IDEAL Connections Official Contest Rules 2026

IDEAL CONNECTIONS
OFFICIAL 2026 CONTEST RULES

United States and Canada

Important: Please completely read these Official Rules before entering this contest (the "Contest"). By clicking the "Submit" button on the www.idealind.com registration page and/or by participating in the Contest, you agree to comply with and be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements below.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. CONTEST VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

1. SPONSOR. IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC., 1375 Park Ave., Sycamore, Illinois, 60178

2. ELIGIBILITY. THE IDEAL CONNECTIONS CONTEST IS OPEN TO STUDENTS IN AN ELECTRICAL APPRENTICE PROGRAM WHO ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA), OR CANADA AND ITS PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES, WHO HAVE REACHED THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN THEIR JURISDICTION OF RESIDENCE AT THE TIME OF ENTRY (19 YEARS OR OLDER IN DE, AL OR NE; 21 YEARS OR OLDER IN MS, AND 18 YEARS OR OLDER IN ALL OTHER US STATES). IF YOU DO NOT MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS, OR ANY OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES, YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE OR WIN THE PRIZE, AND IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. ("SPONSOR") RESERVES THE RIGHT NOT TO AWARD THE PRIZE TO YOU. To be eligible to win the prize, entries must follow the entry format designated in Section 4 below. Directors, officers, and employees of Sponsor, and any of their respective parent companies, affiliate companies, subsidiaries, agents, professional advisors, advertising and promotional agencies, immediate families of each and persons living in the same household (whether related or not) are not eligible to win any prizes.

3. OVERVIEW AND CONTEST PERIODS. Eligible contestants (“Contestants”) participate in a timed skilled contest by following the instructions provided at contest locations in the United States and Canada (“Competition”) from April 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 (“Competition Period”). The goal is for the Contestant to successfully complete the interrelated tasks using selected IDEAL® tools provided at the Competition location in the least amount of time. Contestants are permitted to use their personal IDEAL® tools. During Competitions, Contestants will start and stop the clock timer at their table upon successful completion of all tasks.

Competitions will be held in each of four U.S. regions: East, South, Central & West at select trade schools. Dates, times, and locations for the Competitions will be advertised through various means, including Competition site locations and social media. Contestants may record one official score per day per Competition event. For purposes of the Competitions, there will be no ties. Contestants must beat the top score for their time to be recorded as their official time. Prizes will also be awarded to the first-place, second-place, and third-place finishers at each Competition, as described in Section 6 below.

4. HOW TO ENTER. You may enter the contest by registering online at www.idealind.com starting on April 1, 2026. All entries must take place on April 1 or during the Competition period of the respective contest periods to be eligible to win a prize. The dates and times of the Competitions are determined at the sole discretion of Sponsor and may be subject to change.

5. FOR ALL ENTRIES. All requested information must be provided for your entry to be valid. All Contest materials including information provided at time of Contest entry become the sole property of Sponsor and will not be returned. All Contestants and entries are subject to verification by Sponsor. Failure to verify credentials will result in the disqualification of the Contestant. Any submission that does not comply with any aspect of these Official Rules may be rejected by Sponsor and the Contestant disqualified. Commented [MS1]: ? Do you mean that Contestants can sign up at the Competitions during the Competition Period? Commented [AK2R1]: Yes

6. PRIZES.

U.S. Competitions:

First Place Prize: Forty (40) First-Place Contestants will receive a $750 USD cash prize, awarded as a check.
Second Place Prize: Forty (40) Second-Place Contestants will receive a $500 USD cash prize, awarded as a check.
Third Place Prize: Forty (40) Third-Place Contestants will receive a $250 USD cash prize, awarded as a check.

Canadian Competitions:

First Place Prize: Ten (10) First-Place Contestants will receive a $750 CAD cash prize, awarded as a check.
Second Place Prize: Ten (10) Second-Place Contestants will receive a $500 CAD cash prize, awarded as a check.
Third Place Prize: Ten (10) Third-Place Contestants will receive a $250 CAD cash prize, awarded as a check.

7. ODDS OF WINNING, TAXES, AND PRIZE RESTRICTIONS. For the Contest, odds of winning depend on number of eligible participating Contestants that enter and participate in the Contest, and on each Contestant’s skill level. The value of any prize awarded to a winner may be reported by Sponsor to the applicable tax department for tax purposes, as required by law. EACH WINNER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING AND PAYING ANY AND ALL APPLICABLE TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZES. SPONSOR DOES NOT PROVIDE TAX ADVICE. Contestants ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING TAX IMPLICATIONS. Each winner must provide Sponsor with valid identification and taxpayer identification number or social security number before any prize over $599.00 USD will be awarded. Any US resident winning over $599.00 USD in prizes from Sponsor will receive an IRS Form from Sponsor at the end of the calendar year and a copy of such form will be filed with the IRS by Sponsor. For Canadian winners, Sponsor may withhold applicable US taxes, if required by law. The prize may, at Sponsor's sole discretion, be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner if the prize is returned as undeliverable or otherwise not claimed within five (5) days after delivery of notification, if three (3) attempts to contact winner by phone and/or email with the prize notification are not successful or, alternatively, winner fails or refuses to provide any information required in this section. The prize is not transferable. Substitutions or exchanges will not be permitted, unless otherwise provided herein.

8. WINNER SELECTION. The winners will be determined by the best score and time at the Competition as described in Section 3. Official time is kept by a Sponsor-provided time clock at each table at Competition locations and the fastest times are kept and recorded by Sponsor personnel. Judgment calls or qualification decisions by Sponsor personnel are final and binding.

9. OFFICIAL RULES REQUEST; WINNERS LIST. To obtain a copy of these Official Rules, send a stamped, self-addressed business-size envelope to Sponsor at the address listed in Section 1 above, Attn: IDEAL CONNECTIONS – Official Rules. To obtain a list of contest winners, send a stamped, self[1]addressed business-size envelope after December 31 ,2026, to Sponsor at the address listed in Section 1 above, Attn: IDEAL CONNECTIONS – Winners List.

10. USE OF WINNER’S NAME, LIKENESS, ETC. Except where prohibited by law, entry into the Contest constitutes permission for Sponsor and Sponsor's licensees, or agents to use the winner's name, hometown, likeness and/or prize information, without limitation, for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation. As a condition of being awarded any prize, except where prohibited by law, the winner may be required to execute a consent to the use of his/her name, hometown, likeness and/or prize information, without limitation, for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation. All prize winners may also be featured on Sponsor’s website, social media sites, and other marketing materials.

11. CONSENT TO COLLECTION AND USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION. By entering the Contest and participating in related promotions referenced herein, you agree and consent to Sponsor’s collection, use and retention of the personal information provided in your entry for all purposes related to the Contest (including, without limitation, processing and administering entries, sharing an Contestant’s personal information with Sponsor’s service providers and contractors as necessary to conduct and operate the Contest, communicating with and awarding prizes to winners, making public announcements about winners, and advertising, promoting and publicizing the Contest). Personal information provided in your entry will also be subject to Sponsor’s Privacy Policy published at www.idealind.com. If you object to the above or anything stated in Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, you should NOT enter the Contest.

12. RELEASE. By participating in this Contest, on your behalf and on behalf of your respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns (“Releasing Parties”) you hereby release and hold harmless the Sponsor, its affiliates, subsidiaries, Sponsor, professional advisors, and agencies, as well as the employees, officers, directors and agents of each (“Released Parties”), from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or delivery, mis-delivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use any prize, including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, indirect or direct damages, consequential damages, incidental damages, punitive or exemplary damages, judgments, extent, executions, claims and demands whatsoever, in law, admiralty or equity, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory, against Released Parties which any one or more of the Releasing Parties ever had, now have or hereafter can, shall or may have which in any way arise out of or result from Contestant’s participation, acceptance and use or misuse of any prize. ANY CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND/OR AWARDS SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ENTERING THIS CONTEST. CONTESTANT HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS OR CLAIMS TO ATTORNEY’S FEES, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF CONTESTANT, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR NOT AND WHETHER BASED ON NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages; therefore, such exclusions may not apply to you. Sponsor is not responsible for: (a) any late, lost. misrouted, or distorted transmissions or entries; (b) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or other computer- or communications-related malfunctions or failures; (c) any Contest disruptions, injuries, losses, or damages caused by events beyond the control of Sponsor or by non-authorized human intervention; or (d) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest. Contestants assume all risk for any injury, including death or damage caused or claimed to be caused, by participation in this Contest or use, misuse, or redemption of any prize. Sponsor shall not be responsible for lost, damaged, stolen, or unclaimed prizes.

13. MISCELLANEOUS. By participating in the Contest, Contestant’s agree to be bound by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements, and agree to be bound by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. To the extent permitted by law, Sponsor reserves the right to change these Official Rules at any time, in its sole discretion, and to suspend or cancel the Contest or any Contestant’s participation in the Contest should viruses, bugs, unauthorized human intervention or other causes beyond Sponsor's control affect the administration, security or proper play of the Contest, or Sponsor otherwise becomes (as determined in its sole discretion) incapable of running the Contest as planned. In the event that Sponsor suspends or cancels the Contest for any reason, Sponsor may award the prize in a random drawing from all eligible entries received up to the date of cancellation or suspension. LEGAL WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER OR NOT A CONTESTANT, TO DELIBERATELY INTERFERE OR TAMPER WITH THE OPERATION OF THESE SWEEPSTAKES, IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL & CIVIL LAWS AND SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND DILIGENTLY PURSUE ALL REMEDIES AGAINST ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. Contestants who engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to Sponsor, the Contest or any other Contestant (in each case as determined in Sponsor's sole discretion) are subject to disqualification from entry into the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to lock out persons whose eligibility is in question or who have been disqualified or are otherwise ineligible to enter the Contest. If you have any questions about these Official Rules or the Contest, please mail written questions to IDEAL INDUSTRIES, Inc., Attn: The IDEAL CONNECTIONS Contest – Contest Questions, 1375 Park Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178.