SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
This Settlement Agreement (the “Agreement”) is effective as of the 2d day of June 2008 (the
“Effective Date”) by and between VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation having a
place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000 (“VNUS”), and AngioDynamics,
Inc., a Delaware corporation having a place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx 00000 (“AngioDynamics”) and Vascular Solutions, Inc., a Minnesota corporation having a place
of business at 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000 (“VSI”) (collectively “the
Parties”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on or about October 12, 2005, VNUS filed a First Amended Complaint against Diomed
Holdings, Inc., Diomed, Inc. (collectively “Diomed”), AngioDynamics, and VSI in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of California, Civil Action No. C05-02972-MMC, (the “Civil
Action”) alleging that each of Diomed, AngioDynamics and VSI has infringed U.S. Patent Nos.
6,258,084, 6,638,273, 6,752,803, and 6,769,433 (the “Patents-in-Suit”);
WHEREAS, Diomed, AngioDynamics and VSI have denied the allegations in the First Amended
Complaint and have asserted and attempted to assert by way of affirmative defenses and
counterclaims that the Patents-in-Suit are not infringed, are invalid and are unenforceable;
WHEREAS, on or about March 14, 2008, Diomed filed Voluntary Petitions under Chapter 11 of the
United States Bankruptcy Code, which resulted in a stay of the Civil Action as to Diomed pursuant
to Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 362(a).
WHEREAS, through the execution of this Agreement, VNUS and AngioDynamics and VSI desire to
resolve all claims and counterclaims, potential claims and counterclaims, and contemplated claims
and counterclaims as to the Patents-in-Suit, including but not limited to all claims raised or
asserted in the Civil Action.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises made hereunder and for other good and
valuable consideration, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties agree as follows:
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
DEFINITIONS
1. “Affiliates” shall mean any corporation, firm, partnership or other entity, which directly
or indirectly owns, is owned by or is under common ownership with a Party to this Agreement to the
extent of at least fifty-one percent (51 %) of the equity having the power to vote on or direct the
affairs of the entity, and any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity actually
controlled by, controlling or under common control with a Party to this Agreement.
2. “Covered Products” shall mean the following products that are usable to perform ELA:
[***]
The foregoing products shall be deemed Covered Products if they are usable to perform ELA,
regardless of whether Licensees provide product labeling, instructions, training, or marketing
activities related to performance of ELA. Covered Products shall not include:
[***]
A current list of each Licensee’s Covered Products that are currently marketed in the Territory or
FDA cleared for marketing in the Territory are identified in Exhibit A hereto.
3. “ELA” and “Field” shall both mean endovenous thermal ablation based on laser and/or light
delivered to a vein or into a vein lumen. The term ablation shall include: therapy, vein diameter
reduction, vein occlusion, vein damage, vein destruction, and venous reflux treatment. The Field
does not include (i) multiple use endovenous products other than laser consoles or other laser or
light sources; (ii) endovenous thermal ablation based on delivery to a vein or into a vein lumen
energy other than laser and/or light energy, such as RF, electrical current, microwave, circulating
hot fluid, and ultrasound; [***] (iv) methods of restoring vein valve competence or limited,
controlled vein shrinkage to restore normal venous function; and [***]. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the exclusion of [***] from the Field shall not be read to prevent either Licensee from
marketing its current Covered Products listed in Exhibit A and any future Covered Product that
incorporates only insubstantial changes in design and function and does not facilitate [***] more
so than any current Covered Product.
4. “Licensee” or “Licensees” shall mean individually or collectively AngioDynamics and VSI and
their respective Affiliates.
5. “Licensed Patents” shall mean the following U.S. patents and pending application:
6,769,433 | 6,638,273 | 6,398,780 | 6,613,045 | |||
6,752,803 | 6,179,832 | 6,969,388 | 09/825,741 | |||
6,258,084 | 6,237,606 | 6,152,899 |
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
and any continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues or reexaminations (in each case
either direct or indirect through one or more intervening patents or applications) of any of the
patents or patent application listed above. “Licensed Patents” shall also include any
continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues or reexaminations for which all of the
following apply: (a) issue after the Effective Date of this Agreement, (b) applicable to the Field,
and (c) claim priority (either directly or indirectly) to any member of either patent family
descended from U.S. Patent No. 6,200,312 or 6,036,687, whether or not such family member is among
the patents and application listed above. VNUS represents and warrants that the Licensed Patents
include all issued patents that are owned or licensed by VNUS with a right to sublicense that are
applicable to the Field. VNUS further represents and warrants that the Licensed Patents include
all pending patent applications for which all of the following apply: (a) owned or licensed by VNUS
with a right to sublicense, (b) filed or claim priority to an application filed before June 11,
2003, and (c) applicable to the Field.
6. “Other VNUS Patents” shall mean any VNUS patents that issue after the Effective Date
without a priority claim to any of the Licensed Patents and that are applicable to the Field. VNUS
further represents and warrants that the Other VNUS Patents include all pending patent applications
for which all of the following apply: (a) owned or licensed by VNUS with a right to sublicense, (b)
do not have a priority claim to any Licensed Patent, and (c) applicable to the Field.
7. “Single-Use” shall mean use in one patient and during a single day.
8. The “Territory” shall mean the United States of America and all territories and possessions
thereof.
9. “Third Party” or Third Parties” mean any person(s) or entit(ies) other than VNUS,
AngioDynamics and VSI, and their respective Affiliates.
License Grant
10. VNUS hereby grants to each Licensee a non-exclusive and non-sublicensable license under
the Licensed Patents (but not the Other VNUS Patents) to make, have made, use, sell, and offer for
sale Covered Products in the Field throughout the Territory.
11. VNUS hereby grants to each Licensee a non-exclusive and non-sublicensable license in the
Field throughout the Territory under the Other VNUS Patents to make, have made, use, sell, and
offer for sale only its current Covered Products identified on Exhibit A and any future Covered
Product in the Field that incorporates only insubstantial changes in design and function in
comparison to a current Covered Product. For purposes of this Agreement, a future Covered Product
incorporates only insubstantial changes in design and function where the
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
changes made do not materially alter the product’s mechanism of action. Nothing in this
Section shall limit the license granted in Section 10 of this Agreement.
12. The licenses granted in Sections 10 and 11 are not transferable by a Licensee except to a
successor-in-interest as provided in Section 58 of this Agreement.
Royalty Rate
13. Each Licensee shall pay to VNUS a royalty for each Covered Product that is sold or shipped
directly or indirectly to a clinical user or clinical facility in the Territory as follows:
[***]
14. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Licensee shall be required to pay any royalty on:
(a) any demonstration laser/light source maintained within the possession of its respective sales
employees (limit one per employee at any time); (b) any Covered Product or any laser/light source
provided or shipped to honor warranty obligations; (c) any Covered Product or any laser/light
source used on a temporary basis as a warranty or service repair loaner; or (d) on returned Covered
Products where credits are issued.
15. Each Licensee shall pay to VNUS within thirty (30) days of the end of each fiscal quarter
of the respective Licensee the royalties owed for the respective quarter.
16. Each Licensee shall report to VNUS within fifteen (15) calendar days of the end of each
fiscal quarter of Licensor monthly reports of: a) the unaudited total numbers of each Covered
Product shipped in the Territory, and b) the unaudited amount of royalties incurred during the
respective quarter.
17. There shall be no obligation to pay royalties on any Covered Products sold or shipped
after the Term. The above royalty rates shall remain constant throughout the Term. VNUS shall not
seek royalties under this Agreement from either Licensee for Covered Products sold or shipped
outside of the Territory and not re-sold or re-shipped by or on behalf of the respective Licensee
within the Territory.
Upfront Payment
18. Each Licensee shall pay to VNUS within three (3) business days of execution of this
Agreement an upfront payment equal to the total royalty owed on Covered Products that were sold or
shipped directly or indirectly to clinical users or clinical facilities in the Territory through to
the end of the Licensee’s most recent fiscal quarter.
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
Audit Rights
19. Licensees shall maintain, and cause to be maintained, all business records necessary
to verify the royalties under Section 15 above. Such records shall be maintained for a period of
three (3) years after each royalty payment is made.
20. VNUS shall have the right to conduct one pre-scheduled royalty-related audit per fiscal
year of each Licensee during reasonable commercial hours by an independent third party auditor
selected by VNUS and acceptable by the respective Licensee, such acceptance not to be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed. If such an audit produces a material (> 2%) discrepancy, VNUS
may have the third party auditor re-audit the respective Licensee upon demand and with prior notice
up to twice more during the respective fiscal year.
21. In the event that the auditor determines that additional royalties are due and the
discrepancy is greater than 2% of the total royalties due for the audited royalty period, then the
Licensee shall pay for the expense of the audit. In the event the auditor determines that
royalties were overpaid, VNUS shall refund the overpayment to the Licensee.
22. VNUS will only receive the results of any such audit but not the underlying information,
will retain the results in confidence, and all units information and audit information received by
VNUS shall be disclosed solely to VNUS’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, who
shall use the information solely for financial auditing purposes or for remedying any failure to
pay royalties due and shall not disclose it to any other person within VNUS.
Future Covered Products
23. With respect to the issue of whether the Licensees have a license under Section 11 to the
Other VNUS Patents for any future Covered Product, the Parties agree to negotiate in good faith
concerning whether the future Covered Product incorporates only insubstantial changes in design and
function in comparison to a current Covered Product. If the Parties cannot amicably resolve any
disagreement, the dispute will be submitted to binding arbitration as set forth below. In all
cases the Parties agree that any future Covered Product which incorporates only insubstantial
changes in design and function in comparison to a current Covered Product remains subject to the
exclusions from the Field set forth in Section 3.
24. In order to avoid potential future disputes, Licensees agree that Licensee’s future
products within the Field shall be considered Covered Products (but subject to the restrictions on
license to the Other VNUS Patents as set forth in Section 11). Existing limitations to the
Field and exclusions to Covered Products shall apply to future Covered Products.
Releases and Covenants Not to Xxx or Challenge the Enforceability of the Licensed Patents
25. VNUS, for itself and its directors, officers, employees, agents, successors, assigns, and
representatives agrees to release, acquit, and forever discharge, and hereby does release, acquit,
and forever
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
discharge, and covenants not to xxx AngioDynamics and VSI and their respective directors,
officers, employees, agents, successors, assigns, and representatives, from or on any of the
following claims or causes of action that existed prior to or as of the Effective Date of this
Agreement:
(a) | Any claims asserted in the Civil Action. | ||
(b) | Any claims based on or relating to past infringement of any of the Licensed Patents. | ||
(c) | Any claims of past patent infringement relating to any ELA products or products accused of infringement in the Civil Action. | ||
(d) | Any patent-related claims or causes of action that VNUS may have against AngioDynamics or VSI, including but not limited to any claim for past infringement of any patents, or claims for costs, damages for past infringement, or attorney’s fees. |
26. Each Licensee, for itself and its directors, officers, employees, agents, successors,
assigns, and representatives agrees to release, acquit, and forever discharge, and hereby does
release, acquit, and forever discharge, and covenants not to xxx VNUS and its respective directors,
officers, employees, agents, successors, assigns, and representatives, from or on any of the
following claims or causes of action that existed prior to or as of the Effective Date of
this Agreement:
(a) | Any claims asserted in the Civil Action. | ||
(b) | Any claims based on or relating to the enforceability or validity of the Licensed Patents. | ||
(c) | Any claims of patent infringement relating to any products currently sold by VNUS as of the date of this Agreement. | ||
(d) | Any patent-related claims or causes of action that each Licensee may have against VNUS, including but not limited to any claim for past infringement of any patents, or claims for costs, damages for past infringement, or attorney’s fees. |
27. Each Licensee agrees that U.S. Patents Nos. 6,769,433; 6,752,803; and 6,258,084 are valid,
enforceable and indirectly infringed by Licensees in connection with the accused products in the
Civil Action.
28. Licensees agree not to initiate, support, engage in, participate in or assist any attempt
to invalidate, render unenforceable or narrow any claims of any of the Licensed Patents.
29. Although the release set forth in this Agreement is not a general release,
if the release is determined by an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction to be a general
release, the Parties expressly waive the rule set forth in Section 1542 of the California Civil
Code (“Section 1542”), which provides as follows: “A general
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in
his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected
his settlement with the debtor.” The Parties further waive any right or benefit to which they may
be entitled under the provisions of any statutes in any other jurisdictions or common law principle
that are identical or similar to the provisions of Section 1542.
Term/Termination
30. The Term of this Agreement shall be until the earlier of (i) September 11, 2017, or (ii) a
final non-appealable decision of invalidity or unenforceability of all unexpired claims asserted in
the Civil Action, and of all applicable claims of all continuations, continuations-in-part,
divisionals, reissues or reexaminations of U.S. Patents Nos. 6,769,433, 6,752,803 and 6,258,084.
31. VNUS and Licensees agree that each Licensee’s obligation to pay royalties under this
Agreement shall terminate if either of the following circumstances occur: A) All applicable claims
of the Licensed Patents are invalidated, or their scope is substantially narrowed, by a final
non-appealable decision in reissue or reexamination proceedings, such that no claim of any Licensed
Patent covers ELA as then currently practiced, and the claims of the Other VNUS Patents also do not
cover ELA as then currently practiced; or B) All applicable claims of the Licensed Patents are
invalidated, or their scope is substantially narrowed, by a final non-appealable decision in
litigation, such that no claim of any Licensed Patent covers ELA as then currently practiced, and
the claims of the Other VNUS Patents also do not cover ELA as then currently practiced.
32. If at any time during the term either Licensee believes that it is selling an ELA-related
product usable in a method that is not covered by a Licensed Patent or Other VNUS Patent, it may
notify VNUS, and if VNUS disagrees it shall submit the matter to arbitration as set forth below.
33. If any Party fails to perform any material covenant of this Agreement and if such default
is not corrected, or if such default is not correctable, and commercially reasonable steps to
prevent such default from recurring are not taken, within thirty (30) days, after receiving written
notice from the other Party with respect to such default, such other Party shall have the right to
terminate this Agreement with respect only to such defaulting Party by giving written notice to the
Party in default provided the notice of termination is given within six (6) months of the
non-defaulting party becoming aware of the default and prior to correction of the default.
Examples of default or breach of the Agreement by a Licensee shall be:
i. Failure to pay the amount of royalty due under this Agreement within the time so
specified or failure to pay any additional royalties found to be owing as the result of an
audit conducted by a third party auditor pursuant to this Agreement; or
ii. Public disparagement of the validity or enforceability of the Licensed Patents
including, but not limited to, any action or proceeding to challenge the validity or
enforceability of the Licensed Patents.
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
In addition, VNUS may immediately terminate this Agreement at its discretion with respect to a
Licensee if such Licensee:
a. | Fails to pay to VNUS a minimum quarterly royalty [***] in two consecutive fiscal quarters of Licensee; | ||
b. | Markets products in the U.S. that are covered by the Licensed Patents but outside of the Field, such as multi-use fibers or RF vein ablation catheters; or | ||
c. | Becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy protection (in which case, all rights automatically revert to VNUS without a tie to the respective Licensee’s encumbered assets). |
If a Party disputes a claim of default or breach, it may initiate Dispute Resolution under this
Agreement, and until a final, non-appealable decision of the Dispute Resolution Panel, this
Agreement shall remain in effect.
Confidentiality
34. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that the financial terms of this Agreement
constitute confidential information of the other Party. Each of the Parties agrees for itself, its
employees, agents and representatives, to take all reasonable steps necessary to preserve and
protect the confidentiality of the financial terms of this Agreement, and not to disclose any such
information to any Third Parties without the prior written consent of the other Parties, except to
the extent required by law or otherwise to comply with applicable securities or regulatory rules or
filing standards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Party may disclose the financial terms of
this Agreement under a similar obligation of confidentiality to individual Third Parties as may be
reasonably required in connection with the conduct of its business affairs, such as when
negotiating a license with a non-Party as set forth in Section 39. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
each Party may disclose the financial terms of this Agreement to a government agency, if disclosure
is mandated by a government requirement.
35. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Party may disclose any information otherwise protected
from the disclosure in the preceding Section 34 if such information is the subject of a subpoena or
demand for production of documents in connection with any suit, arbitration proceeding,
administrative procedure or before any governmental agency, provided that in such event, the Party
proposing to make such disclosure shall notify the other Party prior to such disclosure and shall
take such actions as are reasonably requested and otherwise cooperate with the other Party in its
attempts to protect the confidentiality of the information, such as by requesting confidential
treatment or seeking a protective order from a court of competent jurisdiction.
36. The Parties shall within four (4) business days of the Effective Date mutually agree on
the statements to be made concerning this Agreement in any press release.
37. The Parties acknowledge that this Agreement may constitute a material definitive agreement
required to be filed as a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. The Parties agree they will mutually work together to submit a request for confidential
treatment of such filing so that the appropriate confidential information is uniformly redacted.
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
Dismissal
38. Within five (5) business days of the Parties having executed this Agreement and the
transfer of funds described in Section 18, the Parties shall jointly move to enter a dismissal with
prejudice by filing a Joint Motion for Dismissal. The Parties agree to each bear their own costs,
including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with the Civil Action and in fulfilling these
responsibilities under this Agreement.
[***]
41. VNUS shall have the right of first enforcement against all non-Party suppliers of
ELA-related products in the United States where such non-Party supplier(s) infringe both a Licensed
Patent and a patent owned by a Licensee. When either Licensee becomes aware of an ELA-related
product or method of use that it believes infringes both a Licensed Patent or an Other VNUS Patent
and a patent owned by the Licensee, the Licensee shall notify VNUS in writing and VNUS shall have
not more than 120 days to exercise its first right to commence a lawsuit against the infringer.
Either Licensee may commence suit against the infringer after the earlier of expiration of the 120
day period of the preceding sentence or the filing of suit by VNUS against the infringer. However,
if either Licensee believes it commercially necessary to pursue a provisional remedy, such Licensee
may file a complaint and application for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction
without first waiting for VNUS to exercise its first right to commence a lawsuit. Except for
matters released under Sections 25 and 26 above, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent either
Licensee from enforcing any of its patents that are infringed by an ELA-related product that does
not infringe any of the Licensed Patents or the Other VNUS Patents.
42. In the event a Licensee’s Covered Products or Methods of Use become subject to patent
litigation from a party other than VNUS, it is the sole responsibility of the Licensee to conduct
its defense.
[***]
Representations, Warranties and Indemnification
46. Each Party warrants that it has the unencumbered legal authority to enter into and execute
this Agreement, and that the execution and performance of this Agreement has been authorized by all
necessary and appropriate corporate action. VNUS, AngioDynamics and VSI and the undersigned
individuals signing on behalf of the Parties hereby further represent and warrant, as of the date
hereof, that they have all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform
all of their respective obligations hereunder, and that no claim as to which a release is granted
hereunder has been assigned to any third party.
47. Licensees represent that they will not publicly disparage the validity or enforceability
of the Licensed Patents through acts including, but not limited to, participating in or assisting
any action or proceeding to challenge the validity or enforceability of the Licensed Patents.
[***]
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
49. VNUS is not providing any warranty with respect to the Licensed Patents to the Licensees
other than to its knowledge the Licensed Patents are valid and enforceable.
50. If AngioDynamics purchases any assets of a Diomed entity, VNUS represents that it will not
assert any claim against AngioDynamics for damages arising out of or related to any infringing
activities of Diomed occurring prior to such purchase, and that all Diomed ELA-related products
marketed before the date of the purchase and listed in Appendix A shall be included within the
license going forward subject to royalty payment and the other terms of this Agreement. Nothing
herein shall prevent VNUS from asserting any claims against the Diomed estate through the
bankruptcy proceeding.
51. In the event that AngioDynamics purchases any Diomed assets, it agrees that a license
under U.S. Patent Nos. 6,769,433; 6,752,803; and 6,258,084 is necessary to avoid infringement in
connection with the continued marketing of such Diomed products in the United States.
52. Subject to the provisions of Section 50 regarding Diomed entities, should either Licensee
after the Effective Date of this Agreement become the owner of, owned by or under common ownership
with a new Affiliate, the licenses granted in Sections 10 and 11 shall not apply to any infringing
activity by such new Affiliate prior to the Licensee’s becoming owner of, owned by or under common
ownership with the new Affiliate, and nothing in this Agreement shall apply to such new Affiliate
for the period prior to the date on which a Licensee becomes an owner of, owned by or under common
control. VNUS retains the full right to pursue damages, royalties or other remedies for all such
prior infringing activity via litigation in state or federal courts, or otherwise.
53. VNUS shall not assert that any Licensed Patents that are pending or issued as of the
Effective Date are directly or indirectly infringed by [***]. If in the future VNUS obtains an
issued Licensed Patent that it believes is directly or indirectly infringed by a Licensee’s [***],
VNUS shall submit the matter to arbitration as set forth below, and the Licensee shall be entitled
to assert all available defenses and counterclaims against the respective Licensed Patent,
including non-infringement, invalidity and unenforceability, and/or may seek reexamination of such
Licensed Patent.
54. Each Licensee shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless VNUS against any claims or
actions arising from Covered Products shipped or sold by such Licensee.
Resolution of Disputes
55. All disputes between or among the Parties relating to the interpretation or application of
this Agreement shall be settled by means of alternative dispute resolution as provided in this
Section. The Parties agree that any such dispute shall be decided by a JAMS arbitrator who is a
retired Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or a United States
District Court, and the arbitrator shall be chosen by mutual
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
agreement of the Parties. If the Parties cannot agree on the choice of an arbitrator, the
Parties shall ask JAMS to select one for the Parties. The arbitrator shall determine the nature
and form of the arbitration proceeding, as well as the discovery rules applicable to the
proceeding. However, unless the parties mutually agree in writing or the JAMS arbitrator rules for
good cause, in no event shall discovery exceed the following:
i) Written Discovery. Each party shall be entitled to serve 25 document requests, 10
single question interrogatories, and 10 single question requests for admissions. Answers and
documents, if requested, shall be produced within thirty (30) days after service of the requests.
ii) Oral Depositions. Each party to the dispute shall be limited to two seven-hour
depositions of the other party, and to two seven hour depositions of non-Parties who are not expert
witnesses.
iii) Experts. Each party shall be limited to two expert(s), who shall render a
written report within ninety days after the initiation of the dispute resolution proceeding. There
shall be no rebuttal reports; rebuttals may be raised in briefing to the Arbitrator. Each party to
the dispute may take one seven hour deposition of each Expert proffered by the other party to the
dispute.
iv) Discovery Disputes. The Arbitrator shall have the sole and binding authority to
render decisions concerning the propriety of all discovery requests, the sufficiency of all
discovery responses, and to otherwise resolve all discovery disputes.
v) Time for Discovery. All discovery shall be completed within 180 days after the
initiation of the dispute by the Arbitrator. The time periods for discovery may be extended by the
Arbitrator for good cause.
Notice
56. Any consent or notice required or permitted to be given or made by any Party under
this Agreement shall be made in writing and sent to the other Parties by commercial carrier for
delivery within two business days, to the following addresses of the Parties, or to such other
address as the addressee may have last furnished in writing, and shall be effective upon receipt by
the addressee.
If to VNUS: | If to AngioDynamics: | |||||
VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. | AngioDynamics, Inc. | |||||
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxx | 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx | |||||
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 | Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | |||||
Attn: General Counsel, CEO | Attn: General Counsel, CEO | |||||
If to VSI: | ||||||
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
||||||
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
|
||||||
Attn: General Counsel, CEO
|
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
Miscellaneous
57. The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon the Parties hereto, and is intended to
bind to the fullest extent possible, each of their respective officers, directors, employees,
shareholders, affiliated companies, successors, assigns and any entity or individual which or who
may acquire all or substantially all of the assets or business of VNUS, AngioDynamics or VSI.
58.
No Party may assign or otherwise transfer its rights hereunder without the written
consent of the other Parties; provided, however, that either VNUS on the one hand, or AngioDynamics
or VSI on the other hand, may freely assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any
successor or assignee of all or substantially all of its business and business assets. Any
assignment or transfer in violation of this Section shall be deemed null and void.
59. The failure of any Party to exercise any rights under this Agreement shall not be deemed
to constitute a waiver of any such rights.
60. It is understood and agreed that the Parties hereto are independent contractors, and no
agency relationship, partnership, joint venture or other similar relationship is created between or
among any of the Parties to this Agreement.
61. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal
substantive laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of laws provisions.
62. Licensee shall xxxx the IFUs, packaging, and promotional materials (e.g. FDA labeling) of
all Covered Products shipped in the Territory with the numbers of U.S. Patents Nos. 6,769,433;
6,752,803 and 6,258,084, as well as additional applicable Licensed Patents as reasonably directed
by VNUS. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Licensees shall be allowed to exhaust current supplies of
such materials.
63. This Agreement and its attachments constitute the entire agreement between the Parties
regarding the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any and all prior agreements, arrangements, or
understandings between the Parties regarding the subject matter hereof. No oral understandings,
statements, promises or inducements contrary to, or in addition to, this Agreement exist.
64. This Agreement may not be altered or amended except by a subsequent writing or writings
signed by all Parties.
65. This Agreement may be executed in any number of identical counterparts by one or more
Parties. All such counterparts, when so executed, shall be deemed to constitute one final
agreement as if one document had been signed by all Parties to this Agreement. Each such
counterpart, upon execution and delivery of all counterparts, shall be deemed to be a complete
original of this Agreement. A telecopy or facsimile transmission of a signed counterpart of this
Agreement shall be sufficient to bind the Party or Parties whose signature(s) appears thereon.
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
66. Each Party to this Agreement hereby agrees to execute and deliver such additional and
further consideration, instruments, documents and assurances as may be reasonably necessary to
carry out or fully effectuate the intent, purposes, and provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Settlement Agreement by their duly
authorized representatives as of the Effective Date.
VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. | AngioDynamics, Inc. | |||||||||
By:
|
By: | |||||||||
Its:
|
Its: | |||||||||
Date:
|
Date: | |||||||||
Vascular Solutions, Inc. | ||||||||||
By: | ||||||||||
Its: | ||||||||||
Date: | ||||||||||
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.
EXHIBIT A
The following are the Covered Products of each Licensee that are currently marketed in the
Territory, or FDA cleared for marketing in the Territory, and are licensed under the Licensed
Patents and the Other VNUS Patents:
AngioDynamics:
[***]
VSI:
[***]
[***] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Confidential treatment has been requested with
respect to the omitted portions.