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Exhibit
10.25
Kiosk License
Agreement
Wal-Mart Stores East, LP,
individually and only as to Stores (as defined below) owned,
leased, or operated in AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, IN, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI,
MS, MO, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VT, VA, WI, WV;
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., individually and only as to Stores owned or
leased in AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, MN, MT, NE, NV,
ND, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY; Wal-Mart Louisiana, LLC, individually and
only as to Stores owned or leased in Louisiana; and Wal-Mart Stores
Texas, LLC, individually and only as to Stores owned or leased in
Texas (each referred to as “Retailer” for purposes of
this Kiosk License Agreement as it applies to the Store) and
Jackson Hewitt Inc., operating Jackson Hewitt offices through its
wholly owned subsidiaries, (“Licensee”) enter into this
Kiosk License Agreement effective this 23 rd day of June, 2008 (this
“Agreement”) and agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of
this Agreement, the following definitions apply:
A. “Extension Term” means
the 1 year renewal term beginning at the expiration of the initial
term of this Agreement.
B. “Franchisee”
or “Franchisees” means any franchisee operating Jackson
Hewitt Tax Service ® offices.
C. “Kiosk” or
“Kiosks” means an area of space in which Licensee
conducts the Promotion (as defined below) measuring six (6) feet
deep by fifteen (15) feet wide with privacy screens around the tax
preparation areas that are at least five (5) feet high.
D. “Promotion” means the tax
preparation services, and the ancillary products as designated in
Exhibit A, offered and provided by Licensee and Licensee’s
Franchisees (as defined above) at the Kiosk in accordance with this
Agreement.
E. “Tax Season” means the
period beginning on or about January 2nd of a given year through
April 15th of the same year or such later date as the United State
Internal Revenue Service permits the filing of federal income tax
returns without an extension of the applicable Tax
Season.
F. “Tax Timeline” means a
timeline describing the various phases and requirements, and the
deadlines for each, of the Store (as defined below) selection
process. The Tax Timeline for the first Tax Season covered by this
Agreement is attached to, and incorporated into, this Agreement as
Exhibit B.
G. “Tax Returns” means a
federal income tax return(s) that Licensee receives a fee for
preparing.
H. “Store” or
“Stores” means the “Wal-Mart” retail store
operated by Retailer.
2. Granting Language, Final List and
Pre-Approved Locations.
A. Retailer grants to Licensee,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the right to
conduct the Promotion on dates specified in the applicable Tax
Timeline. Retailer shall make each Store on the Final List
available to Licensee no later than January 2nd of the applicable
Tax Season. Licensee may begin construction of the Kiosk at any
time after the Store is made available to Licensee, provided that
no construction is conducted on a Saturday or
Sunday.
B. Retailer shall provide Licensee with
the applicable Tax Timeline no later than April 1st of the year
preceding the applicable Tax Season.
(1) Each party shall perform all phases
and meet all requirements described in the applicable Tax Timeline
in accordance with the deadlines for each designated in the same
Tax Timeline.
(2) Retailer makes no guaranties that
Licensee or Licensee’s Franchisees will be allowed to conduct
the Promotion in the same Stores each Tax Season of this
Agreement.
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C. Retailer shall provide Licensee, on
or before the date designated in the applicable Tax Timeline, a
final list of Stores in which Licensee is granted a license to
conduct the Promotion for the applicable Tax Season (the
“Final List”).
(1) Retailer’s
obligation to provide Licensee with the Final List extends only to
those Stores that
Licensee has submitted to
Retailer in accordance with this Agreement and the applicable Tax
Timeline.
(2) If Retailer elects to
close a Store included on the Final List prior to or during the
applicable Tax Season, Retailer will use commercially reasonable
efforts to provide Licensee with a substitute Store in which the
Promotion may be conducted, but Licensee is under no obligation to
accept the substitute Store. However, Retailer will not be liable
under any circumstances for any loss (including, but not limited
to, lost profits) sustained by Licensee, Licensee’s
Franchisee, or both, as a result of either the Store closing or
because a substitute location is not provided.
(3) Both Retailer and
Licensee will be released from any further obligation under this
Agreement, and Retailer will return to Licensee the pro rata share
of any License Fee paid to Retailer in advance of Licensee’s
use of the license granted under this Agreement, upon the
occurrence of any of the following: (a) Retailer fails to provide a
substitute Store in which the Promotion may be conducted; or (b)
Retailer provides a substitute Store in which the Promotion may be
conducted but the substitute Store is not the size of a
“Wal-Mart Supercenter” or is not within the
Licensee’s or Licensee’s Franchisee’s owned
territory.
D. Licensee shall construct the Kiosk at
its own expense and in accordance with plans and specifications
approved in writing by Retailer .
(1) Licensee shall obtain
Retailer’s approval of the floor plan, specifications,
location and layouts of the Kiosk, including dimensions, signs,
intended colors, and trade fixtures, prior to beginning
construction of the Kiosk.
(2) All construction by
Licensee, as required by the preceding sentence, must comply with
applicable codes, regulations, and laws and must be of high quality
materials and workmanship.
(3) Licensee’s
obligations to construct the Kiosk, as required by this Section 2D,
includes, but is not limited to, carpentry and
utilities.
(4) Licensee shall install
and maintain, at no cost to Retailer, any telephone equipment
required in the Kiosk and is responsible for the equipment,
installation, and service charges.
(5) Licensee may use existing
electrical utility service at the Store in which a Kiosk is located
for the basic operation of the Kiosk at no additional charge over
the amount set forth in Section 7, below.
(6) No construction may take
place in a Store on the weekends.
E. Licensee and Licensee’s
Franchisees shall conduct the Promotion, and may offer ancillary
products designated in Exhibit A (which is attached to and
incorporated into this Agreement), within any Store on the Final
List from a Kiosk located in the pre-approved location by Retailer
and designated in Exhibit C, which is attached to and incorporated
into this Agreement, (the “Pre-Approved
Location”).
(1) Retailer may relocate a
Kiosk within the Store but has no obligation to provide Licensee or
Licensee’s Franchisee, for any reason whatsoever, a
substitute location for the Kiosk other than the Pre-Approved
Location.
(2) If Retailer relocates a
Kiosk after Licensee installs telecommunications at the Kiosk, or
if Retailer fails to notify Licensee of a pending relocation prior
to Licensee installing telecommunications at the Kiosk, Retailer
will reimburse Licensee for any direct costs Licensee incurs by
moving and re-establishing telecommunications at the new
location.
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(3) Other than as provided in
the preceding paragraph, Retailer is not liable to Licensee or to
Licensee’s Franchisees for any loss as a result of the actual
or requested relocation of the Kiosk including, but not limited to,
lost profits.
3. Term and Renewal.
A. This Agreement commences on the
effective date first noted above and continues until 11:59 pm
central time on May 30, 2009 (the “Initial Term”),
unless terminated earlier in accordance with Section 14,
below.
B. Subject to paragraph 7C below, this
Agreement will renew for a one (1) year Extension Term at the
expiration of the Initial Term.
4. Hours of Operation.
A. Licensee and Licensee’s
Franchisees shall conduct the Promotion at each Kiosk during the
following hours, unless prohibited by law:
(1) During the period from
January 2nd (or such later date as Licensee begins operating in a
particular Store) through January 21st, at least eight (8) hours
per day Monday through Friday and at least five (5) hours per day
each Saturday and each Sunday;
(2) During the period from
January 22nd through February 29th, at least ten (10) hours per day
Monday through Saturday, and at least five (5) hours per day each
Sunday;
(3) During the period from
March 1st through April 7th, at least seven and one-half (7
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hours per day Monday through Friday, at least ten (10) hours per
day each Saturday, and at least five (5) hours per day each Sunday;
and
(4) During the period from
April 8th through the end of the applicable Tax Season, at least
ten (10) hours per day Monday through Saturday and at least five
(5) hours per day each Sunday.
B. Licensee shall staff, and shall cause
Licensee’s Franchisees to staff, each Kiosk with at least one
(1) person at all times required by the preceding
paragraph.
5. Signage and
Advertisements
A. Licensee and Licensee’s
Franchisees shall, at Licensee’s sole expense, post in a
conspicuous location on the Kiosk, signs informing prospective
customers:
(1) That Licensee provides to
customers, without charge to the customer, an estimate of cost for
Licensee preparing the customer’s Tax Returns;
(2) Listing a toll free
telephone number that customers may contact Licensee to address any
problems; and
(3) Listing the Hours of
Operation required in Section 4, above.
B. Retailer shall not permit advertising
at any Store where a Kiosk is located by any third party relating
to the operation of a tax preparation service or related
business.
C. Licensee shall not
advertise through signs, posters, or other marketing materials its
Jackson Hewitt ipower ® Card in, upon or outside of
the Kiosk, or any Store.
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6. Maintenance.
A. Licensee and Licensee’s
Franchisees shall maintain the Kiosk and keep the Kiosk clean,
hazard free, and safe for customers and associates.
B. Retailer shall maintain all areas of
the Store other than the Kiosk.
7. Licensee Fee; Commission; and
Report.
A. Licensee shall pay to Retailer the
applicable annual License Fee, as designated in Exhibit D, which is
attached to and incorporated into this Agreement, in three (3)
equal installments, with the first payment on or before the third
business day prior to the end of January in the applicable Tax
Season; the second payment on or before the third business day
prior to the end of February in the applicable Tax Season; and the
third payment on or before the third business day prior to the end
of March in the applicable Tax Season.
B. During the Initial Term, Licensee
also shall pay to Retailer on or before April 30th of the
applicable Tax Season the Commission Rent designated on Exhibit D
based on the number of Tax Returns prepared for customers of a
particular Store.
C. Prior to expiration of the Initial
Term, the parties shall negotiate and enter into a License Fee and
Commission Rent agreement for the Extension Term. If the parties
are unable to agree on the License Fee and Commission Rent prior to
expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement will terminate upon
expiration of the Initial Term.
D. Licensee shall submit to Retailer all
payments due under this Agreement via wire transfer along with an
excel spreadsheet detailing the distribution of payment for each
Store in which a Kiosk is located. Licensee guarantees all payments
due Retailer under this Agreement. Retailer shall provide account
numbers for the wire transfer.
E. Licensee shall submit to Retailer
contemporaneously with the Commission Rent a report showing the
exact number of Tax Returns Licensee and Licensee’s
Franchisees prepared at each Kiosk for customers of a particular
Store during the applicable Tax Season.
F. In the event that a Store is changed
from a Division 1 format or a Supercenter format to another format
during a Tax Season, the amount Licensee owes to Retailer under
this Agreement for the entire applicable Tax Season must be
prorated based on the Store designation of the Store during the
applicable Tax Season.
G. Licensee’s failure to comply
with this Section 7 or with Exhibit D is a material breach of this
Agreement.
8. Indemnification.
A. For the purposes of this
Agreement:
(1) “Claim” means
any action, cause of action, claim, or any other assertion of a
legal right; damages including, but not limited to, consequential,
future, incidental, liquidated, special, and punitive damages;
diminution in value; fines; judgments; liabilities; losses
including, but not limited to, economic loss and lost profits;
regulatory actions, sanctions, or settlement payments; and
reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, experts,
and investigators.
(2) “Indemnitee”
means Retailer; Retailer’s subsidiaries, affiliates,
officers, managers, members, directors, stockholders, employees,
agents, and representatives; and Retailer’s lessor or other
party to an agreement with Retailer related to Retailer’s
purchase, lease, or use of the Store or the underlying land, which
Retailer has contractual obligation to indemnify for Claims in
connection with the Store.
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(3) “Indemnified
Claim” means a Claim for which one party is obligated to
indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other party.
B. Licensee shall indemnify, defend, and
hold harmless Retailer against any Claim, even if the Claim is
groundless, fraudulent, or false, raised or asserted by a third
party, including a government entity, in connection with or
resulting from any actual or alleged:
1. Breach of this Agreement
by Licensee or by Licensee’s Franchisees;
2. Negligence or willful
misconduct by Licensee or Licensee’s Franchisees, while on
Retailer’s property or in relation to Licensee’s
performance under this Agreement;
3. The passive negligence,
secondary liability, vicarious liability, strict liability, or
breach of a statutory or non-delegable duty of Indemnitees,
related, directly or indirectly, to any matter covered under this
Section 8B or to the performance under this Agreement of Licensee
or Licensee’s Franchisees; and
4. Any criminal conduct by
Licensee or any of Licensee’s Franchisees while on
Retailer’s property or in relation to Licensee’s
performance under this Agreement.
C. Licensee’s obligation to
indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Indemnitees under this
Section 8 is independent of, and not limited by, any of
Licensee’s obligations under Section 9, below, even if
damages or benefits are payable under worker’s compensation
or other statutes or if Licensee breaches its obligations under
this Section 8.
D. Licensee waives any right, at law or
in equity, to indemnity or contribution from the Indemnitee, except
as provided in Section 8F, below.
E. Retailer shall indemnify, defend, and
hold harmless Licensee, Licensee’s Franchisees, and
Licensee’s affiliates, subsidiaries, successors and assigns,
officers, directors, agents and employees against all Claims for
property damage and personal injury, including death, suffered,
incurred, or asserted by any person arising solely out of an act or
omission by Retailer, arising out of operations of the Store in
which a Kiosk is located, or both. Retailer is not liable to
Licensee or Licensee’s Franchisees, affiliates, subsidiaries,
successors and assigns, officers, and directors, for any lost
profits.
F. Indemnitee will not be liable to
Licensee, nor to any of Licensee’s Franchisees, for any Claim
relating to the negligence, willful misconduct, or intentional or
criminal conduct of any of Licensee’s customers or
Franchisees.
G. Each party receiving notice, from
whatever source, of an Indemnified Claim shall upon receipt of such
notice:
(1) Notify the Indemnitee, as
soon as is commercially practical, of the assertion, filing, or
service of any Indemnified Claim; and
(2) Immediately take all
appropriate actions necessary to protect and defend the party that
must be indemnified, defended, and held harmless under this
Agreement against the Indemnified Claim.
H. Licensee shall cause the counsel
engaged to defend the Indemnitee with respect to the Indemnified
Claim to acknowledge receipt of, to accept, and to represent
Indemnitee’s interest regarding the Indemnified Claim in
accordance with “Wal-Mart’s Outside Counsel
Guidelines.”
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(1) If, in its sole
discretion, the Indemnitee determines that a conflict of interest
exists between the Indemnitee and the indemnifying counsel or that
the indemnifying counsel is not pursuing a defense for the
Indemnitee that is in the Indemnitee’s best interests, the
Indemnitee may request that Licensee replace the indemnifying
counsel.
(2) Licensee may not
unreasonably withhold its consent to replace the indemnifying
counsel and will replace the indemnifying counsel timely or cause
the indemnifying counsel to be replaced timely.
(3) If Licensee unreasonably
withholds consent or the indemnifying counsel is not timely
replaced after the Indemnitee requested, the Indemnitee may replace
the indemnifying counsel, and Licensee will reimburse the
Indemnitee any costs incurred by the Indemnitee in replacing the
counsel.
I. This Section 8 survives the
termination or expiration of this Agreement until applicable law
fully and finally bars all Claims against the Indemnitee. ALL
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE ENFORCED TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
INDEMNITEES. In the event that applicable law affects the validity
or enforceability of this Section 8, then the applicable law will
operate to amend this Section 8 to the minimum extent necessary to
bring the provisions into conformity with the applicable law. This
Section 8, as modified, will continue in full force and
effect.
J. Any failure by Licensee to comply
with this Section 8 is a material breach of this Agreement, which
does not relieve Licensee of its obligations under this Section
8.
9. Insurance.
A. Licensee and Licensee’s
Franchisees shall procure and maintain during the Initial Term and
any renewal term of this Agreement, at no expense to Retailer, the
following insurance coverage:
(1) Worker’s
Compensation insurance with statutory limits, or if no statutory
limits exist, with minimum limits of five hundred thousand dollars
($500,000) per occurrence, and Employer’s Liability coverage
with minimum limits of ($500,000), for each employee for bodily
injury by accident and for each employee for bodily injury by
disease. Licensee and Licensee’s Franchisees shall cause
Insurer (as defined below) to issue an endorsement providing
stopgap insurance in monopolistic states in which a Kiosk may be
located.
(2) Commercial General
Liability insurance with a two million dollar ($2,000,000) minimum
limit per occurrence for each Store in which a Kiosk is located or
with per location aggregate limits for each Store in which a Kiosk
is located. This Commercial General Liability policy may not
contain an exclusion for contractual liability assumed by Licensee
in this Agreement unless such coverage is provided by a separate
policy with minimum limits equal to the Commercial General
Liability insurance limits designated in the preceding
sentence.
B. Licensee and Licensee’s
Franchisees may satisfy the minimum limits required in Section
9A(1) and Section 9A(2) by procuring and maintaining
Umbrella/Excess Liability insurance on an umbrella basis, in excess
over, and no less broad than the primary liability coverage; with
the same inception and expiration dates as the primary liability
coverage it is in excess of; with minimum limits necessary to
satisfy the required primary minimum limits; and which “drop
down” for any exhausted aggregate limits of the primary
liability coverage. Licensee and Licensee’s Franchisees shall
cause Insurer (as defined below) to issue an endorsement to any
policy Licensee or Licensee’s Franchisees procures in
satisfaction of its obligations in this paragraph providing per
location per occurrence limits or with per location aggregate
limits for each Store in which a Kiosk is located and listing as
Additional Insured the parties described below.
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C. Licensee and Licensee’s
Franchisees shall procure and maintain all insurance policies
required in this Section 9 from an insurance carrier with a rating
of B+ or better and a financial Size Category rating of VII or
better, as rated in the A.M. Best Key Rating Guide for Property and
Casualty Insurance Companies (the
“Insurer”).
D. Additional Insureds are Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc., its Subsidiaries and its Affiliates, and the
directors, officers, shareholders, employees, agents, and
representatives, and the respective successors and assigns of each,
and any party Retailer has a contractual obligation to indemnify
for Claims in connection with the Store.
E. All insurance policies required by
this Section 9 must be primary, not in excess, and
non-contributory.
F. Upon Retailer’s request,
Licensee shall submit to Retailer Certificates of Insurance and
endorsements evidencing Licensee’s and Licensee’s
Franchisees’ compliance with this Section 9.
(1) All Certificates of
Insurance must show as Certificate Holder “Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates” at 1300 S.E. 8th
Street, Bentonville, Arkansas 72716-0850.
(2) All Certificates of
Insurance and endorsements must show Licensee or Licensee’s
Franchisee as the Named Insured.
G. Failure to comply with this Section 9
is a material breach of this Agreement. Licensee shall indemnify,
defend, and hold harmless the Indemnitees against any Indemnified
Claim that the required insurance would have covered but for
Licensee’s breach.
10. Equipment. Retailer is
neither responsible nor liable for any injury or damage to any
person or property resulting from the use, misuse, or failure of
any equipment Licensee or Licensee’s Franchisees use even if
Retailer furnishes, rents, or loans the equipment to Licensee or
Licensee’s Franchisees.
A. The acceptance or use of equipment
furnished, rented, or loaned to Licensee or Licensee’s
Franchisees by Retailer is an acceptance by Licensee of full
responsibility for any Claim.
B. Licensee shall indemnify, defend, and
hold harmless the Indemnitees in accordance with Section 8, above,
against any Claims in connection with the equipment that Retailer
furnishes, rents, or loans to Licensee or Licensee’s
Franchisees.
11. Customer Service and Record
Ownership
A. Licensee shall conduct or cause to be
conducted by a third party at least two (2) random personal visits
of each Kiosk during the applicable Tax Season to ensure compliance
with all Licensee’s and Retailer’s rules and
regulations; and shall provide Retailer with a summary of each
visit no later than thirty (30) days following the applicable
visit.
B. Licensee shall promptly respond,
resolve, or both, all customer complaints related to the
Promotion.
C. All files and information related to
Licensee’s and Licensee’s Franchisee’s customers
remain the property of Licensee.
12. Taxes and
Permitting
A. Licensee shall determine whether a
sales tax number is required to conduct the Promotion and which, if
any, federal, state, and local licenses and permits are required to
conduct the Promotion and shall secure, at no cost to Retailer all
such sales tax numbers and all applicable licenses and permits as
may be required.
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(1) Licensee shall not use
any of Retailer’s sales tax numbers or licenses and
permits.
(2) Licensee’s
Franchisees shall not use any of Retailer’s sales tax numbers
or licenses and permits.
B. Licensee shall pay all appropriate
tax liabilities levied upon its operation of the
Promotion.
13. Use of Name
A. Licensee shall not use
Retailer’s trade names, trademarks, service names, service
marks, or logos without the prior written consent of Retailer.
Neither Licensee nor Licensee’s Franchisees may list Retailer
as a customer in any press releases, advertisements, trade shows,
posters, reference lists, or similar public announcements without
Retailer’s prior, written permission. The foregoing notice
and approval procedures do not apply to required government
filings, including, without limitation, filings with the Securities
Exchange Commission, Federal Trade Commission or state franchise
agencies, or communications with financial analysts, as long as
such communications are not derogatory with respect to the other
party or its parents, affiliates, or subsidiaries.
B. Retailer shall only use
Licensee’s name to advertise the fact that Licensee is
engaged in the Promotion at participating Stores, but Retailer is
not obligated to advertise the fact that Licensee is engaged in the
Promotion at participating Stores.
14. Default and
Terminat
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