Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
EXHIBIT
10.14
This
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered
into as of September 28, 2010, by and between the following parties in
Guangzhou, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A :
Guangdong Hopsun Polypeptide Biological Technology Co., Ltd.
Party B:
Guangdong Xinpu Polypeptide Research Co., Ltd.
Each of
Party A and Party B shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively,
and as the “Parties” collectively.
RECITALS
(1)
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Party
A is a limited liability company duly incorporated under the laws of China
which has the expertise in the business of polypeptide-related health
product development, sales and marketing, related technical consultation,
etc.
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(2)
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Party
B is a limited liability company duly incorporated under the laws of China
which has the expertise in the business of polypeptide-related health
product development, related real estate development, related
technical consultation, etc. (the
“Business”).
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(3)
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The
Parties desire that Party A provide exclusive business support and
technical and consulting services and relevant services to Party
B.
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(4)
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The
Parties are entering into this Agreement to set forth the terms and
conditions under which Party A shall provide consulting services to Party
B.
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NOW THEREFORE, the Parties
agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
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1.1
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In
this Agreement the following terms shall be construed to have the meanings
set forth or referenced below:
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“Affiliate” means,
with respect to any Person, shall mean any other Person that directly or
indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such
specified Person. As used in this definition, “control” means
possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of
management or policies (whether ownership of securities or partnership or other
ownership interests, by contract or otherwise);
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“Services
Fee” shall be as defined in Clause 3.1;
“Indebtedness” shall
mean, as to any Person, without duplication, (i) all indebtedness (including
principal, interest, fees and charges) of such Person for borrowed money for the
deferred purchase price of property or services, (ii) the face amount of all
letters of credit issued for the amount of such Person and all drafts drawn
thereunder, (iii) all liabilities secured by any Lien on any property owned by
such person, whether or not such liabilities have been assumed by such Person,
(iv) the aggregate amount required to be capitalized under leases under which
such Person is the lessee and (v) all contingent obligations (including, without
limitation, all guarantees to third parties) of such Person;
“Lien” shall mean any
mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance,
lien (statutory or other), preference, priority or other security agreement of
any kind or nature whatsoever (including. without limitation, any conditional
sale or other title retention agreement, any financing or similar statement or
notice filed under recording or notice statute, and any lease having
substantially the same effect as any of the foregoing);
“Person” shall mean
any individual, corporation, company, voluntary association, partnership, joint
venture, trust, unincorporated organization, entity or other
organization or any government body;
“PRC” means the
People’s Republic of China;
“Services” means the
services to be provided under the Agreement by Party A to Party B, as more
specifically described in Clause 2;
In this
Agreement a reference to a Clause, unless the context otherwise requires, is a
reference to a clause of this Agreement.
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1.2
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The
headings in this Agreement shall not affect the interpretation of this
Agreement.
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2. RETENTION
AND SCOPE OF SERVICES
2.1
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Party
A hereby agrees to provide Party B with exclusive business support and
technical and consulting services, including but not limited to, general
operational management, technical support, strategic planning, marketing
and sale and human resource management,
etc..
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2.2
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Exclusive
Services Provider. During
the term of this agreement, Party A shall be the exclusive service
provider. Party B shall not seek or accept similar services from other
providers unless the prior written approval is obtained from Party
A.
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2
2.3
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Intellectual
Properties Related to the Services. Party A is entitled to have
exclusive and proprietary rights and interests to any intellectual
properties or technologies arising out of or created during the
performance of this agreement. Such intellectual property
rights shall include patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patent
application rights, copyright and trademark application rights, research
and technical documents and materials, and other related intellectual
property rights including the right to license or transfer such
intellectual properties. If Party B must utilize any intellectual
property, Party A agrees to grant an appropriate license to Party B on
terms and conditions to be set forth in a separate
agreement.
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2.4
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Pledge. Party B
shall permit and cause Party B's shareholders to pledge the equity
interests of Party B to Party A for securing the Fee that should be paid
by Party B pursuant to this
Agreement.
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2.5
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Party
B hereby grants to Party A an irrevocable and exclusive option to purchase
from Party B, at Party A’s sole discretion, any or all of the assets
(including trademarks) of Party B, to the extent permitted under the PRC
laws, at the lowest purchase price permitted by the PRC laws. In this
case, the Parties shall enter into a separate asset transfer agreement,
specifying the terms and conditions of the transfer of the
assets.
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3. PAYMENT
3.1 General
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(a)
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In
consideration of the Services provided by Party A hereunder, Party B shall
pay to Party A during the term of this Agreement a services fee (the
“Services Fee”). Party A and Party B agree that the Services Fee shall be
determined and paid based on a percentage of Party B's profit before tax,
which is determined and adjustable at the sole discretion of Party A. The
time of payment is determined at the sole discretion of Party
A.
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(b)
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Party
B will permit, from time to time during regular business hours as
reasonably requested by Party A, or its agents or representatives
(including independent public accountants, which may be Party B’s
independent public accountants),(i)to conduct periodic audits of books and
records of Party B,(ii) to examine and make copies of and abstracts from
all books, records and documents (including, without limitation, computer
tapes and disks)in the possession or under the control of Party B(iii) to
visit the offices and properties of Party B for the purpose of examining
such materials described in clause (ii) above, and (iv) to discuss matters
relating to the performance by Party B hereunder with any of the officers
or employees of Party B having knowledge of such matters. Party A may
exercise the audit rights provided in the preceding sentence at any time,
provided that Party A provides ten days written notice to Party B
specifying the scope, purpose and duration of such audit. All such audits
shall be conducted in such a manner as not to interfere with Party B’s
normal operations.
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3.2
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Party
B shall not be entitled to set off any amount it may claim is owed to it
by Party A against any Services Fee payable by Party B to Party A
unless Party B first obtains Party A's written
consent.
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3.3
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Should
Party B fail to pay all or any part of the Service’s Fee due to Party
A in RMB under this Clause 3 within the time limits stipulated, Party
B shall pay to Party A interest in RMB on the amount overdue based on
the three (3) month lending rate for RMB announced by the Bank of China on
the relevant due date.
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3.4
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All
payments to be made by Party B hereunder shall be made free and clear of
and without deduction for or on account of tax, unless Party B is
required to make such payment subject to the deduction or withholding
of tax.
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4.
UNDERTAKINGS
Party
B hereby agrees that, during the term of the Agreement:
4.1
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Information
Covenants. Party B will furnish to Party
A:
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4.1.1
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Preliminary Monthly
Reports. Within five (5) days of the end of each calendar month
the preliminary income statements and balance sheets of Party B made
up to and as at the end of such calendar month, in each case prepared
in accordance with the PRC generally accepted accounting
principles, consistently
applied.
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4.1.2
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Final Monthly
Reports. Within ten (10) days after the end of each calendar
month, a final report from Party B on the financial
position and results of operations and affairs of Party B made up to and
as at the end of such calendar month and for the elapsed portion of
the relevant financial year, setting forth in each case in
comparative form figures for the corresponding period in the preceding
financial year, in each case prepared in accordance with the PRC
generally accepted accounting principles, consistently
applied.
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4.1.3
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Quarterly
Reports. As soon as available and in any event within twenty-five
(25) days after each Quarterly Date (as defined below), unaudited
consolidated and consolidating statements of income, retained
earnings and changes in financial position of the Party B and its
subsidiaries, if any, for such quarterly period and for the period
from the beginning of the relevant fiscal year to such Quarterly Date
and the related consolidated and consolidating balance sheets as at
the end of such quarterly period, setting forth in each case
actual versus budgeted comparisons and in comparative form the
corresponding consolidated and consolidating figures for the
corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, accompanied by a
certificate of the chief financial officer of the Party B, which
certificate shall state that said financial statements fairly present
the consolidated and consolidating financial condition and results of
operations, as the case may be, of the Party B and its subsidiaries,
if any, in accordance with PRC general accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis as at the end of, and for,
such period (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the
preparation of notes for the audited financial
statements).
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4.1.4
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Annual Audited
Accounts. Within forty-five (45) days of the end of the
financial year, the annual audited accounts of Party B to which they
relate (setting forth in each case in comparative form
the corresponding figures for the preceding financial year), in each
case prepared in accordance with, among others, the PRC generally
accepted accounting principles, consistently
applied.
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4.1.5
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Budgets. At least
90 days before the first day of each financial year of Party B, a budget
in form satisfactory to Party A(including budgeted statements of income
and sources and uses of cash and balance sheets) prepared by Party B for
each of the four financial quarters of such financial year accompanied by
the statement of the chief financial officer of Party B to the effect
that, to the best of his knowledge, the budget is a reasonable estimate
for the period covered
thereby.
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4.1.6
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Notice of
Litigation. Promptly, and in any event within
one (1) business day after an officer of Party B obtains
knowledge thereof, notice of (i) any litigation or governmental
proceeding pending against Party B which could materially adversely
affect the business, operations, property, assets, condition
(financial or otherwise) or prospects of Party B and (ii) any other
event which is likely to materially adversely affect the business,
operations, property, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or
prospects of Party B.
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4.1.7
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Other
Information. From time to time, such other information or documents
(financial or otherwise) as Party A may reasonably request. For
purposes of this Agreement, “a Quarterly Date” shall mean the
last day of March, June, September and December in each year, the
first of which shall be the first such day following the date
of this Agreement; provided that if any such day is not a business
day in the PRC, then such Quarterly Date shall be the next succeeding
business day in the PRC.
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4.2
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Books, Records and
Inspections. Party B will keep proper books of record and account
in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles in the PRC and all requirements of law
shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business
and activities. Party B will permit officers and designated
representatives of Party A to visit and inspect, under guidance
of officers of Party B, any of the properties of Party B, and to
examine the books of record and account of Party B and discuss the
affairs, finances and accounts of Party B with, and be advised as to the
same by, its and their officers, all at such reasonable times and
intervals and to such reasonable extent as Party A may
request.
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4.3
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Corporate
Franchises. Party B will
do or cause to be done, all things necessary to preserve and keep in
full force and effect its existence and its material rights, franchises
and licenses.
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4.4
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Compliance with
Statutes, etc. Party B will comply with all applicable
statutes, regulations and orders of, and all applicable restrictions
imposed by, all governmental bodies, in respect of the conduct of its
business and the ownership of its property, including without limitation
maintenance of valid and proper government approvals and licenses
necessary to provide the services, except that such noncompliances could
not, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business,
operations, property, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or
prospects of Party B.
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5.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Party B covenants and agrees that, during the term of this Agreement, without
the prior written consent
of Party A:
5.1
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Equity. Party B
will not issue, purchase or redeem any equity or debt securities of Party
B.
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5.2
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Liens. Party B
will not create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with
respect to any property or assets (real or personal, tangible or
intangible) of Party B whether now owned or
hereafter acquired.
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5.3
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Consolidation, Merger,
Sale of Assets, etc. Party B will not wind up, liquidate or
dissolve its affairs or enter into any transaction of merger or
consolidation, or convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of (or
agree to do any of the foregoing at any future time) all or any part
of its property or assets, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one
or a series of related transactions) any part of the property or assets
(other than purchases or other acquisitions of inventory, materials
and equipment in the ordinary course of business) of any Person,
except that (i) Party B may make sales of inventory in the ordinary course
of business and (ii) Party B may, in the ordinary course of business,
sell equipment which is uneconomic or
obsolete.
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5.4
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Dividends. Party
B will not declare or pay any dividends, or return any capital, to its
shareholders or authorize or make any other distribution, payment or
delivery of property or cash to its shareholders as such, or redeem,
retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, for a
consideration, any shares of any class of its capital stock now or
hereafter outstanding (or any options or warrants issued by Party B
with respect to its capital stock), or set aside any funds for any of
the foregoing purposes.
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5.5
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Leases. Party
B will not permit the aggregate payments by Party B under agreements to
rent or lease any real or personal property to exceed USD50,000 in
any fiscal year of Party B.
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5.6
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Indebtedness. Party
B will not contract, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any
indebtedness, except accrued expenses and current trade accounts
payable incurred in the ordinary course of
business.
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5.7
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Advances, Investment
and Loans. Party B will not lend money or credit or make advances
to any Person, or purchase or acquire any stock, obligations or
securities of, or any other interest in, or make any capital
contribution to, any other Person, except that Parry A may acquire and
hold receivables owing to it, if created or acquired in the ordinary
course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance
with customary trade terms.
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5.8
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Transactions with
Affiliates. Party B will not enter into any transaction or
series of related transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course
of business, with any Affiliate of Party B, other than on terns
and conditions substantially as favorable to Party B as would be
obtainable by Party B at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction
with a Person other than an Affiliate and with the prior written
consent of Party A.
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5.9
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Capital
Expenditures. During the term of this Agreement, except with the
prior written consent of Party A, Party B will not make any expenditure
for fixed or capital assets which exceed 2,000,000 USD in any
fiscal year.
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5.10
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Modifications to
Articles of Association.
Party B will not amend, modify or change its Articles of Association or
Business License, or any agreement entered into by it, with respect
to its capital stock, or enters into any new agreement with respect
to its capital stock, except with the prior written consent of Party
A.
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5.11
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Line of
Business. Party B will not engage (directly or indirectly) in any
business other than those types of business prescribed within the business
scope of Party B’s business license except with the prior written consent
of Party A.
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6.
TERM AND TERMINATION
6.1
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This
Agreement shall take effect on the date of execution of this
Agreement and the term of this agreement is 10 years. This agreement
may be extended with Party A's written confirmation prior to the
expiration date.
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6.2
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This
Agreement may be terminated:
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6.2.1
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By
either Party giving written notice to the other Party if the other Party
has committed a material breach of this Agreement (including but not
limited to the failure by Party B to pay the Services Fee) and such
breach, if capable of remedy, has not been so remedied
within, in the case of breach of a non-financial obligation, 14
days, following receipt of such written
notice;
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6.2.2
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Either
Party giving written notice to the other Party if the other Party becomes
bankruptcy or insolvent or is the subject of proceedings or arrangements
for liquidation or dissolution or ceases to carry on business or becomes
unable to pay its debts as they come
due;
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6.2.3
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By
either Party giving written notice to the other Party if, for any reason,
the operations of Party A are
terminated;
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6.2.4
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By
either Party giving written notice to the other Party if the business
license or any other license or approval material for the business
operations of Party B is terminated, cancelled or
revoked;
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6.2.5
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By
either Party giving written notice to the other Party if circumstances
arise which materially and adversely affect the performance or the
objectives of this Agreement;
or
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6.2.6
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By
election of Party A with or without
reason.
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6.3
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Any
Party electing properly to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clause 6.2
shall have no liability to the other Party for indemnity, compensation or
damages arising solely from the exercise of such right. The expiration or
termination of this Agreement shall not affect the continuing liability of
Party B to pay any Services Fees already accrued or due and payable to
Party A. Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, all amounts
then due and unpaid to Party A by Party B hereunder, as well as all other
amounts accrued but not yet payable to Party A by Party B, shall forthwith
become due and payable by Party B to Party A。
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7.
PARTY A’S REMEDY UPON PARTY B’S BREACH
In
addition to the remedies provided elsewhere under this Agreement, Party A shall
be entitled to remedies permitted under the PRC laws, including without
limitation compensation for any direct and indirect losses arising from the
breach and legal fees incurred to recover losses from such breach.
8.
AGENCY
The
Parties are independent contractors, and nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to constitute either Party to be the agent, partner, legal
representative, attorney or employee of the other for any
purpose whatsoever. Neither Party shall have the power or authority to bind
the other except as specifically set out in this Agreement.
9.
GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
9.1
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Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the PRC.
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9.2
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Arbitration.
Any dispute arising from, out of or in connection with this Agreement
shall be settled through friendly consultations between the Parties. In
the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30
days after either Party's request to the other Parties for resolution of
the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant
dispute to the local competent arbitration committee for arbitration, in
accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted
in Guangzhou, and the language used in arbitration shall be Chinese. The
arbitration award shall be final and binding on all
Parties.
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9.3
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Continuing
Obligations. During the period when a dispute is being resolved,
the Parties shall in all other respects continue their implementation of
this Agreement.
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10.
ASSIGNMENT
No part
of this Agreement shall be assigned or transferred by either Party without the
prior written consent of the other Party. Any such assignment or transfer
shall be void. Party A, however, may assign its rights and obligations hereunder
to an Affiliate.
11.
NOTICES
Notices
or other communications required to be given by any party pursuant to this
Agreement shall be written in English and Chinese and delivered personally
or sent by registered mail or postage prepaid mail or by a recognized
courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of relevant each
party or both parties set forth below or other address of the party or of
the other addressees specified by such party from time to time. The date when
the notice is deemed to be duly served shall be determined as the follows:
(a) a notice delivered personally is deemed duly served upon the
delivery; (b) a notice sent by mail is deemed duly served the
tenth(10th) day after the date when the air registered mail with postage
prepaid has been sent out (as is shown on the postmark),or the
fourth(4th) day after the delivery date to the internationally recognized
courier service agency; and (c) a notice sent by facsimile
transmission is deemed duly served upon the receipt time as is shown on the
transmission confirmation of relevant documents.
Party A
: Guangdong Hopsun Polypeptide Biological Technology Co.,
Ltd.
Attn:
Fax:
Tel:
Party
B: Guangdong Xinpu Polypeptide Research Co. Ltd.
Attn:
Fax:
Tel:
12. GENERAL
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12.1
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The
failure to exercise or delay in exercising a right or remedy under this
Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of the right or remedy or waiver
of any other rights or remedies and no single or partial exercise of any
right or remedy under this Agreement shall prevent any further exercise of
the right or remedy or the exercise of any other right or
remedy.
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12.2
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Should
any Clause or any part of any Clause contained in this Agreement be
declared invalid or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, all other
Clauses or parts of Clauses contained in this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect.
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12.3
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This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties relating to
the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all previous
agreements.
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12.4
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No
amendment or variation of this Agreement shall be valid unless it is in
writing and signed by or on behalf of each of the
Parties.
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12.5
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This
Agreement shall be executed in two (2) duplicate originals in English and
Chinese. Each Party has received one (1) duplicate original, and all
originals shall be equally
valid.
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[SIGNATURE
PAGE, FOLLOWS]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF both
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their
representatives and duly authorized representatives on their behalf as of the
date first set forth above.
PARTY
A:
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Legal/Authorized
Representative:
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Name:
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PARTY B:
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Legal/Authorized
Representative:
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Name:
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