EX-4.40



 Exhibit 4.40 
 STRATEGIC COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP AND FRANCHISE AGREEMENT 
 Party A’s
Contract Number: 
 Beijing Ninetowns Ports Software and Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Party A”) and
Beijing Ninetowns Zhi Fang Software Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Party B”) have entered into this agreement with respect to the establishment of a strategic cooperative partnership relationship between the
parties and the engagement of Party B as Party A’s franchisee: 
  

			
	Party A:	  	Beijing Ninetowns Ports Software and Technology Co., Ltd.
		
	Address:	  	Building No.14, 7th Block, 188 South 4th Ring Road West, Fengtai District, Beijing
	Zip code:	  	100070
	Telephone:	  	010-58056688
		
	Party B:	  	Beijing Ninetowns Zhi Fang Software Technology Co., Ltd.
		
	Address:	  	Buiding No. 1, 5th Block, 188 South 4th Ring Road West, Fengtai District, Beijing
	Zip code:	  	100070
	Telephone:	  	010-58056553

 I. Franchised Products: 
 The “iDeclare V5.0” enterprise software that has various functions (such as electronic certification of origin certificate and electronic inspection application), which was developed
independently by Party A (who has obtained a software production certificate for such software); and services in relation to the “iDeclare V5.0” enterprise software. 
 In order to enhance Party B’s reputation, and in consideration of the degree of acceptance of software sales companies by import/export enterprises in Party B’s franchised area, Party A hereby
authorizes Party B to use the Ninetowns trade name in its company name, provided, however, that Party B shall not use such trade name to engage in business activities that are not related to the business as contemplated hereunder. 

II. Franchised Area: 
 Fujian, Jiangxi,
Jiangsu, Anhui and western area, the PRC. 







 III. Term of Franchise: 
 From January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. 
 IV. Recommended Distribution Price:

 The standard price of the “iDeclare V5.0” enterprise software is RMB4,500 per set with one-year free services. Party B may
charge a different price according to market competition. 
 V. Obligations of Both Parties: 

Obligations of Party A: 
  

	 	1.	Party A undertakes that the products that it provides have been authorized by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the PRC.


  

	 	2.	In order to enhance Party B’s reputation, Party A hereby authorizes Party B to use the Ninetowns trade name in its company name, provided, however, that Party B
shall not use such trade name to engage in business activities that are not related to the business as contemplated hereunder. 

  

	 	3.	Party A undertakes that during the term of this agreement, it will obtain Party B’s prior consent before developing other franchisees within the franchised area.


  

	 	4.	Party A shall provide Party B with marketing and training materials in connection with the franchised products. 


 

	 	5.	Party A shall provide Party B with technical support services. 

  

	 	6.	Upgrade services. 

 Obligations of Party B:

  

	 	1.	Party B is responsible for distribution of Party A’s products, after-sale services and technical support in the franchised area. 


 

	 	2.	Party B undertakes that it will comply with relevant state and industrial laws and regulations through its sales activities. 


 

	 	3.	Party B undertakes that it will not be any third party’s franchisee for any other product that competes with Party A’s products in the franchised area during
the term of this agreement. 

  

	 	4.	Party B undertakes that the products that it sells are the official versions of Party A’s products, and Party B undertakes that it will not engage in any form of
counterfeit activities. 









	 	5.	Party B undertakes that it will provide users with after-sales service and technical support in accordance with Party A’s service standards and service contents.


  

	 	6.	Party B undertakes that it will make payments to Party A within the prescribed time limit. 


 

	 	7.	Party B undertakes that the sales data delivered by Party B to Party A monthly, i.e. the monthly sales report, will be true and accurate. 


VI. Product Settlement Prices: 
 The
settlement prices are as follows: 
 The distribution arrangements between the parties with respect to Party A’s
“iDeclare V5.0” enterprise software shall be: Party A shall be entitled to receive 77.77% of the total revenue and Party B shall be entitled to receive 22.23% of the total revenue. 
 VII. Settlement Schedule: 
 Both parties agree that they shall settle payable amounts within
30 days after three months following relevant settlement period. Party B shall deliver a monthly sales report to Party A’s financial management center by the end of each month. 
 The form of the monthly sales report is attached hereto. 
 VIII. Agreement Amendment

 If either party hereto requests to amend this agreement, it shall notify the other party in writing, and the other party shall respond
within one week. All amendments of this agreement must be made in writing by both parties, and such amendments shall be deemed as inseverable parts of this agreement. 
 IX. Rights of Both Parties to Terminate this Agreement Unilaterally 
 If any of the
following circumstances occurs, Party A is entitled to terminate this agreement unilaterally without any liability for breach of contract: 
  

	 	1.	Party B becomes a franchisee for any other product that competes with Party A in the franchised area during the term of this agreement without Party A’s consent;


  

	 	2.	Party B fails to comply with relevant state or industrial laws or regulations, resulting in damages to Party A’s products and goodwill; 


 

	 	3.	Party B engages in any form of counterfeit activities with respect to Party A’s products; 









	 	4.	Party B fails to provide after-sales service and technical support to product users in accordance with Party A’s service standards and service contents, which
results in complaints by a large number of users. 

 If any of the following circumstances occurs, Party B is entitled to
terminate this agreement unilaterally without any liability for breach of contract: 
  

	 	1.	Party A develops new franchisees within Party B’s franchised area during the term of this agreement without Party B’s consent; 


 

	 	2.	Party A refuses to provide product-related marketing and training materials or product-related technical training to Party B. 


X. Termination of Agreement 
 This
agreement is automatically terminated upon the occurrence of any of the following circumstances: 
  

	 	1.	Expiration of this agreement; 

  

	 	2.	Mutual consent by the parties during the term of this agreement; 

  

	 	3.	Failure by the parties to reach an agreement in the event that either party makes a request to amend this agreement, which makes the further performance of this
agreement impossible. 

 XI. Renewal of Agreement 
 The parties shall notify the other party in writing of its intention whether to renew this agreement at least 30 days prior to the expiration hereof. This agreement may be renewed upon the parties’
mutual consent. If either party fails to notify the other party prior to expiration, such party shall be deemed to have agreed on the termination hereof, and the other party shall be entitled to take any action without assuming any liability for
breach of contract. 
 XII. Force Majeure 
 A force majeure event means an event that both parties could not foresee when they entered into this agreement, and the occurrence and consequences of which cannot be prevented or overcome by the parties.

 If it is impossible for either party to perform this agreement due to a force majeure event, it shall promptly notify the other party of the
reasons why it is impossible to perform this agreement or it needs to delay its performance or perform part of this agreement, and it shall provide legally valid supporting documents. Through consultation by both parties, the parties may approve a
delay of the performance, a partial performance or a waiver of performance, and part or all of the liabilities for breach of contract may be exempted, if agreed by the parties. If a force majeure event occurs after either party’s delayed
performance, such party may not be exempted from all liabilities for breach of contract. 







 XIII. Liability for Breach of Contract 

 

	 	1.	If the parties can not continue the performance of this agreement due to either party’s breach, the breaching party shall pay the other party liquidated damages
equal to 10% of all amounts payable during the performance of this agreement. 

  

	 	2.	If Party B fails to settle with Party A within the time limit as set forth herein, Party B shall pay a late penalty to Party A, calculated at the bank lending interest
rate for such overdue period. The calculation shall be made according to the amount of the late payment and related period. 


XIV. Dispute Resolution 
 Any dispute
arising from this agreement shall be first settled through friendly negotiation. If the parties fail to reach an agreement after negotiation, either party may bring a lawsuit to Beijing Fengtai District People’s Court to settle such dispute by
litigation. 
 XV. Matters not covered by this agreement shall be settled through consultation by both parties and confirmed by a written
agreement by the parties attached hereto. Such attachments shall be an inseverable part of this agreement and have the same force and effect as this agreement. 
 This agreement shall be executed in four counterparts. Either party shall hold two counterparts with each counterpart having the same force and effect. This agreement shall take effect upon the
parties’ execution with their corporate seals affixed to this agreement. 







 (Signature Page) 
 Party A: 
 Beijing Ninetowns Ports Software and Technology Co., Ltd. 

[Seal] 
 Date: January 1, 2012 

Party B: 
 Beijing Ninetowns Zhi Fang Software
Technology Co., Ltd. 
 [Seal] 
 Date:
January 1, 2012 







 Invoicing Party: Beijing Ninetowns Ports Software and Technology Co., Ltd. 

                    Monthly Sales
Report 
  

							
	 Products Name
	 	 Software Distribution
	 	 Number of Distribution
	 	 Amount of Distribution

	 iDeclare V5.0
	 		 		 	
		 	Total	 		 	

 Name of Enterprise: Beijing Ninetowns Zhi Fang Software Technology Co., Ltd. 

Contact Person: