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| SYNC > SEC Filings for SYNC > Form 8-K on 14-Mar-2013 | All Recent SEC Filings |
14-Mar-2013
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement, Regulation FD Disclosure, Financial Sta
On March 11, 2013, Synacor, Inc. ("Synacor") entered into a Joint Venture
Agreement (the "JV Agreement") with Maxit Technology Incorporated, a company
incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands ("Maxit"), and Synacor
China, Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the
"JV Company"), pursuant to which Synacor and Maxit will each initially own 50%
of the JV Company. Subject to the completion of customary regulatory
requirements, the JV Company will, through a wholly foreign-owned subsidiary
(the "WFOE") in the People's Republic of China (the "PRC"), supply
authentication and aggregation solutions for the delivery of online content and
services to customers in the PRC.
In connection with the JV Agreement, Synacor, Maxit and the JV Company entered
into a Shareholders Agreement dated March 11, 2013 (the "Shareholders
Agreement"), which governs, among other things, Synacor's and Maxit's rights to
designate members of the JV Company's board of directors, certain matters
requiring board and shareholder approval, the JV Company's right to request
capital from Synacor and Maxit (the "Call Option"), certain restrictions on the
transfer of shares of the JV Company, certain competition-related matters, and
Synacor's and Maxit's rights to buy the other out of the JV Company.
Terms of the JV Agreement
Under the terms of the JV Agreement, Synacor has agreed to provide US$0.4
million in initial funding and up to US$1.6 million in additional funding to the
JV Company over the next two years through the purchase of non-voting,
non-convertible Series A preferred shares of the JV Company. Series A preferred
shares of the JV Company will be redeemable at the holder's option after March
11, 2016 and have a liquidation preference equal to the purchase price of the
shares, with no further right to participate in a liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the JV Company. Each of Maxit and Synacor will license certain
intellectual property to the JV Company.
The JV Company has agreed to take all necessary actions to form a wholly-owned
subsidiary in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC, which will
in turn form the WFOE. The JV Company will seek to obtain the requisite
approvals and business licenses from governmental authorities in the PRC.
Terms of the Shareholders Agreement
Under the terms of the Shareholders Agreement, the board of directors of the JV
Company will consist of five members, with three members to be designated by
Synacor (initially Ronald N. Frankel, William J. Stuart and George G. Chamoun)
and two members to be designated by Maxit (initially Dr. Qiang Sean Wang and Dr.
Mei Deng), and Dr. Wang will serve as CEO of the JV Company.
Synacor has a right of first refusal on any transfer of the Company's shares by
Maxit. Neither Maxit nor Synacor may compete with the JV Company's business in
the PRC for as long as such party remains a shareholder of the JV Company or has
the right to designate a director and for two years thereafter.
The Shareholders Agreement also provides that the JV Company may, within two
years after March 11, 2013, exercise the Call Option to request up to US$5
million in the aggregate in additional funding from Synacor and Maxit. Each of
Synacor and Maxit may elect to contribute up to 50% of such additional funding
and if either party elects not to contribute all or any of its 50% portion, the
other party may contribute to the JV Company up to the other party's shortfall
and accordingly receive additional shares of the JV Company. Other than in
relation to the Call Option, Synacor and Maxit each have a pre-emptive right to
purchase their pro rata share of equity securities issued in the future by the
JV Company, subject to certain customary exceptions.
At any time, either Synacor or Maxit may offer to buy out the other by offering
to purchase all of the JV Company's shares owned by the other party at a price
specified by the bidding party. The non-initiating party must then either accept
the first party's offer and sell its shares, or counter with a higher price at
which it is willing to buy the first party's shares, with the process continuing
until a party does not make a counter offer. If a party does not make a counter
offer, it is deemed to accept the other's offer and must sell its shares.
If a governmental order is entered or a new law is enacted that has the effect
of fundamentally frustrating the overall intent and purpose of the JV Agreement,
either Synacor or Maxit can require the JV Company to redeem all of the JV
Company's shares that the requesting party holds. If such redemption does not
take place in a timely manner, the party seeking redemption can cause the JV
Company to dissolve. In addition, if either Synacor or Maxit materially breaches
the JV Agreement or any of the related documents, the other party may either
require the breaching party to purchase all of the JV
Company's shares that the non-breaching party holds or require the JV Company to
redeem all shares held by the breaching party.
The foregoing descriptions of the JV Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement
are only summaries, do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to the full text of such agreements, which will be filed
as exhibits to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ending March 31, 2013.
On March 12, 2013, Synacor issued a press release announcing that it has formed a joint venture with Maxit to expand Synacor services to the PRC. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report. The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall such information be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as otherwise stated in such filing.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K includes certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements are statements that do not represent historical facts
and may be based on underlying assumptions. Actual results may vary materially
from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in
economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and
other factors affecting the operation of the respective businesses of Synacor.
Words and phrases such as "agreement to," "will," "expected to," "believe" and
similar expressions are used in this Current Report on Form 8-K to identify
forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements regarding
establishment of the wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong and the WFOE and
expected operations in China. These statements are based on information
available to Synacor as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K and the
current expectations or beliefs of management of Synacor, and are subject to
uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve a number of risks and
uncertainties, some beyond Synacor's control, that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements.
These risks and uncertainties include: (i) the JV Company not being able to
obtain the approvals required from the PRC government for its establishment;
(ii) increasing competition in the industry and the WFOE's ability to compete in
the Chinese market; (iii) the impact of regulatory changes in the industry; (iv)
potential difficulties associated with operating the joint venture and the WFOE;
(v) the joint venture's ability to obtain additional financing; (vi) the WFOE's
ability to offer competitive services in the Chinese market at a favorable
margin; (vii) general business and economic conditions, including seasonality of
the industry and growth trends in the industry; (viii) Synacor's ability to
successfully enter the Chinese market and operate internationally; (ix)
potential delays, including obtaining permits, licenses and other governmental
approvals; (x) trade barriers and potential duties; and (xi) Synacor's and the
joint venture's ability to protect intellectual property. More detailed
information about these factors may be found in filings by Synacor, as
applicable, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most
recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Synacor is under no obligation, and
expressly disclaims any such obligation, to update or alter its forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing
Synacor's views as of any subsequent date, and Synacor is under no obligation,
and expressly disclaims any responsibility, to update or alter its
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. Description
99.1 Press release titled "Joint Venture Expands Synacor Reach to China"
issued by Synacor, Inc. on March 12, 2013.
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