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Exhibit 10.2

 

Portions of this Exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The omissions have been indicated by asterisks (“*****”), and the omitted text has been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

CONTENT LICENSE, MARKETING AND SALES AGREEMENT

 

This CONTENT LICENSE, MARKETING AND SALES AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into and effective as of January 15, 2008, (the “Effective Date”) by and between eFashion Solutions, LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company having its principal place of business at 80 Enterprise Avenue South, Secaucus, NJ 07094 (“EFS”) and Playboy.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation with offices at 680 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611 (“Client,” which shall include affiliates controlling, controlled by or under common control with Playboy.com, Inc.).

 

WHEREAS, Client is in the business of, inter alia, developing, marketing, promoting, distributing and selling branded and unbranded merchandise via physical media, worldwide, via  mail order catalogs (the “Catalogs”) where orders are taken via multiple order channels including online, phone, fax and mail and via the Internet through its PLAYBOY-branded and BUNNY SHOP-branded e-commerce websites as designated on Exhibit 1 (the “Websites”) (the Catalogs and Websites shall be collectively referred to as the “Playboy Commerce Business”).

 

WHEREAS, the parties intend that EFS will operate under license from Client the Playboy Commerce Business, including, but not limited to, the marketing, promotion and distribution of branded, unbranded and co-branded soft and hard goods which include but are not limited to men’s and women’s apparel, home, lingerie, men’s and women’s accessories, jewelry, books and DVD’s and related products (collectively, “Merchandise”) via the Catalogs and the Websites (including other Micro-Sites (as defined in Section 1.1(d)(vii))).

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto each intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1.          Operation of the Playboy Commerce Business

 

            1.1.        Obligations of EFS .

 

(a)        Operations .  EFS, at its sole cost and expense, shall be solely responsible for (i) developing, designing, operating, maintaining and distributing the Catalogs; (ii) developing, designing, operating, maintaining and hosting the Websites; (iii) except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the creation (except for that provided by Client) and use of all content to be displayed in the Catalogs and on the Websites; and (iv) marketing and promotion of the Playboy Commerce Business.  EFS shall be permitted to display on the bottom of each page of the Websites “Powered by eFashionSolutions” which shall appear substantially as set forth in Exhibit 2, attached hereto and hereby incorporated by reference.

 

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(b)        Fulfillment Services .  EFS, at its sole cost and expense or (with respect to pass-through expenses such as shipping, gift wrapping, etc.) at the consumer’s expense, shall be solely responsible for conducting all business activities related to the Playboy Commerce Business, including, but not limited to the following activities:  (i) setting the price consumers will pay for Merchandise offered through the Catalogs and Websites and for shipping thereof; (ii) processing all Catalog and Website orders placed by consumers, including, but not limited to, all picking, packing, billing, shipping, gift wrapping and other value-added services necessary to process orders from order placement to delivery, which shall be performed substantially as set forth in Exhibit 3, attached hereto and hereby incorporated by reference (collectively, “Fulfillment Services”); (iii) providing pricing, billing and financial clearinghouse services in connection with the Playboy Commerce Business; (iv) handling all customer service matters (provided, however, that Client and EFS shall agree upon a “hot transfer” process whereby non-e-commerce-related customer calls will be rerouted); (v) handling all financial transactions related to the Playboy Commerce Business, including, but not limited to, establishing merchant accounts with a banking institution to be approved by Client; (vi) handling all aspects of procuring Merchandise to be made available for sale through the Playboy Commerce Business, including, without limitation, all warehouse and inventory maintenance and control; and (vii) except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, handling all advertising, promotion and marketing relating to the Playboy Commerce Business.  Client acknowledges that the efficient and cost effective fulfillment of orders on the Websites will require that third parties that provide Merchandise to EFS under a Playboy license adhere to certain shipping and packaging guidelines provided by EFS, and which comply with Client’s packaging guidelines as set forth in Exhibit 3.  Client agrees to provide reasonable assistance to EFS to enable EFS to have such third parties agree to abide by the EFS guidelines.

 

(c)        Client Approval .  All aspects of the Websites and the Catalogs, including, but not limited to, their “look and feel” (including as set forth in Section 1.1(d)(iii) below), use of the Playboy Marks (as defined in Section 7.2), functionality, models to be used and all Merchandise sold therein, shall be subject to Client’s prior written approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.  Further, EFS acknowledges that Client reserves the right to change the names of the PlayboyStore and ShopTheBunny/BunnyShop Catalog and Websites to new Client brands and/or to add names to be used provided that Client provides EFS with no less than six (6) months prior written notice.  In the event that names are changed, except to the extent that there is an extenuating reason for such name change, EFS shall be permitted to continue to use domain names then in use for purposes of Micro Sites and/or forwarding domains ( i.e., driving traffic to the new names).

 

(d)        Websites

 

(i)           Unless otherwise agreed by the parties and provided that this Agreement is executed not later than January 15, 2008, EFS agrees that no later than March 1, 2008, both Websites shall launch and be fully operational, with the exception of the gift wrapping which EFS shall make available as set forth in the time and action calendar (attached hereto as Exhibit 12 and hereby incorporated by reference) and local billing (pursuant to Section 3.1, below), and EFS shall be ready to perform all aspects of administration of the Website business, including, but not limited to, all Fulfillment Services.  In furtherance of this launch

 

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date, EFS and Client shall perform all activities and deliver all deliverables in accordance with the time and action calendar.  Client acknowledges that if it is unable to perform any obligations within the time period agreed to in the time and action calendar that the launch of the Websites may be delayed accordingly.

 

(ii)           Client and EFS acknowledge that design and functionality of the Websites consistent with best practices for e-commerce is critical to ensure the maximum sales performance of the Websites and to maintain the goodwill of Client’s customers.  EFS will utilize best industry practices to maintain the shopping areas of the Websites in order to ensure that such areas feature functionality that is deemed best practice in the e-commerce industry and is updated with all content and brand imagery necessary to keep the shopping areas of the Websites up-to-date and fresh, in all instances maintaining the high level of brand integrity of the PLAYBOY brand while focusing on customer experience.  From time to time, Client will provide updated photo and brand elements for purposes of utilization by EFS in Website design.

 

(iii)         In addition to any guidelines provided by Client, EFS shall use and comply with any style guides provided by Client to ensure consistency among retail channels ( e.g ., graphics, patterns, colors, logos, etc.), visual brand displays and seasonal color palettes.  EFS shall maintain the shopping areas of the Websites consistent with the style guides (as modified for e-commerce) to maximize sales, brand appearance and marketability.  Client will provide new brand and content assets from time-to-time along with updated style guides in both digital and hard copies, and EFS will update the Websites and future Catalogs accordingly within a commercially reasonable time following receipt.  As of the Effective Date hereof, updated style guides are provided twice per year.  EFS will have not less than six (6) months advance notice of upcoming new style guides.

 

(iv)         EFS will host all content displayed on the Websites on an EFS-hosted server provided by EFS at its sole cost and expense.  EFS may at its election use a reputable third party hosting service to host the Websites; provided, however, that EFS shall nevertheless be responsible for ensuring the availability of the Websites as set forth in this Agreement.  EFS shall provide as required all updates of content on the Websites, including enhancements, modifications and additions thereto.

 

(v)          EFS agrees to at all times during the Term use its best efforts to market the Websites no less diligently than it does other online properties managed by EFS on behalf of third parties (including without limitation, maintaining best practice functionality, search engine optimization tactics, utilizing customer acquisition and retention campaigns, etc.).

 

(vi)         EFS shall take all reasonable measures to ensure the performance of each of the Websites, including, at a minimum, availability at least ninety-nine and one-half percent (99.5%) of the time per month as averaged over any one (1) month period, excepting scheduled maintenance or a Force Majeure Event (as defined in Section 14.7).

 

(vii)        Subject to the prior, written approval of Client, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, EFS shall have the right at its sole cost and expense to design and launch as many micro- and sub-domain websites as EFS deems appropriate in order to take full

 

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advantage of online marketing channels (collectively, “Micro Sites”); provided, however, that all such Micro Sites shall be designed and maintained consistent with the terms of this Agreement.  At a minimum, EFS agrees to launch a version of the PlayboyStore.com Website, which does not contain products or content containing nudity, marital aid or massager Merchandise, within forty-five (45) days following launch of the PlayboyStore.com Website.

 

(viii)        Front-End Platform .  In the event that EFS chooses to use the Demandware, Inc. (“Demandware”) front-end platform software and services for the Websites, EFS shall enter into a separate agreement directly with Demandware; provided, however, that the terms of any such agreement must be approved by Client in advance in writing.

 

(e)        Catalogs

 

(i)           EFS agrees that (A) the first issue of each of the Catalogs shall be sent to consumers by March 15, 2008; and (B) no later than March 1, 2008, EFS shall be ready to perform all aspects of administration of the Catalog business, including, but not limited to, all Fulfillment Services.

 

(ii)          EFS shall provide a copy of each Catalog to Client for review and approval not less than five (5) business days prior to printing.  EFS shall promptly make any changes to the Catalog as may be reasonably requested by Client.  No Catalog shall be sent to printing without the written approval of Client, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(f)         Models and Photography .  EFS agrees that all female models depicted in or in connection with the Playboy Commerce Business shall be approved by Client and shall be Playmates (or other Playboy models, including, but not limited The Girls Next Door) as requested by the Client unless otherwise mutually agreed in advance in writing by the parties.  In addition, EFS agrees to shoot major photography in connection with the Playboy Commerce Business in Los Angeles and in coordination with Client, as requested by Client and in line with current and past practices (taking into account changes in Client’s Catalog-related strategy) with respect to process, cost and frequency.  EFS shall be responsible for all costs and expenses in connection with such photography, including, but not limited to, payments to models and photographers, based upon an estimated schedule of costs attached as Exhibit 4.  EFS shall secure model and photographer releases in a form provided by Client and shall provide all content created under this Section 1.1(f) to Client within thirty (30) days of creation.  All such photographs shall be deemed Playboy Content for purposes of this Agreement, for which EFS shall have a license to use during the Term solely in connection with the Playboy Commerce Business and as is necessary to promote the Websites.  During the Term, Client shall not be permitted to sell or otherwise provide such photographs to third party retailers (except for those retailers operating under the PLAYBOY brand) or Licensees (as defined in Section 2.4), without the prior written approval of EFS.

 

(i)          Client shall own all content produced pursuant to Section 1.1(f) (whether or not actually used), and EFS hereby assigns to Client all right, title and interest, including all rights in copyright, in and to the photographs and materials, and agrees to cooperate with all reasonable requests by Client, and take all reasonable actions, to effect or perfect such assignment.  EFS hereby provides Client with an irrevocable power of attorney appointing Client as its irrevocable attorney-in-fact coupled with an interest to execute all such assignments on

 

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behalf of EFS in the event that EFS fails to do so within thirty (30) days following written request by Client.  Client hereby grants to EFS a limited and perpetual right and license to use such photographs and materials for research and forecasting purposes, including, but not limited to, combining the same with reports and analytics concerning the performance of the Websites, providing information to strategic partners to better define consumer purchasing habits, and for trend forecasting and planning purposes.  In addition, during the Term, EFS may use such photographs and materials to provide information to Client Licensees to better define consumer purchasing habits, refine the design and performance of the Websites and EFS Portals on which the Merchandise is sold in connection with any EFS Analysis (as defined below), and for marketing and planning purposes.  For the avoidance of doubt, no information provided to third parties under this Section 1.1(i) shall: (i) specifically or by inference identify or in any way reference Client; (ii) disclose any proprietary information of Client; or (iii) disclose any personally identifiable information of or otherwise identify any consumer of the Websites or the Catalogs.

 

(g)        Compliance with Guidelines .  EFS shall at all times comply with the provisions and limitations set forth in Client’s editorial and advertising guidelines, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 5 and hereby incorporated by reference, as the same may be amended from time to time at Client’s sole discretion, effective upon fifteen (15) business days prior written notice to EFS (the “Guidelines”).

 

(h)        Compliance with Laws .  Throughout the Term, EFS shall be solely responsible for knowledge of and compliance with all applicable international, federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, industry guidelines and similar restrictions (collectively, “Laws”) in connection with operation of the Playboy Commerce Business.  EFS shall be responsible for monitoring such Laws and taking any actions necessary to keep compliant all aspects of the Playboy Commerce Business, including, but not limited to, the Privacy Policy (as defined in Section 5.1(a)), as well as best practices relating to Direct Marketing Association (“DMA”) Guidelines (as they relate to the DMA Privacy Promise, pander files, etc.).

 

(i)         Product Placement .  At no additional cost to Client, EFS will provide preferential placement in the Catalogs and/or on the Websites, as requested by Client, for certain Merchandise from time-to-time, e.g. apparel, magazines, books, DVD’s, etc. or marketing campaigns that tie to events and initiatives of Client and its affiliates, consistent with Client’s past practices in the prior placement of such items in the Catalogs and/or on the Websites.

 

(j)         Staffing/Retention of Client Employees .  EFS agrees to staff the Playboy Commerce Business sufficiently to operate and grow the Playboy Commerce Business.  An initial organizational chart approved by both parties is attached as Exhibit 6, attached hereto and hereby incorporated by reference.  EFS agrees to employ certain individuals who are currently employed by the Client (names, titles and current salaries are listed in Exhibit 6), the hiring of whom shall be complete no later than March 1, 2008.  Client shall coordinate with EFS regarding the termination of these employees and their subsequent hire by EFS.  Each of the hired employees shall be required to comply with all policies and procedures of EFS which are generally applicable to its employees; provided however that levels of seniority and tenure of hired employees (as they relate to vacation time, etc.) will carry over to EFS.  Client shall have

 

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input and approval rights regarding the hiring of key positions in connection with the Playboy Commerce Business, including replacement personnel, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.  EFS agrees that ***** primary responsibilities will continue to be the Playboy Commerce Business.

 

(k)        Keywords .  EFS may use Playboy Marks as keyword-targeted advertising on any portal, search engine or other website; provided, however that such use is directly related to the Merchandise available on the Playboy Commerce Business or the promotion of the Websites.  Any use of Playboy Marks as keywords not directly related to Merchandise shall be subject to Client’s prior written approval.

 

(l)         Service Model Option .  Client shall have the right upon not less than six (6) months prior written notice to request that, at any time as of the third anniversary of the Effective Date, EFS provide its services to Client via a “service model,” in which case, upon effective date of transition to a service model, EFS will no longer be a licensee but rather a vendor.  In such transition to a service model, the parties will work in good faith to establish a reasonably equivalent economic benefit for EFS (adjusting for operational responsibilities and economic risk being transferred to Client).  The parties agree that Client will not be charged a higher fee than what is being made available by EFS to its other Clients for similar services.  The terms of such arrangement will allow for Client to recognize the top-line revenues from the Playboy Commerce Business as well as assume responsibility for various operations of the business as determined by Client, with the remaining services to be provided by EFS.  In such event, EFS shall provide Client with all best practice services and tools that are provided to EFS’ largest clients.  The parties further agree that in the event Client elects to receive services hereunder via the “service model,” during the transition to the service model, the operation of the Websites will remain on the EFS core technology platform.

 

(m)       Insurance .  EFS shall maintain at all times during the Term of this Agreement insurance as provided below and shall name Client, its parent company, subsidiaries and affiliated entities and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, agents and employees as additional insureds to the extent of indemnity provided herein under its liability policies as follows:

 

(i)          Commercial general liability insurance including premises/operations, broad form property damage, independent contractors, and contractual liability covering EFS’ obligations hereunder for bodily injury and property damage, with a combined single limit of not less than $1,000,000 each occurrence and $6,000,000 umbrella coverage;

 

(ii)          Workers’ compensation insurance in statutory amounts covering EFS and its employees; and

 

(iii)         Errors and omissions insurance, and employer’s liability insurance in an amount not less than $1,000,000 per accident/disease.

 

(iv)         All insurance required above shall be carried with insurance companies licensed to do business in the state(s) where operations are maintained with a rating

 

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of no less than A-.  EFS shall deliver to Client, upon execution of the Agreement, certificates of insurance as evidence of the required coverages.  EFS agrees that these policies shall not be canceled or materially changed without at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Client.  Such notice shall include written confirmation and details of replacement insurance coverages and other material revisions to the policies, which shall be effective immediately upon any cancellation or material change in EFS’ policies in order that no gap in coverage results.

 

             1.2.        Obligations of Client .

 

(a)       Client will provide instructions and specifications for linking to the Licensed Domain Names (as defined in Section 7.3) from the EFS-hosted server.

 

(b)       Client will provide image and descriptive content, the selection of which shall be at Client’ discretion, related to the Client Inventory (as defined in Section 2.2) as may be in Client’s possession, subject to rights availability and the license grant contained in Section 7.1 (collectively, the “Playboy Content”), for use by EFS in connection with the Playboy Commerce Business.  Client shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that all digital images provided to EFS conform to the file format and size requirements specified by EFS.  Client will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide EFS with at least six (6) months notice prior to providing any new brand imagery, brand elements or style guides, and EFS will prepare a time and action calendar for the updating of respective sections of the Websites and/or Catalogs.

 

(c)       Client shall be solely responsible for the design and maintenance of www.playboy.com (the “Playboy Site”). Client agrees to place a persistent shopping button on the main navigation bar of the Playboy Site (with “Shop Playboy” or such other wording as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties), and Client further agrees that the shopping button will be located on the main navigation bar of all sub pages.  Client will also promote the Playboy Commerce Business with calls to action in its rotation of house ads throughout the Playboy Site (the placement of which to be determined by Client in its sole reasonable discretion, taking into account conversion rates and click-through success), with creative to be provided by EFS and approved by Client.  EFS acknowledges that the Playboy Site is currently undergoing a redesign.  The parties will work together in good faith to provide additional promotion on the Playboy Site of the Playboy Commerce Business, which shall fit within context of the new design of the Playboy Site.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Client agrees that the shopping button directing customers to the Websites will continue to be located on the main navigation bar appearing above the fold on the Playboy Site and all sub pages. Client and EFS will work together in good faith to provide additional promotion of the Websites licensed by EFS.

 

2.           Merchandise .

 

             2.1.        Merchandise Assortment .

 

(a)       The Merchandise mix shall be determined by EFS in its reasonable discretion in operating the business with input and collaboration from Client, provided that EFS agrees it will merchandise individual items as directed by Client based on factors such as alignment with Client’s retail stores (for Bunny Shop only) or for new Client media initiatives ( e.g ., a new book, special edition of PLAYBOY Magazine, etc.) with unit decisions made by

 

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EFS in its reasonable discretion.  The parties agree that there will be regular merchandising meetings between the parties to discuss sales performance, fashion, brand and retail trends, and initiatives.  It is contemplated that such meetings shall take place no less than once per month during the first year of the Term and then no less than quarterly thereafter.

 

(b)       The parties agree that the Merchandise mix as of the Effective Date for each of the Websites and Catalogs is an approved baseline of categories and the general mix of Merchandise and that there will be no material deviations from such mix without the mutual agreement of Client and EFS, provided however that (i) EFS shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with Client to align the merchandising of the Bunny Shop with that of Client's retail stores and (ii) EFS shall collaborate with Client to reduce the amount of unbranded ( i.e. , non-Playboy branded) apparel from its current levels (currently ***** of all apparel and ***** of the total Merchandise mix), which shall in no event comprise more than ***** of EFS’ total Merchandise mix.  For the avoidance of doubt, Merchandise shall not include ticket sales to Client-sponsored or other events.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “branded Merchandise” shall refer to Merchandise which contains or references any of the Playboy Marks or is otherwise branded or labeled with a Playboy Mark, and the term “unbranded Merchandise” shall refer to Merchandise which does not contain or make reference to any of the Playboy Marks.

 

(c)       Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.1, if Client determines in its sole discretion that certain Merchandise must be removed or altered for legal reasons, EFS shall promptly take such action required by Client.  If Client requests that EFS change or discontinue any Merchandise for reasons other than legal, Client will provide EFS with sufficient notice and a reasonable sell-off period to minimize any disruption to the Playboy Commerce Business and EFS shall comply.  In the event that the Merchandise required to be removed is a current item being sold and such removal results in an actual material impact on revenues or Merchandise Gross Margin as demonstrated by EFS, EFS and Client will work together to agree on an equitable adjustment to the Minimum Royalty.

 

2.2.       Purchase and Use of Existing Inventory .  EFS will purchase from Client all existing product inventory of Merchandise held by or on behalf of Client in connection with the Playboy Commerce Business, including, but not limited to, back issues of PLAYBOY Magazine held by Client as of forty-five (45) days after as of the Effective Date hereof, as determined by Client (collectively, the “Client Inventory”), as set forth in Section 6.6.  During the Term, Client Inventory supplied to EFS shall be sold by EFS solely through the Playboy Commerce Business.

 

2.3.        Transition Period .  In addition, prior to launch of the Websites, Client (in collaboration with EFS) shall purchase new and replenishment Merchandise on behalf of EFS for March 1, 2008 orders, with such Merchandise to be shipped to EFS directly. For such orders, EFS shall pay the vendor in full, with such payments to be made directly to each vendor in accordance with such vendor’s payment terms, and therefore, the Merchandise purchased in connection with March 1, 2008 orders shall not be subject to the discount for Client Inventory set forth in Section 6.6.

 

2.4.       Licensees .  Client shall notify each of its Licensees (as defined below) of the provisions of this Agreement relating to the sale and provision of Merchandise to EFS.  EFS

 

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shall be permitted to deal directly with and purchase Merchandise directly from those third parties licensed by Client to produce products under the PLAYBOY brand (“Licensees”).  EFS shall be free to negotiate directly with Licensees, and Client will use commercially reasonable efforts to assist EFS in securing favorable terms on pricing and service levels.  EFS acknowledges, however, that Client cannot guarantee that EFS will secure such favorable terms. EFS shall enter into separate agreements with all Licensees and any such agreements shall supersede any agreement between Client and such Licensee solely with respect to EFS’ relationship with such Licensee, as approved by Client.

 

2.5.       International Sales .  For a period of one (1) year after launch of the Websites, EFS shall be permitted to fulfill orders placed by customers in the UK and Australia *****; provided, however that: (a) EFS is solely responsible for the collection and remittance of all regulations, tariffs, VAT and any other taxes or charges; and (b) during this period, EFS may not sell or otherwise ship EFS Produced Merchandise apparel.  During the foregoing one (1) year period (the “US Shipping Period”), EFS shall be permitted to initiate negotiations for the terms of purchase of Merchandise from local Licensees in the territories.   In the event that EFS has not entered into meaningful negotiations with any Licensee within three (3) months following the end of the US Shipping Period, or if negotiations


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