AGREEMENT Betex (Group) PLC and MAHJONG SYSTEMS LIMITED
Exhibit
4.3
Betex
(Group) PLC
and
MAHJONG
SYSTEMS LIMITED
1
entered
into between:
Betex
(Group) PLC
A
company
duly incorporated under the laws of the United Kingdom
and
MAHJONG
SYSTEMS LIMITED
A
company
domiciled in the Turks and Caicos Islands that offers a centralised Mahjong
Gaming System and manages the settling of winnings and losses between
participants.
2
RECITALS
WHEREAS "Betex
(Group) PLC"
("Betex")
operates a gaming web site as part of their business;
AND
WHEREAS "Mahjong Systems Limited"
("MSL")
is a
company established to operate a centralised gaming engine and settlement system
for the benefit of the customers of its partners;
AND
WHEREAS "Betex"
wishes
to
integrate a multi player mahjong game into its existing gaming web
site;
NOW
THEREFORE
the
Parties agree to the following:
1. DEFINITIONS
Unless
the contrary is clearly indicated, the following words and/or phrases, shall
have the following meaning:
1.1
|
“this
/ the Agreement”
|
shall
mean this written document together with all written appendices,
annexures, exhibits or amendments attached to it from time to time
by
written agreement between the parties;
|
1.2
|
“Commencement
Date”
|
shall
mean the date on which the last of the duly authorized representatives
of
the Parties affixes their signatures to the Agreement;
|
1.3
|
“Confidential
Information”
|
shall
mean the personal information of the Introduced Players, including
personal information and play history;
|
1.4
|
“Currency”
|
shall
mean (not limited to) United States Dollars or EUROs;
|
1.5
|
"Rake"
|
shall
mean the share, in the Currency, of the winnings paid in each game
that is
collected by “MSL” as a fee for its service;
|
1.6
|
"MSL"
|
shall
mean a company with registered address Mahjong Systems Limited,
Britannic
House, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, B.W.I., herein
represented by its duly authorized representative, Xx. Xxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx;
|
1.7
|
"Introduced
Players"
|
shall
mean players of the Mahjong Games, introduced by "Betex" as recorded
by
the mahjong system;
|
1.8
|
"Mahjong
Games"
|
shall
mean the multi player Mahjong game and any other games that "MSL"
may make
available from time to time;
|
1.9
|
“Parties”
|
shall
mean "Betex" and "MSL" and “Party” shall be construed
accordingly;
|
3
1.10
|
“Partners”
|
shall
mean all gaming systems that provide players and integrate with
"MSL" in a
manner similar to that contemplated in this agreement;
|
1.11
|
“Float”
|
shall
mean the funds held as Deposit by "MSL" and adjusted in the monthly
settlement;
|
1.12
|
“Float
Amount”
|
The
amount of Float that is agreed between "MSL" and "Betex", as adjusted
from
time to time, and held by "MSL" to cover possible losses by Introduced
Players;
|
1.13
|
"Betex"
|
shall
mean Betex (Group) PLC, a company duly incorporated under the laws
of the
United Kingdom, having its address for service under this Agreement
at
Suite 8.01, Exchange Tower, 0 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X00
0XX,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx;
|
1.14 | Any reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; | |
1.15 | Any reference to natural persons includes legal persons and vice versa; | |
1.16 | Any reference to a gender includes other genders; | |
1.17 | The clause headings in this agreement have been inserted for convenience only and shall not be taken into account in its interpretation. |
4
2. |
DURATION
|
2.1 |
The
Agreement shall commence on the Commencement
Date.
|
2.2
|
The
Agreement will continue in force for a period of three (3) years
calculated from the Commencement
Date
and thereafter self-renew for further periods of three (3) years
subject
to either of the Parties’ right to terminate the Agreement, after the
expiry of the initial three-(3)-year term, by giving one (1) month's
written notice to expire no earlier than the end of the initial three
(3)
year term. In case of any such renewal, any cost increases (if any)
shall
be at the UK rate of inflation
only.
|
3.
|
RIGHT
OF PARTICIPATION IN REVENUE
SHARING
|
3.1
|
The
Parties agree that other Partners may participate in revenue sharing
with
"MSL"
in
a similar manner to that contemplated in this Agreement.
|
4. |
RIGHT
AND OBLIGATIONS OF MSL
|
"MSL"
shall:
4.1
|
Have
the right to use third parties to perform any of these rights and
obligations;
|
4.2
|
Ensure
that it is legally authorized to provide the Mahjong Games and owns
and
shall maintain in full force and effect throughout the term of this
Agreement all licenses, authorizations and other permissions necessary
for
the provision of the Mahjong Games both at the Commencement Date
and
throughout the term of the
Agreement;
|
5
4.3 |
Ensure
that all transactions in respect of its obligations in terms of this
Agreement are conducted in the Currency as defined in the systems
specifications;
|
4.4
|
Settle
all net differences between Partners on a monthly basis within thirty
(30)
days of the end of each month by,
|
4.4.1
|
in
the event that the Float is less than the Float Amount, instructing
a
Partner to remit funds to return the Float to the Float Amount;
|
4.4.2
|
in
the event that the Float is greater than the Float Amount, paying
the
Partner the excess amount;
|
4.5
|
Pay
the "Betex"
commissions, as a percentage of the Rake, to "Betex"
as
defined in Schedule 1, these commissions settled in the same transactions
as the settlement defined in clause 4.4;
|
4.6
|
Provide
monthly report of Float movements and commissions due to "Betex"
within 7 days of the end of a particular month and provide real-time
access to financial and game
information;
|
4.7
|
Hold
the Float Amount in trust for "Betex"
and in the event of termination of this Agreement return all amounts
(including all outstanding payments due to “Betex”
under
this agreement) to
"Betex"
within
7 days of such termination;
|
4.8
|
Monitor
the Float Amount and inform "Betex"
as
soon as reasonably practical if it is insufficient for the current
play
rate;
|
4.9
|
Maintain
throughout the term of this Agreement and for 12 months thereafter
keep
full and proper books of accounts and records showing clearly all
transactions relating to "MSL"'s
obligations in respect of this
Agreement;
|
4.10
|
Allow
any person authorized by "Betex"
to
have access at all reasonable times to "MSL"'s
premises for the purposes of inspecting the books and records (including
all relevant electronic records) to the extent that this is
necessary
to ensure "Betex"’s
interests are being protected as provided for in this
Agreement;
|
6
4.11
|
Provide
software necessary to enable “Betex”
and potential players to access the Mahjong Games within 30 days
of the
Commencement Date;
|
4.12
|
Use
its best endeavors to ensure that the Mahjong Games are at all times
available to potential and Introduced Players and that all information
(Including Confidential Information) supplied by “MSL”
as
part of the Mahjong Games shall be up to date and error
free;
|
4.13
|
Use
its best endeavors to ensure that any planned outages of the Mahjong
Games
are notified to “Betex”
at
least 28 days in advance and that any such outages are scheduled
so as to
cause as little disruption as possible to “Betex”,
|
4.14
|
Use
its best endeavors to ensure that any unplanned outages of the Mahjong
Games shall be notified to “Betex”
as
soon as reasonably possible and in any event prior to the
outage;
|
4.15
|
Provide
all computer components, equipment and software needed to provide
the
electronic system to operate the Mahjong Games, including back office
systems that may be accessed by “Betex”
support
staff to provide player support;
|
4.16
|
Provide
systems and use best endeavors to prevent collusion, and update these
systems on an ongoing basis where
appropriate;
|
4.17
|
Provide
support and service to “Betex”
for technical and software issues, responding to problem notifications
within two (2) hours of being advised of a problem and using its
best
endeavors to solve the problem within twelve (12) hours of receiving
notification of a problem;
|
4.18
|
“MSL”
acknowledges that it has no right to communicate with, nor ownership
of,
Introduced Players;
|
7
4.19
|
Ensure
that the Mahjong Games and all related content comply at all times
with
the licenses, authorizations and other permissions governing the
provision
of such games in its licensed server jurisdiction together with those
of
such other places as “MSL”
may conduct its business from time to time throughout the term of
this
Agreement;
|
4.20
|
Ensure
that the Mahjong Games and all related content shall not infringe
any
intellectual property rights of a third party nor does it violate
any
other third party rights;
|
4.21
|
Not
do anything to bring (or which is likely to bring) “Betex”
(Or its employees, director or employees) into
disrepute;
|
4.22
|
Fully
indemnify and keep fully indemnified “Betex”
(and its employees, directors and agents) against any liability,
damage,
expense, claim or cost suffered by “Betex”
(or its employee, director or agent) as a result of any breach by
“MSL”
of
the undertakings given in clauses 4.19, 4.20 and 4.21
above.
|
5. |
RIGHTS
AND OBLIGATIONS OF "BETEX"
|
"Betex"
shall:
5.1
|
Promote
the Mahjong Games and be responsible for all associated
costs;
|
5.2
|
Not
bring "MSL"
into disrepute by marketing or selling the Mahjong Games in any fashion
deemed to be illegal or
undesirable;
|
5.3
|
Fully
indemnify and keep fully indemnified “MSL”
(and its employees, directors and agents) against any liability,
damage,
expense, claim or cost suffered by “MSL”
(or its employee, director or agent) as a result of any breach by
“Betex”
of
the undertaking given in clause 5.2
above;
|
8
5.3
|
Use
best endeavors to ensure that its activities do not violate the laws
of
any country to which the Mahjong Games are
aimed;
|
5.4
|
Inform
"MSL"
as
soon as possible of any legal difficulties that are encountered in
respect
of the promotion of the Mahjong
Games;
|
5.5
|
Be
responsible for all costs incurred by "Betex"
in
the software integration;
|
5.6
|
Be
responsible for and bear all costs with relation to the player
relationship including:
|
5.6.1
|
Acquiring
funds into players’ accounts that may be subsequently used for the Mahjong
Game,
|
5.6.2
|
Providing
customer support to players,
|
5.6.3
|
Settlement
of player withdrawals,
|
5.6.4
|
Managing
and funding where necessary any shortfalls through charge backs or
fraud,
|
5.6.5
|
Provision
of all software and hardware systems associated with the player
relationship;
|
5.7
|
Pay
an initial and annual License Fee as per Schedule 1, the initial
license
fee being payable 50% on signing the contract and 50% on going
live;
|
5.8
|
Deposit
funds with "MSL"
to
establish the Float. The Float will cover the expected maximum deficit
that would be realized in the course of one (1) month, such float
to be
adjusted where necessary during the course of the month in good time
to
avoid players being refused games. The initial float amount is set
as per
Schedule 1.
|
6. |
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY RIGHTS
|
6.1
|
"Betex"
shall acquire a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license from
“MSL”
for:
|
9
6.1.1
|
itself
and all Introduced Players to use the Mahjong Games throughout the
term of
this Agreement
|
6.1.2
|
itself
to use all trade marks, service marks, logos and other distinctive
brand
features to make available the Mahjong Games and undertake promotion
of
the availability of the same on the “Betex”
website.
|
6.2
|
“Betex”
shall not acquire any right, title or interest in any copyright or
other
intellectual property rights in the Mahjong Games by virtue of this
Agreement;
|
6.3
|
"MSL"
shall not acquire any right, title or interest in any copyright or
other
intellectual property rights in "Betex"’s
trademarks, trade names, copyrights and other rights used or embodied
in
or in connection with its
activities.
|
7. |
VALIDITY
|
7.1
|
If
any provision of this Agreement
is found or held to be invalid or unenforceable, the validity and
enforceability of all the other provisions of this Agreement
will not be affected thereby.
|
8. |
CONFIDENTIALITY
|
8.1
|
"MSL"
shall hold in confidence all Confidential
Information
received and not divulge the Confidential
Information
to any person, including any of its personnel, save for Parties directly
involved with the execution of this
Agreement;
|
8.2
|
"Betex"
shall have full rights to and access to the Confidential
Information.
|
8.3
|
The
parties shall prevent disclosure of the Confidential
Information,
except as may be required by law.
|
10
8.4
|
"MSL"
shall ensure that each staff member or external party having access
to
Confidential Information is bound by individual non-disclosure
agreements.
|
9. |
TERMINATION
OF AGREEMENT
|
9.1
|
This
Agreement may be terminated with immediate effect by "MSL"
in
the event of "Betex"
not complying with the "MSL"
requirements in terms of clause 5.2. This clause shall not be unreasonably
invoked.
|
9.2
|
Each
party may terminate this Agreement by written notice to the other
Party in
accordance with clause 2.2 after the initial
period.
|
9.3
|
Either
Party may terminate this Agreement by written notice if the other
Party
commits a breach of the Agreement:
|
9.3.1
|
which
is material and unremediable; or
|
9.3.2
|
which
is material and remediable but which remains unremedied at the end
of a
reasonable period of time (of not less than 30 days); this period
of time,
the breach and the reasonably required remedy having been previously
specified by the non-breaching Party in written notice to the breaching
Party, or;
|
9.3.3
|
which
is a minor breach of a kind that has occurred several times before
and
following the non-breaching Party serving a notice to the breaching
Party
giving reasonable period (of not less than 30 days) within which
to
prevent a further occurrence; a breach of the kind specified in the
notice
occurs again.
|
9.4
|
Either
Party may terminate this Agreement immediately and without notice
if:
|
9.4.1
|
the
other enters into a composition with its
creditors;
|
9.4.2
|
an
order is made for the winding up of the
other;
|
9.4.3
|
an
effective resolution is passed for the winding up of the other (other
than
for the purposes of amalgamation or reconstruction on terms approved
by
the first Party (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld));
or
|
11
9.4.4
|
the
other has a receiver, manager, administrative receiver or administrator
appointed in respect of it.
|
9.5 |
Effect
of Termination
|
The
termination of the Agreement, for whatever reason, shall not affect the rights
of either of the parties:
9.5.1
|
that
may have accrued before the termination of the Agreement;
or
|
9.5.2
|
which
specifically or by their nature survive the termination of the
Agreement.
|
9.6
|
On
termination, "MSL"
will provide, in an electronic format acceptable to "Betex",
a
copy of all the Confidential Information relating to "Betex".
|
9.7
|
"MSL"
shall immediately destroy or return to “Betex”
(at “Betex”’s
option) all copies (including electronic copies) of Confidential
Information in “MSL”’s
possession, custody or control and in the case of destruction certify
to
"Betex"
that it has done so.
|
10. |
DOMICILIUM
|
The
Parties elect the following addresses as their respective domicilium
citandi et executandi:
10.1
|
"Betex":
Betex
(Group) PLC:
Suite
8.01, Exchange Tower
0
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X00 0XX
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
10.2 |
"MSL":
Mahjong Systems Limited
Britannic
House
Providenciales
Turks and Caicos Islands
B.W.I
|
12
10.3
|
Either
of the Parties may change its
domicilium citandi et executandi to
another address within the same country, by way of a notice to the
other
party to this Agreement, provided that such a notice is received
by the
addressee, at least 7 (seven) calendar days prior to such a change
taking
effect.
|
11. |
NOTICES
|
The
Parties elect the following addresses at which all notices and other
communications must be delivered for the purposes of this Agreement:
11.1 |
"Betex":
|
11.1.1 |
By
hand at:
Suite 8.01, Exchange Tower
0
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X00 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Fax:
x00 (0)00 0000
0000
|
For
the attention of: Xx.
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Chief Operating Officer;
11.2 |
"MSL":
|
11.1.2 |
By
hand at:
Brittanic
House, Providenciales
Turks
and Caicos Islands, B.W.I.
For
the attention of: Xx.
Xxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
|
Fax:
11.2.2 |
With
a copy to:
Events
International Holding Corporation
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx, X0X 0X0
For
the attention of: Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Fax:
x0
000-000-0000
|
13
11.3 |
Any
notice or communication required or permitted to be given in terms
of this
Agreement
shall only be valid and effective if it is in
writing.
|
11.4
|
Any
notice addressed to either of the Parties and contained in a correctly
addressed envelope and sent by registered post to it at its chosen
address
or delivered by hand at its chosen address to a responsible person
on any
day of the week between 09h00 and 16h00, excluding Saturdays, Sundays
and
public holidays, shall be deemed to have been received, unless the
contrary is proved, if sent by registered post, on the fourteenth
calendar
day after posting and, in the case of hand delivery, on the day of
delivery.
|
11.5
|
Any
notice sent by telefax to either of the Parties at its telefax number
states overleaf (or such other telefax number as a Party may notify
to the
other Party from time to time) shall be deemed, unless the contrary
is
proved, to have been received:
|
11.5.1 |
if
it is transmitted on any day of the week between 09h00 and 16h00,
excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, within 2 (two)
hours of
transmission;
|
11.5.2 |
if
it is transmitted outside of these times, within two hours of the
commencement of the next day of the week between 09h00 and 16h00,
excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, after it has been
transmitted.
|
11.6
|
A Party shall not be entitled to rely on an email as a valid method of giving notice unless and until its receipt has been verified by a non-automated email response or by a reaction by the other Party in response to the email. |
12. FORCE
MAJEURE
12.1
|
Neither
of the Parties shall be liable for a failure to perform any of its
obligations insofar as it proves:
|
14
12.1.1 |
that
the failure was due to an impediment beyond its
control;
|
12.1.2 |
that
it could not reasonably be expected to have taken the impediment
and its
effects upon the party’s ability to perform into account at the time of
the conclusion of this Agreement;
and
|
12.1.3 |
that
it could not reasonably have avoided or overcome the impediment or
at
least its effects.
|
12.2
|
An
impediment, as aforesaid, may result from events such as the following,
this enumeration not being
exhaustive:
|
12.2.1 |
war,
whether declared or not, civil war, civil violence, riots and revolutions,
acts of sabotage;
|
12.2.2 |
natural
disasters such as violent storms, cyclones, earthquakes, tidal waves,
floods, destruction by lightning;
|
12.2.3 |
explosions,
fires, destruction of machines, factories and any kind of
installations;
|
12.2.4 |
boycotts,
strikes and lockouts of all kinds, go-slows, occupation of factories
and
premises and work stoppages provided that any such action does not
involve
either Party’s workforce;
|
12.2.5 |
acts
of authority, whether lawful or unlawful, apart from acts from which
the
party seeking relief has assumed the risk by virtue of any other
provisions of this Agreement.
|
12.3
|
For
the purposes of this clause “impediment” does not include lack of
authorisations, of licences, of permits or of approvals necessary
for the
performance of this Agreement
and to be issued by the appropriate public
authority.
|
12.4
|
Relief
from liability for non-performance by reason of the provisions of
this
clause shall commence on the date upon which the party seeking relief
gives Notice
of the impediment relied upon and shall terminate upon the date upon
which
such impediment ceases to exist; provided that if such impediment
continues for a period of more than sixty (60) days either of the
Parties
shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement
immediately upon written notice to the other
Party.
|
13. ENTIRE
AGREEMENT AND VARIATIONS
13.1
|
This
Agreement
including schedule 1 constitutes the whole agreement between the
Parties
and supersedes all prior verbal or written agreements or understandings
or
representations by or between the Parties
regarding the subject matter of this Agreement.
Except as expressly stated in writing in this Agreement, neither
Party
has relied upon any statement or representation made by he other
Party in
agreeing to enter into this Agreement. Nothing in the clause purports
to
exclude liability for statements or representations made
fraudulently.
|
13.2
|
No
variation of or addition to this Agreement
will be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing and signed
by or
on behalf of the Parties.
|
15
14.
|
RELAXATION
|
No
indulgence, leniency or extension of a right, which either of the Parties
may have in terms of this Agreement,
and which either party (“the grantor”) may grant or show to the other party,
shall in any way prejudice the grantor, or preclude the grantor from exercising
any of the rights that it has derived from this Agreement,
or be construed as a waiver by the grantor of that right.
15. |
WAIVER
|
No
waiver
on the part of either party to this Agreement of any rights
arising from a breach of any provision of this Agreement
will constitute
a
waiver of rights in respect of any subsequent breach of the same or any other
provision.
16. |
SEVERABILITY
|
In
the
event that any of the terms of this Agreement
are found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, such terms will be severable
from the remaining terms, which will continue to be valid and
enforceable.
17. |
DRAFTING
COSTS
|
Each
of
the Parties shall bear its own cost incurred as a result of the negotiation,
drafting and finalisation of this Agreement, which shall include, but not be
limited to, all legal fees.
18. |
ASSIGNEMENT
|
Neither
Party may assign, transfer or charge any rights or obligations under this
Agreement without the other Party’s prior written consent (such consent not to
be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
19. |
RIGHTS
OF THIRD PARTIES
|
No
term
of this Agreement is intended to benefit any person or entity not a party to
it.
20. |
GOVERNING
LAW
|
The
validity and interpretation of this Agreement
will be governed by the laws of England and both Parties hereby submit to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the English court.
16
I,
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, the undersigned, herewith confirm that my position within
"Betex"
is that
of Chief Operating Officer and state that I am duly authorized to enter into
this
Agreement,
which I herewith do, on this the ______________
by
signing this
Agreement,
for and on behalf of "Betex".
Witnesses:
1
|
||
2
|
Signature
on behalf of Betex (Group) PLC
|
|
I,
Xxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, the undersigned, herewith confirm that my position within the
Mahjong Systems Limited is that of Director and state that I am duly authorized
to enter into this
Agreement,
which I herewith do,
on
this
the ________________
by
signing this
Agreement,
for and on behalf of the "MSL".
Witnesses:
1
|
||
2
|
Signature
on behalf of Mahjong Systems
Limited
|
17
Schedule
1
Revenue
Share, License Fees and Initial Float Amount
|
|
Initial
Float Amount
|
US$
10,000
|
First
Year License Fee
|
US$
10,000
|
Subsequent
Annual License Fees
|
US$
10,000
|
Revenue
Share
(share
of House Rake paid to “Betex”)
|
10,000
for rake under US$10,000
in
a month
10,000
for all rake in excess of US$10,000
in
a month
|