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Sample Mutual Business Confidentiality Agreement
Sample Mutual Business Confidentiality Agreement
_____________________________________________________
of
_____________________________________________________
(“the Interested Party”)
BACKGROUND
A The Prospective Vendor and the Interested Party propose to enter into discussions
and negotiations with a view to the Prospective Vendor selling to the Interested
Party the whole or some part of the business of the Prospective Vendor.
B In the course of the discussions and negotiations, each party may disclose to the
other information relating to its business including information concerning its
corporate and business structure, existing and proposed business contracts,
products information, technical information and specifications, product and
materials prices and costs, managerial, financial and marketing strategies, the
identities of actual and target clients and customers, employee agreements,
employee reward schemes (including share option and profit sharing
arrangements) and the identities of present or proposed employees which is not
known to the receiving party or which is not available in the public domain
(“Confidential Information”).
C The parties intend that each of them shall, at all times throughout the discussions
and negotiations, and thereafter until this Agreement has been superseded by a
subsequent written agreement, maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential
Information for the purposes of protecting their respective interests in the
Confidential Information and to advance the prospect of them concluding a
mutually satisfactory commercial agreement contemplated by these recitals.
OPERATIVE PROVISIONS:
1. This Agreement embodies the full agreement between the parties and any
amendment of this Agreement must be in writing and signed by the parties.
2. The use of one gender includes other genders and the use of the singular
includes the plural.
4. The use of the terms “the Prospective Vendor” “Interested Party”, “party” and
“parties” includes their subsidiaries, successors, assigns, shareholders, directors,
officers, employees, agents and associated companies.
5. Where this Agreement is made between the Prospective Vendor and a company,
partnership or other body, which is not a legal person, the Interested Party duly
authorizes one of its senior officers to execute this Agreement on its behalf.
6. Each party shall keep the Confidential Information confidential and shall not
disclose it or make it available directly or indirectly to any third party in any
form or medium whatsoever without the express written consent of the
disclosing party.
8. The Parties agree not to use or exploit the Confidential Information for any
purpose other than that for which it was disclosed without the express written
consent of the disclosing party.
9. Neither party shall permit any employee, agent or subcontractor of that party to
have access to the Confidential Information until such time as that employee,
agent or subcontractor shall have entered into a confidentiality agreement with
the disclosing party in a form approved by the disclosing party.
10. Each party shall immediately notify the other party of any information, which
comes to its attention regarding any actual or potential unauthorized disclosure
or use of the Confidential Information. Each party shall co-operate with the
other in any investigation, prosecution, litigation or other action taken regarding
the subject of any such information.
12. Upon termination or completion of the discussions and negotiations, each party
shall deliver up to the other party any Confidential Information in that party’s
possession or control, which is capable of delivery up. Each party shall delete,
erase or otherwise destroy any Confidential Information contained in any
computer memory, magnetic, optical, laser, electronic or other recording media
in its possession or control which is not capable of delivery up to the other party.
13. Each party shall protect the Confidential Information from unauthorized access
or use. Neither party shall be obliged to provide access to its computer or other
business systems unless and until the other party satisfies it that the method of
proposed access provides sufficient security and safety procedures. Any consent,
whether oral or written, by one party to the other party regarding access may be
confidential and may be withdrawn at any time without the necessity of giving
any reason therefore.
14. Each party shall comply with all the other party’s security and safety procedures
and will permit and co-operate with any additional security or safety procedures,
which either party may wish to implement.
15. (a) Unless the context otherwise requires, words which are defined in the
Privacy Act 1988 (“the Act”) mean the same thing in this clause.
(b) If a part is a small business operator, it must ensure that it is entered in the
register of operators maintained under section 6EA(3) of the Act at all
times that it holds confidential information that includes personal
information.
(c) Without limiting any other provision of this Deed, the parties must comply
with the Act in all respects and without limitation:
i use personal information it obtains from the other party only for
the Approved Purpose;
16. Each party shall assist the other party in its evaluation, investigation or
implementation of security and safety procedures including, but not limited to,
providing information which might be relevant to the disclosing party’s
assessment of whether it should approve access to the Confidential Information
by an employee, agent or subcontractor of the receiving party.
17. The provisions of this Agreement are in addition to and not in substitution for or
derogation of any duty of confidence imposed upon the parties generally at law,
in equity or under any other agreement, arrangement or understanding already in
place between the parties. Where any inconsistency in those duties occurs, the
provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.
18. The provisions of this Agreement shall remain in force indefinitely beyond the
termination of the discussions and negotiations. All Confidential Information
shall remain confidential until the earlier of:-
(a) the time it becomes known to the receiving party through an authorized
disclosure to the receiving party by a third party; or
(b) the time it becomes available in the public domain other than through the
act, neglect or default of the receiving party.
19. If for any reason a provision of this Agreement or part of it shall be illegal,
voidable or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, it shall be read down or severed to
the extent necessary so that it may not be so construed. The illegality or
unenforceability of any provision or part of one in any jurisdiction shall not
effect the legality, validity or enforceability of any other provision, or of that
provision, in any other jurisdiction.
20. The Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
in force from time to time in the State of <insert state>, Commonwealth of
Australia.
21. This Agreement shall commence and be of full force and effect on and from the
Commencement Date.
Execution Page
Title ………………………………...
In the presence of (witness)
Signature ……………………………….
Name …………………………………..
Date ……………………………………
Title ………………………………...
Signature ………………………………
Name ………………………………….
Date …………………………………...