BUSINESS OPERATIONS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.5
This Business Operations Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”, excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan, for the purposes of this Agreement) and dated April 23, 2013.
by and among the following parties:
(1) PARTY A: 1VERGE INTERNET TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
Legal Address: Section A and C, 5/F, SinoSteel Plaza, Xx 0, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
Legal Representative: Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxx
(2) PARTY B: 1VERGE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
Legal Address: Xxxxxxx X, 0/X, XxxxXxxxx Xxxxx, Xx 0, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
Legal Representative: Xxx Xxxx
(3) PARTY C: XXX XXXXX a PRC citizen whose PRC identification number is 310108197109214485, and whose residential address is Room 702, Xx 0, Xxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
(4) PARTY D: XXX XXXX a PRC citizen whose PRC identification number is 310101196805284437, and whose residential address is Room 1701, Tower D, Sunz Garden, 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
(Individually a “Party”, and collectively the “Parties”)
WHEREAS:
A. Party A is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in the PRC;
B. Party B is a wholly domestic-owned company registered in the PRC and is approved by relevant governmental authorities to engage in the business of providing Internet information services and value-added telecommunications services;
C. A business relationship has been established between Party A and Party B by entering into an Exclusive Technical and Consulting Services Agreement, a Trademark License Agreement and a Domain Name License Agreement, pursuant to which Party B is required to make all the stipulated payments to Party A. Therefore, the daily operations of Party B will have a material impact on its ability to pay the payables to Party A;
D. Party C and Party D are the shareholders of Party B, who own 20% and 80% equity interest, respectively, in Party B.
E. The Parties concluded three business operations agreements in March, 2006, November, 2007 and August 2010 (the “Previous Agreements”), which were in form and substance similar to this Agreement. The Parties have strictly performed and complied with all stipulations under the Previous Agreements. The Parties believe that it is in the best interest of the Parties to amend and restate the Previous Agreements.
THEREFORE, through friendly negotiation in the principle of equality and common interest, the Parties hereby jointly agree to abide by the following:
1. Effective Date
This Agreement shall retroactively take effect from 21 November 2012 (“Effective Date”).
2. Negative Undertakings
In order to ensure Party B’s performance of the agreements between Party A and Party B and all its obligations born to Party A, Party B together with its shareholders Party C and Party D hereby jointly confirm and agree that unless Party B has obtained prior written consent from Party A or another party appointed by Party A, Party B shall not, nor shall Party C or Party D cause Party B to conduct any transaction which may materially affect its assets, obligations, rights or operations, including but not limited to the following contents:
2.1 to conduct any business that is beyond the normal business scope;
2.2 to borrow money or incur any debt from any third party;
2.3 to change or dismiss the executive director or to dismiss and replace any senior management members;
2.4 to sell to or acquire from any third party any assets or rights, including but not limited to any intellectual property rights;
2.5 to provide guarantee for any third party with its assets or intellectual property rights or to provide any other guarantee or to place any other obligations over its assets;
2.6 to amend the articles of association of Party B or change its business area;
2.7 to change the normal business process or modify any material company policy;
2.8 to assign any of the rights or obligations under this Agreement herein to any third party;
2.9 to incur or assume any indebtedness;
2.10 to liquidate Party B and allocate the remaining assets;
2.11 to make significant adjustment to its business operation mode, marketing strategy, operation policy or client relationship; or
2.12 to have any of its subsidiaries do any of the foregoing
3. Management of Operation and Arrangements of Human Resource
3.1 Party B together with its shareholders Party C and Party D hereby jointly agree to accept and strictly perform the proposals in respect of the employment and dismissal of its employees, the daily business management and financial management, etc., provided by Party A from time to time.
3.2 Party B together with its shareholders Party C and Party D hereby jointly and severally agree that Party C and Party D shall only appoint the personnel designated by Party A as the Executive Director of Party B in accordance with the procedures required by the applicable laws and regulations and the articles of association of Party B, and shall cause such Executive Director to appoint the personnel designated by Party A as Party B’s General Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and other senior officers.
3.3 If any of the above officers resigns or is dismissed by Party A, he or she will lose the qualification to be appointed for any position in Party B and thereafter Party B, Party C and Party D shall appoint or cause the appointment of another candidate designated by Party A to assume such position.
3.4 For the purpose of the above-mentioned Section 3.3, Party B, Party C and Party D shall take all the necessary internal or external procedures to accomplish the above dismissal and appointment in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, the articles of association of Party B and this Agreement.
3.5 Each of Party C and Party D hereby agrees to, upon the execution of this Agreement, simultaneously sign a Power of Attorney, pursuant to which each of Party C and Party D shall authorize any individual appointed by Party A in writing, to the extent permitted by the PRC law exercise his, her or its shareholders’ rights, including the full voting right of a shareholder at Party B’s shareholders’ meetings. Each of Party C and Party D further agrees to replace the authorized person appointed according to the above mentioned Power of Attorneys at any time according to the requirement of Party A.
4. Other Agreements
4.1 Given (i) that the business relationship between Party A and Party B has been established through the Exclusive Consulting and Services Agreement, the Amended and Restated Trademark License Agreement and the Amended and Restated Domain Name License Agreement and (ii) that the daily business activities of Party B will have a material impact on Party B’s ability to pay the payables to Party A, each of Party C and Party D agrees that:
· he/she shall not put forward, or vote in favor of, any shareholder resolution to, or otherwise request Party B to, distribute profits, funds, assets or property to the shareholders of Party B or any of its affiliates; and
· he/she shall not put forward, or vote in favor of, any shareholder resolution to, or otherwise request Party B to, issue any dividends or other distributions with respect to the equity interest of Party B held by Party C or Party D; provided, however, if such dividends or other distributions are distributed to Party C and/or Party D from Party B, he/she will immediately and unconditionally pay or transfer to Party A any dividends or other distributions in whatsoever form obtained from Party B as a shareholder of Party B at the time such payables arise, after having deducted and paid any and all relevant taxes and expenses applicable to such a shareholder as a result of his/her receipt of such dividends or other distributions.
4.2 If any of Party C or Party D is held liable for any legal or any other responsibilities by reason of his/her performance of his/her obligations under this Agreement and as a shareholder of Party B, Party A shall keep each of Party C and Party D fully indemnified from any such liabilities, costs or losses (including but not limited to any and all legal expenses) incurred by Party C and/or Party D, provided that the actions performed by Part C and/or Party D according to his/her obligations under this Agreement and as a shareholder of Party B are taken in good faith and are not contrary to the best interests of Party A.
4.3 To ensure that the cash flow requirements of Party B’s ordinary operations are met and/or to set off any loss accrued during such operations, Party A is obligated, only to the extent permissible under PRC law, to provide financing support for Party B, whether or not Party B actually incurs any such operational loss. Party A’s financing support for Party B may take the form of bank entrusted loans or borrowings. Contracts for any such entrusted loans or borrowings shall be executed separately. Party A foregoes its right to seek repayment in the event that the Party B is unable to repay such findings.
5. Entire Agreement and Modifications
5.1 This Agreement together with the powers of attorney executed by each of Party C and Party D in accordance with Section 3.5 shall replace and substitute all previous agreements, contracts, understandings and communications among all the Parties with respect to the subject matters of this Agreement, including but not limited to the Power of Attorney entered into by Party A, Party B, Party C and Party D dated 16 August 2010.
5.2 Any modification of this Agreement shall take effect only after it is executed by each and every Party. The amendment and supplement duly executed by each and every Party shall form part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal effect as this Agreement.
6. Governing Law
The execution, validity, performance, interpretation and disputes of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the PRC laws.
7. Dispute Resolution
7.1 The Parties shall strive to settle any dispute arising from the interpretation or performance of this Agreement through friendly consultation in good faith. In case no settlement can be reached through friendly consultation, each Party can submit such matter to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (“CIETAC”), Beijing Headquarter for arbitration in accordance with the then current rules of CIETAC. The arbitration proceedings shall take place in Beijing and shall be conducted in Chinese. The arbitration award shall be final and binding upon all the Parties. This Section 7 shall not be affected by the termination or elimination of this Agreement.
7.2 During the process of the dispute resolution, each Party shall continue to perform its obligations in good faith according to the provisions of this Agreement except for the subject matters in dispute.
8. Notice
8.1 Any notice that is given by the Parties hereto for the purpose of performing the rights and obligations hereunder shall be in written form. Where such notice is delivered personally, the actual delivery time is regarded as notice time; where such notice is transmitted by telex or facsimile, the notice time is the time when such notice is transmitted. If such notice (i) does not reach the addressee on a business day or (ii) reaches the addressee after the business hours, the next business day following such day is the date of notice. The written form includes facsimile and telex.
8.2 Any notice or other correspondence hereunder provided shall be delivered to the following addresses in accordance with the above terms:
PARTY A |
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1VERGE INTERNET TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD. |
Address |
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Section A and C, 5/F, SinoSteel Plaza, Xx 0, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx |
Fax |
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000-00000000 |
Tele |
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010-58851881 |
Addressee |
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Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxx |
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PARTY B |
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1VERGE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD. |
Address |
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Xxxxxxx X, 0/X, XxxxXxxxx Xxxxx, Xx 0, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx |
Fax |
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000-00000000 |
Tele |
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010-58851881 |
Addressee |
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Xxx Xxxx |
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PARTY C |
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Xxx Xxxxx |
Address |
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Xxxx 0000, Xxxxx 0, Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, 0 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx |
Fax |
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000-00000000 |
Tele |
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010-58851881 |
Addressee |
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Xxx Xxxxx |
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PARTY D |
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Xxx Xxxx |
Address |
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Room 1701, Tower D, Sunz Garden, 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx |
Fax |
: |
000-00000000 |
Tele |
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010-58851881 |
Addressee |
: |
Xxx Xxxx |
9. Effectiveness, Term and Others
9.1 This Agreement shall be executed by a duly authorized representative of each Party on the date first written above and become effective as of the Effective Date. The term of this agreement is ten years unless early termination occurs in accordance with the relevant provisions herein. This Agreement will extend automatically for successive ten year periods unless Party A provides written notice stating its intention not to extend this Agreement three months prior to the expiration of a ten year term.
9.2 Party B, Party C and Party D shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement. Notwithstanding the above stipulation, Party A shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time by issuing a prior written notice to Party B, Party C and Party D thirty (30) days before the termination.
9.3 In case any terms and stipulations in this Agreement are regarded as illegal or can not be performed in accordance with the applicable laws, they shall be deemed to be deleted from this Agreement and lose their effect and this Agreement shall be treated as if they did not exist from the very beginning. However, the remaining stipulations will remain effective. Each Party shall replace the deleted stipulations with lawful and effective stipulations, which are acceptable to each Party, through mutual negotiation.
9.4 Any failure or delay on the part of any Party to exercise any rights, powers or privileges hereunder shall not operate as a waiver thereof. Any single or partial exercise of such rights, powers or privileges shall not preclude any further exercise of such rights, powers or privileges.
9.5 This Agreement amends and restates all Previous Agreements. In the event of any discrepancy between this Agreement and any Previous Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail to the extent of the discrepant provisions.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on their behalf by a duly authorized representative as of the date first written above.
PARTY A: 1VERGE INTERNET TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
(Company Seal)
By: |
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxx |
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Authorized Representative: Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxx |
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PARTY B: 1VERGE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD. | ||
(Company Seal) |
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By: |
/s/ Xxx Xxxx |
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Authorized Representative: Xxx Xxxx |
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PARTY C: XXX XXXXX |
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/s/ XXX XXXXX |
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PARTY D: XXX XXXX |
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By: |
/s/ XXX XXXX |
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