Exclusive Consulting and Service Agreement
Exhibit
4.18
Exclusive
Consulting and Service Agreement
This
Exclusive and Service Agreement (hereinafter referred to as this “Agreement” is entered into on this 1st day of
July, 2008 in Shanghai by and between:
Shengqu Information Technology (Shanghai) Co.,
Ltd., located at Xx. 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx Xx-Xxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, hereinafter
referred to as “Party A”; and
Shanghai Shulong Technology
Development Co., Ltd., located at Xx. 000 Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx Xx-Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, hereinafter referred to as “Party B”.
Party A
and Party B may hereinafter collectively be referred to as the “ Parties” and, individually,
as the “Party”
Whereas,
1.
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Party
A, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise incorporated and existing in the
People' Republic of China (the “PRC”) according to law, has consulting and
service resources;
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2.
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Party
B is a limited liability company incorporated in the
PRC;
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3.
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Party
A has agreed to provide Party B with the consulting and services, and
Party B has agreed to accept such consulting and services from Party
A.
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NOW
THEREFORE, the
Parties have reached the following terms and conditions on the principle of
equal footing and mutual benefits through friendly
negotiation:
1.
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Consulting
and Services: Exclusive Rights and
Benefits
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1.1
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Party
A has agreed to provide Party B with consulting and services acting as the
exclusive consulting and service provider of Party B as set forth in
Appendix 1 in the Term of this Agreement.
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1.2
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Party
B has agreed to accept the consulting and services provided by Party A in
the Term of this Agreement. In consideration of the value of the
consulting and services provided by Party A, and of good cooperation
relationships between the Parties, Party B has further agreed not to
accept other consulting and services for the business scopes involved in
this Agreement from any third party in the Term of this Agreement, unless
otherwise agreed by Party A in writing in
advance.
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1.3
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Any
rights, ownerships, rights and benefits, intellectual properties
(including but not limited to the copyrights, patent rights, know-how,
trade secrets and other rights) arising out of the performance of this
Agreement, whether developed by Party A, or developed by Party B on the
basis of Party A's intellectual properties or developed by Party A on the
basis of Party B's intellectual properties, shall be owned by Party A
exclusively, and Party B shall not claim any such rights, ownerships,
rights and benefits, and intellectual properties against Party A. In case
the said development is carried out by Party A on the basis of Party B's
intellectual properties, Party B shall ensure that there is no defect on
such intellectual properties. Otherwise, Party B shall bear Party A's
losses arisen therefrom. Furthermore, if Party A is required to indemnify
any third party due to the said development, it is entitled to claim all
of its losses from Party B after it indemnifies such third
party.
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1.4
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In
consideration of good cooperation relationship between the Parties, Party
B has undertaken to obtain Party A's prior consents if it intends to carry
out any business cooperation not set forth in Appendix 1 hereto. If Party
B does so, Party A or its affiliates shall cooperate with Party B with
priority under the same conditions. Without Party A's prior consents,
Party B shall not carry out the said cooperation business at its own
discretions.
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2.
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Calculation
and Payment for Consulting and Service Fees (hereinafter referred to as
the “Service Fees”)
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2.1
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The
Parties have agreed that the Service Fees hereunder shall be confirmed and
paid in accordance with Appendix 2
hereto.
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2.2
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An additional 5‱ interest per day will be incurred on any late fees
and payments in the event that
Party B fails to pay the Service Fees and other fees in accordance with
this Agreement.
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2.3
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Party
A is entitled to appoint its employee or a certified public
accountant from the PRC or other country (hereinafter
referred to as “Party A's Authorized Representative”) to check Party B's
accounts for examining the calculation methods and amount of the Service
Fees. For this purpose, Party B shall provide Party A's Authorized
Representative with the documentation, books, records and information
required by such Authorized Representative, so that such Authorized
Representative shall audit Party B's accounts and confirm the amount of
the Service Fees. Save for significantly material errors, the amount of
the Service Fees shall be subject to such amount as is confirmed by Party
A's Authorized Representative.
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2.4
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Unless
otherwise agreed by the Parties, Party B shall not deduct any fees from or
offset the Service Fees that shall be paid to Party A in accordance with
this Agreement, such as banking charges,
etc.
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2.5
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In
addition to the Service Fees, Party B shall reimburse Party A with
the out-of-pockets arising from the consulting and
services hereunder, including but not limited to all travelling
expenses, transport fees (taxi fees, etc.), printing fees, postages and so
on.
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3.
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Statements
and Warranties
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3.1
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Party
A hereby states and warrants as
follows:
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3.1.1
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It
is a company incorporated and existing in accordance with the laws of the
PRC;
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3.1.2
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It
shall perform this Agreement subject to its capacities and business
scopes; its performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized, and
has been consented and approved by relevant third party and the
governmental authorities, and has not (will not) violated the laws or
contracts that may be binding upon or restrain
it;
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3.1.3
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The
conclusion of this Agreement shall constitute a legal document lawful to,
effective to, binding upon and enforceable to
it.
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3.2
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Party
B hereby states and warrants as
follows:
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3.2.1
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It
is a company incorporated and existing in accordance with the laws of the
PRC;
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3.2.2
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It
shall perform this Agreement subject to its capacities and business
scopes; its performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized, and
has been consented and approved by relevant third party and the
governmental authorities, and has not (will not) violated the laws or
contracts that may be binding upon or restrain
it;
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3.2.3
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The
conclusion of this Agreement shall constitute a legal document lawful to,
effective to, binding upon and enforceable to
it.
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4.
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Confidentiality
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4.1
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Party
A and Party B have agreed to take all reasonable confidential measures as
possible as practical to keep well the confidential data and information
(hereinafter referred to as the “Confidential Information”, the Party
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providing
the data and information (the “Disclosing Party”) shall state that such
data and information is confidential in writing) , which they may know or
have access to during the performance of this Agreement. Without prior
written consents of the Disclosing Party,, no Party can disclose, give or
transfer any such Confidential Information to any third party in any
circumstances (including such circumstances in which the Party receiving
the Confidential Information (the “Receiving Party”) has a merger with a
third party, or is consolidated or controlled by a third party, whether
directly or indirectly). Once this Agreement is terminated, Party A and
Party B shall return any documents, data or software bearing the
Confidential Information to the original owner of such Confidential
Information or the Disclosing Party, or destroy such Confidential
Information upon the consents of such original owner or Disclosing Party,
including the deletion of any such Confidential Information from memory
devices, and shall not continue to use any such Confidential Information.
Party A and Party B shall only disclose the Confidential Information to
Party B's employees, its agents or professional consultants who need to
know such information under necessary confidential measures, and shall
cause such employees, agents or professional consultants to observe the
confidential obligations hereunder. For the purpose of observing the
Confidential Obligations hereunder, Party A and Party B shall enter into a
confidential agreement with any such employees, agents or professional
consultants.
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4.2
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The
foregoing restrictions shall not apply
to:
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4.2.1
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Any
information that has already come to the public when such information is
disclosed;
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4.2.2
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Any
information that comes to the public without the defaults of Party A or
Party B after such information is
disclosed;
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4.2.3
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Any
information that has been possessed or developed by Party A or Party B
independently before such information is disclosed, which can be verified
by Party A or Party B;
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4.2.4
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Any
of the said Confidential Information that shall be disclosed to relevant
governmental authorities and stock exchanges by Party A or Party B in
accordance with the laws, or shall be disclosed to its direct legal
counsel and financial consultants by Party A or Party B by virtue of its
normal business demands.
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4.3
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The
Parties have agreed that this section shall survive, irrespective of
whether this Agreement is amended, rescinded or
terminated.
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5.
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Indemnification
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5.1
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In
the event that either Party hereto breaches this Agreement or any of its
statements and warranties hereunder (the “Breaching Party”), the
Non-breaching Party may notify the Breaching Party to correct its breaches
within ten (10) days upon receipt of such notice in writing, and to take
the measures for avoiding any damages promptly and effectively, and to
continue to perform this Agreement. In case of any damages, the Breaching
Party shall indemnify the Non-breaching Party, so that the Non-breaching
Party obtains all rights and benefits as if this Agreement would have been
performed.
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5.2
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The
Breaching Party shall indemnify and hold the Non-breaching Party harmless
against and from any expenses, liabilities or losses (including but not
limited to the company's profit losses), lost interests and attorney's
fees that may be sustained by the Non-breaching Party arising from or in
relation to its breaches. The total compensations paid to the
Non-breaching Party by the Breaching Party shall equal to the losses
arising from any such breaches, and such compensations shall include the
benefits that would have been obtained by the Non-breaching Party as if
this Agreement would have been performed. However, such compensations
shall not be more than such benefits as are anticipated by the Parties
reasonably.
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5.3
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Party
B shall be liable for any claims that may be demanded by any person
arising from the failure to observe Party A's indication by it, or misuse
of Party A's intellectual properties by it, or its inappropriate technical
operations. In the event that Party B has fund that anybody is using Party
A's intellectual properties without lawful authorization, it shall
forthwith notify Party A of such use and assist any action that may be
taken by Party A.
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5.4
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In
the event that either Party breaches this Agreement, such Party shall make
indemnification subject to its
breaches.
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6.
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Validity,
Performance and Term
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6.1
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This
Agreement comes to effect on the date first written above when it is
entered into.
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6.2
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Unless
otherwise terminated by Party A earlier, this Agreement shall be valid for
twenty (20) years from the date when it comes to effect (the “Term”). The
Parties shall extend this Agreement at Party A's request provided that
Party A requests doing so prior to the expiration of the Term of this
Agreement, and shall enter into a new exclusive consulting and service
agreement or continue to perform this Agreement at Party A's
request.
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7.
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Termination
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7.1
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In
the event that Party B terminates this Agreement earlier without any
justified reasons during the Term of this Agreement, it shall indemnify
and hold Party A harmless against and from any losses that may be
sustained arising from such termination, and shall pay Party A for the
completed services forthwith.
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7.2
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This
Agreement may be terminated upon the consensus of the
Parties.
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7.3
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After
this Agreement is terminated, the rights and obligations of the Parties
under section 4 and 5 shall
survive.
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8.
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Dispute
Resolution
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8.1
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Any dispute arising out of the
interpretation to or performance of this Agreement shall be resolved
through friendly
negotiation in good faith by the Parties; if not reached, any Party may submit such dispute to the
China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission Shanghai
Commission (“CIETACSC”) according to the Rules of
CIETACSC in force for the time being. Such arbitration shall be
carried out in Shanghai. The language in the arbitration
proceedings shall be Chinese. The awards are final and binding upon the
Parties. This section shall not be affected by any
termination or revocation of this Agreement.
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8.2
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Save for the matters under
disputes, the Parties
shall continue to
perform their respective obligations in good faith in accordance with this
Agreement.
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9.
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Force
Majeure
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9.1
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“Force
Majeure Events” shall mean any events beyond the reasonable controls of
the Party so affected (the “Affected Party”), which are unavoidable even
if the Affected Party takes a reasonable care, including but not limited
to governmental acts, Act of God, fires, explosion, storms, floods,
earthquakes, morning and evening tides, lightning or wars. However, any
shortage of credits, funds or financing shall not be deemed as the events
beyond reasonable controls of the Affected Party. The Affected Party
seeking for the exemption of any performance under this Agreement or any
provision hereof shall inform the other Party of such exemption and its
proposed measures to make further performance as soon as
practicable.
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9.2
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In
the event that the performance of this Agreement is delayed or interrupted
due to the said Force Majeure Events, the Affected Party shall be excused
from any liability to the extent of the delayed or interrupted
performance.
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The
Affected Party shall take necessary measures for reducing or eliminating
the adverse impacts arising from such Force Majeure Events. Once the said
Force Majeure Events eliminate, the Parties have agreed to try their best
efforts to recover the performance of this
Agreement.
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10.
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Notices
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10.1
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All
notices and correspondences to or upon each Party to be effective for the
performance of the rights and obligations hereunder shall be in writing,
and sent to the following address of the other Party by personal delivery,
registered mail, postage prepaid mail, generally accepted courier service
or fax.
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Party A:
Shengqu Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Address:
Xx. 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx Xx-Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx
Fax:
Tel:
Addressee:
Party B: Shanghai Shulong
Technology Development Co., Ltd.
Address:
Xx. 000 Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx
Xx-Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx
Fax:
Tel:
10.2
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Any
notice and correspondence shall be deemed to be served as
follows:
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If
it is sent by fax, it shall be deemed to be served on the recording date
on the faxed copy. However, if it is sent after 17:00 P.M. on a business
day or on a non-business day of the addressee, it shall be deemed to be
served on the next business day following the recording date on the faxed
copy. If it is sent by personal delivery (including the express mail
service), the date when it is entered into and accepted shall prevail. If
it is sent by registered mail, the 15th
day following the date recorded on the return receipt shall
prevail.
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11.
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Assign
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Unless
otherwise agreed by Party A in writing in advance, Party B shall not assign all
of its rights and obligations hereunder to any third party. Party A may assign
all of its rights and obligations hereunder to its affiliates without Party B's
prior consents; however, it shall inform Party B of such
assignment.
12.
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Severability
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In the event that any provision hereof becomes
invalid or unenforceable because such provision conflicts with the laws, such provision shall be held
invalid or unenforceable to the extent required by the governing laws, and
shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement.
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13.
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Amendment
and Supplement
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The Parties can amend and supplement this Agreement
in writing
only. Any amendment
and supplement shall be integral to this Agreement after the same is
entered into
by the Parties, which shall have the same force
and effect with this
Agreement.
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14.
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Governing
Law
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The conclusion, validity and performance
of, interpretation to and dispute resolution in relation to this Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the PRC.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Parties have caused their authorized representatives to enter into this
Agreement on the date first written above.
[No Text
Follow, Signature Page for Exclusive Consulting and Service Agreement
Follow]
Party A:
Shengqu Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Seal)
Legal
Representative/Authorized Representative:
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Title:
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Date: |
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Party B:
Shanghai Shulong Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Seal)
Legal
Representative/Authorized Representative:
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Title:
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Date: |
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Appendix
1:
Consulting
and Service List
The
consulting and services hereunder shall cover technical consulting, services and
business consultancy in respect of the development, maintenance and supports of
and for computer software, hardware and system based on the business operating
demands of Party B.
Appendix
2:
Calculation
and Payment Method for Service Fees
1
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The
amount for the Service Fees shall be agreed by the Parties subject to the
provisions of the services, and shall be calculated and paid
quarterly.
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2
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The
amount for the Service Fees shall be negotiated and agreed on the basis of
the following factors:
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2.1
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Technical
degree and complexity level of consulting and
services;
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2.2
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Consulting
and service time of Party A's
employees;
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2.3
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Concrete
contents and business value of the consulting and services
hereunder;
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2.4
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Reference
to marketing price of similar consulting and
services.
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3
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Party
A shall collect the Service Fees quarterly, and send the Service Fee Xxxx
for the immediately preceding quarter to Party B within thirty (30) days
from the first day of any quarter. Party B shall remit the Service Fees to
the bank account designated by Party A within ten (10) business days upon
the receipt of the said Xxxx. Party B shall send the copy of the
remittance certificate to Party A by fax or mail within ten (10) business
days after the Service Fees are
remitted.
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4
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In
the event that Party B considers that the service price mechanism
hereunder is not applicable and needs to be adjusted for some reasons, it
shall actively negotiate on determining the new pricing standards or
mechanism with Party A within ten (10) business days after Party A demands
adjusting the service price mechanism in writing. In the event that Party
B fails to give a response within ten (10) business days after it receives
the said service price adjustment demand, it shall be deemed to accept
such service price adjustment. Party A shall negotiate on adjusting the
Service Fees with Party B at Party B's request as
well.
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