英文合同的结构与主要条款

　　标准英文合同通常可以分为前言(Preamble)、正文(Habendum)、证明部分(Attestation)、附录(Schedule)四大部分组成。

　　1. 前言(Preamble)部分

　　前言部分主要有如下内容：

　　(1) 指明签约双(各)方

　　例1：

　　This JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT") is made as of June 3, 1998, by and between E*TRADE GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation ("E*TRADE"), and SOFTBANK CORP., a Japanese corporation ("SOFTBANK"). E*TRADE and SOFTBANK are hereunder also referred to collectively as the "PARTIES" and individually as a "PARTY."

　　例2：

　　THIS DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPLY AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into and is effective as of June 30, 1995 (the "Effective Date"), by and between JetFax, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware, U.S.A. with its principal place of business at 1376 Willow Road, Menlo Park, California 94025 ("JetFax"), and Samsung Electronics Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Korea, having its principal place of business at 20th Floor, Severance Building, 84-11, 5-Ka, Namdaemoon-Ro, Chung-Ku, Seoul, Korea ("Samsung").

　　(2) “鉴于(Whereas)”、“叙述(Recital)”或“背景(Background)”部分

　　该部分主要是介绍合同的相关情况，具体有如下内容：

　　a) 合同双(各)方的背景情况介绍，如各方所从事的行业：

　　例1：

　　AMD engages through its Communication Products Division ("CPD") in the design, development, manufacture and sale of telecommunication products for public communications infrastructure systems, customer premise equipment and cordless telephony applications.

　　b) 合同目的

　　例1：

　　The Parties desire to form a joint venture to provide online securities trading services to residents of Japan on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

　　例2：

　　The parties intend to share revenues generated by the Health Category, as well as revenues generated by similar activities conducted by McKesson using the AvantGo software on behalf of McKesson's customers, but do not intend to share revenues arising from the operations of their respective core businesses.

　　c) 合同的背景情况

　　例1：

　　This Agreement is being executed and delivered simultaneously with the execution and delivery of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 13, 1999 (the "Merger Agreement") among Union Oil, the Company, Sub and Titan.

　　例2：

　　Pursuant to a Stockholders Agreement entered into simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Union Oil will have the right to nominate certain persons ("Designees") to serve on the board of directors of the Company following the Merger. Certain of the Designees may be directors of or employed by Union Oil or companies in which Union Oil has an interest, other than the Company and its subsidiaries.

　　(3) 明确指明合同双(各)方愿意签订本合同

　　例1：

　　NOW THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF the mutual promises and covenants set forth in this Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:

　　例2：

　　NOW THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

　　2. “正文(Habendum)”部分主要包含以下条款

　　(1) “定义(Definition)”条款

　　该条款是对合同中的某些词语的进行定义，确保各词语在合同中的含义统一，以免发生歧义。这些词语可分成两大类。第一类是英文合同中的常用词语，如附属机构(Affiliate)、财务报表(Financial Statements)等;第二类是本合同中使用的具有特定含义的词语。

　　(2) “陈述与保证(Representations and Warranties)”条款

　　该条款是合同双(各)方对某些基本事实的陈述并保证其陈述的真实性，其构成合同签订与生效的前提。主要内容有：

　　a) 合法注册、经营状况现状、相关资质(Organization, Standing and Qualification)

　　在该条款中，合同双(各)方要说明其注册地、注册所依据的法律，声明合法拥有其财产、经营状况良好、有权签订并履行本合同。

　　b) 注册资本(Capitalization)

　　在该条款中，合同双(各)方要说明其各自的注册资本金额、股权数量等情况。

　　c) 适当授权(Due Authorization)

　　在该条款中，合同双(各)方要声明其有权签订并履行本合同，本合同的签订对其具有约束力。

　　d) 重大债务(Liabilities)

　　在该条款中，合同双(各)方要声明除了其已经披露的之外，没有其他重大债务。

　　e) 财产状况(Status of Proprietary Assets)

　　在该条款中，合同双(各)方要说明其在本合同签订时的主要财产状况。

　　f) 财产权属状况(Title to Properties and Assets)

　　在该条款中，合同双(各)方要声明其财产所有权是完整的无瑕疵的。

　　g) 重大合同及其义务(Material Contracts and Obligations)

　　在该条款中，合同双(各)方要说明，在本合同签订时其尚未完全履行的重大合同及其项下的义务。

　　h) 诉讼与仲裁(Litigation and Arbitration)