Exhibit 10.4
LICENSE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANT
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AGREEMENT
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Between
NAMYANG INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
And
JINGZHOU ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ AUTOMOTIVE PARTS CO., LTD.
This Agreement, made and entered into effective on 21st day July of 2003 by and
between ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD., a Korean corporation having registered
office at ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Kunggi-Do, Republic of Korea
(hereinafter referred to as "NAMYANG")
And
JINGZHOU ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ AUTOMOTIVE PARTS CO., LTD. Having its registered address at
▇▇.▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ PC 43400
(hereinafter referred to as "HENGLONG").
WITNESS :
WHEREAS, "NAMYANG" has been engaged for many years in manufacturing steering
columns & universal joints assembly for automobiles and selling them in Korea
and in overseas market and has developed technology and possesses technical
information concerning the design, development, manufacturing and sales of
"Licensed Product" as stipulated in Article I.; and,
WHEREAS, "HENGLONG" is a manufacturer of steering columns and universal joints
and selling them in China and is desirous of assembly and manufacturing steering
column & universal joint assembly under "NAMYANG's" technical information and
assistance for the same; and
"NAMYANG" agrees to provide "HENGLONG" for due consideration with technical
information and assistance for manufacturing steering column & universal joint
assembly under the terms and conditions prescribed herein and now, therefore the
partied hereto agree as follow:
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS
When used in this Agreement, each of the following terms set forth in this
Article I shall have the meaning defined below.
1. "Licensed Product"
"Licensed Product" shall mean Lower Tilt and Collapsible Steering Column &
Universal Joint Assembly manufactured by "HENGLONG" by using of technical
information and assistance provided by "NAMYANG" to be installed in
automobile model "Zhonghua" manufactured by Shenyang Brilliance Automobile
Co., LTD (hereinafter referred to as "Client") in China.
2. Additional Licensed Product
Additional Licensed Product means the similar type of Lower Tilt and
Collapsible Steering Column and Universal Joint Assembly to be installed in
automobiles other than "Zhonghua" by modifying certain part(s) of "Licensed
Product". "HENGLONG" shall request in writing to add Additional Licensed
Product to be covered in Article I, Item 1. and "NAMYANG" agrees to provide
necessary technical assistance to develop Additional Licensed Product
subject to "NAMYANG's" approval of "HENGLONG's" request for Additional
Licensed Product.
3. Technical Information
"Technical Information" shall mean manufacturing know-how developed and
being used by "NAMYANG" necessary for the manufacture, assembly and use of
"Licensed Product" and its component parts which shall include the
technical information to be provided through training or technical guidance
by "NAMYANG" in accordance with Article III of this Agreement and but is
limited to the followings;
a. Designed drawings of "Licensed Product" and Technical Information of
Development (Drawings/Test Standard/ Test Report)
b. Information of Manufacturing Technology (Control Planning Chart/
Operation Standard Sheet/ Information on Manufacturing Equipments and
Jig &Fixtures)
c. Technical Information on Quality control (Inspection Standard/
Drawings of Checking Fixture)
The above technical information shall be supplied in Korean language.
ARTICLE II - GRAND AND UNDERTAKINGS BY NAMYANG "NAMYANG"
hereby grants "HENGLONG" the following rights under this Agreement;
a. A non-exclusive right to assemble and manufacture "Licensed Product"
in China; and
b. A non-exclusive right to sell "Licensed Product" in China
ARTICLE III - TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE.
"NAMYANG" shall furnish after signing the Agreement Technical Information
specified in Article I, Item 3 to "HENGLONG" within a reasonable period of time
which shall be within 30 days from receiving the request in writing from
"HENGLONG".
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1. Training
a. In order to study the use and assembly of "Licensed Product",
"HENGLONG" may dispatch trainees who are to be directly engaged in the
sale and/or manufacture and assembly of "Licensed Product".
b. Trainees from "HENGLONG" shall be dispatched upon "HENGLONG's" written
request which shall be accepted by "NAMYANG" in written. All expenses
including air tickets and hotel accommodation shall be borne by
"HENGLONG".
c. Training period shall not exceed 150 man-days during the terms of this
Agreement
2. Technical Guidance
a. "NAMYANG" shall, upon "HENGLONG's" request in writing and acceptance
by "NAMYANG", dispatch to "HENGLONG's" factory its engineers to give
necessary technical advice and guidance for the assembly and/or
manufacture of "Licensed Product".
b. "HENGLONG" shall bear all reasonable costs and expenses for the
dispatched engineers, including, but not limited air fares(economy
class only) and accommodations (of "HENGLONG's" choice) in China and
technical guidance fee equivalent of USD300 per day for each person.
c. Technical guidance period shall not exceed 30 man-days during the
terms of this Agreement.
3. Neither party hereto shall be held responsible for the death, damage,
injury or loss suffered or incurred by any engineer or other personnel in
the employ of the other party dispatched pursuant to this Agreement during
visits to its plant or other facilities except for the death, damage,
injury or loss resulting from the willful or negligent act or omission of
such party, its agents, or employees.
In addition, neither party is responsible for any cost, expenses, or
damages suffered or incurred by the other party, or any legal judgment
against such other party, or for the defense thereof, arising out of any
actions, assistance's or services of its employees unless resulting from
its own fault or neglect or that of its employee or agents.
ARTICLE IV - ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇. "HENGLONG" undertakes to keep secret all Technical Information supplied by
"NAMYANG". This Technical Information shall be treated as confidential and
shall be used solely to enable "HENGLONG" to manufacture, assemble use and
sell "Licensed Product". However, "HENGLONG" may communicate "NAMYANG's"
Technical Information only to their subcontractors, suppliers and employees
with the same condition of confidentiality, but only to the extent of
necessary for the manufacture, and sale of "Licensed Product"..
2. "HENGLONG's" obligation to treat "NAMYANG's" Technical Information as
secret and confidential shall remain in force even after the termination or
expiration of this Agreement under all circumstances.
3. In the event "HENGLONG" breaches this Article VI, Item 1, "NAMYANG" may
terminate this Agreement immediately. "HENGLONG" shall compensate "NAMYANG"
for any damage suffered as a result of "HENGLONG's" breach of any of
covenants contained in this Article VI.
ARTICLE V - TESTING
1. "NAMYANG" shall, at the request of "HENGLONG" and at the acceptance of the
same by "NAMYANG", carry out the testing and inspection of prototype
samples and initial or volume production sample of "Licensed Product"
manufactured and/or assembled by "HENGLONG". The cost of inspection shall
be made at free of charge by "NAMYANG", however, the cost of testing shall
be borne by "HENGLONG" in accordance with Schedule 1. attached herein this
Agreement.
2. If "NAMYANG" discovers any defects in the quality or performance of said
samples, "NAMYANG" shall notify and provide all the necessary information
for the eradication or rectification of any defects free of charge to
"HENGLONG" and "HENGLONG" shall forthwith take such steps as may be
necessary to eradicate such defect from the current and future production
with all the costs incurred and borne by "HENGLONG".
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ARTICLE VI-WARRANTY
1. Under this Agreement, "NAMYANG" warrants that all Technical Information
related with design and manufacturing of "Licensed Product" are equivalent
to the information "NAMYANG" is currently using.
2. Under this Agreement, "NAMYANG" makes no warranty or representation and
assume no responsibilities or obligations toward "HENGLONG" or third
parties regarding adaptability, operability, safety, functional
effectiveness and marketing of "Licensed Product" manufactured by
"HENGLONG" or third parties under "HENGLONG's" responsibility. "HENGLONG"
also agrees to indemnify and hold harmless "NAMYANG" from any claims,
damages or losses arising out of the manufacture and/or sales of "Licensed
Product" manufactured by "HENGLONG" or third parties under its
responsibility.
ARTICLE VII- ROYALTY PAYMENT
1. Initial Payment
In consideration of Technical Information and Assistance supplied by
"NAMYANG" to "HENGLONG" pursuant to this Agreement, "HENGLONG" agrees to
pay "NAMYANG" an initial payment of USD100,000 (hereinafter referred to as
"Initial Payment") to "NAMYANG's" bank account within 30 days after signing
this Agreement.
2. Running Royalty
During the effective terms of this Agreement, "HENGLONG" pays to "NAMYANG"
3 % of " Sales Price" of "Licensed Product". However, " Sales Price" does
not include the amount of purchasing child part(s) and raw materials of
"Licensed Product" from "NAMYANG".
3. Payment Method
"NAMYANG" shall bear any withholding taxes imposed by Chinese government
upon the payment made to "NAMYANG" hereunder, provided, however, that in
the event "HENGLONG" pays such taxes on behalf of "NAMYANG", such taxes
shall be deducted from the payments made to "NAMYANG", and "HENGLONG" shall
promptly forward to "NAMYANG" due receipt from competent authorities of
Chinese government as evidence of the payment of such withholding taxes.
After deducting such withholding taxes, "HENGLONG" shall remit the net
amount of royalties directly to "NAMYANG" in US Dollar equivalent amount at
the official exchange rate on the payment date.
4. Time of Payment
"HENGLONG" shall prepare a report of each "Licensed Product" manufactured
and/or sold under this Agreement, including for each calendar year (January
1st to December 31st) during the period of this Agreement. The report shall
be submitted to "NAMYANG" by the end of March of the following year at the
latest, and the royalty payment shall be made within one month after such
reports are presented.
5. Accounting Records And Audit
During the terms of this Agreement, "HENGLONG" agrees to maintain records
showing all pertinent figures for "Licensed Product" manufactured and/or
sold including the sales quantities, sales amount and necessary data for
each "Licensed Product" to facilitate verification by an independently
appointed public accountant from an international accounting firm
considered by "NAMYANG". "HENGLONG" further agrees to allow "NAMYANG's"
authorized officer(s) or representative to audit such records and data in
normal business working days.
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ARTICLE VIII - EFFECTIVE TERM AND TERMINATION
1. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall be effective from the date of signing and valid for
five (5) years unless it is earlier terminated for any reason stipulated in
Item 2 and 3 of this Article. This Agreement shall be automatically
extended for next 3 years in case "HENGLONG" do not give notice to
"NAMYANG" in writing the expiration of this Agreement at least 60 days
prior to the expiration of this Agreement.
2. Termination Due to Bankruptcy
Either party hereto has the right to terminate this Agreement by written
notice to the other party in the event that the other party is; declared
insolvent or bankrupt or is under jurisdiction of a court for the benefit
of its creditors, b.acquired by any competitive company of the party of all
or a substantial portion of its capital stock or assets, c.dissolved or
liquidated except in consequence of a merger, consolidation, or other
corporate reorganization.
3. Termination Due to Breach
Either party has the right to terminate this Agreement if, within six(6)
months after written notice is given by one party alleging a breach by the
other party provided that if a party in breach has remedied the breach
within thirty(30) days from the date of notification of the breach by the
other party or if the party not in breach has agreed in writing to waive
the breach, then the right to terminate this Agreement under this clause
shall not arise.
4. Measure of Termination
In the event this Agreement is terminated by "NAMYANG" in accordance with
the provisions in Item 2 or 3 of this Article, "HENGLONG" shall pay to
"NAMYANG" within thirty(30) days of the date of said termination, all
royalties owed to "NAMYANG" at the time of said termination. Then
"HENGLONG" shall return to "NAMYANG" all documents supplied by "NAMYANG" to
"HENGLONG" under the terms of this Agreement and dispose of their copies
and immediately cease the manufacture and sale of "Licensed Product". In
the event this Agreement is terminated by "HENGLONG" due to "NAMYANG's"
default or other reason in accordance with the provision in Item 2 or 3 of
this Article, "HENGLONG" reserves the right to continue the manufacture and
sale of "Licensed Product". "HENGLONG" shall pay to "NAMYANG" royalty
within thirty(30) days from the date of said termination all royalties owed
to "NAMYANG" at the time of said termination. "NAMYANG" has the right to
audit the records of "HENGLONG" concerning royalty payment even after
termination of this Agreement.
5. Survival of Rights and Liabilities.
Termination of this Agreement for any cause shall not release either party
from any liability which at the time of termination, has already accrued to
it or which may thereafter accrue in respect of acts or omission made prior
to such termination and, shall not affect in any way the survival of any
right or obligation of either party which is expressly or implicitly stated
in this Agreement to survive termination hereof..
ARTICLE IX - MISCELLANEOUS
1. Either party shall be excused from performing its obligations under this
Agreement if prevented from doing so by force majeure, but only after the
affected party informs the other party and thereafter until the force
majeure exists. Force majeure means any causes beyond the control of the
parties hereto, including, but not limited to, appropriation by any
government or authority, wars, strikes, lockouts, riots, epidemic diseases,
civil disturbances, fires, earthquakes, storms or any other cause of a like
or different nature.
2. It is expressly agreed that a failure by either party to demand adherence
to any article in this Agreement will not affect in any way the validity of
this Agreement or any of its provision.
3. In the event any terms in this Agreement contravene the laws and/or
regulations of any country in which it is intended to be valid, both
parties shall immediately meet to agree upon the necessary amendment,
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4. Any dispute or controversy which may arise between the parties out of or in
connection with this Agreement shall be settled amicably. However, should
an amicable settlement not be reached, then the case shall be settled by
arbitration of the Korea Commercial Arbitration Association pursuant to the
rules then obtainable thereof in Seoul, Korea in the event "HENGLONG"
requests arbitration, and by Chinese Regional Center for Arbitration
pursuant to the rules then obtainable thereof, in the event "NAMYANG"
requests arbitration.
5. Assignment
This Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder shall not be assigned
or transferred to any third party without the prior written consent of
"NAMYANG". Any assignment made in contravention of the preceding provision
shall be null and void.
6. Effect of Headings
The heading to sections and paragraphs in this Agreement are to facilitate
reference only, do not form parts of this Agreement, and shall not in any
way affect the interpretation of conditions herein.
7. Interpretation or Modification of Agreement
This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the
laws Republic of Korea.
8. Entire Agreement
This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between both parties
concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous agreement,
whether expressed or implied with respect to the subject matter and may not
be modified in any matter or terminated except as expressly provided herein
or by an instrument in writing signed by duly authorized officers or
representatives of the parties.
9. Language
This Agreement, which is in English language only, shall predominate and
any version in any other language shall be for accommodation only and shall
not bind the parties hereto.
10. In Phase Supply
During the term of this Agreement, from time to time, "HENGLONG" may
request in writing the supply of full assembly of "Licensed Product"
manufactured by "NAMYANG", parts and components of "Licensed Product",
manufacturing facilities and equipments, Jigs & Fixtures, Testing
Facilities, raw materials and other materials that are necessary to
manufacture, assemble, use and sell "Licensed Product" by "HENGLONG"
according to "HENGLONG's" progressive idea.
11. The Roll of Hana-Global Incorporation
Both parties agree to use the services of Hana-Global Incorporation of
Republic of Korea exclusively to arrange and ship "NAMYANG" supplied
products and other related products such as raw materials, facilities, jig
and fixtures, machineries and equipments which may from time to time be
required during the terms of this Agreement and supplied to "HENGLONG" by
"NAMYANG" or any other Korean company(s) provided that Hana-Global
Incorporation shall properly and efficiently perform their duties and
services and do not breach any of their obligations or adversely affect any
obligation set forth in this Agreement.
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12. Notices
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing in English and shall be
valid and sufficient if dispatched by registered air mail, postage paid to
any office in the Republic of Korea or in China. The case may be addressed
as follows;
If to "NAMYANG" :
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Industrial Co., LTD.
▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile : ▇▇-▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
E-mail : ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇.▇▇
If to "HENGLONG" :
Jingzhou Henglong Automotive parts Co., LTD.
▇▇.▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇,▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: ▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
E-mail: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇
In witness whereof, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
in triplicate by their respective officers as of the date first above written.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Industrial Co., LTD. Jingzhou Henglong Automotive parts Co., LTD.
By: By:
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Name: Name:
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Title: Title:
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Hana-Global ▇▇▇.▇▇., LTD.
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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