Document:

Document

Exhibit 4(f)

[Date]

Company Order and Officers’ Certificate
____% Senior Notes, Series _, due 20__

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee
2 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to Article Two of the Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2016 (as it may be amended or supplemented, the “Indenture”), from AEP Transmission Company, LLC (the “Company”) to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), and the Board Resolutions dated _____________, a copy of which certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company is being delivered herewith under Section 2.01 of the Indenture, and unless otherwise provided in a subsequent Company Order pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Indenture,

1.    The Company’s ____% Senior Notes, Series _, due 20__ (the “Notes”) are hereby established.  The Notes shall be in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1. 

2.    The terms and characteristics of the Notes shall be as follows (the numbered clauses set forth below corresponding to the numbered subsections of Section 2.01 of the Indenture, with terms used and not defined herein having the meanings specified in the Indenture):

(i)    the aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall be limited to $___,000,000, except as contemplated in Section 2.01(i) of the Indenture and except that such principal amount may be increased from time to time; all Series ___ Notes need not be issued at the same time and each such series may be reopened at any time, without the consent of any securityholder, for issuance of additional Notes, which Notes will have the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as those initially issued (other than the date of issuance, the issue price and, in some circumstances, the initial interest accrual date and the initial interest payment date);

(ii)    the date on which the principal of the Notes shall be payable shall be __________ _, 20__;

(iii)    interest shall accrue from the date of authentication of the Notes; the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable shall be _______ __ and __________ __, and the Regular Record Date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Date shall be the fifteenth 

day prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be ______________ and interest payable on the Stated Maturity Date or any Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal shall be paid;

(iv)    the interest rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be ____% per annum;

(v)    the Notes shall be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than thirty but not more than sixty days’ previous notice given by mail to the registered owners of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes being redeemed (excluding the portion of any such interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted (for purposes of determining present value) to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus __ basis points, plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (“remaining life”) of the applicable series of the Notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining life of the applicable series of the Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Company obtains fewer than four of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company and notified by the Company to the Trustee.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means a primary U.S. Government securities dealer or dealers selected by the Company and notified by the Company to the Trustee.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company and notified to the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company and the Trustee by such

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Reference Treasury Dealer at or before 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

(vi) (a) the Notes shall be issued in the form of a Global Note; (b) the Depositary for such Global Note shall be The Depository Trust Company; and (c) the procedures with respect to transfer and exchange of Global Notes shall be as set forth in the form of Note attached hereto;

						
	(vii)	the title of the Notes shall be “____% Senior Notes, Series __, due 20__”;
		
	(viii)	the form of the Notes shall be as set forth in Paragraph 1, above;
		
	(ix)	not applicable;
		
	(x)	the Notes may be subject to a Periodic Offering;
		
	(xi)	not applicable;
		
	(xii)	not applicable;
		
	(xiii)	not applicable;
		
	(xiv)	the Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;
		
	(xv)	not applicable;
		
	(xvi)	the Notes shall not be issued as Discount Securities;
		
	(xvii)	not applicable;
		
	(xviii)	not applicable; and
		
	(xix)	Covenants:

Consolidated Priority Debt:

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding that it will not permit Consolidated Priority Debt to exceed 10% of Consolidated Tangible Net Assets for a period in excess of five consecutive business days.
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Limitations on Liens:

The Company covenants that for so long as any of the Notes are outstanding that it will not create or suffer to exist or permit any of its subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist any Secured Debt, unless, at the same time, the Notes that are outstanding are also secured by such Lien on an equal and ratable basis; provided, however, the foregoing does not limit:

(a)Permitted Liens; and 

(b)Any other Lien not covered in clause (a) as long as immediately after the creation of such Lien the aggregate principal amount of Secured Debt does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Tangible Net Assets.

Covenants Definitions:

“Consolidated Priority Debt” means all Priority Debt of the Company and its subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis eliminating inter-company items.

“Consolidated Tangible Net Assets” means the total of all assets (including revaluations thereof as a result of commercial appraisals, price level restatement or otherwise) appearing on the most recent quarterly or annual, as applicable, consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, net of applicable reserves and deductions, but excluding goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and all other like intangible assets (which term shall not be construed to include such revaluations), less the aggregate of the consolidated current liabilities of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries appearing on such balance sheet.

“Debt” means any indebtedness for borrowed money.

“Lien or Liens” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, or other lien on any utility properties or tangible assets, including, without limitation, the capital stock or comparable equity interest of its subsidiaries, owned on the date hereof or hereafter acquired by the Company or its subsidiaries.

“Permitted Liens” means:

•Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition or construction of such property (or created within one year after completion of such acquisition or construction), whether by purchase, merger, construction or otherwise, or to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price or construction cost thereof, including the extension of any Liens to repairs, renewals, replacements, substitutions, betterments, additions, extensions and improvements then or thereafter made on the property subject thereto;

•any extensions, renewals or replacements (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), in whole or in part, of Liens permitted by the foregoing clauses;
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•the pledge of any bonds or other securities at any time issued under any of the Secured Debt permitted by the above clauses; and

•the creation or existence of leases (operating or capital) made, or existing on property acquired, in the ordinary course of business.

“Priority Debt” means, without duplication, any Debt of the Company’s subsidiaries; provided that there shall be excluded from any calculation of Priority Debt, (i) the Debt of any subsidiary owing to the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, and (ii) the Debt of any entity which becomes a subsidiary after the issuance of the Notes and any extension, renewal or refunding thereof, provided that such Debt was not incurred in contemplation of such entity becoming a subsidiary.

“Secured Debt” means any Debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries secured by a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien).

(xx)    Certain Tax Information.

In order to comply with applicable tax laws (inclusive of rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) related to the Indenture, this Company Order and Officers’ Certificate and the Series ___ Notes in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”) that a foreign financial institution, issuer, trustee, paying agent or other party is or has agreed to be subject to, the Company agrees (i) to provide to the Trustee sufficient information about the parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so the Trustee can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law and (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law for which the Trustee shall not have any liability.

3.    You are hereby requested to authenticate $___,000,000 aggregate principal amount of ____% Senior Notes, Series __, due 20__, executed by the Company and delivered to you concurrently with this Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, in the manner provided by the Indenture.

4.    You are hereby requested to hold the Notes as custodian for DTC in accordance with the Blanket Issuer Letter of Representations dated November 10, 2004, from the Company to DTC.

5.    Concurrently with this Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, an Opinion of Counsel under Sections 2.04 and 13.06 of the Indenture is being delivered to you.

6.    The undersigned _____________________ and ___________________, the Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, respectively, of the Company do hereby certify that:

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(i)The form and terms of the Notes have been established in conformity with the provisions of the Indenture;

(ii)we have read the relevant portions of the Indenture, including without limitation the conditions precedent provided for therein relating to the action proposed to be taken by the Trustee as requested in this Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto;

(iii)    we have read the Board Resolutions of the Company and the Opinion of Counsel referred to above;

(iv)    we have conferred with other officers of the Company, have examined such records of the Company and have made such other investigation as we deemed relevant for purposes of this certificate;

(v)    in our opinion, we have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable us to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such conditions have been complied with; and 

(vi)    on the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the action proposed to be taken by the Trustee as requested herein have been complied with.
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Kindly acknowledge receipt of this Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, including the documents listed herein, and confirm the arrangements set forth herein by signing and returning the copy of this document attached hereto.

Very truly yours,

AEP TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LLC

By: ___________________________
     Assistant Treasurer

And: __________________________
      Assistant Secretary

Acknowledged by Trustee:

By: ___________________________
     Authorized Signatory
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Exhibit 1

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate to be issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depository or to a successor Depository or to a nominee of such successor Depository.

No.   R1

AEP TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LLC
____% Senior Notes, Series _, due 20__

									
	CUSIP:  __________		Original Issue Date: ________________
			
	Stated Maturity:  ____________________		Interest Rate: ____%

			

Principal Amount:  $___,000,000

									
	Redeemable:	Yes  þ
	No   ̈

	In Whole:	Yes  þ
	No   ̈

	In Part:	Yes  þ
	No   ̈

AEP TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LLC, a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein referred to as the “Company”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the Principal Amount specified above on the Stated Maturity specified above, and to pay interest on said Principal Amount from the Original Issue Date specified above or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on ______ and ___________ in each year, commencing on __________, at the Interest Rate per annum specified above, until the Principal Amount shall have been paid or duly provided for.  Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, as provided in the Indenture, as hereinafter defined, shall be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) shall have been registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date with respect to such Interest Payment Date, which shall be the fifteenth day (whether or not a Business Day) prior to such Interest Payment Date, provided that interest payable on the Stated Maturity or any redemption date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid.  Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and shall be paid as provided in said Indenture.

If any Interest Payment Date, any redemption date or Stated Maturity is not a Business Day, then payment of the amounts due on this Note on such date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on such amounts for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, with the same force and effect as if made on such date.  The principal of (and premium, if any) and the interest on this Note shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, New York, in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest (other than interest payable on the Stated Maturity or any redemption date) may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Security Register.

This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Notes of the Company (herein sometimes referred to as the “Notes”), specified in the Indenture, all issued or to be issued in one or more series under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of November 1, 2016 duly executed and delivered between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, as Trustee (herein referred to as the “Trustee”) (such Indenture, as originally executed and delivered and as thereafter supplemented and amended being hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto or Company Orders reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Notes.  By the terms of the Indenture, the Notes are issuable in series which may vary as to amount, date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as in the Indenture provided.  This Note is one of the series of Notes designated on the face hereof.

This Note may be redeemed by the Company at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than thirty but not more than sixty days’ prior notice given by mail to the registered owners of the Notes.  At any time prior to _____________ (the date that is ___ months prior to the maturity date (the “Par Call Date”)), the Company may redeem the Notes either as a whole or in part at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes being redeemed that would be due if such Notes matured on the Par Call Date but for the redemption (excluding the portion of any such interest accrued to but excluding the date of redemption) discounted (for purposes of determining present value) to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus __ basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption.
 
At any time on or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem this Note in whole or in part at 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, plus accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (“remaining life”) of the Notes (assuming, for this purpose, that the Notes being redeemed matured on the Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining life of the Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Company obtains fewer than four of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company and notified by the Company to the Trustee.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means a primary U.S. Government securities dealer or dealers selected by the Company and notified by the Company to the Trustee.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company and notified to the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company and the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at or before 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated by the Independent Investment Banker using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the outstanding Notes of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) register the transfer of or exchange of any Notes of any series or portions thereof called for redemption.  This Global Note is exchangeable for Notes in definitive registered form only under certain limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture.

In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of this series, of like tenor, for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender of this Note.

In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Notes may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Note upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein.

As described in the Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, so long as this Note is outstanding, the Company is subject to the covenants described therein.

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of each series affected at the time outstanding, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Notes of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of a Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to the Indenture, without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected; (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Notes, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, or reduce the percentage of Notes, the holders of which are required to waive any default and its consequences, without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected thereby; or (iii) modify any provision of Section 6.01(c) of the Indenture (except to increase the percentage of principal amount of securities required to rescind and annul any declaration of amounts due and payable under the Notes), without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected thereby.  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of all series at the time outstanding affected thereby, on behalf of the Holders of the Notes of such series, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture with respect to such series, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Notes of such series.  Any such consent or waiver by the registered Holder of this Note (unless revoked as pro-vided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Note and of any Note issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Note at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, this Note is transferable by the registered holder hereof on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company as may be designated by the Company accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the registered Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount and series will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.  No service charge will be made for any such trans-fer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto.

Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the registered Holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and premium, if any, and interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.

The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Instrument to be executed.

AEP TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LLC

By: ___________________________
Assistant Treasurer
Attest:

By :___________________________
Assistant Secretary

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Notes of the series of Notes designated in accordance with, and referred to in, the within‐mentioned Indenture.

Dated:  ____________ __, ____

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

By: ___________________________
Authorized Signatory
    

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE)

_______________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF
________________________________________________________________
ASSIGNEE) the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby
________________________________________________________________
irrevocably constituting and appointing such person attorney to 
________________________________________________________________
transfer such Note on the books of the Issuer, with full
________________________________________________________________
power of substitution in the premises.

Dated: ________________________    _________________________

NOTICE:    The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever and NOTICE:  Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a financial institution that is a member of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”), the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (“SEMP”) or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program (“MSP”).Exhibit 4.5
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COOPERATION AGREEMENT
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This Cooperation Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into on February 19, 2021 in Beijing by and between:
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(1)   Nanjing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd., with its registered address at 3-5/F Building No.6, Southeast University Science Park, 6 Changjianghou Street, Xuanwu District, Nanjing and its legal representative being Yu Dunde (“Party A”);
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(2)   Beijing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd., with its registered address at R1006 10/F Building No.4, Yard No.1 of Shangdishi Street, Haidian District, Beijing and its legal representative being Yu Dunde (“Party B”).
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WHEREAS
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1.    Party A is a company with exclusively domestic capital incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, mainly engaged in the internet-based sale, promotion of tour products, room reservation and conference affairs services.
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2.    Party B is a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, mainly engaged in research and development of computer software technology, technology transfer, technical consultancy and technical services, computer technology training, technical services and business consultancy services in relation to the internet-based sale and promotion of tour products.
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3.    Party A intends to authorize Party B to provide to Party A and its subsidiaries the technical services and business consultancy services in relation to the internet-based sale and promotion of tour products, including but not limited to development, operation, maintenance of internet technology platform as well as consultancy services relating to sale and promotion of tour products or cooperation provided by Party B in other forms as required under this Agreement, and Party B agrees to accept such authorization.
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4.    After an amiable consideration, the Parties unanimously agree that the establishment of a long-term and close cooperation relationship is in the best interests of the Parties and their beneficiaries.
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NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties unanimously agree on Business Cooperation matters
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(as defined below) through friendly negotiation as follows:
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1.   Business Cooperation
Party A and Party B unanimously agree that the proposed cooperation shall be the internet-based sale and promotion of tour products conducted by Party A and its subsidiaries, other value-added business carried out by Party A and all of the business activities operated and developed by Party A now and at any time during the validity term hereof. Party B shall provide the business consultancy and technical services as well as the technical consultancy as set forth in Article 3 hereinafter to Party A and its subsidiaries to facilitate them to conduct the aforementioned business and supply relevant products and services (“Business Cooperation”).
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2.   Exclusive Cooperation
2.1 Party A irrevocably undertakes that Party A will take Party B as its exclusive and sole partner to provide the business consultancy and technical services as well as technical consultancy to Party A and its subsidiaries. Party A shall not establish any same or similar cooperative relationship with any third party in respect of such businesses nor shall it make any same or similar arrangement, unless with the prior written consent of Party B.
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2.2       Party A irrevocably undertakes that it will make best efforts to assist and endeavor to achieve the exclusive operation of the cooperative business to the extent permitted by laws.
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2.3       Party A irrevocably undertakes that, without Party B’s consent, Party A shall not conduct any other business or make any commercial arrangement, including without limitation being engaged in or otherwise participating in any commercial activities and businesses independently or together with any other person or entity, nor shall it carry out any activities that may be competitive with or cause adverse effect to Party B’s business.
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3.   Party B’s Services
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Party B undertakes to provide the following technical consultancy and services to Party A and its subsidiaries in respect of the cooperative business (collectively referred to as “Party B’s Services”):
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3.1       Research, development, production, test, operation and maintenance, upgrade and other services of relevant technology;
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3.2       Development, construction, operation and maintenance, upgrade and other services of relevant internet platform and system;
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3.3       Design the relevant tour products plan, and provide relevant training, implementation and upgrade and other services;
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3.4       Consultancy services related to sale and promotion of tour products;
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3.5       Providing to Party A the information technology/overall management and operation solution as required for Party A’s business;
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3.6       Other relevant services provided from time to time at Party A’s request
Party A agrees that Party B may, at its own discretion, provide the aforementioned Party B’s Services to Party A and its subsidiaries, or purchase the required services from any third party and provide the services to Party A and its subsidiaries.
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Party A shall cause its subsidiaries to accept Party B’s Services. The Parties agree that the subsidiaries of Party A may otherwise enter into an agreement with Party B in respect of Party B’s Services in accordance with this Agreement.
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4.   Cooperation Remuneration
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4.1       Party A and Party B unanimously agree that they will allocate the proceeds generated from cooperation in accordance with the following provisions:
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Party B shall have the right to charge, on a quarterly basis, the service fee (“Service Fee”) from Party A or its subsidiaries who have accepted Party B’s Services, or designate another person or entity to charge Service Fee from Party A or its subsidiaries who have accepted Party B’s Services. The total sum of Service Fee shall be equal to the amount of profits gained by Party A or its subsidiaries who have accepted Party B’s Services. Party B shall have the right to adjust the amount of Service Fee at its own discretion, without the prior consent of Party A or its subsidiaries.
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Party A shall cause its subsidiaries to pay the Service Fee in respect of Party B’s Services provided to such subsidiaries.
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4.2       The Service Fee of the last quarter shall be paid prior to the seventh business day following the commencement of the next quarter. Such Service Fee shall be paid to the bank account designated by Party B in writing. If Party B intends to change its bank account, it shall send a written notice to Party A seven business days in advance.
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4.3       Except as otherwise agreed hereunder, if Party A or its subsidiaries fail to pay the Service Fee in full on schedule according to provisions of Article 4.1 and Article 4.2, then Party A or its subsidiaries shall, in addition to the continuance
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of the payment of Service Fee in full, it shall pay Party B the liquidated damages at a daily interest rate of 0.03% in respect of the outstanding Service Fee.
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5.   Term of Cooperation
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This Agreement shall be formed as from the date when it is duly executed by the Parties. Party A and Party B agree and confirm that once formed, the effectiveness of this Agreement shall be retrospective to January 24, 2014,and that the term of cooperation under this Agreement shall commence from January 24, 2014 and end on the expiration date of the operation term of Party B (“Term of Cooperation”).
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6.   Termination
6.1       Prior to the expiration of the Term of Cooperation , this Agreement shall only be terminated upon occurrence of the following circumstances:
6.1.1  Party B shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in advance without the prior written consent from Party A, by sending a written notice to Party A but Party A may not terminate or rescind this Agreement;
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6.1.2  One Party requests to terminate this Agreement when the other Party is declared bankrupt in accordance with the laws;
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6.1.3  Party B fails to provide Party B’s Services to Party A for more than three consecutive years due to the force majeure event.
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6.2       Rights and Obligations of the Parties upon Termination
6.2.1  If this Agreement is terminated according to the aforementioned Article 6.1.1, neither Party shall assume any obligations or liabilities to the other Party as of the termination hereof, unless as otherwise agreed by the Parties, provided that the liabilities for breach occurring prior to the termination shall not be exempted;
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6.2.2  If this Agreement is terminated according to the aforementioned Article 6.1.2, the rights and obligations of the Parties at the time of termination hereof shall be subject to the relevant bankruptcy laws;
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6.2.3  If this Agreement is terminated according to the aforementioned Article 6.1.3, neither Party shall assume any obligations or liabilities to the other Party as of the termination hereof, provided that the liabilities for breach that occured prior to the force majeure event shall not be exempted.
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6.3       Each Party hereby irrevocably waives other rights to terminate this Agreement it may have under any applicable laws, except for the rights of the Parties agreed under this Article 6.
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6.4       Party A hereby expressly undertakes that it waives the right to request amendment and revocation of any term of this Agreement on the ground of material misunderstanding or unconscionability, regardless of whether such request is based on the percentage and amount of payment specified hereunder or the quantity and quality of any service provided by Party B, or is raised against the provisions under which Party A is prohibited from having any cooperation with a third party and conducting any businesses other than those agreed hereunder.
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7.   Representations, Warranties and Undertakings
7.1       Each Party hereby represents, warrants and undertakes to the other Party that:
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7.1.1  It has sufficient capacity for action, power and authorization (including necessary government approval and internal permit of corporation) to execute and perform this Agreement;
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7.1.2  This Agreement shall be legally binding on the Parties as of the execution date hereof; and
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7.1.3  There is no outstanding litigation, arbitration or other legal or governmental proceedings, or to the knowledge of that Party, there is no litigation, arbitration or other legal or governmental proceedings threatening or affecting the performance of obligations of that Party hereunder.
7.2       Other than those set forth in Section 7.1, Party A hereby represents, and warrants and undertakes to Party B that:
7.2.1  It shall timely inform Party B of any circumstance which has or is likely to have a material adverse effect on Party A’s business or operation thereof and shall use its best efforts to prevent the occurrence of such circumstance and/or the expansion of losses.
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7.2.2  Without written consent of Party B, Party A will not dispose of its material assets or change its current shareholding structure in whatsoever manner.
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7.2.3  When this Agreement takes effect, it has complete licenses and certificates necessary for conduct of its business, full rights and qualifications to carry out business currently conducted by it within the PRC.
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7.2.4  Once requested by Party B in writing, Party A will use all receivables then in its possession and/or other assets lawfully owned by it and at its disposal to provide security for performance of its payment obligation of the Services Fees agreed in Article 4 hereof in a manner then permissible by Laws.
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7.2.5  It will indemnify and hold harmless Party B against all losses suffered or likely to be suffered by Party B as a result of provision of the Services, including, without limitation, any losses arising out of any suit, recourse, arbitration, claim brought by any third party against it or any administrative investigation or sanction by any governmental authorities, but exclusive of any losses arising out of any willful misconduct or gross negligence of Party B.
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7.2.6  Without written consent of Party B, Party A shall not enter into any other agreement or arrangement conflicting with this Agreement or likely to impair the rights and interests of Party B hereunder.
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7.3       Each Party shall be responsible for and hold the other Party harmless from any loss, damages and claim arising out of violation of any representations, warranties and Undertakings hereunder.
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8.   Breach
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The Parties agree and acknowledge that:
8.1       If any Party commits any act in violation of this Agreement, such Party shall assume the liabilities for breach according to this Agreement and applicable laws. If both Parties breach this Agreement, they shall each assume their own liabilities for breach respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, neither Party shall be responsible to the other Party in respect of any indirect loss or damage caused hereunder.
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8.2       The demand for liquidated damages and specific performance in respect of any breach during the Term of Cooperation are all remedies that the non-breaching Party shall have under this Agreement. The non-breaching Party shall waive the right to request termination of this Agreement it may have according to any applicable laws as a result of the violation acts committed by the breaching Party.
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9.   Governing Law
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This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the
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People’s Republic of China that are promulgated and are publicly available, provided that the general international business practices shall apply if the laws of the People’s Republic of China that are promulgated and are publicly available do not involve any matter in relation to this Agreement.
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10. Force Majeure
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The force majeure hereunder shall mean the natural disaster, war, political event, and adjustment of laws, regulations and state policies. If the performance of this Agreement by one Party or the Parties according to provisions agreed hereunder is directly affected by the force majeure event, the affected Party shall immediately notify the other Party or its attorney-in-fact of the situation of the force majeure event, and shall, within fifteen (15) days, provide the detailed information of the force majeure event or the reason for non-performance or partial performance or delay of performance of this Agreement as well as valid evidence thereof (which shall be issued by the notarization authority at the place where the force majeure event occurs). The Parties shall negotiate to decide the performance of this Agreement depending on to what degree the performance of this Agreement is influenced by the force majeure, and decide on whether the affected Party may partially perform or postpone the performance of its obligations hereunder. Except as provided for under Article 6.1.3 hereof, neither Party shall exercise the right to termination this Agreement that it may have under any applicable laws on the ground of occurrence of force majeure event.
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11. Dispute Resolution
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11.1     All disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be first settled by the related Parties through amiable consultations; If the related Parties fail to resolve the dispute through consultations, the dispute shall be submitted to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) for arbitration according to CIETAC arbitration rules in effect at the time of applying for arbitration. The seat of arbitration shall be in Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on the related Parties. Except as otherwise required by the arbitration award, the arbitration fees shall be borne by the losing party. The losing party shall also indemnify for the attorneys’ fee and other expenses incurred by the winning party.
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11.2     Pending the resolution of such dispute, the Parties shall continue to perform the remaining provisions of this Agreement other than the disputed matters..
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12. Miscellaneous
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12.1     This Agreement shall take effect as of the date when the authorized representatives of the Parties sign hereon. The Parties agree and confirm that this Agreement shall constitute all understanding, interpretation and intentions of the Parties in respect of the Cooperative Business. Once executed, this Agreement shall replace any other legal documents previously entered into by the Parties in respect of the same subject matter hereof.
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12.2     The rights and obligations of each Party under this Agreement shall not be transferred, except for the transfer by Party B to its affiliates.
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12.3     The Parties agree that any and all intellectual property researched and developed, created and invented by the Parties (including their employees) in the course of performance of this Agreement shall be owned by Party B. For the purpose of this Article 12.3, “Intellectual Property” means the patent, patent application right, trademark, service mark, logo, image, trade name, internet domain name, design right, copyright (including copyright of computer software) and moral rights, database right, right of semiconductor design drawing, utility model, proprietary technology and other intellectual property that are registered and unregistered including those that have applied for registration, as well as all other rights or protection methods with same or similar effect on a global scope.
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12.4     To the extent permitted under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, the failure or delay of performance of any right under this Agreement by any Party shall not be deemed as a waive of such right, and any single or partial exercise of any right shall not preclude the further exercise of such right in the future.
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12.5     This Agreement shall constitute an entire agreement between the Parties in respect of the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede any and all prior expression of intention or understanding reached by the Parties in relation to this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be amended or modified unless the authorized representatives of the Parties sign a written agreement thereof.
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12.6     This Agreement shall be executed in two (2) copies, each of which shall have the same legal effect.
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12.7     Any notice or written communication sent by a Party to the other Party under this Agreement shall be made in writing and delivered by courier service or by facsimile accompanied with a confirmation hard copy delivered by courier service. The notice, communication or letter sent under this Agreement shall be deemed as effectively received on the seventh (7) day after sending to the courier service, or shall be deemed as effectively received on the first (1) day after delivered by facsimile, which shall be evidenced by the transmission
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confirmation. All notice and communication shall be sent to the following addresses until a Party notify the other Party in writing to change such addresses:
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Party A: Nanjing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Tuiniu Building, 699-32Xuanwu Avenue, Xuanwu District, Nanjing
Fax No.: (86 25) 86853999
Attention: General Manager
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Party B: Beijing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Tuiniu Building, 699-32Xuanwu Avenue, Xuanwu District, Nanjing
Fax No.: (86 25) 86853999
Attention: General Manager
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12.8     Confidentiality Obligations
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12.8.1     Neither Party shall disclose the financial and technical information obtained in the course of conclusion of this Agreement to any third party nor use such information for matters irrelevant to this Agreement, regardless of written or oral information, unless the other Party gives a prior written consent thereto.
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12.8.2     The Parties shall be obligated to take measures (including without limitation preparing the confidentiality rules, entering into the confidentiality agreement, establishing the archive management system and etc.) to ensure their respective employees will observe the confidentiality obligations specified hereunder.
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In witness whereof, this Agreement has been executed by the duly authorized representatives of the Parties on the date first mentioned above.
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	Party A:
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	Nanjing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd.
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	By:
	/s/ Yu Dunde
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	Name: Yu Dunde
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	Title: Chairman
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	Party B:
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	Beijing Tuniu Technology Co., Ltd.
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	By:
	/s/ Yu Dunde
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	Name: Yu Dunde
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	Title: Chairman
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