Exclusive Management Consulting and Technical Support Agreement
EXHIBIT
10.6
Exclusive
Management Consulting and Technical Support Agreement
This
Exclusive Management Consulting and Technical Support Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into by
and between the following two parties in Wuhan China on June 30th,
2009:
Party A: Wuhan
Kingold Jewelry Co., Ltd, a corporation incorporated and validly existing in the
territory of the PRC pursuant to the law of the PRC with business license
registration number: 420100000023089 and legal registered office at
No. Xx 00, Xxxxxxx Science and Technology Park, Jiang’an District,
Wuhan.
Party B: Wuhan
Vogue-Show Jewelry Co., Ltd, a Wholly-Owned Foreign Enterprise (“WOFE”) registered in Wuhan of
the PRC, with business license registration number: 420100400013662
and legal registered office at 0xx Xxxxx X-0, Xx. Xx 00, Xxxxxxxx Development
Zone, Jiang’an District, Wuhan.
In this
Agreement, Party A and Party B collectively are referred to as “both parties”
and each of them is referred to as “a party”.
Whereas:
1. Wuhan
Kingold Jewelry Co., Ltd (hereinafter referred to as “Party A” or “Kingold Jewelry”) is a
corporation duly and legally incorporated and existing in the territory of the
PRC pursuant to the law of the PRC, and mainly engages in the manufacture and
wholesale of gold jewelry.
2. Wuhan
Vogue-Show Jewelry Co., Ltd (“Party B”), a WOFE registered
and existing in Wuhan of the PRC, has advanced process and design conception,
unique manufacture and processing technology and smooth sales channels, is
advantageous in the international trend in the design conception of gold jewelry
and craftworks, and has an industry-leading management team with advanced
conception, scientific method and rich experience.
3. Party
A agrees to employ Party B to be its exclusive management consultant who will
provide exclusive technical support for Party A.
4. Party
B agrees to accept the entrustment of Party A and work as the exclusive
management consultant of Party A and provide Party A with exclusive technical
support.
Now,
therefore, with the consensus reached through negotiation, both parties have
entered into this Agreement and agreed to abide by it pursuant to the applicable
laws and regulations of the PRC.
Clause
1 Exclusive
Management Consulting and Technical Support
1.1 Exclusive
Management Consulting
As of the
date of the execution of this Agreement, Party A shall irrevocably agree to
entrust Party B as its exclusive management consultant pursuant to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, and Party B shall agree to accept the entrustment
of Party A to be the exclusive management consultant of Party A pursuant to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.
1.2 Exclusive
Technical Support
As of the
date of the execution of this Agreement, Party B shall irrevocably agree to
provide Party A with exclusive technical support for the production and
operation of Party A pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and
ensure that the technical support Party A receives will not be less than the
services for Party B itself and its any other affiliate.
Clause
2 Representations
and Warranties
2.1 Each
party respectively represents and warranties to the other party that, upon the
execution of this Agreement:
2.1.1 it
has the right to execute this Agreement and the capability to perform the
same;
2.1.2 it
has carried out necessary internal decision-making procedures, obtained proper
authority, acquire all the necessary consents and approvals of any requisite
third party and government authority to enter into and perform this Agreement
and this Agreement does not violate the laws and contracts binding or affecting
it;
2.1.3 upon
the execution, this Agreement will constitute the legal, valid, binding
obligation of the other party and both parties will be subject to compulsory
enforcement pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2.2 Party
A represents and warranties to Party B as follows that:
2.2.1 Party
A and its business both have abided by all applicable national laws and
regulations in relation to environment protection;
2.2.2 before
the execution of this Agreement, Party A’s assets and business did not involve
in or suffer any threats or sanctions of or in relation to material civil,
criminal or administrative claims, investigations, complaints or lawsuits
arising from or in relation to environment protection;
2.2.3 before
the execution of this Agreement, Party A or its business (including assets, the
same below) did not have any criminal violations or any actions without duly
approval or any responsibility to be assumed arising from the violation of any
obligation (whether by law, by contract, or by other means), and did not have
any claims against Party A or its business due to the above-mentioned actions or
the violations to the above-mentioned obligations; and
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2.2.4 before
the execution of this Agreement, there was not or would not be any
investigations or surveys of the business of Party A by government or other
authority.
Clause
3 Service
Content
3.1 Exclusive
Management Consulting
3.1.1 Within
the Management Consulting Period (defined in Clause 10), Party B shall fully
manage the operation activities of Party A as its exclusive managing
consultant. The detailed management services include but not limit
to:
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(a)
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major
decisions;
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(b)
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the
decision in relation to the personnel recruitment, appointment and
removal, dismissal, and remuneration of Party
A;
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(c)
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fund
management;
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(d)
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financial
management;
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(e)
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assets
management; and
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(f)
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daily
production and operation.
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3.1.2 As
of the day when this Agreement comes into effect, it is the obligation of Party
B to fully control and manage all internal operation activities of Party
A.
3.1.3 For
Party B’s operation decision for the operation management of Party A, Party A
shall unconditionally provide necessary assistance.
3.2 Exclusive
Technical Support
As of the
day when this Agreement comes into effect, Party B shall permit Party A to use
its related technology in production and operation and obtain such technical
support including but not limited to technical consulting, training and
servicing, provided by Party B, and the service level shall not be below the
level of the similar technical service for Party B itself and its
affiliate. If Party B or its affiliate has any improvement or
subsequent research and development on the above-mentioned technology, Party A,
pursuant to this Agreement, will automatically obtain the right to apply such
technology into its production and operation.
Clause
4 Major
Decision Right Management
4.1 Pursuant
to the Shareholders’ Voting Proxy Agreement entered into by Party B and some of
Party A’s shareholders on the same day as this Agreement (“Shareholders’ Voting Proxy
Agreement”), Party B shall have the right to participate in the
shareholder’s meeting of Party A, vote on the matters proposed at the meeting,
suggest the holding of temporary shareholders’ meeting as the agent of some
shareholders of Party A, and have other shareholders’ voting rights as
stipulated in the Articles of Association of Party A.
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4.2 Party
B shall have the right to designate the director and shareholder supervisor
candidates of Party A.
4.3 Party
B shall also have the right to make the following major decisions:
4.3.1 to
decide the operation plan and investment scheme for Party A;
4.3.2 to
prepare the annual financial budget and settlement of Party A;
4.3.3 to
prepare the profit distribution scheme and loss compensation scheme of Party
A;
4.3.4 within
the authorization of the shareholder’s meeting, to decide such matters of Party
A as foreign investment, assets purchase and sale, assets mortgage, external
guarantee, assets management and related party transaction;
4.3.5 to
decide the setup of the internal governance structure of Party A;
4.3.6 to
employ or dismiss the senior officers of Party A and decide their remuneration
and other terms of employment;
4.3.7 to
establish the basic management system and specific regulations of
Party A;
4.3.8 to
prepare the amendment scheme for the Articles of Association of Party A;
and
4.3.9 to
retain or replace the Certified Public Accounting (“CPA”) firm providing auditing
service for Party A.
4.4 Party
B shall have the right to prepare the scheme to purchase or repurchase the
shares of Party A or merger, divide, dissolve and reorganize Party A, the scheme
to increase or decrease the registered capital, issue bonds or other securities
and go public for Party A; however, such schemes must obtain the consent of the
shareholders of Party A in advance.
Clause
5 Human
Resource Management (“HR Management”)
5.1 Party
B shall have the right to decide all matters in relation to HR of Party A
pursuant to the Company Law of the PRC and the Articles of Association of Party
A, including but not limited to the employment, removal, staffing and
remuneration of senior officers.
5.2 Within
the Management Consulting Period, Party B shall enter into formal labor contract
with the personnel employed by Party A and transact such welfares as social
insurance and housing funds on behalf of Party A pursuant to the applicable laws
and regulations.
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5.3 For
all the existing employees of Party A, Party B undertakes to retain them and
keep their salary, insurance and welfare not below the level before Party B
takes over the business.
Clause
6 Capital
Management
Party B
shall manage and control all funds of Party A. Party A shall open or
appoint a management account for its funds (“Management Account”) and Party
B shall be responsible for and have the right in deciding the inward and outward
remittance of its funds. The seal affixed to such account shall be
that of the person appointed and confirmed by Party B. As of the day
when this Agreement comes into effect, all cashes of Party A, including but not
limited to the existing working capitals, the incomes from the sale to customers
and inventories, raw materials and receivables (if any), all payables and
operating expenses, employees’ salaries and expenditures for assets acquisition,
and all operating incomes, must be saved and transacted in this Management
Account.
Clause
7 Financial
Management
7.1 Party
B shall establish the financial and accounting system of Party A pursuant to the
applicable laws and regulations of the PRC and the rules of the governmental
authority.
7.2 Party
B shall submit annual budget and settlement scheme to the shareholders of Party
A.
7.3 Party
B shall on a quarterly basis file financial statements to the shareholders of
Party A, and prepare the annual financial statements of Party A within one
hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each financial year, and provide
them to the shareholders after they are audited by the CAP firm.
Clause
8 Assets
Management
8.1 Party
A shall deliver all its assets audited on December 31, 2008 (“Base Date”) to Party B (the
assets list attached hereunder as Exhibit A) and undertake it has no action
adversely affecting the above-mentioned assets after the Base Date and before
the execution of this Agreement.
8.2 Within
the Management Consulting Period, Party B shall not transfer the assets of Party
A or reduce the same.
8.3 Party
B shall undertake that, within the Management Consulting Period, the existing
assets of Party A are used only for the operation of the existing business, and
with its advanced management and by means of expanding production and operation
scale and financing, have the assets of Party A achieve the purpose of
maintaining and increasing value.
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Clause
9 Production
and Operation Management
9.1 Party
B shall have the right to decide all daily production and sales arrangements of
Party A such as the production scale, product category, sales strategy and
execution of operating contracts.
9.2 Party
B undertakes to provide Party A with its existing and future developed advanced
processes and designs for gold jewelry and craftworks free of charge, as well as
free training.
9.3 Party
B shall use advanced management and technology to further improve the quality of
Party A’s products and expand the production of Party A.
9.4 Party
B undertakes to make full use of its existing sales channel and all these
methods such as market research, advertisement, propaganda and sales promotion
to broaden sales channels and increase sales volume.
Clause
10 Period
of Management Consulting and Technical Support
The
period of management consulting and technical support shall start as of the day
when this Agreement comes into effect and ends as at the earliest one of the
following dates:
10.1 the
day when Party A’s operating period expires (“Management Consulting
Period”);
10.2 the
day when the management consulting is terminated by both parties hereto through
negotiation; or
10.3 the
day when Party B completes the acquisition of 95% of the equities or all the
assets of Party A.
Clause
11 Fees
and Payment for Management Consulting and Technical Support
In order
to fulfill the management consulting and technical support under this Agreement,
Party A shall pay on a monthly basis management consulting fees and technology
use and support fees in principle equal to 95% of all profits, if any, of that
month of Party A to Party B. These fees that Party A shall pay to
Party B are paid in the following manner: within the term of this
Agreement, after the costs and expenses are deducted for that month, 75% of all
incomes of Party A obtained that months are used to pay management consulting
fees and 20% of the same as technology use and support fees; if the incomes of
Party A that month are zero or negative after the costs and expenses and taxes
are deducted for that month, Party A will not pay Party B management consulting
fees and technology use and support fees, and the loss of that month shall be
deducted from the management consulting fees and technology use and support fees
of the following months. Party A and Party B shall compute the
management consulting fees and technology use and support fees for the previous
month within fifteen (15) business days after the start of the next
month. All payment to be made by Party A hereunder shall be made free
and clear of and without deduction for or on account of tax, unless Party A is
required to make such payment subject to the deduction or withholding of
tax.
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Should
Party A fail to pay all or any part of the fees due to Party B under this Clause
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.
Clause
12 Rights
and Obligations of Party A
12.1 On
the day when this Agreement comes into effect, Party A shall deliver all its
business data, personal archives, business licenses, official seals, financial
seals and other materials to Party B or representative authorized by Party
B.
12.2 Without
the written consent of Party B, Party A shall not make any decisions for its
production and operation.
12.3 Party
A shall assist Party B in the management consulting as per the request of Party
B.
12.4 Party
A shall open or designate the Management Account within fifteen (15) days of
date hereof.
12.5 Party
A shall actively assist Party B in broadening raw materials supply and sales
channels.
12.6 Party
A shall assist Party B in purchasing and reconstructing equipments,
transportation tools, office supplies and communications tools within the
territory of the PRC.
12.7 Party
A shall actively assist Party B in transacting foreign merger formalities
provided that doing so is permitted by the laws and regulations of the
PRC.
12.8 Party
A shall not terminate this Agreement unilaterally.
12.9 Party
A shall exercise the rights and perform the obligations under this
Agreement.
12.10 Party
A shall permit and cause Party A’s shareholders to pledge the equity interests
of Party A to Party B for securing the management consulting fees and technology
use and support fees that should be paid by party A pursuant to this
Agreement.
12.11 Party
A shall indemnify and hold harmless Party B from and against any loss, damage,
obligation and expenses arising out of any litigation, claim or other legal
procedure against Part A arising out of the performance of this
Agreement.
12.12 Party
A will comply with all applicable statutes, regulations and orders of, and all
applicable restrictions imposed by, all governmental authority, 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 non-compliances could not,
in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, operations,
property, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Party
A.
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12.13 Party
A 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.
12.14 Party
A shall designate the person recommended by Party B as the directors of Party A,
and Party A shall appoint Party B’s senior officers as Party A’s General
Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and other senior officers. If any
of the above senior officers leaves or is dismissed by Party B, he or she will
lose the qualification to take any position in Party A and Party A shall appoint
other senior officers of Party B recommended by Party B to take such
position. The person recommended by Party B in accordance with this
clause herein should comply with the stipulation on the qualifications of
directors, General Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and other senior officers
pursuant to applicable law.
12.15 Information
Covenants. Party A will furnish to Party B:
12.15.1 Preliminary
Monthly Reports. Within five (5) days after the end of each calendar
month the preliminary income statements, balance sheet and results of operations
of Party A 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.
12.15.2 Final
Monthly Reports. Within ten (10) days after the end of each calendar
month, a final report from Party A on the financial situation such as income
statements, balance sheet and results of operations of Party A 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.
12.15.3 Quarterly
Reports. As soon as available and, in any event, within thirty (30)
days after each Quarterly Date (as defined below), unaudited consolidated
balance sheet, consolidated statements of operations, statements of cash flows
and changes in financial situation of the Party A 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, setting forth in each case actual versus
budgeted comparisons and in comparative form the corresponding consolidated
figures for the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, accompanied
by a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Party A, which
certificate shall state that said financial statements fairly present the
consolidated financial condition and results of operations, as the case may be,
of the Party A and its subsidiaries, if any, in accordance with U.S. general
accepted accounting principles applied on a consist 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).
12.15.4 Annual
Audited Accounts. Within six (6) weeks of the end of the financial
year, the annual audited accounts of Party A 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
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, consistently
applied.
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12.15.5 Budgets. At
least 90 days before the first day of each financial year of Party A, a budget
in form satisfactory to Party B (including budgeted statements of income and
sources and uses of cash and balance sheets) prepared by Party A for each of the
four financial quarters of such financial year accompanied by the statement of
the chief financial officer of Party A to the effect that, to the best of his
knowledge, the budget is a reasonable estimate for the period covered
thereby.
12.15.6 Notice
of Litigation. Promptly, and in any event within one (1) business day
after an officer of Party A obtains knowledge thereof, notice of (i) any
litigation or governmental proceeding pending against Party A which could
materially adversely affect the business, operations, property, assets,
condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Party A 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
A.
12.15.7 Other
Information. From time to time, such other information or documents
(financial or otherwise) as Party B may reasonably request.
Clause
13 Negative
Covenants
Party A
covenants and agrees that, during the term of this Agreement, without the prior
written consent of Party B,
13.1 Party
A will not issue, purchase or redeem any equity or debt securities of
Party A.
13.2 Party
A will not create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any liens upon or with
respect to any property or assets of Party A whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, provided that the provisions of this Clause 13.2 shall not prevent the
creation, incurrence, assumption or existence of:
13.2.1 liens
for taxes not yet due, or liens for taxes being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established;
and
13.2.2 liens
in respect of property or assets of Party A imposed by law, which were incurred
in the ordinary course of business, and (x) which do not in the aggregate
materially detract from the value of such property or assets or materially
impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of Party A or (y) which
are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, which proceedings
have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property of assets
subject to any such lien.
13.3 Party
A will not wind up, liquidate or dissolve its operations or enter into any
transactions 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 A may make
sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business and (ii) Party A may, in
the ordinary course of business, sell equipment which is uneconomic or
obsolete.
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13.4 Parry
A will not declare or pay any dividends, or return any capital, to its
shareholders or authorize or make any other distribution, payment or deliver 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 A with respect to its capital stock), or set aside any
funds for any of the foregoing purposes.
13.5 Party
A 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, and obligations under trade letters of credit
inclined by Party A in the ordinary course of business, which are to be repaid
in full not longer than one (1) year after the date on which such indebtedness
is originally incurred to finance the purchase of goods by Party A.
13.6 Party
A 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 Party 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.
13.7 Party
A will not enter into any transactions or series of related transactions,
whether or not in the ordinary course of business, with any affiliate of Party
A, other than on terms and conditions substantially as favorable to Party A as
would be obtainable by Party A 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 B.
13.8 Party
A will not make any expenditures for fixed or capital assets (including, without
limitation, expenditures for maintenance and repairs which should be capitalized
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the PRC or in the
United States) in excess of US $[], without the prior written consent of Party
B.
13.9 Party
A will not (i) make any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment on or
redemption or acquisition for value of (including, without limitation, by way of
depositing with the trustee with respect thereto money or securities before due
for the purpose of paying when due) any existing indebtedness or (ii) amend or
modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provision of any
existing indebtedness or of any agreement (including, without limitation, any
purchase agreement, indenture, loan agreement or security agreement) relating to
any of the foregoing or (iii) amend, modify or change its Article of Association
or Business License, or any agreement entered into by it, with respect to its
capital stock, or enter into any new agreement with respect to its capital
stock.
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Clause
14 Rights
and Obligations of Party B
14.1 Party
B shall have the independent and full operation management right over Party
A.
14.2 Party
B shall have the right to dispose all the assets of party A, except otherwise
provided in this Agreement.
14.3 Party
B shall have the right to collect management consulting fees.
14.4 Party
B shall have the right to designate directors and shareholder supervisor of
Party A.
14.5 According
to the resolution of the board of directors, Party B shall have the right to
appoint general manager, deputy general manager, financial officer of Party
A.
14.6 Party
B shall have the right to convoke Party A’s shareholders’ meeting and adopt a
resolution at the shareholders’ meeting pursuant to the Shareholders’ Voting
Proxy Agreement.
14.7 Party
B shall manage the fund accounts.
14.8 Party
B shall manage all operation activities of Party A.
14.9 If
Party A’s shareholders require, Party B shall inform them of the operation of
Party A in time and accept the reasonable suggestions from them.
14.10 Party
B shall exercise the rights and perform the obligations under this
Agreement.
Clause
15 Taxes
and Fees
All taxes
and fees resulting from the execution and performance of this Agreement and in
the process of the operation with management consulting shall be borne by both
parties respectively pursuant to the applicable laws and
regulations.
Clause
16 Intellectual
Property Right
Party A
shall contribute all of its intellectual property rights to Party
B.
Both
parties shall strictly keep confidential all patents, trademarks, data,
drawings, codes or other technical information including all intellectual
property right information that either party provides in writing or in any other
form pursuant to this Agreement.
In
addition, the above-mentioned intellectual property right information either
party provides the other party shall not become the property of the other party,
shall be used only for the performance of its obligations under this Agreement
and shall not be copied for or disclosed to any third party or used wholly or
partially for any other purpose. The provision of patents,
trademarks, data, drawings, codes or other technical information shall not be
interpreted as either party endows any title thereof to the other party
expressly or impliedly.
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Party B
shall own all intellectual property rights developed or discovered through
research and development, in the course of providing services, or derived from
the provision of the services. 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 A must utilize any intellectual property, Party
B agrees to grant an appropriate license to Party A on terms and conditions to
be set forth in a separate agreement.
Clause
17 Liability
for breach
Both
parties shall sufficiently perform this Agreement. Either party
breaking this Agreement shall bear the liability as arising therefrom and in
relation thereto. If the breaking party causes damages to the other
party, the breaking party shall compensate the other party for all such
damages.
Clause
18 Force
Majeure
Force
majeure refers to all events that is out of the control of either party,
unforeseeable or foreseeable but inevitable and causes either party unable to
perform its obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to
natural phenomena and natural disasters such as flood, fire, drought, typhoon,
rainstorm, tide, earthquake, explosion, epidemic, strike, tsunami, accident, war
or any other unforeseeable, inevitable or out-of-control circumstances,
including the circumstance that is deemed as force majeure in international
commercial practice.
In case
of force majeure, the affected party shall inform the other party of such event
in writing within fourteen (14) business days after its
occurrence. Where the occurring force majeure causes either party to
be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the other party shall
have the right to send a written notice to such party to terminate this
Agreement and this Agreement will be terminated thirty (30) days after the
reception of the termination notice.
Clause
19 Confidentiality
19.1 All
materials, documents, communications and other information obtained in the
negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, whether commercial,
technical or in any other form (hereinafter referred to as “Confidential Information”),
shall be kept confidential and used only for the performance of the obligations
under this Agreement. Unless otherwise the other party consents in
writing, neither party shall release, leak or disclose any Confidential
Information to any third party.
19.2 Either
party can disclose the Confidential Information in the following
circumstances: (1) where the law, court order or the competent court
with jurisdiction requires, and such disclosure can be conducted only within
such requirement; (2) where the competent authority or government department
requires; (3) where such Confidential Information has been known to the general
public; or (4) where such Confidential Information was owned duly and legally by
the disclosing party rather obtained from the other party before the disclosing
party obtains it. However, for the circumstances aforesaid, where either party
discloses the Confidential Information, it shall inform the other party of the
Confidential Information to be disclosed.
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19.3 Nonetheless
other provisions of this clause, either party shall have the right to disclose
the Confidential Information to its lawyer, accountant, other professional
consultants, directors or senior officers; however, such personnel shall
undertake in writing to treat such information as Confidential Information by
taking the measures similar to those stated in Paragraph 1 of this
clause.
Clause
20 Governing
Law
The
execution, validity, effect, interpretation, performance and dispute solution of
this Agreement shall be governed by the laws and regulations of the
PRC.
Clause
21 Dispute
Resolution
Both
parties agree that any dispute arising from or in relation to this Agreement
shall first be settled by the friendly negotiation of both
parties. If the negotiation fails within 45 days, either party shall
have the right to file the dispute with China International Economic and Trade
Arbitration Commission (“CIETAC
“) in Beijing for arbitration pursuant to the currently effective
arbitration rules of CIETAC at the time of application. This
arbitration shall be final and bind both parties and shall be enforceable in any
court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitration fees shall be born
by the losing party.
Clause
22 Party
B’s Remedy upon Party A’s Default
In
addition to the remedies provided elsewhere under this Agreement, Party B shall
be entitled to remedies permitted under 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.
Clause
23 Effect
and Termination of this Agreement
23.1 This
Agreement shall come into effect as of the day when the seals of both parties
are affixed to it and the authorized representatives of both parties sign on it,
and shall terminate on the day of the acquisition of 95% of equities or all the
assets of Party A.
23.2 The
term of this Agreement may be extended by Party A in its sole discretion before
the termination or expiration of this Agreement. The term of
extension shall be determined through mutual agreement by both parties to this
Agreement.
23.3 Before
Party B’s acquisition of 95% of equities or assets of Party A, unless otherwise
agreed on through negotiation by both parties, neither party can terminate in
advance or amend this Agreement, except otherwise stipulated in this
Agreement
23.4 The
rights and obligations of both Parties under Clause 12.11 regarding indemnity
and Clause 19 regarding confidentiality shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
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Clause
24 General
Terms
24.1 Entire
Agreement
This
Agreement is the basic agreement between the parties for entrusted
operation. This Agreement and the Exhibits and Schedules hereto
contain the entire understanding between the parries, no other representations,
warranties or covenants having induced any party to execute this Agreement, and
supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements with respect to the subject
matter hereof. All exhibits, addendums, and schedules referred to in
this Agreement are incorporated herein by reference. All references
to schedules and exhibits are to exhibits and schedules attached to and to
become a part of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
24.2 Amendment
Any
amendment and/or rescission shall be in writing and signed by the authorized
representatives of both parties. Such revision shall be a valid
integral part of this Agreement.
24.3 Headings
The
headings of any Clauses or other portion of this Agreement are for convenience
only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.
24.4 Construction
References
in this Agreement to “Clauses,” “Sections” “Schedules” and “Exhibits” shall be
to the Clauses, Sections, Schedules and Exhibits of this Agreement, unless
otherwise specifically provided; any use in this Agreement of the singular or
plural, or the masculine, feminine or neuter gender, shall be deemed to include
the others, unless the context otherwise requires; the words “herein”, “hereof”
and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall
refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement; the word “including” when used in this Agreement shall mean
“including without limitation”; and except
as otherwise specified in this Agreement, all references in this Agreement (a)
to any agreement, document, certificate or other written instrument shall be a
reference to such agreement, document, certificate or instrument, in each case
together with all exhibits, schedules, attachment and appendices thereto, and as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof; and (b) to any law, statute or regulation
shall be deemed references to such law, statute or regulation as the same may be
supplemented, amended, consolidated, superseded or modified from time to
time.
24.5 Transfer
Without
the prior written consent of the other party, no party shall sub-contract,
license or transfer its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any third
party or its affiliate; and any transfer of this Agreement without approval
shall be invalid. Each party shall determinate whether to approve a
transfer without unreasonable delay.
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24.6 Severability
Any
provision hereof that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall,
as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any
such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
24.7 Waiver
No
failure or delay of either party to enforce any right hereunder shall constitute
a waiver of any such right hereunder. No waiver shall be effective
hereunder unless in writing and a waiver shall only be effective for the
specific act or circumstance for which it is given and not for any future act or
circumstance.
24.8 Succession
of this Agreement
This
Agreement shall bind the successors and transferees of both
parties.
24.9 Language
This
Agreement is in both Chinese and English and signed by both parties, and the two
versions have the same effect. Should there be any discrepancy
between the two language versions, the Chinese version shall
prevail.
24.10 Copies
of this Agreement
This
Agreement shall be executed in two counterparts, each party holds
one. Each of the copies shall be deemed as the original one and has
the same effect.
24.11 Notices
All
notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be sufficiently given only if mailed by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, or sent by expedited or overnight delivery service with
return receipt, or sent by telecopier with confirmed receipt, to the party to
receive notice at the following addresses or at such other address as any party
may, upon ten (10) days prior notice, direct:
If to
Party A:
With a
copy to: [_______]
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If to
Party B:
With a
copy to: [_______]
[The
remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]
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In witness hereof, both
parties have signed this Agreement on the date specified on the first page of
this Agreement
Party
A:
Wuhan
Kingold Jewelry Co., Ltd (seal)
Authorized
Representative (signature):
Party
B:
Wuhan
Vogue-Show Jewelry Co., Ltd (seal)
Authorized
Representative (signature):