致：A 公司
To: A company
根据贵司的委托，就B 公司（下称B 公司）致函贵司一事，本律师基于贵司提供资料并假设该等资料是真实的、合法的、完整的，根据中国大陆法律出具本法律意见如下：
With the entrustment of A company (hereinafter referred to as “A ”), we hereby write to you regarding on the Notice for Adjusting Rent of A company’s Factory Building and Warehouse sent to A company(hereinafter referred to as “A company”) by B company (hereinafter referred to as “B”), based on the information provided by A and assuming that such information is true, lawful and complete, according to the Laws of mainland of China, we issue Legal Opinion as follows:
一、文件资料
Ⅰ. Documents and Materials provided by A
1、《关于厂房、仓库租金调整通知书》
1. Notice for Adjusting Rent of A company’s Factory Building and Warehouse
2、《协议函》（2011.12.31）
2. Letter of Agreement (2011.12.31)
3、《协议》（物流仓库协议，2010.3.10）
3. Agreement (Logistics Warehouse Agreement, 2010.3.10)
4、贵司《章程》及其附件
4. A company 's Articles of Association and its attachments
二、情况简述
Ⅱ. Brief
2018年9月19日，B 公司向贵司发函《关于厂房、仓库租金调整通知书》，就租金、合作企业终止问题提出方案：1、自2019年1月1日至2020年12月31日，将租金调整至人民币20元/平方米，即厂房租金每月140万元；2、货仓租金，2019年1月1日起，调至每月20万元；3、“如9月30日前未收到书面确认回复，将视为贵司同意以上方案。
On September 19, 2018, B sent Notice for Adjusting Rent of A company’s Factory Building and Warehouse to you, proposed solutions on rent and termination of Cooperative Enterprise:
1. The rent will be raise the rent to RMB20/square meter from January 1st, 2019 to December 31st, 2020, therefore, the monthly rent for factory building will be RMB1,400,000.
2. The monthly rent for the warehouse will be increased into RMB200,000 per month from January 1st, 2019.
3. If they haven’t received written reply of A before September 30, 2018, it is deemed that A has accepted and agreed the above proposals.
三、法律法规
Ⅲ. Laws and Regulations
1、《中华人民共和国公司法》（2013修正）
1. Company law of the People's Republic of China (2013 Amendment)
2、《中华人民共和国合同法》（1999）
2. Contract law of the People's Republic of China (1999)
3、《中华人民共和国中外合作经营企业法》(2017修正)
3. Law of the People's Republic of China on Chinese-Foreign Contractual Joint Ventures (2017 Amendment)
4、《中华人民共和国外资企业法》（2016修正）
4. Law of the People's Republic of China on Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises(2016 Amendment)
5、《中华人民共和国外资企业法实施细则》(2014修订)
5.Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprises (2014 Revision)
6、《中华人民共和国企业法人登记管理条例》(2016修订)
6.Regulation of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Registration of Enterprise Legal Persons (2016 Revision)
四、焦点问题分析
Ⅳ. Analysis of the Emphasis
（一）按照法律规定或合同约定，B 公司可否单方上调厂房租金？
(I) Can B raise the rent of factory building by itself in accordance with legal provisions or contractual provisions?
1、在《协议书》及其系列《协议续约书》中，并未涉及厂房租金，而或以“工缴费”代替，其中2007年8月31日《协议续约书》第二条、第三条约定，“厂房面积为8000平方米，就此固定工缴费按每平方米14港元结汇，每月结汇前固定工缴费112,000港元”，“随着物价指数上升，每两年相应调整一次”，有效期至2013年2月28日止。
1. In the Agreement and its Agreement Renewals, does not involved of the rent of factory building, or replace with Processing Fee, which in article 2, article 3 of Agreement Renewal(on 31st August, 2007) "the factory building is 8000 square meters, as of a fixed Processing Fee per square meter HKD 14, fixed Processing Fee is HKD112,000 per month", "as prices rise, the price shall be adjusted every two years", the validity of this Agreement Renewal ends on 28th February, 2013.
2、2011年12月31日，发《协议函》给B 公司，对工缴费/租金作了约定和安排，B 公司在“我司特此确认并接受本协议函中的条款及条件”下方签字并盖章，“A公司”项下有法定代表人签字。
《协议函》第4条约定，2013年3月1日起至2025年2月28日，工缴费/租金为每月105万元人民币（15元*70337平方米）；2025年3月1日起至合适期间，经双方同意，根据公允市场价格进行调整，但任何增幅不得高于10%。
2. On December 31, 2011, the Letter of Agreement was sent to B by A company China Limited (hereinafter referred to as “A company China”), which agreed and arranged the processing fee and rent by both parties. B signed and sealed under "we hereby confirm and accept the terms and conditions in this Letter of Agreement", and the legal representative of A company China signed under "A company ".
Article 4 of Letter of Agreement says that from 1st March, 2013 to 28th February, 2025, the processing fee/rent shall be RMB 1,050,000 per month (RMB15 * 70,337 square meters). From 1st March, 2025 to the appropriate period, after the consent of both parties, adjustments shall be made according to the Fair Market Price, but the increase shall not be higher than 10%.
3、综上，双方对占用所涉厂房产生的工缴费/租金，有比较明确的约定，双方应当按照该约定执行。B 公司单方要求上调厂房租金，显然没有依据，贵司可以要求按照上述约定继续履行。
3. In conclusion, both parties have a clear agreement on the processing fee/rent of the involved factory building, and both parties shall abide such agreement. Apparently, the request of B to increase the rent of factory building is without legal basis, therefore you should continue the enforcement of the above agreement.
同时应当注意到，合同法规定，房屋租赁期限最长不超过20年，如从2011年12月31日起算，那么2031年12月31日前需要重新续约。
Nevertheless, you should also be noted that the Contract Law stipulates that the lease term of the property shall not exceed 20 years. If the lease term starts from 31st December, 2011, it shall be renewed before 31st December, 2031.
（二）按照法律规定或合同约定，货仓租金，可否单方上调？
(ii) Can the rent of warehouse be increased by itself in accordance with the legal provisions or the contract?
1、在《协议书》及其系列《协议续约书》中，未涉及租金或工缴费，如果说货仓包含在《协议书》约定的厂区范围内，则适用本法律意见上述第（一）条，不再赘述。如果不是，则论述如下：
1. In the Agreement and Agreement renewals, the rent or processing fee has not been mentioned of involved. If "the warehouse" is included in the scope of the factory area agreed in the Agreement, the above clause (I) of this legal opinion shall be applicable, and we shall not repeat hereinto. If not, then the analysis is as follows:
2、《协议函》第5条约定，2010年3月30日“物流仓库协议”将维持不变并继续有效，并约定，2018年10月1日至2022年9月30日期间每月租金112,866元人民币，2022年10月1日起至合适期间，经双方同意，根据公允市场价格进行调整，但任何增幅不得高于10%。
2. Article 5 of Letter of Agreement, on 30th March, 2010, Logistics Warehouse Agreement will remain unchanged and valid. And they agreed, from 1st October, 2018 to 30th September, 2022, the monthly rent is RMB112,866. From October 1, 2022 to the appropriate period, after the consent of both parties, adjustments shall be made according to the Fair Market Price, but the increase shall not be higher than 10%.
如果“货仓”属于该“物流仓库协议”范围内，则按该“物流仓库协议”及《协议函》的约定执行，亦即可以要求按上述租金水平继续履行。
If “the warehouse” is within the scope of the Logistics Warehouse Agreement, it shall be executed according to the Agreement of the Logistics Warehouse Agreement, therefore, you can request to enforce the above rent level as for now.
3、B 公司与“C 公司”并非同一主体，在通知书中，“C 公司”并未落款签署，B 公司也未获得“C 公司”的有效授权，而越俎代庖，声称“C 公司要求”如何如何，显然该部分内容无法作为“C 公司”的意思表示。虽如此，基于现实考虑，贵司也应予重视。
3. B is not the same entity as C company, in the Notice for Adjusting Rent of A company’s Factory Building and Warehouse, C company has not signed and sealed. B did not To obtain effective authorization from C company, yet, B claims that C company demands for this and that and etc. Apparently, this part can not be considered as the ture intentions of C company . Nevertheless, you should also pay highly attention to it, considering of the practical issues and reality.
综上，本律师倾向于认为，《协议函》可以作为独立存在的合同，即使贵司经营期限届满或终止后，A公司仍可要求继续履行该《协议函》约定的内容。同时，也应当注意到，对方针锋相对的理由和观点也不容小觑，最终结论，只能法院或仲裁机构作出。
In brief, we are inclined to think that, Letter of Agreement can be an independent contract. Even if the business operating period of A company has expired or terminated, A company China can still request to perform the terms agreed in the Letter of Agreement. Also, at the same time, it should also be noted that they have very strong and specfic reasons, opinions and grounds, it should not be underestimated at all, and the final conclusion can only be made by the Court or the Arbitration.
五、小结
Ⅴ. Summary
单纯就B 公司要求上调租金而言，其没有合理合法的依据，我方可以要求其维持现有租金水平。
As for the request for rent raise of B, it has no reasonable and legal basis, and we can ask B to maintain the current rent level.
以上意见，敬请指正。
Please send us feedbacks on these above opinions, thank you!
XXX Law Firm
Lawyer______
2020年9月27日
27th September, 2020
