6-K
Origin Agritech LTD (SEED)
UNITEDSTATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION****WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGNPRIVATE ISSUERPURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OFTHE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2022
COMMISSIONFILE NUMBER 000-51576
ORIGIN AGRITECHLIMITED
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
No. 21 Sheng Ming Yuan Road, Changping District, Beijing 102206
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F [X] Form40-F [ ]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes [ ] No[X]
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-________
Entryinto Securities Purchase Agreement .
We have entered into a securities purchase agreement with an investor under which we are selling 280,000 ordinary shares (“Shares”) to the investor at a price of $8.80, for aggregate proceeds of $2,464,000. The company filed a prospectus supplement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on October 13, 2022, as a supplement to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (Registration Statement No. 333- 253866) declared effective on March 15, 2021 (“Registration Statement”) for the sale of these securities.
Origin Agritech Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Company” or “Origin Agritech”), offered the Shares to potential investors at a price of not less than $8.80 per share. The offering was under the prospectus supplement, made on a “self-sell basis,” without engaging any broker-dealer, selling agent or other securities professional or intermediary. The Shares were offered and sold through the efforts of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Dr. Gengchen Han, pursuant to a securities purchases agreement entered into with the investor, as negotiated by the Chief Executive Officer and the purchasing investor. The Chief Executive Officer did not receive any commission or other form of compensation from the sale of any Shares. He did not register as a broker-dealer pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 in reliance upon Rule 3a4-1, which sets forth those conditions under which a person associated with an issuer may participate in the offering of the issuer's securities and not be deemed to be a broker-dealer.
The Company has filed to include the listing of the ordinary shares that it sold to the investor under the securities purchase agreement with the Nasdaq Stock Market.
We currently have a sale agreement with Oasis Capital LLC, which generally restricts our sale of ordinary shares in other transactions while placing securities thereunder, except for those that are by means of a private or public offering of our securities if the net proceeds are greater than $2,000,000.
Copies of the securities purchase agreement are filed with the SEC as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 6-K. The above descriptions of these two agreements above is qualified in its entirety by the filed agreements.
| -2- |
| --- |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| ORIGIN AGRITECH LIMITED | ||
|---|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Han<br> Gengchen | |
| Name: | Han Gengchen | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: October 13, 2022
| -3- |
| --- |
Exhibit Index
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Form 6-K
| -4- |
| --- |
Exhibit 4.1
ORIGIN AGRITECH LIMITED
No.21 Sheng Ming Yuan Road, Changping District, Beijing 102206, PRC
Ordinary Shares
(no par value per share)
Sales Agreement
October __, 2022
{Fill in address of buyer}
Peoples’ Republic of China
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Origin Agritech Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with _________ (the “Buyer”), with an address of ________, as follows:
1. Issuance and Sale of Shares. The Company agrees that on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it will issue and sell to the Buyer, 280,000 ordinary shares, no par value, (the “Placement Shares”) of the Company (the “Common Stock”) at a purchase price per share of US$8.80, or an aggregate purchase price of $2,464,000 (the “Purchase Price”).
The offer and sale of Placement Shares to the Buyer will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed by the Company and which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).
The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”), with the Commission a registration statement on Form F-3, Registration Statement No. 333-253866, including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Placement Shares to be issued by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Company has prepared a prospectus or a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus included as part of the registration statement, which prospectus or prospectus supplement relates to the Placement Shares (the “Prospectus Supplement”). The Company will furnish to the Buyer copies of the prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented, by any prospectus supplement relating to the Placement Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement(s), including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act Regulations, is herein called the “RegistrationStatement.” The base prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented, if necessary, by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations, is herein called the “Prospectus.”
Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus Supplement, or Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. Any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus Supplement, or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act on or after the most-recent effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of the Prospectus Supplement, or Prospectus, as the case may be, and incorporated therein by reference. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the most recent copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system, or if applicable, the Interactive Data Electronic Application system when used by the Commission (collectively, “EDGAR”).
| -1- |
| --- |
2. Sale and Delivery to the Buyer; Settlement.
(a) Sale and Delivery of Placement Shares*.* On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the sale of the Placement Shares will occur on the date of this Agreement, and delivery will be within three business days after the date of the Prospectus Supplement for the sale of the Placement Shares.
(b) Payment for the Placement Shares*.* The Purchase Price will be due to be paid to the Company prior to delivery of the Placement Shares, on the date mutually agreed by the parties hereto (the “Settlement Date”), but within three business days after the date of the Prospectus Supplement for the sale of the Placement Shares.
(c) Denominations; Registration*.* Certificates for the Placement Shares, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Buyer may request in writing at least one full Business Day (as defined below) before the Settlement Date. Otherwise, the Placement Shares will be represented by a DRS statement or delivered as instructed by electronic means as provided by the Buyer. Risk of electronic delivery and delays thereof, if any, is on the Buyer. The certificates for the Placement Shares, if any, will be made available by the Company for examination and packaging by the Buyer in The City of New York not later than noon (New York time) on the Business Day prior to the Settlement Date.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with Buyer that as of the date of this Agreement and the Settlement Date:
(a) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements for and comply with the applicable conditions set forth in Form F-3 (including General Instructions I.A and I.B) under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement has been or will be filed with the Commission and has been or will be declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act prior to the Settlement Date. The Company has not received, and has no notice of, any order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, or threatening or instituting proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement and the offer and sale of Placement Shares as contemplated hereby meet the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act and comply in all material respects with said Rule. Any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been so described or filed. Copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any such amendments or supplements and all documents incorporated by reference therein that were filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement have been delivered, or are available through EDGAR, to Buyer and its counsel. The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of each Settlement Date and completion of the distribution of the Placement Shares, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the Placement Shares other than the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and Form 6-K. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is currently listed on NASDAQ (the “Exchange”) under the trading symbol “SEED.” The Company has taken no action designed to, or reasonably likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act, delisting the Common Stock from the Exchange. To the knowledge of the Company has not received any notification that the Commission or the Exchange is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. To the knowledge of the Company, it is in material compliance with all applicable listing requirements of the Exchange.
| -2- |
| --- |
(b) No Misstatement or Omission. The Registration Statement, when it became or becomes effective, and the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, on the date of such Prospectus or amendment or supplement, conformed and will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. At each Settlement Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of such date, will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. The Registration Statement, when it became or becomes effective, did not, and will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendment and supplement thereto, on the date thereof and at the Settlement Date, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus did not, and any further documents filed and incorporated by reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such document or necessary to make the statements in such document, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing shall not apply to statements in, or omissions from, any such document made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Company by Buyer for use in the preparation thereof.
(c) Conformity with Securities Act and Exchange Act. The Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, and the documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents were or are filed with the Commission under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or became or become effective under the Securities Act, as the case may be, conformed or will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable.
(d) Financial Information. The consolidated financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, and the Prospectus, together with the related notes and schedules, present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries (as defined below) as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity of the Company for the periods specified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments for interim financial statements) and have been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act and Exchange Act and in conformity with United States GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved; the other financial and statistical data with respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries (as defined below) contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, and the Prospectus, are accurately and fairly presented and prepared in all material respects on a basis consistent with the financial statements and books and records of the Company; there are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus that are not included or incorporated by reference as required; the Company and the Subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), and the Prospectus; and all disclosures contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, and the Prospectus, regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(e) Conformity with EDGAR Filing. The Prospectus delivered to Buyer for use in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement will be identical to the versions of the Prospectus created to be transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(f) Organization. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are duly organized, validly existing as a corporation and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are duly licensed or qualified as a foreign corporation for transaction of business and in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such license or qualification, and have all corporate power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on or affecting the assets, business, operations, earnings, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or prevent or materially interfere with consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (a “MaterialAdverse Effect”).
| -3- |
| --- |
(g) Subsidiaries. The subsidiaries of the Company set forth in the most recent Form 20-F of the Company filed with the Commission (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), are the Company’s only significant subsidiaries (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission).
(h) No Violation or Default. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any material term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority, except, in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, and the Prospectus (including any document deemed incorporated by reference therein), there has not been (i) any Material Adverse Effect or the occurrence of any development that the Company reasonably expects will result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iii) any obligation or liability, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary, which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iv) any material change in the capital stock or outstanding long-term indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (v) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, other than in each case above in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus (including any document deemed incorporated by reference therein).
(j) Capitalization. The issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been validly issued, are fully paid and, other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, are not subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as of the dates referred to therein (other than the grant of options or other securities under the Company’s existing stock option plans, or changes in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise or conversion of securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock outstanding on the date hereof) and such authorized capital stock conforms to the description thereof set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(k) Authorization; Enforceability. The Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a legal and binding agreement of the Company, generally enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.
(l) Authorization of Placement Shares. The Placement Shares, when issued and delivered pursuant to the terms approved by the board of directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof, or a duly authorized executive committee, against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, including any statutory or contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights, and will be registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
| -4- |
| --- |
(m) Finder’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has incurred any liability for any finder’s fees, brokerage commissions or similar payments in connection with the transactions herein contemplated, except as may otherwise exist with respect to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement.
4. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with Buyer that:
(a) Registration Statement Amendments. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a Prospectus relating to any Placement Shares is required to be delivered by Buyer under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act or similar rule), (i) the Company will notify the Buyer promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information, (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Buyer’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the Buyer’s reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by the Buyer (provided, however, that the failure of the Buyer to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Buyer’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement; (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to Buyer within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Buyer has not objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of the Buyer to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Buyer’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and the Company has no obligation to provide the Buyer any advance copy of such filing or to provide the Buyer any opportunity to object to such filing if such filing does not name the Buyer and does not relate to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the Company will furnish to the Buyer at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act or, in the case of any document to be incorporated therein by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed (the determination to file or not file any amendment or supplement with the Commission under this Section 7(a), based on the Company’s reasonable opinion or reasonable objections, shall be made exclusively by the Company).
(b) Notice of Commission Stop Orders. The Company will advise the Buyer, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for the Placement Shares, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued. The Company will advise the Buyer promptly after it receives any request by the Commission for any amendments to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information related to the offering of the Placement Shares or for additional information related to the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus.
(c) Delivery of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes. During any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Buyer under the Securities Act with respect to the offer and sale of the Placement Shares, (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act or similar rule), the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and to file on or before their respective due dates all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act. If the Company has omitted any information from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to said Rule 430B and to notify the Buyer promptly of all such filings. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Buyer to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, provided, however, that the Company may delay any such amendment or supplement if, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, it is in the best interest of the Company to do so.
| -5- |
| --- |
(d) Listing of Placement Shares. Prior to the Settlement Date, the Company will use its reasonable commercial efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on the Exchange.
5. Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement. Buyer will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
6. Conditions to Buyer’s Obligations. The obligations of the Buyer hereunder with respect to purchasing the Placement Shares will be subject to the accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties made by the Company herein on the date of this Agreement and the Settlement Date, to the due performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, and to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Buyer in its sole discretion) of the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Statement Effective. The Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall be available for the sale of the Placement Shares by the Company to the Buyer.
(b) No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state Governmental Authority, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state Governmental Authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it 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, that in the case of the Prospectus, it 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) Material Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material adverse change in the authorized capital stock of the Company or any Material Adverse Effect or any development that would cause a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) No Suspension. Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended on the Exchange, and the Common Stock shall not have been delisted from the Exchange.
(e) Securities Act Filings Made. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the Settlement Date.
| -6- |
| --- |
(f) Company Board Approval and Other Company Actions. The board of directors of the Company will have approved this Agreement and the issuance of the Placement Shares, and the officers of the Company will have taken all other required acts for the issuance and delivery of the Placement Shares to the Buyer.
(g) Approval for Listing. The Placement Shares shall either have been (i) approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance, or (ii) the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Shares on the Exchange at, or prior to, the Settlement Date and the Exchange shall have reviewed such application and not provided any objections thereto.
(h) No Termination Event. There shall not have occurred any event that would permit the Buyer to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 12(a).
7. Indemnification.
(a) Buyer Indemnification. Buyer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense, as incurred, with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto), and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Buyer and furnished to the Company by the Buyer used therein.
(b) Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse*.* If an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement effected without its written consent if (1) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (2) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into, and (3) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
8. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. The indemnity agreement contained in Section 7 of this Agreement shall survive, as of their respective dates, regardless of (i) any investigation, (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Placement Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.
9. Termination.
(a) The Buyer may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, as hereinafter specified at any time prior to the Settlement Date (1) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement and prior to the Settlement Date, of any change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the business, properties, earnings, or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which individually or in the aggregate, in the reasonable judgment of the Buyer is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to purchase the Placement Shares, (2) if trading in the Common Stock has been suspended or limited by the Commission or the Exchange, or if trading generally on the Exchange has been suspended or limited, or minimum prices for trading have been fixed on the Exchange, or (3) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either U.S. Federal or New York authorities. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of, Section 7 (Indemnification), Section 8 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 14 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 15 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. If the Buyer elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this section, the Buyer shall provide the required notice as specified in Section 10 (Notices).
(b) The Company shall have the right, prior to the Settlement Date, by notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7, Section 8, Section 14, and Section 15 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
| -7- |
| --- |
10. Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified, and if sent to the Buyer, shall be delivered to:
{fill in Buyer’s name and address}
Attention: Mr. ____
Facsimile:
Email:
and if to the Company, shall be delivered to:
Origin Agritech Limited
No. 21 Sheng Ming Yuan Road
Changping District, Beijing 102206
PRC
Attention: Dr. Gengchen Han
Telephone: (86-10) 5890-7588
Fax: (86-10) 5890-7577
Email: ghan@originseed.com.cn
with a copy to (which is only for information purposes and not notice):
Golenbock Eiseman Assor Bell & Peskoe LLP
711 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attention: Andrew D. Hudders
Email: ahudders@golenbock.com
Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose. Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally on or before 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, (ii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier and (iii) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid). For purposes of this Agreement, “BusinessDay” shall mean any day on which the Exchange and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.
An electronic communication (“Electronic Notice”) shall be deemed written notice for purposes of this Section if sent to the electronic mail address specified by the receiving party under separate cover. Electronic Notice shall be deemed received at the time the party sending Electronic Notice receives verification of receipt by the receiving party. Any party receiving Electronic Notice may request and shall be entitled to receive the notice on paper, in a nonelectronic form (“Nonelectronic Notice”) which shall be sent to the requesting party within ten (10) days of receipt of the written request for Nonelectronic Notice.
11. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Buyer and their respective successors and the parties. References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that the Buyer may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to an affiliate thereof without obtaining the Company’s consent.
12. Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Placement Shares.
| -8- |
| --- |
13. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability; Waiver. This Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and the Buyer. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement. No implied waiver by a party shall arise in the absence of a waiver in writing signed by such party. No failure or delay in exercising any right, power, or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power, or privilege hereunder.
14. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THELAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGALPROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERALCOURTS SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANYTRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIMTHAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, THAT SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENTFORUM OR THAT THE VENUE OF SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESSAND CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF (CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL, RETURNRECEIPT REQUESTED) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTEGOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVEPROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile or electronic transmission.
17. Construction. The section and exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. References herein to any law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any Governmental Authority shall be deemed to refer to such law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any Governmental Authority as amended, reenacted, supplemented or superseded in whole or in part and in effect from time to time and also to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
18. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Buyer acknowledges and agrees that:
(a) it is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
| -9- |
| --- |
(b) neither the Company, Subsidiaries nor their affiliates have provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice to Buyer with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and Buyer has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate; and
(c) Buyer waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Company, Subsidiaries or their affiliates for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the sale of Placement Shares under this Agreement and agrees that the Company, Subsidiaries and their affiliates shall not have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on its behalf or in right of it or the Buyer or its employees or creditors of Buyer.
19. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:
“GovernmentalAuthority” means (i) any federal, provincial, state, local, municipal, national or international government or governmental authority, regulatory or administrative agency, governmental commission, department, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, court, tribunal, arbitrator or arbitral body (public or private); (ii) any self-regulatory organization; or (iii) any political subdivision of any of the foregoing.
“Rule 164,” “Rule172,” “Rule 405,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424,” “Rule 424(b),” “Rule 430B,” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Securities Act Regulations.
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; and all references in this Agreement to “supplements” to the Prospectus shall include, without limitation, any supplements, “wrappers” or similar materials prepared in connection with any offering, sale or private placement of any Placement Shares by the Buyer outside of the United States.
[Signature Page Follows]
| -10- |
| --- |
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and the Buyer, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and the Buyer.
| Very truly yours, | |
|---|---|
| ORIGIN AGRITECH LIMITED | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| ACCEPTED as of the date first-above written: | |
| {FILLIN NAME OF BUYER} | |
| --- | --- |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: |
Exhibit 99.1
Our ref VSL/610333-000003/24981364v2
Direct tel +852 3690 7531
Email vivian.lee@maples.com
Origin Agritech Limited
c/o Maples Corporate Services (BVI)
Limited Kingston Chambers
PO Box 173
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands
13 October 2022
Dear Sirs
Origin Agritech Limited (the "Company")
We are lawyers licensed and registered to advise on the laws of the British Virgin Islands. We have acted as counsel as to British Virgin Islands law in connection with the Company's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's registration statement on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-253866) dated 4 March 2021 and declared effective by the SEC on 15 March 2021, including all amendments or supplements thereto, the prospectus supplement dated 13 October 2022 and the base prospectus dated 16 March 2021 (collectively, the "Registration Statements") relating to an aggregate offering of up to 280,000 ordinary shares of no par value of the Company (the "Ordinary Shares") to be issued by the Company from time to time, to potential investors at a fixed price of US$8.80 per Ordinary Share, pursuant to securities purchases agreement to be entered into with one or more purchasing investor(s) ("Securities Purchases Agreements").
1 DocumentsReviewed
We have reviewed originals, copies, drafts or conformed copies of the following documents:
| 1.1 | The public records of the Company on file and available for public inspection at the Registry of Corporate<br>Affairs in the British Virgin Islands (the "Registry of Corporate Affairs") on 11 October 2022, including the Company's<br>Certificate of Incorporation and its Memorandum and Articles of Association (the "Memorandum and Articles"). |
|---|---|
| 1.2 | The records of proceedings available from a search of the electronic records maintained on the Judicial<br>Enforcement Management System from 1 January 2000 and available for inspection on 11 October 2022 at the British Virgin Islands High Court<br>Registry (the "High Court Registry"). |
| --- | --- |
| 1.3 | The unanimous written resolution of the board of directors of the Company dated 12 October 2022 (the "Resolutions"). |
|---|---|
| 1.4 | The corporate records of the Company maintained at its registered office in the British Virgin Islands. |
| --- | --- |
| 1.5 | A certificate of good standing with respect to the Company issued by the Registrar of Corporate Affairs<br>dated 11 October 2022 (the "Certificate of Good Standing"). |
| --- | --- |
| 1.6 | The Registration Statements. |
| --- | --- |
2 Assumptions
The following opinions are given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion letter. These opinions only relate to the laws of the British Virgin Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion letter. In giving the following opinions we have relied (without further verification) upon the completeness and accuracy, as at the date of this opinion letter, of the Certificate of Good Standing. We have also relied upon the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified:
| 2.1 | The Memorandum and Articles remain in full force and effect and are unamended. |
|---|---|
| 2.2 | The Resolutions were signed by all the directors of the Company (the "Directors") in<br>the manner prescribed in the Memorandum and Articles of the Company, including as to the disclosure of any director's interests (if applicable),<br>and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect |
| --- | --- |
| 2.3 | The members of the Company (the "Members") have not restricted or limited the powers<br>of the directors of the Company in any way. |
| --- | --- |
| 2.4 | The Directors at the date of Resolutions and at the date of this opinion letter were and are Gengchen<br>Han, Michael Walter Trimble, Fei Wang and Min Lin. |
| --- | --- |
| 2.5 | The minute book and corporate records of the Company as maintained at its registered office in the British<br>Virgin Islands are complete and accurate in all material respects, and all minutes and resolutions filed therein represent a complete<br>and accurate record of all meetings of the Members and directors (or any committee thereof) (duly convened in accordance with the Memorandum<br>and Articles) and all resolutions passed at the meetings, or passed by written resolution or consent, as the case may be. |
| --- | --- |
| 2.6 | Copies of documents, conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies<br>of, or in the final forms of, the originals, and translations of documents provided to us are complete and accurate. |
| --- | --- |
| 2.7 | All signatures, initials and seals are genuine. |
| --- | --- |
| 2.8 | All public records of the Company which we have examined are accurate and that the information disclosed<br>by the searches which we conducted against the Company at the Registry of Corporate Affairs and the High Court Registry is true and complete<br>and that such information has not since then been altered and that such searches did not fail to disclose any information which had been<br>delivered for registration but did not appear on the public records at the date of our searches. |
| --- | --- |
| 2 |
| --- | | 2.9 | There is no contractual or other prohibition or restriction (other than as arising under British Virgin<br>Islands law) binding on the Company prohibiting or restricting it from issuing the Ordinary Shares. | | --- | --- | | 2.10 | The Company has received, or will receive, money or money's worth in consideration for the issue of the<br>Ordinary Shares. | | --- | --- | | 2.11 | There will be a sufficient number of Ordinary Shares authorised for issue under the Company's Memorandum<br>and Articles at the time of issuance. | | --- | --- | | 2.12 | There is nothing under any law (other than the laws of the British Virgin Islands) which would or might<br>affect the opinions set out below. | | --- | --- | | 2.13 | No invitation has been or will be made by or on behalf of the Company to the public in the British Virgin<br>Islands to subscribe for any of the Ordinary Shares. | | --- | --- | | 2.14 | The issue of the Ordinary Shares under the Securities Purchases Agreements will be of commercial benefit<br>to the Company. | | --- | --- | | 2.15 | The Company is not the subject of legal, arbitral, administrative or other proceedings in any jurisdiction.<br>Nor have the directors and/or Members taken any steps to have the Company struck off or placed in liquidation, nor have any steps been<br>taken to wind up the Company. Nor has any receiver been appointed over any of the Company's property or assets. | | --- | --- |
3 Opinions
Based upon, and subject to, the foregoing assumptions and the qualifications set out below, and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
| 3.1 | The Company is a company limited by shares registered with limited liability under the BVI Business Companies<br>Act (As Revised) (the "Act"), is in good standing at the Registry of Corporate Affairs, is validly existing under the<br>laws of the British Virgin Islands and possesses the capacity to sue and be sued in its own name. |
|---|---|
| 3.2 | With respect to the Ordinary Shares, when (i) the board of directors of the Company (the "Company'sBoard") has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related<br>matters; (ii) the issue of such Ordinary Shares has been recorded in the Company's register of members (shareholders); and (iii) the subscription<br>price of such Ordinary Shares has been fully paid in cash or other consideration approved by the Company's Board and pursuant to the Securities<br>Purchases Agreement (where applicable), the Ordinary Shares will be duly authorised, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. As<br>a matter of British Virgin Islands law, a share is only issued when it has been entered in the register of members (shareholders). |
| --- | --- |
4 Qualifications
The opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:
| 4.1 | To maintain the Company in good standing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, annual filing fees<br>must be paid to the Registry of Corporate Affairs. |
|---|---|
| 4.2 | Under section 42 of the Act, the entry of the name of a person in the register of members of a company<br>as a holder of a share in a company is prima facie evidence that legal title in the share vests in that person. A third party interest<br>in the shares in question would not appear. |
| --- | --- |
| 3 |
| --- |
An entry in the register of members may yield to a court order for rectification (for example, in the event of inaccuracy or omission).
| 4.3 | In this opinion, the phrase "non-assessable" means, with respect to the shares in the Company,<br>that a shareholder shall not, solely by virtue of its status as a shareholder, and in absence of a contractual arrangement, or an obligation<br>pursuant to the memorandum and articles of association, to the contrary, be liable for additional assessments or calls on the shares by<br>the Company or its creditors (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship<br>or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstance in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil). |
|---|
Except as specifically stated herein, we make no comment with respect to any representations and warranties which may be made by or with respect to the Company in any of the documents or instruments cited in this opinion or otherwise with respect to the commercial terms of the transactions, which are the subject of this opinion.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statements. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Rules and Regulations of the SEC thereunder.
The opinions in this opinion letter are strictly limited to the matters contained in the opinions section above and do not extend to any other matters. We have not been asked to review and we therefore have not reviewed any of the ancillary documents relating to the Ordinary Shares and express no opinion or observation upon the terms of any such document.
This opinion letter may be relied upon by the Company's legal advisors as to United States laws for the purposes solely of any legal opinion that they may be required to give with respect to the Registration Statements.
Yours faithfully
Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP
| 4 |
| --- |
VSL/610333-000003/24981364v2 4