COOPERATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.5
This Cooperation Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into on February 19, 2021 in Beijing by and between:
(1) Nanjing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd., with its registered address at 3-5/F Building No.6, Southeast University Science Park, 6 Changjianghou Street, Xuanwu District, Nanjing and its legal representative being Yu Dunde (“Party A”);
(2) Beijing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd., with its registered address at R1006 10/F Building Xx.0, Xxxx Xx.0 xx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx and its legal representative being Yu Dunde (“Party B”).
WHEREAS
1. Party A is a company with exclusively domestic capital incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, mainly engaged in the internet-based sale, promotion of tour products, room reservation and conference affairs services.
2. Party B is a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, mainly engaged in research and development of computer software technology, technology transfer, technical consultancy and technical services, computer technology training, technical services and business consultancy services in relation to the internet-based sale and promotion of tour products.
3. Party A intends to authorize Party B to provide to Party A and its subsidiaries the technical services and business consultancy services in relation to the internet-based sale and promotion of tour products, including but not limited to development, operation, maintenance of internet technology platform as well as consultancy services relating to sale and promotion of tour products or cooperation provided by Party B in other forms as required under this Agreement, and Party B agrees to accept such authorization.
4. After an amiable consideration, the Parties unanimously agree that the establishment of a long-term and close cooperation relationship is in the best interests of the Parties and their beneficiaries.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties unanimously agree on Business Cooperation matters
(as defined below) through friendly negotiation as follows:
1. Business Cooperation
Party A and Party B unanimously agree that the proposed cooperation shall be the internet-based sale and promotion of tour products conducted by Party A and its subsidiaries, other value-added business carried out by Party A and all of the business activities operated and developed by Party A now and at any time during the validity term hereof. Party B shall provide the business consultancy and technical services as well as the technical consultancy as set forth in Article 3 hereinafter to Party A and its subsidiaries to facilitate them to conduct the aforementioned business and supply relevant products and services (“Business Cooperation”).
2. Exclusive Cooperation
2.1 Party A irrevocably undertakes that Party A will take Party B as its exclusive and sole partner to provide the business consultancy and technical services as well as technical consultancy to Party A and its subsidiaries. Party A shall not establish any same or similar cooperative relationship with any third party in respect of such businesses nor shall it make any same or similar arrangement, unless with the prior written consent of Party B.
2.2 Party A irrevocably undertakes that it will make best efforts to assist and endeavor to achieve the exclusive operation of the cooperative business to the extent permitted by laws.
2.3 Party A irrevocably undertakes that, without Party B’s consent, Party A shall not conduct any other business or make any commercial arrangement, including without limitation being engaged in or otherwise participating in any commercial activities and businesses independently or together with any other person or entity, nor shall it carry out any activities that may be competitive with or cause adverse effect to Party B’s business.
3. Party B’s Services
Party B undertakes to provide the following technical consultancy and services to Party A and its subsidiaries in respect of the cooperative business (collectively referred to as “Party B’s Services”):
3.1 Research, development, production, test, operation and maintenance, upgrade and other services of relevant technology;
3.2 Development, construction, operation and maintenance, upgrade and other services of relevant internet platform and system;
3.3 Design the relevant tour products plan, and provide relevant training, implementation and upgrade and other services;
3.4 Consultancy services related to sale and promotion of tour products;
3.5 Providing to Party A the information technology/overall management and operation solution as required for Party A’s business;
3.6 Other relevant services provided from time to time at Party A’s request
Party A agrees that Party B may, at its own discretion, provide the aforementioned Party B’s Services to Party A and its subsidiaries, or purchase the required services from any third party and provide the services to Party A and its subsidiaries.
Party A shall cause its subsidiaries to accept Party B’s Services. The Parties agree that the subsidiaries of Party A may otherwise enter into an agreement with Party B in respect of Party B’s Services in accordance with this Agreement.
4. Cooperation Remuneration
4.1 Party A and Party B unanimously agree that they will allocate the proceeds generated from cooperation in accordance with the following provisions:
Party B shall have the right to charge, on a quarterly basis, the service fee (“Service Fee”) from Party A or its subsidiaries who have accepted Party B’s Services, or designate another person or entity to charge Service Fee from Party A or its subsidiaries who have accepted Party B’s Services. The total sum of Service Fee shall be equal to the amount of profits gained by Party A or its subsidiaries who have accepted Party B’s Services. Party B shall have the right to adjust the amount of Service Fee at its own discretion, without the prior consent of Party A or its subsidiaries.
Party A shall cause its subsidiaries to pay the Service Fee in respect of Party B’s Services provided to such subsidiaries.
4.2 The Service Fee of the last quarter shall be paid prior to the seventh business day following the commencement of the next quarter. Such Service Fee shall be paid to the bank account designated by Party B in writing. If Party B intends to change its bank account, it shall send a written notice to Party A seven business days in advance.
4.3 Except as otherwise agreed hereunder, if Party A or its subsidiaries fail to pay the Service Fee in full on schedule according to provisions of Article 4.1 and Article 4.2, then Party A or its subsidiaries shall, in addition to the continuance
of the payment of Service Fee in full, it shall pay Party B the liquidated damages at a daily interest rate of 0.03% in respect of the outstanding Service Fee.
5. Term of Cooperation
This Agreement shall be formed as from the date when it is duly executed by the Parties. Party A and Party B agree and confirm that once formed, the effectiveness of this Agreement shall be retrospective to January 24, 2014,and that the term of cooperation under this Agreement shall commence from January 24, 2014 and end on the expiration date of the operation term of Party B (“Term of Cooperation”).
6. Termination
6.1 Prior to the expiration of the Term of Cooperation , this Agreement shall only be terminated upon occurrence of the following circumstances:
6.1.1 Party B shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in advance without the prior written consent from Party A, by sending a written notice to Party A but Party A may not terminate or rescind this Agreement;
6.1.2 One Party requests to terminate this Agreement when the other Party is declared bankrupt in accordance with the laws;
6.1.3 Party B fails to provide Party B’s Services to Party A for more than three consecutive years due to the force majeure event.
6.2 Rights and Obligations of the Parties upon Termination
6.2.1 If this Agreement is terminated according to the aforementioned Article 6.1.1, neither Party shall assume any obligations or liabilities to the other Party as of the termination hereof, unless as otherwise agreed by the Parties, provided that the liabilities for breach occurring prior to the termination shall not be exempted;
6.2.2 If this Agreement is terminated according to the aforementioned Article 6.1.2, the rights and obligations of the Parties at the time of termination hereof shall be subject to the relevant bankruptcy laws;
6.2.3 If this Agreement is terminated according to the aforementioned Article 6.1.3, neither Party shall assume any obligations or liabilities to the other Party as of the termination hereof, provided that the liabilities for breach that occured prior to the force majeure event shall not be exempted.
6.3 Each Party hereby irrevocably waives other rights to terminate this Agreement it may have under any applicable laws, except for the rights of the Parties agreed under this Article 6.
6.4 Party A hereby expressly undertakes that it waives the right to request amendment and revocation of any term of this Agreement on the ground of material misunderstanding or unconscionability, regardless of whether such request is based on the percentage and amount of payment specified hereunder or the quantity and quality of any service provided by Party B, or is raised against the provisions under which Party A is prohibited from having any cooperation with a third party and conducting any businesses other than those agreed hereunder.
7. Representations, Warranties and Undertakings
7.1 Each Party hereby represents, warrants and undertakes to the other Party that:
7.1.1 It has sufficient capacity for action, power and authorization (including necessary government approval and internal permit of corporation) to execute and perform this Agreement;
7.1.2 This Agreement shall be legally binding on the Parties as of the execution date hereof; and
7.1.3 There is no outstanding litigation, arbitration or other legal or governmental proceedings, or to the knowledge of that Party, there is no litigation, arbitration or other legal or governmental proceedings threatening or affecting the performance of obligations of that Party hereunder.
7.2 Other than those set forth in Section 7.1, Party A hereby represents, and warrants and undertakes to Party B that:
7.2.1 It shall timely inform Party B of any circumstance which has or is likely to have a material adverse effect on Party A’s business or operation thereof and shall use its best efforts to prevent the occurrence of such circumstance and/or the expansion of losses.
7.2.2 Without written consent of Party B, Party A will not dispose of its material assets or change its current shareholding structure in whatsoever manner.
7.2.3 When this Agreement takes effect, it has complete licenses and certificates necessary for conduct of its business, full rights and qualifications to carry out business currently conducted by it within the PRC.
7.2.4 Once requested by Party B in writing, Party A will use all receivables then in its possession and/or other assets lawfully owned by it and at its disposal to provide security for performance of its payment obligation of the Services Fees agreed in Article 4 hereof in a manner then permissible by Laws.
7.2.5 It will indemnify and hold harmless Party B against all losses suffered or likely to be suffered by Party B as a result of provision of the Services, including, without limitation, any losses arising out of any suit, recourse, arbitration, claim brought by any third party against it or any administrative investigation or sanction by any governmental authorities, but exclusive of any losses arising out of any willful misconduct or gross negligence of Party B.
7.2.6 Without written consent of Party B, Party A shall not enter into any other agreement or arrangement conflicting with this Agreement or likely to impair the rights and interests of Party B hereunder.
7.3 Each Party shall be responsible for and hold the other Party harmless from any loss, damages and claim arising out of violation of any representations, warranties and Undertakings hereunder.
8. Breach
The Parties agree and acknowledge that:
8.1 If any Party commits any act in violation of this Agreement, such Party shall assume the liabilities for breach according to this Agreement and applicable laws. If both Parties breach this Agreement, they shall each assume their own liabilities for breach respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, neither Party shall be responsible to the other Party in respect of any indirect loss or damage caused hereunder.
8.2 The demand for liquidated damages and specific performance in respect of any breach during the Term of Cooperation are all remedies that the non-breaching Party shall have under this Agreement. The non-breaching Party shall waive the right to request termination of this Agreement it may have according to any applicable laws as a result of the violation acts committed by the breaching Party.
9. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the
People’s Republic of China that are promulgated and are publicly available, provided that the general international business practices shall apply if the laws of the People’s Republic of China that are promulgated and are publicly available do not involve any matter in relation to this Agreement.
10. Force Majeure
The force majeure hereunder shall mean the natural disaster, war, political event, and adjustment of laws, regulations and state policies. If the performance of this Agreement by one Party or the Parties according to provisions agreed hereunder is directly affected by the force majeure event, the affected Party shall immediately notify the other Party or its attorney-in-fact of the situation of the force majeure event, and shall, within fifteen (15) days, provide the detailed information of the force majeure event or the reason for non-performance or partial performance or delay of performance of this Agreement as well as valid evidence thereof (which shall be issued by the notarization authority at the place where the force majeure event occurs). The Parties shall negotiate to decide the performance of this Agreement depending on to what degree the performance of this Agreement is influenced by the force majeure, and decide on whether the affected Party may partially perform or postpone the performance of its obligations hereunder. Except as provided for under Article 6.1.3 hereof, neither Party shall exercise the right to termination this Agreement that it may have under any applicable laws on the ground of occurrence of force majeure event.
11. Dispute Resolution
11.1 All disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be first settled by the related Parties through amiable consultations; If the related Parties fail to resolve the dispute through consultations, the dispute shall be submitted to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) for arbitration according to CIETAC arbitration rules in effect at the time of applying for arbitration. The seat of arbitration shall be in Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on the related Parties. Except as otherwise required by the arbitration award, the arbitration fees shall be borne by the losing party. The losing party shall also indemnify for the attorneys’ fee and other expenses incurred by the winning party.
11.2 Pending the resolution of such dispute, the Parties shall continue to perform the remaining provisions of this Agreement other than the disputed matters..
12. Miscellaneous
12.1 This Agreement shall take effect as of the date when the authorized representatives of the Parties sign hereon. The Parties agree and confirm that this Agreement shall constitute all understanding, interpretation and intentions of the Parties in respect of the Cooperative Business. Once executed, this Agreement shall replace any other legal documents previously entered into by the Parties in respect of the same subject matter hereof.
12.2 The rights and obligations of each Party under this Agreement shall not be transferred, except for the transfer by Party B to its affiliates.
12.3 The Parties agree that any and all intellectual property researched and developed, created and invented by the Parties (including their employees) in the course of performance of this Agreement shall be owned by Party B. For the purpose of this Article 12.3, “Intellectual Property” means the patent, patent application right, trademark, service xxxx, logo, image, trade name, internet domain name, design right, copyright (including copyright of computer software) and moral rights, database right, right of semiconductor design drawing, utility model, proprietary technology and other intellectual property that are registered and unregistered including those that have applied for registration, as well as all other rights or protection methods with same or similar effect on a global scope.
12.4 To the extent permitted under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, the failure or delay of performance of any right under this Agreement by any Party shall not be deemed as a waive of such right, and any single or partial exercise of any right shall not preclude the further exercise of such right in the future.
12.5 This Agreement shall constitute an entire agreement between the Parties in respect of the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede any and all prior expression of intention or understanding reached by the Parties in relation to this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be amended or modified unless the authorized representatives of the Parties sign a written agreement thereof.
12.6 This Agreement shall be executed in two (2) copies, each of which shall have the same legal effect.
12.7 Any notice or written communication sent by a Party to the other Party under this Agreement shall be made in writing and delivered by courier service or by facsimile accompanied with a confirmation hard copy delivered by courier service. The notice, communication or letter sent under this Agreement shall be deemed as effectively received on the seventh (7) day after sending to the courier service, or shall be deemed as effectively received on the first (1) day after delivered by facsimile, which shall be evidenced by the transmission
confirmation. All notice and communication shall be sent to the following addresses until a Party notify the other Party in writing to change such addresses:
Party A: Nanjing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Tuiniu Building, 699-32Xuanwu Avenue, Xuanwu District, Nanjing
Fax No.: (00 00) 00000000
Attention: General Manager
Party B: Beijing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Tuiniu Building, 699-32Xuanwu Avenue, Xuanwu District, Nanjing
Fax No.: (00 00) 00000000
Attention: General Manager
12.8 Confidentiality Obligations
12.8.1 Neither Party shall disclose the financial and technical information obtained in the course of conclusion of this Agreement to any third party nor use such information for matters irrelevant to this Agreement, regardless of written or oral information, unless the other Party gives a prior written consent thereto.
12.8.2 The Parties shall be obligated to take measures (including without limitation preparing the confidentiality rules, entering into the confidentiality agreement, establishing the archive management system and etc.) to ensure their respective employees will observe the confidentiality obligations specified hereunder.
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In witness whereof, this Agreement has been executed by the duly authorized representatives of the Parties on the date first mentioned above.
Party A: | | |
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Nanjing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd. | | |
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By: | /s/ Yu Dunde | |
Name: Yu Dunde | | |
Title: Chairman | | |
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Party B: | | |
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Beijing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd. | | |
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| | |
By: | /s/ Yu Dunde | |
Name: Yu Dunde | | |
Title: Chairman | | |
