Exhibit 4.10
MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT
Between
JINKOSOLAR HOLDING CO., LTD.
And
Jiangxi JinkoSolar Engineering Co., Ltd.
Dated as of October 18, 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1 | |||
DEFINITIONS. | |||
Section 1.1 | Capitalized terms | 3 | |
ARTICLE 2 | |||
SERVICES. | |||
Section 2.1 | Initial Services | 5 | |
Section 2.2 | Additional Services | 6 | |
Section 2.3 | Scope of Services | 6 | |
Section 2.4 | Limitation on Provision of Services | 6 | |
Section 2.5 | Standard of Performance; Standard of Care | 7 | |
Section 2.6 | Prices for Services | 8 | |
Section 2.7 | Changes in Services | 8 | |
Section 2.8 | Services Performed by Third Parties | 8 | |
Section 2.9 | Cooperation | 9 | |
ARTICLE 3 | |||
CHARGES AND PAYMENT. | |||
Section 3.1 | Procedure | 9 | |
Section 3.2 | Late Payments | 9 | |
ARTICLE 4 | |||
TERM AND TERMINATION. | |||
Section 4.1 | Termination Dates | 9 | |
Section 4.2 | Early Termination by the Recipient | 9 | |
Section 4.3 | Termination by the Provider | 10 | |
Section 4.4 | Effect of Termination of Services | 10 | |
ARTICLE 5 | |||
MISCELLANEOUS. | |||
Section 5.1 | DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES | 10 | |
Section 5.2 | Limitation of Liability; Indemnification | 10 | |
Section 5.3 | Compliance with Law and Governmental Regulations | 12 | |
Section 5.4 | No Partnership or Joint Venture; Independent Contractor | 12 | |
Section 5.5 | Non-Exclusivity | 12 | |
Section 5.6 | Expenses | 12 | |
Section 5.7 | Further Assurances | 12 | |
Section 5.8 | Confidentiality | 13 | |
Section 5.9 | Headings | 13 |
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Section 5.10 | Interpretation | 14 | |
Section 5.11 | Amendments | 14 | |
Section 5.12 | Notices | 14 | |
Section 5.13 | Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries | 15 | |
Section 5.14 | Entire Agreement | 15 | |
Section 5.15 | Counterparts | 15 | |
Section 5.16 | Severability | 15 | |
Section 5.17 | Incorporation by Reference | 15 | |
Section 5.18 | Governing Law and Jurisdiction | 16 |
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MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Master Services Agreement is dated as of October 18, 2016, by and between JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“JinkoSolar”), on behalf of itself and other members of JinkoSolar Group, and Jiangxi JinkoSolar Engineering Co., Ltd., a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the PRC (“Jinko Power”), on behalf of itself and other members of Jinko Power Group.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on October 11, 2016, Wide Wealth Group Holding Limited, a 55%-owned indirect subsidiary of JinkoSolar, entered into a share transfer agreement with Shangrao Kangsheng Technology Co., Ltd., a company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, formed by a buyer consortium led by Mr. Xiande Li, chairman of the board of directors of JinkoSolar;
WHEREAS, on October 18, 2016, Shangrao Kangsheng Technology Co., Ltd. completed acquisition of all of JinkoSolar’s 55% equity interest in Jinko Power (the “Acquisition”);
WHEREAS, prior to the completion of the Acquisition, members of JinkoSolar Group provided certain services to members of Jinko Power Group and the parties desire that certain such services shall continue to be provided post the completion of the Acquisition.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, the mutual covenants and undertakings contained herein and the transactions contemplated herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the parties hereby mutually agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS.
Section 1.1 Capitalized terms. Capitalized terms used in the Schedule but not otherwise defined therein, will have the meaning ascribed to such word in this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the following words and phrases will have the following meanings:
“Acquisition” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Actual Cost” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6 of this Agreement.
“Additional Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.
“Affiliate” of any Person means a Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person;provided that, under this Agreement, “Affiliate” of any member of JinkoSolar Group excludes members of Jinko Power Group, and “Affiliate” of any member of Jinko Power Group excludes members of JinkoSolar Group. As used herein, “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether through ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract or otherwise.
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“Agreement” means this Master Services Agreement, together with the Schedule hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
“Arbitration Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.18 of this Agreement.
“Claims” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(d) of this Agreement.
“Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.18 of this Agreement.
“Force Majeure Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b) of this Agreement.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local, foreign or international court, government, department, commission, board, bureau, agency, official or other regulatory, administrative or governmental authority.
“Historical Levels” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement.
“HKIAC” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.18 of this Agreement.
“HKIAC Rules” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.18 of this Agreement.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(d) of this Agreement.
“Indemnitor” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(d) of this Agreement.
“Information” means information in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, stored in any medium, including studies, reports, records, books, contracts, instruments, surveys, discoveries, ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, data, computer data, disks, diskettes, tapes, computer programs or other software, marketing plans, customer names, communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memoranda and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), and other technical, financial, employee or business information or data.
“Initial Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.
“Jinko Power” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Jinko Power Group” means Jinko Power and its subsidiaries.
“JinkoSolar” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“JinkoSolar Group” means JinkoSolar and its subsidiaries.
“Law” means any law, statute, rule, regulation or other requirement imposed by a Governmental Authority.
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“Person” means an individual, a general or limited partnership, a corporation, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a limited liability entity, any other entity and any Governmental Authority.
“PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, which, for purposes of this Agreement only, does not include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan.
“Provider” means, with respect to any particular Service, the entity or entities identified on the Schedule as the party to provide such Service.
“Recipient” means, with respect to any particular Service, the entity or entities identified on the Schedule as the party to receive such Service.
“Review Meetings” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9 of this Agreement.
“Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.
“Service Period” means, with respect to any Service, the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier of (i) the date the Recipient terminates the provision of such Service pursuant to Section 4.2, (ii) the date the Provider terminates the provision of such Service pursuant to Section 4.3, or (iii) the third anniversary of the date hereof.
“Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.
“Tax” means all forms of direct and indirect taxation or duties imposed, or required to be collected or withheld, including charges, together with any related interest, penalties or other additional amounts.
“Termination Fees” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.
“Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.
“U.S. GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time.
“VAT” means value added tax, goods and services tax and any sales, transfer, services, consumption, business, use or transaction tax.
ARTICLE 2
SERVICES.
Section 2.1 Initial Services. Except as otherwise provided herein, during the applicable Service Period, each Provider agrees to provide, or with respect to any service to be provided by an Affiliate of the Provider, to cause such Affiliate to provide, to the Recipient, or with respect to any service to be provided to an Affiliate of the Recipient, to such Affiliate, the services that have been provided by the Provider and/or its Affiliates to the Recipient or its Affiliate (the “Initial Services”), including but not limited to the services set forth on the Schedule (the “Schedule”) annexed hereto.
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Section 2.2 Additional Services. From time to time during the applicable Service Period, the parties may identify additional services that the Provider will provide to the Recipient in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (the “Additional Services” and, together with the Initial Services, the “Services”). If the parties agree to add any Additional Services, the parties will mutually create a Schedule or amend the existing Schedule for each such Additional Service setting forth the identities of the Provider and the Recipient, a description of such Service, the term during which such Service will be provided, the cost, if any, for such Service and any other provisions applicable thereto. In order to become a part of this Agreement, such amendment to the Schedule must be executed by a duly authorized representative of each party, at which time such Additional Service will, together with the Initial Services, be deemed to constitute a “Service” for the purposes hereof and will be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The parties may, but will not be required to, agree on Additional Services during the applicable Service Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing or anywhere else in this Agreement, any service actually performed by the Provider upon written or oral request by the Recipient in connection with this Agreement will be deemed to constitute a “Service” for the purposes of Article 3 and Section 5.2, but such “Service” will only be incorporated into this Agreement by an amendment as set forth in this Section 2.2 and Section 5.11. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither party will have any obligation to agree to provide Additional Services.
Section 2.3 Scope of Services. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) neither the Provider nor any of its Affiliates will be required to perform or to cause to be performed any of the Services for the benefit of any third party or any other person other than the applicable Recipient or its Affiliates, and (ii) the Provider makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the Services, except as provided in Section 2.5.
Section 2.4 Limitation on Provision of Services.
(a) Except as expressly contemplated in the Schedule, neither the Provider nor any of its Affiliates will be obligated to perform or to cause to be performed any Service in a volume or quantity that exceeds on an annualized basis 100 percent of the historical volumes or quantities of Services performed by it or its Affiliates for the business of the Recipient during calendar year 2015 (“Historical Levels”); provided, however, that if the Recipient wishes to increase the volume or quantity of such Services provided under this Agreement by more than such amount, the Recipient will make a request to the appropriate Provider in writing in accordance with Section 5.12 at least fifteen (15) days prior to the next Review Meeting setting out in as much detail as reasonably possible the change requested and the reason for requesting the change, which request will be considered at the next Review Meeting. The Provider may, in its sole discretion, choose to accommodate or not to accommodate any such request in part or in full.
(b) In case performance of any terms or provisions hereof will be delayed or prevented, in whole or in part, because of, or related to, compliance with any Law, decree, request or order of any Governmental Authority, either local, state, federal or foreign, or because of riots, war, public disturbance, strike, labor dispute, fire explosion, storm, flood, acts of God, major breakdown or failure of transportation, manufacturing, distribution or storage facilities, or for any other reason which is not within the control of the party whose performance is interfered with and which by the exercise of reasonable diligence such party is unable to prevent (each, a “Force Majeure Event”), then upon prompt notice by the party so suffering to the other party, the party suffering will be excused from its obligations hereunder during the period such Force Majeure Event continues, and no liability will attach against either party on account thereof. No party will be excused from performance if such party fails to use reasonable diligence to remedy the situation and remove the cause and effect of the Force Majeure Event.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Agreement will not constitute an agreement for the Provider to provide Services to the Recipient to the extent that the provision of any such Services would not be in compliance with applicable Laws.
Section 2.5 Standard of Performance; Standard of Care.
(a) The Provider will use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide and cause its Affiliates to provide the Services in a manner which is substantially similar in nature, quality and timeliness to the services provided by the applicable Provider to the applicable Recipient immediately prior to the date hereof; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement will require the Provider to prioritize or otherwise favor the Recipient over any third parties or any of the Provider’s or the Provider’s Affiliates’ business operations. The Recipient acknowledges that the Provider’s obligation to provide the Services is contingent upon the Recipient (A) providing in a timely manner all information, documentation, materials, resources and access requested by the Provider and (B) making timely decisions, approvals and acceptances and taking in a timely manner such other actions requested by the Provider, in each case that the Provider (in its reasonable business judgment) believes is necessary or desirable to enable the Provider to provide the Services; provided, however, that the Provider requests such approvals, information, materials or services with reasonable prior notice to the extent practicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Provider shall not be responsible for any failure to provide any Service in the event that the Recipient has not fully complied with the immediately preceding sentence. The parties acknowledge and agree that nothing contained in the Schedule will be deemed to (A) increase or decrease the standard of care imposed on the Provider, (B) expand the scope of the Services to be provided as set forth in Article 2, except to the extent that the Schedule references a Service that was not provided immediately prior to the date hereof, or (C) limit Sections 5.1 and 5.2.
(b) The Provider’s sole responsibility to the Recipient for errors or omissions committed by the Provider in performing the Services will be to correct such errors or omissions in the Services at no additional cost to the Recipient; provided, however, that the Recipient must promptly advise the Provider of any such error or omission of which it becomes aware after having used commercially reasonable efforts to detect any such errors or omissions.
(c) The parties and their respective Affiliates will use good faith efforts to cooperate with each other in connection with the performance of the Services hereunder, including producing on a timely basis all information that is reasonably requested with respect to the performance of Services; provided, however, that such cooperation not unreasonably disrupt the normal operations of the parties and their respective Affiliates; provided further, that the party requesting cooperation will pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the party furnishing cooperation, unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement. Subject to the foregoing terms, the parties will cooperate with each other in making information available as needed in the event of a Tax audit or in connection with statutory or governmental compliance issues, whether in the PRC or any other country; provided, however, that the provision of such information will be without representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. For the avoidance of doubt, and without limiting any privilege or protection that now or hereafter may be shared by the Provider and the Recipient, neither party will be required to provide any document if the party who would provide such document reasonably believes that so doing would waive any privilege or protection (e.g., attorney-client privilege) applicable to such document.
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(d) If the Provider reasonably believes it is unable to provide any Service because of a failure to obtain necessary consents (e.g., third-party approvals or instructions or approvals from the Recipient required in the ordinary course of providing a Service), licenses, sublicenses or approvals contemplated by this Section 2.5(d), such failure shall not constitute a breach hereof by the Provider and the parties will cooperate to determine the best alternative approach; provided, however, that in no event will the Provider be required to provide such Service until an alternative approach reasonably satisfactory to the Provider is found or the consents, licenses, sublicenses or approvals have been obtained.
Section 2.6 Prices for Services. Services provided to any Recipient pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will be charged at the prices set forth for such Service on the Schedule. At the end of each twelve (12) months during the Service Period, the Provider will review the charges, costs and expenses actually incurred by the Provider in providing any Service (collectively, “Actual Cost”) during the previous twelve (12) months. In the event the Provider determines that the Actual Cost for any service materially differs from the aggregate costs charged to Recipient for that Service for that period, the Provider will deliver to Recipient documentation for such Actual Cost and the parties will renegotiate in good faith to adjust the appropriate costs charged to the Recipient prospectively.
Section 2.7 Changes in Services. The parties agree and acknowledge that any Provider may make changes from time to time in the manner of performing the applicable Services if such Provider is making similar changes in performing similar services for itself, its Affiliates or other third parties, if any, and if such Provider furnishes to the Recipient substantially the same notice (in content and timing) as such Provider provides to its Affiliates or other third parties, if any, respecting such changes. In addition, and without limiting the immediately preceding sentence in any way, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, such Provider may make any of the following changes without obtaining the prior consent of the Recipient: (i) changes to the process of performing a particular Service that do not adversely affect the benefits to the Recipient of such Provider’s provision or quality of such Service in any material respect or materially increase the charge for such Service; (ii) emergency changes on a temporary and short-term basis; and (iii) changes to a particular Service in order to comply with applicable Law or regulatory requirements.
Section 2.8 Services Performed by Third Parties. Nothing in this Agreement will prevent the Provider from using its Affiliates or third parties to perform all or any part of a Service hereunder. The Provider will remain fully responsible for the performance of its obligations under this Agreement in accordance with its terms, including any obligations it performs through its Affiliates or third parties, and the Provider will be solely responsible for payments due any such Affiliates or third parties.
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Section 2.9 Cooperation. Each party will designate in writing to the other party one (1) representative to act as a contact person with respect to all issues relating to the provision of the Services pursuant to this Agreement. Such representatives will hold review meetings by telephone or in person, as mutually agreed upon, approximately once every quarter to discuss issues relating to the provision of the Services under this Agreement (“Review Meetings”). In the Review Meetings such representatives will be responsible for (A) discussing any problems identified relating to the provision of Services and, to the extent changes are agreed upon, implementing such changes and (B) providing notice that any Service has since the prior Review Meeting for the first time exceeded, or is anticipated to exceed, the usual and customary volume for such Service as described in the Schedule.
ARTICLE 3
CHARGES AND PAYMENT.
Section 3.1 Procedure. Charges for the Services will be charged to and payable by the Recipient. Amounts payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will be paid to the Provider on a semi annual basis.
Section 3.2 Late Payments. If the Recipient fails to pay any amount payable by it under this Agreement on its due date, interest shall accrue daily on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of the actual payment at a rate equal to the benchmark lending interest rate that is applicable to six-month term RMB loans as published by the People’s Bank of China from time to time. Any interest accruing under this Section 3.2 shall be immediately payable by the Recipient on demand by the Provider.
ARTICLE 4
TERM AND TERMINATION.
Section 4.1 Termination Dates. Unless otherwise terminated pursuant to this Article 4, this Agreement will terminate with respect to any Service at the close of business on the last day of the Service Period for such Service, unless the parties have agreed in writing to an extension of the Service Period.
Section 4.2 Early Termination by the Recipient. As provided in the Schedule (regarding the required number of days for written notice), the Recipient may terminate this Agreement with respect to either all or any one or more of the Services, at any time and from time to time (except in the event such termination will constitute a breach by Provider of a third party agreement related to providing such Services), by giving the required written notice to the Provider of such termination (each, a “Termination Notice”). Early termination by the Recipient will obligate the Recipient to pay to the Provider a termination fee equal to the direct costs incurred by the Provider and/or its Affiliates in connection with their provision of Services at the time of the early termination (the “Termination Fees”). Unless provided otherwise in the Schedule, all Services of the same type must be terminated simultaneously. As soon as reasonably practicable after its receipt of a Termination Notice, the Provider will advise the Recipient as to whether early termination of such Services will require the termination or partial termination, or otherwise affect the provision of, certain other Services. If this will be the case, the Recipient may withdraw its Termination Notice within ten (10) days. If the Recipient does not withdraw the Termination Notice within such period, such termination will be final and the Recipient will be deemed to have agreed to the termination, partial termination or affected provision of such other Services and to pay the Termination Fees.
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Section 4.3 Termination by the Provider. The Provider may terminate this Agreement with respect to either all or any one or more of the Services, at any time and from time to time, by giving the required written notice to the Recipient of such termination, if the Recipient breaches any material provision of this Agreement (including a failure to timely pay an invoiced amount);provided,however, that the Recipient will have thirty (30) days after receiving such written notice to cure any breach which is curable before the termination becomes effective.
Section 4.4 Effect of Termination of Services. In the event of any termination with respect to one or more, but less than all, of the Services, this Agreement will continue in full force and effect with respect to any Services not so terminated. Upon the termination of any or all of the Services, the Provider will cease, or cause its applicable Affiliates or third-party providers to cease, providing the terminated Services. Upon each such termination, the Recipient will promptly (i) pay to the Provider all fees accrued through the effective date of the Termination Notice, and (ii) reimburse the Provider for the termination costs actually incurred by the Provider resulting from the Recipient’s early termination of such Services, if any, including those costs owed to third-party providers, but excluding costs related to the termination of any particular Provider employees in connection with such termination of Services (including wrongful termination claims) unless the Recipient was notified in writing that such particular employees were being engaged in order for the Provider to provide such Services.
ARTICLE 5
MISCELLANEOUS.
Section 5.1 DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE PROVIDER MAKES NO AND DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. THE PROVIDER MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE QUALITY, SUITABILITY OR ADEQUACY OF THE SERVICES FOR ANY PURPOSE OR USE.
Section 5.2 Limitation of Liability; Indemnification.
(a) Each party acknowledges and agrees that the obligations of the other party hereunder are exclusively the obligations of such other party and are not guaranteed directly or indirectly by such other party’s shareholders, members, managers, officers, directors, agents or any other person. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each party will look only to the other party and not to any manager, director, officer, employee or agent for satisfaction of any claims, demands or causes of action for damages, injuries or losses sustained by any party as a result of the other party’s action or inaction.
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(b) Notwithstanding (A) the Provider’s agreement to perform the Services in accordance with the provisions hereof, or (B) any term or provision of the Schedule to the contrary, the Recipient acknowledges that performance by the Provider of the Services pursuant to this Agreement will not subject the Provider, any of its Affiliates or their respective members, shareholders, managers, directors, officers, employees or agents to any liability whatsoever, except as directly caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Provider or any of its members, shareholders, managers, directors, officers, employees and agents; provided, however, that the Provider’s liability as a result of such gross negligence or willful misconduct will be limited to an amount not to exceed the lesser of (i) the price paid for the particular Service, (ii) the Recipient’s or its Affiliate’s cost of performing the Service itself during the remainder of the applicable Service Period or (iii) the Recipient’s cost of obtaining the Service from a third party during the remainder of the applicable Service Period; provided further that the Recipient and its Affiliates will exercise their commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the cost of any such alternatives to the Services by selecting the most cost effective alternatives which provide the functional equivalent of the Services replaced.
(c) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY OR ITS RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, COLLATERAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR LOST PROFITS SUFFERED BY THE OTHER PARTY OR ITS AFFILIATES, HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DAMAGES ARISING HEREUNDER; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT TO THE EXTENT EITHER PARTY OR ITS RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES IS REQUIRED TO PAY (A) ANY AMOUNT ARISING OUT OF THE INDEMNITY SET FORTH IN Section 5.2(b) AND (B) ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, COLLATERAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR LOST PROFITS TO A THIRD PARTY WHO IS NOT AN AFFILIATE OF EITHER PARTY, IN EACH CASE IN CONNECTION WITH A THIRD-PARTY CLAIM, SUCH DAMAGES WILL CONSTITUTE DIRECT DAMAGES OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY AND WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATION SET FORTH IN THIS Section 5.2(c).
(d) The Recipient agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Provider, the Provider or its Affiliates and their respective members, shareholders, managers, directors, officers, employees and agents with respect to any claims or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (“Claims”), which may be asserted or imposed against the Provider or such persons by a third party who is not an affiliate of either party, as a result of (A) the provision of the Services pursuant to this Agreement, or (B) the material breach by the Recipient of a third-party agreement that causes or constitutes a material breach of such agreement by the Provider, except (with respect to both of the foregoing) for any claims which are directly caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Provider or such persons. Each party as indemnitee (“Indemnitee”) will give the other party as indemnitor (“Indemnitor”) prompt written notice of any Claims. If Indemnitor does not notify Indemnitee within a reasonable period after Indemnitor’s receipt of notice of any Claim that Indemnitor is assuming the defense of Indemnitee, then until such defense is assumed by Indemnitor, Indemnitee shall have the right to defend, contest, settle or compromise such Claim in the exercise of its reasonable judgment and all costs and expenses of such defense, contest, settlement or compromise (including reasonable outside attorneys’ fees and expenses) will be reimbursed to Indemnitee by Indemnitor. Upon assumption of the defense of any such Claim, Indemnitor will, at its own cost and expense, select legal counsel, conduct and control the defense and settlement of any suit or action which is covered by Indemnitor’s indemnity. Indemnitee shall render all cooperation and assistance reasonably requested by the Indemnitor and Indemnitor will keep Indemnitee fully apprised of the status of any Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indemnitee may, at its election and sole expense, be represented in such action by separate counsel and Indemnitee may, at its election and sole expense, assume the defense of any such action, if Indemnitee hereby waives Indemnitor’s indemnity hereunder. Unless Indemnitee waives the indemnity hereunder, in no event shall Indemnitee, as part of the settlement of any claim or proceeding covered by this indemnity or otherwise, stipulate to, admit or acknowledge any liability or wrongdoing (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) of any issue which may be covered by this indemnity without the consent of the Indemnitor (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
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Section 5.3 Compliance with Law and Governmental Regulations. The Recipient will be solely responsible for (i) compliance with all Laws affecting its business and (ii) any use the Recipient may make of the Services to assist it in complying with such Laws. Without limiting any other provisions of this Agreement, the parties agree and acknowledge that neither party has any responsibility or liability for advising the other party with respect to, or ensuring the other party’s compliance with, any public disclosure, compliance or reporting obligations of such other party (including the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules and regulations promulgated under such Acts or any successor provisions), regardless of whether any failure to comply results from information provided hereunder.
Section 5.4 No Partnership or Joint Venture; Independent Contractor. Nothing contained in this Agreement will constitute or be construed to be or create a partnership or joint venture between the parties or any of their respective Affiliates, successors or assigns. The parties understand and agree that this Agreement does not make either of them an agent or legal representative of the other for any purpose whatsoever. No party is granted, by this Agreement or otherwise, any right or authority to assume or create any obligation or responsibilities, express or implied, on behalf of or in the name of any other party, or to bind any other party in any manner whatsoever. The parties expressly acknowledge that the Provider is an independent contractor with respect to the Recipient in all respects, including with respect to the provision of the Services.
Section 5.5 Non-Exclusivity. The Provider and its Affiliates may provide services of a nature similar to the Services to any other Person. There is no obligation for the Provider to provide the Services to the Recipient on an exclusive basis.
Section 5.6 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, each party will pay its own expenses incident to the negotiation, preparation and performance of this Agreement, including the fees, expenses and disbursements of their respective investment bankers, accountants and counsel.
Section 5.7 Further Assurances. From time to time, each party will use its commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken, at the cost and expense of the requesting party, such further actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate or implement the transactions contemplated hereby or to evidence such matters.
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Section 5.8 Confidentiality.
(a) Subject to Section 5.8(c), each party, on behalf of itself and its respective Affiliates, agrees to hold, and to cause its respective directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors and representatives to hold, in strict confidence, with at least the same degree of care that applies to such party’s confidential and proprietary information pursuant to policies in effect as of the date hereof, all Information concerning the other party and its Affiliates that is either in its possession (including Information in its possession prior to the date hereof) or furnished by the other party, its Affiliates or their respective directors, officers, managers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors and representatives at any time pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, and will not use any such Information other than for such purposes as will be expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder, except, in each case, to the extent that such Information has been (i) in the public domain through no fault of such party or its Affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, managers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors and representatives, (ii) later lawfully acquired from other sources by such party (or its Affiliates) which sources are not themselves bound by a confidentiality obligation, or (iii) independently generated without reference or prior access to any proprietary or confidential Information of the other party.
(b) Each party agrees not to release or disclose, or permit to be released or disclosed, any Information of the other party or its Affiliates to any other Person, except its directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors and representatives who need to know such Information (who will be advised of their obligations hereunder with respect to such Information), except in compliance with Section 5.8(c); provided, however, that any Information may be disclosed to third parties (who will be advised of their obligation hereunder with respect to such Information) retained by the Provider as the Provider reasonably deems necessary to perform the Services.
(c) In the event that any party or any of its Affiliates either determines on the advice of its counsel that it is required to disclose any Information pursuant to applicable Law (including pursuant to any rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority) or receives any demand under lawful process or from any Governmental Authority to disclose or provide Information of any other party (or of the other party’s Affiliates) that is subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof, such party will notify the other party prior to disclosing or providing such Information and will cooperate at the expense of such other party in seeking any reasonable protective arrangements (including by seeking confidential treatment of such Information) requested or required by such other party. Subject to the foregoing, the person that received such a request or determined that it is required to disclose Information may thereafter disclose or provide Information to the extent required by such Law (as so advised by counsel) or by lawful process or such Governmental Authority; provided, however, that such Person provides the other party upon request with a copy of the Information so disclosed.
Section 5.9 Headings. The Section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement or in the Schedule hereto and in the table of contents to this Agreement are for reference purposes only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
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Section 5.10 Interpretation. For all purposes of this Agreement and the Schedule delivered pursuant to this Agreement: (i) the terms defined in Section 1.1 have the meanings assigned to them in Section 1.1 and include the plural as well as the singular; (ii) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned under U.S. GAAP; (iii) all references in this Agreement to designated “Sections”, “Schedule” and other subdivisions are to the designated Sections, Schedule and other subdivisions of the body of this Agreement; (iv) pronouns of either gender or neuter will include, as appropriate, the other pronoun forms; (v) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision; (vi) “or” is not exclusive; (vii) “including” and “includes” will be deemed to be followed by “but not limited to” and “but is not limited to”, respectively; (viii) “party” or “parties” refer to a party or parties to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated; (ix) any definition of, or reference to, any law, agreement, instrument or other document herein will be construed as referring to such law, agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified; and (x) any definition of, or reference to, any statute will be construed as referring also to any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 5.11 Amendments. This Agreement (including the Schedule) may not be amended except by an instrument in writing executed by a duly authorized representative of each party. By an instrument in writing, the Provider, on the one hand, or the Recipient, on the other hand, may waive compliance by the other with any term or provision of this Agreement (including the Schedule) that such other party was or is obligated to comply with or perform. Any such waiver will only be effective in the specific instance and for the specific and limited purpose for which it was given and will not be deemed a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement (including the Schedule) or of the same breach or default upon any recurrence thereof. No failure on the part of any party to exercise and no delay in exercising any right hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof nor will any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.
Section 5.12 Notices. Notices, offers, requests or other communications required or permitted to be given by a party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing to the other party to the following addresses:
if to JinkoSolar:
Jinko Building
No. 99 Shouyang Road
Shanghai
People’s Republic of China
Attention: Charlie Cao
Facsimile: +86-21-5180 8600
Email:charlie.cao@jinkosolar.com
if to Jinko Power:
Jinko Building
No. 99 Shouyang Road
Shanghai
People’s Republic of China
Attention: Yan Chen
Facsimile: +86-21-5180 8600
Email:owen.chen@jinkopower.com
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or to such other address, facsimile number or email address as the party to whom notice is given may have previously furnished to the other in writing as provided herein. Any notice involving non-performance or termination shall be sent by hand delivery or recognized overnight courier. All other notices may also be sent by facsimile or email, confirmed by mail. All notices shall be deemed to have been given when received, if hand delivered; when transmitted, if transmitted by facsimile or email; upon confirmation of delivery, if sent by recognized overnight courier; and upon receipt if mailed.
Section 5.13 Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights and obligations of the parties may be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of the other party, except that (i) the Recipient may assign its rights under this Agreement to any Affiliate or Affiliates of the Recipient without the prior written consent of the Provider, (ii) the Provider may assign any rights and obligations hereunder to (A) any Affiliate or Affiliates of the Provider capable of providing such Services hereunder or (B) third parties to the extent such third parties are routinely used to provide the Services to Affiliates and businesses of the Provider, in either case without the prior written consent of the Recipient, and (iii) an assignment by operation of Law in connection with a merger or consolidation will not require the consent of the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party will remain liable for all of its respective obligations under this Agreement. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 5.13, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns and no other person will have any right, obligation or benefit hereunder. Any attempted assignment or transfer in violation of this Section 5.13 will be void.
Section 5.14 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Schedule hereto contain the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter and there are no agreements or understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.
Section 5.15 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which will be considered one and the same agreement, and will become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic imaging means will be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
Section 5.16 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any applicable Law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement will nonetheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic and legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties will negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
Section 5.17 Incorporation by Reference. The Schedule to this Agreement is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein.
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Section 5.18 Governing Law and Jurisdiction.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Hong Kong. Any dispute, controversy or claim (each, a “Dispute”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation, performance breach, termination, validity or invalidity thereof, shall be referred to arbitration upon the demand of any party to the dispute with notice (the “Arbitration Notice”) to the other party. The Dispute shall be settled in Hong Kong in a proceeding conducted in English by one (1) arbitrator from the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “HKIAC”) in accordance with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules (the “HKIAC Rules”) in force when the Arbitration Notice is submitted in accordance with the HKIAC Rules. Each party to the arbitration shall cooperate with each other party to the arbitration in making full disclosure of and providing complete access to all information and documents reasonably requested by such other party in connection with such arbitral proceedings, subject only to any confidentiality obligations binding on such party. The award of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding upon the parties thereto, and the prevailing party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award. During the course of the arbitral tribunal’s adjudication of the Dispute, this Agreement shall continue to be performed except with respect to the part in dispute and under adjudication.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
; | JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. | |
By: | /s/Xiande Li | |
Name: Xiande Li | ||
Title: Authorized signatory |
Jiangxi JinkoSolar Engineering Co., Ltd. | ||
By: | /s/Xiande Li | |
Name: Xiande Li | ||
Title: Authorized signatory |
SCHEDULE
SERVICES
Types of Services: Provision of guarantee for (i) the Recipient’s obligations under the existing financing documents and (ii) the Recipient’s obligations under additional financing documents to be entered into within the Service Period. For the avoidance of any doubt, in the event the guarantee period contemplated under the existing or additional financing documents is longer than the Service Period, the guarantee shall be provided by the Provider for such longer period, unless otherwise agreed upon between the Provider and Recipient
Provider: JinkoSolar or an Affiliate of JinkoSolar
Recipient: Jinko Power or an Affiliate of Jinko Power
Price: 0.8% of total guaranteed amount per annum
Required Notice Period for Termination by Recipient Pursuant to Section 4.2 of this Agreement: 90 days
Required Notice Period for Termination by Provider Pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Agreement: 90 days
Schedule- 1