Global Trade Confidentiality & Terms of Engagement

The Silent Partner Protocol — Contractual, operational, and cultural commitment to protecting commercial identity, intellectual property, and supply-chain discretion.

Effective Date

January 2026

Entity

Wickbond Pvt. Ltd.

Jurisdiction

India | Global Trade Alignment

Section 1

Preamble — The Silent Partner Principle

Wickbond operates at the intersection of artisanal craftsmanship, industrial discipline, and global trade governance.

We recognize that for luxury houses, heritage brands, premium hospitality groups, and private-label principals, privacy is not a regulatory formality — it is a strategic asset.

This Charter formalizes Wickbond's role as a Silent Manufacturing Partner: an entity contractually, operationally, and culturally committed to protecting the commercial identity, intellectual property, and supply-chain discretion of its principals.

Engaging Wickbond is not a transactional act. It is the delegation of trust.

Section 2

Information Classification & Data Stewardship

Wickbond does not treat all data equally. We formally distinguish between Commercial Contact Data and Proprietary Trade Intelligence, applying materially different controls to each.

2.1 Commercial Contact Data

Scope includes:

  • Professional contact details
  • Procurement instructions
  • Billing, compliance, and logistics coordination data

Stewardship Standard:

Used strictly for contract administration, compliance verification, and execution
Never sold, rented, brokered, or repurposed for third-party marketing
Governed by a Zero-Solicitation Policy

2.2 Proprietary Trade Intelligence

The "Black Box" Standard — Scope includes:

  • Custom fragrance profiles (CFPs)
  • Wax formulations and blend ratios
  • Vessel drawings, molds, and die-lines
  • Packaging structures and print files
  • Pricing architecture, forecasts, and go-to-market documents

Protection Protocol:

Classified as Confidential Intellectual Property
Segmented and siloed within production systems
Access granted strictly on a "Need-to-Manufacture" basis

Example: A production supervisor may access formulation tolerances, but not brand strategy, retail pricing, or client identity beyond operational necessity.

Section 3

Intellectual Property & Design Sovereignty

Wickbond recognizes exclusivity as a form of currency within the luxury sector. Accordingly, we enforce strict IP sovereignty safeguards.

3.1 Non-Replication Assurance

Any molds, formulations, designs, or configurations developed for a principal are designated Client-Restricted Assets. They shall never be offered as white-label products, never appear in catalogues or samples, and never be repurposed for third parties.

3.2 Sample & Prototype Control

Pre-production samples and prototypes are logged, tracked, and controlled. They are destroyed or returned if not approved, and never displayed publicly or at trade events without explicit written authorization.

Section 4

Supply-Chain Discretion & Brand Anonymity

Wickbond acknowledges that manufacturing origin, disclosure, and attribution are integral components of brand strategy.

4.1 White-Glove Logistics

Operational data shared with logistics partners is:

Limited strictly to execution requirements
Shared under confidentiality obligations
Never used for marketing or disclosure purposes

4.2 The "No-Name-Drop" Policy

Wickbond does not:

Issue press releases
Publish client lists
Reference brand names in marketing materials
Disclose manufacturing relationships

…without a countersigned publicity waiver.

To the external world, the principal is the sole creator of the product.

Section 5

Global Data Protection & Export Alignment

As an export-oriented manufacturer, Wickbond aligns its practices with internationally recognized data standards.

GDPR & UK GDPR

Alignment for EU/UK partners

EU/UK

CCPA / CPRA

Principles for California partners

California

Indian IT Act & DPDP Act

Full domestic compliance

India

All cross-border transfers of specifications, compliance dossiers (MSDS, IFRA, REACH), and technical documentation are conducted via secure, access-controlled channels.

Section 6

Commercial Vetting & Trade Integrity

To protect the integrity of its manufacturing ecosystem, Wickbond conducts due diligence on inbound trade inquiries.

Verification of business registration
Tax identification or import/export credentials

This Gatekeeper Process ensures that Wickbond's capabilities are reserved for legitimate brands and protects principals from association with gray-market or infringing actors.


Part II

Terms of Private Manufacturing Engagement

Document Type

Master Manufacturing Agreement – Commercial Standard

Parties

The Manufacturer ("Wickbond") & The Contracting Principal

Jurisdiction

India | Global Trade Standard

Term 1

The Manufacturing Pact

By issuing a Purchase Order, executing an agreement, or transferring funds, the Principal acknowledges that they are commissioning a bespoke industrial process, not purchasing off-the-shelf consumer goods.

These Terms govern all manufacturing engagements unless superseded by a signed contract.

Term 2

Orders, Forecasting & Production Locking

2.1 Minimum Commercial Commitment (MOQ)

Minimum Order Quantities are enforced to preserve production efficiency and exclusivity.

Requests below stated MOQs may be declined.

2.2 Order Locking

Once a PO is confirmed and the advance received:

Raw material procurement is triggered
Production capacity is reserved

Any Bill of Materials change after 48 hours incurs a Retooling & Disruption Fee (15%).

Term 3

Financial Settlement

3.1 Payment Structure

  • 50% Non-Refundable Advance — production initiation
  • 50% Balance — payable prior to dispatch (Ex-Works)

Wickbond does not finance client inventory.

3.2 Currency & Export

  • International invoices settled in USD / EUR via SWIFT
  • Letters of Credit accepted for orders above USD 50,000, subject to bank approval

Term 4

Artisanal Tolerances & Acceptance

4.1 Natural Material Acknowledgment

Products are Artisanal-Industrial. Minor variations in:

  • Wax adhesion (wet spots)
  • Wick centering (±2mm)
  • Surface texture or crystallization

…are inherent characteristics, not defects.

4.2 Inspection Window

The Principal has 7 business days from receipt to report structural defects.

Failure to do so constitutes Deemed Acceptance.

Term 5

Intellectual Property & Tooling Custody

5.1 Custom Tooling

Client-specific molds and dies remain the Principal's property, held in custodial trust by Wickbond, and will never be used for third parties.

5.2 Idle Tooling

Tooling inactive for 18 consecutive months may be requested for removal or authorized disposal.

Term 6

Logistics & Risk Transfer (INCOTERMS® 2020)

Default terms: Ex-Works (Kanpur, India)
Risk transfers upon handover to first carrier
Import duties, VAT, and customs clearance remain the Principal's responsibility

Term 7

Force Majeure

Wickbond is not liable for delays arising from events beyond reasonable control, including:

Natural Disasters

Floods, earthquakes, extreme weather events

Raw Material Embargoes

Supply chain disruptions beyond control

Global Logistics Disruptions

Port closures, shipping delays

Regulatory Changes

New laws or compliance requirements

Timelines are paused, not cancelled.

Term 8

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

Governing Law: India
Jurisdiction: Commercial Courts of Uttar Pradesh
Commercial mediation prioritized prior to litigation

Next Step

Begin a Program Discussion

For NDAs, confidentiality agreements, or to initiate a manufacturing program discussion under these terms.

This document constitutes the standard terms framework for Wickbond manufacturing engagements. Program-specific terms may be negotiated and formalized in individual manufacturing agreements. This document does not constitute legal advice. Principals are advised to seek independent legal counsel for their specific requirements.