EX-10.1 2 a08-1760_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1 RESTATED LICENSE AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
RESTATED LICENSE AGREEMENT
THIS RESTATED LICENSE AGREEMENT, is made and entered into as of the 1st day of February, 2008 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Cherokee, Inc., 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000 (“Licensor”), and Target Corporation, 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000 (“Licensee”), collectively referred to as the “Parties” and singly as a “Party”.
WHEREAS, Licensor and Licensee desire to enter into this Restated License Agreement as of the Effective Date on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
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Upon the terms and conditions contained in this Restated Agreement, Licensor hereby grants to Licensee, and Licensee hereby accepts, the exclusive (as defined hereinbelow) right and license to use the Trademark, during the term provided in Section 2 below, solely in connection with the sale of the merchandise bearing the Trademark, in the categories indicated below (the “Merchandise”), solely by Target Retail Operations (as hereinafter defined), located in the United States of America (the “Retail Operations”), and to manufacture such Merchandise (and have such Merchandise manufactured) solely for sale by the Retail Operations. Such rights shall include the right to advertise the Trademark in connection with the Merchandise. Such license shall not include the right to grant sublicenses to third parties. The foregoing license is limited to use of the Trademark in connection with the sale of Merchandise by the Retail Operations and does not include the right to use the Trademark in connection with the manufacture, distribution or sale of any products except for Merchandise sold by the Retail Operations. As used herein, the Retail Operations shall mean Target Stores, Target Greatland, SuperTarget, and any other store opened by Licensee, within the United States, during the Term of this Restated Agreement, and/or any other merchandising activities undertaken by Licensee, within the United States, during the Term of this Restated Agreement, including but not limited to direct mail, interactive on line or kiosk selling. If Licensee desires to open a Retail Operation outside the United States, and Licensor owns the Trademark in such other country, and if Licensor has no license in such other country, this Restated Agreement shall then apply to Licensee in such other country. |
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The following categories of Merchandise, shall be exclusive to Licensee, in the United States, in all classes of trade: | |
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(i) Men’s, Women’s and Children’s Apparel (including, but not limited to intimate apparel, foundations and sleepwear, but excluding industrial and school uniforms).* | |
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(ii) |
Men’s, Women’s and Children’s Footwear (excluding nurses and lab technicians shoes).* |
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(iii) |
Men’s, Women’s and Children’s Accessories, including, but not limited to, luggage, jewelry, handbags, small leather goods, belts, neckwear, hairgoods, hats, rainwear, gloves, hosiery, slippers, sunglasses/eyewear and watches. |
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(iv) |
Bed and Bath Products and Accessories. |
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(v) |
Luggage, Sportsbags and Backpacks. |
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(vi) |
Home Textiles. |
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(vii) |
Domestics and Home Decor. |
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(viii) |
Home Furnishings. |
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(ix) |
Sporting Goods. |
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(x) |
Cosmetics, Bath and Body Products. |
*Licensor does not have the right to license the Trademark in connection with the excluded goods.
Licensee may propose additional classes of merchandise for inclusion in this Restated Agreement. Should Licensor, in its sole discretion, determine to include such additional classes of merchandise, this Restated Agreement shall be amended to include such additional classes of merchandise within the definition of Merchandise. Licensor shall be responsible for all costs and attorney’s fees incurred by Licensor in obtaining trademark registration under the laws of the United States for such additional classes of merchandise, if necessary and available.
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2012 (1/31/2013), this Restated Agreement will automatically renew for the Fiscal Year ending in 2013 (1/31/2014), and will continue to automatically renew for successive one (1) Fiscal Year terms, provided that Licensee has paid a Minimum Guaranteed Royalty equal to or greater than $9,000,000 for the preceding Fiscal Year. (The Initial Restated Term and the Extended Restated Terms, if any, are hereinafter referred to as the “Restated Term”). |
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(i) |
The quantity, description and sales price of all Merchandise sold by Licensee during the quarter to which such Royalty relates; |
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(ii) |
The aggregate gross sales of all Merchandise and the Net Sales of Merchandise, year to date, and the Net Sales of Merchandise for such quarter; |
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(iii) |
Any other related information that may be reasonably requested by Licensor. |
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overpayment, computed from the date such Royalty payments were made, accrued at the rate of one percent (1%) per month. In addition, if the audit discloses that the Royalty payments actually due exceed the Royalty payments paid by an amount greater than five percent (5%) of the Royalty payments paid, the cost of the audit performed by Licensor shall be paid by Licensee. |
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Standards of Quality | |
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Standards and Prestige of Merchandise. Licensee acknowledges that the Trademark has established prestige and goodwill and is well recognized in the minds of the public, and that it is of great importance to each party that in the manufacture and sale of the Merchandise the high standards and reputation that Licensor has established be maintained. Accordingly, all items of Merchandise manufactured or caused to be manufactured by Licensee hereunder and any other expression by Licensee, which by its nature conveys to others the existence of a relationship between the Licensee and the Trademark, including, without limitation, all packaging, labeling, fixturing, advertising, point-of-sale materials and product literature (any such expression as herein referred to as “Trademark Use Materials”) shall meet or exceed the quality and workmanship historically provided under the Prior Agreement. From time to time during the Term of this Restated Agreement and as Licensor reasonably requests, so as not to disrupt the ongoing business processes of Licensee, Licensee shall supply Licensor or a designee of Licensor with a reasonable assortment of samples of Merchandise (including samples of labeling and packaging used in connection therewith). In addition, Licensee shall supply Licensor or a designee of Licensor with samples of its logo designs and formats for use of the Trademark in connection with labels and packaging materials. Upon receipt of such designs and formats, Licensor shall have five (5) business days in which to review and approve those materials, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Thereafter, all uses of the Trademarks by Licensee in connection with labels and packaging materials shall conform in all materials respects with the approved designs and formats and Licensee shall have no obligation to provide samples of such materials for review or approval by Licensor, as long as there are no material changes to the approved designs and formats. Licensor acknowledges and agrees that all Trademark Use Materials in use as of the Effective Date are deemed approved. If Licensor shall not have indicated approval or disapproval of any such materials in such five (5) business days, then the Materials shall be deemed to have been approved. If Licensor disapproves of a submission, it shall advise Target in writing of the reasons for such disapproval within such five (5) day period. In the case of disapproval, the Parties shall work together in good faith to timely modify any such materials so that they are reasonably acceptable to Licensor and Licensee. If the Parties are unable to reach agreement in three (3) consecutive |
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business days, Licensee may continue to use previously approved designs and formats. Licensee shall sell or otherwise dispose of miscuts or damaged Merchandise only after Licensee has cut out the labels or any other item that identifies the Merchandise with the Trademark. | ||
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Standards and Procedures. Upon the request of Licensor, but not more than once each Fiscal Year, Licensee shall provide Licensor with a written copy of Licensee’s quality control standards and procedures. At Licensee’s request, Licensor and Licensee will meet annually before Licensor’s Quality Control Standards are established for such year and Licensee shall have the right to approve such standards and procedures before they are implemented; provided, however, that such Quality Control Standards shall be consistent with the quality standard set forth in Section 6a hereinabove. | ||
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(i) |
(a) Licensor owns the Trademark in various countries worldwide, and all rights, registrations, applications and filings with respect to such Trademark, and all renewals and extensions of any such registrations, applications and filings, (b) Licensor has the right to license the Trademark, and (c) Licensee is acquiring hereby only the right to use the Trademark for the purpose stated in and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Restated Agreement. | |
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(ii) |
(a) Great value is placed on the Trademark, and the goodwill associated therewith, (b) the Trademark and all rights therein and goodwill pertaining thereto belong exclusively to Licensor, and (c) all authorized use of the Trademark by Licensee shall inure to the benefit of Licensor. | |
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(iii) |
The conditions, terms, restrictions, covenants and limitations of this Restated Agreement are necessary, equitable, reasonable and essential to assure the consuming public that all goods sold under the Trademark are of the same consistently high quality as sold by Licensor and by others who are licensed to design, manufacture and/or sell any products by, under or with the Trademark, if any. | |
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Licensor’s) rights in and to the Trademark. Licensee shall cause to appear on and in connection with the Merchandise and the Trademark Use Materials the Ò or ä as applicable. | |
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(v) |
Exclusivity. Licensor agrees that during the term of this Restated Agreement it will not license the Trademark, and/or renew or otherwise extend existing license agreements between Licensor and any third party(ies), in the United States, in any merchandise category whatsoever. | |
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(i) |
Licensee shall fail to make any payment, submit any Quarterly Report or provide any financial information required under this Restated Agreement when due, and such failure continues for more than thirty (30) days after written notice thereof, unless such failure cannot be cured within such thirty (30) day period and Licensee shall have commenced to cure the failure and proceeds diligently thereafter to cure such failure. | |
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(ii) |
Licensee uses the Trademark in any manner likely to endanger the validity of the Trademark or to damage or impair the reputation or value of the Trademark, and such action continues for more than thirty (30) days after written notice thereof, unless the action cannot be cured within such thirty | |
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(30) day period and Licensee shall have commenced to cure the action and proceeds diligently thereafter to cure such action. |
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The failure of Licensee to perform any of its other material obligations under this Restated Agreement and such failure continues for more than thirty (30) days after written notice thereof, unless the failure cannot be cured within such thirty (30) day period and Licensee shall have commenced to cure the failure and proceeds diligently thereafter to cure such failure. |
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(i) |
If Licensee has not cured any such breach or non-performance in accordance with Section 8a above, in addition to all other rights and remedies available to Licensor, whether pursuant to the terms of this Restated Agreement at law in equity or otherwise, Licensor shall have the right to terminate this Restated Agreement without further notice to Licensee and all unpaid Minimum Guaranteed Royalty payments due and owing under this Restated Agreement, shall be immediately due and payable. |
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If Licensor has not cured any such breach or non-performance in accordance with Section 8b above, in addition to all of the other rights and remedies available to Licensee, whether pursuant to the terms of this Restated Agreement at law, in equity or otherwise, Licensee shall have the right to terminate this Restated Agreement without further notice to Licensor. |
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the inspection and quality control procedures set forth therein, (iii) each such contractor shall comply with Licensee’s liquidation guidelines, including without limitation, no sales outside of the United States and payment of a 3% royalty to Licensor on the sale of Merchandise, and (iv) the Merchandise and Trademark Use Materials meet the quality standards set forth in this Restated Agreement. | ||
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Licensor warrants and represents that Licensor (i) is free to enter into this Restated Agreement, (ii) has the full power, right and authority to make the grant of rights to Licensee as provided hereunder and that the exercise by Licensee of such rights, as authorized hereunder, shall not violate the rights of any third party, and (iii) is not subject to any obligation which will or might hinder or prevent the full completion and performance by Licensor of any of the covenants and the conditions to be kept and performed by Licensor hereunder. | |
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Licensee hereby represents and warrants that Licensee (i) is free to enter into this Restated Agreement, (ii) is not subject to any obligation which will or might hinder or prevent the full completion and performance by Licensee of any of the covenants and conditions to be kept and performed by Licensee hereunder, and (iii) will ensure that all uses of the Trademark and Trademark Use Materials comply with the terms of this Restated Agreement. | |
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agents harmless, from and against any and all liabilities, losses, claims, suits, damages, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) which may be sustained or suffered by or secured against Licensee based upon or arising out of any actual or alleged trademark infringement, unfair competition or infringement of similar proprietary rights, arising solely out of establishing common law usage of the Cherokee name in connection with such goods. The indemnification period will commence upon signing of this Restated Agreement and will extend six (6) months after the date goods are first offered for sale in connection with the use of the Cherokee name in the cosmetics, bath and body category. In the event that Licensor obtains a federal trademark registration of the Cherokee name for the cosmetics, bath and body category, the provisions of Section 10c below shall apply from the date of registration. |
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Licensor acknowledges and agrees that any and all reports and financial information disclosed by Licensee pursuant to this Restated Agreement is confidential information commercially valuable to Licensee (hereinafter the “Licensee Information”). Licensor acknowledges that the Licensee Information is disclosed to Licensor on a confidential basis to be used only as
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may be expressly permitted by the terms and conditions of this Restated Agreement. Licensor, its officers, directors, employees, and agents shall protect the Licensee Information as the confidential information and property of Licensee. Licensor shall not disclose any Licensee Information to any other person, firm, organization, or employee who is not authorized, in writing, by Licensee. Except as expressly permitted hereunder, the Licensee Information may not be copied, reprinted, duplicated, or recreated in whole or in part without the express written consent of Licensee. Licensor shall take reasonable action by instruction, agreement or otherwise with respect to Licensor’s employees or other persons permitted to access the Licensee Information to comply fully with Licensor’s obligations hereto with respect to the use, copying, protection, and security of the Licensee Information. Licensor agrees to return the Licensee Information, and all copies thereof, to Licensee, upon request. Licensee hereby consents to the disclosure of the License Information to any of the Licensor’s attorneys, accountants and other third parties who have a business “need to know” in connection with any financing or securitization.
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If to Licensor: |
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With a copy to: |
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Cherokee Inc. |
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Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP |
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0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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0000 Xxxxxx of the Stars; 0xx Xxxxx |
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Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
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Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
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Attn: Chief Executive Officer |
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Attn: Xxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq. |
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If to Licensee: |
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With a copy to: |
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Target Corporation |
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Target Corporation |
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1000 Nicollet Mall |
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0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx |
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Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
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Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
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Attn: SVP Merchandising, Softlines |
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Attn: General Counsel |
If delivered personally, such notices or other communications shall be deemed delivered upon delivery. If sent by fax, such notice or other communications shall be deemed delivered when received, provided that the sender has confirmation of receipt. If sent by prepaid over-night courier service, such notices or other communications shall be deemed delivered upon delivery or refusal to accept delivery as indicated on the return receipt. Either party may change its address at any time by written notice to the other party as set forth above.
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herein. Effective February 1, 2008, this Restated Agreement shall supersede any and all other agreements and amendments between the Parties, including, without limitation, the Prior Agreement between Licensor and Licensee, and may be modified only by a written agreement signed by duly authorized of each of the Parties. No representations, oral or otherwise expressed or implied, other than those specifically contained in this Restated Agreement have been made by any party hereto. No other agreements not referred to or specifically contained herein, oral or otherwise, shall be deemed to exist or to bind any of the Parties hereto.
d. Choice of Law. The validity, construction and enforcement of this Restated Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to its choice of law principles.
The license and rights granted hereunder are personal to Licensee. No assignee for the benefit of creditors, receiver, debtor in possession, trustee in bankruptcy, sheriff or any other officer of court charged with taking over custody of Licensee’s assets or business shall have any right to continue performance to exploit or in any way use the Trademark if this Restated Agreement is terminated, except as may be required by law.
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In the event of such termination, Licensee shall have the right to continue thereafter to import and/or sell any and all Merchandise which Licensee has purchased, produced or committed to purchase prior to the date of termination.
The provisions of this Section 12 shall survive the expiration or sooner termination of this Restated Agreement.
TARGET CORPORATION |
CHEROKEE, INC. | ||||
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
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Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
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Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
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SVP, Merchandising, Softlines |
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Chief Executive Officer | ||
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