Terms and Conditions

Entry for IBM Business Partners

1. The 2009 IBM Business Partner Awards, in association with New Zealand Reseller News – Recognising Excellence in the Channel (“Awards Programme”), is open to all IBM Business Partners located in New Zealand who have been Business Partners with IBM for a period of more than 12 consecutive months.

2. The term “IBM Business Partner” is used informally and does not imply a legal partnership. An IBM Business Partner is an external company that participates in an established IBM programme under a contractual relationship to sell, promote or proactively influence the sale of IBM products, offerings or services.

3. Only Individuals from IBM Business Partners and distributor organisations can qualify in the People’s Choice Reseller Award and People’s Choice Distributor Award. See Terms and Conditions for the People’s Choice Awards.

4. Entries can not be made by PR agencies or any other organisation on behalf of the IBM Business Partner.

5. All entries must be submitted to New Zealand Reseller News no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, 9 October, 2009.

6. No entry fee is required.

7. Incomplete entries are invalid and will not be considered.

8. Category selection: It is recommended that you read through each set of category criteria questions to select the appropriate category for your organisation to enter. There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit, providing your organisation meets all of the relevant entry criteria and is able to submit one case study per category.

9. Commercial sensitivity: Before submitting an entry, IBM Business Partners should consider any commercial sensitivity issues which may arise from an entry as judges may require further information to assist them in making a proper evaluation of the entry. All customer deals that are referenced in your submission must be authorised by the customer to be eligible for submission. IBM and New Zealand Reseller News may, upon request, require you to provide evidence of this customer authorisation. All projects must be implemented between 1 August 2008 to 1 August, 2009

10. Confidentiality: All information supplied by an IBM Business Partner for the purpose of the Awards Programme will be treated as confidential. IBM and New Zealand Reseller News reserve the right to retain all data submitted by entrants at their absolute discretion.

11. Entries must be submitted via the web site www.bpawards.co.nz in accordance with the online questions and must detail all requisite information. A separate entry must be completed for each category entered by an IBM Business Partner. A confirmation email will be sent after each submission is received.

12. IBM and New Zealand Reseller News will not be liable for any failure of receipt of entries.

13. IBM and New Zealand Reseller News will not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever which is suffered (including but not limited to indirect or consequential loss) or for personal injury which is suffered or sustained, in connection with this promotion or as a result of accepting or using the prize except for liability which cannot be excluded by law.

14. Access to company information: During evaluation, the judges may require access to relevant information in the entrant’s possession and/or access to the company’s premises or website.

15. By submitting an entry, finalists and winners agree their names, general locations and client references can be used for public relation purposes by IBM and New Zealand Reseller News in any advertising and promotional materials relating to the Awards Programme without additional compensation. Material from the submissions will be used for editorial coverage in Reseller News should the entrant reach finalist stage, unless the entrant clearly expresses otherwise.

16. All entries become the property of IBM and New Zealand Reseller News. All entries will be entered into a database and IBM may use the entrants names and addresses for future promotional, marketing and publicity purposes unless otherwise advised by the entrant by calling IBM on 0800 801 800. Entrants can request access to or correction of their details by contacting IBM on 0800 801 800.

17. At the close of entries at 5:00 p.m. Friday, 2 October, 2009 a short list of finalists will be selected by a judging panel consisting of qualified representatives from IBM and New Zealand Reseller News. These finalists will be featured on the Reseller News website [reseller.co.nz] and in print in the form of editorial.

18. Finalists will be notified via email and/or telephone at the time of official announcement and must be available for interview by New Zealand Reseller News following the announcement.

19. Each category winner will be selected from the shortlist of finalists by the same judging panel after further discussion.

20. The Supreme Award winner will be selected from the winner of each category relating to a project implementation and will be the IBM Business Partner or IT reseller that demonstrates each of the following:

Outstanding commitment to the customer
IBM multi-brand implementations (applicable to IBM Business Partners only)
Strategic use of IT to increase revenue/reduce cost and for the development of new product
Innovation (e.g. services, business model, marketing, solutions, people)

21. Categories not included in the Supreme award are;
People’s Choice Reseller Award & People’s Choice Distributor Award
Best Co-Marketing Campaign
Rookie of the Year

22. Winners will be announced at a cocktail function on Wednesday 4 November 2008, and will feature in a New Zealand Reseller News supplement on 13 November 2009 and on the Reseller News website.

23. The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. Chance plays no part in the competition. Entry into this competition shall be deemed to be an acceptance of the above terms and conditions".

24. Prizes consist of:
Category Winners for IBM Business Partners
(Includes the following categories:
Smart Work, New Intelligence, Dynamic Infrastructure, Green & Beyond,
Best Co-Marketing, Rookie of the Year)

IBM Business Partner Category winners will win a promotional package of an approximate value of NZ$5000 consisting of an IBM Case Study and a Fairfax Advertising Package:

IBM Business Partner Awards Case Study
If your customer can be publicly referenced and you and your customer agree to participate, we'll professionally develop a case study about your customer's solution, offering you a valuable new marketing document to add to your portfolio. IBM Written Case Study (with an estimated value of NZ$2500).

Fairfax Business Media Advertising Package (with an estimated value of NZ$2500):
packaged online and/or print advertising or packaged online and/or print advertising with graphic design assistance

25. Prizes may not be substituted or exchanged for cash. IBM and New Zealand Reseller News is not liable for any tax consequences or statutory charges that may be incurred by any organsiations in relation to the Awards Programme. Independent taxation advice should be obtained before participating in the Awards Programme.

26. IBM and New Zealand Reseller News reserve the right at any time to cancel, modify or supersede the competition rules (including altering prizes) at their sole discretion.

27. The promoters of this competition are IBM New Zealand Limited, 100 Willis Street, Wellington, New Zealand and New Zealand Reseller News, published by Fairfax Business Media, Level 1, 80 Greys Avenue, Auckland.

"IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries or both. © Copyright IBM New Zealand Limited 2009. © Copyright IBM Corporation 2009. All rights reserved. Other company, product or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others."