EXHIBIT 10.16
INTERNET-BASED SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS INTERNET-BASED SERVICES AGREEMENT, dated as of this 1st day of
October, 1999 ("Agreement") is entered into by and between XXXXX CORNING, a
Delaware corporation ("OC") and IMPROVENET, INC. a Delaware corporation
("ImproveNet").
BACKGROUND STATEMENT
ImproveNet is a leading Internet-based home improvement market maker in
the United States for contractors, homeowners and building material suppliers.
ImproveNet provides an Internet-based contractor matching service ("Contractor
Matching Service") pursuant to which it screens and qualifies both contractors
and homeowner leads and matches appropriate and interested contractors to
homeowners seeking to have home improvement projects performed. ImproveNet also
provides other informational, promotional and advertising services to
contractors and suppliers via its Internet home page.
OC is a leading manufacturer and seller of building materials and
systems and is interested in having ImproveNet provide certain contractor
matching, informational, promotional and advertising services for it, and
ImproveNet is willing to provide such services for OC, all In accordance with
the terms end conditions set forth below:
In consideration of the mutual promises set forth below and other good
and valuable consideration, the value and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. SERVICES
1.1 SCOPE OF SERVICES. Throughout the "Term" (as defined in Section 8.1
below) of this Agreement, ImproveNet agrees to provide OC with the specific
contractor matching and advertising services that are described on Exhibit A
attached hereto (the "Services"). The scope of the Services provided by
ImproveNet to OC hereunder may be modified from time to time upon the mutual
agreement of the parties.
1.2 STANDARD OF CARE. ImproveNet shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to provide Services to OC hereunder in accordance with the highest
industry standards. Furthermore, ImproveNet shall provide Services to OC in a
manner that is no less favorable in terms of priority, availability of services
and standard of care, than similar services provided by ImproveNet to any of its
other customers. Other than as set forth in the preceding sentence, ImproveNet
disclaims all warranties, whether
expressed or implied, including without limitation, the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
1.3 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. ImproveNet agrees that it
shall perform the Services as well as all of its other obligations under this
Agreement in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws,
regulations, ordinances and codes.
1.4 PRIMARY CONTACT. ImproveNet will designate one or more individuals
to whom all communications concerning this Agreement or the Services provided
hereunder may be addressed.
1.5 FUTURE SERVICES. ImproveNet agrees to offer OC on a preferential
basis any additional informational, promotional or advertising services that
ImproveNet may develop during the Term of this Agreement.
2. OC'S RESPONSIBILITIES
2.1 PRIMARY CONTACT. OC will designate one or more individuals to whom
all communications concerning this Agreement or the Services provided hereunder
may be addressed.
2.2 REASONABLE COOPERATION. OC shall reasonably cooperate with
ImproveNet by, among other things, delivering or otherwise making available, in
a timely fashion, information in OC's control which is relevant and necessary to
ImproveNet's effective performance of Services hereunder.
2.3 PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS. OC will use commercially reasonable efforts to
promote its relationship with ImproveNet, including, if appropriate, displays of
promotional material at trade shows, on OC's Internet home page, advertisements:
and literature. However, nothing shall commit OC to any level of spending or to
support or obligate OC to advertise or promote ImproveNet or its Services in any
manner unacceptable to OC.
3. SERVICE FEES AND CHARGES
3.1 SERVICE FEES.
(a) During the first three (3) "Contract Years" (as defined in
SECTION 8.1 below) of the Term, OC shall pay ImproveNet the fees set forth on
EXHIBIT B ("Initial Fees"). The Initial Fees shall cover all Services to be
provided by ImproveNet hereunder during such 3-Contract Year period, and shall
also provide the consideration required by ImproveNet in exchange for its
agreement to make
2.
Services available to CC throughout the entire Term of this
Agreement.
(b) Following the first three (3) Contract Years of the Term,
ImproveNet shall have the right to increase the fees for Services hereunder upon
ninety (90) days prior written notice to CC, provided that such fees shall be
increased no more than once during any Contract Year, and in no increase can
exceed five percent (5%) over the fees charged during the immediately preceding
Contract Year.
(c) If the parties hereunder agree to modify the scope of Services
at any time throughout the Term of this Agreement, there will be an appropriate
modification to the Service fees. Such modification of Service fees is, however,
subject to the mutual written agreement of the parties, and any disputes
regarding such modifications shall be resolved in accordance with the provisions
of Article 9 below.
3.2 PAYMENT. The Service fees for each Contract Year shall be paid by
OC in equal monthly installments, and ImproveNet shall invoice OC each month in
the amount of such installment (net of any credits or offsets for which OC is
entitled to receive against such installment as described in Section 3.3 below).
OC shall pay the net amount of each invoice received from ImproveNet hereunder
within thirty (30) days following its receipt thereof. OC may, however, withhold
payment of any amounts which it disputes, in good faith, provided that OC pays
to ImproveNet any amounts that are determined under Article 9 to be payable by
OC within thirty (30) days of such determination.
3.3 OC SERVICES TO IMPROVENET. Throughout the Term of this Agreement,
ImproveNet agrees to purchase certain advertising services from OC or wholly,
owned subsidiaries of CC. The parties agree to discuss and negotiate in good
faith the nature, extent and value of such services throughout the Term of this
Agreement. However, the parties specifically agree that ImproveNet shall
purchase from OC or wholly-owned subsidiaries of OC, the advertising coop
services in accordance with Exhibit B attached hereto. OC shall invoice
ImproveNet for the agreed-upon value of the advertising provided by OC or
wholly-owned subsidiaries of OC, and the amount of such invoice shall be offset,
or netted against, ImproveNet's invoice for the immediately following month.
3.4 AFFILIATE CONTRACTOR CREDITS. OC shall be entitled to the
"Affiliate Contractor" credits described on EXHIBIT C attached hereto. Within
the first term (10) business days of each month, OC shall provide ImproveNet
with a Summary of ail credits to which OC is entitled for the immediately
3.
preceding month. Such credits will be reflected on ImproveNet's invoice for the
immediately following month.
3.5 MOST FAVORED PRICING. Throughout the Term of this Agreement, OC
shall be charged Service fees by ImproveNet that are the lower of (i) the
lowest Service fees charged to any other ImproveNet customer that is
comparable to OC in terms of breadth and volume of services provided by
ImproveNet, the breadth and volume of services purchased by ImproveNet from
such customer and the size of the equity investment by such customer in
ImproveNet, or (ii) twenty percent (20%) below ImproveNet's prevailing market
rates for such Services. For purposes of this Agreement, ImproveNet's
"prevailing market rate" for each Service shall be the average rate quoted
for such Service to new customers with no pre-existing commercial or equity
relationship with ImproveNet.
4. CONTRACTOR FEES.
4.1 In connection with the "Private-Label Contractor Matching
Services" (as defined on Exhibit A) to be provided by ImproveNet for and on
behalf of OC (e.g., DIF-me or other co-branded services), ImproveNet shall
charge participating OC Preferred Contractors the fees set forth on Exhibit C
attached hereto ("OC Contractor Fees"). The parties acknowledge and agree
that OC Contractor Fees are to be charged to OC Preferred Contractors only in
connection with leads and jobs that are generated by OC, whether through OC's
DIF-me program or otherwise ("OC-Generated Job"). With respect to any other
lead or job (i.e., other than an OC-Generated Job) that is provided by
ImproveNet to an OC Preferred Contractor, ImproveNet's standard fees and
rates shall apply.
4.2 For each OC-Generated Job resulting in a "won job" exceeding
$500 in value, ImproveNet will pay OC a referral fee equal to $25.00 ("OC
Referral Fee"). Throughout the Term of this Agreement, the amount of the OC
Referral Fee shall be increased by the same percentage as any increase in
"Win Fees" pursuant to Section 4.3 below.
4.3 OC Contractor Fees may, from time to time, be increased by
ImproveNet as follows:
(a) Throughout the first Contract Year of this Agreement,
ImproveNet shall have the right subject to Section 3.5, to increase the OC
Contractor Fees upon sixty (60) day's prior written notice to OC. Thereafter,
ImproveNet shall have the right to increase the OC Contractor Fees upon
ninety (90) day's prior written notice to OC.
4.
(b) With respect to the Win Fee component of the OC Contractor
Fees, no such increase shall exceed one percent (1%) over the Win Fees for
the prior Contract Year, and there shall be no more than one such increase in
any Contract Year. With respect to the Lead Fee component, the total of such
increases shall not exceed two dollars ($2.00) during any 6-month period of
the first Contract Year and shall not exceed one dollar ($1.00) during any
6-month period of the second Contract Year. Thereafter, there shall be no
more than one (1) increase in Lead Fees during any Contract Year and no
increase shall exceed $1.00 over the Lead Fees for the immediately prior
Contract Year.
4.4 In the event that ImproveNet materially modifies its standard
non-OC Contractor Fees such that they become inconsistent with the OC
Contractor Fees in terms of structure, format and/or amounts, OC and
ImproveNet agree to discuss in good faith whether it Ps commercially
reasonable and appropriate to make corresponding modifications to the OC
Contractor Fees and the OC Referral Fee hereunder.
4.5 OC "Affiliate Contractor" fees shall be determined pursuant to
Exhibit C attached hereto.
4.6 Upon request from OC, ImproveNet agrees to allow ImproveNet
contractors who are not OC Preferred Contractors to receive and enjoy the
benefit of OC Contractor Fees when they are matched to OC-Generated Jobs.
5. REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS/REPORTS
5.1 REGULAR MEETINGS. On a regular basis (no less often than
quarterly), OC and ImproveNet shall meet, in person, to discuss the Services
being provided hereunder as well as the fees being charged for Services and
any general market issues that are of concern to either party. The parties
agree to discuss any problems and/or issues which may have occurred or are
occurring, and to discuss any ways in which the Services may be ImproveNet or
made more effective. The parties agree that the meeting date four regular
meetings shall be determined within the first ten days of each month.
5.2 SPECIAL MEETINGS. In the event that either party desires to call
a special meeting to discuss issues of concern to a party not generally
discussed at the regular meeting described in Section 5.1, that party can
request a special meeting to discuss such issues. Such request must be in
writing and must provide the other party with at least five (5) business days
notice of the requested meeting and must briefly describe the issues to be
5.
discussed. The parties agree to then meet with one another as soon as is
reasonably practical to discuss in good faith how such issues might be
resolved.
6. DATA/REPORTS
6.1 OC DATA. In connection with the Services provided by ImproveNet
for OC hereunder, ImproveNet will collect and maintain data and information
relative to OC-Generated Jobs as well as OC Preferred Contractors
(collectively, "OC Data"). OC will have unrestricted access to such OC Data
alt all times and it shall be provided to OC upon OC's written request or
upon the termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason.
ImproveNet shall have the right to use such OC Data in connection with its
business subject to limitations or restrictions imposed by OC's internet
privacy/policy, but in no event will ImproveNet use OC Data in connection
with the provision of services to or for any competitor of OC identified on
EXHIBIT D, nor will it provide such OC Data to or for the benefit of any
third party. OC may, from time to time, modify the list of competitors
identified on Exhibit D upon forty-five (45) days' prior written notice to
ImproveNet.
6.2 IMPROVENET DATA. ImproveNet will also collect data and
information in connection with the Contractor Matching Services that it
provides generally through its Internet service ("ImproveNet Data"). All such
data is the Sole property of ImproveNet and/or the originator, unless
otherwise assigned to a third party. ImproveNet agrees to provide OC with
statistical information regarding the ImproveNet Data provided that OC agrees
to allow similar statistical data collected from OC-Generated Jobs to be
included as part of the overall pool of jobs. Any ImproveNet Data provided to
OC shall be subject to limitations and restrictions imposed by ImproveNet's
Internet privacy policy and other commercial agreements to which ImproveNet
may be a party.
6.3 REPORTS. By the tenth day of each month during the Term of this
Agreement, ImproveNet shall submit to OC a report, in the form agreed to by
OC and ImproveNet, describing the Services provided by ImproveNet during the
preceding month, including without limitation, the number of OC-Generated
Jobs, the number of won jobs by OC Preferred Contractors, and the specific
information related to each such won job.
7. EXCLUSIVITY. In consideration of the commitments made by OC
hereunder, ImproveNet agrees not to provide Private Label Contractor Matching
Services to any of the direct category competitors of OC identified on
EXHIBIT E attached hereto ("OC Competitors") for a period commencing on the
"Effective Date" (as defined in Section 8.1 below) and ending on December 31,
2000.
6.
8. TERM AND TERMINATION.
8.1 TERM. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first
written above ("Effective Date") and shall continue for a period of twelve (12)
years thereafter. ("Term") unless terminated earlier as provided below in
Sections 8.2 or 8.3 below. Each consecutive twelve (12) month period commencing
on the Effective Date and continuing through the expiration of the Term shall be
referred to herein as a "Contract Year". The Term of the Agreement may be
extended upon the mutual written agreement of the parties.
8.2 Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding the term of this Agreement
as provided in Section 8.1 above, this Agreement may be terminated at any time
by either party upon the following terms and conditions:
(a) If either party breaches any material provision of this
Agreement, and such breach is not cured within thirty (30) days following the
breaching party's receipt of written notice of such breach from the
non-breaching party, or if such breach cannot be cured within such thirty (30)
day period, then the non-breaching party may terminate this Agreement, subject
to the procedures and notice requirements set forth in Section 14.3 below, with
immediate effect upon written notice to the breaching party. The termination
right provided in this Section 8.2(A) is not exclusive of any remedies to which
either party may otherwise be entitled in law or in equity in the event of a
breach of this Agreement:
(b) If either party (i) ceases generally to pay its debts as they
become due; or (ii) becomes the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding, whether
voluntarily or involuntarily, and such proceeding is not dismissed or vacated
within thirty (30) days after filing, then the other party shall have the right
to immediately terminate this Agreement by written notice to the insolvent or
bankrupt party.
8.3 OC TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE. Following the initial three (3)
Contract Years of this Agreement, OC may terminate this Agreement for
convenience and without cause, at any time upon twelve (12) months' prior
written notice to ImproveNet. In the event that a purported termination for
cause by OC under Section 8.2 is finally determined by a competent authority
under Section 9.2 or Section 9.3 not to be properly a termination for cause,
then such termination shall be deemed to be a termination for convenience under
this Section 8.3, effective from the date of the notice first delivered pursuant
to Section 8.2(A) above.
9. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
7.
9.1 INFORMAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties shall attempt in good
faith to resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement
through negotiation between representatives who have authority to resolve the
matter. Either party may give the other party written notice of any dispute
not resolved in the normal course of business, it being understood that a
notice delivered by a party pursuant to Section 8.2(A) above shall constitute
the delivery of a written notice of dispute pursuant to this Section 9.1.
Within five (5) days after its receipt of the notice, the receiving party
shall submit to the other party a written response. The notice and response
shall each include (a) a statement of the party's position and a summary of
the arguments supporting that position, and (b) the name and title of the
company representative who will represent that party. Within ten (10) days
following delivery of the original dispute notice the parties' respective
representatives shall meet at a mutually acceptable time and place, and
thereafter as often as they reasonably deem necessary to attempt to resolve
the dispute. Ali reasonable requests for information made by either party to
the other will be honored.
9.2 ARBITRATION. If a dispute has not been resolved within thirty
(30) days of the disputing party's original notice under Section 9.1, or if
the parties fail to meet within the ten (10) days following such notice under
Section 9.1, then either party may initiate arbitration of the dispute. The
dispute shall then be submitted to mandatory and binding arbitration in
Chicago, Illinois in accordance with the commercial rules and procedures of
the American Arbitration Association before a single arbitrator. Judgment
upon the award may be entered by any. court having appropriate jurisdiction.
The arbitrator shall not, however, be empowered to award damages in excess of
compensatory damages.
9.3 LITIGATION. The only circumstance in which a dispute between the
parties will no be subject to the provision of Sections 9.1 and 9.2. above, is
when a part) makes a good faith determination that a breach of the terms of this
Agreement by the other party is such that the damages to such party resulting
from the breach will be so immediate, so large or severe, and so incapable of
adequate redress after the fact that a temporary restraining order or other
immediate injunctive relief is the only adequate remedy. Except for such relief,
the parties shall resolve their disputes, whether or not such relief is granted,
in accordance with the provisions set forth in Sections 9.1 and 9.2.
9.4 CONTINUED PERFORMANCE. Each party agrees to continue performing its
obligations under this Agreement when any dispute is being resolved under his
Article 9, unless and until such obligations are terminated by
8.
the expiration or termination of this Agreement or by order of a court of
competent authority under SECTION 9.2 or SECTION 9.3.
10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
10.1 LIMITATION. IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY, OR ITS RESPECTIVE
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES, BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, POTENTIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
(INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOST PROFITS) EVEN IF A PARTLY HAS BEEN
PREVIOUSLY ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER
PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY IN AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN THE AMOUNTS
ACTUALLY PAID BY OC TO IMPROVENET HEREUNDER DURING THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS
PRECEDING THE CLAIM. THIS LIMITATION OF EACH PARTY S LIABILITY IS CUMULATIVE,
WITH ALL PAYMENTS FOR CLAIMS OR DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT BEING
AGGREGATED DURING SUCH TWELVE (12) MONTH PERIOD PRECEDING THE CLAIM TO DETERMINE
SATISFACTION OF THE LIMIT. THE EXISTENCE OF ONE OR MORE CLAIMS WILL NOT ENLARGE
THE LIMIT.
10.2 EXCLUSIONS FROM LIMITATION. The limitation on liability set forth
in Section 10.1 above will not apply with respect to damages arising from or
relating to (i) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of a party; or (ii)
either parties indemnification obligations in Article 11.
11. INDEMNITIES
ImproveNet and OC each agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
other, including its officers, directors, employees, agents, successors, and
assigns from any and all losses, liabilities, damages, judgments and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees and witness fees) ("Losses") arising from
or in connection with any of the following: (a) the death or bodily injury of
any agent, employee, customer, business invitee, or business visitor or other
person caused by the tortuous conduct of the indemnitor, its agent or employee;
(b) the damage, loss or destruction of any real or tangible personal property
caused by the tortuous conduct of the indemnitor, its agent or employer; and (c)
any Loss asserted against the indemnitee but resulting from an act of omission
of the indemnitor in its capacity as an employer of a person.
12. CONFIDENTIALITY.
12.1 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Each party acknowledges that the other
will receive or have access to confidential or proprietary information of such
9.
party or of a third party (e.g., OC Preferred Contractors) and in such party's
possession (the "Confidential Information").
12.2 OBLIGATIONS. Each party will use at least the same degree of care
to prevent disclosing to third parties the Confidential Information of the other
as it employs to avoid unauthorized disclosure, publication or dissemination of
its own information of a similar nature, but in no event less than a reasonable
standard of care. A party may disclose Confidential Information of the other to
third parties performing services hereunder where(i) the use of such entity is
authorized under this Agreement, (ii) such disclosure is reasonably necessary to
or otherwise naturally occurs in that entity's scope of responsibility, and
(iii) the disclosure is in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. Neither party will (1) make any use or copies of the Confidential
Information of the other except as necessary to perform its obligations under
this Agreement, (2) acquire any right in or assert any lien against the
Confidential Information of the other, or (3) refuse for any reason (including a
default or material breach of this Agreement by the other party) to promptly
provide the other party's Confidential Information (including all copies
thereof) to it if requested in writing to do so. Upon the expiration or
termination for any reason of this Agreement and the concomitant completion of a
party's obligations under this Agreement, each arty shall (except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement), return or destroy, as the other may direct, all
documentation in any medium that contains, refers to, or relates to the other
party s Confidential Information, and retain no copies. In addition, the parties
shall take reasonable steps to ensure that their employees comply with these
confidentiality provisions. The steps taken by a party to ensure such compliance
will be deemed reasonable if they are no less onerous than the steps taken by
the other party.
12.3 The obligations of this Article 12 will not apply to any
particular information which either party can demonstrate: (i) was, at the
time of disclosure to it, in the public domain; (ii) after disclosure to it,
is published or otherwise becomes part of the public domain through no
fault of the receiving party; (iii) was rightfully in the possession of the
receiving party at the time of disclosure to it; (iv) is received from a
third party who had a lawful right to disclose such information to it; or (v)
was independently developed by the receiving party without reference to
Confidential Information of the furnishing party, in addition, a party shall
not be considered to have breached its obligations under this Article 12 for
disclosing Confidential Information of the other party as required to satisfy
any legal demand of a government, judicial or administrative body; provided,
however, that, promptly upon receiving any such request and to the extent
that it may legally do so, such party advises the other party so
10.
that the other party may take appropriate actions in response to the demand.
12.4 In the event of any disclosure or loss of, or inability to account
for, any Confidential Information of the furnishing party, the receiving party
will notify the furnishing party promptly upon the occurrence of any such event.
12.5 Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as
obligating a party to disclose its Confidential Information to the other party,
or as granting to or conferring on a party, expressly or impliedly, any rights
or license to the Confidential Information of the other party.
12.6 Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent either
party from obtaining, developing or using services or products itself or
provided by a third party as permitted by this Agreement which are similar or
competitive with the services and/or products furnished under this Agreement or
from using ideas, concepts, expressions, skills or experience possessed by
either party prior to, or developed or learned by either party in the
performance of this Agreement, except to the extent inconsistent with the terms
of this Agreement.
13. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
13.1 OC TRADEMARKS. OC grants to ImproveNet, during the Term of this
Agreement, a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the OC name
trademarks or logo solely in connection with the Services provided to OC
hereunder. Any such use is, however, subject to the prior review and written
approval of OC and must be in accordance with standards and specifications for
such use provided to ImproveNet by OC. Except for the foregoing right to use, no
right or license to any trademark or tradename of OC shall be deemed to be
granted to ImproveNet by any provision hereof or by the performance of this
Agreement by either party. This license expires immediately upon termination or
expiration of this Agreement.
13.2 IMPROVENET TRADEMARKS. ImproveNet grants to OC during the Term of
this Agreement a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the ImproveNet
name, trademarks and logo solely in connection with the promotion and
advertising of the Services provided to OC by ImproveNet hereunder. Any such use
is, however, subject to the prior review and written approval of ImproveNet, and
must be in accordance with standards and specifications for such use provided to
OC by ImproveNet. Except for the foregoing right to use, no right or license to
any trademark or tradename or logo of ImproveNet shall be deemed to be granted
to OC
11.
by any provision hereof or by the performance of this Agreement by either
party. This license expires immediately upon termination or expiration of this
Agreement
14. GENERAL PROVISIONS
14.1 BINDING NATURE AND ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be binding on
each of the parties and its respective successors and permitted assigns. Except
as provided below, neither party may assign this Agreement or any rights or
obligations created herewith in whole or in part to any third party without the
prior written consent of the other, and any attempt to do so will be void and of
no effect. Either party may assign its rights and obligations under this
Agreement with the prior written approval of the other party to (i) a third
party that acquires all or substantially all of the assets or stock of the
assigning party, (ii) any subsidiary or Affiliate of the assigning party, or
(iii) a successor in a merger or acquisition of the assigning party; provided,
however that in no event shall such assignment relieve the assigning party of
any of its obligations under this Agreement. For the purposes of this SECTION
14.1, any assignment by operation of law or under an order of any court shall be
deemed an assignment for which prior written consent is required, and any
assignment made without such consent shall be void and of no effect as between
the parties.
14.2 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties, and supersedes all other prior or center
contemporaneous communications between the parties (whether written or oral),
with respect to the subject matter contained in this Agreement, including
without limitation that certain agreement titled "General Services Agreement."
No modification or amendment of this Agreement will be effective unless made in
a writing executed by both parties.
14.3 NOTICES. All notices required or permitted under this Agreement
(other than routine operational communications) shall be in writing and shall be
deemed received if sent by one of the following means: (i) upon receipt if
delivered by hand; (ii) one (1) day after being sent by an express courier with
a reliable system for tracking delivery; (iii) three (3) days after being sent
by certified or registered first class mail, postage prepaid and return receive
requested; or (iv) upon confirmed facsimile transmission provided that a copy is
sent by another of the foregoing means all notices will be addressed by a party
to the other as follows:
In the case of IMPROVENET:
ImproveNet, Inc,
000 Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
00.
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxx, CEO
In the base of OC:
Xxxxx Coming
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: President - North America Building Materials
With a copy to:
Xxxxx Corning
Corporate Law Dept.
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
A party may change its address from time to time upon prior written
notice to the other specifying the effective date of the new address.
14.4 HEADINGS. The section headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference and convenience only and shall not enter into the interpretation of
this Agreement.
14.5 RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTIES. ImproveNet, in furnishing Services to
OC hereunder, is acting as an independent contractor and has the sole right and
obligation to supervise, manage, contract, direct, procure, perform or cause to
be performed, all Services to be performed by ImproveNet under this Agreement.
Neither ImproveNet or OC is an agent, partner, joint venturer or fiduciary of
the other party and neither has the authority to represent the other party as to
any matters or to bind the other party to any third parties, except as expressly
authorized in this Agreement.
14.6 SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is
found to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to replace
such provision with a substitute provision that most nearly reflects the
original intentions of the parties and is enforceable under applicable law, and
the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and affect.
14.7 WAIVER OF DEFAULT; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES.
(a) A delay or omission by either party hereto to exercise any
right or power under this Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver
13.
thereof. A waiver by either party under this Agreement will not be effective
unless it is in writing and signed by the party granting the waiver. A waiver by
a party of a right under, or breach of, this Agreement will not be construed to
operate as a waiver of any other or successive rights under, or breaches of,
this Agreement.
(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all
remedies provided for in this Agreement shall be cumulative and in addition to
and not in lieu of any other remedies available to either party at law, in
equity or otherwise.
14.8 THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is entered into solely
between, and may be enforced only by, CC and ImproveNet. This Agreement shall
not be deemed to create any rights in any third parties, including any suppliers
and customers of a party, or to create any obligations of a party to any third
parties.
14.9 PUBLICITY AND ADVERTISING. The parties agree that any notices or
disclosures to third parties concerning this Agreement or the Services shall be
jointly coordinated and approved in advance by both parties. In addition,
neither party shall use the corporate name or any brand or proprietary name,
xxxx or logo of the other party for any advertising or promotional purpose
without first submitting such advertising or promotional materials to the other
party and obtaining the prior written consent of such party. Each party agrees
to provide prompt and timely turnaround, not to exceed five (5) business days,
of all such materials submitted to it by the other party hereto.
14.10 FORCE MAJEURE. No party shall be liable for any default or delay
in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement due to an act of God
or other event to the extent that: (i) the non-performing party is without fault
in causing such default or delay; (ii) such default or delay could not have been
prevented by reasonable precautions; and (iii) such default or delay not
reasonably be circumvented by the non-performing party through the use of
alternate sources, work around plans or other means.
14.11 CHOICE OF LAW. This Agreement, and the rights and duties of the
parties arising from or relating to this Agreement or its subject matter, shall
be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
regard to its conflicts of laws provisions.
14.12 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall
be deemed to be one and the same instrument.
14.
14.13 JOINTLY DRAFTED. This Agreement represents the joint drafting
efforts of the parties and shall not be construed more strictly against one
party than the other.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective duly authorized representatives as of the Effective
Date.
XXXXX CORNING
By: /s/ Xxxxx Oleschansky
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Oleschansky
---------------------------------
Title: Vice President - Marketing
---------------------------------
Date: October 22, 1999
---------------------------------
IMPROVENET, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
---------------------------------
Title: President and CEO
---------------------------------
Date: October 26, 1999
---------------------------------
15.
LIST OF EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT A Description of Services
EXHIBIT B Fees for Services
EXHIBIT C Contractor Fees
EXHIBIT D OC Competitors (For Data Protection)
EXHIBIT E OC Competitors (For Exclusivity)
16.
EXHIBIT A
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES
A-1 PRIVATE-LABEL CONTRACTOR MATCHING. ImproveNet agrees to provide its
Contractor Matching Service to OC on a Private-Label basis. That is,
ImproveNet will provide an OC branded Contractor Matching Service
through OC's Internet home page and OC's toll-free telephone number.
Such service to be marketed as OC's "Do-it-for-me" Service ("DIF-Me")
or such other name as OC may select. In all situations where DIF-Me
brand is prominently displayed, it shall be followed by the text
"powered by ImproveNet" or such other text as may be agreed to by the
parties. Where OC publishes information regarding the structure and
functionality of the DIF-Me program, OC will use reasonable efforts to
include therein a reference to ImproveNet and an explanation of
ImproveNet's role in the DIF-Me program, but in no event shall OC have
any liability for its failure to so reference ImproveNet.
Customer leads generated through the DIF-Me program will be routed
directly to ImproveNet and managed through its Contractor Matching
Service. All OC-Generated Jobs will be directed, on a priority basis to
OC's "Preferred Contractors" (as defined below). If no Preferred
Contractor is successfully matched to the OC-Generated Job within
forty-eight (48) hours, ImproveNet shall have the right to match such
OC-Generated Job to other ImproveNet Contractors.
A-2 PREFERRED CONTRACTOR SCREENING. OC and/or OC's wholly-owned
subsidiaries, has developed a promotional program with certain
contractors that satisfy and continuously maintain certain criteria
("Preferred Contractors"). Such ImproveNet qualified Preferred
Contractors shall be those to whom ImproveNet shall direct OC-Generated
Jobs. These Preferred Contractors are subjected to an initial
certification and ongoing re-certification by OC in order to maintain
their "Preferred" status. ImproveNet agrees to screen and qualify
contractors for inclusion as Preferred Contractors on behalf of OC in
accordance with selection criteria which are mutually agreed upon by OC
and ImproveNet. During the Term of this Agreement, ImproveNet shall
assist OC with the recruitment of ImproveNet qualified contractors to
OC's Preferred Contractor Program.
A-3 ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL SERVICES. During the Term of this
Agreement, ImproveNet shall provide the following advertising and
promotional services to OC, or at the request of OC, to any
wholly-owned subsidiary of OC (provided that if OC requests ImproveNet
to perform such services for an OC subsidiary, such services will be
performed in lieu of, rather than in addition to, providing such
services to OC):
17.
A. BANNER ADVERTISING. OC will be represented with continuous banner
advertisements on the ImproveNet Consumer Site and the ImproveNet ProSite at all
time over the term of the Agreement. The style, format and content of such
banner advertising shall be determined by OC in consultation with ImproveNet.
B. BUTTON ADVERTISING. OC will be represented with a continuous
presence on the "button bar" in the relevant sections of both
the ImproveNet Consumer Site and ProSite. Each OC product line
will be represented on the appropriate pages. The style,
format and content of such button shall be determined by OC in
consultation with ImproveNet.
C. ON-LINE PRODUCT BROCHURE. OC's home and building related
products will be continuously featured in an on-line product
brochure on the ImproveNet Consumer Site and the ProSite (if
such brochure is offered on the ProSite). Such brochures will
link directly to the appropriate section of OC's Internet home
page. The placement of OC brochures will be at least as good
as any other brochure on the site. The specific products
included in the brochure, as well as the style, format and
content of the brochure shall be determined by OC, in its sole
discretion but after consultation with ImproveNet.
D. CONSUMER SMARTLEADS. OC has the right to submit SmartLeads to
every ImproveNet customer initiating on the OC site and the
ImproveNet system who submits a job related to any of OC's
product lines throughout the term of this Agreement. In
addition, OC will receive an additional 15,000 SmartLeads per
Contract Year during the Term of this Agreement to use, at its
discretion, from customers initiating on other manufacturers'
sites (e.g., "Find-a-Contractor"). ImproveNet will seek the
permission of the respective manufacturer from whose site the
customer originated ("Host Manufacturer") for OC to submit the
SmartLeads. The Host Manufacturer retains the full authority
to accept or reject OC SmartLeads to consumers originating on
its site. OC, as a Host Manufacturer will also retain this
"veto" right regarding SmartLeads from other manufacturers to
consumers generated by OC. OC SmartLeads will be consistent in
nature (e.g., currently 3 messages per lead) with those agreed
to by other manufacturers in standard signed insertion orders.
E. CONTRACTOR SMARTLEADS. OC has the right to submit SmartLeads to
every ImproveNet contractor responding to a job related to any of OC's product
lines throughout the Term of this Agreement that is generated either by OC or by
the ImproveNet system, provided that such contractor has not opted out of
receiving such third-party promotions. These leads will be submitted to
contractors who are both online and not online through a combination of emails
via the ProSite and fax via the SmartPro
18.
fax. In addition, OC will receive an additional 15,000 SmartLeads per
Contract Year throughout the Term of this Agreement subject to the host
manufacturer rules as specified in Section D above, on the contractor ProSite
to use at its discretion. OC SmartLeads to contractors will be consistent in
nature with those agreed to by other manufacturers in standard signed
insertion orders.
F. CONTENT INTEGRATION ON IMPROVENET. OC products will continuously
appear in the relevant sections of ImproveNet's Product Showcase. OC will have
the right to have OC products listed in at least as many total listings under
each of the relevant product categories as any other manufacturer displayed,
ImproveNet will work closely with OC to develop advertorial material that will
appear no less than three months each Contract Year in the relevant section of
the ImproveNet Consumer Site and ProSite, assuming that suitable material is
available from OC.
G. HOT LINKS. The ImproveNet Consumer Site and ProSite will be
continuously "hot linked" to the OC Internet site in all places where OC
products are referenced.
19.
EXHIBIT B
FEES FOR SERVICES
Contract Year 1 - $750,000
Contract Year 2 - $1,000,000
Contract Year 3 - $1,250,000
Fees to be invoiced and paid in monthly installments.
OC Fees for Co-op Advertising.
1) For advertisements that mention ImproveNet, and provide some promotion of
its services, OC will receive fees in an amount not less than ten percent
(10%) of the total cost of the advertisement but not more than twenty-five
percent (25%) of the total cost of the advertisement, the exact percentage
for each advertisement to be agreed upon by the parties based upon the degree
of the ImproveNet promotion. OC shall have the right to receive fees only up
to fifty percent (50%) of the Service Fees for any Contract Year hereunder
with fees from these types of advertisements, subject to the overall cap on
all such fees set forth in Section 3 below.
2) For advertisements that prominently feature ImproveNet and promote
ImproveNet's services, OC will receive fees in an amount not less than
twenty-five percent (25%) of the cost of the advertisement, but not more than
fifty percent (50%) of the cost of advertisement, the exact percentage for
each advertisement to be agreed upon by the parties, based upon the degree of
the ImproveNet promotion.
3) In no event shall OC have the right to total receive fees, pursuant to
this EXHIBIT B, in excess of seventy-five percent (75%) of the total Service
Fees during any Contract throughout the Term of this Agreement. ImproveNet
shall have the right Year to approve the creative content directly related to
the ImproveNet portion of the advertisements and promotions mentioned above,
which approval will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
20.
EXHIBIT C
CONTRACTOR FEES
OC Preferred Contractors who elect to respond and bid on OC-Generated
Jobs will pay ImproveNet Lead Fees according to the following schedule:
LEAD FEE JOB SIZE
----------------- -------------------------
$0 $500 and below
$10 $501 and above
Such OC Preferred Contractors who are awarded jobs OC-Generated Jobs will pay
ImproveNet Win Fees according to the following schedule:
Win Fee Job Size
------------------------------------- ---------------------------
10% $ 500 and below
5% with cap of $ 150 $ 501 - $ 5,000
3% with cap of $ 200 $ 5,001 - $ 10,000
2% with cap of $ 700 $ 10,001 - $ 35,000
2% with cap of $1,000 $ 35,001 - $100,000
1% with cap of $1,500 $100,000 and above
OC and ImproveNet will jointly agree how to best implement this fee
schedule, in light of ImproveNet technical capabilities and OC Preferred
Contractor acceptance, no later than December 31,1999.
AFFILIATE CONTRACTOR CREDITS
For purposes of this Agreement, an "Affiliate Contractor" shall mean
either OC or a wholly-owned or controlled subsidiary of OC that is in the
business of providing contracting or other services directly to customers.
With respect to any Affiliate Contractor that participates in ImproveNet's
Contractor Matching Service, ImproveNet agrees that each Affiliate Contractor
shall not be obligated to pay any Lead Fees for OC-Generated Jobs provided to
it, and shall be obligated to pay only fifty percent (50%) of any
applicable Win Fee for jobs awarded to it from such OC-Generated Jobs.
However, the parties agree that Affiliate Contractors will be billed and will
pay the full amount of such Lead Fees and Win Fees, but that OC will then be
given a corresponding equal offset or credit against service fees due to
ImproveNet.
ImproveNet will not be obligated to pay a Referral Fee to OC for any
jobs won by Affiliate Contractors or sent exclusively to Affiliate Contractors.
21.
EXHIBIT D
OC COMPETITORS
(FOR DATA PROTECTION)
The following is a current listing of competitors of Xxxxx Corning,
which listing may be added to, deleted from or amended by Xxxxx Corning from
time to time:
A. INSULATION:
1) Georgia Pacific
2) Guardian Industries/Xxxxxx
3) Knauf
4) Manson (Canada)
5) Ottawa Fiber (Canada)
6) Amoco (Foam)
7) Atlas (Foam)
8) BASF (Foam)
9) Celotex (Foam)
10) Dow (Foam Board)
11) Certain Xxxx St. Gobain (CSG)
12) Firestone (Foam)
13) Xxxxx-Xxxxxxxx/X-X/Xxxxxxxx
14) Tenneco (Foam Board)
B. INSULATION: MINERAL WOOL
1) American Rockwool
2) Fibrex
3) Rockwool International
4) Rockwool Manufacturing
5) Roxul
6) USG
C. ROOFING & ASPHALT
1) Atlas Roofing
2) Bird
3) BPCO (Canada)
4) Celotex
5) Certain Xxxx
6) Chevron
7) Cross
8) Custom
9) Eagle
10) Elk
11) GAF
22.
12) Globe Building Materials
13) GS
14) IKO (US and Canada)
15) Xxxx
16) Leatherback Industries (owned by GAF)
17) Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
18) Marlarkey
19) Neste
20) Northern Globe
21) Pabco
22) San Xxxxxxx
23) Seneca
24) Xxxxx
25) US Intec (owned by GAF)
D) EXTERIOR SYSTEMS - VINYL MANUFACTURING
1) Certain Xxxx
2) Alcoa
3) Jannock
4) Variform
5) Royal
6) Gentek
7) Alside
8) Vipco
9) Kcan
E) EXTERIOR SYSTEMS - METALS
1) Alcoa
2) Gentek
3) Commonwealth Aluminum
4) Napco
5) Rolex
6) Quality Aluminum
7) Kcan
8) First American Resources aka Coil Coaters of
America
9) Jupiter Aluminum
F) EXTERIOR SYSTEMS - DISTRIBUTION
1) Alside
2) Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
3) ABC Supply
4) Xxx Xxxxxxx Supply
5) Gentek
6) Kcan
23.
7) First Alabama
8) Allied Building Supply
9) Modern Building Supply
G) EXTERIOR SYSTEMS - FABWEL
1) Certain Xxxx
2) Master Shield
3) Elixir Industries
4) Goldshield - a division of Fleetwood Enterprise
5) Miles
6) Amerimax Building Products
7) Mende
8) Variform - through GP
9) Vipco
10) Mastic (Alcoa)
(H) EXTERIOR SYSTEMS - CULTURED STONE
1) El Dorado
2) Coronado
3) Centerion
24.
EXHIBIT E
OC COMPETITORS
(FOR EXCLUSIVITY)
1. Guardian Industries/Xxxxxx
2. Knauf
3. Celotex
4. Certain Xxxx St. Gobain
5. Xxxxx-Xxxxxxxx/X-X/Xxxxxxxx
6. Elk
7. GAF
8. IKO
9. Tamko
10. Alcoa
11. Jannock
12. Alside
25.
