LICENSE AGREEMENT between Ralco Nutrition, Inc. and The Texas A&M University System
Exhibit 10.27
between
Ralco Nutrition, Inc.
and
The Texas A&M University System
This agreement (“Agreement”) is made between Ralco Nutrition, Inc., a Corporation with principal offices in Marshall, MN, (“LICENSEE”) and The Texas A&M University System, an agency of the State of Texas, with principal offices in College Station, Texas, (“SYSTEM”), collectively referred to as “Parties” and individually as “Party.”
WHEREAS, SYSTEM is the owner of a certain intellectual property related to shrimp production; and
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS
1.01 |
“LICENSED TECHNOLOGY” means SYSTEM’s proprietary technology relating to SYSTEM Disclosure of Invention Number 2832 entitled “High Density Shrimp Production Methods.” |
1.02 |
“PATENT RIGHTS” means SYSTEM’s rights in the foreign patents and patent applications referenced in Exhibit A attached and made part of this Agreement, and SYSTEM’s rights in each: |
(a) |
divisional, continuation, or continuation-in-part application of the patent applications described above to the extent the claims are directed to subject matter specifically described in such patent applications; and |
(b) |
patent issuing from the applications described above and each extension or reissue of such patents. |
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1.03 |
“LICENSED PRODUCT” or “LICENSED PRODUCTS” means any product, process, or composition of matter that is within the scope of any Valid Claim of PATENT RIGHTS. Valid Claim means and includes a claim of a patent application or an unexpired patent or a patent whose expiration date has been extended by law, so long as the claim has not been held invalid or unenforceable in an unappealable decision of a court or other authority of competent jurisdiction. |
1.04 |
EFFECTIVE DATE” means the date this Agreement has been executed by the last Party. |
1.05 |
“NET SALES” means LICENSEE’s and sublicensee’s receipts for sales of LICENSED PRODUCTS or any product, process, or composition of matter that is produced, used, created or developed, or services, requiring the use of LICENSED PRODUCTS less the sum of the following: |
(a) |
sales taxes, tariffs, duties and/or use taxes directly imposed with reference to particular sales; |
(b) |
outbound transportation prepaid or allowed; and |
(c) |
amounts allowed or credited on returns. |
Commissions paid to individuals, whether independent sales agents or regularly employed by LICENSEE, and the cost of collections may not be deducted from NET SALES.
1.06 |
“TERRITORY’’ means the countries of i) United Kingdom, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, and Spain, and ii) China and Taiwan. |
1.07 |
“MEMBERS” means member institutions of SYSTEM, including but not limited to Texas A&M AgriLife Research, whether existing as of the EFFECTIVE DATE or later established. |
ARTICLE II - LICENSE GRANT
2.01 |
2.02 |
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ARTICLE III - CONSIDERATION
3.01 |
3.02 |
3.03 |
3.04 |
(a) |
Calendar Year 2019……………….………………...…$ 10,000 |
(b) |
Calendar Years 2020 and 2021…………….………….$ 20,000 |
(c) |
Calendar Year 2022 and every year after through |
In the event that LICENSEE’s payment of royalties for the Calendar Year due under paragraph 3.03 do not meet or exceed the required minimum annual consideration, LICENSEE’s royalty payment for the last quarter of the Calendar Year must include payment of the balance needed to achieve the required minimum. If this Agreement expires or is terminated before the end of a Calendar Year, the corresponding minimum annual consideration will be prorated for that year.
3.05 |
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ARTICLE IV - SUBLICENSES
4.01 |
Sublicenses. LICENSEE may grant sublicenses under PATENT RIGHTS subject to this Article IV. |
4.02 |
4.03 |
4.04 |
4.05 |
4.06 |
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ARTICLE V - LICENSEE RESPONSIBILITIES
5.01 |
Milestones. LICENSEE must achieve the following milestones to SYSTEM’s satisfaction: |
(a) |
LICENSEE must complete development of a commercial prototype of a LICENSED PRODUCT no later than July l, 2016. |
(b) |
LICENSEE must practice the patent rights by installation of one or more shrimp production systems utilizing the PATENT RIGHTS i) in United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, or Spain and ii) in China or Taiwan no later than December 31, 2018. |
(c) |
LICENSEE must record first sales of LICENSED PRODUCTS i) in United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy or Spain, and ii) in China or Taiwan no later than June 30, 2019. |
LICENSEE must provide written notification to SYSTEM within thirty (30) days of achieving each milestone.
5.02 |
5.03 |
ARTICLE VI - PATENTS
6.01 |
6.02 |
6.03 |
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6.04 |
6.05 |
ARTICLE VII - PAYMENTS AND REPORTS
7.01 |
7.02 |
7.03 |
7.04 |
7.05 |
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ARTICLE VIII - TERM AND TERMINATION
8.01 |
8.02 |
8.03 |
(a) |
LICENSEE becomes in arrears in any payments due under the Agreement, and LICENSEE fails to make the required payment within thirty (30) days after delivery of written notice from SYSTEM; |
(b) |
LICENSEE is in breach of any non-payment provision of the Agreement, and does not cure such breach within sixty (60) days after delivery of written notice from SYSTEM; |
(c) |
SYSTEM delivers notice to LICENSEE of three or more actual breaches of the Agreement in any twelve (12)-month period, even in the event that LICENSEE cures such breaches in the allowed period; or |
(d) |
LICENSEE or LICENSEE’s sublicensee initiates any proceeding or action to challenge the validity, enforceability, or scope of one or more of the PATENT RIGHTS, or assist a third party in pursuing such a proceeding or action. |
8.04 |
Other Conditions of Termination. The Agreement will terminate: |
(a) |
Immediately without the necessity of any action being taken by SYSTEM or LICENSEE, if, (i) LICENSEE becomes bankrupt or insolvent; (ii) LICENSEE’s governing board elects to liquidate its assets or dissolve its business; (iii) LICENSEE ceases its business operations; (iv) LICENSEE makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (v) the business or assets of LICENSEE are otherwise placed in the hands of a receiver, assignee or trustee, whether by voluntary act of LICENSEE or otherwise; or |
(b) |
At any time by mutual written agreement between SYSTEM and LICENSEE. |
8.05 |
Effect of Termination. If the Agreement is terminated for any reason: |
(a) |
All rights and licenses of sublicensees shall terminate upon termination of the Agreement; provided however, if the sublicensee is in good standing and agrees in writing to assume all of the obligations of LICENSEE and provides SYSTEM with written notice thereof within thirty (30) days after termination of the Agreement, then such sublicense shall survive; |
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(b) |
LICENSEE shall cease making, having made, using, selling, offering to sell, leasing, loaning and importing any LICENSED PRODUCTS and performing services using a LICENSED PRODUCT by the effective date of termination; |
(c) |
LICENSEE shall tender payment of all accrued royalties and other payments due to SYSTEM as of the effective date of termination; |
(d) |
Nothing in the Agreement will be construed to release either Party from any obligation that matured prior to the effective date of termination; |
(e) |
The following shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement: Article I (Definitions), Article IX (Indemnification and Representation), and Article XI (Miscellaneous Provisions). In addition, the provisions of Article III (Consideration) and Article VII (Payments and Reports) shall survive with respect to all activities and payment obligations accruing prior to the termination or expiration of the Agreement. |
ARTICLE IX - INDEMNIFICATION AND REPRESENTATION
9.01 |
Indemnification. LICENSEE MUST AT ALL TIMES DURING AND AFTER THE TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, AND HOLD HARMLESS SYSTEM, ITS MEMBERS, REGENTS, OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES AGAINST ANY CLAIM, PROCEEDING, DEMAND, LIABILITY OR EXPENSE (INCLUDING LEGAL EXPENSE AND REASONABLE ATI’ORNEYS’ FEES) WHICH RELATES TO INJURY TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY, ANY ACTION BROUGHT BY A THIRD PARTY ALLEGING INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, OR AGAINST ANY OTHER CLAIM, PROCEEDING, DEMAND, EXPENSE, OR LIABILITY OF ANY KIND RESULTING FROM THE PRODUCTION, MANUFACTURE, SALE, COMMERCIAL USE, LEASE, CONSUMPTION, OR ADVERTISEMENT OF LICENSED PRODUCTS OR ARISING FROM ANY OBLIGATION OF LICENSEE OR SUBLICENSEE(S) UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. |
9.02 |
Representation. SYSTEM represents that it owns and has title to PATENT RIGHTS and has the full right and power to grant the license in paragraph 2.01, and that there are no outstanding agreements, assignments, or encumbrances inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement. SYSTEM MAKES NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND EXTENDS NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NOR DOES SYSTEM ASSUME ANY OBLIGATIONS REGARDING INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT RIGHTS OR OTHER RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES DUE TO LICENSEE’S ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. |
10.01 |
Notices. Any notice or other communication of the Parties required or permitted to be given or made under the Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed effective when sent in a manner that provides confirmation or acknowledgement of delivery and received at the address set forth in this paragraph 10.01. Notices required under the Agreement may be delivered via e-mail provided such notice is confirmed in writing as indicated in the foregoing sentence. Each Party shall update the other Party in writing with any changes in such contact information. |
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If to SYSTEM:
Associate Vice Chancellor for Commercialization
Texas A&M System Technology Commercialization
0000 XXXX
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
If to LICENSEE | for Legal Matters: | for Financial Matters: |
Ralco Nutrition, Inc. | Ralco Nutrition, Inc. | |
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxx | |
0000 Xxxx Xxxx | 000 0xx Xxxxxx | |
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
ARTICLE XI - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
11.01 |
Marking. Subject to the requirements of each country’s marking laws or regulations, LICENSEE shall legibly xxxx all LICENSED PRODUCTS that it sells with the number of any applicable patent(s) licensed hereunder as part of the PATENT RIGHTS. LICENSEE shall contractually obligate any of its sublicensees to conform to this paragraph 11.01. |
11.02 |
Notice of Infringement. Each Party must promptly notify the other in writing of any alleged infringement of PATENT RIGHTS. Within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice, SYSTEM and LICENSEE will formulate a strategy for resolving the alleged infringement SYSTEM’s involvement, participation, and representation in any enforcement litigation is contingent upon SYSTEM receiving the consent of the Attorney General of the State of Texas. |
11.03 |
Export Controls. SYSTEM is subject to United States laws and regulations controlling the export of technical data, computer software, laboratory prototypes and other commodities, and its obligations under this Agreement are contingent on compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The transfer of certain technical data and commodities may require a license from the cognizant agency of the United States Government or written assurances by LICENSEE that LICENSEE will not export data or commodities to certain countries without advance approval of such agency. SYSTEM neither represents that a license will not be required nor that, if required, it will be issued. |
11.04 |
Confidential Information. LICENSEE’s sales reports submitted by pursuant to Article VII will be considered confidential information under this Agreement, and SYSTEM shall not disclose such sales reports lo any third party except as may be required by law. If the Parties contemplate exchanging other information of a confidential nature, they should enter into a separate confidentiality agreement. |
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11.05 |
Non-Use of Names. LICENSEE may not use the names or any adaptation of the names of The Texas A&M University System, nor of any of its employees or MEMBERS, in any advertising, promotional, or sales literature without the advance written consent of SYSTEM in each case, except that LICENSEE may state that it is licensed by SYSTEM under PATENT RIGHTS. |
11.06 |
11.07 |
11.08 |
11.09 |
11.10 |
11.11 |
11.12 |
11.13 |
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11.14 |
The Parties have caused this Agreement to become effective as of the date last executed below.
RALCO NUTRITION, INC. | THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM | |||
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx for Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
By: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
Title: | Vice President | Associate Vice Chancellor for Commercialization | ||
Date: | 4-14-15 | Date: | April 16, 2015 |
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EXHIBIT A
Country |
Patent/Application Number |
Taiwan |
99115126 |
China |
ZL 201080026407.l |
France |
2429282 |
Germany |
0000000 |
Xxxxx |
2429282 |
Spain |
2429282 |
Netherlands |
2429282 |
United Kingdom |
2429282 |
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