Exhibit 10.18A
DiaSys Corporation
a diagnostic systems company
NON-EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION
AGREEMENT
THIS
NON-EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of this
1st day of November, 2003, by and between DiaSys Corporation, a
corporation in the state of Connecticut with its principal offices
located at 81 West Main Street, Waterbury, Connecticut 06702
("SUPPLIER"), and VWR INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Pennsylvania
corporation with its principal offices located at 1310 Goshen
Parkway, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380
("DISTRIBUTOR").
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(a)
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Products
Covered by this Agreement
The products covered by this Agreement are those products and
accessories set forth in the attached Addendum A , together
with the parts and components necessary for the repair and
replacement thereof, and all modifications, improvements and
developments pertaining thereto (collectively, the "Products").
Addendum A shall be amended automatically from time to time
without any further act of the parties to delete any Products the
sale of which has been generally discontinued by SUPPLIER. Products
may also be added to this Agreement pursuant to Section 1(b)
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(b)
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New
Products
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(1)
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SUPPLIER shall
submit to DISTRIBUTOR specifications and, where feasible, samples
of each new product which SUPPLIER intends to manufacture. Within
sixty (60) days after such submission, DISTRIBUTOR may acquire
non-exclusive rights to promote, market, sell and distribute such
new products, by advising SUPPLIER in writing that DISTRIBUTOR is
electing to add such new products to the Products set forth in
Addendum A.
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(2)
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Upon
DISTRIBUTOR's election, in its sole discretion, not to promote,
market, sell and distribute such new products on the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, SUPPLIER shall be free to market such
new products as it deems fit; provided, however, that SUPPLIER
shall not at any time offer a third party the right to promote,
market, sell and distribute new products on terms and conditions
other than those set forth herein without first giving DISTRIBUTOR
the opportunity, on sixty (60) days' prior notice, to accept such
revised terms and conditions.
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2.
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Grant of
Non-exclusive Distributorship
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(a)
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SUPPLIER hereby
grants to DISTRIBUTOR, and DISTRIBUTOR hereby accepts, on the terms
and conditions stated in this Agreement, the non-exclusive right
during the term of this Agreement to promote, market, sell and
distribute the Products throughout the United States.
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(b)
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Nothing in this
Agreement shall prohibit DISTRIBUTOR from promoting, marketing,
selling and distributing other articles, including ones that
compete with the Products.
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3.
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Term and
Renewal
The initial term of this Agreement shall begin on the date set
forth on the signature page of this Agreement and shall continue
for a period of thirty-six (36) months, and, unless earlier
terminated as set forth in Section 12 or by either party at the
expiration of the then current term upon not less than ninety (90)
days' prior notice, shall thereafter renew automatically for
additional and successive terms of one (1) year each.
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4.
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Price and
Payment
The price to DISTRIBUTOR for the Products purchased pursuant to
this Agreement shall be the applicable price for such Products as
set forth in Addendum A. SUPPLIER may increase the prices for the
Products no more than once in any calendar year by giving notice to
DISTRIBUTOR at least ninety (90) days prior to the effective date
of such change, which shall be on the first day of January;
provided, that such price increases shall be limited to actual
increases in SUPPLIER's costs; and provided further, that
DISTRIBUTOR shall have the right to request and receive written
explanation of the increased costs supporting such proposed price
increases. Costing on new Products shall be determined based on
SUPPLIER's cost, increased to reflect SUPPLIER's profit margin
consistent with existing Products. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, all pricing information regarding
the Products shall be treated as "confidential" in accordance with
Section 11 hereof.
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5.
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DISTRIBUTOR's Duties
DISTRIBUTOR shall:
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(a)
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Submit its
order for Products on DISTRIBUTOR's standard purchase order form,
via electronic data interchange or other method of electronic
commerce. All purchase orders shall be governed only by the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, notwithstanding any inconsistent
preprinted terms or conditions appearing elsewhere on any other
DISTRIBUTOR or SUPPLIER document.
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(b)
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Pay all
invoiced amounts within thirty (30) days of receipt of the
Products; provided, that DISTRIBUTOR shall be given a two percent
(2%) discount thereon if all invoiced amounts are paid within ten
(10) days of receipt.
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(c)
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Communicate to
SUPPLIER any modifications, design changes or improvements
respecting the Products suggested by any customer in
writing.
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(d)
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Advertise,
promote, market, sell and distribute the Products by methods which
in the Supplier's and DISTRIBUTOR's sole judgment are best suited
for the sale of the Products.
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SUPPLIER shall:
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(a)
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Ship all
Products as directed by DISTRIBUTOR in accordance with the
following:
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(1)
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All Products
shipped by SUPPLIER to DISTRIBUTOR, if applicable, shall be shipped
FOB DiaSys US or DiaSys UK Destination, freight prepaid; via
DISTRIBUTOR's specified carriers in accordance with DISTRIBUTOR's
most recently published routing guides and shipping instructions.
UPS or similar parcel-like shipments shall be shipped by SUPPLIER
to DISTRIBUTOR via UPS Consignee Billing.
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(2)
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All Products
shipped by SUPPLIER directly to DISTRIBUTOR's customers at
DISTRIBUTOR's request; and where DISTRIBUTOR pays freight, shall be
shipped in accordance with DISTRIBUTOR's most recently published
routing guides and shipping instructions.
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(3)
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For all
shipments, any applicable UPS accessorial charges shall be borne by
the Distributor, per published UPS Tariffs.
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(4)
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Title and risk
of loss of all Products will pass to DISTRIBUTOR upon SUPPLIER's
delivery of such Products either directly to DISTRIBUTOR or
DISTRIBUTOR's customers. Proof of delivery will be required upon
DISTRIBUTOR's request.
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(5)
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SUPPLIER shall
coordinate with DISTRIBUTOR or DISTRIBUTOR's customers in pursuing
claims for loss or damage to Products in transit.
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(6)
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Any deviation
from the delivery terms in this Section 6(a) must be agreed upon in
writing by authorized representatives of both SUPPLIER's and
DISTRIBUTOR's Transportation departments, respectively, prior to
shipment. Failure by SUPPLIER to comply with DISTRIBUTOR's most
recent published routing guides and shipping instructions may
result in freight and administrative chargebacks.
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(b)
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Transfer good
and marketable title to the Products, free and clear of any liens
or encumbrances.
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(c)
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Pack, package,
mark and otherwise prepare all Products for shipment in a manner
which is in accordance with the standards of the International Safe
Transit Association and good commercial practice, acceptable to
common carriers for shipment, and adequate to insure their safe
arrival at the named destination. SUPPLIER shall mark all
containers with necessary lifting, handling and shipping
information, purchase order number, date of shipment and the names
of SUPPLIER and DISTRIBUTOR.
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(d)
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Promptly
furnish to DISTRIBUTOR, when reasonably requested from time to time
and at no cost, reasonable quantities of original factory outer
cartons and packaging materials.
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(e)
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Submit invoices
to DISTRIBUTOR with each shipment of Products which shall include:
[purchase order numbers, Product numbers, descriptions of Products,
quantities, unit price and complete bill to address for the
Products so delivered.]
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(f)
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Properly and
courteously resolve billing disputes with DISTRIBUTOR and provide
DISTRIBUTOR with such information or assistance as DISTRIBUTOR may
reasonably require to resolve billing disputes with its customers
or freight claims with carriers.
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(g)
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Except as
otherwise agreed, deliver Products to DISTRIBUTOR having at least
six (6) months of shelf-life remaining from the date of delivery to
their expiration dates.
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(h)
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Provide the
warranties as set forth in Section 9.
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(i)
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Promptly refer
to DISTRIBUTOR any inquiries or orders SUPPLIER may receive
respecting the promotion, sale, marketing or distribution of the
Products which are reasonably identifiable as having been generated
by DISTRIBUTOR's advertising or sales promotion efforts.
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(j)
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During the term
of this Agreement and for a period of [three (3)] years following
its termination or expiration, procure and maintain, at its sole
cost and expense, with insurers reasonably acceptable to
DISTRIBUTOR, general comprehensive liability insurance covering
each occurrence of bodily injury and property damage in an amount
of not less than $2,000,000 combined single limit (or such other
higher limits as DISTRIBUTOR may reasonably request) with
endorsements for product and completed operations, blanket
contractual liability, and broad form vendor's liability. Such
policy of insurance shall name DISTRIBUTOR as an additional insured
thereunder. SUPPLIER shall furnish to DISTRIBUTOR before shipment
of any Products a certificate of insurance evidencing the foregoing
endorsements, coverages and limits, and providing that such
insurance shall not be cancelable or materially changed without at
least thirty (30) days' prior written notice to
DISTRIBUTOR.
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(k)
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Timely furnish
DISTRIBUTOR, at no cost, with material safety data sheets and any
other documentation reasonably necessary to enable DISTRIBUTOR to
comply with any then prevailing applicable federal, state,
municipal or local law, rule or regulation (collectively, "Laws")
relating to the Products, reasonable quantities of SUPPLIER's sales
literature, product insert sheets and customer instruction manuals
and catalogs for each Product, and, upon request, suitable copy and
photographs for use by DISTRIBUTOR in advertising and
cataloging.
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(l)
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Comply (or
cause compliance) in all material respects with any Laws applicable
to the conduct of SUPPLIER's business or the manufacture,
packaging, labeling and sale to DISTRIBUTOR of Products pursuant to
this Agreement including, but not limited to, the
following:
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(1)
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Immediately
notifying DISTRIBUTOR upon becoming aware of any defect or
condition (actual or alleged) which in any way may. alter the
specifications or quality of any Products, render any Products in
violation of any Laws including, without limitation, the Federal
Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended from time to time, and the
regulations issued thereunder (the "Act"), cause revocation of any
regulatory approval with respect to any Products or their sale,
give rise to a claim against DISTRIBUTOR by any third party, or
otherwise negatively affect the salability of any
Products.
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(2)
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Promptly
notifying DISTRIBUTOR of any Products affected by holds or recalls,
and reimburse DISTRIBUTOR for the full price paid for any Products
returned to DISTRIBUTOR by a customer, or to SUPPLIER by
DISTRIBUTOR, due to a
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recall or other
manufacturing defect, plus all taxes, transportation and other
costs and expenses incurred by DISTRIBUTOR in the return
thereof.
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(m)
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Assist
DISTRIBUTOR's promotion activities including, without limitation,
having SUPPLIER's personnel accompany DISTRIBUTOR's sales personnel
on sales presentations at such times, at such places and with
expenses allocated as may be agreed upon from time to time by
DISTRIBUTOR and SUPPLIER. SUPPLIER's assistance shall focus
particularly in promoting the technical features, capabilities and
benefits of the Products. SUPPLIER shall also provide DISTRIBUTOR's
customers from time to time with reasonable quantities of sample
Consumable Products at no charge, and make demonstration Products
owned by SUPPLIER available from time to time for demonstrations at
the facilities of DISTRIBUTOR's customers, with not less than 30
days advance notice.
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(n)
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Develop and
conduct training programs for DISTRIBUTOR's employees with respect
to the Products at such times and places as may be agreed upon from
time to time by DISTRIBUTOR and SUPPLIER, to be held in group
presentations only.
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(o)
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Make any claims
for unpaid invoices in writing within one (1) year of the date of
SUPPLIER's first invoice for such amount. DISTRIBUTOR shall not be
obligated to make payments for, or investigate, claims which are
dated more than one (1) year prior to SUPPLIER's written claim or
request for investigation.
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(p)
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During the term
of this Agreement and for a period of three (3) years following its
termination or expiration, keep and maintain in accordance with
GAAP complete and accurate records, books of account, reports and
other data related to SUPPLIER's sales of Products to DISTRIBUTOR
during the prior three (3) year period.
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(q)
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Issue return
goods authorizations without any restocking charges for Products
purchased by DISTRIBUTOR as part of DISTRIBUTOR's initial stocking
order, if such Products remain unsold by DISTRIBUTOR after a period
of one (1) year from the date of SUPPLIER's invoice based upon
written notification from Distributor.
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(r)
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Notify
DISTRIBUTOR, in writing and no less than thirty (30) days prior to
renewal, whenever SUPPLIER reduces DISTRIBUTOR's margin on Special
Price Quotation (SPQ's) renewals.
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(a)
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In the event
either party is prevented from performing its obligations under
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