule) or in
any certificate delivered by such HMDF Shareholder pursuant to
this Agreement; and (iv) any breach by such HMDF
Shareholder of any of its covenants, agreements or obligations
in this Agreement to be performed or complied with by such HMDF
Shareholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, the
representations, warranties, covenants and obligations contained
in this Agreement that relate specifically and solely to a
particular HMDF Shareholder are the obligations of that
particular HMDF Shareholder only and the other HMDF Shareholders
shall not be responsible therefor.
(b) The amount of any and all Damages suffered by TM
Indemnified Parties shall be paid in cash, or, at the option of
the HMDF Shareholders, may be recovered by delivery of a
specified number of TM Shares owned by the HMDF Shareholders
(the “Returned Shares”) for repurchase
by TM on terms set forth in this Section 10.2(b). If TM
suffers Damages and Damages are paid by the HMDF Shareholders
through the delivery of Returned Shares in lieu of a cash
payment, then such Returned Shares shall be cancelled. If the
HMDF Shareholders opt to deliver Returned Shares instead of cash
hereunder, the number of Returned Shares to be returned by the
HMDF Shareholders shall be equal to the aggregate amount of the
indemnifiable Damages agreed to be paid by the HMDF
Shareholders, divided by $8.00.
(c) Pursuant to the provisions of this Article X, if
any claim for indemnification is to be brought against the HMDF
Shareholders on behalf of or by right of TM, such claim shall be
determined and approved by a committee of directors comprised of
(i) all Independent Directors, and (ii) a director
nominated by the TM Representatives, each as elected pursuant to
Section 8.4(a) (the “Independent
Committee”). Any settlement of any claim described
in the immediately preceding sentence shall be determined and
approved by the
Independent Committee. Any determination or approval of the
Independent Committee made pursuant to the provisions of this
Article X shall be by majority vote.
Section 10.3 Indemnification
by TM.
(a) The Company shall, subject to the terms hereof,
indemnify, defend and hold harmless each of the HMDF Parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns (the
“HMDF Indemnified Parties”) from and
against any Damages arising from: (i) any breach of any
Basic Representation made by TM in this Agreement (including the
TM Disclosure Schedule) hereof or in any certificate delivered
by TM pursuant to this Agreement; or (ii) any breach by TM
of its covenants, agreements or obligations in this Agreement to
be performed or complied with by TM.
(b) The amount of any and all Damages suffered by the HMDF
Indemnified Parties shall be paid in cash or, at the option of
the Company, newly issued TM Shares. The number of TM Shares to
be issued to the HMDF Indemnified Parties shall be equal to the
aggregate amount of the indemnifiable Damages agreed to be paid
by the Company, divided by $8.00.
Section 10.4 Limitations
on Indemnity.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement
to the contrary, the TM Indemnified Parties shall not be
entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 10.2(a)(i)
or 10.2(a)(iii), unless and until the aggregate amount of
Damages to the TM Indemnified Parties with respect to such
matters under Sections 10.2(a)(i) and (a)(iii) exceeds
$1,000,000 (the “Deductible”), and then
only to the extent such Damages exceed the Deductible; provided
that the aggregate amount of Damages payable by the HMDF
Shareholders to the TM Indemnified Parties pursuant to
Sections 10.2(a)(i) and 10.2(a)(iii) shall not exceed
$25,000,000 (the “Cap”) .
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement
to the contrary, the HMDF Parties shall not be liable to, or
indemnify the TM Indemnified Parties for any Damages
(i) resulting from any nonfulfillment or breach of any such
representations, warranties, covenants, and obligations of which
HMDF disclosed to TM on or prior to the date hereof; or
(ii) that are punitive (except to the extent constituting
third party punitive claims), special, consequential,
incidental, exemplary or otherwise not actual damages. This
Article X constitutes TM’s sole and exclusive remedy
for any and all Damages or other claims relating to or arising
from this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement
to the contrary, no HMDF Party shall be entitled to
indemnification pursuant to Section 10.3, unless and until
the aggregate amount of Damages with respect to such matters
under Section 10.3 exceeds the Deductible, and then only to
the extent such Damages exceed the Deductible; provided that the
aggregate amount of Damages payable by the Company to the HMDF
Indemnified Parties pursuant to Section 10.3(a)(i) shall
not exceed the Cap.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement
to the contrary, the Company shall not be liable to, or
indemnify any HMDF Party for any Damages (i) resulting from
any nonfulfillment or breach of any such representations,
warranties, covenants, and obligations of which TM disclosed to
the HMDF Parties on or prior to the date hereof; or
(ii) that are punitive (except to the extent constituting
third party punitive claims), special, consequential,
incidental, exemplary or otherwise not actual damages. This
Article X constitutes the HMDF Parties’ sole and
exclusive remedy for any and all Damages or other claims
relating to or arising from this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section 10.5 Defense
of Third Party Claims. If the Independent
Committee determines to make a claim for indemnification under
Section 10.2 or any HMDF Party makes a claim for
indemnification under Section 10.3 (each as applicable an
“Indemnitee”), the Independent Committee
or such HMDF Party as applicable shall notify the indemnifying
party (an “Indemnitor”) of the claim in
writing promptly after receiving notice of any action, lawsuit,
proceeding, investigation, demand or other claim against the
Indemnitee (if by a third party), describing the claim, the
amount thereof (if known and quantifiable) and the basis thereof
in reasonable detail (such written notice, an
“Indemnification Notice”). Any
Indemnitor shall be entitled to participate in the defense of
such action, lawsuit, proceeding, investigation or other claim
giving rise to an Indemnitee’s claim for indemnification at
such Indemnitor’s expense, and at its option shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof ; provided, that the
Indemnitee shall be entitled to participate in the
defense of such claim and to employ counsel of its choice for
such purpose; provided, however, that the fees and expenses of
such separate counsel shall be borne by the Indemnitee and shall
not be recoverable from such Indemnitor under this
Article X. If the Indemnitor shall control the defense of
any such claim, the Indemnitor shall be entitled to settle such
claims; provided, that the Indemnitor shall obtain the prior
written consent of the Indemnitee (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) before entering
into any settlement of a claim or ceasing to defend such claim
if, such settlement does not expressly and unconditionally
release the Indemnitee from all liabilities and obligations with
respect to such claim. If the Indemnitor assumes such defense,
the Indemnitor shall not be liable for any amount required to be
paid by the Indemnitee that exceeds, where the Indemnitee has
unreasonably withheld or delayed consent in connection with the
proposed compromise or settlement of a third party claim, the
amount for which that third party claim could have been settled
pursuant to that proposed compromise or settlement. In all
cases, the Indemnitee shall provide its reasonable cooperation
with the Indemnitor in defense of claims or litigation,
including by making employees, information and documentation
reasonably available. If the Indemnitor shall not assume the
defense of any such action, lawsuit, proceeding, investigation
or other claim, the Indemnitee may defend against such matter as
it deems appropriate; provided that the Indemnitee may not
settle any such matter without the written consent of the
Indemnitor (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed) if the Indemnitee is seeking or will
seek indemnification hereunder with respect to such matter.
Section 10.6 Determining
Damages. The amount of Damages subject to
indemnification under Section 10.2 or Section 10.3
shall be calculated net of (i) any Tax Benefit inuring to
the Indemnitee on account of such Damages, (ii) any
reserves set forth in any of the HMDF Financial Statements or
the HMDF Interim Financial Statements relating to such Damages
and (iii) any insurance proceeds or other amounts under
indemnification agreements received or receivable by the
Indemnitee on account of such Damages. If the Indemnitee
receives a Tax Benefit on account of such Damages after an
indemnification payment is made to it, the Indemnitee shall
promptly pay to the Person or Persons that made such
indemnification payment the amount of such Tax Benefit at such
time or times as and to the extent that such Tax Benefit is
realized by the Indemnitee. For purposes hereof, “Tax
Benefit” shall mean any refund of Taxes to be paid
or reduction in the amount of Taxes which otherwise would be
paid by the Indemnitee, in each case computed at the highest
marginal tax rates applicable to the recipient of such benefit.
To the extent Damages are recoverable by insurance, the
Indemnitees shall take all commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain maximum recovery from such insurance. In the event that
an insurance or other recovery is made by any Indemnitee with
respect to Damages for which any such Person has been
indemnified hereunder, then a refund equal to the aggregate
amount of the recovery shall be made promptly to the Person or
Persons that provided such indemnity payments to such
Indemnitee. The Indemnitors shall be subrogated to all rights of
the Indemnitees in respect of Damages indemnified by the
Indemnitors. The Indemnitees shall take all commercially
reasonable efforts to mitigate all Damages upon and after
becoming aware of any event which could reasonably be expected
to give rise to Damages. For Tax purposes, the Parties agree to
treat all payments made under this Article X as adjustments
to the consideration received for the HMDF Shares.
Section 10.7 Right
of Setoff . To the extent that any Party is
obligated to indemnify any other Party after Closing under the
provisions of this Article X for Damages reduced to a
monetary amount, such Party after Closing shall have the right
to decrease any amount due and owing or to be due and owing
under any agreement with the other Party, whether under this
Agreement or any other agreement between such Parties on the one
hand, and any of the other Party or any of their respective
Affiliates, Subsidiaries or controlled persons or entities on
the other.
Section 10.8 Limitation
on Recourse; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
(a) No claim shall be brought or maintained by any Party or
its respective successors or permitted assigns against any
officer, director, partner, member, agent, representative,
Affiliate, equity holder, successor or permitted assign of any
Party which is not otherwise expressly identified as a Party,
and no recourse shall be brought or granted against any of them,
by virtue of or based upon any alleged misrepresentation or
inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations,
warranties, covenants or obligations of any Party set forth or
contained in this Agreement or any exhibit or schedule hereto or
any certificate delivered hereunder.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 10.3, the
provisions of this Article X are for the sole benefit of
the Parties and nothing in this Article X, express or
implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person
any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature
whatsoever under or by reason of this Article X (it being
understood that only the Independent Committee and not TM, any
Person acting on its behalf or any other Person, may exercise
any indemnity rights under Section 10.2 or any other
provision of Article XIV).
Section 10.9. Liquidated
Damages. Notwithstanding any other provision
in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event a committed
Permitted Financing contemplated by Section 9.1(m)(i) shall
not have been consummated at or prior to the Closing and the
amount of cash and cash equivalents owned by the Company at the
Closing shall be less than approximately $10 million (after
making the payments required pursuant to Sections 1.2(c)
and 12.7 hereof (and any and all other fees and expenses
associated with the Transactions for the account of TM) and to
repay, perform or satisfy any Permitted Financing (other than
periodic interest payments) due by its terms within the
thirty-six (36) months following the Closing), then in the
event the closing and funding of such Permitted Financing or any
other Permitted Financing that would have satisfied such
condition had commitments therefor been in place prior to the
Closing does not take place for any reason by the sixtieth
(60th) calendar day following the Closing, (i) the TM
Representatives shall transfer the number of shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by them as of the Closing and held
pursuant to existing escrow arrangements to the Company for no
consideration and the Voting Agreement shall be of no further
force and effect with respect to such shares of Common Stock.
The provisions of this Section 10.9 are intended to
compensate the HMDF Shareholders for the damages for which no
reasonable estimate can be made that will result from the lack
of adequate financing for the Company after the Closing, in
light of its future development, and are not intended as a
penalty. At or prior to the Closing, the escrow arrangements
pursuant to which the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned
by the TM Representatives are held shall be modified accordingly
to reflect the obligations of the TM Representatives under this
Section 10.9.
ARTICLE XI
Termination
Section 11.1 Methods
of Termination. Unless waived by the Parties
hereto in writing, the Transactions may be terminated
and/or
abandoned at any time but not later than the Closing:
(a) by mutual written consent of the Parties;
(b) by the HMDF Parties, if the Closing has not occurred by
the Termination Date;
(c) by any HMDF Party, if there has been a breach by TM of
any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in
this Agreement which has prevented the satisfaction of the
conditions to the obligations of the HMDF Parties at the Closing
under Section 9.1(a) and such violation or breach has not
been waived by the HMDF Parties or cured by TM, to the extent
capable of being cured, within ten (10) business days after
written notice thereof from the HMDF Parties;
(d) by TM, if there has been a breach by the HMDF Parties
of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained
in this Agreement which has prevented the satisfaction of the
conditions to the obligations of TM at the Closing under
Section 9.2(a) and such violation or breach has not been
waived by TM or cured by the HMDF Parties, to the extent capable
of being cured, within ten (10) business days after written
notice thereof from TM;
(e) by TM, if the actual HMDF FY2008 Net Income, as derived
from the HMDF Financial Statements, is less than $15,000,000;
(f) by any HMDF Party, if the TM Board (or any committee
thereof) shall have failed to recommend or shall have withdrawn
its approval or recommendation of this Agreement and the
Transactions; or
(g) by either TM or the HMDF Parties, if, at the
Stockholders’ Meeting (including any adjournments thereof),
this Agreement and the Share Exchange and payments contemplated
hereby shall fail to be approved and adopted by the affirmative
vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Stock
cast at the meeting in accordance with TM Constituent
Instruments and the DGCL or if the aggregate number of shares of
Publicly Held Common Stock held by Public Stockholders who
exercise their
Conversion Rights with respect to their Common Stock in
accordance with the TM Constituent Instruments shall constitute
thirty percent (30%) or more of the Publicly Held Common Stock.
Section 11.2 Effect
of Termination.
(a) In the event of termination and abandonment by either
TM, on the one hand, or the HMDF Parties, on the other hand, or
all of them, pursuant to Section 11.1 hereof, written
notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other Party, and
except as set forth in this Article XI, all further
obligations of the Parties shall terminate, no Party shall have
any right against the other Party hereto, and each Party shall
bear its own costs and expenses.
(b) If the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement are
terminated
and/or
abandoned as provided herein:
(i) each Party hereto will destroy all documents, work
papers and other material (and all copies thereof) of the other
Party relating to the Transactions contemplated hereby, whether
so obtained before or after the execution hereof, to the Party
furnishing the same; and
(ii) all confidential information received by either Party
hereto with respect to the business of the other Party hereto
shall be treated in accordance with Section 8.2 hereof,
which shall survive such termination or abandonment. The
following other provisions shall survive termination of this
Agreement: Article X, Article XI and Article XII.
ARTICLE XII
Miscellaneous
Section 12.1 Notices. All
notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications
under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
given upon receipt by the Parties at the addresses set forth on
the signature pages hereto (or at such other address for a Party
as shall be specified in writing to all other Parties).
Section 12.2 Amendments;
Waivers; No Additional Consideration. No
provision of this Agreement may be waived or amended except in a
written instrument signed by all of the Parties hereto. No
waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition
or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a
continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent
default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or
requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any Party
to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the
exercise of any such right.
Section 12.3 No
Fractional Shares. No certificates or scrip
for any such fractional shares shall be issued. Any holder of TM
Shares who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of
a TM Share on the Closing Date (after aggregating all fractional
TM Shares issuable to such holder) shall, in lieu of such
fraction of a share, be paid in cash the dollar amount (rounded
to the nearest whole cent), without interest, determined by
multiplying such fraction by the closing bid price of a TM Share
on the AMEX, or such other public trading market on which TM
Shares may be trading at such time, at the Closing Date.
Section 12.4 Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the
event any certificates representing the HMDF Shares or TM Shares
shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, HMDF or TM, as
applicable, shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or
destroyed certificates upon the making of an affidavit of that
fact by the holder thereof, such HMDF Shares or TM Shares, as
applicable; provided, however, that HMDF or TM, as applicable,
may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the
issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or
destroyed certificates to deliver a bond in such sum as it may
reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may be
made against HMDF or TM, as applicable, with respect to the
certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 12.5 Adjustments
to Initial Equity Payment. In addition to any
adjustments pursuant to Section 1.2(d), the Initial Equity
Payment and the payment of any Earn-Out Shares shall be adjusted
to reflect appropriately the effect of any stock split, reverse
stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividends,
reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination,
exchange of shares or other like change with respect to TM
Shares, occurring prior to the date thereof.
Section 12.6 Withholding
Rights. TM shall be entitled to deduct and
withhold from the number of TM Shares and any other
consideration otherwise deliverable under this Agreement, such
amounts as TM reasonably determines are required to be
deducted and withheld with respect to such delivery and payment
under the Code or any provision of state, local, provincial or
foreign tax law. To the extent that any amounts are so withheld
all appropriate evidence of such deduction and withholding,
including any receipts or forms required in order for the person
with respect to whom such deduction and withholding occurred to
establish the deduction and withholding and payment to the
appropriate authority as being for its account with the
appropriate authorities shall be delivered to the Person with
respect to whom such deduction and withholding has occurred, and
such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes as
having been delivered and paid to the Person otherwise entitled
to the TM Shares or such other consideration in respect of which
such deduction and withholding was made by TM. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, TM, at its option, may require any such amounts
required to be deducted and withheld to be reimbursed in cash to
TM prior to the issuance of the TM Shares or such other
consideration.
Section 12.7 Expenses. The
Company shall pay for
and/or
reimburse TM for all fees and Expenses (including the
reasonable, documented fees and expenses of its counsel,
advisors, consultants, auditors and other Representatives)
incurred by TM in connection with or related to this Agreement,
the Transaction Documents and the Transactions contemplated
hereby in amounts consistent with the estimates provided by TM
to HMDF prior to the date hereof.
Section 12.8 Interpretation. The
titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for
convenience only and shall not be considered in the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. Except where the context
clearly requires to the contrary or is otherwise stated:
(i) when a reference is made in this Agreement to a
Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement
unless otherwise indicated; (ii) whenever the words
“include,”“includes” or
“including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be
deemed to be followed by the words “without
limitation”; (iii) all pronouns contained in this
Agreement, and any variations thereof, shall be deemed to refer
to the masculine, feminine or neutral, singular or plural, as
applicable, as the identity of any party may require;
(iv) references to laws, regulations and other governmental
rules, as well as to contracts, agreements and other
instruments, shall mean such rules and instruments as in effect
at the time of determination (taking into account any amendments
thereto effective at such time without regard to whether such
amendments were enacted or adopted after the effective date of
this Agreement) and shall include all successor rules and
instruments thereto; (v) references to “cash,”“$” or “dollars” shall mean the lawful
currency of the United States; (vi) references to
“RMB” shall mean the lawful currency of the PRC;
(vii) references to “Federal” or
“federal” shall be to laws, agencies or other
attributes of the United States or other relevant national
government (and not to any State or locality thereof); and
(viii) the meaning of the terms “domestic” and
“foreign” shall be determined by reference to the
United States.
Section 12.9 Severability. If
any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid,
illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or Law, or
public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this
Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so
long as the economic or legal substance of the Transactions is
not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party (it
being understood that if any provision of Section 11.3
hereof is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any
Law or public policy, it will be deemed to be a change to the
economic and legal substance of the Transactions that is
materially adverse to the Parties and will entitle either the
HMDF Parties or TM to terminate the Agreement without penalty
and none of the Parties and their respective shareholders and
Affiliates will have recourse against any other Parties). Upon
such determination that any term or other provision is invalid,
illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect
the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an
acceptable manner to the end that Transactions are fulfilled to
the extent possible.
Section 12.10 Counterparts;
Facsimile or Electronically Transmitted
Execution. This Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one
and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or
more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and
delivered to the other Parties. Facsimile or other
electronically transmitted execution and delivery of this
Agreement is legal, valid and binding for all purposes.
Section 12.11 Entire
Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries. This
Agreement, taken together with all Exhibits, Annexes and
Schedules hereto (a) constitute the entire agreement, and
supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written
and oral, among the Parties with respect to the Transactions and
(b) are not intended to confer upon any Person other than
the Parties any rights or remedies.
Section 12.12 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York
regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under
applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
Section 12.13 Dispute
Resolution.
(a) All judicial proceedings brought against any Party
hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the
Transaction Documents or any respective obligations thereunder,
may be brought in any State court of competent jurisdiction in
the State of New York, County of New York, or any Federal court
of competent jurisdiction in the Southern District of New York.
By executing and delivering this Agreement, each Party, for
itself and in connection with its properties, irrevocably
(i) accepts generally and unconditionally the nonexclusive
jurisdiction and venue of such courts, (ii) waives any
defense of forum non coveniens, (iii) agrees that
service of all process in any such proceeding in any such court
may be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, to such Party at its address provided in accordance
with Section 12.1 hereof or other address in the possession
of the sending Party, (iv) agrees that service as provided
in clause (iii) above is sufficient to confer personal
jurisdiction over such Party in any such proceeding in any such
court, and otherwise constitutes effective and binding service
in every respect and (v) agrees that the rights to serve
process and bring proceedings provided above shall be in
addition to any other rights to serve process in any other
manner permitted by law and to bring proceedings in the courts
of any other jurisdiction.
(b) Waiver of Trial By Jury. EACH
PARTY HERETO WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY AND REPRESENTS TO
THE OTHER PARTIES THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THE FOREGOING WAIVER WITH
ITS COUNSEL AND THAT IT HAS KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVED ITS
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY AFTER CONSULTATION WITH SUCH COUNSEL.
Section 12.14 Assignment. Neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations
under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by
operation of law or otherwise by any of the Parties without the
prior written consent of the other Parties. Any purported
assignment without such consent shall be void. Subject to the
preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure
to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their
respective successors and assigns.
Section 12.15 Governing
Language. This Agreement shall be governed
and interpreted in accordance with the English language.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
signatories as of the date first indicated above.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
signatories as of the date first indicated above.
HONG KONG MANDEFU HOLDINGS LTD.
By:
/s/ Zheng
Cheng
Name: Zheng Cheng
Title:
Chairman
Address:
FUJIAN ZHONG HENG EXPRESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
By:
/s/ Zheng
Cheng
Name: Zheng Cheng
Title:
Chairman
Address:
FUJIAN FENZHONG MEDIA CO., LTD.
By:
/s/ Zheng
Cheng
Name: Zheng Cheng
Title:
Chairman
Address:
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANKl
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOR THE HMDF SHAREHOLDERS FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
signatories as of the date first indicated above.
“Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning
set forth in Section 6.4(a) of the Agreement.
“Action” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.10 of the Agreement.
“Adjusted Net Income” as such term is
used in Section 1.2 means the “Net Income Attributable
to the Parent” as calculated and disclosed pursuant to
Statement of Accounting Standards (“SFAS”)
No. 160, as set forth on the audited consolidated financial
statements of the Company comprising a part of the
Forms 10-K
filed with the SEC for the fiscal years ending December 31,2009, 2010 or 2011 adjusted to:
(i) add back to the “Net Income Attributable to the
Parent” any charges for (a) “acquisition-related
costs” as defined in and charged to expense pursuant to
SFAS No. 141(R) and any other fees, expenses or
payments to any third party related to the Share Exchange,
(b) the amortization of intangibles, (c) impairment of
goodwill, (d) compensation expense arising from the
Earn-Out Shares, each (a) — (d) as it relates to
any acquisitions completed in, or pending at the end of, the
applicable period (including the Share Exchange), by TM or HMDF
Entities;
(ii) add back to the “Net Income Attributable to the
Parent” any out of pocket (i.e., third party) expenses
incurred to design, implement and annually assess disclosure
controls and procedures and internal controls over financial
reporting by TM or the HMDF Entities as a consequence of the
Company’s compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
(iii) add back to the “Net Income Attributable to the
Parent” any charges for Taxes payable by any of TM or the
HMDF Entities that are directly attributable to the Share
Exchange and that apply to the applicable period; and
(iv) deduct from the “Net Income Attributable to
Parent” the financial statement tax benefit of the amount
in (i), (ii) and (iii) above, computed by multiplying
the amount of the adjustment in (i), (ii) or
(iii) above by the statutory tax rate applicable to TM or
HMDF Entity that incurred the expense;
provided, however, that if the Company is no
longer required or eligible to file a
Form 10-K,
then the “Net Income Attributable to Parent” as
calculated and disclosed pursuant to SFAS No. 160 for
any particular fiscal year shall be as set forth on the audited
consolidated financial statements of the Company for such fiscal
year.
“Affiliates” shall mean, with respect to
any Person, any other Person that (a) directly or
indirectly, whether through one or more intermediaries or
otherwise, controls or is controlled by or is under common
control with such Person, (b) directly or indirectly,
whether through one or more intermediaries or otherwise, owns or
holds five percent (5%) or more of any equity interest in such
Person or (c) five percent (5%) or more of whose voting
stock other equity interest is directly or indirectly owned or
held by such Person. For purposes of this definition,
“control” (including with correlative meanings
“controlled by” and “under common control
with”) of a Person means the power, direct or indirect, to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by
Contract or otherwise. For the purposes of this definition, a
Person shall be deemed to control any of his or her immediate
family members.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in
the preamble to the Agreement.
“AMEX” means the NYSE Alternext US LLC.
“Basic Representation” has the meaning
set forth in Section 10.1 of the Agreement.
“Cap” has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.4(a) of the Agreement.
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1 of the Agreement.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth
in Section 2.1 of the Agreement.
“Code” means the United States Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Combined Board” means the board of
directors of the Company following the Closing.
“Common Stock” means the Common Stock,
$0.001 par value per share, of TM.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in
the preamble to the Agreement.
“Consent” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.6 of the Agreement.
“Continuing Directors” means, as of any
date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of
TM who (i) was a member of such Board of Directors within
sixty (60) days after the closing of the Transactions or
(ii) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of
Directors with (A) the approval of a majority of the
Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors
at the time of such nomination or election; (B) the
approval of a majority of the members of the nominating
committee or other committee performing similar functions, if
such committee exists and the Continuing Directors constitute a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors of TM at the
time of such nomination or election; or (C) was nominated
or designated for election to the Board of Directors either
(x) pursuant to the Voting Agreement or (y) by any of
the HMDF Shareholders or their Affiliates or assigns.
“Contract” means a contract, lease,
license, indenture, note, bond, agreement, permit, concession,
franchise or other instrument.
“Conversion Rights” means the right of
Public Stockholders of the Publicly Held Common Stock voting
against a business combination to convert their shares of
Publicly Held Common stock for a pro-rata share of the
Trust Fund, if the business combination is approved and
completed. The Public Stockholders of the Publicly Held Common
Stock who exercise such Conversion Rights will continue to have
the right to exercise any TM Warrants they may hold.
“Damages” has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.2(a) of the Agreement.
“Deductible” has the meaning set forth
in Section 10.4(a) of the Agreement.
“DGCL” means the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware.
“Disclosure Schedules” means the HMDF
Disclosure Schedule and the TM Disclosure Schedule.
“Earn-Out Shares” has the meaning set
forth in Section 1.2(e) of the Agreement.
“Earn-Out Share Payments” has the
meaning set forth in Section 1.2(e)(i) of the Agreement.
“Environment” means soil, land surface
or subsurface strata, surface waters (including navigable
waters, ocean waters, streams, ponds, drainage basins, and
wetlands), groundwaters, drinking water supply, stream
sediments, ambient air (including indoor air), plant and animal
life, and any other environmental medium or natural resource.
“Environmental Law” shall mean any Legal
Requirement that requires or relates to:
(a) advising appropriate authorities, employees, and the
public of intended or actual releases of pollutants or hazardous
substances or materials, violations of discharge limits, or
other prohibitions and of the commencements of activities, such
as resource extraction or construction, that could have
significant impact on the Environment;
(b) preventing or reducing to acceptable levels the release
of pollutants or hazardous substances or materials into the
Environment;
(c) reducing the quantities, preventing the release, or
minimizing the hazardous characteristics of wastes that are
generated;
(d) assuring that products are designed, formulated,
packaged, and used so that they do not present unreasonable
risks to human health or the Environment when used or disposed
of;
(e) protecting resources, species, or ecological amenities;
(f) reducing to acceptable levels the risks inherent in the
transportation of hazardous substances, pollutants, oil, or
other potentially harmful substances;
(g) cleaning up pollutants that have been released,
preventing the threat of release, or paying the costs of such
clean up or prevention; or
(h) making responsible parties pay private parties, or
groups of them, for damages done to their health or the
Environment, or permitting self-appointed representatives of the
public interest to recover for injuries done to public assets.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Executive Employment Agreement” means
the Executive Employment Agreement entered into by Zheng Cheng
and the HMDF Entities, in form and substance customary for the
PRC market and transactions similar to the Transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
“Expenses” shall mean all out-of-pocket
expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel,
accountants, investment bankers, experts and consultants to a
party hereto and its Affiliates) incurred by a party on its
behalf in connection with or related to the authorization,
preparation, diligence, negotiation, execution and performance
of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents.
“Facilities” shall mean any real
property, leaseholds, or other interests currently or formerly
owned or operated by any of the HMDF Entities and any buildings,
plants, structures, or equipment (including motor vehicles, tank
cars, and rolling stock) currently or formerly owned or operated
by any of the HMDF Entities.
“FCPA” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.20 of the Agreement.
“FF” has the meaning set forth in the
preamble to the Agreement.
“Form 10-K”
has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(e)(i) of the
Agreement.
“FY2009” means the fiscal year of the
Company ending December 31, 2009.
“FY2010” means the fiscal year of the
Company ending December 31, 2010.
“FY2011” means the fiscal year of the
Company ending December 31, 2011.
“FY2012” means the fiscal year of the
Company ending December 31, 2012.
“Governmental Authority” means any
national, federal, state, provincial, local or foreign
government, governmental, regulatory or administrative
authority, agency or commission or any court, tribunal or
judicial or arbitral body of competent jurisdiction, or other
governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign.
“HMDF” has the meaning set forth in the
preamble to the Agreement.
“HMDF Balance Sheet” has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.9 of the Agreement.
“HMDF Benefit Plans” has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.15(a) of the Agreement.
“HMDF Constituent Instruments” means the
memorandum and articles of association of HMDF together with its
statutory registers and such constituent instruments of other
HMDF Entities as may exist, each as amended to the date of the
Agreement.
“HMDF Disclosure Schedule” has the
meaning set forth in Article III of the Agreement.
“HMDF Financial Statements” has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.2(a) of the Agreement.
“HMDF FY2008 Net Income” has the meaning
set forth in Section 1.2(a) of the Agreement.
“HMDF Interim Financial Statements” has
the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(c) of the Agreement.
“HMDF Indemnified Parties” has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.3(a) of the Agreement.
“HMDF Material Contract” has the meaning
set forth in Section 3.18(a) of the Agreement.
“HMDF Monthly Interim Financial
Statements” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.2(c) of the Agreement.
“HMDF Party” or “HMDF
Parties” has the meaning set forth in the preamble
to the Agreement.
“HMDF Quarterly Interim Financial
Statements” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.2(b) of the Agreement.
“HMDF Shares” has the meaning set forth
in the background to the Agreement.
“HMDF Shareholder(s)” has the meaning
set forth in the preamble to the Agreement.
“In-Bound Licenses” has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.13(b) of the Agreement.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth
in Section 10.5 of the Agreement.
“Indemnitor” has the meaning set forth
in Section 10.5 of the Agreement.
“Indemnification Notice” has the meaning
set forth in Section 10.5 of the Agreement.
“Independent Committee” has the meaning
set forth in Section 10.2(c) of the Agreement.
“Independent Director(s)” has the
meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a) of the Agreement.
“Initial Cash Payment” has the meaning
set forth in Section 1.2(c) of the Agreement.
“Initial Equity Payment” has the meaning
set forth in Section 1.2(b) of the Agreement.
“Intellectual Property” means all
tangible and intangible intellectual property, including:
(i) discoveries and inventions, patents, patent
applications (either filed or in preparation for filing) and
statutory invention registrations (including reissues,
divisions, continuations, continuations in part, extensions and
reexaminations thereof) and all rights therein and all
improvements thereto; (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade
names, slogans, logos, trade dress, corporate names and other
source identifiers (whether or not registered), including all
common law rights, and registrations and applications for
registration thereof and all rights therein and all renewals of
any of the foregoing; (iii) copyrightable works, copyrights
(whether or not registered) and copyright registrations and
applications for registration therefor, derivative work and all
rights therein and all extensions and renewals of any of the
foregoing; (iv) electronic addresses and passwords, domain
names and registrations and applications or reservations for
registration thereof, and any similar rights and all content
embodied in all websites and web pages found at such uniform
resource locators; (v) Software; (vi) confidential and
proprietary information, trade secrets, know-how, models,
algorithms, processes, formulas, and techniques, research and
development information, ideas, technical data, designs,
drawings and specifications; (vii) advertising and
promotional materials; (viii) rights under all Contracts
under which intellectual property rights were granted to any
Person by a third party, or to a third party by any Person;
(ix) modifications or improvements to any item described in
the immediately preceding clauses (i) through (viii);
(x) copies and tangible embodiments of any item described
in the immediately preceding clauses (i) through (ix); and
(xi) other proprietary rights relating to any item
described in the immediately preceding clauses (i) through
(x), including associated goodwill, remedies against past and
future infringements thereof and rights of protection of an
interest therein under the laws of all jurisdictions.
“Investor Representation Letter” means
the representation letter to be provided by each HMDF
Shareholder in the form and substance customary for transactions
similar to the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
“Judgment” means any judgment, order or
decree.
“Knowledge” (i) with respect to the
HMDF Entities shall mean the actual knowledge after due inquiry
of Zheng Cheng, Chunlan Bian, Qingping Lin, Ou Wen Lin and its
executive officers and the members of its Board of Directors,
and (ii) with respect to TM shall mean the actual knowledge
after due inquiry of its executive officers and the members of
its Board of Directors.
“Law(s)” means any law, statute,
ordinance, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree.
“Legal Requirement” means any federal,
state, local, municipal, provincial, foreign or other law,
statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution,
ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, regulation, ruling or
requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented
or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any
Governmental Authorities (or under the authority of any national
securities exchange upon which TM Shares then listed or traded)
“Liens” means any liens, security
interests, pledges, equities and claims of any kind, voting
trusts, shareholder agreements and other encumbrances.
“Lock-Up
Agreements” means the
lock-up
agreements to be entered into by Zheng Cheng, Qingping Lin and
Ou Wen Lin as of the Closing Date, each in the form of
Exhibit A to the Agreement.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any
event, change, circumstance, condition or effect that,
individually or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or otherwise), properties, prospects, assets,
liabilities, business, operations or results of operations of
such Person and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the definition of Material
Adverse Effect shall not include events caused by
(A) changes in the U.S. or PRC economic conditions,
except to the extent that the same disproportionately impact
such Person as compared to other similarly situated companies;
(B) changes to the economic conditions affecting the
industries in which the Person and its subsidiaries operate,
except to the extent that the same disproportionately impact
such Persons as compared to other companies in the industries in
which such Persons operate; (C) changes related to or
arising from the execution, announcement or performance of, or
compliance with, this Agreement or the consummation of the
Transactions, including the impact thereof on relationships,
contractual or otherwise, governmental authorities, customers,
suppliers, distributors or employees; (D) changes in
accounting requirements or principles or any change in
applicable laws or the interpretation thereof; or
(E) matters listed in the Disclosure Schedules as they
exist at the time of the execution of the Agreement.
“Material Permits” mean all Permits
other than such franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations
and approvals the lack of which, individually or in the
aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on any Parties.
“Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning
set forth in Section 3.21 of the Agreement.
“Non-Achieving Fiscal Year” has the
meaning set forth in Section 1.2(e)(ii) of the Agreement.
“OFAC” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.23 of the Agreement.
“Off-balance Sheet Arrangement” means
with respect to any Person, any securitization transaction to
which that Person or its Subsidiaries is party and any other
transaction, agreement or other contractual arrangement to which
an entity unconsolidated with that Person is a party, under
which that Person or its Subsidiaries, whether or not a party to
the arrangement, has, or in the future may have: (a) any
obligation under a direct or indirect guarantee or similar
arrangement; (b) a retained or contingent interest in
assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity or similar
arrangement; or (c) derivatives to the extent that the fair
value thereof is not fully reflected as a liability or asset in
the financial statements.
“Out-Bound Licenses” has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.13(b) of the Agreement.
“Party” or
‘‘Parties” has the meaning set
forth in the preamble to the Agreement.
“Permits” mean all governmental
franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals
necessary to enable a Person to own, lease or otherwise hold its
properties and assets and to conduct its businesses as presently
conducted.
“Permitted Lien” shall mean (a) any
restriction on transfer arising under applicable securities law;
(b) any Liens for Taxes not yet due or delinquent or being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which
adequate reserves have been established in accordance with
U.S. GAAP; (c) any statutory Liens arising in the
ordinary course of business by operation of Law with respect to
a liability that is not yet due and delinquent and which are
not, individually or in the aggregate, significant;
(d) zoning, entitlement, building and other land use
regulations imposed by governmental agencies having jurisdiction
over the Real Property which are not violated by the current use
and operation of the Real Property; (e) covenants,
conditions, restrictions, easements and other similar matters of
record affecting title to the Real Property which do not
materially impair the occupancy or use of the Real Property for
the purposes for which it is currently used or proposed to be
used in connection with the such relevant Person’s
business; (f) Liens identified on title policies, title
opinions or preliminary title reports or other documents or
writings included in the public records; (g) Liens arising
under worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social
security, retirement and similar legislation; (h) Liens of
lessors and licensors arising under lease agreements or license
arrangements; and (i) those Liens set forth in the HMDF
Disclosure Schedule.
“Permitted Financing” shall mean
(i) the incurrence or issuance by TM or the Company of up
to $50,000,000 of secured or unsecured indebtedness (which may
be convertible into TM Shares) or preferred stock, the net
proceeds of which may be utilized by TM or the Company to
purchase up to $50,000,000 of Publicly Held Common Stock;
(ii) the exchange of TM Shares for any senior ranking
security that shall remain outstanding following the Closing
Date; or (iii) forward contracts with existing TM
stockholders to be settled contemporaneously with the Closing
using TM’s cash, including cash proceeds from another
Permitted Financing or cash from the Trust Fund.
“Person” shall mean an individual,
partnership, corporation, joint venture, unincorporated
organization, cooperative or a governmental entity or agency
thereof.
“PRC” shall mean the People’s
Republic of China, for the purposes of this Agreement, excluding
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao
Special Administrative Region and Taiwan.
“Projections” has the meaning set forth
in Section 3.7 of the Agreement.
“Proxy Statement” means the proxy
statement to be sent to TM stockholders in connection with the
Stockholders’ Meeting
“Public Stockholders” shall mean the
holders of the Publicly Held Common Stock.
“Publicly Held Common Stock” shall mean
the TM Shares which were sold as part of the TM Public Offering
(whether purchased in connection with such offering or in the
aftermarket).
“Publicly Held TM Warrants” means the TM
Warrants issued as part of the equity units sold by TM in
TM’s Public Offering other than to the directors of TM or
to TM’s underwriters and their respective employees and
Affiliates in connection with the Underwriters Purchase Option,
in each case prior to the date of this Agreement.
“Real Estate Leases” has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.12(a) of the Agreement.
“Real Property” has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.12(a) of the Agreement.
“Regulation S-K”
means
Regulation S-K
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Representatives” of either Party shall
mean such Party’s employees, accountants, auditors,
actuaries, counsel, financial advisors, bankers, investment
bankers and consultants and any other person acting on behalf of
such Party.
“Returned Shares” has the meaning set
forth in Section 10.2(b) of the Agreement.
“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” has the meaning set
forth in Section 4.14 of the Agreement.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
“Share Exchange” has the meaning set
forth in the background to the Agreement.
“Software” means all computer software
and open-source software, including source code, object code,
machine-readable code, HTML, program listings, comments, user
interfaces, menus, buttons and icons, and all files, data,
manuals, design notes and other items and documentation related
thereto or associated therewith.
“Stockholders’ Meeting” has the
meaning set forth in Section 7.1 of the Agreement.
“Structure Agreements” means,
collectively, the Contracts which were executed and delivered to
enable HMDF to effectively control and consolidate the financial
results of FF with its financial statements.
“Subsidiary” an entity shall be deemed
to be a “Subsidiary” of another Person if
(a) such Person directly or indirectly owns, beneficially
or of record, an amount of voting securities of other interests
in such entity that is sufficient to enable such Person to elect
at leased a majority of the members of such entity’s board
of directors or other governing body, or (b) at least 50%
of the outstanding equity or financial interests of such entity.
“Survival Period” means the applicable
period of time that a representation, warranty, covenant or
obligation survives the Closing pursuant to Section 10.1 of
the Agreement.
“Tail Policy” has the meaning set forth
in Section 8.6 of the Agreement.
“Tangible Personal Property” has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b) of the Agreement.
“Targeted Net Income Threshold” means
Adjusted Net Income of RMB 287,000,000 for FY2009, RMB
570,000,000 for FY2010, RMB 889,000,000 for FY2011 and RMB
1,155,700,000 for FY2012, as applicable.
“Taxes” includes all forms of taxation,
whenever created or imposed, and whether of the United States or
elsewhere, and whether imposed by a local, municipal,
governmental, state, foreign, federal or other Governmental
Authority, or in connection with any agreement with respect to
Taxes, including all interest, penalties and additions imposed
with respect to such amounts.
“Tax Benefit” has the meaning set forth
in Section 10.6 of the Agreement.
“Tax Return” means all federal, state,
local, provincial and foreign Tax returns, declarations,
statements, reports, schedules, forms and information returns
and any amended Tax return relating to Taxes.
“Termination Date” means the date that
is forty-five (45) days following the date that TM receives
final approval from and clearance by the SEC enabling TM to mail
the definitive Proxy Statement to TM’s stockholders.
“TM” has the meaning set forth in the
preamble to the Agreement.
“TM Board” means the board of directors
of TM.
“TM Constituent Instruments” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.2 of the Agreement.
“TM Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning
set forth in Article IV of the Agreement.
“TM Indemnified Parties” has the meaning
set forth in Section 10.2(a) of the Agreement.
“TM Material Contract” has the meaning
set forth in Section 4.23(a) of the Agreement.
“TM Prospectus” means the prospectus
filed by TM with the SEC and made effective on October 17,2007.
“TM Public Offering” means the initial
public offering of TM completed on October 4, 2007, in
which TM sold 10,255,000 Units at a price of $8.00 per Unit and
the related subsequent exercise of the over-allotment option.
“TM Representatives” means each of
Theodore S. Green and Malcolm Bird.
“TM SEC Documents” has the meaning set
forth in Section 4.7 of the Agreement.
“TM Share(s)” means the shares of Common
Stock.
“TM Warrant(s)” means the redeemable
Warrant(s) of TM which entitles the registered holder to
purchase one TM Share at a price of $5.50 per share.
“Trade Secrets” means all trade secrets
under applicable law and other rights in know-how and
confidential or proprietary information, processing,
manufacturing or marketing information, including new
developments, inventions, processes, ideas or other proprietary
information that provides advantages over competitors who do not
know or use it.
“Transaction Documents” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.3 of the Agreement.
“Transactions” has the meaning set forth
in Section 2.1 of the Agreement.
“Trust Fund” has the meaning set
forth in Section 4.21 of the Agreement.
“Underwriters Purchase Option” means
options granted by TM to the representatives of the underwriters
of the TM Public Offering, to purchase up to a total of 700,000
Units at a
per-unit
price of $10.00. The Units that would be issued upon exercise of
this option are identical to those sold in TM Public Offering.
The option to purchase the Units granted to the representatives
of the underwriters will expire on October 17, 2012 and the
warrants granted to them will expire on October 17, 2011.
“Units” shall mean units consisting of
one TM Share and one TM Warrant at a price of $8.00 per unit,
issued in connection with the TM Public Offering.
“U.S. GAAP” means generally
accepted accounting principles of the United States.
“Voting Agreement” means the voting
agreement among the Company and the HMDF Shareholders in the
form of Exhibit B of the Agreement.
“Voting HMDF Debt” has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.1(b) of the Agreement.
“Voting TM Debt” has the meaning set
forth in Section 4.1(c) of the Agreement.
AMENDMENT NO. 1 (this “Amendment”)
dated as of September 30, 2009 to SHARE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT,
dated as of May 1, 2009 (the “Original
Agreement”), by and among TM ENTERTAINMENT AND
MEDIA, INC., a corporation incorporated in the State of
Delaware, USA (“TM” or, following the
consummation of the Share Exchange, the
“Company”), HONG KONG MANDEFU HOLDINGS
LTD., a limited company incorporated in Hong Kong
(“HMDF”), FUJIAN ZHONG HENG EXPRESS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., a limited liability company
established in the PRC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of HMDF
(“ZH”), ZHENG CHENG, an individual, OU
WEN LIN, an individual, and QINGPING LIN, an individual, FUJIAN
FENZHONG MEDIA CO., LTD., a limited liability company operating
in media business established in PRC
(“FF” and, together with HMDF and ZH,
the “HMDF Entities”), controlled by ZH
by contractual agreements and arrangements, THOUSAND SPACE
HOLDING LIMITED, a company organized under the laws of the
British Virgin Islands (“Thousand”), and
BRIGHT ELITE MANAGEMENT LIMITED, a company organized under the
laws of the British Virgin Islands
(“Bright”). Capitalized terms used
herein that are not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in Original Agreement.
BACKGROUND
The Parties desire to amend or waive certain provisions of the
Original Agreement as provided herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
Parties agree as follows:
1. Section 1.2(b) of the Original Agreement is amended
and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
(b) Initial Equity Payment. Subject to
Section 1.2(d) below, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, at the Closing, TM shall issue and deliver to
each HMDF Shareholder the number of TM Shares set forth opposite
such HMDF Shareholder’s name on Schedule B in
the column entitled “Initial Equity Payment,”
representing, in the aggregate, 20,915,000 TM Shares (the
“Initial Equity Payment”).
2. Section 1.2(c) of the Original Agreement is amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
(c) Initial Note Payment. Subject to
Section 1.2(d) below, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, at the Closing, TM shall issues to each HMDF
Shareholder a Promissory Note in the principal amount set forth
opposite such HMDF Shareholder’s name on
Schedule B in the column entitled “Initial Note
Payment,” representing, the aggregate principal amount of
$10,000,000 (the “Initial Note Payment”).
3. Section 2.3 of the Original Agreement is amended to
read in its entirety as follows:
2.3 Additional Agreements. At the
Closing, the following agreements (collectively, the
“Transaction Documents” will have been
duly executed by each party thereto, delivered or otherwise
effectuated: (i) the
Lock-Up
Agreements; (ii) the Executive Employment Agreement with
Zheng Cheng; (iii) the Voting Agreement; (iv) the
Registration Rights Agreement; (v) the Investor
Representation Letters; (vi) the TM Holders Share Sales
Agreements; and (vii) the TM Holders
Lock-up
Agreements.
4. Section 4.1(a) of the Disclosure Schedule is
amended to read in its entirety as set forth in
Schedule 4.1(a) to this Agreement.
5. Section 4.18 of the Original Agreement is amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
4.18 Vote Required. The approval
of the TM Board and the Affirmative vote of the stockholders of
TM in accordance with Section 9.1 hereof are the only
approvals or votes necessary to approve this Agreement and the
Transactions; provided, however, that TM will not consummate the
Transactions if otherwise prohibited by its Certificate of
Incorporation.
6. The HMDF Stockholders hereby waive the covenant set
forth in Section 5.2 to the extent necessary to permit
(i) the proposal and adoption of amendments to TM’s
Certificate of Incorporation to eliminate the requirement that
holders of no more than 30% of TM’s Publicly Held Common
Stock held by Public Stockholders exercise their Conversion
Rights with respect to their Common Stock and to permit any
holder of TM’s Publicly Held Common Stock who votes either
for or against the approval of the Transactions to exercise
Conversion Rights, and (ii) the issuance at closing of
100,000 shares of Common Stock to Sinova Capital.
7. Section 9.1(e) of the Original Agreement is amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
(e) Approval by TM’s
Stockholders. This Agreement and the Transactions
contemplated hereby shall have been approved by a majority of
the issued and outstanding Common Stock, in accordance with
Section 253 of the DGCL and other applicable laws, and the
consummation of the Transactions is not otherwise prohibited by
the Certificate of Incorporation of TM.
8. Section 9.1(m) of the Original Agreement is amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
(m) Sufficient Cash. TM shall have
a sufficient amount of cash to pay the expenses provided for in
Section 12.7 after giving effect to the satisfaction of
(i) all requested conversions of IPO Shares in connection
with the approval of the business combination and (ii) any
Permitted Financing requiring repayment or settlement upon the
closing or within six months thereafter.
9. Section 9.2(d) of the Original Agreement is amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
(d) Approval by TM’s
Stockholders. This Agreement and the Transactions
contemplated hereby shall have been approved by a majority of
the issued and outstanding Common Stock, in accordance with
Section 253 of the DGCL and other applicable laws, and the
consummation of the Transactions is not otherwise prohibited by
the Certificate of Incorporation of TM.
10. Section 10.9 of the Original Agreement is amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
Section 10.9. Reserved.
11. Section 12.7 of the Original Agreement is amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
Section 12.7 Expenses. The
Company shall, or shall cause its subsidiaries to, pay directly
and/or
reimburse TM for all fees and Expenses up to $3.8 million
(including the reasonable, documented fees and expenses of its
counsel, advisors, consultants, auditors and other
Representatives) incurred in connection with or related to this
Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the Transactions
contemplated hereby in amounts consistent with the estimates
provided by TM to HMDF prior to the date hereof.
12. TM acknowledges and agrees that the current Employment
Agreement effective as of December 1, 2008, between Fujian
Fenzhong and Mr. Zheng Cheng constitutes the Executive
Employment Agreement with Mr. Zheng Cheng contemplated by
the Original Agreement.
13. The defined terms Initial Cash Payment as used
throughout the Original Agreement is amended to read
“Initial Note Payment.”
14. The defined term Conversion Rights is amended to read
in its entirety as follows:
“Conversion Rights” means the right of
Public Stockholders of the Publicly Held Common Stock to convert
their shares of Publicly Held Common Stock for a pro-rata share
of the Trust Fund, if the business combination is approved
and completed. The Public Stockholders of the Publicly Held
Common Stock who exercise such Conversion Rights will continue
to have the right to exercise any TM Warrants they may hold.
15. The following defined terms shall be added to
Annex A of the Original Agreement in proper alphabetical
order:
“TM Holders
Lock-up
Agreements” means one or more agreements between TM
on the one hand and Theodore Green and Malcolm Bird on the
other, pursuant to which each such TM Seller agrees that sales
of warrants owned by them on the Closing Date shall be
restricted for one year following the Closing on the same terms
as the
Lock-up
Agreements executed by such TM Sellers in connection with
TM’s initial public offering, such agreements to be in form
and substance mutually agreeable to the parties thereto.
“TM Holders Share Sale Agreements” means
one or more agreements between the HMDF Shareholders on the one
hand and one or more TM Sellers on the other, pursuant to which
the TM Sellers executing such agreements agree to (i) sell
an aggregate of 750,000 share of Common Stock (in such
amounts as the TM Sellers shall agree) to each of the aggregate
number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such HMDF
Shareholder’s name on Schedule B in the column
entitled “TM Holders Sale”, for consideration of $.01
per share, and (ii) transfer up to an aggregate of
250,000 shares to investors (A) in any Permitted
Financing occurring prior to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in such amounts and
in such instances the TM Sellers and the HMDF Entities
reasonably determine or (B) in a financing following the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
in such amounts and in such instances as the Company reasonably
determines to contribute as part of any such financing, such
agreements to be in form and substance mutually agreeable to the
parties thereto.
“Promissory Note” means an interest free
promissory note of TM maturing on the third anniversary of the
Closing Date, which note shall be prepayable in whole or in part
without penalty or premium and shall be prepaid from time to
time upon the earliest of a financing following the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or such times
as the Company’s Board of Directors shall determine, and
which Note shall be in customary form reasonably acceptable to
the Company and the HMDF Parties.
“TM Sellers” means each of Theodore S.
Green, Malcolm Bird, John W. Hyde, and Jonathan F. Miller.
16. Schedule B to the Original Agreement shall be
amended and restated to read in its entirety as set forth on
Schedule B to this Amendment.
17. TM acknowledges and agrees that CME and the HMDF
Shareholders shall have the right to discuss financing options
for the Company after the Closing with any potential financing
sources without violating the provisions of the Original
Agreement.
18. Except as set forth herein the terms and provisions of
the Original Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
Upon execution of this Amendment all references to the Agreement
in the Original Agreement shall be deemed to mean the Original
Agreement as amended by this Amendment.
19. This Amendment may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when one or more
counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and
delivered to the other Parties. Facsimile or other
electronically transmitted execution and delivery of this
Agreement is legal, valid and binding for all purposes.
20. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles
of conflicts of laws thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this
Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized
signatories as of the date first indicated above.
TM ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
By:
/s/ Theodore
S. Green
Name: Theodore S. Green
Title:
Chairman and Co-Chief Executive
Officer
By:
/s/ Malcolm
Bird
Name: Malcolm Bird
Title:
Co-Chief Executive Officer
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOR HMDF PARTIES FOLLOW]
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SHARE
EXCHANGE AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
signatories as of the date first indicated above.
HONG KONG MANDEFU HOLDINGS LTD.
By:
/s/ Zhen
Cheng
Name: Zhen Cheng
Title:
Chairman
FUJIAN ZHONG HENG EXPRESS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
By:
/s/ Zhen
Cheng
Name: Zhen Cheng
Title:
Chairman
FUJIAN FENZHONG MEDIA CO., LTD.
By:
/s/ Zhen
Cheng
Name: Zhen Cheng
Title:
Chairman
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOR THE HMDF SHAREHOLDERS FOLLOWS]
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SHARE
EXCHANGE AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
signatories as of the date first indicated above.
THOUSAND SPACE HOLDING LIMITED
By:
/s/ Ou
Wen Lin
Name: Ou Wen Lin
Title:
Chairman
BRIGHT ELITE MANAGEMENT LIMITED
By:
/s/ Qingping
Lin
Name: Qingping Lin
Title:
Chairman
/s/ Zheng
Cheng
Name: Zheng Cheng
/s/ Ou
Wen Lin
Name: Ou Wen Lin
/s/ Qingping
Lin
Name: Qingping Lin
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SHARE
EXCHANGE AGREEMENT]
THIS LOCK-UP
AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as
of
[ ],
2009, by and between the stockholder set forth on the signature
page to this Agreement (the “Holder”)
and TM ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC., a Delaware corporation, or
its successor corporation (the
“Company”). Any and all capitalized
terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meaning ascribed to such terms in the Exchange Agreement (as
defined below).
BACKGROUND
A. The Company has entered into that certain Share Exchange
Agreement, dated May 1, 2009 (the “Exchange
Agreement”), with Hong Kong Mandefu Holdings Ltd.,
a limited company incorporated in Hong Kong
(“HMDF”), and various other parties set
forth on the signature pages to the Exchange Agreement. The
Holder is the beneficial owner (directly or through his or her
nominees) of the
Lock-up
Shares (as defined below). Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement,
the Company will issue to the HMDF Shareholders the number of TM
Shares as are specified on Schedule B to the Exchange
Agreement, in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding
shares of HMDF.
B. As a condition of, and as a material inducement for the
Company to enter into and consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Exchange Agreement, the Holder has agreed to
execute, deliver and be bound by the terms and conditions of
this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants
and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree
as follows:
1. Effectiveness of Agreement. This
Agreement shall become null and void if the Exchange Agreement
is terminated prior to the Closing.
2. Representations and Warranties. Each
of the parties hereto, by their respective execution and
delivery of this Agreement, hereby represents and warrants to
the others and to all third party beneficiaries of this
Agreement that (a) such party has the full right, capacity
and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its respective
obligations under this Agreement, (b) this Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by such party and is the
binding and enforceable obligation of such party, enforceable
against such party in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, and (c) the execution, delivery and performance
of such party’s obligations under this Agreement will not
conflict with or breach the terms of any other agreement,
contract, commitment or understanding to which such party is a
party or to which the assets or securities of such party are
bound.
The Holder has independently evaluated the merits of its
decision to enter into and deliver this Agreement, and such
Holder confirms that it has not relied on the advice of the
Company, the Company’s legal counsel or any other Person.
3. Beneficial Ownership. The Holder
hereby represents and warrants that it does not beneficially
own, directly or through its nominees, (as determined in
accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) any TM Shares, or
any economic interest therein or derivative therefrom, other
than those TM Shares specified on the signature page hereto. For
purposes of this Agreement, the number of TM Shares beneficially
owned by such Holder as specified on the signature hereto, plus
any number of TM Shares acquired during the
Lock-Up
Period (as defined below), including, but not limited to, the
Earn-Out Shares, if any, are collectively referred to as the
“Lock-up
Shares.”
(a) During the
Lock-up
Period, the Holder irrevocably agrees that it will not offer,
sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly
or indirectly, any of the
Lock-up
Shares (including any securities convertible into, or
exchangeable for, or representing the rights to receive,
Lock-up
Shares), enter into a transaction that would have the same
effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that
transfers or intends to transfer, in whole or in part, any of
the economic or beneficial consequences of ownership of such
Lock-up
Shares, whether any of these transactions are to be settled by
delivery of any such
Lock-up
Shares, in cash or otherwise, publicly disclose the intention to
make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into
any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, or engage in
any Short Sales (as defined below) with respect to any security
of the
Company.2
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 4(a)
intends to restrict transfer of the
Lock-up
Shares by the Holder pursuant to an underwritten secondary
offering.3
(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company will
(i) place an irrevocable stop order on all
Lock-up
Shares, including those which are covered by a registration
statement; (ii) notify the Company’s transfer agent in
writing of the stop order and the restrictions on such
Lock-up
Shares under this Agreement and direct the Company’s
transfer agent not to process any attempts by the Holder to
resell or transfer any
Lock-up
Shares, except in compliance with this Agreement; and
(iii) place a notation on the stockholder ledger of the
Company about the restrictions on such
Lock-up
Shares under this Agreement.
(c) For purposes hereof, “Short
Sales” include, without limitation, all “short
sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under
Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act and all types of
direct and indirect stock pledges, forward sale contracts,
options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including
on a total return basis), and sales and other transactions
through non-US broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers.
(d) For purpose of this Agreement,
“Lock-up
Period” means a period of
[12 months/6 months]4
from the Date of Delivery. “Date of
Delivery” means the date of the delivery of the
Lock-up
Shares to the HMDF Shareholders (which shall be the Closing Date
with respect to the Initial Equity Payment being delivered to
the HMDF Shareholders at the Closing, and which shall be the
dates that the Earn-Out Shares are issued and delivered in
accordance with Section 1.2(e) of the Exchange Agreement,
with respect to the Earn-Out Shares).
5. No Additional Fees/Payment. Other than
the consideration specifically referenced herein, the parties
hereto agree that no fee, payment or additional consideration in
any form has been or will be paid to the Holder in connection
with this Agreement.
6. Notices. Any notices required or
permitted to be sent hereunder shall be delivered personally or
by courier service to the following addresses, or such other
address as any party hereto designates by written notice to the
other party. Provided, however, a transmission per telefax or
email shall be sufficient
2 In
the case of Thousand Space Holding Limited and Bright Elite
Management Limited, insert the following additional language:
“During the six-month period immediately following the
Lock-up
Period, the Holder shall not sell, contract to sell, pledge or
otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, in excess of
500,000
Lock-up
Shares during such six-month period.”
3 In
the case of Thousand Space Holding Limited and Bright Elite
Management Limited, insert the following additional carve-out at
the end of this sentence: “or to an institutional
investor.”
4 In
the case of Zheng Cheng, the
Lock-up
period shall be 12 months from the Date of Delivery, and in
the case of Thousand Space Holding Limited and Bright Elite
Management Limited, the
Lock-up
Period shall be 6 months from the Date of Delivery.
and shall be deemed to be properly served when the telefax or
email is received if the signed original notice is received by
the recipient within three (3) calendar days thereafter.
or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the
others in writing in accordance herewith.
7. Enumeration and Headings. The
enumeration and headings contained in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not control or affect
the meaning or construction of any of the provisions of this
Agreement.
8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in facsimile and in any number of counterparts, each of
which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an
original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the
same agreement.
9. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement
and the terms, covenants, provisions and conditions hereof shall
be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the
respective heirs, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
The Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement is
entered into for the benefit of and is enforceable by the
Company and its successors and assigns.
10. Severability. If any provision of
this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any
reason, such provision will be conformed to prevailing law
rather than voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent
of the parties and, in any event, the remaining provisions of
this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
be binding upon the parties hereto.
11. Amendment. This Agreement may be
amended or modified by written agreement executed by each of the
parties, hereto; provided, however, that any such amendment or
modification shall require the written consent and approval of
the TM Representatives.
12. Further Assurances. Each party shall
do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such
further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such
other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as
any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the
intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
13. No Strict Construction. The language
used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen
by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of
strict construction will be applied against any party.
14. Dispute Resolution.
(a) All judicial proceedings brought against any party
hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any
respective obligations hereunder, may be brought in any State
court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New York, County
of New York, or any Federal court of competent jurisdiction in
the Southern District of New York. By executing and delivering
this Agreement, each party hereto, for itself and in connection
with its properties, irrevocably (i) accepts generally and
unconditionally the nonexclusive jurisdiction and venue of such
courts, (ii) waives any defense of forum non
coveniens, (iii) agrees that service of all process in
any such proceeding in any such court may be made by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, to such Party at
its address provided in accordance with Section 6 hereof or
other address in the possession of the sending party,
(iv) agrees that service as provided in clause (iii)
above is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over such
party in any such proceeding in any such court, and otherwise
constitutes effective and binding service in every respect and
(v) agrees that the rights to serve process and bring
proceedings provided above shall be in addition to
any other rights to serve process in any other manner permitted
by law and to bring proceedings in the courts of any other
jurisdiction.
(b) Waiver of Trial By Jury. EACH
PARTY HERETO WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY AND REPRESENTS TO
THE OTHER PARTIES THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THE FOREGOING WAIVER WITH
ITS COUNSEL AND THAT IT HAS KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVED ITS
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY AFTER CONSULTATION WITH SUCH COUNSEL.
15. Governing Law. The terms and
provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.
16. Controlling Agreement. To the extent
the terms of this Agreement (as amended, supplemented, restated
or otherwise modified from time to time) directly conflicts with
a provision in the Exchange Agreement, the terms of this
Agreement shall control.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Lock-Up
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
signatories as of the date first indicated above.
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this
“Agreement”) is entered into as of the
[ ] day
of
[ ]
2009, by and among TM Entertainment and Media, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”) and the
undersigned parties listed under Investor on the signature page
hereto (each, an “Investor” and
collectively, the “Investors”). Any and
all capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Exchange
Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investors are party to that certain
Share Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2009 (the
“Exchange Agreement”), with Hong Kong
Mandefu Holdings Ltd., a limited company incorporated in Hong
Kong, and various other parties set forth on the signature pages
to the Exchange Agreement, pursuant to which, the parties
agreed, among other things, that the Investors will sell,
transfer, convey, assign and deliver to the Company, free and
clear of all Liens, all their rights, title and interest in and
to the HMDF Shares, in exchange for the aggregate number of TM
Shares specified on Schedule B to the Exchange Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investors desire to enter into this
Agreement in order to, among other things, reflect the
registration rights to be provided to the Investors in
connection with the TM Shares to be issued to the Investors
pursuant to the Exchange Agreement and the other transactions
contemplated in connection therewith.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized
terms used herein have the following meanings:
“Agreement” means this Agreement, as amended,
restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other federal agency then administering the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
“Common Stock” means the common stock, par
value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
“Company” is defined in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“Demand Registration” is defined in
Section 2.1.1.
“Demanding Holder” is defined in
Section 2.1.1.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in
effect at the time.
“Form S-3”
is defined in Section 2.3.
“Indemnified Party” is defined in
Section 4.3.
“Indemnifying Party” is defined in
Section 4.3.
“Investor” is defined in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“Investor Indemnified Party” is defined in
Section 4.1.
“Lock-Up
Period Expiration Date” means the date of the one
(1) year anniversary of the date hereof.
“Majority-in-Interest”
is defined in Section 2.1.1.
“Maximum Number of Securities” is defined in
Section 2.1.4.
“Notices” is defined in Section 6.3.
“Piggy-Back Registration” is defined in
Section 2.2.1.
“Register,”“Registered” and
“Registration” mean a registration effected by
preparing and filing a registration statement or similar
document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities
Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registrable Securities” mean all of the shares
of Common Stock owned or held by Investors. Registrable
Securities include any warrants, shares of capital stock or
other securities of the Company issued as a dividend or other
distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in
replacement of such Registrable Securities. As to any particular
Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be
Registrable Securities when: (a) a Registration Statement
with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become
effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall
have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in
accordance with such Registration Statement; (b) such
securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new
certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further
transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent
public distribution of them shall not require registration under
the Securities Act; (c) such securities shall have ceased
to be outstanding, or (d) the Registrable Securities are
saleable without any volume restrictions under Rule 144 of
the Securities Act.
“Registration Statement” means a registration
statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance
with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder for a public offering and sale of Common
Stock (other than a registration statement on
Form S-4
or
Form S-8,
or their successors, or any registration statement covering only
securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or
assets of another entity).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in
effect at the time.
“Underwriter” means a securities dealer who
purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an
underwritten offering and not as part of such dealer’s
market-making activities.
2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
2.1 Demand Registration.
2.1.1 Request for Registration. At any
time and from time to time on or after the
Lock-Up
Period Expiration Date, the holders of a
majority-in-interest
(determined on a fully diluted basis, i.e., assuming the
exercise of all warrants that are Registrable Securities) (the
“Majority-in-Interest”)
of the Registrable Securities held by the Investors or the
transferees of the Investors, may make a written demand for
registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their
Registrable Securities (a “Demand
Registration”). Any demand for a Demand
Registration shall specify the number of shares of Registrable
Securities proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of
distribution thereof. The Company will notify all holders of
Registrable Securities of the demand, and each holder of
Registrable Securities who wishes to include all or a portion of
such holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand
Registration (each such holder including shares of Registrable
Securities in such registration, a “Demanding
Holder”) shall so notify the Company within fifteen
(15) days after the receipt by the holder of the notice
from the Company. Upon any such request, the Demanding Holders
shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included
in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.1.4 and
the provisos set forth in Section 3.1.1. The Company shall
not be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of two
(2) Demand Registrations under this Section 2.1.1 in
respect of Registrable Securities.
2.1.2 Effective Registration. A
registration will not count as a Demand Registration until the
Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to
such Demand Registration registering at least 75% of the
Registrable Securities specified in the notice received pursuant
to Section 2.1.1, determined on the basis described in
Section 2.1.1, has been declared effective and the Company
has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement
with respect thereto; provided, however, that if, after such
Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering
of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration is
interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the
Commission or any other governmental agency or court, the
Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration
will be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and
until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed,
rescinded or otherwise
terminated, and (ii) a
Majority-in-Interest
of the Demanding Holders thereafter elect to continue the
offering; provided, further, that the Company shall not be
obligated to file a second Registration Statement until a
Registration Statement that has been filed is counted as a
Demand Registration or is terminated.
2.1.3 Reduction of Offering. Subject to
the piggy-back registration rights set forth in those certain
Unit Purchase Options issued to Pali Capital, Inc. or its
designees in connection with the Company’s initial public
offering (the “Unit Purchase Options”
and such registrable securities, the “Option
Securities”), which rights in no way shall be
limited by the Maximum Number of Securities to be included in
the Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2.1.3,
if the Company chooses to engage in an underwritten public
offering of a Demand Registration and if the managing
underwriter or underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to
be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the
Demanding Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of
Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders desire to
sell, taken together with all other shares of Common Stock or
other securities which the Company desires to sell and the
shares of Common Stock or other securities, if any, as to which
registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual
piggy-back registration rights held by other stockholders of the
Company who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or
maximum number of securities that can be sold in such offering
without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the
timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success
of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number
of securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of
Securities”), then the Company shall include in
such registration: (i) first, (A) the Registrable
Securities as to which Demand Registration has been requested by
the Demanding Holders, and (B) the shares of Common Stock
or other securities for the account of other persons that the
Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual
arrangements with such persons, pro rata in accordance with the
number of securities that each such person has requested be
included in such registration, regardless of the number of
securities held by each such person (such proportion is referred
to herein as “Pro Rata”), that can be
sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of
Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i),
the shares of Common Stock or other securities that the Company
desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum
Number of Securities.
2.1.4 Withdrawal. If a
Majority-in-Interest
of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any
underwriting or are not entitled to include all of their
Registrable Securities in any offering, such
Majority-in-Interest
of the Demanding Holders may elect to withdraw from such
offering by giving written notice to the Company and the
Underwriter or Underwriters of their request to withdraw prior
to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with
the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the
Majority-in-Interest
of the Demanding Holders withdraws from a proposed offering
relating to a Demand Registration, then such registration shall
not count as a Demand Registration provided for in
Section 2.1.1.
2.2 Piggy-Back Registration.
2.2.1 Piggy-Back Rights. If at any time
on or after the
Lock-Up
Period Expiration Date the Company proposes to file a
Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to
an offering of equity securities, or securities or other
obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible
into, equity securities, by the Company for its own account or
for stockholders of the Company for their account (or by the
Company and by stockholders of the Company including, without
limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1), other than a
Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any
employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an
exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the
Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering
of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the
Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the
Company shall (x) give written notice of such proposed
filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as
practicable but in no event less than ten (10) days before
the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the
amount and type of securities to be included in such offering,
the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the
proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, of the
offering, and (y) offer to the holders of Registrable
Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale
of such number of Registrable Securities as such holders may
request in writing within ten (10) days following receipt
of such notice (a “Piggy-Back
Registration”). The Company shall cause such
Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and
shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing
Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering
to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included in
a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as
any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or
other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance
with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders
of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their
securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an
Underwriter or Underwriters shall enter into an underwriting
agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters
selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.
2.2.2 Reduction of Offering. Subject to
the piggy-back registration rights set forth in the Unit
Purchase Options, which rights in no way shall be limited by the
Maximum Number of Securities to be included in the Registration
Statement pursuant to this Section 2.2.2, if the managing
Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that
is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the
holders of Registrable Securities in writing that the dollar
amount or number of securities which the Company desires to
sell, taken together with shares of Common Stock or other
securities, if any, as to which registration has been demanded
pursuant to written contractual arrangements with persons other
than the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, the
Registrable Securities as to which registration has been
requested under this Section 2.2, and the shares of Common
Stock or other securities, if any, as to which registration has
been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back
registration rights of other stockholders of the Company,
exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then the Company shall
include in any such registration:
(i) If the registration is undertaken for the
Company’s account: (A) first, the shares of Common
Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell that
can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of
Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A)
(x) the shares of Common Stock or other securities, if any,
that are Registrable Securities, as to which registration has
been requested pursuant to the applicable written contractual
piggy-back registration rights of such security holders, and
(y) the shares of Common Stock or other securities for the
account of other persons that the Company is obligated to
register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration
rights with such persons, Pro Rata, that can be sold without
exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and
(ii) If the registration is a “demand”
registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than the
holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to written
contractual arrangements with such persons, (A) first,
(x) the shares of Common Stock or other securities for the
account of the demanding persons, (y) the shares of Common
Stock or other securities comprised of Registrable Securities as
to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms
hereof, and (z) the shares of Common Stock or other
securities for the account of other persons that the Company is
obligated to register pursuant to written contractual
arrangements with such persons, Pro Rata, that can be sold
without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and
(B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of
Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A),
the shares of Common Stock or other securities that the Company
desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum
Number of Securities.
2.2.3 Withdrawal. Any holder of
Registrable Securities may elect to withdraw such holder’s
request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any
Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company
of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement. The Company (whether on its own
determination or as the result of a withdrawal by persons making
a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may
withdraw a registration statement at any time prior to the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding any
such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by
the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such
Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.3.
2.3 Registrations on
Form S-3. The
holders of Registrable Securities may at any time and from time
to time, request in writing that the Company register the resale
of any or all of such Registrable Securities on
Form S-3
or any similar short-form registration which may be available at
such time
(“Form S-3”);
provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to
effect such request through an underwritten offering. Upon
receipt of such written request, the Company will promptly give
written notice of the proposed
registration to all other holders of Registrable Securities,
and, as soon as practicable thereafter, effect the registration
of all or such portion of such holder’s or holders’
Registrable Securities as are specified in such request,
together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities
or other securities of the Company, if any, of any other holder
or holders joining in such request as are specified in a written
request given within fifteen (15) days after receipt of
such written notice from the Company; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such
registration pursuant to this Section 2.3(i) if
Form S-3
is not available for such offering or (ii) if the holders
of the Registrable Securities, together with the holders of any
other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such
registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such
other securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public
of less than $500,000. Registrations effected pursuant to this
Section 2.3 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations
effected pursuant to Section 2.1.
3.
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
3.1 Filings; Information. Whenever the
Company is required to effect the registration of any
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, the Company
shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration
and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the
intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as
practicable, and in connection with any such request:
3.1.1 Filing Registration Statement. The
Company shall, as expeditiously as possible and in any event
within sixty (60) days after receipt of a request for a
Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and
file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form
for which the Company then qualifies or which counsel for the
Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available
for the sale of all Registrable Securities to be registered
thereunder in accordance with the intended method(s) of
distribution thereof, and shall use its reasonable best efforts
to cause such Registration Statement to become and remain
effective for the period required by Section 3.1.3;
provided, however, that the Company shall have the right to
defer any Demand Registration for up to thirty (30) days,
and any Piggy-Back Registration for such period as may be
applicable to deferment of any demand registration to which such
Piggy-Back Registration relates, in each case if the Company
shall furnish to the holders a certificate signed by the Chief
Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board of the Company
stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of
Directors of the Company, it would be materially detrimental to
the Company and its stockholders for such Registration Statement
to be effected at such time; provided further, however, that the
Company shall not have the right to exercise the right set forth
in the immediately preceding proviso more than once in any
365-day
period in respect of a Demand Registration hereunder.
3.1.2 Copies.The Company shall, prior to
filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment
or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the holders of
Registrable Securities included in such registration, and such
holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration
Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement
to such Registration Statement (in each case including all
exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference
therein), the prospectus included in such Registration Statement
(including each preliminary prospectus), and such other
documents as the holders of Registrable Securities included in
such registration or legal counsel for any such holders may
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities owned by such holders.
3.1.3 Amendments and Supplements. The
Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements
to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in
connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement effective and in compliance with the
provisions of the Securities Act until all Registrable
Securities and other securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended
method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration
Statement (which period shall not exceed the sum of one hundred
eighty (180) days plus any period during which any such
disposition is interfered with by any stop order or injunction
of the Commission or any governmental agency or court) or such
securities have been withdrawn.
3.1.4 Notification. After the filing of a
Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly, and in no
event more than two (2) business days after such filing,
notify the holders of Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement of such filing, and shall further notify
such holders promptly and
confirm such advice in writing in all events within two
(2) business days of the occurrence of any of the
following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes
effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such
Registration Statement becomes effective; (iii) the
issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop
order (and the Company shall take all actions required to
prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if
entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission for any
amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any
prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of
the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a
supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered
by such Registration Statement, such prospectus will not contain
an 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 not misleading, and promptly make
available to the holders of Registrable Securities included in
such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment;
except that before filing with the Commission a Registration
Statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto,
including documents incorporated by reference, the Company shall
furnish to the holders of Registrable Securities included in
such Registration Statement and to the legal counsel for any
such holders, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed
sufficiently in advance of filing to provide such holders and
legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review such
documents and comment thereon, and the Company shall not file
any Registration Statement or prospectus or amendment or
supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by
reference, to which such holders or their legal counsel shall
object.
3.1.5 State Securities Laws
Compliance.The Company shall use its reasonable
best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such
securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in
the United States as the holders of Registrable Securities
included in such Registration Statement (in light of their
intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take
such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or
approved by such other Governmental Authorities as may be
necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the
Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be
necessary or advisable to enable the holders of Registrable
Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate
the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such
jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this
paragraph or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.
3.1.6 Agreements for Disposition. The
Company shall enter into customary agreements (including, if
applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and
take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to
expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities. The representations, warranties and covenants of the
Company in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for
the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall
also be made to and for the benefit of the holders of
Registrable Securities included in such registration statement.
No holder of Registrable Securities included in such
registration statement shall be required to make any
representations or warranties in the underwriting agreement
except, if applicable, with respect to such holder’s
organization, good standing, authority, title to Registrable
Securities, lack of conflict of such sale with such
holder’s material agreements and organizational documents,
and with respect to written information relating to such holder
that such holder has furnished in writing expressly for
inclusion in such Registration Statement. Holders of Registrable
Securities shall agree to such covenants and indemnification and
contribution obligations for selling stockholders as are
customarily contained in agreements of that type. Further, such
holders shall cooperate fully in the preparation of the
Registration Statement and other documents relating to any
offering in which they include securities pursuant to
Section 2 hereof. Each holder shall also furnish to the
Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by such holder, as applicable, and the intended
method of disposition of such securities as shall be reasonably
required to effect the registration of the Registrable
Securities.
3.1.7 Cooperation. The principal
executive officer of the Company and all other officers and
members of the management of the Company shall cooperate fully
in any offering of Registrable Securities hereunder, which
cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation
of the
Registration Statement with respect to such offering and all
other offering materials and related documents, and
participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys,
accountants and potential investors.
3.1.8 Records.The Company shall make
available for inspection by the holders of Registrable
Securities included in such Registration Statement, any
Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such
registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other
professional retained by any holder of Registrable Securities
included in such Registration Statement or any Underwriter, all
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company, as shall be necessary to enable them
to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the
Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all
information requested by any of them in connection with such
Registration Statement.
3.1.9 Opinions and Comfort Letters. The
Company shall furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities
included in any Registration Statement a signed counterpart,
addressed to such holder, of (i) any opinion of counsel to
the Company delivered to any Underwriter and (ii) any
comfort letter from the Company’s independent public
accountants delivered to any Underwriter. In the event no legal
opinion is delivered to any Underwriter, the Company shall
furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities included in
such Registration Statement, at any time that such holder elects
to use a prospectus, an opinion of counsel to the Company to the
effect that the Registration Statement containing such
prospectus has been declared effective and that no stop order is
in effect.
3.1.10 Earnings Statement.The Company
shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission and the Securities Act, and make available to its
stockholders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement
covering a period of twelve (12) months, beginning within
three (3) months after the effective date of the
registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and
Rule 158 thereunder.
3.1.11 Listing.The Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities
included in any registration to be listed on such exchanges or
otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar
securities issued by the Company are then listed or designated
or, if no such similar securities are then listed or designated,
in a manner satisfactory to the holders of a
Majority-in-Interest
of the Registrable Securities included in such registration.
3.2 Obligation to Suspend
Distribution. Upon receipt of any notice from the
Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in
Section 3.1.4(iv), or, in the case of a resale registration
on
Form S-3
pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, upon any suspension by the
Company, pursuant to a written insider trading compliance
program adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, of the
ability of all “insiders” covered by such program to
transact in the Company’s securities because of the
existence of material non-public information, each holder of
Registrable Securities included in any registration shall
immediately discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such
Registrable Securities until such holder receives the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by
Section 3.1.4(iv) or the restriction on the ability of
“insiders” to transact in the Company’s
securities is removed, as applicable, and, if so directed by the
Company, each such holder will deliver to the Company all
copies, other than permanent file copies then in such
holder’s possession, of the most recent prospectus covering
such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such
notice.
3.3 Registration Expenses.The Company
shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with
any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, any
Piggy-Back Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, and any
registration on
Form S-3
effected pursuant to Section 2.3, and all expenses incurred
in performing or complying with its other obligations under this
Agreement, whether or not the Registration Statement becomes
effective, including, without limitation: (i) all
registration and filing fees; (ii) fees and expenses of
compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws
(including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with
blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities);
(iii) printing expenses; (iv) the Company’s
internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries
and expenses of its officers and employees); (v) the fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Registrable Securities as required by Section 3.1.11;
(vi) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fees;
(vii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and
fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants
retained by the Company (including the expenses or costs
associated with the delivery of any opinions or comfort letters
requested pursuant to Section 3.1.9); (viii) the fees
and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in
connection with such registration and (ix) the fees and
expenses of one legal counsel selected by the holders of a
Majority-in-Interest
of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. The
Company shall have no obligation to pay any underwriting
discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Registrable
Securities being sold by the holders thereof, which underwriting
discounts or selling commissions shall be borne by such holders.
Additionally, in an underwritten offering, all selling
stockholders and the Company shall bear the expenses of the
underwriter pro rata in proportion to the respective amount of
shares each is selling in such offering.
3.4 Information. The holders of
Registrable Securities shall provide such information as may
reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing
Underwriter, if any, in connection with the preparation of any
Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements
thereto, in order to effect the registration of any Registrable
Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2
and in connection with the Company’s obligation to comply
with federal and applicable state securities laws.
4.
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
4.1 Indemnification by the Company. The
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and
each other holder of Registrable Securities, and each of their
respective officers, employees, affiliates, directors, partners,
members, attorneys and agents, and each person, if any, who
controls an Investor and each other holder of Registrable
Securities (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, an
“Investor Indemnified Party”), from and
against any expenses, losses, judgments, claims, damages or
liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based
upon any untrue statement (or allegedly untrue statement) of a
material fact contained in any Registration Statement under
which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered
under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final
prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration
Statement, or any amendment or supplement to such Registration
Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or
alleged omission) to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities
Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable
to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of
the Company in connection with any such registration; and the
Company shall promptly reimburse the Investor Indemnified Party
for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred by such
Investor Indemnified Party in connection with investigating and
defending any such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage,
liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will
not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
expense, loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is
based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in such Registration
Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, or summary
prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Company, in writing, by such selling holder expressly for use
therein. The Company also shall indemnify any Underwriter of the
Registrable Securities, their officers, affiliates, directors,
partners, members and agents and each person who controls such
Underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the
indemnification provided above in this Section 4.1.
4.2 Indemnification by Holders of Registrable
Securities. Each selling holder of Registrable
Securities will, in the event that any registration is being
effected under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement of
any Registrable Securities held by such selling holder,
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors
and officers and each underwriter (if any), and each other
selling holder and each other person, if any, who controls
another selling holder or such underwriter within the meaning of
the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, judgments,
damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as
such losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material
fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the
sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the
Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or
summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or
any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or
arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged
omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if
the statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company
by such selling holder expressly for use therein, and shall
reimburse the
Company, its directors and officers, and each other selling
holder or controlling person for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with
investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action. Each selling holder’s indemnification
obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall
be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received
by such selling holder from the sale of Registrable Securities
which gave rise to such indemnification obligation.
4.3 Conduct of Indemnification
Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by any person
of any notice of any loss, claim, damage or liability or any
action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to
Section 4.1 or 4.2, such person (the
“Indemnified Party”) shall, if a claim
in respect thereof is to be made against any other person for
indemnification hereunder, notify such other person (the
“Indemnifying Party”) in writing of the
loss, claim, judgment, damage, liability or action; provided,
however, that the failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the
Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from
any liability which the Indemnifying Party may have to such
Indemnified Party hereunder, except and solely to the extent the
Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure. If
the Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification with respect to
any claim or action brought against the Indemnified Party, then
the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such
claim or action, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with
all other Indemnifying Parties, to assume control of the defense
thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party.
After notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified
Party of its election to assume control of the defense of such
claim or action, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to
the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation; provided, however, that in any action in which
both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party are named
as defendants, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to
employ separate counsel (but no more than one such separate
counsel) to represent the Indemnified Party and its controlling
persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim
in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Indemnified
Party against the Indemnifying Party, with the fees and expenses
of such counsel to be paid by such Indemnifying Party if, based
upon the written opinion of counsel of such Indemnified Party,
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between them. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of
judgment or effect any settlement of any claim or pending or
threatened proceeding in respect of which the Indemnified Party
is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such judgment
or settlement includes an unconditional release of such
Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim
or proceeding.
4.4 Contribution.
4.4.1 If the indemnification provided for in the foregoing
Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 is unavailable to any Indemnified
Party in respect of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action
referred to herein, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu
of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties in connection
with the actions or omissions which resulted in such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of any
Indemnified Party and any Indemnifying Party shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by such Indemnified Party or such Indemnifying Party
and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement
or omission.
4.4.2 The parties hereto agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4
were determined by 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
Section 4.4.1.
4.4.3 The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as
a result of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above,
any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party
in connection with investigating or defending any such action or
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4,
no holder of Registrable Securities shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount
of the net proceeds (after payment of any underwriting fees,
discounts, commissions or taxes) actually received by such
holder from the sale of Registrable Securities which gave rise
to such contribution obligation. 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.
5. UNDERWRITING AND DISTRIBUTION.
5.1 Rule 144.The Company covenants
that it shall file any reports required to be filed by it under
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such
further action as the holders of Registrable Securities may
reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time
to enable such holders to sell Registrable Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of
the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities
Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or any
similar Rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.
6. MISCELLANEOUS.
6.1 Other Registration Rights. Except
with respect to (i) those securities issued or issuable
upon exercise of the Unit Purchase Options, and (ii) all of
the shares of Common Stock owned or held by the investors party
to that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
October 17, 2007, the Company represents and warrants that
no person, other than a holder of the Registrable Securities,
has any right to require the Company to register any shares of
the Company’s capital stock for sale or to include shares
of the Company’s capital stock in any registration filed by
the Company for the sale of shares of capital stock for its own
account or for the account of any other person.
6.2 Assignment; No Third Party
Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the rights,
duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be
assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part. This
Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the holders
of Registrable Securities hereunder may be freely assigned or
delegated by such holder of Registrable Securities in
conjunction with and to the extent of any transfer of
Registrable Securities by any such holder. This Agreement and
the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to
the benefit of each of the parties and their respective
successors and the permitted assigns of the Investors or holder
of Registrable Securities or of any assignee of the Investors or
holder of Registrable Securities. This Agreement is not intended
to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not
party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Article 4
and this Section 6.2.
6.3 Notices. All notices, demands,
requests, consents, approvals or other communications
(collectively, “Notices”) required or
permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect
to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally
served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges
prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, telex or
facsimile, addressed as set forth below, or to such other
address as such party shall have specified most recently by
written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of
service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by
telegram, telex or facsimile; provided, that if such service or
transmission is not on a business day or is after normal
business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the
next business day. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein
shall be deemed given on the next business day following timely
delivery of such notice to a reputable air courier service with
an order for
next-day
delivery.
To an Investor, to such Investor at the address of such Investor
set forth on the signature page hereto.
6.4 Severability. This Agreement shall be
deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any
term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or
provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or
unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that
there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as
similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as
may be possible that is valid and enforceable.
6.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
6.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement
(including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all
certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and
thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and
contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings,
negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral
or written.
6.7 Modifications and Amendments. No
amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement shall
be binding upon any party unless executed in writing by such
party.
6.8 Titles and Headings. Titles and
headings of Sections of this Agreement are for convenience only
and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this
Agreement.
6.9 Waivers and Extensions. Any party to
this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such
party has the right to waive, provided that such waiver will not
be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing,
is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this
Agreement. Waivers may be made in advance or after the right
waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred.
Any waiver may be conditional. No waiver of any breach of any
agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver
of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other
agreement or provision herein contained. No waiver or extension
of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be
deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any
other obligations or acts.
6.10 Remedies Cumulative. In the event
that the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant or
agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement, the
Investor or any other holder of Registrable Securities may
proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity or
action at law, whether for specific performance of any term
contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the
breach of any such term or in aid of the exercise of any power
granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or
equitable right, or to take any one or more of such actions,
without being required to post a bond. None of the rights,
powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement shall be
mutually exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall
be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or
remedy, whether conferred by this Agreement or now or hereafter
available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.
6.11 Governing Law. This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law
principles that would result in the application of the
substantive laws of another jurisdiction. Each of the parties
hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it
arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be
brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or
the United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York (each, a “New York Court”), and irrevocably
submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be
exclusive. Each of the parties hereby waives any objection to
such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an
inconvenient forum.
6.12 Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH PARTY
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER
PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE)
ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT,
THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, OR THE ACTIONS OF THE
INVESTOR IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR
ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly
authorized representatives as of the date first written above.
This VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is dated as of
[ ],
2009, by and among TM ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC., a
Delaware corporation, or its successors (the
“Company”), representatives of the
Company identified on the signature page hereto (the
“TM Representatives”), ZHENG CHENG,
THOUSAND SPACE HOLDING LIMITED, a company organized under the
laws of the British Virgin Islands
(“Thousand”), and BRIGHT ELITE
MANAGEMENT LIMITED, a company organized under the laws of the
British Virgin Islands (“Bright”). Each
of Zheng Cheng, Thousand and Bright are sometimes referred to
herein as a “HMDF Shareholder,” and
collectively as the “HMDF Shareholders.”
Any and all capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
Exchange Agreement (as defined below).
BACKGROUND
The Company, the TM Representatives and the HMDF Shareholders
are party to that certain Share Exchange Agreement, dated as of
May 1, 2009 (the “Exchange
Agreement”), with Hong Kong Mandefu Holdings Ltd.,
a limited company incorporated in Hong Kong
(“HMDF”), and various other parties set
forth on the signature pages to the Exchange Agreement, pursuant
to which, the parties agreed, among other things, that the HMDF
Shareholders will sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to
the Company, free and clear of all Liens, all their rights,
title and interest in and to the HMDF Shares, in exchange for
the aggregate number of TM Shares specified on Schedule B
to the Exchange Agreement.
As a condition to the closing of the Exchange Agreement, the
Company, the TM Representatives and the HMDF Shareholders have
agreed to enter into this Agreement.
Each HMDF Shareholder is or expects to be the record and
beneficial owner of such number of TM Shares set forth
opposite such HMDF Shareholder’s name on
Exhibit A hereto.
Each TM Representative is the beneficial owner of such number of
TM Shares set forth opposite such TM Representative’s name
on Exhibit A hereto.
AGREEMENT
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. Representations and Warranties. Each
of the parties hereto, by their respective execution and
delivery of this Agreement, hereby represents and warrants to
the other party hereto that:
(a) such party has the full right, capacity and authority
to enter into, deliver and perform this Agreement;
(b) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
such party and is a binding and enforceable obligation of such
party, enforceable against such party in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement; and
(c) the execution, delivery and performance of such
party’s obligations under this Agreement will not require
such party to obtain the consent, waiver or approval of any
Person and will not violate, result in a breach of, or
constitute a default under any statute, regulation, agreement,
judgment, consent, or decree by which such party is bound.
2. Shares Subject to Agreement. Each
HMDF Shareholder, severally and not jointly, and each
TM Representative, severally and not jointly, in each case,
agrees to vote all of its shares of voting securities of the
Company, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (hereinafter
referred to as the “Voting Shares”) in
accordance with, the provisions of this Agreement.
3. Obligations to Vote Voting Shares for Specific
Nominees.
(a) At any annual or special meeting called, or in
connection with any other action (including the execution of
written consents) taken for the purpose of electing directors to
the board of directors of the Company (the
“Board”), each of the HMDF Shareholders
agrees, for a period commencing from the Closing Date of the
Exchange Agreement and ending not sooner than March 31,2012 (or March 31, 2013 if the Earn-Out Shares applicable
to FY2011 have not been earned pursuant to Section 1.2(e)
(i)-(ii) of the Exchange Agreement) (the “Voting
Period”), to vote all of its Voting Shares in favor
of the persons nominated by the TM Representatives (the
“TM Directors”). The initial TM
Directors nominees shall be Theodore S. Green and Malcolm Bird.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any persons nominated by the TM
Representatives to serve as a TM Director, other than
Mr. Green and Mr. Bird, must be reasonably acceptable
to a majority of the Independent Directors or a majority of the
members of the nominating and corporate governance committee, if
such committee exists.
4. Obligations to Vote Voting Shares for Removal of
Director; Filling Vacancies. During the Voting
Period, the TM Representatives shall have the right to request
the resignation or removal of any TM Director. In such event,
each of the HMDF Shareholders agrees to vote all of its Voting
Shares in a manner that would cause the removal of such TM
Director, whether at any annual or special meeting called, or,
in connection with any other action (including the execution of
written consents) taken for the purpose of removing such
director. In the event of the resignation, death, removal or
disqualification of any TM Director, the TM Representatives
shall promptly nominate a new director and, after written notice
of the nomination has been given by TM Representatives to each
of the HMDF Shareholders, each HMDF Shareholder will vote all
its Voting Shares to elect such nominee to the Board.
5. Covenant to Vote.
(a) Each HMDF Shareholder shall appear in person or by
proxy at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the
Company for the purpose of obtaining a quorum and shall vote all
Voting Shares owned by such HMDF Shareholder, either in person
or by proxy, at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of
the Company called for the purpose of voting on the election of
directors or by written consent of shareholders with respect to
the election of directors, in favor of the election of the TM
Directors. In addition, each HMDF Shareholder shall appear in
person or proxy at any annual or special meeting of shareholders
of the Company for the purpose of obtaining a quorum and shall
vote, or shall execute and deliver a written consent with
respect to, all Voting Shares owned by such HMDF Shareholder
entitled to vote upon any other matter submitted to a vote of
shareholders of the Company in a manner so as to be consistent
and not in conflict with, and to implement, the terms of this
Agreement.
(b) Each TM Representative shall appear in person or by
proxy at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the
Company for the purpose of obtaining a quorum and shall vote all
Voting Shares owned by such TM Representative, either in person
or by proxy, at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of
the Company called for the purpose of voting on the listing of
the shares of the Company on NASDAQ or a similar national
securities exchange in the United States or the election or
appointment of further members of the Board of Directors as may
be required to effect such a listing, in favor of such listing
or such election or appointment, as the case may be. In
addition, each TM Representative shall appear in person or by
proxy at any annual or special meeting of the shareholders of
the Company for the purpose of obtaining a quorum and shall
vote, or shall execute and deliver a written consent with
respect to, all Voting Shares owned by such
TM Representative entitled to vote upon any other matters
submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Company and the
Company shall take such further action (including the execution
and delivery of a listing application, listing agreement or
similar filings or documents) in a manner so as to be consistent
and not in conflict with, and to implement, the terms of this
Agreement.
6. Transfer Restrictions; Legend.
(a) Transfer Restrictions. Each of the
HMDF Shareholders hereby agrees that all transfers of the
Company’s capital stock made by it shall be made subject to
this Agreement and any transferee will agree in writing to be
bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement as a
condition precedent to any such transfer. The foregoing
restriction will not apply to any transfers made in connection
with an underwritten secondary offering of shares owned by the
HMDF Shareholders.
(b) Legend. Each certificate representing
any shares of capital stock of the Company held by either party
shall be endorsed with a legend in substantially the following
form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
CERTAIN VOTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN
A VOTING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND
CERTAIN OTHER PARTIES. TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES IS SUBJECT TO
THE RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED IN SUCH AGREEMENT.
7. Additional Shares. If, after the
effective date hereof, the HMDF Shareholders or any of their
affiliates acquire beneficial or record ownership of any
additional shares of capital stock of the Company (any such
shares, “Additional Shares”), including,
without limitation, upon exercise of any option, warrant or
right to acquire shares of capital stock of the Company or
through any stock dividend or stock split, the provisions of
this Agreement shall thereafter be applicable to such Additional
Shares as if such Additional Shares had been held by the HMDF
Shareholders as of the effective date hereof. The provisions of
the immediately preceding sentence shall be effective with
respect to Additional Shares without action by any person or
entity immediately upon the acquisition by the HMDF Shareholders
of the beneficial ownership of the Additional Shares. The HMDF
Shareholders shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause
any affiliate that acquires Additional Shares to enter into a
written joinder to this Agreement in form and substance
satisfactory to the Company and the TM Representatives.
8. Termination. This Agreement shall
commence on the Closing Date and continue in force and effect
until March 31, 2012 (or March 31, 2013 if the
Earn-Out Shares applicable to FY2011 have not been earned
pursuant to Section 1.2(e) (i)-(ii) of the Exchange
Agreement). Upon the termination of this Agreement, except as
otherwise set forth herein, the restrictions and obligations set
forth herein shall terminate and be of no further effect, except
that (a) such termination shall not affect rights perfected
or obligations incurred under this Agreement prior to such
termination and (b) the parties shall each be entitled to
receive certificate(s) representing such holder’s shares
without the legend required by Section 6 herein upon the
surrender of the certificate(s) representing such shares to the
Company.
9. Governing Law. This Agreement and the
legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York
regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under
applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof, except to
the extent the laws of New York are mandatorily applicable to
the Transactions.
10. Notices. Any notices required or
permitted to be sent hereunder shall be delivered personally or
by courier service to the following addresses, or such other
address as any party hereto designates by written notice to the
other party; provided, however, a transmission per telefax or
email shall be sufficient and shall be deemed to be properly
served when the telefax or email is received if the signed
original notice is received by the recipient within three
(3) calendar days thereafter.
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
[Insert address]
or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the
others in writing in accordance herewith.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Binding Effect. This Agreement and
all the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and permitted assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by
any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of
the other parties. The parties hereto agree to cause their
affiliates to agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement prior to, or immediately upon, the acquisition of
shares by such affiliates.
(b) Amendments; Waivers. No provision of
this Agreement may be waived or amended except in a written
instrument signed by the Company, the HMDF Shareholders and the
TM Representatives. No waiver of any default with respect to any
provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be
deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of
any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision,
condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission
of either party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner
impair the exercise of any such right.
(c) Construction; Interpretation. The
headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a
part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or
affect any of the provisions hereof. The language used in this
Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the
parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict
construction will be applied against any party. This Agreement
shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no
presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or
disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any
provisions of this Agreement or any of the Transaction
Documents. The words “including,”“include”
and other words of similar import shall be deemed to be followed
by the words “without limitation.”
(d) Dispute Resolution.
(i) All judicial proceedings brought against any party
hereto arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any
respective obligations hereunder, may be brought in any State
court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New York, County
of New York, or any Federal court of competent jurisdiction in
the Southern District of New York. By executing and delivering
this Agreement, each party hereto, for itself and in connection
with its properties, irrevocably (A) accepts generally and
unconditionally the nonexclusive jurisdiction and venue of such
courts, (B) waives any defense of forum non coveniens,
(C) agrees that service of all process in any such
proceeding in any such court may be made by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, to such Party at its
address provided in accordance with Section 10 hereof or
other address in the possession of the sending party,
(D) agrees that service as provided in clause (C)
above is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over such
party in any such proceeding in any such court, and otherwise
constitutes effective and binding service in every respect and
(E) agrees that the rights to serve process and bring
proceedings provided above shall be in addition to any other
rights to serve process in any other manner permitted by law and
to bring proceedings in the courts of any other jurisdiction.
(ii) Waiver of Trial By Jury. EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES THE
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY AND REPRESENTS TO THE OTHER PARTIES THAT
IT HAS REVIEWED THE FOREGOING WAIVER WITH ITS COUNSEL AND THAT
IT HAS KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVED ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY
JURY AFTER CONSULTATION WITH SUCH COUNSEL.
(e) Counterparts; Facsimile
Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective
when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered
to the other party, it being understood that
parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that
any signature is delivered by facsimile or electronic mail
transmission, such signature shall create a valid and binding
obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such
signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such
facsimile or electronic mail signature page were an original
thereof.
(f) Entire Agreement. The Agreement and
the exhibits and schedules attached thereto, contain the entire
understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings,
discussions and representations, oral or written, with respect
to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged
into such documents, exhibits and schedules.
(g) Severability of Provisions. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest
extent permissible under the law and public policies applied in
each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly,
if any provision of this Agreement would be held to be invalid,
prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as
to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating
the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the
validity or enforceability of such provision. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so
as to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable, it shall be so
narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of
this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of
such provision.
(h) Controlling Agreement. To the extent
the terms of this Agreement (as amended, supplemented, restated
or otherwise modified from time to time) directly conflicts with
a provision in the Exchange Agreement, the terms of this
Agreement shall control.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and made and entered into
effective as of the date first set forth above.
Pursuant
to Section 245 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law
TM ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC., a corporation existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”),
by its Chief Executive Officer, hereby certifies as follows:
1. The name of the Corporation is “TM ENTERTAINMENT
AND MEDIA, INC.”
4. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
was duly adopted by the unanimous written consent of the
directors of the Corporation and by the vote of the stockholders
at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation in
accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 242
and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
(“GCL”).
5. The text of the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation is hereby amended and restated to read in full as
follows:
FIRST: The name of the corporation is CHINA
MEDIAEXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC. (hereinafter sometimes referred to
as the “Corporation”).
SECOND: The registered office of the
Corporation is to be located at 2711 Centerville Road,
Suite 400, New Castle County, Wilmington, DE19808. The
name of its registered agent at that address is Corporation
Service Company.
THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation shall be
to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations
may be organized under the GCL. In addition to the powers and
privileges conferred upon the Corporation by law and those
incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may
exercise all the powers and privileges which are necessary or
convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the
business or purposes of the Corporation.
FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock
that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is
70,000,000 shares of voting Common Stock, par value $0.001
and 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001.
A. Preferred Stock. The Board is
expressly granted authority to issue shares of the Preferred
Stock, in one or more series, and to fix for each such series
such voting powers, full or limited, and such designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights and such qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof as shall be stated and expressed in the
resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors
providing for the issue of such series (a “Preferred Stock
Designation”) and as may be permitted by the GCL. The
number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased
or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then
outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding
shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, voting together as a
single class, without a separate vote of the holders of the
Preferred Stock, or any series thereof, unless a vote of any
such holders is required pursuant to any Preferred Stock
Designation.
B. Common Stock. Except as otherwise
required by law or as otherwise provided in any Preferred Stock
Designation, the holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively
possess all voting power and each share of Common Stock shall
have one vote; provided, however, that
shares of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote with
respect to any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Corporation that relates solely to the terms of a series of
Preferred Stock if the holders of such series of Preferred Stock
are entitled to vote separately as a single class or separately
with holders of one or more other series of Preferred Stock as a
single class with respect to any such amendment.
FIFTH: The board of directors (the “Board
of Directors”) shall be divided into three classes:
Class A, Class B and Class C. The number of
directors in each class shall be as nearly equal as possible.
The term of any director elected as a Class A director at
the special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation held on
[ ],
2009 (the “Special Meeting”), shall expire at the
annual meeting of stockholders held in 2011. The term of any
director elected as a Class B director at the Special
Meeting, shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders held
in 2012. The term of any director elected as a Class C
director at the Special Meeting, shall expire at the annual
meeting of stockholders held in 2010. Commencing at the annual
meeting of stockholders in 2010, and at each annual meeting
thereafter, directors elected to succeed those directors whose
terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at
the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their
election. Except as the GCL may otherwise require, newly created
directorships and any vacancies in the Board of Directors,
including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of
directors for cause, may be filled only by the vote of a
majority of the remaining directors then in office, although
less than a quorum (as defined in the Corporation’s
Bylaws), or by the sole remaining director. All directors shall
hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of
office and until their successors shall have been elected and
qualified. A director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from
the death, resignation or removal of a director shall serve for
the remainder of the full term of the director whose death,
resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until
his successor shall have been elected and qualified.
SIXTH: The following provisions are inserted
for the management of the business and for the conduct of the
affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition,
limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and
of its directors and stockholders:
A. Election of directors need not be by ballot unless the
by-laws of the Corporation so provide.
B. The Board of Directors shall have the power, without the
assent or vote of the stockholders, to make, alter, amend,
change, add to or repeal the by-laws of the Corporation as
provided in the by-laws of the Corporation.
C. The directors in their discretion may submit any
contract or act for approval or ratification at any annual
meeting of the stockholders or at any meeting of the
stockholders called for the purpose of considering any such act
or contract, and any contract or act that shall be approved or
be ratified by the vote of the holders of a majority of the
stock of the Corporation which is represented in person or by
proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat (provided
that a lawful quorum of stockholders be there represented in
person or by proxy) shall be as valid and binding upon the
Corporation and upon all the stockholders as though it had been
approved or ratified by every stockholder of the Corporation,
whether or not the contract or act would otherwise be open to
legal attack because of directors’ interests, or for any
other reason.
D. In addition to the powers and authorities hereinbefore
or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are
hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such
acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation;
subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the statutes of
Delaware, of this Certificate of Incorporation, and to any
by-laws from time to time made by the stockholders; provided,
however, that no by-law so made shall invalidate any prior act
of the directors which would have been valid if such by-law had
not been made.
E. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called
by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in
office as directors.
F. At any time during which the Corporation’s Common
Stock is registered under Section 12 of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, no action required to be taken
or which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of
stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting,
and the power of stockholders to consent in writing or by
electronic transmission, without a meeting, to the taking of any
action is specifically denied; provided, however, that any
Preferred Stock Designation may provide that any consent or
approval to be given by the holders of the series of Preferred
Stock designated thereby (including any consent or approval to
be given by more than one series of Preferred Stock so
designated, voting together as a separate class) may be given by
written consent of the holders of such series.
SEVENTH: A. A director of the Corporation
shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty
as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of
the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its
stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith
or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation
of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the GCL, or
(iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit. If the GCL is amended to authorize
corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal
liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the
Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent
permitted by the GCL, as so amended. Any repeal or modification
of this paragraph A by the stockholders of the Corporation
shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director
of the Corporation with respect to events occurring prior to the
time of such repeal or modification.
B. The Corporation, to the full extent permitted by
Section 145 of the GCL, as amended from time to time, shall
indemnify all persons whom it may indemnify pursuant thereto.
Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer
or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative, or
investigative action, suit or proceeding for which such officer
or director may be entitled to indemnification hereunder shall
be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition
of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay
such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized
hereby.
EIGHTH: Whenever a compromise or arrangement
is proposed between this Corporation and its creditors or any
class of them
and/or
between this Corporation and its stockholders or any class of
them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of
Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of this
Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the
application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this
Corporation under Section 291 of Title 8 of the
Delaware Code or on the application of trustees in dissolution
or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation
under Section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code
order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors,
and/or of
the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation,
as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said
court directs. If a majority in number representing three
fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors,
and/or of
the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation,
as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and
to any reorganization of this Corporation as a consequence of
such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or
arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by
the court to which the said application has been made, be
binding on all the creditors or class of creditors,
and/or on
all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this
Corporation, as the case may be, and also on this Corporation.
[Remainder
of this page intentionally left blank.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by [Name],
its [Title], as of the day of
[ ]
[ ],
2009.
[Name], [Title]
[Signature
page to the Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation]
FORM CERTIFICATE
OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
TM ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
Pursuant
to Section 242 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law
TM ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC., a corporation existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”),
by its Chief Executive Officer, hereby certifies as follows:
1. The text of the second sentence of paragraph A of
Article SEVENTH is amended and restated to read in its
entirety as follows:
“In the event a majority of the IPO Shares (as defined
below) present and entitled to vote at the meeting to approve
the Business Combination are voted for the approval of such
Business Combination, the Corporation shall be authorized to
consummate the Business Combination.”
2. The text of the first sentence of paragraph B of
Article SEVENTH is amended and restated to read in its
entirety as follows:
“In the event a Business Combination is approved in
accordance with the above paragraph (A) and is consummated
by the Corporation, any stockholder of the Corporation holding
shares of Common Stock issued in the IPO (“IPO
Shares”) who voted his, her or its IPO Shares affirmatively
or negatively with respect to the Business Combination may,
contemporaneously with such vote, demand the Corporation convert
his, her or its IPO Shares into cash.”
3. This Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the
unanimous written consent of the directors of the Corporation
and by the vote of the stockholders at a special meeting of
stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the
applicable provisions of Sections 242 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“GCL”).
[REMAINDER
OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation to be signed by [Name], its [Title], as of the
day of
[ ] [ ],
2009.
We have acted as special Delaware counsel to TM Entertainment
and Media, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), in connection with a proposed amendment to
its Certificate of Incorporation. In that regard, you have
requested our opinion as to the enforceability under Delaware
law of a provision in Article SEVENTH of the Company’s
Certificate of Incorporation, which purports to prohibit
amendments to Sections (A) through (E) of
Article SEVENTH during the “Target Business
Acquisition Period” (as defined in Article SEVENTH).
In our capacity as special Delaware counsel, and in connection
with our opinion hereinafter set forth, we have been furnished
and have examined copies of only the following documents, all of
which have been supplied to us by the Company or obtained from
publicly available records:
3. The proposed form of amendment to Article SEVENTH
of the Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amendment”),
in the form attached as Annex F to the Proxy Statement on
Form 14A filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the
special meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which the
stockholders will be asked to consider the Share Exchange
Agreement (as defined below) (the “Proxy
Statement”); and
4. A certificate of good standing for the Company obtained
from the Secretary of State, dated as of September 30, 2009.
With respect to the foregoing documents, we have assumed
(i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals, the conformity with authentic originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies or forms, the genuineness of
all signatures, and the legal capacity of natural persons; and
(ii) except for the Certificate of Incorporation as
provided by the Amendment, that the foregoing documents, in the
forms submitted to us for our review, have not been and will not
be altered, amended, modified, or repealed in any respect
material to our opinion as expressed herein. For purposes of
rendering the opinion set forth herein, we have conducted no
independent factual investigation but rather have relied upon
the documents listed above, the statements,
information, and other matters set forth therein, and the
additional matters expressly related or assumed herein, all of
which we have assumed to be true, complete, and accurate in all
material respects. For purposes of rendering our opinion as
expressed herein, we have not reviewed any documents (including
any documents referenced or incorporated by reference in the
documents listed above) other than the documents listed above,
and we assume that there exists no provision of any such other
document that is inconsistent with or would otherwise alter our
opinion as expressed herein.
A. BACKGROUND
You have asked us for our opinion whether Article SEVENTH
of the Certificate of Incorporation may be amended in the form
set forth in the Amendment, notwithstanding a statement in
Article SEVENTH that Sections (A) through
(E) thereof may not be amended during the “Target
Business Acquisition Period” (as defined in
Article SEVENTH). You also have asked us for our opinion
regarding the vote of the Company’s directors and
stockholders that would be required to amend
Article SEVENTH if we conclude that it may be amended
notwithstanding the provision referenced above.
The first paragraph of Article SEVENTH provides as follows:
SEVENTH: The following provisions
(A) through (E) shall apply during the period
commencing upon the filing of this Certificate of Incorporation
and terminating upon the consummation of any “Business
Combination,”and may not be amended during the
“Target Business Acquisition Period.”A
“Business Combination” shall mean the acquisition by
the Corporation, whether by merger, capital stock exchange,
asset or stock acquisition or other similar type of transaction,
of an operating business or businesses having collectively, a
fair market value (as calculated in accordance with the
requirements set forth below) of at least 80% of the
Corporation’s net assets at the time of the acquisition,
provided, that, any acquisition of multiple operating businesses
shall occur contemporaneously with one another (“Target
Business”). The “Target Business Acquisition
Period” shall mean the period from the effectiveness of the
registration statement filed in connection with the
Corporation’s initial public offering (“IPO”) up
to and including the first to occur of (a) a Business
Combination or (b) the Termination Date.
(Emphasis added). Thus, Article SEVENTH purports to divest
the Company (and consequently its directors and stockholders) of
the power to amend Sections (A) through (E) of
Article SEVENTH during the Target Business Acquisition
Period.
Section (A) of Article SEVENTH requires that any
Business Combination be submitted to the stockholders for
approval, regardless of whether stockholder approval of that
type of Business Combination otherwise would be required by the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
“GCL”). Pursuant to Section (B) of
Article SEVENTH, in the event a Business Combination is
approved in accordance with Section (A), any holder of shares of
Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.001 (the “Common
Stock”), issued in connection with the Company’s
initial public offering (the “IPO,” and the Common
Stock issued in connection therewith, the “IPO
Shares”) who voted against the Business Combination may
elect to convert his or her IPO Shares into cash in an amount
equal to the holder’s pro rata share of the
“Trust Fund.”5
The “Trust Fund” is an account that was
established by the Company at the consummation of its IPO into
which a certain amount of net proceeds of the IPO were
deposited. Article SEVENTH further provides that a Business
Combination will not be consummated if the holders of 30% or
more of the IPO Shares exercise their conversion rights in
connection with such Business Combination.
5 Although
such right is called a “conversion” right in the
Certificate of Incorporation, we note that it technically would
be deemed a redemption right under Delaware law, subject to the
requirements of Section 160 of the GCL.
Section (C) of Article SEVENTH provides that the
Company will be dissolved and liquidated within a specified
period of time following the Company’s IPO if a Business
Combination has not been consummated by that time:
C. In the event that the Corporation does not consummate a
Business Combination by the Termination Date, the officers of
the Corporation shall take all such action necessary to dissolve
and liquidate the Corporation as soon as reasonably practicable.
In the event that the Corporation is so dissolved and
liquidated, only the holders of IPO Shares shall be entitled to
receive liquidating distributions and the Corporation shall pay
no liquidating distributions with respect to any other shares of
capital stock of the Corporation.
We understand that the Company has entered into a Share Exchange
Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2009 and amended as of
September 30, 2009, among the (1) Company;
(2) Hong Kong Mandefu Holding Limited (“CME”);
(3) the “Sellers,” Zheng Cheng, Thousand Space
Holdings Limited, and Bright Elite Management Limited, which
Sellers are the holders of all of the issued and outstanding
stock of CME; (4) Fujian Zong Heng Express Information
Technology Co., Ltd.; (5) Fujian Fenzhong Media Co., Ltd.;
(6) Ou Wen Lin; and (7) Qingping Lin. Pursuant to the
Share Exchange Agreement, the Company will purchase from the
Sellers all of the issued and outstanding shares of CME and the
Company will issue at closing 20.915 million newly issued
shares of Common Stock, and pay $10.0 million in promissory
notes. In addition, the Sellers may earn up to an additional
15.0 million shares of Common Stock subject to the
achievement of the certain net income targets for 2009, 2010 and
2011. The Sellers will also be entitled to receive up to
$20.9 million of the cash proceeds from the exercise of the
Company publicly held warrants to the extent a sufficient number
of these warrants are exercised. In addition, certain founders
of the Company have agreed to sell 750,000 of their shares to
the Sellers at a purchase price of $0.01 per share.
The Company’s board of directors, by unanimous vote at a
meeting on April 23, 2009 and on September 30, 2009,
approved and declared advisable the Share Exchange Agreement and
the transactions contemplated thereby. The Share Exchange
Agreement, as amended, eliminates the requirement that it will
be effective only if less than 30% of holders of the IPO Shares
exercise their conversion rights, assuming stockholder approval
of the Amendment.
We understand that the Company plans to finance certain fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement from sources other
than the Trust Fund. Moreover, it would like to make the
cash in the Trust Fund available for all holders of IPO
Shares who vote either affirmatively or negatively to exercise
their right to convert their shares into cash. As a result, the
Company wishes to amend Sections (A) and (B) of
Article SEVENTH of the Certificate of Incorporation
(1) to permit all stockholders to exercise their
conversion rights pursuant to Article SEVENTH (not just
those who voted not to approve the Business Combination) and
(2) to eliminate the provision that prohibits the
consummation of a Business Combination if holders of 30% or more
of the IPO Shares exercise their conversion rights. The specific
changes to be made to the Certificate of Incorporation are set
forth in the
Amendment.6
6 We
understand that in connection with the Registration Statement on
Form S-1
filed by the Company with the SEC on October 12, 2007, the
Company made an undertaking not to amend certain provisions in
its Certificate of Incorporation, including Sections (A)
through (E) of Article SEVENTH. The breach of this
undertaking may trigger certain rescission rights by holders of
the IPO Shares under applicable law. We assume that in the event
any holder of IPO Shares wishes to exercise these potential
rescission rights upon effectiveness of the Amendment, the
Company would honor any such rights to the full extent required
by applicable law.
You have requested our opinion whether the proposed Amendment to
Article SEVENTH of the Certificate of Incorporation may be
effectuated, notwithstanding the statement at the beginning of
Article SEVENTH that Sections (A) through
(E) thereof may not be amended prior to the consummation of
a Business Combination.
Section 242(a) of the GCL provides, in pertinent part:
After a corporation has received payment for any of its capital
stock, it may amend its certificate of incorporation, from time
to time, in any and as many respects as may be desired, so long
as its certificate of incorporation as amended would contain
only such provisions as it would be lawful and proper to insert
in an original certificate of incorporation filed at the time of
the filing of the amendment . . . . In particular, and without
limitation upon such general power of amendment, a corporation
may amend its certificate of incorporation, from time to time,
so as:
. . .
(2) To change, substitute, enlarge or diminish the nature
of its business or its corporate powers and purposes; or
. . .
(6) To change the period of its duration.
8 Del. C.§ 242(a). In addition,
Section 242(b) provides that “[e]very amendment
authorized by subsection (a) of this section shall be
made and effected” as provided in subsection (b). 8
Del. C. § 242(b) (emphasis added). Subsection
(b)(1) of Section 242 applies to corporations having
capital stock and provides that to approve an amendment, a
company’s “board of directors shall adopt a resolution
setting forth the amendment proposed, declaring its
advisability,” and directing that the amendment be
considered by stockholders either at the next annual meeting or
at a special meeting called for such purpose. 8 Del. C.
§ 242(b)(1).7
Subsection (b)(1) further provides that “[i]f a majority of
the outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon, and a majority
of the outstanding stock of each class entitled to vote thereon
as a class has been voted in favor of the amendment,” a
certificate of amendment “shall” be executed and filed
and “shall” become effective.
Id.8
By its terms, Section 242 contemplates that Delaware
corporations have broad power and authority to amend their
certificates of incorporation in any of the respects permitted
by the statute, including in the respects contemplated by the
Amendment, subject to obtaining the requisite board and
stockholder approvals. The statutory language itself suggests
that the power to amend the certificate of incorporation is an
important
7 Stockholder
approval also may be obtained by written consent pursuant to
Section 228 of the GCL. 8 Del. C.
§ 228.
8 We
note that Section 303 of the GCL provides an alternative
means of authorizing amendments to the certificate of
incorporation in connection with Federal bankruptcy proceedings.
Section 303 provides that a Delaware corporation may carry
out an order for relief entered in a Federal bankruptcy
proceeding and may take any corporate action required by such an
order, including, specifically, amendments to its certificate of
incorporation, without any further action by directors and
stockholders. See 8 Del. C. § 303. A
charter amendment pursuant to Section 303 specifically
requires action pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Code and the
statute provides that such action will have the same effect as
unanimous director and stockholder approval. Id. To the
extent Article SEVENTH purports to divest the Company of
the power to carry out an order or decree of a Federal
bankruptcy court requiring amendment of the Certificate of
Incorporation, as required by Section 303 of the GCL,
unless and until a Business Combination has been consummated, it
is our view that Article SEVENTH is invalid and
unenforceable for the same reasons expressed herein with respect
to the provision’s purported elimination of director and
stockholder rights and powers.
and fundamental right vested in the directors and stockholders,
and nothing in Section 242 suggests that such right may be
eliminated or fundamentally restricted by a provision in the
certificate of incorporation. Indeed, the statute provides that
upon receipt of the requisite board and stockholder approvals,
absent express authority in the approving resolutions permitting
the board to abandon a proposed charter amendment, a corporation
“shall” execute and file a certificate of amendment
and such certificate of amendment “shall” become
effective.
We note that Section 102(b)(4) of the GCL expressly permits
a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of
incorporation provisions that modify the voting rights of
directors and stockholders set forth in other provisions of the
GCL. Specifically, Section 102(b)(4) provides that a
certificate of incorporation may contain:
Provisions requiring for any corporate action, the vote of a
larger portion of the stock or any class or series thereof, or
of any other securities having voting power, or a larger number
of directors, than is required by this chapter[.]
8 Del. C. § 102(b)(4). While
Section 102(b)(4) expressly permits charter provisions
requiring a greater vote of directors or stockholders than is
otherwise required by Section 242 and other provisions of
the GCL, nothing in Section 102(b)(4) purports to authorize
a provision in a certificate of incorporation that eliminates,
for a period of time or otherwise, the right and power of
directors and stockholders to authorize amendments to the
certificate of incorporation as expressly permitted by
Section 242.
Any provision for the management of the business and for the
conduct of the affairs of the corporation, and any provision
creating, defining, limiting and regulating the powers of the
corporation, the directors, and the stockholders, or any class
of the stockholders . . .; if such provisions are not contrary
to the laws of this State.
8 Del. C. § 102(b)(1). In our view,
Section 102(b)(1) does not provide authority for a charter
provision that eliminates the power of a corporation’s
directors and stockholders to amend the certificate of
incorporation or particular provisions thereof. First,
Section 102(b)(1) does not authorize charter provisions
that eliminate or prohibit the exercise of rights and powers, it
merely provides for the limitation and regulation of such
powers. See Gotham Partners, L.P. v. Hallwood Realty
Partners, L.P., 817 A.2d 160,
167-68 (Del.
2002) (noting the “dubious” validity of the trial
court’s statement in dicta that a statute allowing a
partnership agreement to restrict a partner’s
fiduciary duties permitted a partnership agreement to
eliminate a partner’s duties. The Court declined to
rule on the issue, however, because it was not properly before
the Court on appeal).
Second, we believe a Delaware court would find that a
certificate of incorporation provision that purports to
eliminate the right and power to amend the certificate of
incorporation, or particular portions thereof, unless and until
a condition precedent is satisfied is “contrary to the laws
of [Delaware].” A charter provision is “contrary to
the laws of [Delaware]” if it transgresses “a
statutory enactment or a public policy settled by the common law
or implicit in the General Corporation Law itself.”Sterling v. Mayflower Hotel Corp., 93 A.2d 107, 118
(Del. 1952). For the reasons discussed above, we believe the
fundamental importance of the amendatory power as a matter of
Delaware public policy is implicit in the language of
Section 242. Moreover, the Delaware case law discussed
below further confirms the importance of the power to amend as a
core right of directors and stockholders. A charter provision
purporting to divest the directors and stockholders of that
important right, we believe, would be viewed by a Delaware court
as “contrary to the laws of [Delaware].”
Although we are not aware of any Delaware case law directly
addressing the enforceability under Section 102(b)(4) or
otherwise of a charter provision prohibiting amendment to
portions of a certificate of incorporation unless and until a
condition precedent is satisfied, we are aware of several
decisions suggesting that a certificate of incorporation
provision eliminating the right and power of directors and
stockholders to
amend the certificate of incorporation might be unenforceable.
In Sellers v. Joseph Bancroft & Sons Co.,
2 A.2d 108,
112-13 (Del.
Ch. 1938), the Court of Chancery upheld a certificate of
incorporation provision requiring a supermajority vote to change
the designations, preferences, and rights of preferred stock.
Although the Court was not called upon to decide the validity of
another provision requiring a 100% vote to reduce the dividend
rate and liquidation value of the preferred stock, the Court
suggested the possible invalidity of such a provision, observing
with some suspicion that such a provision would make a charter
provision “practically irrepealable.”Id. at
114.
In Triplex Shoe Co. v. Rice & Hutchins, Inc.,
152 A. 342 (Del. 1930), the certificate of incorporation
provided that the common stock had “sole” power to
vote, but the common stock had been invalidly issued. Even
though there was no valid common stock with power to vote,
including power to vote on an amendment to the certificate of
incorporation, the Court assumed that an amendment to the
certificate of incorporation nonetheless had been validly
approved by the holders of preferred stock. Id. at 347.
The Supreme Court held that, by “the very necessity of the
case,” the holders of preferred stock had the power to vote
where no common stock had been validly issued, emphasizing that
otherwise the corporation would be “unable to
function.”Id. at 351. Although Triplex Shoe
dealt primarily with the proposition that a corporation
cannot function properly unless at least one class or series of
outstanding stock has power to vote on the election of
directors, we believe the Supreme Court’s general
observations about stockholder voting rights, coupled with its
assumption that the charter amendment had been validly approved
by the holders of preferred stock, which under the terms of the
certificate of incorporation had no voting rights, provide
strong support for the proposition that at least one class or
series of outstanding stock must have power at all times to
approve or authorize fundamental corporate actions for which the
GCL requires a stockholder vote, including the election of
directors and amendments to the certificate of incorporation.
For the same reasons articulated by the Supreme court in
Triplex Shoe, we believe a Delaware court would conclude
that a certificate of incorporation provision purporting to
divest all stockholders of the power to approve amendments to
the certificate of incorporation leaves the corporation unable
to function in a core area of its governance and, therefore, is
unenforceable.9
More recently, in Jones Apparel Group, Inc. v. Maxwell Shoe
Co., 2004 Del. Ch. LEXIS 74 (Del. Ch. May 27, 2004),
the Court of Chancery addressed whether a charter provision
eliminating the power of a board of directors to fix record
dates was permitted by Section 102(b)(1). The Court held
that the provision at issue was valid, but was careful to note
that other charter provisions purporting to eliminate director
or stockholder rights and powers with respect to other matters
might not be enforceable:
[T]o rule for [plaintiff] in this situation does not mean that
every statutory grant of authority to directors or stockholders
may be altered by charter. Rather, it is to say that the court
must determine, based on careful, context-specific review in
keeping with Sterling, whether a particular certificate
provision contravenes Delaware public policy, i.e., our law,
whether it be in the form of statutory or common law.
9 Our
conclusion in this regard is bolstered by Section 151(b) of
the GCL, which authorizes a corporation to include in its
certificate of incorporation provisions for the redemption of
any class or series of stock, but requires that immediately
after any redemption “the corporation shall have
outstanding 1 or more shares of 1 or more classes or series
of stock, which share, or shares together, shall have full
voting powers.” Section 151(b) is a further reflection
of the important statutory policy requiring that at least one
class or series of outstanding stock, or classes or series
together, must have full voting powers with respect to
fundamental corporate actions. We note that Section 151(a)
provides that any of the voting powers of any class or series of
stock “may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable
outside the certificate of incorporation.” 8 Del.
C. § 151(a). In our opinion, Section 151(a)
does not authorize certificate of incorporation provisions that
purport to divest all stockholders of the power to vote
on fundamental corporate actions, such as amendments to the
certificate of incorporation. See 8 Del. C.
§ 151(b); Triplex Shoe, 152 A. at 347, 351
(discussed above).
Id. at *34-35. The Court referred to several statutory
rights under the GCL that could not be modified or eliminated by
a charter provision. See id. at *35-36 & nn. 29,
30.10 The
Court also indicated, in dicta, but without ruling on the issue,
that a provision of a certificate of incorporation depriving
directors of power to approve and propose to stockholders
amendments to the certificate of incorporation likely would be
invalid. Defendants had argued that statutory rights of
directors could be eliminated by the certificate of
incorporation only if the statute establishing such rights
contained the phrase “unless otherwise provided by the
certificate of incorporation.” Defendants asserted that if
the Court were to hold otherwise, then Delaware corporations
presumably could adopt charter provisions divesting directors of
any number of fundamental powers, including the power to approve
and recommend to stockholders charter amendments and mergers. In
rejecting that argument, the Court observed:
[Sections] 242(b)(1) and 251 do not contain the magic words
[“unless otherwise provided by the certificate of
incorporation”] and they deal respectively with the
fundamental subjects of certificate amendments and mergers. Can
a certificate provision divest a board of its statutory power to
approve a merger? Or to approve a certificate of amendment?
Without answering those questions, I think it fair to say that
those questions inarguably involve far more serious intrusions
on core director duties than does [the record date provision at
issue].
Jones Apparel, 2004 Del. Ch. LEXIS 74, at *44.
As suggested by the Court in Jones Apparel, the rights of
directors and stockholders to amend the certificate of
incorporation are rights of core and fundamental importance
under the GCL. We believe that the fundamental nature of those
rights is implicit in the statutory language itself, as
discussed above. The case law further supports our conclusion
that the right to amend is a fundamental right of central
importance under the statutory scheme of the GCL. For example,
in Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. v. Image Entertainment
Inc., the Court of Chancery invalidated a provision in a
certificate of incorporation that purported to permit the board
or the stockholders to amend the certificate. 2006 Del.
Ch. LEXIS 108, at *23-23 (Del. Ch. June 5, 2006). The
Chancellor observed:
Under § 242 of the DGCL, after a corporation has
received payment for its capital stock, an amendment to a
certificate of incorporation requires both (i) a resolution
adopted by the board of directors setting forth the proposed
amendment and declaring its advisability and (ii) the
approval of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote
on the amendment. Because the Charter Amendment Provision
purports to give the Image board the power to amend the Charter
unilaterally without a shareholder vote, it contravenes Delaware
law and is invalid . . . .
Id. Lions Gate supports our conclusion that the rights of
directors and stockholders to approve amendments to the
certificate of incorporation are “core” or
“fundamental” rights that cannot be altered by a
provision in the certificate of incorporation. Moreover,
Delaware cases often have emphasized that all rights of
stockholders set
10 Specifically,
the Court discussed Rohe v. Reliance Training
Network, 2000 Del. Ch. LEXIS 108 (Del. Ch.
Jun. 21, 2000) (in which the Court of Chancery invalidated
a charter provision purporting to eliminate the right of
stockholders to elect directors annually in violation of the
statutory scheme providing for one year terms in the case of
non-staggered boards) and Loew’s Theatres, Inc. v.
Comm. Credit Co., 243 A.2d 78 (Del. Ch. 1968) (in which the
Court invalidated a charter provision purporting to impose
ownership limits on the right of stockholders to inspect books
and records pursuant to 8 Del. C. § 220). In
the Loew’s decision, the Court observed that “a
charter provision that seeks to waive a statutory right or
requirement is unenforceable.”Loew’s, 243 A.2d
at 81. The Jones Apparel Court further observed that
“[i]t would also be doubtful whether a certificate
provision could set a minimum notice requirement for stockholder
meetings that was greater than the minimum of the range mandated
by Section 222(b)” of the GCL. Jones Apparel,
2004 Del. Ch. LEXIS 74, at *40-41.
forth in a certificate of incorporation remain subject to
amendment, even if the certificate of incorporation does not
expressly reserve such a right. See, e.g.,
Maddock v. Vorclone Corp., 147 A. 255 (Del. Ch.
1929) (holding that all the provisions of the General
Corporation Law are incorporated into a corporation’s
charter, and therefore a corporation has the power to amend its
charter, without expressly reserving that right in its charter);
Peters v. U.S. Mortgage Co., 114 A. 598, 600
(Del. Ch. 1921) (holding that a corporate charter impliedly
incorporates every pertinent provision in the Delaware
Constitution and statutes, and, accordingly, a corporation has
the power to amend its certificate).
In Davis v. Louisville Gas & Electric Co., 142
A. 654 (Del. Ch. 1928), a landmark decision on the
permissibility of charter amendments, the Court of Chancery
addressed an argument that an amendment to a certificate of
incorporation was invalid because it sought to amend the
certificate in a manner that was permitted by a recent amendment
to the GCL but that was not permitted at the time the
corporation was organized. In the course of rejecting that
argument, the Court observed that by granting power to amend the
certificate of incorporation, the legislature “recognized
the unwisdom of casting in an unchanging mould the corporate
powers which it conferred touching these [internal] questions so
as to leave them fixed for all time.”Id. at 657.
The Court further queried, “[m]ay it not be assumed that
the Legislature foresaw that the interests of the corporations
created by it might, as experience supplied the material for
judgment, be best subserved by an alteration of their
intercorporate and in a sense private powers . . .,”i.e., alteration of the terms of the certificate of
incorporation? Id. Davis confirms the important public
policy underlying the reservation of the right of directors and
stockholders to amend the certificate of incorporation, as set
forth in Section 242.
In view of the fundamental importance of the power and right of
directors and stockholders to amend the certificate of
incorporation, as reflected in the statutory language of
Section 242 and expressed in the case law, it is our
opinion that a charter provision purporting to eliminate the
right and power of directors and stockholders to approve and
implement amendments to the certificate of incorporation is not
permitted by Section 102(b)(1) or any other provision of
the GCL, even if such right and power is eliminated only as to
particular provisions and only unless and until a condition
precedent is satisfied. We believe that such a provision is
contrary to the laws and public policy of Delaware and,
therefore, invalid and
unenforceable.11
11 Our
opinion is not changed by dicta in Boesky v. CX
Partners, L.P., 1988 Del. Ch. LEXIS 60
(Del. Ch. Apr. 28, 1988), suggesting that
Delaware law might not require that a corporation have the power
to amend its certificate of incorporation after dissolution. In
Boesky, a limited partnership agreement vested certain
powers in the liquidating partner upon dissolution, but no
partner had the power to amend the limited partnership agreement
following dissolution. Relying on Triplex Shoe Co., 152
A. 342 (Del. 1930), the liquidating partner argued that Delaware
law required that someone be empowered to amend the limited
partnership agreement. The Court rejected the argument, noting
that “I do not read Triplex as recognizing the rule
that the power to amend a corporate charter or an agreement of
limited partnership must always be deemed to exist someplace,
even when the entity is in liquidation.” 1988 Del. Ch.
LEXIS 60, at *30. Boesky did not discuss the statutory
language or case law discussed above (other than the
Triplex decision), its observations about corporate
charter amendments were dicta, and the actual holding was
limited to a finding that Delaware law does not require that a
limited partnership agreement be amendable following dissolution
of the limited partnership. Indeed, the Court’s dicta
regarding corporate charter amendments was similarly limited to
the dissolution context, with the Court emphasizing that
“Triplex, unlike the present case, involved a
continuing entity, not one whose affairs are being wound
up.”Id. at *29. We express no opinion on whether
the GCL permits a corporate certificate of incorporation to be
amended after a corporation has dissolved and note that the law
might require a corporation to revoke its voluntary dissolution
pursuant to Section 311 of the GCL before effectuating an
amendment to the certificate of incorporation. See 8
Del. C. §§ 278, 311.
What
votes of the directors and stockholders are required to amend
Article SEVENTH?
Given our conclusion that Article SEVENTH may permissibly
be amended, you also have requested our opinion as to the votes
of the Company’s directors and stockholders that would be
required to approve the proposed Amendment.
The statutory default votes for approving an amendment to a
corporation’s certificate of incorporation are
(i) approval (and declaration of advisability) by the board
of directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present or,
alternatively, the unanimous written consent of all directors (8
Del. C. §§ 141(b), 141(f), 242(b)); and
(ii) votes or written consents in favor of the amendment by
the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to
vote thereon, and the holders of a majority of the outstanding
stock of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class (8
Del. C. §§ 228,
242(b)).12
The default director and stockholder votes required by the GCL
may be increased to require a greater vote of the board or
stockholders by a provision in the certificate of incorporation
or, in the case of the board vote, the bylaws. See 8
Del. C. §§ 102(b)(4), 141(b), 216, 242(b).
Delaware case law makes clear, however, that any charter or
bylaw provision purporting to impose a supermajority or
unanimous voting requirement must be “clear and
unambiguous” and “positive, explicit, clear and
readily understandable” because such provisions give a
minority the power to veto the will of the majority, thus
effectively disenfranchising the majority. See Centaur
Partners, IV v. National Intergroup, Inc., 582 A.2d
923, 926-27
(Del. 1990) (quoting Standard Power & Light
Corp. v. Inv. Assocs., Inc., 51 A.2d 572, 576 (Del.
1947)); In re Explorer Pipeline Co., 781 A.2d 705,
714 (Del. Ch. 2001); Cinerama, Inc. v. Technicolor,
Inc., 663 A.2d 1134, 1155 (Del. Ch. 1994),
aff’d, 663 A.2d 1156 (Del. 1995); Rainbow
Navigation, Inc. v. Yonge, 1989 Del. Ch. LEXIS 41, at
*13-14 (Del. Ch. Apr. 24, 1989). Such provisions should be
“strictly construed” and “should not be extended
by liberal interpretation.”Cinerama, 663 A.2d at
1155. There is no provision in the Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation or bylaws purporting to impose a different or
greater vote of directors or stockholders for approval of an
amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation.
We have considered whether a Delaware court, rather than
declaring the prohibition on amendments in Article SEVENTH
of the Certificate of Incorporation invalid and unenforceable,
might instead interpret that provision as requiring a
supermajority or unanimous vote of the directors
and/or the
stockholders to approve any amendments to Sections (A)
through (E) of Article SEVENTH of the Certificate of
Incorporation. We do not believe, however, that a Delaware court
would interpret the provision in that manner. Nothing in the
language of Article SEVENTH suggests that the
drafter’s intent was to impose supermajority or unanimous
voting requirements; rather, the provision purports to be an
outright prohibition on the power to amend, divesting both the
board and stockholders of their statutory rights to amend the
specified provisions of Article SEVENTH during the Target
Business Acquisition Period. For the reasons set forth above, we
believe such a provision is invalid and unenforceable. We do not
believe the provision contains a sufficient level of clarity to
be re-interpreted as a supermajority or unanimity provision or
that it is “positive, explicit, clear and readily
understandable” as such a provision. See,
e.g., Centaur Partners, 582 A.2d at 927;
Standard Power & Light, 51 A.2d at 576;
Explorer Pipeline, 781 A.2d at 714; Rainbow
Navigation, 1989 Del. Ch. LEXIS 41, at *13-14. Nor do we
believe that a Delaware court would engage in “liberal
interpretation” to effectively reform the provision to say
something not intended by the drafters. See Cinerama, 663
A.2d at 1155; see also Hob Tea Room v. Miller, 89
A.2d 851,
856-57 (Del.
1952) (reformation is appropriate only where a instrument fails
to reflect actual intent); Lions Gate, 2006 Del. Ch.
LEXIS 108, at *26 (holding that reformation of a certificate of
incorporation is unavailable where the
12 The
Certificate of Incorporation does not contain any provisions
requiring a separate class vote to amend Article SEVENTH,
and in any event, the Company has not designated or issued any
class or series of preferred stock and, therefore, has only
common stock outstanding.
proponent fails to demonstrate that “all present and past
shareholders intended the provisions to be included within the
certificate. . . .”) (citing Waggoner v.
Laster, 581 A.2d 1127, 1135 (Del.
1990)).13
We further note that Section (C) of Article EIGHTH of
the Certificate of Incorporation provides that approval or
ratification of an act by the holders of a majority of the stock
of the Company represented at a meeting, in person or by proxy,
and entitled to vote thereat “shall be as valid and binding
upon the Corporation and upon all the stockholders as though it
had been approved or ratified by every stockholder of the
Corporation . . . .” Although we offer no opinion on the
validity and enforceability of Section (C) of
Article EIGHTH, we believe it provides further confirmation
of our view that the prohibition on amendments set forth in
Article SEVENTH was not intended to be construed as a
supermajority or unanimous stockholder voting requirement.
For the reasons discussed above, it is our opinion that the
Amendment may be approved by board and stockholder action at the
statutory default levels and that Article SEVENTH does not
impose a supermajority or unanimous voting requirement for
amending Sections (A) through (E) of
Article SEVENTH.
CONCLUSION
Based upon the foregoing and upon an examination of such
questions of law of the State of Delaware as we have considered
necessary or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions,
qualifications, limitations, and exceptions set forth herein, it
is our opinion that the proposed Amendment to
Article SEVENTH of the Certificate of Incorporation, if
duly approved by the Board of Directors (by vote of the majority
of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is
present or, alternatively, by unanimous written consent) and by
the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock of the
Company entitled to vote thereon, all in accordance with
Section 242(b) of the GCL, would be valid and effective
when filed with the Secretary of State in accordance with
Sections 103 and 242 of the GCL.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of
Delaware and we express no opinion as to the laws of any other
jurisdiction, including, without limitation, federal laws and
rules and regulations relating thereto. In addition, we express
no opinion as to the securities laws of the State of Delaware
and the rules and regulations relating thereto.
We express no opinion as to the enforceability or validity of
any of the provisions of the Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation, except to the extent expressly set forth in our
opinion above with respect to the provision in the first
sentence of Article SEVENTH purporting to eliminate the
power to amend certain provisions of Article SEVENTH. With
respect to Article SEVENTH as amended following the
Amendment, we express no opinion as to the enforceability of the
automatic dissolution provision set forth in Section (C) of
Article SEVENTH, to the extent that provision may be deemed
to require dissolution and liquidation of the Company under
circumstances not contemplated or permitted by
Section 102(b)(5)
and/or
Section 275 of the GCL and to the extent the provision
provides for disparate treatment of stockholders in connection
with liquidating distributions. We also note that the conversion
of shares to cash, as provided in Section (B) of
Article SEVENTH of the Amendment likely would be construed
as a redemption provision for purposes of the GCL and any
conversion or redemption of shares thereunder might be subject
to the restrictions on redemption set forth in Section 160
of the GCL.
13 Even
if a Delaware court were inclined to liberally interpret or
reform Article SEVENTH in the manner suggested, a charter
provision requiring a unanimous vote of stockholders is of
questionable validity under Delaware law. See 8 Del.
C. § 102(b)(4) (which authorizes provisions requiring
the vote of a “larger portion” of stock); New
Webster’s Concise Dictionary of the English Language 566
(2003) (defining “portion” as ‘[a] part of a
whole”); Sellers v. Joseph Bancroft &
Sons Co., 2 A.2d 108, 114 (Del. Ch. 1938) (suggesting
possible invalidity of a unanimity provision because it would
render provisions of charter “practically
irrepealable”).
The opinion expressed herein is rendered as of the date hereof
and is based on our understandings and assumptions as to present
facts, and on the application of Delaware law as the same exists
on the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update or
supplement this opinion letter after the date hereof with
respect to any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to
our attention or to reflect any changes in the facts or law that
may hereafter occur or take effect.
This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit in connection
with the matters set forth herein and, without our prior written
consent, may not be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by,
any other person or entity for any purpose, except that we
consent to the reference to our firm in the Proxy Statement and
to the inclusion of this opinion as an attachment to the Proxy
Statement.
Please date, sign and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope
provided.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE
“FOR” ALL PROPOSALS.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE
ý
FOR
AGAINST
ABSTAIN
1.
Proposal 1: to approve the
Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 1 –
to amend TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to remove the prohibition on the
consummation of a Business Combination if holders of an aggregate of 30% or more in interest of the
shares of our common stock issued in our initial public offering
(“IPO Shares”) exercise their conversion rights
(“Proposal 1” or the “Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 1”);
o
o
o
7. Proposal 7: to elect as
directors the six persons listed as
nominees below in the event the
Transaction is approved (“Proposal 7”
or the “Election of Directors
Proposal”).
O Theodore S. Green
O Malcolm Bird
FOR
AGAINST
ABSTAIN
O Zheng Cheng
2.
Proposal 2: to approve the Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2 – to
remove the requirement that only holders of the IPO Shares who vote against the Transaction Proposal may convert their IPO Shares into cash (“Proposal 2” or the
“Initial Charter Amendment Proposal No. 2”) (FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, CONSISTENT WITH TM’S
IPO PROSPECTUS, THE 2,250,000 SHARES ISSUED TO THE FOUNDERS OF TM SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO
CONVERT OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATE IN THE LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST ACCOUNT SHOULD TM LIQUIDATE.);
o
o
o
O George Zhou
O Marco Kung
FOR
AGAINST
ABSTAIN
O Jacky Lam
3.
Proposal 3: to approve the
Transaction Proposal – the proposed
purchase by TM of all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of Hong Kong
Mandefu Holding Limited, pursuant to
the Share Exchange Agreement, dated as
of May 1, 2009 among TM, CME and the
other parties thereto (the “Share
Exchange Agreement”), and the
transactions contemplated thereby
(“Proposal 3” or the “Transaction
Proposal”).
o
o
o
If you voted “FOR” or “AGAINST” the Transaction Proposal and you
hold shares of TM Entertainment and Media, Inc.
(“TM”) common stock issued as part of the units issued in TM’s initial public offering, you may exercise
your conversion rights and demand that TM convert your shares of common stock for a pro rata portion of
the trust account by marking the “Exercise Conversion Rights” box below. If you exercise your conversion
rights, then you will be exchanging your shares of TM common stock for cash and will no longer own these
shares. You will only be entitled to receive cash for these shares if you vote for or against the
Transaction Proposal and tender your stock certificate to TM at or prior to the Special Meeting. Failure
to (a) vote for or against the Transaction Proposal, (b) check the following box, (c) submit this proxy in a
timely manner or (d) tender your stock certificates to TM at or prior to
the Special Meeting will
result in the loss of your conversion rights.
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to
vote for any individual nominee(s), mark
“FOR ALL EXCEPT”and fill in the circle
next to each nominee you wish to withhold,
as shown here: l
4. Proposal
4: to approve the Share
Issuance Proposal – to approve the issuance
of shares of TM common stock, par value
$0.001 (“TM Common Stock”) pursuant to the
Share Exchange Agreement to the Sellers
(whereby the number of shares of TM Common
Stock that will be issued to the Sellers is
20.915 million with the possibility for the
Sellers to earn up to an addition 15.0
million shares subject to the achievement
of certain income targets (“Proposal 4” or the “Share
Issuance Proposal”).
FOR
AGAINST ABSTAIN
o
o
o
8. Proposal
8: to approve the
Adjournment Proposal – to approve any
adjournment or postponement of the
Special Meeting to a later date or time
or dates or times if necessary for the
purpose of soliciting additional
proxies (“Proposal 8” or the
“Adjournment Proposal”).
FOR
AGAINST ABSTAIN
o
o
o
5. Proposal 5: to approve the Charter
Amendment Proposal – to amend TM’s Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
to change TM’s corporate name to “China
Media Express Holdings, Inc.,” delete
certain provisions that relate to TM being
a blank check company and create perpetual
existence (“Proposal 5” or the “Charter
Amendment Proposal”).
FOR
AGAINST ABSTAIN
o
o
o
6. Proposal 6: to
approve the Authorized Share Increase Proposal – to amend
TM’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance
from 40,000,000 to 70,000,000 (“Proposal 6” or the
“Authorized Share Increase Proposal”).
FOR
AGAINST ABSTAIN
o
o
o
The Transaction Proposal is conditioned upon the approval of the Initial Charter Amendment
Proposal No. 2 and, in the event the Initial Charter Amendment
Proposal No. 2 does not receive the necessary
vote to approve that proposal, then the Transaction Proposal will not
be presented for approval.
Each of the Share Issuance
Proposal, the Charter Amendment Proposal and the Authorized Share
Increase Proposal are conditioned upon the approval of the
Transaction Proposal.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed
herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy
will be voted “FOR” Proposals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
matters as may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournments
thereof. If you wish to vote in accordance with our Board of Directors’
recommendations, just sign below. You need not mark any boxes.
PLEASE COMPLETE,
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY TO MACKENZIE PARTNERS
Signature of Stockholder
Date:
Signature of Stockholder
Date:
Note:
Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held
jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee
or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full
corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
1. Please sign your name exactly as your name appears hereon. If the shares are owned by more than
one person, all owners should sign. Persons signing as executors, administrators, trustees or in
similar capacities should so indicate. If a corporation, please sign the full corporate name by
the president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in the partnership name
by an authorized person.
2. Returning the enclosed form of proxy will not prevent you from attending and voting in person at
the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.
TM ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC.
THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
undersigned hereby appoints Malcolm Bird and Theodore S. Green, and
each of them as
proxies and each with full power of substitution, to represent and to vote all shares of common
stock of TM Entertainment and Media, Inc. at the special meeting of stockholders of TM to be held
on October 15, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, hereby
revoking any and all proxies heretofore given.
Our
Board of Directors believes that the Initial Charter Amendment
Proposals, the Transaction Proposal, the Share Issuance Proposal, the
Charter Amendment Proposal, the Authorized Share Increase Proposal, the Election of Directors Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are
fair to, and in the best interests of, all of our stockholders, including those who acquired shares
in our initial public offering. Accordingly, our Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you
vote “FOR” Proposals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
3
Dates Referenced Herein and Documents Incorporated by Reference