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Enron Mail |
Attached for your review is a revised draft of the Licensing Agreement
between Accenture and Enron Net Works. Following is a list of some of the key issues raised by the draft. In addition, we have inserted various questions and comments into the draft in bold type. I look forward to resolving these questions with you and providing an updated draft over the next few days. I plan to speak with Jay Webb to resolve some of the technical issues as soon as possible. Thanks, and please feel free to contact me at 713-758-2109. Key Issues: 1. Qualification of Customers. In Section 2.3, we have adopted the construct (same as in Kiodex) that Enron must receive a Consent and Release from the relevant customer as a condition precedent to releasing that customer's transaction data. This will help manage Enron's liability. 2. Data Storage. Section 2.4 relates to Accenture's obligation to store transaction data. Should Accenture be obligated to purge the data after a period of time, or may it keep the data indefinitely? Should the data be purged at the end of the Agreement? 3. Service Levels. We have retained the reference to Service Levels in Section 2.5, but have deleted the concept of a Service Credit (i.e., amounts owed by Enron to Accenture for failure to achieve Service Levels). 4. License Rights/Exclusivity. Article III provides non-exclusive license rights to Accenture to use the Customer-Specific Transaction Data and SmartClient Software, for a narrow field of use. This is followed by Section 4.1, which sets forth certain Enron covenants regarding exclusivity. We prefer this construct due to the numerous exceptions to the exclusivity. For example, Enron's right to market to customers that do not want to sign up with Accenture is set forth as an exception to the exclusivity covenant in Section 4.1(a)(i). As originally drafted by Accenture, this provision had the effect of increasing the "TSH Gross Revenues," and thereby offsetting any minimum royalty obligations of Accenture. We redrafted this provision to simply obligate Enron to remit 70% of the net revenues it raises from non-Qualified Customers, and exclude that amount from TSH Revenues. That way, if Accenture never gets going, it would have to pay the full minimum royalty, without reduction for sales by Enron. 5. Marketing. Section 4.2 sets forth Accenture's obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts to market the TSH Services to Enron Customers. What standards does Enron want to impose regarding Accenture's use of Enron's name? Enron should not agree to let Accenture use the EOL trademark except under the agreement and procedures established by Enron from time to time. 6. Strategic Transactions. Section 4.5(a) sets forth a three-month blackout on transactions with multilateral trading platforms, relating to the transmission of transaction data; has this been agreed? With respect to Section 4.5(b), we are concerned about the confusion that may occur if Enron has an obligation to seek restrictions on another trading platform's use of transaction data. Enron's ability to proceed with any transaction will be substantially hampered if it needs to be able to prove to Accenture that it is using commercially reasonable efforts in the context of a negotiation; this is very difficult to prove. Our recommendation is a more straightforward approach, focusing on economic alternatives. 7. Transaction Fees. In Section 5.1, we have introduced the concept of a "Standard Transaction Fee," being a mutually agreed posted fee that will serve as the minimum amount payable to Enron in respect of TSH Services. The purpose is to address our concern that Accenture may price its services very low in order to attract high consulting fees, thereby resulting in low Gross TSH Revenue. We need to discuss how to calculate and apply the Standard Transaction Fee. In addition, we should discuss the definition of Gross TSH Revenues - the additions made to that definition in Accenture's May 16 draft were far too broad, and would exclude platforms like HoustonStreet, and even platforms which agreed contractually not to distribute the data. 8. Term/Termination. Section 7.1 provides for a five year term, commencing on the Enron Data Feed Launch Date. Accenture had provided that it start when Accenture began to offer TSH Services, which could be indefinitely in the future. We have added Enron termination rights to Section 7.2, and provided for an acceleration of all Minimum Annual Payments as liquidated damages if Enron terminates for an Accenture breach (Section 7.6(b)). 9. Accenture Operations Failure. We have added several features to guard against operational failure by Accenture's TSH Services. These include termination rights on operational failure (see definition of "Accenture Operational Failure") and indemnities. One additional safeguard may be to add rights for operational audits. We need to assess these provisions and determine if they are sufficient. 10. Successors. How should be address EOL's successors? Do we need to come up with a way to exclude new industries and products that may be offered in the future on Enron's Website. <<560569_2.DOC<< ++++++CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE+++++ The information in this email may be confidential and/or privileged. This email is intended to be reviewed by only the individual or organization named above. If you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination or copying of this email and its attachments, if any, or the information contained herein is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately notify the sender by return email and delete this email from your system. Thank You - 560569_2.DOC
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