DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS Distribution Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into and effective as of February 10, 2004, by and between GURU DENIM, INC., a California corporation (the "Manufacturer"), and ANV Clothing Inc. "Distributor").
- Manufacturer is engaged in the business of manufacturing, promoting, and selling wearing apparel for the purpose of distribution at wholesale including, but not limited to, jeans under the trademark "True Religion Brand Jeans" or as otherwise determined by Manufacturer in its sole discretion (the "Articles").
- Manufacturer has applied for the registration of its Trademarks (defined hereafter) in the Territory (defined hereafter). Manufacturer makes no guarantee that it will be able to register the Trademarks in any part of the Territory. In the event that Manufacturer is notified that it is not able to register its Trademarks in any part of the Territory, then Manufacturer shall have the right to revoke this Agreement at any time during the Term (defined hereafter) with respect to that part of the Territory.
- Manufacturer has created substantial goodwill and value in its Trademarks by adopting a policy which limits the distribution of the Articles to only those retail outlets which conform to Manufacturer's strict standards for appearance, image, reputation, clientele, and overall quality.
- Distributor is experienced in the marketing of similar clothing items and is familiar with the market in the Territory for such products and the kinds of retail outlets that generally meet Manufacturer's standards.
- Manufacturer desires to appoint Distributor as, and Distributor desires to be, the exclusive distributor for the Articles in the Territory.
- All of the foregoing Recitals are conditioned upon and subject to the representations and warranties and terms, conditions, covenants, and promises set forth herein.
- "Design Rights" shall mean the rights, including copyrights, patterns, patents, design patents and Trade Secrets (defined hereafter), in and to any designs for the Articles and to any prints, package designs, packaging, labels, tags, advertising or promotional material, and any other designs using or used in conjunction with the Trademarks (defined hereafter).
- "Territory" shall mean the territory of Canada.
- "Trademarks" shall mean the trademarks, service marks, logos, slogans, and other identifying marks of Manufacturer to which Distributor shall obtain the rights set forth herein, including, but not limited to, the trademark "True Religion Brand Jeans."
- "Trade Secrets" shall mean information including any formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process, or any information concerning the business or plans of Manufacturer which information is not generally known to the public, is the subject of Manufacturer's reasonable efforts to maintain as secret, and from which Manufacturer derives independent economic value, actual or potential.
- Appointment of Distributor.
- Appointment. Manufacturer hereby appoints Distributor as the exclusive distributor in the Territory for the sale of the Articles (and only the Articles) during the Term (defined hereafter) of this Agreement, which appointment Distributor accepts, on the terms, and subject to the conditions, of this Agreement.
- Sub-Distributors. Distributor shall not appoint any sub-distributors for any of the Articles without first obtaining the written consent of Manufacturer, which Manufacturer may grant or deny in its sole discretion.
- Term of the Agreement. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date of this Agreement (the "Commencement Date") and continue until the termination date which shall be 3 years (the "Term"), at which time it shall terminate unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 8 or any other applicable provision of this Agreement; provided, however, that:
- This is a best efforts agreement and either Manufacturer or Distributor may terminate this agreement should either party feel that the agreement has not been fully adhered to by giving 90 days written notice to the other party.
- Responsibilities of Manufacturer.
- Exclusivity. Manufacturer agrees not to appoint any other distributor for the sale of the Articles within the Territory during the term of this Agreement. Manufacturer shall refer to Distributor all inquiries from customers for delivery of the Articles within the Territory, except as specifically set forth in this Agreement.
- Resale of Articles by U.S. Accounts of Manufacturer. Manufacturer shall ensure that Articles sold by Manufacturer outside of the Territory shall not be resold anywhere in the Territory or shipped to anywhere in the Territory during the Term.
- Distributor's Obligations.
- Payment of Invoices. All invoices for the Articles shall be paid as follows: (i) Distributor shall pay one hundred (100%) of the total of each order at the time an order is shipped by Manufacturer by wire transfer.
- Shipment of Articles. Distributor shall be responsible for all shipping costs and expenses related to the shipment of the Articles ordered by Distributor hereunder. The Articles shall be purchased by Distributor F.O.B. Manufacturer's storage facility at Los Angeles, California. Manufacturer shall not be responsible either to arrange for clearance of the Articles through customs or for the actual clearance or failure of clearance of the Articles through customs.
- Distributor's Obligations as Distributor. In consideration of its appointment as exclusive distributor for the Territory, Distributor shall do each of the following:
- Best Efforts. Distributor shall use its best efforts to promote vigorously and aggressively the sales of the Articles, create an increasing demand and market position for the Articles, and maintain and enhance the goodwill of the Articles, Trademarks and Manufacturer;
- Office, Facilities, Organization. Distributor shall maintain a reasonable sales organization and reasonable administrative, warehouse and distribution facilities capable of handling promptly and efficiently all purchase requests and capable of supplying the Articles to the Territory as required by this Agreement;
- Complaints. Distributor shall reasonably advise Manufacturer promptly of any information which may come to Distributor's attention as to charges, complaints or claims about Manufacturer or any of the Articles from Distributor's customers or any other person or company;
- Compliance with Law. To the best of Distributor's knowledge, Distributor shall act in full compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances, regulations, and other requirements, if any, of any and all governmental authorities asserting jurisdiction and shall obtain and maintain all permits, licenses and other consents necessary for the performance of Distributor's duties under this Agreement. Additionally, Distributor shall provide to Manufacturer the appropriate language for all labels, tags, packaging, and other items associated with or attached to the Articles. Distributor understands and acknowledges that any delay in delivering such information to Manufacturer may result in a delay in completion of any order, and Manufacturer shall not be liable for such delay;
- Labeling and Regulatory Requirements. Distributor shall inform Manufacturer of labeling and other regulatory requirements to permit the importation and sales of Articles in the Territory in accordance with applicable laws. Manufacturer shall not make changes to the labeling of the Articles unless so instructed by Distributor. Distributor shall not change or alter in any way the original labeling of the Articles without the express written consent of Manufacturer, which consent may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion. Distributor may not deviate from such consented alteration;
- Customs Clearance. All shipments shall be at the sole cost, expense and risk of Distributor. Further, it shall be the sole obligation and risk of Distributor to obtain all necessary clearances of the Articles through customs. Manufacturer shall provide such assistance as may be reasonably required by Distributor (including, without limitation, changing the wording on labels and hangtags, and the like, all in accordance with instructions provided by Distributor pursuant to this Agreement). To the extent that such assistance by Manufacturer increases the cost of the Articles, Manufacturer shall have the right to invoice such additional costs to Distributor, and Distributor must pay such invoiced amount prior to the shipment of the Articles; provided, however, that such additional costs chargeable to Distributor shall not include those costs normally associated with exporting, such as invoicing, certification of origin, and the like. Distributor shall also bear the cost of changing the wording of hangtags and/or labels, but only to the extent that the instructions provided by Distributor to Manufacturer pursuant to this Agreement are incorrect;
- Goodwill. Distributor shall reasonably promote the goodwill and good name of Manufacturer and the Trademarks throughout the Territory, and otherwise do everything in its capacity to further the best interests of Manufacturer. Distributor will not knowingly engage in any unfair trade practice or commit any acts or engage in any transactions which would reflect adversely upon the goodwill of Manufacturer, the Trademarks or the Articles; and
- Reports. After the end of each calendar quarter throughout the Term of this Agreement, Distributor shall be required to provide Manufacturer with a detailed a report of Distributor's sales, broken down by retail store and wholesale operations, for the immediately preceding quarter. In addition, Distributor shall report to Manufacturer, from time to time upon request of Manufacturer or more often as necessary, any developments concerning promotion and sale of Articles in the Territory, the status of customers and potential customers, important changes in marketing potential or consumer laws in the Territory, and other aspects of the sale of the Articles in the Territory. Manufacturer agrees to keep all such reports and related information confidential.
- No Sales Outside Territory. Distributor shall not sell any of the Articles outside the Territory or knowingly sell any of the Articles to any person who exports or whom Distributor reasonably believes may export the Articles from the Territory. Distributor shall refer to Manufacturer all inquiries concerning purchases of the Articles for delivery outside the Territory. The rights of distribution granted to the Distributor hereunder shall extend only to within the Territory. Distributor agrees that it will not make any use, nor permit, authorize or sublicense any use of the rights granted hereunder where such usage will or might extend beyond the Territory. Further, Distributor will not sell or permit the sale of the Articles outside the Territory, nor will Distributor knowingly offer or provide any information or assistance concerning the distribution of the Articles or the Trademarks, or sell the Articles to any person, firm or entity who, with Distributor's knowledge, intends or may seek to use or resell the Articles outside the Territory.
- Wholesalers, Diverters. Distributor shall not sell or distribute any Articles to wholesalers, jobbers, diverters, catalog vendors, or any other entity which does not operate retail stores exclusively, without the prior written consent of Manufacturer, which consent may be withheld at Manufacturer's sole discretion;
- Direct Sales. Distributor shall not sell the Articles directly to the public in retail stores operated by Distributor unless: (i) Manufacturer has given its specific written approval of any such retail store; (ii) all transactions between Distributor and the retail stores are at arm's length and are accurately recorded in the books and records in the same manner as sales to stores owned by other parties, which books and records Manufacturer may audit and copy from time to time; and (iii) all items used for display purposes which bear the Trademarks have been approved by Manufacturer as required by this Agreement;
- Give-aways. Distributor shall provide Manufacturer with a monthly report of all Articles used as give-aways, incentives, prizes or premiums. Manufacturer reserves the right to limit or restrict give-aways or incentives if, in Manufacturer's reasonable discretion, such programs are excessive or detrimental to the goodwill of the Trademarks. Any major promotional programs shall be approved in writing by Manufacturer prior to such promotion;
- Retail Stores. Distributor shall sell the Articles only to retail stores offering comparable high quality and fashion services and promotions commensurate with the quality of the Articles; and
- Government Approvals. Distributor shall take all steps required by any local, provincial, national, or regional agency, government or commission to obtain the necessary licenses, permits, approvals, franchises or authority to carry out its obligations hereunder in compliance with applicable law. Distributor shall immediately provide copies of any communication to or from any such agency, government or commission that relates to or affects this Agreement or the Trademarks. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, upon the execution of this Agreement, Distributor shall promptly, at Distributor's expense, file, or at the discretion of Manufacturer, assist Manufacturer in filing, with any and all governmental authority, or any department or agency thereof in the Territory, whose approval of this Agreement or whose registration of Distributor is deemed necessary or desirable by counsel to Manufacturer, copies of this Agreement and any and all applications, forms, documents, and exhibits deemed necessary or desirable by such counsel to secure such approvals, and Distributor shall take any and all further actions deemed necessary or appropriate by such counsel to secure such approvals.
- Purchase of Samples. Manufacturer shall make available to Distributor, as early as possible one complete set of samples, which Distributor shall purchase at a price equal to fifty percent (50%) of Manufacturer's wholesale price. Payment for the samples shall be due and payable to Manufacturer by Distributor by wire transfer upon execution of this Agreement. Thereafter, Manufacturer shall continue to make samples of the Articles available to Distributor that Distributor may purchase on the same terms described in this section.
- Product Orders. Manufacturer undertakes to supply to Distributor such Articles as Distributor orders subject to the terms of this Agreement and any Purchase Order. Manufacturer may refuse any order from Distributor for Articles, or part thereof, in its sole and absolute discretion. Unless specifically agreed to in a writing signed by Manufacturer, Manufacturer shall not be obligated to deliver any Articles to Distributor in less than twelve (12) weeks from the date Distributor places the order with Manufacturer for Articles which are manufactured by Manufacturer.
- Product Line. Manufacturer may change the line of Articles to be offered in the Territory at any time without prior written notice and without any liability to Distributor; however, when reasonably possible, Manufacturer will make its best efforts to notify Distributor in advance of these product line changes.
- Promotional Materials. Manufacturer may supply advertising or promotional materials as such materials become reasonably available; however, Manufacturer is under no obligation to do so.
- Article Specification. Manufacturer may change the composition of, specification for, or design of any Article at any time upon reasonable notice to Distributor. If the changes are of a minor nature, Distributor will accept the Articles. If the changes are not of a minor nature, Distributor has a right to cancel the order for such Articles; provided, however, such cancellation must be within five (5) business days after notification is received by Distributor of such changes.
- Taxes. Distributor represents and warrants that all Articles purchased from Manufacturer are for resale in the ordinary course of Distributor's business, and that Distributor has complied and/or will comply with applicable laws and rules relating to the billing, collection and/or payment by Distributor of sales, use, franchise and all other taxes applicable to all such resale transactions and to the Articles, and Distributor agrees to indemnify and to save and hold Manufacturer harmless from all costs whatsoever for breach of this warranty and/or failure to so collect or pay any of the aforementioned taxes.
- Advertising and Promotion.
- Prepared by Manufacturer. Manufacturer shall make available to Distributor, in camera ready form, all promotional materials, photographs, catalogs, posters and other advertising materials utilized by Manufacturer to promote the sales of the Articles which are appropriate for the Territory. Distributor may purchase any such promotional materials from Manufacturer for usage within the Territory, with such purchase to be at Manufacturer's cost.
- Termination.
- Termination by Manufacturer. Manufacturer may terminate this Agreement as follows:
- without notice, as and from the date of the happening of any of the following: (A) Distributor alters, modifies or otherwise misuses the labeling provided by Manufacturer with the Article, or the Articles themselves, or utilizes the Trademarks in any manner not permitted herein without obtaining the prior written consent of Manufacturer; (B) Distributor assigns, or attempts to assign, its rights and duties to third parties in whole or in part; (C) Distributor becomes insolvent or files for a petition in bankruptcy or the equivalent within the Territory; (D) if Manufacturer is notified that it is not able to register its Trademarks in any part of the Territory; or (E) any material breach of this Agreement which is not curable; or
- upon fifteen (15) days written notice to Distributor upon Distributor's breach of any provision of this Agreement which is determined by Manufacturer to be curable such as (A) the prohibition of the sale of any Articles by Distributor outside of the Territory or to any person who exports or transfers, or intends to export or transfer, any Article outside of the Territory regardless of Distributor's knowledge of such export, unless such violation has caused any damage to Manufacturer, or (B) Distributor's payment for any Articles within the time provided herein.
- Pending Orders. If an order from Distributor has been accepted by Manufacturer prior to the date of termination of this Agreement but has not been shipped upon the date of termination, Manufacturer shall have the option to cancel such order or any part thereof by written notice to Distributor within ten (10) days after such date of termination. With respect to any order not so canceled, Manufacturer shall fill such order in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
- Repurchase Option. Manufacturer may, at its option, repurchase from Distributor all or any part of the Articles in Distributor's possession or under Distributor's control and unsold on the date of termination. Manufacturer shall, if it exercises this option, pay Distributor a price equal to Distributor's net invoice purchase price for such Articles. Distributor may sell, in the ordinary course of business, all of the Articles in its possession or under its control that Manufacturer elects not to repurchase from Distributor hereunder. Such sales must be in strict accordance with the terms of this Agreement and no such sales may be made more than ninety (90) days after notice of Manufacturer's election herein.
Limitation of Liability. Manufacturer shall not be liable to Distributor or to any other person solely by reason of the termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, including, but not limited to, direct, indirect, special, consequential or incidental damages sustained by reason of such termination (including, without limitation, any claim for loss of compensation or profits or loss of prospective compensation or prospective profits in respect of sales of any of the Articles or on account of any expenditures, investments, leases, capital improvements or any of the commitments made by either party in connection with their respective businesses made in reliance upon or by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise). Distributor shall not have the right to and hereby waives any equitable or provisional remedies, including without limitation specific performance, by reason of the termination of this Agreement, provided that nothing shall restrict Distributor's rights to damages in the event of wrongful termination or a material breach of this Agreement by Manufacturer.
- Trademarks and Trade Names/Design Rights.
- Registration of Intellectual Properties. Distributor shall not request orders from Manufacturer until the required applications have been submitted to the appropriate agencies. Manufacturer makes no guarantee that it will be able to register the Trademarks in any part of the Territory. In the event that Manufacturer is notified that it is not able to register its Trademarks in any part of the Territory, then Manufacturer shall have the right to revoke this Agreement at anytime during the Term with respect to that part of the Territory.
- Protection of Intellectual Properties. Distributor acknowledges Manufacturer's rights in and to the Trademarks and acknowledges that all of Distributor's uses of the Trademarks inures to the exclusive benefit of Manufacturer. During the Term, or thereafter, Distributor shall not:
- Claim ownership of or attempt or register any Trademarks in any country or state, including the Territory;
- Do or commit any act which would adversely affect the validity of the Trademarks in any country, including the Territory;
- Infringe the Trademarks;
- Attack the validity of the Trademarks or this Agreement;
- Use any business name with the Trademarks in it; provided, however, that Distributor may indicate that it is the exclusive distributor for Manufacturer or the Trademarks in the Territory as long as the content, form and manner for such indication has been approved by Manufacturer in writing and in advance;
- Display the Trademarks in a manner which might mislead purchasers into believing that Distributor was, itself, Manufacturer or an affiliate or subsidiary thereof; or
- Engage in any other activity including a cancellation action that may contest, dispute, dilute or otherwise impair the right, title or interest of Manufacturer in the Trademarks. For the purpose of protection of ownership in the Trademarks only, all uses of the Trademarks made by or on behalf of Distributor are deemed to have been made by Manufacturer.
- Registration of Trademarks. Distributor represents and warrants that it has not registered and in the future will not attempt to register the Trademarks or any confusingly similar marks or names in its own name or for its own benefit in any country or territory in the world. Distributor agrees that it will not knowingly or unknowingly infringe the Trademarks inside or outside the Territory.
- Design Rights. Distributor acknowledges and agrees that, as between Manufacturer and Distributor, Manufacturer owns all of the Design Rights and that any usage of the Design Rights by Distributor shall inure to the benefit of Manufacturer. Distributor shall not have the right to bring forth infringement actions to protect any of the Design Rights unless with the prior written consent of Manufacturer. Distributor must notify Manufacturer of any infringement or potential infringement in the Territory that it becomes aware of during the Term. Manufacturer shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, take such action or actions as it may deem necessary to protect the Design Rights.
- Distributor's Indemnification. Distributor agrees to indemnify, protect, hold harmless and defend Manufacturer and its officers, directors, shareholders, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims, suits, loss, liability, expense and damage, including costs of suit and attorneys' fees, arising out of the claim of any broker, finder or agent in connection with the making of this Agreement, or arising out of or in any way alleging any acts or omissions of Distributor in connection with Distributor's importation, sales, advertising, marketing, distribution, or other activities under or related to this Agreement. In addition, if a claim for which Distributor is obligated to provide indemnification is made, Manufacturer shall be entitled to defense by counsel of its choice, to be paid for by Distributor upon presentation of legal bills or requests for retainer.
- Product Warranties. Distributor acknowledges that Manufacturer has made no representation or warranty except as expressly provided with respect to the Articles. There are no implied warranties for merchantability or fitness for any particular purposes.
- Trade Secrets and Confidentiality.
- No Access to Trade Secrets. Distributor shall have no right of access to Manufacturer's Trade Secrets and waives all rights to see such Trade Secrets in the course of arbitration or litigation.
- Publication of Articles. Distributor shall obtain prior written permission of Manufacturer to publish or cause to be published any article, book, textbook, play, tape recording or any other form of communication concerning Manufacturer, the Trademarks, the Articles or the business or principals of Manufacturer. This subsection is not intended to limit the right and obligation of Distributor to generate publicity for the purpose of promotion of the sale of the Articles, including media interviews, press releases and other normal public relations activity.
- Arbitration. Any claim, dispute or controversy arising out of, or relating to any section of this Agreement or the making, performance or interpretation of the rights and obligations explicitly set forth in this Agreement, shall, upon the election by written notice of either Manufacturer or Distributor, be settled on an expedited basis by binding arbitration in Los Angeles County, California, U.S.A. before a single arbitrator from the Judicial Arbitration Mediation Service ("JAMS"), mutually agreeable to the parties hereto, and, if no agreement is reached, before the arbitrator from JAMS selected in accordance with the rules of JAMS then in effect, which arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with such rules, and judgment upon any award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The decision of the arbitrator shall be binding on all of the parties, and any right to judicial action on any matter subject to arbitration hereunder is hereby waived, unless otherwise provided by applicable law or in any section of this Agreement, except suit to enforce the arbitration award or in the event arbitration is not available for any reason. The arbitrator shall be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and shall not extend, modify or suspend any of the provisions of this Agreement.
- Time Limitation on Bringing Claims. Any claim arising hereunder is barred and waived unless the claimant institutes arbitration proceedings prior to the date when any action in court with respect thereto would be barred by the applicable statute of limitations. The failure to institute arbitration proceedings prior to the expiration of the applicable statute of limitation shall constitute an absolute bar to the institution of any arbitration or other proceeding by either party. All issues relating to the statute of limitations barring or preventing the commencement of proceedings shall be determined by the court and not by the arbitrators, who shall have no power or jurisdiction to determine such issues.
- Governing Law, Forum, Headings. All questions concerning this Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties, the enforcement thereof, and the validity, effect, interpretation and construction thereof, shall be governed by and determined under the internal laws of the State of California, except that any questions governed by the trademark statutes of the United States of America or within the Territory shall be governed by and determined under such statutes. If for some reason, a dispute it not resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with this Agreement, then the forum for the resolution of any dispute related to this Agreement or the entry of an arbitration ruling, in state court, federal court or arbitration, shall be Los Angeles County, California, U.S.A. Distributor waives any objection to: (a) personal jurisdiction; (b) venue; and (c) service of process of any federal or state court in Los Angeles County, California. Service of process upon Distributor shall be effective upon delivery by Federal Express, DHL Courier, or any other form of mail service for which a signature is required.
- Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including all exhibits attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties, and supersedes all prior negotiations and agreements between the parties concerning its subject matter. This writing is intended as the final, complete and exclusive statement of the terms of the Agreement between the parties and cannot be changed or terminated orally. This Agreement represents the final written expression of the understanding reached at arm's length between the parties, and neither party shall be construed as the draftsman of this document.
- Notices and Communications. All notices, claims, certificates, requests, demands and other communications hereunder ("Notices"), to be given or delivered hereunder by either party to the other, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given or delivered to the recipient: (1) upon delivery by hand, if such delivery is before 4:00 p.m., local time, on a business day and at the address of the recipient set forth herein (if delivery is made later than 4:00 p.m., then such delivery is deemed to have occurred on the next business day); (2) three (3) days after deposit if sent by First Class United States mail, postage prepaid, to recipient at the address set forth below; (3) upon receipt if sent by registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the recipient at the address set forth below; or (4) upon sending of a facsimile to the facsimile number of recipient where such facsimile is sent before 4:00 p.m., receiver's time, on a business day (if transmission is made later than 4:00 p.m., then such delivery is deemed to have occurred on the next business day):
If to Manufacturer:
Guru Denim Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to Distributor:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
ANV Clothing Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xx. xxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx X0X 0X0
Telephone: 000 000-0000
Facsimile: 000 000-0000
or to such other address as a party shall notify the other party in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
- U.S. Dollars. References in this Agreement to "dollars" shall mean U.S. Dollars.
- Multiple Agreements. In the event Distributor is a party to more than one agreement with Manufacturer for the distribution and/or manufacture of Manufacturer's products, separate reports and records shall be maintained and generated as required for each agreement.
MANUFACTURER:
GURU DENIM, INC.
By:/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Its: President
DISTRIBUTOR:
ANV Clothing, Inc.
By:/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Its: President