In relation to either party:
The date upon which the last of the named parties to this Agreement signs this Agreement.
Any of the following:
an enactment is to that enactment as at the Signature Date as amended and includes any subordinate legislation made from time to time under such enactment;
the words “include”, “including” and “in particular” are by way of example only and shall not limit the generality of any preceding words;
a reference to “business day” means a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in [South Africa];
any other agreement or document shall be to such agreement or document as amended;
the words “other” and “otherwise” shall be interpreted as widely as possible and will not be limited by any preceding words;
a [South African] law process shall, if a party is subject to another jurisdiction’s law, be interpreted in relation to that party as including an equivalent or analogous proceeding under such other law; and
a number of days shall exclude the first day and include the last day. If the last day is not a business day, the last day shall be the next business day.
The Client requires assistance in facilitating the collection of Transaction funds from End Users in the Territory, and safely and securely transferring these funds to the Client in the Home Country.
The Client wishes to appoint the Service Provider to provide the Services on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.
The Client hereby appoints the Service Provider to render the Services for the duration of this Agreement, and the Service Provider hereby accepts such appointment.
Except as expressly provided, each party is an independent contractor and not an employee or representative of the other party. This Agreement does not create a partnership, joint venture, or business combination between the Service Provider and the Client.
The parties shall:
As the MoR, the Service Provider is responsible for collecting payment from End Users concluding Transactions in the Territory.
The Client agrees to the End User finalising Transactions with the Service Provider as the MoR on behalf of the Client, to support the localisation of Transactions as described in this clause 4.1. The Client shall take appropriate steps to inform End Users that the Service Provider is the merchant for their Transactions.
The Service provider is not responsible to the End User for any liabilities related to the Products.
The ability of the Service Provider to act as the MoR is subject to the Rules, as well as the bank standards and requirements of the Acquirers. The Client shall take reasonable steps to support compliance with these requirements.
The Service Provider shall assume the risk of fraud in respect of Transaction payments, subject to clause 4.9.
The Client acknowledges and agrees that, unless otherwise provided herein, it is solely responsible for charging, collecting, and remitting any applicable Sales Tax to the appropriate authorities.
Once the Website and shopping cart infrastructure are integrated with the Service Provider Systems, the Service Provider will provide the Client with Payment Localisation Services for End Users concluding Transactions in the Territory.
When an End User requests a Transaction through the Service Provider Systems, the Service Provider will arrange for payment from that End Users in their Home Currency, via various Payment Methods. To facilitate the provision of the Payment Localisation Services, the Service Provider, acting as a commercial agent for the Client, is appointed by the Client to conclude the Transactions.
The Payment Localisation Services depend on the ability and cooperation of Third-party Service Providers, including Internet Payment Service Providers, Acquirers, and Supported Payment Card Associations.
As the MoR, the Service Provider is responsible for all Chargebacks. However, if a Chargeback arises due to an act or omission of the Client, the Client shall be responsible for the Chargeback and any associated costs and fees.
The Service Provider’s liability for fraud risk is subject to the following:
The Client will receive a unique Merchant ID administered by Service Provider, granting the Client access to certain Service Provider Systems.
No unauthorised person may use the Merchant ID assigned to the Client. The Client must take reasonable steps to maintain confidentiality and prevent unauthorised disclosure of the Merchant ID.
The Service Provider Software is provided to the Client solely for the purpose of the Services. Except for the limited permission to access and use the Service Provider Software through the specified API for the Services, the Client acknowledges that it does not acquire any rights, title, or interests in the Service Provider Software. The Service Provider exclusively retains all rights, title, and interests in the Service Provider Software.
The Service Provider warrants that its systems (including the Service Provider Systems) and data centres meet or exceed the requirements of PCI DSS.
The Service Provider agrees to perform the Services and handle Cardholder Data in compliance with PCI DSS and any data security measures agreed between the parties in writing. The Service Provider will promptly notify the Client if its certification of compliance with PCI DSS is revoked for any reason.
Unless otherwise stated, all Fees and other amounts stated in this Agreement are stated exclusive of any applicable Taxes.
If the Client requests so in writing, the Service Provider will charge, collect, and remit Sales Tax to the appropriate authorities when required by Applicable Law. If the Client does not request the Service Provider to assist with this, the Client will be solely responsible for determining and charging applicable Sales Taxes to End Users, filing Tax Returns, and paying or remitting Sales Tax to the relevant authorities.
The Service Provider will credit the Client Account with the aggregate amount of all approved Transactions concluded through the Service Provider Systems in the Client’s Home Currency, net of Refunds, Chargebacks, Fees, applicable Sales Tax, and any other amounts owed by the Client to the Service Provider under this Agreement (“Settlement”). Settlement will occur monthly, on the second business day of each week, unless otherwise agreed between the parties in writing.
The Service Provider will remit Settlement to the Client only after receiving Cleared Funds for a Transaction. The Client acknowledges that the timing of Cleared Funds from Payment Methods is beyond the Service Provider’s control, but the Service Provider will make reasonable efforts to expedite Settlement. Payment Method providers may withhold amounts from Cleared Funds under certain circumstances without notifying or obtaining approval from the Service Provider (“Withheld Settlement“). If the Service Provider becomes aware of any Withheld Settlement, it will notify the Client and work to obtain the withheld amount in Cleared Funds as soon as possible.
The Service Provider may, at its sole discretion, place a reserve on a portion of the Client’s Settlement payments if it reasonably believes that the sale of Products poses a high risk of fraud or Chargebacks. The Service Provider may hold the reserve for a reasonable time to mitigate risks related to the Client’s Transactions. The Client remains liable for all obligations related to Transactions, even after the release of any reserve.
Upon termination of this Agreement, the Service Provider may require the Client to keep the Client Account available for a reasonable period, for open Settlements, Chargebacks, and other adjustments. The Service Provider may also withhold an amount from the final Settlement to cover Chargebacks and other adjustments following termination of this Agreement.
The Client acknowledges that it is responsible for:
the Products and the functionality of the Website;
complying with consumer protection laws in relation to the Products;
all taxes and duties applicable to the sale of the Products, including Sales Taxes payable; and
the accuracy of all Product information.
the Service Provider grants the Client a non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, non-assignable, and non-transferable license to use and integrate the Website with the Service Provider Systems. The license does not permit any other use, including external transfer, licensing, or distribution, whether commercial or otherwise. The license is granted solely to the Client and cannot be assigned without written consent from the Service Provider.
All Intellectual Property Rights in the Services, the Service Provider Systems, the Service Provider’s proprietary technology, and the Service Provider’s Trademarks are owned by the Service Provider, or its licensors, as applicable.
All Intellectual Property Rights in the Products, the Website, Client’s proprietary technology, and the Client’s Trademarks are owned by the Client, or its licensors, as applicable.
Neither party shall misuse, copy, alter, modify, decompile, decipher, disassemble, or reverse engineer any part of the other party’s systems or proprietary technology, nor attempt to do so.
Unless expressly stated in the Agreement, neither party has any rights to the other party’s Intellectual Property Rights, know-how, or concepts, regardless of their nature.
The Client shall pay the Service Provider the Fees specified in Annexure A.
The Client shall make payment for all Fees by deducting them from any Settlement amounts received.
Any additional services requested by the Client, beyond those outlined in this Agreement, shall be subject to additional Fees according to the Service Provider’s current pricing policy.
The initial term of this Agreement begins on the Effective Date and continues for [1] year (the “Initial Term”). The Agreement automatically renews for successive [1] year renewal terms (each, a “Renewal Term”) unless terminated by either party on written notice at least [30] calendar days before the end of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term.
Either party may terminate this Agreement immediately upon providing written notice to the other party if:
Upon termination of this Agreement:
Termination does not relieve either party of liability for obligations accrued or resulting from acts or events before the effective date of termination.
Both parties will to the fullest extent comply with all applicable requirements and obligations of all Data Protection Laws.
Each party shall take all appropriate technical and organisational security measures to ensure that Personal Information supplied to it by the other party (“Discloser’s Data”), or to which it has access in connection with this Agreement (including, in particular, End User Personal Information, Cardholder Data, Transaction Data, or Authentication Data) is protected against loss, destruction and damage, and against unauthorised access, use, modification, deletion, disclosure or other misuse.
Each party shall take reasonable steps to identify all reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks posed to the Discloser’s Data, and shall establish and maintain appropriate safeguards against any risks identified. The safeguards shall be updated continually in response to new risks or deficiencies in previously implemented safeguards.
Each party warrants, represents and undertakes that it shall ensure that its technology on which the Discloser’s Data is processed, shall at all times be in a standard no less than the standards which are in compliance with the good industry practice for the protection, control and use of the Discloser’s Data.
Each party shall ensure that all persons processing Personal Information on its behalf shall, in respect of the Discloser’s Data:
Each party agrees to notify the other promptly after discovery of any:
and will reasonably cooperate with the other party to address or mitigate any such incidents.
Each party (the “Indemnifying Party”) hereby indemnifies and holds harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the other party, its clients, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, contractors and/or consultants (each an “Indemnified Party”) against any loss, damage or injury caused or sustained by any wilful or negligent act or omission on the part of the Indemnifying Party in connection with this Agreement or as otherwise arises out of or is connected to or contemplated by this Agreement.
Neither party shall be liable to the other party for indirect, special or consequential losses, claims, damages or liabilities, whether in contract or delict or otherwise, based on this Agreement, or any obligation performed or undertaken or not performed or undertaken in terms of or in connection with this Agreement, and no party shall be liable to the other for losses sustained or incurred by the other which is attributable to or arises out of any act or omission on the part of a third party.
If a dispute arises in connection with this Agreement or its termination or invalidity, the parties shall use best efforts to settle the dispute by mediation.
Upon written notice from any party to another party (the “Dispute Notice”) the dispute shall be referred to a suitably qualified independent mediator. The parties shall agree the mediator’s identity in writing, within 7 days of delivery of the Dispute Notice. Failing agreement, the mediator shall be appointed by the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa (“AFSA”).
The mediation shall be held in [Cape Town]. The parties shall agree on the mediation procedure. Failing agreement on the mediation procedure within 14 days of delivery of the Dispute Notice, the mediation procedure shall be in accordance with the prevailing AFSA Rules for Mediation.
If a dispute is not settled by mediation within 30 days of delivery of the Dispute Notice, then the dispute shall be settled by arbitration.
The arbitrator shall be a suitably qualified independent person agreed in writing by the parties within 14 days of the lapse of the 30 days contemplated in clause 16.4. Failing agreement, the arbitrator shall be appointed by the Registrar of AFSA upon request by any party.
The arbitration shall be held in [Cape Town] in accordance with the prevailing AFSA Rules for Commercial Arbitration. The AFSA Expedited Rules shall apply if the dispute would fall within the prevailing magistrates court jurisdiction.
The arbitrator shall set the date, time, and venue of the arbitration.
Any order or award made by the arbitrator shall be final and binding.
This clause 16 shall not prevent any party from seeking interim and/or urgent relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with South African law.
Whole Agreement
Interpretation
In this Agreement: