diff --git a/cic/cmd/export.py b/cic/cmd/export.py
index be7ba2c..77380cc 100644
--- a/cic/cmd/export.py
+++ b/cic/cmd/export.py
@@ -37,4 +37,4 @@ def execute(config, eargs):
 
     ref = cn.reference(eargs.target)
     logg.debug('found reference {} for target {}'.format(ref, eargs.target))
-    getattr(cmd_mod, 'new')(ref, ca.get())
+    getattr(cmd_mod, 'new')(ref, ca.get(), signer_hint=eargs.signer)
diff --git a/cic/cmd/init.py b/cic/cmd/init.py
index 3a7a63d..c82b2ed 100644
--- a/cic/cmd/init.py
+++ b/cic/cmd/init.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ logg = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def process_args(argparser):
+    argparser.add_argument('--target', action='append', type=str, help='initialize network specification file with target')
     argparser.add_argument('directory', help='directory to initialize')
 
 
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ def execute(config, eargs):
     cp = Proof(eargs.directory)
     cm = Meta(eargs.directory)
     ca = Attachment(eargs.directory)
-    cn = Network(eargs.directory)
+    cn = Network(eargs.directory, targets=eargs.target)
 
     cp.start()
     cm.start()
diff --git a/cic/ext/eth/__init__.py b/cic/ext/eth/__init__.py
index 3c56d02..2c0d1fb 100644
--- a/cic/ext/eth/__init__.py
+++ b/cic/ext/eth/__init__.py
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 # standard imports
 import logging
 
+# external imports
+from chainlib.eth.connection import RPCConnection
+
 logg = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 class CICEth:
 
-    def __init__(self, reference, proofs):
+    def __init__(self, reference, proofs, signer_hint=None):
         self.reference = reference
         self.proofs = proofs
-        logg.debug('eth strup with reference {} proofs {}'.format(reference, proofs))
 
 
-def new(reference, proofs):
-    return CICEth(reference, proofs)
+def new(reference, proofs, signer_hint=None):
+    return CICEth(reference, proofs, signer_hint=None)
diff --git a/cic/network.py b/cic/network.py
index 19675ea..6ec22a1 100644
--- a/cic/network.py
+++ b/cic/network.py
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@ from .base import *
 
 class Network(Data):
 
-    def __init__(self, path='.'):
+    def __init__(self, path='.', targets=[]):
         super(Network, self).__init__()
         self.references = None
         self.path = path
+        self.targets = targets
         self.network_path = os.path.join(self.path, 'network.json')
 
 
@@ -31,7 +32,14 @@ class Network(Data):
         super(Network, self).load()
 
         f = open(self.network_path, 'w')
-        json.dump({'references': {}}, f)
+        o = {'references': {}}
+        
+        for v in self.targets:
+            o['references'][v] = {
+                'token': None,
+                'token_index': None,
+                    }
+        json.dump(o, f)
         f.close()
 
 
@@ -45,6 +53,9 @@ class Network(Data):
     def __str__(self):
         s = ''
         for k in self.references.keys():
-            s += '[ref] {}: {}'.format(k, self.references[k])
+            v = self.references[k]
+            if v == None:
+                v = ''
+            s += '{}: {}\n'.format(k, v)
 
         return s
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 0db7d79..92c0d05 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -29,3 +29,6 @@ packages =
 	cic
 	cic.runnable
 	cic.ext
+
+[options.extras_require]
+eth = chainlib-eth~=0.0.9rc