Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. Contracts
Sample Business Contracts
License Agreement - Polo Ralph Lauren LP and Jones Apparel Group Inc.
LICENSE AGREEMENT, dated as of October 18, 1995 by and between Polo Ralph
Lauren, L.P. ("Licensor"), with a place of business at 650 Madison Avenue, New
York, New York 10022, and Jones Apparel Group, Inc. ("Licensee"), a Pennsylvania
corporation with a place of business at 250 Rittenhouse Circle, Bristol,
Pennsylvania 19007.
WHEREAS, Licensor is engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling and
promoting, and licensing others the right to manufacture, sell and promote, high
quality apparel and related merchandise under certain Polo/Ralph Lauren
trademarks and trade names; and
WHEREAS, Licensee desires to obtain, and Licensor is willing to grant, a
license pursuant to which Licensee shall have the right to use the Trademark (as
hereinafter defined) on the terms set forth herein;
1. Definitions. As used herein, the term:
1.1. "License" shall mean the exclusive, non-assignable right to use the
Trademark in connection with the manufacture and/or importation and sale of
Licensed Products in the Territory.
1.2. "Licensed Products" shall mean those items set forth on Schedule A
attached hereto and made a part hereof, and all bearing the Trademark. From time
to time Licensor may authorize Licensee to manufacture and distribute products
bearing the Trademark not expressly listed in Schedule A hereto. Absent an
agreement with respect to such products signed by Licensor and Licensee, all
such products shall be deemed Licensed Products for all purposes hereunder;
provided, however, that Licensee's rights with respect to such products (i)
shall be non-exclusive and (ii) may be terminated by Licensor upon 90 days
written notice.
1.3. "Licensor" shall mean Polo Ralph Lauren, L.P., a limited partnership
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.
1.4. "Licensee" shall mean Jones Apparel Group, Inc., a corporation
organized under the laws of Pennsylvania.
1.5. "Territory" the United States of America, its territories and
possessions. From time to time Licensor may authorize Licensee to sell certain
Licensed Products to specific purchasers outside the Territory. Absent an
agreement with respect to such sales signed by Licensor and Licensee, all such
sales shall be made on all of the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement; provided, however, that Licensee's right to make such sales shall be
non-exclusive and may be terminated by Licensor immediately upon written notice
to Licensee. Any such termination
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shall not apply to orders already taken by Licensee in accordance with
Licensor's prior authorization. In the event that Licensor wishes to use or
license a third party to use the Trademark on Licensed Products sold in Canada
during the term hereof, Licensor shall grant to Licensee a right of first
refusal to act as the Licensee therefor. In the implementation of said first
refusal rights, Licensor shall give Licensee notice of the Offer Terms upon
which it proposes to grant a license ("Licensor's Offer") for such products.
Licensee shall have a period of forty-five (45) days after the date of
Licensor's notice of the Offer Terms to accept or reject Licensor's Offer in
writing. If Licensee rejects Licensor's Offer or if Licensee initially accepts
Licensor's Offer but thereafter is unable to satisfy the Offer Terms, then
Licensor shall be free to make a substantially similar Licensor's Offer to any
third party. If Licensor shall substantially (as determined in Licensor's
reasonable discretion) change the Offer Terms then, during the term hereof,
Licensee's right of first refusal as provided hereinabove shall apply to such
changed Offer Terms.
1.6. "Trademark" shall mean the trademark set forth on Schedule B hereto,
and no other trademark, regardless of whether such trademark is or includes any
reference to "Ralph Lauren" or any other trademark owned by Licensor or its
affiliates. Licensor shall have the sole right to determine the manner and use
each of the Trademark in connection with each particular Licensed Product.
2. Grant of License.
2.1. Subject to the terms and provisions hereof, Licensor hereby grants
Licensee and Licensee hereby accepts the License. Licensor shall neither use nor
authorize third parties to use the Trademark in connection with the manufacture,
sale and/or importation of Licensed Products in the Territory during the term of
this Agreement without Licensee's prior approval. To the extent it is legally
permissible to do so, no license is granted hereunder for the manufacture, sale
or distribution of Licensed Products to be used for publicity purposes, other
than publicity of Licensed Products, in combination sales, as premiums or
giveaways, or to be disposed of under or in connection with similar methods of
merchandising, such license being specifically reserved for Licensor.
2.2. It is understood and agreed that the License applies solely to the
use of the Trademark on the Licensed Products, and that (i) no use of any other
trademark of Licensor or of any of Licensor's affiliates (including any
trademark that uses the name "Ralph Lauren"), and (ii) no use of the Trademark
on any other products, is authorized or permitted. Licensor reserves the right
to use, and to grant to any other licensee the right to use, the Trademark,
whether within or outside the Territory, in connection with any and all products
and services, other than Licensed Products within the Territory. Licensee
understands and agrees that
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Licensor may itself manufacture or authorize third parties to manufacture in the
Territory, Licensed Products for ultimate sale outside of the Territory. Subject
to the terms of paragraph 17.4 hereof, Licensee may manufacture or cause to be
manufactured the Licensed Products outside of the Territory, but solely for
purposes of sale within the Territory pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
2.3. Licensee shall not have the right to use Licensee's name on or in
connection with the Licensed Products, except with the prior approval by
Licensor of the use and placement of Licensee's name. Licensee shall, at the
option of Licensor, include on its business materials and/or the Licensed
Products an indication of the relationship of the parties hereto in a form
approved by Licensor.
2.4. Licensee shall not use or permit or authorize another person or
entity in its control to use the words "Polo" or "Ralph Lauren" as part of a
corporate name or tradename without the express written consent of Licensor and
Licensee shall not permit or authorize use of the Trademark in such a way so as
to give the impression that the name "Ralph Lauren," or the Trademark, or any
modifications thereof, are the property of Licensee.
2.5. In the event that (i) Sidney Kimmel is no longer the Chairman of
Licensee and the owner of a controlling interest in Licensee, and (ii) Licensee,
directly or indirectly, agrees to manufacture, distribute, sell or advertise
during the term of this Agreement any items which bear the name or are
associated with the name of any person or entity listed on Schedule C hereto,
Licensor shall have the right to terminate the term of this Agreement upon sixty
(60) days written notice.
2.6. Licensor represents and warrants that it has full right, power and
authority to enter into this Agreement, to perform all of its obligations
hereunder, and to consummate all of the transactions contemplated herein. In the
event that Licensee or Licensor is charged with infringement on account of
Licensee's use of any of the Trademark or, if in connection with the development
of Licensor's program in the Territory, Licensor determines that the use by
Licensee of the trademark should be discontinued upon reasonable written notice
to Licensee, this license under the Trademark shall be converted to a license
under other mutually agreeable "Ralph Lauren" trademark(s) or label(s); in such
event Licensee hereby accepts the exclusive license to use such "Ralph Lauren"
trademark(s) in connection with the manufacture and sale of Licensed Products in
the Territory subject to all other terms of this License Agreement. In such
event, Licensee shall immediately advise Licensor of its inventory of Licensed
Products labelled with the Trademark(s) and of its stock of business materials
bearing the Trademark(s) and Licensor shall, in its reasonable discretion and
judgment, determine whether and to what extent such inventory and
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materials of Licensee may continue to be used by Licensee.
2.7. Licensee shall not purport to grant any right, permission or license
hereunder to any third party, whether at common law or otherwise. Licensee shall
not without Licensor's prior written approval sell any Licensed Products bearing
the Mark to any third party which, directly or indirectly, sells or proposes to
sell such Licensed Products outside the Territory. Licensee shall use its best
efforts to prevent any such resale outside the Territory and shall, immediately
upon learning or receiving notice from Licensor that a customer is selling
Licensed Products outside the Territory, cease all sales and deliveries to such
customer.
2.8. Licensee recognizes that there are many uncertainties in the business
contemplated by this Agreement. Licensee agrees and acknowledges that other than
those representations explicitly contained in this Agreement, if any, no
representations, warranties or guarantees of any kind have been made to
Licensee, either by Licensor or its affiliates, or by anyone acting on their
behalf. Without limitation, no representations concerning the value of the
Licensed Products or the prospects for the level of their sales or profits have
been made and Licensee has made its own independent business evaluation in
deciding to manufacture and distribute the Licensed Products on the terms set
forth herein.
3. Design Standards and Prestige of Licensed Products.
3.1. Licensee acknowledges that it has entered into a design services
agreement ("Design Agreement"), of even date herewith, with Polo Ralph Lauren
Enterprises, L.P. (the "Design Partnership"), which provides for the furnishing
to Licensee by the Design Partnership of design concepts and other professional
services so as to enable Licensee to manufacture or cause to be manufactured the
Licensed Products in conformity with the established prestige and goodwill of
the Trademark. Licensee shall manufacture, or cause to be manufactured, and sell
only such Licensed Products as are made in accordance with the design and
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other information approved under, and in all other respects in strict conformity
with the terms of, the Design Agreement.
3.2. Licensee acknowledges that the Trademark has established prestige and
goodwill and are 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 various lines
of Licensor's products, including the Licensed Products, the high standards and
reputation that Licensor and Ralph Lauren have established be maintained.
Accordingly, all items of Licensed Products manufactured or caused to be
manufactured by Licensee hereunder shall be of high quality workmanship with
strict adherence to all details and characteristics embodied in the designs
furnished pursuant to the Design Agreement. Licensee shall supply Licensor with
samples of the Licensed Products (including, if Licensor so requests, samples of
labeling and packaging used in connection therewith) prior to production and
from time to time during production, and shall, at all times during the term
hereof, upon Licensor's request, make its manufacturing facilities available to
Licensor, and shall use its best efforts to make available each subcontractor's
manufacturing facilities for inspection by Licensor's representatives during
usual working hours. No sales of miscuts or damaged merchandise shall contain
any labels or other identification bearing the Trademark without Licensor's
prior written approval, but sales of all products of Licensor or the Design
Partnership's design shall nonetheless be subject to royalty payments pursuant
to paragraph 6 hereof.
3.3. In the event that any Licensed Product is, in the judgment of
Licensor, not being manufactured, distributed or sold with first quality
workmanship or in strict adherence to all details and characteristics furnished
pursuant to the Design Agreement, Licensor shall notify Licensee thereof in
writing and Licensee shall promptly repair or change such Licensed Product to
conform thereto. If a Licensed Product as repaired or changed does not strictly
conform after Licensor's request and such strict conformity cannot be obtained
after at least one (1) resubmission, the Trademark shall be promptly removed
from the item, at the option of Licensor, in which event the item may be sold by
Licensee without payment of any royalty hereunder, provided such miscut or
damaged item does not contain any labels or other identification bearing the
Trademark. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph 3.3 to the contrary, sales
of all products of Licensor's or the Design Partnership's design, whether or not
bearing the Trademark, shall nonetheless be subject to royalty payments pursuant
to paragraph 6 hereof. Licensor hereby approves Licensee's sale of excess
inventory, cutups and clearly marked seconds or irregular merchandise, on all
the terms set forth herein: (i) first, upon request to Licensor's factory outlet
stores to the extent of their requirements (subject to a reasonable assortment
being purchased), at a price equal to thirty-two percent (32%) off the regular
wholesale price of such products (but Licensee shall not be
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responsible for any royalty payments hereunder or for any compensation payments
under the Design Agreement with respect to such sales) and (ii) second, at
factory outlet stores owned by Licensee or its affiliates ("Licensee Outlet
Stores") and (iii) at such other locations as Licensor may hereafter approve.
Licensor and Licensee shall separately agree to the terms of license agreements
for Licensee Outlet Stores, which shall bear the Trademark as a service mark,
("Store License Agreements"), it being understood that such Store License
Agreements shall (i) not require Licensee to pay Licensor any separate royalty
or other compensation for the right to use such service mark herein and in the
Design Agreement; (ii) Licensor shall have a right to approve each location for
each Licensee Outlet Store in its reasonable business judgment, it being
understood that Licensor does not presently intend to approve more than one
Licensee Outlet Store in each center and (iii) such Store License Agreements
shall be consistent with other similar agreements Licensor has entered into with
third parties and shall provide for Licensor's right to approve various aspects
of the design, decoration, accessorization and operation of all Licensee Outlet
Stores.
3.4. At the request of Licensor, Licensee shall cause to be placed on all
Licensed Products appropriate notice designating Licensor or the Design
Partnership as the copyright or design patent owner thereof, as the case may be.
The manner of presentation of said notices shall be determined by Licensor.
4. Marketing.
4.1. The distribution of the Licensed Products in the Territory shall be
performed by Licensee exclusively. The Licensed Products shall be sold by
Licensee only to those specialty shops, department stores and other retail
outlets which deal in products similar in quality and prestige to Licensed
Products, and whose operations will enhance the quality and prestige of the
Trademark, and only to those customers listed on Schedule D hereto and other
customers of similar quality and prestige. Licensor shall have the right to
object by notice to Licensee to any customer not listed on Schedule D hereto,
and Licensee shall not thereafter accept orders from such customer, (but
Licensee may fulfill orders accepted prior to Licensee's receipt of such
notice). In the event Licensor reasonably determines that the unauthorized
resale of Licensed Products through unauthorized distribution channels is
causing a negative impact on the reputation and desirability of Licensor's
products, Licensee shall consult with Licensor in good faith regarding what
steps, including the possibility of implementing an inventory marking system,
may be taken to remedy such negative impact. Licensee shall not market or
promote or seek customers for the Licensed Products outside of the Territory and
Licensee shall not establish a branch, wholly owned subsidiary, distribution or
warehouse with inventories of Licensed Products outside of the Territory.
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4.2. Licensee acknowledges that in order to preserve the good will
attached to the Ralph Lauren trademarks, the Licensed Products are to be sold at
prices and terms reflecting the prestigious nature of such trademarks, it being
understood, however, that Licensor is not empowered to fix or regulate the
prices at which the Licensed Products are to be sold, either at the wholesale or
retail level.
4.3. Licensee shall maintain the high standards of the Trademark and the
Licensed Products, in all advertising, packaging and promotion of the Licensed
Products. Licensee shall not employ or otherwise release any of such advertising
or packaging or other business materials relating to any Licensed Products or
bearing the Trademark, unless and until Licensee shall have made a request, in
writing, for approval by Licensor. Licensor may, with respect to any
advertising, packaging or business materials submitted by Licensee, make such
suggestions as Licensor deems necessary or appropriate, or disapprove, in either
event by notice to Licensee. Any approval granted hereunder shall be limited to
use during the seasonal collection of Licensed Products to which such
advertising relates and shall be further limited to the use (e.g. TV or print)
for which approval by Licensor was granted. Licensee shall, at the option of
Licensor, include on its business materials an indication of the relationship of
the parties hereto in a form approved by Licensor.
4.4. Licensee shall use its best efforts to assure that all cooperative
advertising, whereby Licensee provides a customer with a contribution toward the
cost of an advertisement for Licensed Products, whether Licensee's contribution
be in the form of an actual monetary contribution, a credit or otherwise, shall
be subject to prior approval of Licensor under the same terms and conditions as
apply to advertising and promotional materials prepared by or to be used by
Licensee pursuant to paragraph 4.5 hereof; provided, however, that in the event
that Licensee is not as a matter of practice given an opportunity to review the
cooperative advertising due to time constraints, then Licensee shall notify
Licensor, in advance, of those customers with whom it does cooperative Licensed
Product advertising and/or promotion, and Licensee at Licensor's request shall
notify the named customer of the terms of this Agreement which pertain to the
said advertising or promotional materials.
4.5. Licensee shall exercise its best efforts to safeguard the established
prestige and goodwill of the name "Ralph Lauren" and the trademarks associated
therewith at the same level of prestige and goodwill as heretofore maintained.
"Image" as used herein refers primarily to quality and style of packaging,
advertising and promotion, creation and introduction of new products, type of
outlets with reference to quality of service provided by retail outlets and
quality of presentation of Licensed Products in retail outlets. Licensee shall
take all necessary
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steps, and all steps reasonably requested by Licensor, to prevent or avoid any
misuse of the Trademark by any of its customers, contractors or other resources.
4.6. During each year of this Agreement, Licensee shall expend for the
advertising of Licensed Products, which advertising may consist of cooperative
advertising, an amount that is not less than the "Annual Advertising
Obligation", as hereinafter defined, for such year. Licensor and Licensee shall
consult with each other regarding the creation, production and placement of all
advertising of Licensed Products, but all final decisions with respect thereto
shall be made by Licensor in its sole discretion. The "Annual Advertising
Obligation" for each year during the term hereof shall be [ * * * ] percent
([***]%) of the aggregate net sales price (as defined in paragraph 6.2 hereof)
of Licensed Products sold during such year. Licensee shall deliver to Licensor
within sixty (60) days after the end of each year hereof an accounting statement
in respect of amounts expended by Licensee on advertising for the prior year.
Each such accounting statement shall be signed, and certified as correct, by a
duly authorized officer of Licensee. Prior to each year hereof, Licensee shall
submit Licensee's advertising budget for the upcoming year, based on the
aggregate net sales price of Licensed Products during the year then ending and
on sales projected for the upcoming year. The Annual Advertising Obligation for
such upcoming year will initially be calculated and expended based upon such
budget. If in any year during the term hereof an amount less than the Annual
Advertising Obligation is expended on advertising for any reason whatsoever
(including an underestimate of the actual net sales for such year or because the
actual cost of Institutional Advertising, if any, produced and placed during
such year is less than the Annual Advertising Obligation), the entire amount not
expended shall be added to the Annual Advertising Obligation for the following
year.
4.7. During the term of this Agreement, Licensee shall, in consultation
with Licensor, provide a budget for the design, construction, re-fits and
seasonal changeovers of in-store shops and fixtures to be used exclusively for
the presentation of Licensed Products, the design of which shall be subject to
Licensor's prior approval. Licensee's budget for such purposes shall be adequate
to present Licensed Products in a manner consistent with the high quality and
prestige associated with Licensor's trademarks and the price structure of the
Licensed Products.
4.8. To the extent permitted by applicable law Licensor may from time to
time, and in writing, promulgate reasonable rules and regulations to Licensee
relating to the manner of use of the Trademark. Licensee shall comply with such
rules and regulations. Any such rules or regulations shall not be inconsistent
with or derogate from the terms of this Agreement.
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4.9. Licensee agrees to make available for purchase and to sell on its
customary price, credit and payment terms all lines and styles of Licensed
Products to retail stores in the Territory bearing a trademark of Licensor or
its affiliates and to any stores or facilities operated or owned by Licensor and
its affiliates, which are authorized to sell the Licensed Products within such
retail stores.
4.10. In consideration of the License granted herein, in the event
Licensor elects to offer Licensed Products for sale in mail-order catalogs,
Licensee shall sell and timely ship Licensed Products to Licensor or its
affiliate for such purposes at a price equal to 30% less than the regular
wholesale price therefor. All such sales shall be separately reported by
Licensee in its accounting statements pursuant to paragraph 6.2 hereof, and such
sales shall not be subject to the royalty or advertising obligations set forth
herein, or to the compensation obligations set forth in the Design Agreement.
4.11. Licensor shall respond to any requests for approvals or consents
from Licensee hereunder as promptly as reasonably practicable consistent with
the level of review required.
5. Trademark Protection.
5.1. All uses of the Trademark by Licensee, including, without limitation,
use in any business documents, invoices, stationery, advertising, promotions,
labels, packaging and otherwise shall require Licensor's prior written consent
in accordance with paragraph 4 hereof.
5.2. All uses of the Trademark by Licensee in advertising, promotions,
labels and packaging shall bear the notation "Ralph (Polo Player Design) Lauren"
or the representation of the Polo Player, as the case may be, and shall include
at Licensor's option, a notice to the effect that each Trademark is used by
Licensee for the account and benefit of Licensor or that Licensee is a
registered user thereof or both such statements. The use of the Trademark
pursuant to this Agreement shall be for the benefit of Polo and shall not vest
in Licensee any title to or right or presumptive right to continue such use. For
the purposes of trademark registration, sales by Licensee shall be deemed to
have been made by Licensor.
5.3. Licensee shall cooperate fully and in good faith with Licensor for
the purpose of securing and preserving Licensor's rights in and to the
Trademark. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as an
assignment or grant to Licensee of any right, title or interest in or to the
Trademark, or any of Licensor's other trademarks, it being understood that all
rights relating thereto are reserved by Licensor, except for the License
hereunder to Licensee of the right to use the Trademark only as
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specifically and expressly provided herein. Licensee shall not file or prosecute
a trademark or service mark application or applications to register the
Trademark, for Licensed Products or otherwise.
5.4. Licensee shall not, during the term of this Agreement or thereafter,
(a) attack Licensor's title or rights in and to Licensor's trademarks in any
jurisdiction or attack the validity of this License or Licensor's trademarks or
(b) contest the fact that Licensee's rights under this Agreement (i) are solely
those of a licensee, manufacturer and distributor and (ii) subject to the
provisions of paragraph 10 hereof, cease upon termination of this Agreement. The
provisions of this paragraph 5.4 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
5.5. All right, title and interest in and to all samples, patterns,
sketches, designs, artwork, logos and other materials furnished by Licensor or
the Design Partnership, whether created by Licensor or the Design Partnership,
and any logo or crest associated with the Trademark, even if such logo or crest
was designed or furnished by Licensee, shall be the sole property of Licensor
and/or the Design Partnership, as the case may be. Licensee shall assist
Licensor to the extent necessary in the protection of or the procurement of any
protection of Licensor's rights to the Trademark, designs, design patents and
copyrights hereunder and Licensor, if Licensor so desires, may commence or
prosecute any claims or suits in Licensor's own name or in the name of Licensee
or join Licensee as a party thereto. Licensee shall promptly notify Licensor in
writing of any uses which may be infringements or imitations by others of the
Trademark on articles similar to those covered by this Agreement which may come
to Licensee's attention. Licensor shall have the sole right to determine whether
or not any action shall be taken on account of any such infringements or
imitations. Licensor shall bear one hundred percent (100%) of the costs of all
actions or proceedings it undertakes, and shall be entitled to all recoveries in
such actions. If Licensor declines to take action with respect to a particular
infringer Licensee is not obligated to but may, with Licensor's prior written
consent, undertake such action at Licensee's expense, in which case Licensee
shall be entitled to all recoveries in such action.
6. Royalties.
6.1. Licensee shall pay to Licensor minimum royalties for each year during
the term of this Agreement as compensation for the License granted hereunder for
the use of the Trademark in the manufacture and sale, and/or importation and
sale, of Licensed Products in the Territory. The minimum royalty for each year
during the term hereof shall be as follows:
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Year 1 (1997) $ [ * * * ]
Year 2 $ [ * * * ]
Year 3 $ [ * * * ]
Year 4 $ [ * * * ]
Year 5 $ [ * * * ]
Minimum royalties for each year shall be paid on a quarterly basis, beginning
with the minimum royalty payment to be made for the first calendar quarter of
[ * * * ], in the manner set forth in paragraph 6.2 below. No credit shall be
permitted against minimum royalties payable in any year on account of actual or
minimum royalties paid in any other year, and minimum royalties shall not be
returnable. Minimum royalties for each year of the "Renewal Term" (as defined in
paragraph 8 hereof) shall be an amount equal to [ * * * ] percent ([***]%) of
the actual earned royalty due to Licensor for sales of Licensed Products in
2001. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "year" shall mean a period of
twelve (12) months commencing on each January 1 during the term of this
Agreement; provided, however, that the "first year", or "Year 1" shall mean the
period commencing on the date hereof and expiring on December 31, 1997
[ * * * ].
6.2. Licensee shall pay to Licensor earned royalties based on the net
sales price of all Licensed Products manufactured or imported and sold by
Licensee hereunder. Earned royalties shall equal [ * * * ] percent ([***]%) of
the net sales price of all Licensed Products sold under this Agreement,
including, without limitation, any sales made pursuant to the terms of paragraph
10.2 hereof; provided, however, that Licensor hereby waives earned royalties
with respect to Licensed Products sold and shipped prior to December 31, 1996
for the Fall 1996 and Cruise/Holiday 1996 seasons, but Licensor does not waive
earned royalties in respect of Licensed Products for the Spring 1996 season,
even if such Licensed Products are sold and shipped prior to December 31,
1996. Licensee shall prepare or cause to be prepared statements of operations
for the first month in which Licensed Products are offered for sale to the
trade, and for each month thereafter for so long as Licensee is offering
Licensed Products for sale hereunder, which statements shall be furnished to
Licensor together with the earned royalties due for each such month on the last
day of the following month. The statement and royalty payment provided on the
last day of each April (for the month of March), July (for the month of June),
October (for the month of September) and January (for the month of December)
during the term shall also include Licensee's minimum royalty obligation for the
preceding calendar quarter, less the aggregate earned royalties paid for such
calendar quarter. The term "net sales price" shall mean the gross sales price to
retailers of all Licensed Products sold under this Agreement or, with respect to
Licensed Products that are not sold directly or indirectly to retailers, other
ultimate consumers (as in the case of accommodation sales by Licensee to its
employees or sales by Licensee in its own shops), less trade discounts,
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merchandise returns, sales tax (if separately identified and charged) and
markdowns and/or chargebacks which, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, would normally be treated as deductions from gross sales,
and which, in any event, do not include any chargebacks or the like for
advertising, fixture or retail shop costs or contributions, or contributions for
in-store personnel. No other deductions shall be taken. Any merchandise returns
shall be credited in the month in which the returns are actually made. For
purposes of this Agreement, affiliates of Licensee shall mean all persons and
business entities, whether corporations, partnerships, joint ventures or
otherwise, which now or hereafter control, or are owned or controlled, directly
or indirectly by Licensee, or are under common control with Licensee. It is the
intention of the parties that royalties will be based on the bona fide wholesale
prices at which Licensee sells Licensed Products to independent retailers in
arms' length transactions. In the event Licensee shall sell Licensed Products to
its affiliates, royalties shall be calculated on the basis of such a bona fide
wholesale price irrespective of Licensee's internal accounting treatment of such
sale; provided, however, that royalties on sales to Licensee Outlet Stores (as
defined in paragraph 3.3 hereof) shall be calculated on the basis of the actual
invoice price to such Licensee Outlet Stores, but in no event less than an
amount equal to twenty-five (25%) percent less than the regular wholesale price
of such Licensed Products. Licensee shall identify separately in the statements
of operations provided to Licensor pursuant to paragraph 7 hereof, all sales to
affiliates and through Licensee Outlet Stores. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein or in the Design Agreement, Licensee may sell to its
own employees involved in the business contemplated hereunder, for their
personal use, Licensed Products at a discount of thirty-five (35%) percent or
more off the regular wholesale price thereof, without payment of royalties or
compensation to Licensor; provided that such sales do not exceed $1,000,000 in
any year.
6.3. If the payment of any installment of royalties is delayed for any
reason, interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal amount of such installment
from and after the date which is 10 days after the date the same became due
pursuant to paragraphs 6.1 or 6.2 hereof at the lower of the highest rate
permitted by law in New York and 2% per annum above the prime rate of interest
in effect from time to time at Chemical Bank, New York, New York or any
successor bank.
6.4. The obligation of Licensee to pay royalties hereunder shall be
absolute notwithstanding any claim which Licensee may assert against Licensor or
the Design Partnership. Licensee shall not have the right to set-off, compensate
or make any deduction from such royalty payments for any reason whatsoever.
7. Accounting.
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7.1. Licensee shall at all times keep an accurate account of all
operations within the scope of this Agreement and shall render a full statement
of such operations in writing to Licensor in accordance with paragraph 6.2
hereof. Such statements shall account separately for each different product
category and shall include all aggregate gross sales, trade discounts,
merchandise returns, sales of miscuts and damaged merchandise and net sales
price of all sales for the previous month. Such statements shall be in
sufficient detail to be audited from the books of Licensee. Once annually, which
may be in connection with the regular annual audit of Licensee's books, Licensee
shall furnish an annual statement of the aggregate gross sales, trade discounts,
merchandise returns and net sales price of all Licensed Products made or sold by
Licensee certified by Licensee's independent accountant. Each monthly financial
statement furnished by Licensee shall be certified by the chief financial
officer or controller of Licensee.
7.2 Licensor and its duly authorized representatives, on reasonable
notice, shall have the right, no more than once in each year during regular
business hours, for the duration of the term of this Agreement and for three (3)
years thereafter, to examine the books of account and records and all other
documents, materials and inventory in the possession or under the control of
Licensee and its successors with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement. All such books of account, records and documents shall be maintained
and kept available by Licensee for at least the duration of this Agreement and
for three (3) years thereafter. Licensor shall have free and full access thereto
in the manner set forth above and shall have the right to make copies and/or
extracts therefrom. If as a result of any examination of Licensee's books and
records it is shown that Licensee's payments to Licensor hereunder with respect
to any twelve (12) month period were less than or greater than the amount which
should have been paid to Licensor by an amount equal to three and one-half
percent (3 1/2%) of the amount which should have been paid during such twelve
(12) month period, Licensee will, in addition to reimbursement of any
underpayment, with interest from the date on which each payment was due at the
rate set forth in paragraph 6.3 hereof, promptly reimburse Licensor for the cost
of such examination. Licensee shall provide Licensor each year with a copy of
its annual report, as soon as it is made available to Licensee's Shareholders.
8. Term.
8.1 The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the date hereof and
shall terminate on December 31, 2001; provided, however, that if no Event of
Default shall have occurred and not been cured or waived, and Licensee has
achieved the Minimum Renewal Volume (as such term is hereinafter defined) for
the period January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000, Licensee shall have the
option, upon providing notice to Licensor on or before April 1, 2001, to renew
this Agreement for an additional three (3) year period (the
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<PAGE> 15
"Renewal Term") so as to expire on December 31, 2004, on the terms and
conditions herein except that there will be no further right to renewal. The
minimum aggregate net sales price which Licensee must achieve in connection with
sales of Licensed Products during the period from January 1, 2000 to December
31, 2000 to (the "Minimum Renewal Volume") in order to be entitled to renew this
Agreement for a second term as hereinabove provided shall be $ [ * * * ] (the
"Renewal Volume"). In the event Licensee exercises its option for a Renewal
Term, each of Licensor and Licensee shall give the other notice, on or before
January 1, 2004, of its desire to extend the term hereof beyond December 31,
2004. In the event Licensee does not achieve the Renewal Volume as hereinabove
provided, Licensee may nevertheless request an extension of the term beyond
December 31, 2001, and Licensor shall respond to such request (which response
shall be in Licensor's sole discretion) within thirty (30) days after its
receipt thereof. It is expressly understood that only the company (which may be
Licensee) whose licensed term covers the period subsequent to the expiration of
this Agreement shall be entitled to receive designs for Licensed Products
intended to be sold after the expiration of this Agreement, and to make
presentations of such Licensed Products during the market presentation weeks
that relate to such subsequent period, even if such market presentation occurs
prior to the termination of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, in the event the term hereof is not renewed or extended at the
end of the initial or any renewal term, the last season for which Licensee shall
be entitled to receive designs and, during the term hereof, to manufacture and
sell Licensed Products shall be the Cruise/Holiday season for the last year of
the relevant period, and Licensor shall be entitled to undertake, directly or
through a successor licensee, all activities associated with the design,
manufacture and sale Licensed Products commencing with the immediately following
Spring season.
8.2 Notwithstanding the terms of paragraph 8.1 hereof or anything to the
contrary contained herein or in the Design Agreement, in the event that the
aggregate net sales price of Licensed Products sold during the period January 1,
1999 through December 31, 1999 is less than $ [ * * * ], Licensee shall so
notify Licensor immediately upon becoming aware of such event and in no event
later than February 1, 2000 and, in such event, each of Licensor and Licensee
shall have the right, in its sole discretion, by notice to the other on or
before March 1, 2000, to terminate the term of this Agreement and the Design
Services Agreement effective as of December 31, 2000. In the event either party
gives notice of such termination, the effect for all purposes shall be the same
as if the term of this Agreement and the Design Services Agreement expired on
December 31, 2000; provided, however, that Licensee shall not be responsible for
the minimum royalties which would otherwise be due pursuant to paragraph 6.1
hereof or for the minimum compensation payments which would otherwise be due
pursuant to paragraph 4.1 of the Design Agreement, but shall be responsible
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<PAGE> 16
for all earned royalty and other payments due hereunder and for all earned
compensation and other payments due under the Design Agreement.
9. Default; Change of Control.
9.1. Each of the following shall constitute an event of default ("Event of
Default") hereunder:
(i) Any installment of royalty payments is not paid when due and
such default continues for more than fifteen (15) days after written
notice thereof to Licensee;
(ii) Licensee shall fail to timely present for sale to the trade a
broadly representative and fair collection of each seasonal collection of
Licensed Products designed by the Design Partnership under the Design
Agreement or Licensee shall fail to timely ship to its customers a
material portion of the orders of Licensed Products it has accepted;
(iii) Licensee defaults in performing any of the other terms of this
Agreement and continues in such default for a period of thirty (30) days
after notice thereof (unless the default cannot be cured within such
thirty (30) day period and Licensee shall have commenced to cure the
default and proceeds diligently thereafter to cure within an additional
fifteen (15) day period);
(iv) Licensee fails within fifteen (15) days after written notice
that payment is overdue to pay for any Licensed Products or materials,
trim, fabrics, packaging or services relating to Licensed Products
purchased by Licensee from Licensor or, unless Licensee is contesting in
good faith the amount due, any agent or licensee of Licensor or any other
supplier of such items;
(v) If Licensee shall use the Trademark in an unauthorized or
improper manner and/or if Licensee shall make an unauthorized disclosure
of confidential information or materials given or loaned to Licensee by
Licensor and/or the Design Partnership;
(vi) Licensee institutes proceedings seeking relief under a
bankruptcy act or any similar law, or consents to entry of any order for
relief against it in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or similar
proceeding, or files a petition for or consent or answer consenting to
reorganization or other relief under any bankruptcy act or other similar
law, or consents to the filing against it of any petition for the
appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian,
sequestrator (or other similar official) of it or of any substantial part
of its property, or a proceeding
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<PAGE> 17
seeking such an appointment shall have been commenced without Licensee's
consent and shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order
providing for such an appointment shall have been entered, or makes an
assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admits in writing its
inability to pay its debts as they become due or fails to pay its debts as
they become due, or takes any action in furtherance of the foregoing;
(vii) Licensee transfers or agrees to transfer substantially all of
its property in a transaction which results in ownership inconsistent with
the terms of paragraph 9.3 hereof;
(viii) The calling of a meeting of creditors, appointment of a
committee of creditors or liquidating agents, or offering a composition or
extension to creditors by, for or of Licensee;
(ix) There shall be a direct or indirect change in control of the
company which results in ownership inconsistent with the terms of
paragraph 9.3 hereof;
(x) An event of default occurs under the Design, or any other
license agreement entered into between Licensor (or its
predecessor-in-interest) and Licensee or design agreement between Licensee
and the Design Partnership (or its predecessor-in-interest);
(xi) Licensee shall have failed to perform any material term,
covenant or agreement on its part to be performed under any agreement or
instrument (other than this Agreement) evidencing or securing or relating
to any indebtedness owing by Licensee, if the effect of such failure is to
accelerate the maturity of such indebtedness, or to permit the holder or
holders of such indebtedness to cause such indebtedness to become due
prior to the stated maturity thereof.
9.2. If any Event of Default described in paragraphs 9.1 (i), (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v), (ix), (x) or (xi) shall occur, Licensor shall have the right,
exercisable in its sole discretion, to terminate this Agreement and the License
upon ten (10) days' written notice to Licensee of its intention to do so, and
upon the expiration of such ten (10) day period, this Agreement and the License
shall terminate and come to an end. If the Event of Default described in
paragraphs 9.1 (vi), (vii) or (viii) shall occur, this Agreement and the License
shall thereupon forthwith terminate and come to an end without any need for
notice to Licensee. This Agreement will terminate automatically upon the
expiration or termination for any reason whatsoever of the Design Agreement. Any
termination of this Agreement shall be without prejudice to any remedy of
Licensor for the recovery of any monies then due it under
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<PAGE> 18
this Agreement or in respect to any antecedent breach of this Agreement, and
without prejudice to any other right of Licensor including, without limitation,
damages for breach to the extent that the same may be recoverable and Licensee
agrees to reimburse Licensor for any costs and expenses (including attorneys'
fees) incurred by Licensor in enforcing its rights hereunder. No assignee for
the benefit of creditors, receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee in
bankruptcy, sheriff or any other officer of the court or official charged with
taking over custody of Licensee's assets or business shall have any right to
continue the performance of this Agreement.
9.3. During the term of this Agreement, Licensee shall not dissolve,
liquidate or wind-up its business. In addition, in the event Licensee sells or
transfers, or suffers a sale or a transfer of, by operation of law or otherwise,
directly or indirectly, a controlling interest in Licensee (including, without
limitation, in any direct or indirect parent of Licensee), Licensee shall
promptly advise Licensor thereof in writing. If such sale or transfer results in
such controlling interest being owned by an entity which, directly or
indirectly, owns any trademark or tradename listed on Schedule C hereto, or the
exclusive right to use any of such trademarks or tradenames, in connection with
products similar to or competitive with Licensed Products, Licensee shall so
notify Licensor, and within sixty (60) days of its receipt of notice, Licensor
shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, such termination to become
effective thirty (30) days after the date notice of termination is received by
the Licensee.
10. Disposal of Stock Upon Termination or Expiration.
10.1. Within ten (10) days following the termination of this Agreement for
any reason whatsoever including the expiration of the term hereof, and on the
last day of each month during the disposal period set forth in paragraph 10.2
hereof, Licensee shall furnish to Licensor a certificate of Licensee listing its
inventories of Licensed Products (which defined term for purposes of this
paragraph 10.1 shall include, but shall not be limited to, all fabrics, trim and
packaging which are used in the manufacture and marketing of Licensed Products)
on hand or in process wherever situated. Licensor shall have the right to
conduct a physical inventory of Licensed Products in Licensee's possession or
under Licensee's control. Licensor or Licensor's designee shall have the option
(but not the obligation) to purchase from Licensee all or any part of Licensee's
then existing inventory of Licensed Products upon the following terms and
conditions:
(i) Licensor shall notify Licensee of its or its designee's
intention to exercise the foregoing option within fifteen (15) days of
delivery of the certificate referred to above and shall specify the items
of Licensed Products to be purchased.
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(ii) The price for Licensed Products manufactured by or on behalf of
Licensee on hand or in process shall be Licensee's standard cost (the
actual manufacturing cost) for each such Licensed Product. The price for
all other Licensed Products which are not manufactured by Licensee shall
be Licensee's landed costs therefor. Landed costs for the purposes hereof
means the F.O.B. price of the Licensed Products together with customs,
duties, and brokerage, freight and insurance.
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<PAGE> 20
(iii) Licensee shall deliver the Licensed Products purchased within
fifteen (15) days of receipt of the notice referred to in clause (i)
above. Payment of the purchase price for the Licensed Products so
purchased by Licensor or its designee shall be payable upon delivery
thereof, provided that Licensor shall be entitled to deduct from such
purchase price any amounts owed it by Licensee (and/or to direct payment
of any part of such merchandise to any supplier of Licensed Products in
order to reduce an outstanding balance due to such supplier from
Licensee).
10.2. In the event Licensee that, pursuant to paragraph 10.1 hereof,
Licensee timely provides the certificate of inventory and Licensor chooses not
to exercise its option with respect to all or any portion of Licensed Products,
for a period of ninety (90) days after termination of this Agreement for any
reason whatsoever, except on account of breach of the provisions of paragraph 3,
4 or 6 hereof, Licensee may dispose of Licensed Products which are on hand or in
the process of being manufactured at the time of termination of this Agreement,
provided that (i) Licensee fully complies with the provisions of this Agreement,
including specifically those contained in paragraphs 3, 4 and 6 hereof in
connection with such disposal, and (ii) said disposal takes place within ninety
(90) days after notice of termination is given or the expiration of the term of
this Agreement, as the case may be.
10.3. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the
event that upon the expiration or termination of the term hereof for any reason
Licensee has not rendered to Licensor all accounting statements then due, and
paid (i) all royalties and other amounts then due to Licensor, (ii) all
compensation then due to Lauren under the Design Agreement and (iii) all amounts
then due to any affiliate of or supplier to Licensor or its affiliates
(collectively, "Payments"), Licensee shall have no right whatsoever to dispose
of any inventory of Licensed Products in any manner. In addition, if during any
disposal period Licensee fails timely to render any accounting statements, or
certificates of inventory required pursuant to paragraph 10.1 hereof, or to make
all Payments when due, Licensee's disposal rights hereunder shall immediately
terminate without notice.
11. Effect of Termination.
11.1. It is understood and agreed that except for the License to use the
Trademark only as specifically provided for in this Agreement, Licensee shall
have no right, title or interest in or to the Trademark. Upon and after the
termination of this License, all rights granted to Licensee hereunder, together
with any interest in and to the Trademark which Licensee may acquire, shall
forthwith and without further act or instrument be assigned to and revert to
Licensor. In addition, Licensee will execute any instruments requested by
Licensor which are necessary to accomplish or confirm
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the foregoing. Any such assignment, transfer or conveyance shall be without
consideration other than the mutual agreements contained herein. Licensor shall
thereafter be free to license to others the right to use the Trademark in
connection with the manufacture and sale of the Licensed Products covered
hereby, and Licensee will refrain from further use of the Trademark or any
further reference to them, direct or indirect, or any other trademark, trade
name or logo that is confusingly similar to the Trademark, or associated with
the Trademark in any way, in connection with the manufacture, sale or
distribution of Licensee's products, except as specifically provided in
paragraph 10 hereof. It is expressly understood that under no circumstances
shall Licensee be entitled, directly or indirectly, to any form of compensation
or indemnity from Licensor, the Design Partnership or their affiliates, as a
consequence to the termination of this Agreement, whether as a result of the
passage of time, or as the result of any other cause of termination referred to
in this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, by its
execution of the present Agreement, Licensee hereby waives any claim which it
has or which it may have in the future against Licensor, the Design Partnership
or their affiliates, arising from any alleged goodwill created by Licensee for
the benefit of any or all of the said parties or from the alleged creation or
increase of a market for Licensed Products.
11.2. Licensee acknowledges and admits that there would be no adequate
remedy at law for its failure (except as otherwise provided in paragraph 10
hereof) to cease the manufacture or sale of the Licensed Products covered by
this Agreement at the termination of the License, and Licensee agrees that in
the event of such failure Licensor shall be entitled to equitable relief by the
way of temporary and permanent injunction and such other and further relief as
any court with jurisdiction may deem just and proper.
12. Showroom.
Licensee represents that a separate showroom for the presentation and sale
of the Licensed Products will be established and staffed and Licensee agrees to
maintain, operate, decorate and staff the showroom in a manner consistent with
that of the showrooms established for the presentation and sale of Licensor's
other products. Licensor shall have a right of approval with respect to the
design, layout, decoration and staffing of the showroom and all expenses
incurred with respect to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of
such showroom shall be borne by Licensee. Licensee shall admit Licensor's
employees to its showroom and shall sell to such employees for their personal
use (and not for resale) such Licensed Products as any such employee may
reasonably request, at prices equal to the regular wholesale price less a
discount equal to not less than thirty percent (30%) of such regular wholesale
price. Licensee and Licensor shall mutually agree upon a policy in respect of
such
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sales that will address reciprocity and avoid interference with Licensee's
normal operations.
13. Indemnity.
13.1. Licensor shall indemnify and hold harmless Licensee from and against
any and all liability, claims, causes of action, suits, damages and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses in actions involving third
parties or between the parties hereto) which Licensee is or becomes liable for,
or may incur solely by reason of its use within the Territory, in strict
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Design
Agreement, of the Licensed Mark or the designs furnished to Licensee by Licensor
or Lauren, to the extent that such liability arises through infringement of
another's design patent, trademark, copyright or other proprietary rights;
provided, however, that Licensee gives Licensor prompt notice of, and full
cooperation in the defense against, such claim. If any action or proceeding
shall be brought or asserted against Licensee in respect of which indemnity may
be sought from Licensor under this paragraph 13.1, Licensee shall promptly
notify Licensor thereof in writing, and Licensor shall assume and direct the
defense thereof. Licensee may thereafter, at its own expense, be represented by
its own counsel in such action or proceeding.
13.2. To the extent not inconsistent with paragraph 13.1 hereof, Licensee
shall indemnify and save and hold Licensor, the Design Partnership, Polo Ralph
Lauren Corporation and Ralph Lauren, individually, and their assignees,
directors, officers, servants, agents and employees, harmless from and against
any and all liability, claims, causes of action, suits, damages and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses in actions involving third
parties or between the parties hereto), which they, or any of them, are or
become liable for, or may incur, or be compelled to pay by reason of any acts,
whether of omission or commission, that may be committed or suffered by Licensee
or any of its servants, agents or employees in connection with Licensee's
performance of this Agreement, including Licensee's use of Licensee's own
designs, in connection with Licensed Products manufactured by or on behalf of
Licensee or otherwise in connection with Licensee's business.
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14. Insurance.
Licensee shall carry product liability insurance with limits of liability
in the minimum amount, in addition to defense costs, of $3,000,000 per
occurrence and $3,000,000 per person and Licensor, the Design Partnership, Polo
Ralph Lauren Corporation and Ralph Lauren, individually, shall be named therein
as insureds, as their interests may appear. The maximum deductible with respect
to such insurance shall be $100,000. Licensee shall, promptly after the signing
of this Agreement, deliver to Licensor a certificate of such insurance from the
insurance carrier, setting forth the scope of coverage and the limits of
liability and providing that the policy may not be canceled or amended without
at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to Licensor, the Design
Partnership, Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation and Ralph Lauren, individually.
15. Disclosure.
15.1. Licensor and Licensee, and their affiliates, employees, attorneys,
accountants and bankers shall hold in confidence and not use or disclose, except
as permitted by this Agreement, (i) confidential information of the other or
(ii) the terms of this Agreement, except upon consent of the other or pursuant
to, or as may be required by law, or in connection with regulatory or
administrative proceedings and only then with reasonable advance notice of such
disclosure to the other. Licensee shall take all reasonable precautions to
protect the secrecy of the material used pursuant to this Agreement prior to the
commercial distribution or the showing of samples for sale, and shall not sell
any merchandise employing or adapted from any of said designs sketches, artwork,
logos, and other materials or their use except under the Trademark.
15.2. Licensee agrees that all press releases and other public
announcements related to Licensor's operations hereunder, shall be subject to
approval by Licensor, and that each request for a statement, release or other
inquiry shall be sent in writing to the advertising/publicity director of
Licensor for response.
16. Key Personnel.
16.1. At all times during the term hereof, Licensee shall employ a senior
executive, approved in advance by Licensor (such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld), whose primary responsibility shall be to manage all of Licensee's
operations pursuant to this Agreement.
16.2. At all times during the term hereof, Licensee shall employ a Design
Director, approved in advance by Licensor (such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld), whose primary responsibility shall be to work with Licensor and the
Design Partnership on the creation and implementation of designs for the
Licensed Products and related activities under this Agreement.
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17. Miscellaneous.
17.1. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been properly given or sent (i)
on the date when such notice, request, consent or communication is personally
delivered or (ii) five (5) days after the same was sent, if sent by certified or
registered mail or (iii) two (2) days after the same was sent, if sent by
overnight courier delivery or confirmed telecopier, as follows:
(a) if to Licensee, addressed as follows:
Jones Apparel Group, Inc.
250 Rittenhouse Circle
Bristol, Pennsylvania 19007
Attention: Mr. Sidney Kimmel
Telecopier: (215) 785-1795
with a copy to:
Jones Apparel Group, Inc.
1411 Broadway
New York, New York 10018
Attention: Mr. Herbert Goodfriend
Telecopier: (212) 921-5370
(b) if to Licensor, addressed as follows:
Polo Ralph Lauren, L.P.
650 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: President
Telecopier: 212.318.7186
with a copy to:
Victor Cohen, Esq.
Eighth Floor
650 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Telecopier: 212.318.7183
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Anyone entitled to notice hereunder may change the address to which notices or
other communications are to be sent to it by notice given in the manner
contemplated hereby.
17.2. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to place the parties in
the relationship of partners or joint venturers, and no party hereto shall have
any power to obligate or bind any other party hereto in any manner whatsoever,
except as otherwise provided for herein.
17.3. None of the terms hereof can be waived or modified except by an
express agreement in writing signed by the party to be charged. The failure of
any party hereto to enforce, or the delay by any party in enforcing, any of its
rights hereunder shall not be deemed a continuing waiver or a modification
thereof and any party may, within the time provided by applicable law, commence
appropriate legal proceedings to enforce any and all of such rights. All rights
and remedies provided for herein shall be cumulative and in addition to any
other rights or remedies such parties may have at law or in equity. Any party
hereto may employ any of the remedies available to it with respect to any of its
rights hereunder without prejudice to the use by it in the future of any other
remedy with respect to any of such rights. No person, firm or corporation, other
than the parties hereto and the Design Partnership (and, to the extent set forth
in paragraphs 13.1 and 13.2 hereof, Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation and Ralph
Lauren, individually), shall be deemed to have acquired any rights by reason of
anything contained in this Agreement.
17.4. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto. Licensor may assign all
or any portion of the royalties payable to Licensor hereunder, as designated by
Licensor, and in addition, Licensor may assign all of its rights, duties and
obligations hereunder to any entity to which the Trademark, or the right to use
the Trademark, has been transferred, or to an affiliate of any such entity. The
rights granted to Licensee hereunder are unique and personal in nature, and
neither this Agreement nor the License may be assigned by Licensee without
Licensor's prior written consent, which may be withheld in Licensor's sole
discretion. Any attempt by Licensee to transfer any of its rights or obligations
under this Agreement, whether by assignment, sublicense or otherwise, without
having received the prior written consent of Licensor shall constitute an Event
of Default, but shall otherwise be null and void. Licensee may employ
subcontractors subject to the prior written approval of Licensor for the
manufacture of the Licensed Products; provided, however, that in any event, (i)
the supervision of production of Licensed Products shall remain under the
control of Licensee, (ii) Licensee shall maintain appropriate quality controls,
(iii) such subcontractors shall comply with the quality and (iv) such
subcontractors shall comply with other requirements of Licensor
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consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the
execution by subcontractor of the Trademark and Design Protection Agreement
attached hereto and made a part hereof.
17.5. Licensee shall comply with all laws, rules, regulations and
requirements of any governmental body which may be applicable to the operations
of Licensee contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, as they relate
to the manufacture, distribution, sale or promotion of Licensed Products,
notwithstanding the fact that Licensor may have approved such item or conduct.
Licensee shall advise Licensor in the event any Final Prototype does not comply
with any such law, rule, regulation or requirement.
17.6. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by
the laws of the State of New York, applicable to contracts made and to be wholly
performed therein without regard to its conflicts of law rules.
17.7. The parties hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any of the courts of
the Southern District of New York and of any of the courts of the State of New
York located within the Southern District in any dispute arising under this
Agreement and agree further that service of process or notice in any such
action, suit or proceeding shall be effective if in writing and delivered as
provided in paragraph 17.1 hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set
forth herein, neither Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation nor any other general or
limited partner of Licensor shall be liable for any claim based on, arising out
of, or otherwise in respect of, this Agreement, and Licensee shall not have nor
claim to have any recourse for any such claim against any general or limited
partner of Licensor.
17.8. The provisions hereof are severable, and if any provision shall be
held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, then such
invalidity or unenforceability shall affect only such provision, or part thereof
in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any
other jurisdiction, or any other provision in this Agreement in any
jurisdiction. To the extent legally permissible, an arrangement which reflects
the original intent of the parties shall be substituted for such invalid or
unenforceable provision.
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17.9. The paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
17.10. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement or
caused the same to be executed by a duly authorized officer as of the day and
year first above written.
POLO RALPH LAUREN, L.P.
By: Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation,
General Partner
By: /s/ Michael Newman
-----------------------------------
JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Sidney Kimmel
-----------------------------------
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Schedule A
LICENSED PRODUCTS
Licensed Products shall mean the following women's "better" apparel products
bearing the Trademark: shirts, blouses, skirts, jackets, suits, sweaters, pants,
vests, coats, outerwear, hats. Licensed Products shall also include such other
articles of women's apparel as Licensor shall, from time to time, designate in
its sole discretion.
Licensed products shall not include denim pants or shorts, and Licensee's rights
hereunder shall not be violated by virtue of the manufacture or sale by Licensor
or any of its affiliates or licensees of any jeanswear apparel sold as part of a
jeanswear line, notwithstanding the similarity of any such products to Licensed
Products.
Except as provided below, this Agreement does not cover any other trademark of
Licensor or in any way limit Licensor's right to engage in business with such
trademarks as it deems appropriate in its sole discretion. However, Licensor
agrees not to sell or license another complete line of women's apparel with a
"Ralph Lauren" trademark intended to be sold in the "better" area of women's
departments in direct competition with Licensed Products (a "Competing Line").
The foregoing restriction is intended to limit Licensor's ability to market an
equivalent line of "better" women's apparel under another name, and the parties
agree that any womenswear sold as part of any other line (and not individually
to be sold with "better" products) bearing any other trademark owned by Licensor
or its affiliates, so long as such line is not a Competing Line, shall not
violate the foregoing restriction, notwithstanding the similarity of particular
products and/or their price points to Licensed Products.
Licensee shall not sell or market Licensed Products in "bridge" or "collection"
areas.
27
<PAGE> 29
Schedule B
TRADEMARK
LAUREN/RALPH LAUREN
and/or
LAUREN BY RALPH LAUREN
Replacement Schedule B received
and filed:
JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Sidney Kimmel
-----------------------------
Dated: 10/19/95
28
<PAGE> 30
Schedule C
Restricted Individuals and Entities
[ * * *]
29