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EXHIBIT 99.1
OPTION AGREEMENT WITH KAIZEN FOOD CORPORATION
OPTION / LICENSE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN:
KAIZEN FOOD CORPORATION, a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, and having an office at Suite 200 - 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, in the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, V5Z 1J9
(hereinafter referred to as "Kaizen")
AND:
NEWTECH RESOURCES LTD., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada, and having an office at 1304 Pik Hoi House, Xxxx Xxxx Estate, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
(hereinafter referred to as "Licensee")
WHEREAS:
The University of British Columbia ("UBC"), Canada, has been engaged in research during the course of which it has invented, developed and/or acquired certain technology relating to production and use of modified Glycosylated Cystatins, which research was undertaken by Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, and Shuryo Nakai in the Faculty of Agriculture Department of the University of British Columbia;
Kaizen is desirous of entering into this Option/License Agreement (the "Agreement"); and the Licensee is desirous of Kaizen granting a sub-license to the Licensee for the use or cause to be used such technology derived from modified Glycosylated Cystatins to manufacture, distribute, market, sublicense and/or sell products derived or developed from such technology derived from modified Glycosylated Cystatins and to sell the same to the general public during the term of this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH that in consideration of the payments, share issuance and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
1.0 Definitions:
1.1 In this Agreement, unless a contrary intention appears, the following words and phrases shall mean:
- a.
- "Accounting": an accounting statement setting out in detail how the amount of Revenue was determined;
- b.
- "Affiliated Company" or "Affiliated Companies": two or more
corporations where the relationship between them is one in which one of them is a subsidiary of the other, or both are subsidiaries of the same corporation, or fifty percent (50%) or more of the
voting shares of each of them is owned or controlled by the same person, corporation or other legal entity;
- c.
- "Confidential Information": any part of the Information which is designated by Kaizen as confidential, whether orally
or in writing but excluding any part of the Information:
- i)
- possessed
by the Licensee prior to receipt from Kaizen, other than through prior disclosure by Kaizen, as evidenced by the Licensee's business
records;
- ii)
- published or available to the general public otherwise than through a breach of this Agreement;
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- iii)
- obtained
by the Licensee from a third party with a valid right to disclose it, provided that said third party is not under a confidentiality
obligation to Kaizen; or
- iv)
- independently developed by employees, agents or consultants of the Licensee who had no knowledge of or access to Kaizen's Information as evidenced by the Licensee's business records;
- d.
- "Date of Commencement" or "Commencement Date": this Agreement will be
deemed to have come into force on the Date of Commencement which shall be the date when Kaizen signs final agreement with UBC, and shall be read and construed accordingly;
- e.
- "Effective Date of Termination": the date on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article 18;
- f.
- "Improvements": improvements, variations, updates, modifications, and enhancements made by either the University of
British Columbia, Canada ("UBC"), Kaizen or Licensee relating to the Technology at any time after the Commencement Date, which cannot be practised without infringing (literally or in substance) at
least one claim of any patent licensed under the terms of this Agreement;
- g.
- "Information": any and all Technology and any and all Improvements, the terms and conditions of this Agreement and
any and all oral, written, electronic or other communications and other information disclosed or provided by the parties including any and all analyses or conclusions drawn or derived therefrom
regarding this Agreement and information developed or disclosed hereunder, or any party's raw materials, processes, formulations, analytical procedures, methodologies, products, samples and specimens
or functions;
- h.
- "Patents": collectively any patents or patent applications pertaining to North America that may be added from time to
time, and any counterparts, Continuation-In-Part, renewals, divisionals, reissues, corresponding international patent applications, continuations and any patents resulting
therefrom. The Patents and Patent applications as herein defined shall include, any and all Patents or Patent applications arising from, or relating to Improvements, which Patents or Patent
applications pertaining to North America.
- i.
- "Product(s)": goods manufactured in connection with the use of all or some of the Technology and/or any Improvements;
- j.
- "Revenue": all revenues, receipts, monies, and the fair market value of all other consideration directly or
indirectly collected or received whether by way of cash or credit or any barter, benefit, advantage, or concession received by the Licensee (but not including monies collected from any sublicensee of
the Licensee) from the marketing, manufacturing, sale or distribution of the Technology and any Improvements, and/or any Products in any or all parts of the world where the Licensee is permitted by
law and this Agreement to market, manufacture, sell or distribute the Technology and any Improvements, and/or any Products, less the following deductions to the extent included in the amounts invoiced
and thereafter actually allowed and taken:
- i)
- credit,
allowances or refunds given on account of returned goods,
- ii)
- transportation
charges invoiced separately and actually charged to third parties,
- iii)
- taxes,
duties and customs on all sales of Products,
- iv)
- bona
fide special rebates provided by the Licensee for Products purchased by third parties.
- v)
- Where any Revenue is derived in currencies other than United States dollars it shall be converted to the equivalent in United States dollars on the date the Licensee is deemed
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- k.
- "Royalty Due Dates": the last working day of March, June, September and December of each and every year during
which this Agreement remains in full force and effect;
- l.
- "Technology": any and all knowledge, know-how and/or technique or techniques invented, developed and/or
acquired, prior to the Date of Commencement by the UBC, Kaizen or the Licensee relating to, and including the technology and Patents for North America, as amended from time to time, including, without
limitation, all research, data, specifications, instructions, manuals, papers or other materials of any nature whatsoever, whether written or otherwise, relating to same; and
- m.
- "UBC Trade-marks": any xxxx, trade-xxxx, service xxxx, logo, insignia, seal, design, symbol or device used by UBC in any manner whatsoever.
to have received such Revenue pursuant to the terms hereof at the rate of exchange set by the Bank of America for buying such currency. The amount of United States dollars pursuant to such conversion shall be included in the Revenue;
2.0 Property Rights in And to The Technology:
2.1 The parties hereto hereby acknowledge and agree that UBC owns any and all right, title and interest in and to the Technology, as well as any and all Improvements.
2.2 Kaizen and the Licensee shall, at the request of UBC, enter into such further agreements and execute any and all documents as may be required to ensure that ownership of the Technology and any Improvements remains with UBC.
2.3 On the last working day of June and December of each and every year during which this Agreement remains in full force and effect, the Licensee shall deliver in writing to Kaizen the details of any and all Improvements which the Licensee has developed and/or acquired during the previous six month period.
2.4 For the purposes of interpreting this Agreement, and in particular the definitions of "Patent", "Technology" and "Improvements", all patent applications shall be deemed to have been allowed with the claims as filed in such applications until finally determined otherwise by the applicable patent office.
3.0 Grant of License:
3.1 In consideration of the royalty payments reserved herein, and the covenants on the part of the Licensee contained herein, Kaizen hereby grants to the Licensee an exclusive North American wide license to use and sublicense the Technology and any Improvements and to manufacture, market, distribute, and sell Products on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth during the term of this Agreement.
3.2 The license granted herein is personal to the Licensee and is not granted to any Affiliated Company or Affiliated Companies.
3.3 The Licensee shall not cross-license or sublicense the Technology or any Improvements without the prior written consent of Kaizen.
3.4 Notwithstanding Article 3.1 herein, the parties acknowledge and agree that UBC may use the Technology and any Improvements without charge in any manner whatsoever for research, scholarly publication, educational or other non-commercial uses.
3.5 Upon execution of this Agreement, Kaizen may register a financing statement with respect to this Agreement under the provisions of the Personal Property Security Act of British Columbia and/or under the provisions of similar legislation in those jurisdictions in which the Licensee carries on
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business and/or has its chief place of business. All costs associated with the registrations contemplated by this Article 3.5 shall be paid for by the Licensee.
3.6 The Licensee shall give written notice to Kaizen if it is carrying on business and/or locates its chief place of business in a jurisdiction outside North America prior to beginning business in that other jurisdiction.
3.7 If Kaizen has registered one or more financing statements as set forth in Article 3.5, the Licensee shall give written notice to Kaizen of any and all changes of jurisdiction within or outside of North America in which it is carrying on business and/or any and all changes in jurisdiction of its chief place of business within or outside of North America and shall file the appropriate documents in the various provincial Personal Property Registries or similar registries within or outside of North America to document such changes in jurisdiction and furnish Kaizen with a copy of the verification with respect to each such filing within 15 days after receipt of same. All costs associated with the registrations contemplated by this Article 3.7 shall be paid for by the Licensee.
4.0 Sublicensing:
4.1 The Licensee shall have the right to grant sublicenses limited to North America to Affiliated Companies and other third parties with respect to the Technology and any Improvements with the prior written consent of Kaizen such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. The Licensee will furnish Kaizen with a copy of each sublicense granted within 30 days after execution.
4.2 Any sublicense granted by the Licensee shall be personal to the sublicensee and shall not be assignable without the prior written consent of Kaizen. Such sublicenses shall contain covenants by the sublicensee to observe and perform similar terms and conditions to those contained in this Agreement.
4.3 Prior to the beginning of a sublicense agreement, the Licensee shall give written notice to Kaizen as to which jurisdictions the applicable sublicensee anticipates carrying on business in. Within five days of being aware of the same, the Licensee shall provide written notice to Kaizen if any sublicensee is carrying on business in jurisdiction of North America.
4.4 If Kaizen has registered one or more financing statements as set forth in Article 3.5, the Licensee shall register a financing change statement under the provisions of the Personal Property Security Act of British Columbia and/or under the provisions of similar legislation in those jurisdictions in which each sublicensee carries on business or has its chief place of business in order to add each sublicensee as an additional debtor to the registration referred to in Article 3.5 forthwith upon execution of each sublicense, and shall furnish Kaizen with a copy of the verification statement with respect to each such filing within 15 days after receipt of same. All costs associated with the filings contemplated by this Article 4.4 shall be paid for by the Licensee. The Licensee shall give written notice to Kaizen of any and all changes of jurisdiction within North America in which each sublicensee is carrying on business and/or any and all changes in jurisdiction of each sublicensee's chief place of business and shall file the appropriate documents in the various provincial Personal Property Registries or similar registries within North America to document such changes in jurisdiction.
5.0 Cash Payments:
Subject to Licensee's right under Article 18.0 to terminate this Agreement, Licensee shall make the following cash payments to Kaizen.
- a.
- Initial cash payment and/or financing of $40,000 shall be paid to Kaizen by June 30, 2001, which shall only be applied against costs incurred by Kaizen for patent and research and development expenditures. The cash payment and/or financing may be paid in one lump sum payment to Kaizen, or by installments, whichever Licensee prefers, but in no event later than June 30, 2001.
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- b.
- An
additional cash payment and/or financing of $2,000,000 shall be paid by June 30, 2002, which shall only be applied against costs incurred by Kaizen for patent and research
and development expenditures. The cash payment and/or financing may be paid in one lump sum payment to Kaizen, or by installments, whichever Licensee prefers, but in no event later than
June 30, 2002.
- i.)
- The cash payments and/or financing paid by Licensee to Kaizen, first, shall be used as an offset against payments pursuant to paragraph 6.6 (a) and (b), the Minimum Annual Royalty, and shall only be applied against costs incurred for patent, research and development expenditures.
6.0 Royalties:
6.1 In consideration of the license granted hereunder, the Licensee shall pay to Kaizen a royalty comprised of:
- a.
- 8%
of the Revenue and
- b.
- 35% of the Sublicensing Revenue, provided that any payment received by the Licensee on account of an initial sublicense fee, paid by the sublicensee on execution of the sublicense agreement, shall be subject to a lower royalty of 20%.
6.2 The royalty shall become due and payable within 30 days of each respective Royalty Due Date and shall be calculated with respect to the Revenue and the Sublicensing Revenue in the three month period immediately preceding the applicable Royalty Due Date.
6.3 All payments of royalties made by the Licensee to Kaizen hereunder shall be made in United State dollars without any reduction or deduction of any nature or kind whatsoever, except as may be prescribed by Canadian law.
6.4 Products shall be deemed to have been sold by the Licensee and included in the Revenue when invoiced, or if not invoiced, then when delivered, shipped, or paid for, whichever is the first. Sublicensing Revenue shall be deemed to have been received by the Licensee with respect to each of its sublicensees when such consideration is actually received by the Licensee from its sublicensees.
6.5 Any transaction, disposition, or other dealing involving the Technology or any part thereof between the Licensee and another person that is not made at fair market value shall be deemed to have been made at fair market value, and the fair market value of that transaction, disposition, or other dealing shall be added to and deemed part of the Revenue or the Sublicensing Revenue, as the case may be, and shall be included in the calculation of royalties under this Agreement.
6.6 Minimum Annual Royalty:
- a.
- Starting
in the second (2nd) year of the term of this Agreement, and in each year thereafter, the Licensee shall pay Kaizen a minimum annual advance on earned royalties of
$30,000.00 (U.S. funds)
(the "Minimum Annual Royalty"). Subject to paragraph 5.0(a) and (b)(i), cash and/or financing paid by Licensee to Kaizen, shall, first be used as
an offset against any Minimum Annual Royalty that Licensee is required to pay Kaizen. If the Minimum Annual Royalty exceeds the payment which the Licesee has paid to Kaizen, then, payment of the
Minimum Annual Royalty shall be due on the first of the Royalty Due Dates of each year such year. Payment of the Minimum Annual Royalty shall be non-refundable, except that the amount by
which the Minimum Annual Royalty as paid exceeds the earned royalties payable in any year, such excess shall be credited against future earned royalties.
- b.
- In further consideration for the license granted hereunder, the Licensee shall pay to Kaizen, in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement, an annual maintenance fee of $3,000.00 (U.S. funds) payable on or before July 1st of each year during which this Agreement
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remains in full force and effect, commencing on July 1st 2002 (the "Annual Maintenance Fee"). Neither all nor any part of the Annual Maintenance Fee paid shall be refundable to the Licensee under any circumstances.
7.0 Patents:
7.1 The Licensee shall have the right to identify any process, use or products arising out of the Technology and any Improvements that may be patentable and Kaizen and UBC shall, upon the request of the Licensee, take all reasonable steps to apply for a patent in the name of UBC provided that the Licensee pays all costs of applying for, registering and maintaining the patent in those jurisdictions in which the Licensee might designate that a patent is required.
7.2 On the issuance of a patent in accordance with Article 7.1, the Licensee shall have the right to become, and shall become, the licensee of the same all pursuant to the terms contained herein.
7.3 The Licensee shall not contest the validity or scope of any and all patents relating to the Technology and any Improvements licensed hereunder.
7.4 The Licensee will ensure proper patent marking for all Technology, and any Improvements licensed hereunder and shall clearly xxxx the appropriate patent numbers on any Products made using the Technology and any Improvements or any patented processes used to make such Products.
8.0 Disclaimer of Warranty:
8.1 Kaizen makes no representations, conditions or warranties, either express or implied, with respect to the Technology or any Improvements or the Products. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Kaizen specifically disclaims any implied warranty, condition or representation that the Technology or any Improvements or the Products:
- a.
- shall
correspond with a particular description;
- b.
- are
of merchantable quality;
- c.
- are
fit for a particular purpose; or
- d.
- are durable for a reasonable period of time.
Kaizen shall not be liable for any loss, whether direct, consequential, incidental or special, which the Licensee suffers arising from any defect, error, fault or failure to perform with respect to the Technology or any Improvements or Products, even if Kaizen has been advised of the possibility of such defect, error, fault or failure. The Licensee acknowledges that it has been advised by Kaizen to undertake its own due diligence with respect to the Technology and any Improvements.
8.2 The parties acknowledge and agree that the International Sale of Goods Contracts Convention Act and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods have no application to this Agreement.
8.3 Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as:
- a.
- a
warranty or representation by Kaizen as to title to the Technology and/or any Improvement or that anything made, used, sold or otherwise disposed of under the license granted in
this Agreement is or will be free from infringement of patents, copyrights, trade-marks, industrial design or other intellectual property rights;
- b.
- an
obligation by Kaizen to bring or prosecute or defend actions or suits against third parties for infringement of patents, copyrights, trade-marks, industrial designs or other
intellectual property or contractual rights; or
- c.
- the conferring by UBC of the right to use in advertising or publicity the name of the University or the UBC Trade-marks.
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8.4 Notwithstanding Article 8.3, in the event of an alleged infringement of the Technology or any Improvements or any right with respect to the Technology or any Improvements, the Licensee shall have, upon receiving the prior written consent of Kaizen, the right to prosecute litigation designed to enjoin infringers of the Technology or any Improvements. Provided that it has first granted its prior written consent, Kaizen agrees to co-operate to the extent of executing all necessary documents and to vest in the Licensee the right to institute any such suits, so long\ as all the direct and indirect costs and expenses of bringing and conducting any such litigation or settlement shall be borne by the Licensee and in such event all recoveries shall enure to the Licensee.
8.5 If any complaint alleging infringement or violation of any patent or other proprietary rights is made against the Licensee, or a sublicensee of the Licensee, with respect to the use of the Technology or any Improvements or the manufacture, use or sale of the Products, the following procedure shall be adopted:
- a.
- the
Licensee shall promptly notify Kaizen upon receipt of any such complaint and shall keep Kaizen fully informed of the actions and positions taken by the complainant and taken or
proposed to be taken by the Licensee on behalf of itself or a sublicensee;
- b.
- except
as provided in Article 8.5(d), all costs and expenses incurred by the Licensee or any sublicensee of the Licensee in investigating, resisting, litigating and settling
such a complaint, including the payment of any award of damages and/or costs to any third party, shall be paid by the Licensee or any sublicensee of the Licensee, as the case may be;
- c.
- no
decision or action concerning or governing any final disposition of the complaint shall be taken without full consultation with and approval by Kaizen;
- d.
- Kaizen
may elect to participate formally in any litigation involving the complaint to the extent that the court may permit, but any additional expenses generated by such formal
participation shall be paid by Kaizen (subject to the possibility of recovery of some or all of such additional expenses from the complainant);
- e.
- notwithstanding
Article 8.3, if the complainant is willing to accept an offer of settlement and one of the parties to this Agreement is willing to make or accept such offer
and the other is not, then the unwilling party shall conduct all further proceedings at its own expense, and shall be responsible for the full amount of any damages, costs, accounting of profits and
settlement costs in excess of those
provided in such offer, but shall be entitled to retain unto itself the benefit of any litigated or settled result entailing a lower payment of costs, damages, accounting of profits and settlement
costs than that provided in such offer; and
- f.
- the royalties payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid by the Licensee to Kaizen in trust from the date the complaint is made until such time as a resolution of the complaint has been finalized. If the complainant prevails in the complaint, then the royalties paid to Kaizen in trust pursuant to this Article shall be returned to the Licensee, provided that the amount returned to the Licensee hereunder shall not exceed the amount paid by the Licensee to the complainant in the settlement or other disposition of the complaint. If the complainant does not prevail in the complaint, then Kaizen shall be entitled to retain all royalties paid to it pursuant to this Article.
9.0 Indemnity And Limitation of Liability:
9.1 The Licensee hereby indemnifies, holds harmless and defends Kaizen and UBC its Board of Governors, officers, employees, faculty, students, invitees and agents against any and all claims (including all legal fees and disbursements incurred in association therewith) arising out of the exercise of any rights under this Agreement including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, against any damages or losses, consequential or otherwise, arising from or out of the use of the Technology or
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any Improvements or Products licensed under this Agreement by the Licensee or its sublicensees or their customers or end-users howsoever the same may arise.
9.2 Subject to Article 9.3, Kaizen's and UBC's total liability, whether under the express or implied terms of this Agreement, in tort (including negligence), or at common law, for any loss or damage suffered by the Licensee, whether direct, indirect or special, or any other similar or like damage that may arise or does arise from any breaches of this Agreement by Kaizen, UBC and its Board of Governors, officers, employees, faculty, students or agents, shall be limited to the amount of $2,000.
9.3 In no event shall Kaizen and UBC be liable for consequential or incidental damages arising from any breach or breaches of this Agreement.
9.4 No action, whether in contract or tort (including negligence), or otherwise arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, may be brought by the Licensee more than six months after the cause of action has occurred.
10.0 Publication And Confidentiality:
10.1 The Information shall be developed, received and used by the Licensee solely in furtherance of the purposes set forth in this Agreement subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Article 10.
10.2 The Licensee shall keep and use all of the Confidential Information in confidence and will not, without Kaizen's prior written consent, disclose any Confidential Information to any person or entity, except those of the Licensee's officers, employees and professional advisors who require said Confidential Information in performing their obligations under this Agreement. The Licensee covenants and agrees that it will initiate and maintain an appropriate internal program limiting the internal distribution of the Confidential Information to only those officers, employees and professional advisors who require said Confidential Information in performing their obligations under this Agreement and who have signed confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements in a form approved by the Licensee's Board of Directors.
10.3 The Licensee shall not use, either directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information for any purpose other than as set forth herein without Kaizen's prior written consent.
10.4 If the Licensee is required by judicial or administrative process to disclose any or all of the Confidential Information, the Licensee shall promptly notify Kaizen and allow Kaizen reasonable time to oppose such process before disclosing any Confidential Information.
10.5 Notwithstanding any termination or expiration of this Agreement, the obligations created in this Article 10 shall survive and be binding upon the Licensee, its successors and assigns.
10.6 UBC and/or Kaizen shall not be restricted from presenting at symposia, national or regional professional meetings, or from publishing in journals or other publications, accounts of its research relating to the Information, provided that with respect to Confidential Information only, the Licensee shall have been furnished copies of the disclosure proposed therefor at least 60 days in advance of the presentation or publication date and does not within 30 days after delivery of the proposed disclosure object to such presentation or publication. Any objection to a proposed presentation or publication shall specify the portions of the presentation or publication considered objectionable (the "Objectionable Material"). Upon receipt of notification from the Licensee that any proposed publication or disclosure contains Objectionable Material, Kaizen, UBC and the Licensee shall work together to revise the proposed publication or presentation to remove or alter the Objectionable Material in a manner acceptable to the Licensee, in which case the Licensee shall withdraw its objection. If an objection is made, disclosure of the Objectionable Material shall not be made for a period of 6 months after the date Kaizen and/or UBC has delivered to the Licensee the proposed publication or presentation relating to the Objectionable Material. Kaizen and/or UBC shall co-operate in all reasonable respects
8
in making revisions to any proposed disclosures if considered by the Licensee to contain Objectionable Material. Kaizen and/or UBC shall not be restricted from publishing or presenting the proposed disclosure as long as the Objectionable Material has been removed. After the 6 month period has elapsed Kaizen and/or UBC shall be free to present and/or publish the proposed publication or presentation whether or not it contains Objectionable Material.
10.7 The Licensee requires of Kaizen, and Kaizen agrees insofar as it may be permitted to do so at law, that this Agreement, and each part of it, is confidential and shall not be disclosed to third parties, as the Licensee claims that such disclosure would or could reveal commercial, scientific or technical information and would significantly harm the Licensee's competitive position and/or interfere with the Licensee's negotiations with prospective sublicensees. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that Kaizen may identify the title of this Agreement, the parties to this Agreement and the names of the inventors of the Technology and any Improvements.
11.0 Production And Marketing:
11.1 The Licensee shall not use any of the UBC Trade-marks or make reference to UBC or its name in any advertising or publicity whatsoever, without the prior written consent of Kaizen and UBC, except as required by law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Licensee shall not issue a press release with respect to this Agreement or any activity contemplated herein without the prior review and approval of same by Kaizen, except as required by law. If the Licensee is required by law to act in contravention of this Article, the Licensee shall provide Kaizen with sufficient advance notice in writing to permit Kaizen and UBC to bring an application or other proceeding to contest the requirement.
11.2 The Licensee will not register or use any trade-marks in association with the Products without the prior written consent of UBC and Kaizen.
11.3 The Licensee represents and warrants to Kaizen that:
- a.
- it
has the infrastructure, expertise and resources to develop and commercialize the Technology and any Improvements;
- b.
- it
has the infrastructure, expertise and resources to track and monitor on an ongoing basis performance under the terms of each sublicense agreement entered into by the Licensee;
- c.
- it
has the expertise and resources to monitor on a North American wide basis patent infringement with respect to any patent relating to the Technology and any Improvements licensed
hereunder;
- d.
- it
has the infrastructure, expertise and resources to initiate and maintain an appropriate program limiting the distribution of the Information, Technology, and any Improvements and
any related biological materials as set out in this Agreement and to obtain the appropriate non-disclosure agreements from all persons who may have access to the Technology, and any
Improvements and related biological materials;
- e.
- it will throughout the Term of this Agreement allocate to the development and commercialization of the Technology, and any Improvements at least the same degree of diligence, expertise, infrastructure, and resources as the Licensee is allocating to the most favoured product developed and marketed by the Licensee.
11.4 The Licensee shall use reasonable commercial efforts to promote, market and sell the Products and utilize the Technology and any Improvements and to meet or cause to be met the market
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demand for the Products and the utilization of the Technology and any Improvements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing the Licensee shall:
- a.
- Within
9 months of execution of this Agreement, establish and maintain a Scientific Advisory Board of at least three members with representatives from academia and /or
industry who are experts in the area of the Technology. The Scientific Advisory Board shall meet not less than once per year and the recommendations of such Board shall be made in writing to the board
of directors of the Licensee and shall provide a copy to Kaizen at the same time they are made available to the board of directors of the Licensee;
- b.
- Within
15 months of execution of this Agreement, produce a product and market development plan that documents the Licensee's technical and market strategy for the Technology,
a copy of which shall be delivered to Kaizen;
- c.
- Undertake those activities and take such steps as may be reasonably required to enable the Licensee to fulfil the product and market development plan as amended and approved from time to time by the Licensee's board of directors.
11.5 If Kazien is of the view that the Licensee is in breach of Article 11.4, Kaizen shall notify the Licensee and the parties hereto shall appoint a mutually acceptable person as an independent evaluator (the "Evaluator") to conduct the evaluation set forth in Article 11.6. If that the parties cannot agree on such an Evaluator, the appointing authority shall be the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre.
11.6 Unless the Parties mutually agree otherwise, the following rules and procedures shall govern the conduct of the parties and the Evaluator before and during the investigation by the Evaluator:
- a.
- within
30 days of the appointment of the Evaluator each party shall provide to the Evaluator and the other party copies of all documents, statements and records on which the
party intends to rely in presenting its position to the Evaluator;
- b.
- within
45 days of the appointment of the Evaluator the Licensee shall provide to the Evaluator and Kaizen a written summary of its position. On receipt of the Licensee's
summary Kaizen shall have 15 days to prepare and submit to the Licensee and the Evaluator its own summary in reply to the summary submitted by the Licensee;
- c.
- on
receipt of the documents, statements, records and summaries submitted by the parties the Evaluator shall have 30 days within which to conduct such further inquiries as he
or she may deem necessary for the purpose of reviewing the efforts made by the Licensee with respect to the promotion, marketing and sale of the Products and the Technology and any Improvements in
compliance with the requirements of Article 11.4. For the purpose of conducting such an inquiry, the Evaluator shall have the right to:
- i)
- require
either party to disclose any further documents or records which the Evaluator considers to be relevant;
- ii)
- interview
or question either orally (or by way of written questions) one or more representatives of either party on issues deemed to be relevant by
the Evaluator;
- iii)
- make
an "on site" inspection of the Licensee's facilities;
- iv)
- obtain if necessary, the assistance of an independent expert to provide technical information with respect to any area in which the Evaluator does not have a specific expertise;
- d.
- On completion of the Inquiry described in Article 11.6(c) the Evaluator shall within 15 days prepare a report setting out his or her findings and conclusions as to whether or not the
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- i)
- was
substantially due to external market conditions not within the control of the Licensee, or
- ii)
- was substantially due to the Licensee's failure to use its best efforts to comply with the requirements of Article 11.4.
Licensee has committed a breach of Article 11.4. If the Evaluator has determined that the Licensee has committed a breach of Article 11.4, then the Evaluator shall also set out in the report his or her conclusions as to whether such breach:
- e.
- The report and conclusions of the Evaluator shall be delivered to the Licensee and Kaizen, and shall be accepted by both parties as final and binding.
11.7 If the Evaluator concludes:
- a.
- pursuant
to Article 11.6(d)(i) that the Licensee's breach was substantially due to external market conditions, then Kaizen may at its option continue the license
granted hereunder as a non-exclusive license to, but with all other terms and conditions of this Agreement unchanged;
- b.
- pursuant
to Article 11.6(d)(ii) that the Licensee's breach was substantially due to the Licensee's failure to use its best efforts then Kaizen shall at its option have
the right to terminate this Agreement as provided in Article 18
- c.
- pursuant to Article 11.6(d) that the Licensee is not in breach of Article 11.4, then Kaizen shall not terminate this Agreement for breach of Article 11.4, nor shall it change the nature of the license granted hereunder.
11.8 Kaizen may not call for more than one evaluation pursuant to Article 11.5 in each calendar year. The cost of an evaluation hereunder shall be borne 50% by the Licensee and 50% by Kaizen.
12.0 Accounting Records:
12.1 The Licensee shall maintain at its principal place of business, or such other place as may be most convenient, separate accounts and records of all Revenues, sublicenses and Sublicensing Revenues, and all business done pursuant to this Agreement, such accounts and records to be in sufficient detail to enable proper returns to be made under this Agreement, and the Licensee shall cause its sublicensees to keep similar accounts and records.
12.2 The Licensee shall deliver to Kaizen on the date 30 days after each and every Royalty Due Date, together with the royalty payable thereunder, the Accounting and a report on all Sublicensing activity, including an accounting statement setting out in detail how the amount of Sublicensing Revenue was determined and identifying each sublicensee and the location of the business of each sublicensee.
12.3 The calculation of royalties shall be carried out in accordance with generally accepted U.S. and Canadian accounting principles ("GAAP"), or the standards and principles adopted by the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") applied on a consistent basis.
12.4 The Licensee shall retain the accounts and records referred to in Article 12.1 above for at least six years after the date upon which they were made and shall permit any duly authorized representative of Kaizen to inspect such accounts and records during normal business hours of the Licensee at Kaizen's expense. The Licensee shall furnish such reasonable evidence as such representative will deem necessary to verify the Accounting and will permit such representative to make copies of or extracts from such accounts, records and agreements at Kaizen's expense. If an inspection of the Licensee's records by Kaizen shows an under-reporting or underpayment by the Licensee of any amount to Kaizen, in excess of 5% for any 12 month period, then the Licensee shall reimburse Kaizen
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for the cost of the inspection as well as pay to Kaizen any amount found due (including any late payment charges or interest) within 30 days of notice by Kaizen to the Licensee.
12.5 During the term of this Agreement, and thereafter, Kaizen shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that all information provided to Kaizen or its representatives pursuant to this Article remains confidential and is treated as such by Kaizen.
13.0 Insurance:
13.1 Unless satisfactory arrangements are made between the Licensee and Kaizen with respect to a self-insurance program or the requirement for insurance hereunder is waived by Kaizen sixty (60) days prior to the first sale of a Product, then the Licensee shall procure and maintain, during the term of this Agreement, the insurance outlined in Articles 13.2 and 13.3 and otherwise comply with the insurance provisions contained at Articles 13.2 and 13.3.
13.2 One month prior to the first sale of a Product, the Licensee will give notice to Kaizen of the terms and amount of the public liability, product liability and errors and omissions insurance which it has placed in respect of the same, which in no case shall be less than the insurance which a reasonable and prudent businessperson carrying on a similar line of business would acquire. This insurance shall be placed with a reputable and financially secure insurance carrier, shall include Kaizen and UBC, and its Board of Governors and/or directors, faculty, officers, employees, students, and agents as additional insureds, and shall provide primary coverage with respect to the activities contemplated by this Agreement. Such policy shall include severability of interest and cross-liability clauses and shall provide that the policy shall not be cancelled or materially altered except upon at least 30 days' written notice to Kaizen. Kaizen shall have the right to require reasonable amendments to the terms or the amount of coverage contained in the policy. Failing the parties agreeing on the appropriate terms or the amount of coverage, then the matter shall be determined by arbitration as provided for herein. The Licensee shall provide Kaizen with certificates of insurance evidencing such coverage seven days before commencement of sales of any Product and the Licensee covenants not to sell any Product before such certificate is provided and approved by Kaizen, or to sell any Product at any time unless the insurance outlined in this Article 13.2 is in effect.
13.3 The Licensee shall require that each sublicensee under this Agreement shall procure and maintain, during the term of the sublicense, public liability, product liability and errors and omissions insurance in reasonable amounts, with a reputable and financially secure insurance carrier. The Licensee shall use its best efforts to ensure that any and all such policies of insurance required pursuant to this Article shall contain a waiver of subrogation against Kaizen and UBC, and its Board of Governors and/or directors, faculty, officers, employees, students, and agents.
14.0 Assignment:
14.1 The Licensee shall not assign, transfer, mortgage, charge or otherwise dispose of any or all of the rights, duties or obligations granted to it under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Kaizen.
14.2 Kaizen shall have the right to assign its rights, duties and obligations under this Agreement to a company or society. In the case of a company it will be the sole shareholder, or in the case of a society it will control the membership. In the event of such an assignment, Kaizen shall notify Licensee within fifteen (15) business days of the assignment and the Licensee will release, remise and forever discharge Kaizen from any and all obligations or covenants, provided however that such company or society, as the case may be, executes a written agreement which provides that such company or society shall assume all such obligations or covenants from Kaizen and that the Licensee shall retain all rights granted to the Licensee pursuant to this Agreement.
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15.0 Governing Law And Arbitration:
15.1 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the laws of Canada in force therein without regard to its conflict of law rules. All parties agree that by executing this Agreement they have attorned to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Subject to Articles 15.2 and 15.3, the British Columbia Supreme Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over this Agreement.
15.2 In the event of any dispute arising between the parties concerning this Agreement, its enforceability or the interpretation thereof, the same shall be settled by a single arbitrator appointed pursuant to the provisions of the Commercial Arbitration Act of British Columbia, or any successor legislation then in force. The place of arbitration shall be Vancouver, British Columbia. The language to be used in the arbitration proceedings shall be English.
15.3 Nothing in Article 15.2 shall prevent a party hereto from applying to a court of competent jurisdiction for interim protection such as, by way of example, an interim injunction.
16.0 Notices:
16.1 All payments, reports and notices or other documents that any of the parties hereto are required or may desire to deliver to any other party hereto may be delivered only by personal delivery or by registered or certified mail, telex or fax, all postage and other charges prepaid, at the address for such party set forth below or at such other address as any party may hereinafter designate in writing to the others. Any notice personally delivered or sent by telex or fax shall be deemed to have been given or received at the time of delivery, telexing or faxing. Any notice mailed as aforesaid shall be deemed to have been received on the expiration of five days after it is posted, provided that if there shall be at the time of mailing or between the time of mailing and the actual receipt of the notice a mail strike, slow down or labour dispute which might affect the delivery of the notice by the mails, then the notice shall only be effected if actually received.
If Licensee: | Xxxxx Xxx, President 0000 Xxx Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxx Telephone: (000) 0000-0000 Fax: (000) 0000-0000 |
|
If to Kaizen: |
Ton Fei Xxxx Xxxx, President Kaizen Food Corporation Suite 200 - 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx X0X 0X0 Telephone: (000) 000-0000 Fax: (000) 000-0000 |
17.0 Term:
17.1 This Agreement and the license granted hereunder shall terminate on the expiration of a term of 20 years from the Date of Commencement or the expiration of the last patent obtained pursuant to Article 7 herein, whichever event shall last occur, unless earlier terminated pursuant to Article 18 herein.
18.0 Termination:
18.1 This Agreement shall automatically and immediately terminate without notice to the Licensee if:
- a.
- any proceeding under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act of North America, or any other statute of similar purport, is commenced by or against the Licensee.
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- b.
- Licensee fails to meet the provisions of Article Article 5.0 or Article 5.1. In such event, Kaizen shall surrender all shares issued to Kaizen (by Licensee), however Licensee shall not be entitled to any reimbursements made to Kaizen of cash payments pursuant to Article 5.0.
18.2 Kaizen, at its option, may terminate this Agreement immediately on the happening of any one or more of the following events by delivering notice in writing to that effect to the Licensee:
- a.
- if
the Licensee becomes insolvent;
- b.
- if
any execution, sequestration, or any other process of any court becomes enforceable against the Licensee, or if any such process is levied on the rights under this Agreement or
upon any of the monies due to Kaizen and is not released or satisfied by the Licensee within 30 days thereafter;
- c.
- if
any resolution is passed or order made or other steps taken for the winding up, liquidation or other termination of the existence of the Licensee;
- d.
- if
the Licensee is more than 30 days in arrears of royalties or other monies that are due to Kaizen under the terms of this Agreement;
- e.
- if
the Technology or any Improvements becomes subject to any security interest, lien, charge or encumbrance in favour of any third party claiming through the Licensee;
- f.
- if
the Licensee ceases or threatens to cease to carry on its business;
- g.
- if
a controlling interest in the Licensee passes to any person or persons other than those having a controlling interest at the Date of Commencement, whether by reason of purchase
of shares or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Kaizen, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld;
- h.
- if
the composition of the Board of Directors of the Licensee is changed without the prior written consent of Kaizen, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld;
- i.
- if
the Licensee undergoes a reorganization or any part of its business relating to this Agreement is transferred to a subsidiary or associated company without the prior written
consent of Kaizen, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld;
- j.
- if
the Licensee commits any breach of Articles 4.1, 11.1, 11.2 or 13;
- k.
- if
it is determined, pursuant to Article 11.6, that the Licensee is in breach of Article 11.4;
- l.
- if
any sublicensee of the Licensee is in breach of its sublicense agreement with the Licensee and the Licensee does not cause such sublicensee to cure such default within
30 days of receipt of written notice from Kaizen requiring that the Licensee cause such sublicensee to cure such default, or
- m.
- if the Licensee is in breach of any other agreement between the Licensee and Kaizen which breach has not been cured within the time provided for the curing of such breach under the terms of such other agreement.
18.3 Other than as set out in Articles 18.1 and 18.2, if either party shall be in default under or shall fail to comply with the terms of this Agreement then the non-defaulting party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by written notice to the other party to that effect if:
- a.
- such default is reasonably curable within 30 days after receipt of notice of such default and such default or failure to comply is not cured within 30 days after receipt of written notice thereof; or
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- b.
- such default is not reasonably curable within 30 days after receipt of written notice thereof, and such default or failure to comply is not cured within such further reasonable period of time as may be necessary for the curing of such default or failure to comply.
18.4 If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article 18.1, 18.2, or 18.3, the Licensee shall make royalty payments to the date of termination to Kaizen in the manner specified in Article 5, and 6 and Kaizen may proceed to enforce payment of all outstanding royalties or other monies owed to Kaizen and to exercise any or all of the rights and remedies contained herein or otherwise available to Kaizen by law or in equity, successively or concurrently, at the option of Kaizen. Upon any such termination of this Agreement, the Licensee shall forthwith deliver up to Kaizen all Technology and any Improvements in its possession or control and shall have no further right of any nature whatsoever in the Technology or any Improvements. On the failure of the Licensee to so deliver up the Technology and any Improvements, Kaizen may immediately and without notice enter the Licensee's premises and take possession of the Technology and any Improvements. The Licensee will pay all charges or expenses incurred by Kaizen in the enforcement of its rights or remedies against the Licensee including, without limitation, Kaizen's legal fees and disbursements on an indemnity basis.
18.5 The Licensee shall cease to use the Technology or any Improvements in any manner whatsoever or to manufacture or sell the Products within five days from the Effective Date of Termination. The Licensee shall then deliver or cause to be delivered to Kaizen an accounting within 30 days from the Effective Date of Termination. The accounting will specify, in or on such terms as Kaizen may in its sole discretion require, the inventory or stock of Products manufactured and remaining unsold on the Effective Date of Termination. Kaizen will instruct that the unsold Products be stored, destroyed or sold under its direction, provided this Agreement was terminated pursuant to Article 18.2 or 18.3. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if this Agreement was terminated pursuant to Article 18.1, the unsold Products will not be sold by any party without the prior written consent of Kaizen. The Licensee will continue to make royalty payments to Kaizen in the same manner specified in Article 5 and 6 on all unsold Products that are sold in accordance with this Article 18.5, notwithstanding anything contained in or any exercise of rights by Kaizen under Article 18.4 herein.
18.6 Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, Article 12 shall remain in full force and effect until six years after:
- a.
- all
payments of royalty required to be made by the Licensee to Kaizen under this Agreement have been made by the Licensee to Kaizen, and
- b.
- any other claim or claims of any nature or kind whatsoever of Kaizen against the Licensee has been settled.
19.0 Miscellaneous Covenants of Licensee:
19.1 The Licensee hereby represents and warrants to Kaizen that the Licensee is a corporation duly organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada and has the power, authority and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, all of which have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite corporate proceedings.
19.2 The Licensee represents and warrants that it has or will have the expertise necessary to handle the Technology and any Improvements with care and without danger to the Licensee, its employees, agents, or the public. The Licensee shall not accept delivery of the Technology or any Improvements until it has requested and received from Kaizen all necessary information and advice to ensure that it is capable of handling the Technology and any Improvements in a safe and prudent manner.
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19.3 The Licensee shall comply with all laws, regulations and ordinances, whether Federal, State, Provincial, County, Municipal or otherwise, with respect to the Technology and any Improvements and/or this Agreement.
19.4 Upon the presentation of itemized bills to the Licensee by Kaizen, the Licensee shall pay all reasonable legal expenses and costs incurred by Kaizen in respect of any consents and approvals required from Kaizen, including, but not limited to, expenses and costs in respect of Kaizen's review of any sublicenses to be granted by the Licensee.
19.5 The Licensee shall pay all taxes and any related interest or penalty howsoever designated and imposed as a result of the existence or operation of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, tax which the Licensee is required to withhold or deduct from payments to Kaizen. The Licensee will furnish to Kaizen such evidence as may be required by North American authorities to establish that any such tax has been paid. The royalties specified in this Agreement are exclusive of taxes. If the Kaizen is required to collect a tax to be paid by the Licensee or any of its sublicensees, the Licensee shall pay such tax to Kaizen on demand.
19.6 The obligation of the Licensee to make all payments hereunder will be absolute and unconditional and will not, except as expressly set out in this Agreement, be affected by any circumstance, including without limitation any set-off, compensation, counterclaim, recoupment, defence or other right which the Licensee may have against Kaizen, or anyone else for any reason whatsoever.
19.7 All amounts due and owing to Kaizen hereunder but not paid by the Licensee on the due date thereof shall bear interest in United State dollars at the rate of one per cent (1%) per month. Such interest shall accrue on the balance of unpaid amounts from time to time outstanding from the date on which portions of such amounts become due and owing until payment thereof in full.
20.0 General:
20.1 The Licensee shall permit any duly authorized representative of Kaizen, during normal business hours and at Kaizen's sole risk and expense, to enter upon and into any premises of the Licensee for the purpose of inspecting the Products and the manner of their manufacture and generally of ascertaining whether or not the provisions of this Agreement have been, are being, or will be complied with by the Licensee.
20.2 Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or construed to create between the parties hereto a partnership or joint venture. No party shall have the authority to act on behalf of any other party, or to commit any other party in any manner or cause whatsoever or to use any other party's name in any way not specifically authorized by this Agreement. No party shall be liable for any act, omission, representation, obligation or debt of any other party, even if informed of such act, omission, representation, obligation or debt.
20.3 Subject to the limitations hereinbefore expressed, this Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
20.4 No condoning, excusing or overlooking by any party of any default, breach or non-observance by any other party at any time or times in respect of any covenants, provisos or conditions of this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of such party's rights under this Agreement in respect of any continuing or subsequent default, breach or non-observance, so as to defeat in any way the rights of such party in respect of any such continuing or subsequent default or breach, and no waiver shall be inferred from or implied by anything done or omitted by such party, save only an express waiver in writing.
20.5 No exercise of a specific right or remedy by any party precludes it from or prejudices it in exercising another right or pursuing another remedy or maintaining an action to which it may otherwise be entitled either at law or in equity.
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20.6 Marginal headings as used in this Agreement are for the convenience of reference only and do not form a part of this Agreement and are not be used in the interpretation hereof.
20.7 The terms and provisions, covenants and conditions contained in this Agreement which by the terms hereof require their performance by the parties hereto after the expiration or termination of this Agreement shall be and remain in force notwithstanding such expiration or other termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever.
20.8 If any Article, part, section, clause, paragraph or subparagraph of this Agreement shall be held to be indefinite, invalid, illegal or otherwise voidable or unenforceable, the entire Agreement shall not fail on account thereof, and the balance of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
20.9 This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding between the parties and no modifications hereof shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.
20.10 Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.
20.11 Whenever the singular or masculine or neuter is used throughout this Agreement the same shall be construed as meaning the plural or feminine or body corporate when the context or the parties hereto may require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have hereunto executed this Agreement on the 30th day of June, 2000, but effective as of the Date of Commencement.
SIGNED FOR AND ON BEHALF of NEWTECH RESOURCES LTD. |
) | |
by its duly authorized officers: | ) | |
) | ||
/s/ Xxxxx Xxx | ) | |
Authorized Signatory | ) | |
) | ||
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx Ho | ) | |
Authorized Signatory | ) | |
) | ||
SIGNED FOR AND ON BEHALF of KAIZEN FOOD CORPORATION |
) | |
by its duly authorized officers: | ) | |
) | ||
) | ||
/s/ Ton Fei Xxxx Xxxx | ) | |
Authorized Signatory | ) | |
) | ||
) |
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EXHIBIT 99.1 OPTION AGREEMENT WITH KAIZEN FOOD CORPORATION OPTION / LICENSE AGREEMENT