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EXCLUSIVE
LICENSE AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
(this "Agreement") is made and entered into this 20 th
day of June, 2007,
by and between:
I.E.T., INC.
a Nevada corporation with its principal place of
business at 4235 Commerce St., Little River, SC 29566 (hereinafter
referred to as "IET"),
and
BENCHMARK ENERGY PRODUCTS, L.P.
a Texas limited partnership with its principal place
of business at 2801 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77056
(hereinafter referred to as "Benchmark").
RECITALS
IET is the manufacturer of electro-chemical
activation ("ECA") equipment which it markets and sells under its
EcaFlo® trademark, as well as the environmentally-friendly
solutions produced by that equipment-anolyte (a broad-spectrum,
non-hazardous, neutral pH natural germicidal agent) and catholyte
(an anti-oxidizing, mildly alkaline solution useful as a degreaser
or detergent).
Benchmark and its affiliated companies are
manufacturers and suppliers of, among other things, specialty
chemicals, compounds and additives developed for industrial and
oilfield applications, including, but not limited to,
cross-linkers, polymers, polymer slurries, and other additives for
oil and gas well drilling, completion, and stimulation
fluids.
IET desires to license and appoint Benchmark as its
exclusive agent for the marketing, sale and distribution of IET's
EcaFlo® equipment and EcaFlo® solutions for use in Oilfield
Applications (as hereinafter defined), and Benchmark desires to
accept such appointment.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
covenants, representations and warranties hereinafter set forth,
IET and Benchmark agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1 - GRANT OF EXCLUSIVE MARKETING AND
DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS TO IET EQUIPMENT AND ECAFLO® SOLUTIONS;
ASSIGNED OILFIELD ACCOUNTS:
1.1
IET hereby grants to Benchmark the
exclusive, world-wide right, license and
authority to market, sell and distribute
for use in the manufacture of fluids and solution for use in
Oilfield Applications:
1.1.1 those EcaFlo® ECA
units currently manufactured by IET and more particularly described
on Addendum A attached hereto (such units being hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Existing ECA Equipment");
1.1.2 those electrolytic
(replacement) cells used in the Existing ECA Equipment and more
particularly described on Addendum
B attached hereto, and/or any new,
different or additional electrolytic (replacement) cells IET
hereafter develops, whether for use in the Existing ECA Equipment
or in any New ECA Equipment (as hereafter defined) developed by IET
and added to the terms of this Agreement as provided in Article 2
below (collectively "Replacement Cells"); and
1.1.3 all components,
replacement parts and other materials necessary to service, repair
and maintain any Existing ECA Equipment or New ECA Equipment sold
to and/or through Benchmark, including, but not limited to, the
components, replacement parts and other materials more particularly
described on Addendum C
attached hereto (collectively "Spare
Parts"),
For the purposes of this Agreement, the term
"Oilfield Applications" shall mean and include the treatment and/or
conditioning of (i) the "make-up waters" used in oil and gas well
fracturing fluids, (ii) the "produced waters" generated in
connection with the production of oil and natural gas, and (iii)
other fluids and/or fluid systems employed in the drilling,
completion/construction and/or stimulation of oil and gas wells or
in the production of oil and natural gas.
1.2 IET also
hereby grants to Benchmark the exclusive,
world-wide right, license and authority to manufacture, market, sell and distribute for use in Oilfield
Applications the anolyte and catholyte solutions (hereinafter
"EcaFlo® Solutions") produced by the Existing ECA Equipment or
by any New ECA Equipment developed by IET and added
to the terms
of this
Agreement as provided in Article 2 below; provided, however,
that those existing customers and accounts of IET
more particularly identified on Addendum
D attached hereto which are currently
using Existing ECA Equipment to produce EcaFlo® Solutions for
use in Oilfield Applications (the "Existing IET Oilfield
Customers") shall be and remain free to continue doing
so.
1.3 IET also
hereby grants to Benchmark the exclusive
world-wide right, license and authority to market, sell and distribute Existing ECA Equipment, New ECA
Equipment, Spare Parts, and Replacement Cells to the Existing IET
Oilfield Customers. If (and only if) an Existing IET Oilfield
Customer refuses to acknowledger Benchmark's exclusive distribution
rights, and insists upon purchasing ECA Equipment, New ECA
Equipment, Spare Parts, and/or Replacement Cells directly form IET,
then !ET shall pay and remit to Benchmark, with respect to any and
all such sales, a commission equal to the difference between the
amount for which Benchmark could have purchased same under the
terms of this Agreement and the then current IET suggested retail
price thereof. IET will use its best efforts to cause all Existing
IET Oilfield Customers to make all ECA Equipment, New ECA
Equipment, Spare Parts, and Replacement Cell purchases from
Benchmark from and after the Effective Date.
1.4 Benchmark
shall not appoint any sub-distributor of Existing ECA Equipment,
New ECA Equipment, Spare Parts, Replacement Cells, or EcaFlo®
Solutions without the prior written consent of IET, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed.
ARTICLE 2 - ECA EQUIPMENT LISTS; ADDITIONAL ECA
EQUIPMENT:
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2.1
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The IET equipment subject to the terms of this
Agreement shall include not only
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the Existing ECA Equipment initially identified
on Addendum A, the Replacement Cells initially identified on
Addendum B, and the
Spare Parts identified on Addendum
C, but also such additional and/or other
ECA units, spare and maintenance parts and/or Replacement Cells as
Benchmark and IET may, from time to time, agree by written
amendment to this Agreement (as hereinafter provided) to include
under the terms hereof.
2.2 IET shall
advise Benchmark, in writing, of any new, different or additional
ECA equipment (including any modifications of the Existing ECA
Equipment) (New ECA Equipment) and of any new, different or
additional Replacement Cells (such New ECA Equipment and any new,
different or additional Replacement Cells being hereinafter
collectively referred to as “New IET Equipment”) which
IET hereafter develops, specifying in such notice (a “New
Equipment Notice”) the price(s) at which IET would be willing
to include same under the terms of this Agreement. Within sixty
(60) days of its receipt of a New Equipment Notice (or such longer
period, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, as Benchmark
shall request in writing for the purpose of field testing and
examining the New IET Equipment, a production version of which IET
shall supply to Benchmark, without charge, for that purpose),
Benchmark shall advise IET, in writing, whether it wishes to add to
(or substitute for) any Existing IET Equipment (or Replacement
Cells) covered by this Agreement the New IET Equipment therein
described. Benchmark's failure timely to respond to a New Equipment
Notice shall be deemed an election by Benchmark not to accept the
addition or substitution of the New IET Equipment therein
described, and IET shall thereafter be free to market, promote,
sell and distribute such New IET Equipment, either directly or
through others, for use in Oilfield Applications.
2.3 IET may
withdraw or delete IET Equipment from the list of equipment covered
by this Agreement in the event IET elects to discontinue the
manufacture and/or the sale thereof, but not otherwise. IET shall
provide Benchmark with at least 180 days prior written notice of
its intention to withdraw or delete any IET Product from the list
of IET Equipment covered by this Agreement, and shall, during such
180 day period, continue to manufacture (and/or to maintain in
inventory) such IET Product, so as to meet 100% of Benchmark's
forecasted needs therefor during such period.
2.4 The Existing
ECA Equipment, the Spare Parts, the Replacement Cells, and any New
ECA Equipment added to this Agreement are hereinafter sometimes
collectively referred to simply as "the IET Equipment".
ARTICLE 3 - DURATION AND RENEWAL:
3.1 This
Agreement shall commence on July 1, 2007 (the "Effective Date") and
shall continue in effect, subject to termination as hereinafter
provided, for a period of five (5) years (the "Initial
Term").
3.2 IET and
Benchmark agree that they will meet during the final year of the
Initial Term to negotiate in good faith the terms of a five (5)
year extension of this Agreement, with the terms of this Agreement,
as amended to reflect any changes(s) resulting from such
negotiations, to bind the parties during such extension.
3.3 If such
negotiations either (i) do not occur, or (ii) result in no
amendment to this Agreement, then this Agreement shall
automatically be renewed and extended for an additional five (5)
year period (the "Renewal Term").
3.4 At the
expiration of the Renewal Term (if any), and annually from year to
year thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew for a one
(1) year term, unless at
least 90 days prior to the expiration of the Renewal
Term (or any annual extension thereafter) either party shall have
given to the other written notice of its intention not to renew or
extend this Agreement at the expiration of the Renewal Term (or any
annual extension thereafter).
3.5 The Initial
Term, Renewal Term (if any) and all automatic annual extensions of
this Agreement are hereinafter sometimes referred to collectively
as the "Term of this Agreement" or simply the "Term".
ARTICLE 4 - EXCLUSIVITY; REFERRAL OF
INQUIRIES:
4.1 Benchmark
shall have the sole and exclusive world-wide right and license (i) to market and promote the IET
Equipment and EcaFlo® Solutions for use in Oilfield
Applications; and (ii) to solicit orders for and to sell IET
Equipment and EcaFlo® Solutions to oilfield chemical
manufacturers and distributors, oil and gas well service companies,
oil and gas production companies, and other potential Oilfield
Application customers throughout the world.
4.2 IET shall not
during the Term of this Agreement appoint or license any other
agent, representative, dealer or distributor to sell, distribute or
otherwise deal in or with any IET Equipment or EcaFlo®
Solutions for use in Oilfield Applications, and shall not knowingly
make sales of IET Equipment or EcaFlo® Solutions to
distributors or others who intend to market and/or resell the IET
Equipment or EcaFlo® Solutions for use in Oilfield
Applications.
4.3 IET
shall forward or refer to Benchmark for processing and/or response
all inquiries regarding IET Equipment and EcaFlo® Solutions
received by IET from potential Oilfield Application
customers, including
the Existing IET Oilfield Customers, and shall not
knowingly sell, market or promote IET Equipment or EcaFlo®
Solutions directly to any party intending to use same in Oilfield
Applications.
ARTICLE 5 - PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS; FORECASTING;
PROCESSING OF ORDERS:
5.1 Subject to
the terms and provisions of Article 6 below, IET agrees to
manufacture for and/or supply to Benchmark during the Term of this
Agreement, and Benchmark agrees to purchase from IET, 100% of
Benchmark's IET Equipment requirements (including both its own
requirements therefor and the requirements of those to whom it
sells and distributes IET Equipment).
5.2 Benchmark
shall quarterly provide IET with a forecast of its anticipated
needs for IET Equipment during the next succeeding three (3) month
period, and shall use reasonable commercial efforts to submit its
orders for IET Equipment not less than thirty (30) days in advance
of its desired delivery date(s) therefor. IET shall use reasonable
commercial efforts to schedule the production of IET Equipment to
fill Benchmark's order(s) more promptly, if so requested (and
Benchmark and IET shall at all times attempt to coordinate orders
for and the production of IET Equipment so as to accommodate both
IET's production scheduling and Benchmark's delivery requirements),
but IET shall have no obligation to deliver any IET Equipment in
fewer than thirty (30) days from the date of order.
5.3 Benchmark may
place orders for the purchase of IET Equipment by telephone,
facsimile or electronic data interchange (e-mail). Upon its receipt
of Benchmark's order(s) for the purchase of IET Equipment, IET
shall promptly confirm to Benchmark (i) the current availability of
the IET Equipment covered by the order(s) and the shipping date(s)
therefor and (ii) the anticipated manufacture date(s) of any IET
Equipment covered by the order(s), but not currently available, and
the estimated shipping date(s) therefor. Confirmation shall be
provided by facsimile or e-mail, directed to the party who placed
the order. Shipment of IET Equipment to fill any order placed
therefore shall constitute acceptance and confirmation.
5.4 Benchmark's
purchase order number(s) shall be included and referenced on all
bills of lading, packing lists, invoices and other documents and
correspondence exchanged between the parties with respect to IET
Equipment orders submitted by Benchmark.
ARTICLE 6 - BENCHMARK'S SOURCING AND SALES OF
COMPETING ECA EQUIPMENT AND COMPETING PRODUCTS:
6.1 If at any
time IET is unable to supply 100% of Benchmark's forecasted needs
for any IET Equipment, Benchmark shall be free to source and
secure, and thereafter to market, promote, use, sell or distribute,
ECA equipment (and electrolytic cells) manufactured by others which
might compete, directly or indirectly, with the IET Equipment IET
is unable to supply ("Competing ECA Equipment"). If IET's inability
to supply 100% of Benchmark's forecasted needs for any IET
Equipment is occasioned by an event of force majeure (as defined in
Article 18 below), then Benchmark's right to source, use, and sell
Competing ECA Equipment shall continue only for so long as IET is
unable to supply 100% of Benchmark's IET Equipment needs, and
Benchmark shall resume ordering the IET Equipment from IET after
IET notifies Benchmark, in writing, that the conditions of force
majeure have terminated and it is again capable of supplying 100%
of Benchmark's forecasted needs therefore.
6.2 IET
understands and acknowledges that Benchmark is currently selling
and distributing certain products which compete with the
EcaFlo® Solutions ("Competing Products") to customers using
same in Oilfield Applications. Benchmark agrees to use reasonable
commercial efforts to persuade its customers to use EcaFlo®
Solutions, instead of the Competing Products, whenever the
EcaFlo® Solutions are appropriate substitutes or replacements
for the Competing Products, but Benchmark shall be and remain free
to continue selling Competing Products to its customers whenever
they require or direct that Benchmark supply same.
ARTICLE 7 - SHIPPING AND DELIVERY SCHEDULES; FORCE
MAJEURE:
7.1 Subject to
the provisions of Section 5.1 above, IET shall timely ship
(strictly in accordance with the instructions of Benchmark) all IET
Equipment ordered by Benchmark.
7.2 The
provisions of Section 7.1 notwithstanding, IET shall not be liable
to Benchmark or to third parties who have submitted purchase orders
for IET Equipment to Benchmark for any loss or damage occasioned by
its failure to make delivery or for any delay in making delivery
when such failure or delay results from an event of force majeure.
In the even of a delay caused or occasioned by an event of force
majeure, the shipment date(s) shall be postponed for a period of
time equal to the time required to remedy, corrector alleviate such
cause or event. If the event of force majeure shall only partially
reduce IET's ability to produce or deliver IET Equipment, IET shall
give priority to Benchmark's orders for IET Equipment ,
and
shall prorate its available supply thereof among
Benchmark and lET's other customers in such a fashion that
Benchmark receives at least 75% of IET's available lET Equipment
production.
ARTICLE 8 - SHIPPING OBLIGATIONS;
PACKAGING:
8.1 IET shall be
responsible for loading and preparing all IET Equipment for
shipment (including, proper packaging, labeling and palletization
as necessary), and shall, at its sole cost and expense, deliver
same FOB to either (i) the Benchmark warehouse designated on
Benchmark's purchase order, or (ii) the facility of the Benchmark
customer to whom Benchmark has sold same, as indicated on
Benchmark's purchase order.
8.2 IET shall,
whenever possible, use Benchmark Distribution Services, L.P.
("BDS") (a U.S. DOT licensed common carrier) to deliver IET
Equipment to the destination designated on Benchmark's purchase
order, unless IET promptly notifies Benchmark that the freight
rates quoted by BDS are not competitive. If IET delivers such a
notice to Benchmark, Benchmark shall have two (2) business days
within which to secure a re-quote from BDS. If the re-quote is not
competitive, Benchmark fails timely to secure a re-quote, or BDS is
not able to effect shipment within the required time, IET shall be
free to ship the IET Equipment using a common carrier of its
choosing.
ARTICLE 9 - IET EQUIPMENT PRICING AND PRICE
ADJUSTMENTS:
9.1 During the
twelve (12) month period commencing with the Effective Date (the
"Initial Pricing Period"), IET shall sell IET Equipment to
Benchmark at those prices more particularly specified on
Addendum A (as to
Existing IET Equipment), Addendum
B (as to Replacement Cells) and
Addendum C (as to Spare
Parts) attached hereto. IET warrants that the lET Equipment prices
and Replacement Cell prices reflected on Addendum A, Addendum B,
and Addendum C
are no higher than the prices at which IET is
currently selling those same items to others.
9.2 IET shall
have and hereby reserves the right to increase or decrease the
prices at which IET Equipment will be sold to Benchmark after the
Initial Pricing Period, but may not increase any IET Equipment
price(s) more frequently than quarterly thereafter. Benchmark shall
be given at least 60 days' prior written notice of IET's desire to
increase or decrease prices, and no increase in price(s) shall be
effective as to any IET Equipment ordered prior to the effective
date of the price increase, Notwithstanding the foregoing, IET
agrees that it will not fix, grant, establish or extend to or for
any distributor or other party purchasing IET Equipment for resale
any price(s), discount(s) or payment terms with respect to any IET
Equipment which are more favorable than the price(s), discount(s)
or payment terms made available to Benchmark with respect
thereto.
9.3 In no event
shall either IET or Benchmark disclose to any third party the
pricing made available to Benchmark by IET with respect to the IET
Equipment covered by this Agreement.
9.4 Benchmark
shall be free to fix and establish such prices for the resale of
IET Equipment as it, in its sole discretion, deems
appropriate.
ARTICLE 10 - INVOICING AND PAYMENT:
10.1 Payment for all Existing
ECA Equipment (and any New ECA equipment added to this Agreement)
which Benchmark does not elect to finance through a third party
leasing company shall be made as follows:
10.1.150% of the purchase price will be deposited
with IET at the time the order is placed;
10.1.240% of the purchase price will be paid upon
arrival of the equipment at the shipping point designated on the
purchase order; and
10.1.3the balance of the purchase price shall be
paid within thirty (30) days of the date of arrival of the
equipment at the shipping point designated on the
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