DATED SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
[Material
marked with an asterisk has
been
omitted from this document
pursuant
to a request for confidential
treatment
and has been filed separately
with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission.]
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DATED
SEPTEMBER
15, 2010
LA
SERENA TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
and
SOCIEDAD
CONTRACTUAL MINERA WHITE
MOUNTAIN
TITANIUM
THIS
SUB-LICENSE is made on September 15,
2010 and takes effect as of the Effective Date (as defined below).
BETWEEN:
LA SERENA TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED,
having its registered office at Rooms 2201 – 03, 22nd Floor,
World-Wide House, 19 Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong, hereinafter referred to
as the “Licensor”
and
SOCIEDAD
CONTRACTUAL MINERA WHITE MOUNTAIN TITANIUM, having its registered office
at Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx 000, Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx, hereinafter
referred to as the “Sub-Licensee”
RECITALS:
(A)
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The
Licensor is a private Hong Kong
company.
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(B)
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The
Sub-Licensee is a wholly-owned Chilean subsidiary of White Mountain
Titanium Corporation, a U.S. corporation formed under the laws of the
State of Nevada (“WM
Parent”), the common stock of which is traded in the
over-the-counter market on the OTC Bulletin
Board.
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(C)
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The
Licensor has obtained from the Master Licensor the exclusive worldwide
license for the technology relating to a process for the electrolytic
extraction of titanium concentrate to produce sponge titanium metal
(including certain Know-how, as defined in this Agreement) for the purpose
of developing and commercialising such
technology.
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(D)
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Licensor
wishes to sub-license this technology for such purpose and is entering
into this Agreement (1) for the purpose of sub-licensing the technology
and obligations to the Sub-Licensee; and (2) for payment by Sub-Licensee
of royalties and other sums to the Licensor in connection with the
exploitation of the technology.
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(E)
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The
Licensor has agreed to sub-license such technology to the Sub-Licensee
solely for titanium metal located on the Sub-Licensee’s project in
Chile.
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2
IT IS AGREED as
follows:
1
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DEFINITIONS
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1.1
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In
this Agreement:
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(a)
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“Associate”
means in respect of either Party:
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(i)
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any
firm or body corporate in which, at the time in question, such Party
directly or indirectly:
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owns more
than half the capital or half of the business assets (calculated by reference to
the values ascribed in the most recent audited accounts available at that time);
or
has the
power to exercise more than half the voting rights; or
has the
power to appoint more than half the members of the supervisory board, board of
directors or bodies legally representing such firm or body corporate;
or
has the
right to manage the business of such firm or body corporate;
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(ii)
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any
person, firm or body corporate which, at the time in question, directly or
indirectly has in or over such Party the rights or powers listed above (a
“controller”); and
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(iii)
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any
firm or body corporate in which, at the time in question, a controller
directly or indirectly has the rights or powers listed
above;
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(b)
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“Calendar Quarter” means
a period of three (3) consecutive calendar months starting from the
Effective Date but, if the Effective Date falls on a date other than the
first day of a calendar month, then the first “Calendar Quarter” shall
be the period starting on the Effective Date and ending on the last day of
the second calendar month falling consecutively after the calendar month
in which the Effective Date falls, and subsequent “Calendar Quarters” shall
be identified accordingly.
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(c)
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“Change
of Control” means:
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(i)
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as
a result of a transaction or arrangement effected after the Effective
Date, any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”)), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities of the
Sub-Licensee under an employee benefit plan of the Sub-Licensee, becomes
the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Sub-Licensee,
or the WM Parent or any other Associate standing from time-to-time between
the Sub-Licensee and the WM Parent (collectively “Group”) representing 15%
or more of (A) the outstanding shares of common stock of any member of the
Group; or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities
of any member of the Group;
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3
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(ii)
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as
a result of a transaction or arrangement effected after the Effective
Date, any two or more persons (with “person” as defined above and subject
to the trustee/fiduciary exception above) intentionally acting together;
or, acting with the intention or effect that they will or
do:
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a.
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combine
their voting and other activity in relation to any member of the Group to
the effect that such combination controls, directly or indirectly,
securities of such Group Member representing 15% or more of (A) the
outstanding shares of common stock of such Group member, or (B) the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such Group
member; or,
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b.
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collectively,
become the “beneficial owners” (as defined above), directly or indirectly,
of securities of such Group Member representing 15% or more of (A) the
outstanding shares of common stock of such Group member, or (B) the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such Group
member;
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(iii)
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any
member of the Group is subject to a merger or consolidation, or series of
related transactions (“Event”), which results in the voting securities of
the Group member outstanding immediately prior to the Event ceasing to
represent at least thirty (30%) percent of the combined voting power of
the voting securities of such Group member or any surviving or other
entity outstanding immediately after the
Event;
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(iv)
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the
sale or disposition of the legal or beneficial title to all, or
substantially all, of the assets of the Group; or, consummation of any
transaction, or series of related transactions, having the same or similar
effect;
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(v)
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there
occurs a change in the composition of the Board of Directors of the
Sub-Licensee or any other member of the Group within a two-year period
from the Effective Date, as a result of which and after such change, fewer
than a majority of the directors of such entity are the same as the
incumbent directors as at the Effective
Date;
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4
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(vi)
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the
dissolution or liquidation of the Sub-Licensee or any other member of the
Group; or,
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(vii)
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any
transaction or series of related transactions that has the substantial
effect of any one or more of the
foregoing.
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(d)
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“Effective
Date” means 30th
September, 2010;
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(e)
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“Gross
Receipts” means the greater of: (i) the total gross sales price charged by
the Sub-Licensee for the Product sold by or for the Sub-Licensee in the
relevant period; or, (ii) in respect of any relevant period, the weekly
price of sponge titanium, as published on the Internet by Xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
at xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx,
for the week in which the relevant sale is made, multiplied by the amount
of the Product sold, by or for the Sub-Licensee, or, if such service is
not available, as computed by a similar recognized quotation
service.
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(f)
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“Improvement”
means any change in, development of or improvement and/or modification to
the Know-how and/or the Process (whether patentable or not) including
(without limitation) any change, development, improvement or modification
which makes the Process more efficient or adaptable made or acquired by
the;
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(i)
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Sub-Licensee
or any sub-sub-licensee (the “Licensee’s Improvements”);
or
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(ii)
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Licensor,
otherwise than as a Licensee’s Improvement (the “Licensor’s
Improvements”), to the extent the Licensor is free to license the same in
accordance with the terms of this
Agreement;
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(g)
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“Intellectual
Property” means all registered designs and applications and the right to
apply for any of them in any country of the world, design rights,
copyright (including any copyright subsisting in any computer software,
including source codes) and typographical rights, database rights, and any
other intellectual property right subsisting in any country in the world
but excluding patents or patent applications (including the Patent
Application) and trade marks or equivalent
rights;
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(h)
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“Intellectual
Property Rights” means the legal and equitable rights to exploit the
Intellectual Property and Know-how solely in connection with titanium
metal;
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(i)
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“Know-how”
means all , know-how, designs, plans, specifications, calculations,
formulae, process information, research papers, samples, feedstock
materials, technical information, knowledge and data relating to the
Process or the Products and the manufacture thereof in the possession of
the Licensor as at the date of this Agreement and which it may lawfully
communicate to the
Sub-Licensee;
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5
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(j)
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“Master
License” means the license granted to the Licensor by Master Licensor
pursuant to the agreement dated 15 September, 2010, between such
parties.
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(k)
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“Master
Licensor” means Chinuka Limited, a private U.K.
company.
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(l)
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“Milestone”
means the milestones set out in Schedule
2;
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(m)
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“Party”
means the Licensor or the Sub-Licensee as appropriate and “Parties” means
the Licensor and the Sub-Licensee;
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(n)
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“Patent
Applications” means the patent applications identified in Schedule 1,
together with all other applications for patents based on those
applications;
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(o)
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“Process”
means the process of electrolytic extraction of titanium concentrate or
any alloys to produce sponge titanium metal as set forth in the Patent
Applications;
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(p)
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“Product”
means sponge titanium metal or any associated titanium alloys as well as
any other materials produced from the Technology from titanium metal;
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(q)
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“Project”
means the Cerro Xxxxxx titanium mining project of the WM Parent located in
Chile;
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(r)
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“sale”
means a sale or any other transaction by which the owner of goods or
rights parts with possession of them, and “sell” shall have a cognate
meaning;
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(s)
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“Technology”
means the Intellectual Property Rights and Process as licensed to the
Sub-Licensee hereunder together with any Improvements licensed by the
Licensor to the Sub-Licensee
hereunder;
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(t)
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“Term”
means the period from the Effective Date until termination of this
Agreement in accordance with Clauses 21 or 22;
and
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(u)
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“University”
means the University of Cambridge,
England.
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1.2
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References
to “all reasonable endeavours” shall mean to use all such reasonable
efforts as a prudent reasonable person in the position of the party in
question, and anxious in their own interests (and for these purposes it
shall be deemed to be that party’s own interests so to achieve that
objective), to achieve the objective in question, would
use;
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1.3
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References
to clauses and schedules are to the clauses hereof and the schedules
hereto;
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1.4
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Words
importing the masculine, feminine or neuter genders include the other
genders;
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6
1.5
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Words
in the singular include the plural and vice
versa;
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1.6
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References
to individuals shall include firms and corporations and vice versa;
and
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1.7
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A
reference to a statute or statutory provision includes any statute or
statutory provision which modifies, consolidates, re-enacts or supersedes
it.
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2
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TECHNOLOGY
SUB-LICENSE
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2.1
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The
Licensor hereby grants to the Sub-Licensee subject to the provisions of
this Agreement, the non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable right
and license to use, apply, exercise, or otherwise exploit the Technology
in connection with and for the manufacture of the Product created from,
and only from, the Project.
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2.2
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The
Licensor hereby grants to the Sub-Licensee subject to the provisions of
this Agreement the non-exclusive limited license to the use of the
“Chinuka” name and any related
logo.
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2.3
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During
the Term, the Sub-Licensee shall not, without the prior, written consent
of the Licensor (such consent not to be withheld or delayed unreasonably)
grant to any other person a license or other right to do anything
specified within Clauses 2.1 and 2.2
above.
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3
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[RESERVED]
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4
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EXPLOITATION -
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
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4.1
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The
Sub-Licensee agrees to use all reasonable endeavours to use the Technology
to produce and sell Product from the Project for cash consideration and to
exploit the rights granted in respect of the Technology on the
Project;
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4.2
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The
Sub-Licensee shall report at the same time as the Royalty Statement (as
defined in and required by Clause 7.1) at least once every 3 (three)
months, and otherwise when reasonably requested, on the steps which have
been and are being taken to exploit the Technology as required by this
Agreement, together with the Sub-Licensee’s plans for other or further
exploitation of the Technology, and showing that it is complying with its
obligation under Clause 4.1.
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4.3
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The
Sub-Licensee shall not, in whole or part and whether in law or equity,
assign; or otherwise transfer; or, otherwise distance itself from, its
legal and/or equitable rights in the Technology granted
hereby.
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7
[Material
marked with an asterisk has
been
omitted from this document pursuant
to
a request for confidential treatment and
has
been filed separately with the
Securities
and Exchange
Commission.]
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4.4
|
This
Agreement shall be subject to all provisions of the Master License
affecting sub-licenses granted pursuant to the Master
License. Sub-Licensee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the
Master License and agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the terms and
provisions of the Master License in accordance with the provisions of
Clause 17 below.
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4.5
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Sub-Licensee
shall not do anything which does, will or reasonably might put the
Licensor into breach of the Master License and the Sub-Licensee shall, at
Licensor’s request indemnify and hold harmless Licensor
accordingly.
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4.6
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If
there is any conflict or discrepancy between the terms of this Agreement
and the terms of the Master License, then the terms of the Master License
shall prevail.
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5
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[RESERVED]
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6
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ROYALTIES
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6.1
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The
Sub-Licensee shall pay as a royalty to the Licensor *% (* percent) of
Gross Receipts generated from the Project after the end of the first
Calendar Quarter following the Effective
Date.
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6.2
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The
Sub-Licensee shall pay an initial royalty to the Licensor of 4,000,000
shares of common stock of WM Parent to be held and disbursed in accordance
with the term and conditions of the Escrow Deed set forth in Schedule
3.
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7. ROYALTY
STATEMENTS,
PAYMENTS, AND AUDIT
7.1
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[Reserved]
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7.2
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Sub-Licensee
shall deliver to Licensor, at its offices in Hong Kong, or to such other
address as Licensor may direct, on or before the 15th (fifteenth)
day following the end of each Calendar Quarter during the Term and on the
fifteenth (15th)
day of the month following termination or expiration of this Agreement, a
complete and accurate statement (the “Royalty Statement”) of
the amount of Product produced from the Project for the immediately
preceding Calendar Quarter, or portion thereof, during the Term (the
“Royalty
Period”).
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8
The
Royalty Statement shall also: (i) show the amount (if any) of royalty earned and
payable by the Licensor in the Royalty Period; and (ii) be certified as accurate
by an officer of Sub-Licensee and shall include such additional information as
Licensor may from time to time reasonably request. The Royalty
Statement shall be furnished to Licensor whether or not any Product was produced
during the Royalty Period, and whether or not royalties have been earned by
Licensor during the Royalty Period. Royalty Statements shall be in a
form reasonably acceptable to Licensor.
7.3
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Royalty
payments shall become due when the Sub-Licensee has been paid for the
Product upon which the royalty has been earned. The amount
shown in each Royalty Statement as being due to the Licensor shall be paid
simultaneously with the submission of the Royalty
Statement. All amounts payable to Licensor by Sub-Licensee
shall be submitted to the Licensor’s
order.
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7.4
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The
receipt and/or acceptance by Licensor of any Royalty Statements or
royalties paid hereunder to Licensor, or the cashing of any royalty checks
paid hereunder, shall not preclude Licensor from questioning the
correctness of the Royalty Statement or the amounts paid; provided that
Sub-Licensee is notified in writing within 30 (thirty) business days
following the issuance of the Royalty Statement by Sub-Licensee or receipt
of the royalty payment by Licensor, whichever shall be
later. In the event that any inconsistencies or mistakes are
discovered in the Royalty Statements or payments, and Sub-Licensee is duly
notified, they shall immediately be rectified by Sub-Licensee and the
appropriate payment shall be made by Sub-Licensee. In the event
Sub-Licensee shall discover a mistake resulting in an overpayment in any
Royalty Statement, it shall be allowed to offset such amount in the next
Royalty Statement and payment made to
Licensor.
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7.5
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All
cash payments made hereunder shall be in U.S. Dollars unless otherwise
specifically agreed upon by the
Parties.
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7.6
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Interest
at a rate of 8% (eight percent) per annum shall accrue on any amount due
to the Licensor hereunder from and after the date upon which the
payment is due and payable until the date of receipt of
payment. The same interest rate shall apply to any amount due
from the Licensor to the Sub-Licensee
hereunder.
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7.7
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Sub-Licensee
agrees to keep accurate books of account and records at its principal
place of business covering all transactions relating to the license
granted herein and pertaining to the items required to be shown in the
Royalty Statements to be submitted pursuant hereto, including without
limitation, invoices, correspondence, banking, financial, and other
records (“Records”). Licensor and its duly authorized
representatives shall have the right, upon 5 (five) days’ written notice,
during normal business hours, to audit such Records and to make
copies and extracts thereof. Such audit shall be for the sole
purpose of determining whether and to what extent all royalties have been
paid, in full and as and when payable under this Agreement. In
the event that any such audit reveals an underpayment by Sub-Licensee,
Sub-Licensee shall within 30 (thirty) days after receiving written notice
from Licensor, and provided that Sub-Licensee has not then raised a bon
fide objection to such finding, remit payment to Licensor in the amount of
such underpayment, plus interest calculated from the date such payment(s)
were actually due until the date such payment is actually
made. In the event that any such underpayment is greater than
one hundred thousand Dollars ($100,000), Sub-Licensee shall reimburse
Licensor for the reasonable costs and expenses of such audit, up to a
total of $25,000, inclusive of VAT. In the event such audit
shall reveal a mistake resulting in an overpayment in any royalty payment,
Sub-Licensee shall be allowed to offset such amount in the next Royalty
Statement and payment made to Licensor. Following such an
audit, any disagreement by either Party as to the amount owed shall be
resolved by arbitration as set forth in Clause 30
hereof.
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9
7.8
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Unless
fraud is alleged, the Licensor may only conduct one audit of Records in
any twelve month period.
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7.9
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All
Records shall be retained by Sub-Licensee for at least 6 (six) years; and,
the final audit of Records may be conducted by or for the Licensor at any
time within 1 (one) year after the expiration or termination of this
Agreement.
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8
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[RESERVED]
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9
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DISCLOSURE OF
TECHNOLOGY
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9.1
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To
the extent that, at the Effective Date, the Process and Technology have
not been fully disclosed to the Sub-Licensee, the Licensor shall disclose
the same to Sub-Licensee as soon as reasonably practicable after the
Effective Date.
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9.2
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The
Licensor shall respond promptly to all requests for an explanation or
clarification relating to information disclosed under Clause 9.1. The
Sub-Licensee hereby agrees to exercise any such requests reasonably and,
unless exceptionally necessary, not more than 4 (four) times in any one
year.
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9.3
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The
Sub-Licensee hereby acknowledges that any information or data forming the
whole or part of the Technology which has been obtained by it prior to the
Effective Date and identified in accordance with Clause 16.3 shall be
deemed to have been furnished under the provisions of this
Agreement.
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10
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COSTS &
EXPENSES
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10.1
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Each
of the Parties shall be responsible for its own costs and expenses in
connection with the negotiation and formation of this
Agreement.
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10
11
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MARKING
|
11.1
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The
Sub-Licensee shall identify the Process in all publicity and promotional
material as the “Chinuka Titanium Metal Process” or such other names
acceptable to the Licensor, and shall, where appropriate in promotional
material, include a reasonably prominent reference to the process being
invented at the University.
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11.2
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All
goodwill and other rights in the name referred to in Clause 11.1 or such
other names as may be adopted by agreement between the Parties shall vest
in the Licensor and to the extent any such rights may be acquired by the
Sub-Licensee, the Sub-Licensee shall hold the same in trust for the
Licensor and shall, at the Licensor’s request and cost, execute such
assignment or other document, instrument or transfer as the Licensor may
require in order to vest in it absolutely all such
rights.
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11.3
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The
Sub-Licensee shall xxxx with such patent markings as may be desirable for
assuring or enhancing the patent protection afforded to the
Technology.
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12 EXCHANGE OF FUTURE
TECHNOLOGY
12.1
|
The
Licensor and the Sub-Licensee undertake that they will promptly disclose
to the other any Improvements arising at any time until the end of the
Term. To the extent any Improvement is acquired by either Party from a
third party, the obligations under this Clause 12 shall be subject to any
restrictions imposed by such third party on use, or disposal, or otherwise
in relation to such Improvement.
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12.2
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The
Sub-Licensee shall have an exclusive license during the Term to develop,
operate, use, apply, exercise or otherwise exploit the Licensor’s
Improvements in or as part of carrying out the
Process.
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12.3
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The
Licensor shall have a non-exclusive, royalty free license during the Term
to use the Sub-Licensee’s Improvements to which Clause 12.1 applies for
the purpose of research carried out by or in conjunction with the any
academic institution(s).
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12.4
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The
Licensor shall, in addition, have a non-exclusive license during the Term,
to use and exploit the Sub-Licensee’s Improvements during the Term and
thereafter in application with any other metal not covered by the license
granted pursuant to this Agreement. The Licensor’s license shall
be
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12.4.1
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royalty
free in respect of any Improvement during the Term;
and
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11
[Material
marked with an asterisk has been
omitted
from this document pursuant to a
request
for confidential treatment and has
been
filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange
Commission.]
|
12.4.2 following
the end of the Term, subject to payment of:
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(i)
|
*%
(*percent) of the royalty or other payments received by the Licensor in
connection with the use, in whole or part, of such Improvement,
and
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(ii)
|
a
reasonable royalty for the Licensor’s own use pursuant to this license in
respect of any Improvement.
|
In the
event of any dispute as to the amount received by the Licensor which is
attributable to an Improvement, or the amount of any reasonable royalty, the
matter shall be settled in accordance with Clause 31.
12.5
|
In
relation to any Improvements exchanged hereunder which may be susceptible
of patent or like registered protection, each Party shall: (i) promptly
inform the other and keep informed in writing all of the things done by it
to obtain such patent protection; and, (ii) not abandon or cease to
maintain any application or patent relating to any Improvement or
authorise any sub-sub-licensee to do so without giving the other at least
one month’s prior written notice of any intention to do so or such lesser
notice as circumstances outside the control of the Party, and if such
notice is given, shall at the written request of the other maintain any
such application or patent at the expense of the other upon terms to be
agreed by the Parties in writing. The Parties undertake to negotiate such
terms without delay and on a reasonable and fair commercial
basis.
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13
|
WARRANTIES
|
13.1
|
(a)
The Licensor warrants that as at the Effective Date, it does not know
(having made reasonable enquiry) of any litigation or adverse claims,
whether instigated or threatened, concerning the Technology; and, does not
know (having made reasonable enquiry) of any circumstances which will, or
are likely to, give rise to any such litigation or
claims.
|
(b) The
Licensor warrants that the Technology does not, and during the Term shall not,
infringe the intellectual property, or other, rights of any third party; and,
without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, further warrants that the
Process can be used during the Term, without causing or creating any such
infringement, for the electrolytic extraction of titanium concentrate to produce
sponge titanium metal. This warranty shall be deemed given by the
Licensor to the Sub-Licensee in respect of each Improvement, as at the date on
which such Improvement is delivered to the Sub-Licensee.
12
(c) The
Licensor does not warrant that the use of the Technology in conjunction with any
other technology will not, as a result of such combination, infringe the
intellectual property or other rights of any third party.
(d) The
Licensor does not warrant the nature, quality or quantity of Products produced
using the Technology, either alone or in combination with other
technology.
(e) The
Licensor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Licensee and its Associates
against any and all claims made against the Sub-Licensee and/or its Associates
to the extent that such claims arise from or as a result of breach of the
foregoing warranties, or any of them.
13.2
|
The
Licensor further warrants to the Sub-Licensee
that:
|
13.2.1
|
it
has full power and authority under its constitution and has taken all
necessary action and has obtained all authorisations, consents and
approvals to execute and perform this
Agreement;
|
13.2.2
|
the
supply of the Technology hereunder and the use of the Technology in the
form in which it is supplied does not infringe the copyright or rights in
confidential information of any third
party;
|
13.2.3
|
it
has not charged or otherwise encumbered any of the Technology;
and
|
13.2.4
|
the
Licensor has not disclosed any substantial or material part of the
Technology other than in confidence pursuant to a written confidentiality
agreement or to a Patent Office in pursuance of a patent
application.
|
13.2.5
|
the
Patent Applications are free from all liens, charges or other interests or
encumbrances;
|
13.2.6
|
the
Licensor has not, prior to the Effective Date, entered into any agreement,
arrangement, joint venture, collaborative project or other dealing
whatsoever with any other person or body which would prevent it from
lawfully granting the license
hereunder;
|
13.2.7
|
as
of the Effective Date
|
|
(i)
|
the
Master License is in full force and effect and there are no known grounds
upon which it may be terminated or otherwise materially changed to the
detriment of the Sub-Licensee;
|
|
(ii)
|
the
Master Licensor is the sole applicant for the Patent
Applications;
|
13
(ii)
|
such
Patent Applications are still
subsisting;
|
|
(iii)
|
such
Patent Applications are not subject to any formal opposition proceedings
in any patent office;
|
|
(iv)
|
all
relevant renewal or other fees in respect of such Patent Applications have
been paid on their respective due dates for
payment;
|
|
(v)
|
to
the best of the Licensor’s knowledge and belief, neither the Licensor nor
the Master Licensor has done or omitted to do, or is aware of, any act by
it that will prevent the patents being granted on such Patent
Applications; and,
|
|
(vi)
|
all
costs, fees and other charges required for the maintenance and protection
of any patents derived from the Patent Applications and/or the Technology
shall be paid by the Licensor.
|
14
|
ENFORCEMENT OF
RIGHTS
|
14.1
|
Each
Party shall inform the other Party promptly if it becomes aware of any
infringement or potential infringement of the Patent Applications or any
resulting patent, Intellectual Property or other rights in or over the
Technology.
|
14.2
|
The
Licensor shall take all necessary legal or other action against any third
party to prosecute, enforce and maintain the Patent Applications and all
patents resulting from the Patent Applications, and the Technology at its
sole expense.
|
14.3
|
The
Sub-Licensee shall agree to be joined in and to provide all reasonable
assistance in relation to any such legal action subject to being
indemnified and secured in a reasonable manner as to any costs, damages,
expenses or other liability and shall have the right to be separately
represented by its own counsel at its own
expense.
|
14.4
|
Before
starting legal action in accordance with Clause 14.2 or agreeing to any
settlement, the Licensor shall consult the Sub-Licensee and shall take
into account the Sub-Licensee’s reasonable requests and
recommendations.
|
15
|
[RESERVED]
|
16
|
PROTECTION AND
OWNERSHIP OF RIGHTS
|
16.1
|
Nothing
herein shall grant any rights, other than as expressly set out in Clauses
2, 5.1, and 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4, in or transfer any rights of ownership in
the Technology to the Sub-Licensee. Ownership of the Technology
and the Patent Applications shall remain vested exclusively in the Master
Licensor.
|
14
16.2
|
Any
Know-how which is disclosed or made available by or on behalf of any
educational institution shall be deemed to have been made available by the
Master Licensor.
|
17
|
CONFIDENTIALITY
|
17.1
|
Each
Party (the “recipient party”) shall keep confidential all business and
trade secrets, methods of doing business, customer lists and other
information and material obtained from the other (the “disclosing party”)
in connection with this Agreement including (without limitation) the
Know-how. Each
Party undertakes not to disclose any such material or information to any
third party other than:
|
17.1.1
|
Sub-licensees;
and
|
17.1.2
|
the
recipient party’s customers or prospective customers for the Products or
prospective sub-sub-licensees who require such disclosure where bona fide
necessary for an evaluation or instruction in the use of the same and who
have first signed a confidentiality agreement in such form as the
disclosing party may reasonably
require.
|
17.2
|
The
recipient party will limit disclosure to the responsible officers and
employees of the recipient party who require such disclosure where bona
fide necessary for the proper performance of their duties and who are
subject to appropriate enforceable obligations of
confidence.
|
17.3
|
The
recipient party undertakes to take all reasonable steps both to minimise
the risk of disclosure of such confidential information by employees and
others and to enforce such confidentiality agreements in case of
need.
|
17.4
|
The
obligations of confidentiality under this Clause 17 shall not apply to any
information or material which the recipient party can prove
was:
|
17.4.1
|
already
known to it prior to its receipt thereof from the disclosing
party;
|
17.4.2
|
subsequently
disclosed to it lawfully by a third party who did not obtain the same
(whether directly or indirectly) from the disclosing
party;
|
17.4.3
|
in
the public domain at the time of receipt by the recipient party or has
subsequently entered into the public domain other than by reason of the
breach of the provisions of this Clause 17 or any obligation of confidence
owed by the recipient party or by Sub-licensees to the disclosing
party;
|
15
17.4.4
|
independently
generated by or for the receiving party by persons having no direct or
indirect access to similar information or material supplied by the
disclosing party. In such a case the receiving party shall, on request
from the disclosing party, provide to the disclosing party or (where the
recipient reasonably objects to disclosure to the disclosing party) to an
independent third party nominated by the disclosing party all information
and documents reasonably required by the disclosing party to satisfy
itself that the development was
independent.
|
18
|
FURTHER
ACTIONS
|
18.1
|
At
any time after the Effective Date the Parties shall, and shall use all
reasonable endeavours to, procure that any necessary third party shall
execute such documents and do such acts and things as the Sub-Licensee may
reasonably require for the purpose of giving to the Sub-Licensee the full
benefit of all the provisions of this
Agreement.
|
18.2
|
Each
Party shall at the request and cost of the other execute any further
documents of a formal nature and do any further acts or things by way of
formalities which may be necessary or desirable to give effect to this
Agreement in any country.
|
19
|
LIABILITY
|
19.1
|
The
Sub-Licensee acknowledges that the Technology is at a development stage.
Save as provided in Clause 13 (Warranties), no warranties express
or implied, whether by statute, custom or usage or otherwise are made in
relation to any information or the performance of any product or process
made hereunder or in accordance with the Technology. Subject to the
warranty given in Clause 13, the Sub-Licensee uses the Technology at its
own risk.
|
19.2
|
Save
as provided in Clause 13, the Licensor shall not be liable for any loss or
damage of whatsoever nature and howsoever caused arising out of the use of
any information or data by or with the authority of the Sub-Licensee, or
the provision by the Licensor of any services (whether as advice,
information or articles or otherwise) to the Sub-Licensee hereunder and
the Sub-Licensee shall indemnify the Licensor against and hold it harmless
in respect of any claim or action made or taken against the Licensor in
respect thereof.
|
19.3
|
Except
for liability arising under the warranties given in Clause 13, under no
circumstances shall the Licensor be liable for any indirect, special or
consequential loss, or for any loss of profits, revenue or reputation,
arising out of or in connection with the use, by the Sub-Licensee of any
information or designs provided by or on behalf of the Licensor
hereunder.
|
19.4
|
Except
for liability arising under the warranties given in Clause 13, under no
circumstances shall the aggregate liability of the Licensor to the
Sub-Licensee for any loss or damage howsoever caused under or in
connection with this Agreement exceed in the aggregate
$400,000.
|
16
19.5
|
Nothing
in this Clause 19 shall exclude any liability of the Licensor in respect
of any personal injury or death resulting from the Licensor’s negligence;
and, nothing in this Clause 19 shall exclude or limit any liability of the
Licensor for any fraudulent
misrepresentation.
|
19.6
|
The
exclusion of liabi1ity and indemnity in this Clause 19 and Clause 20 are
entered into on behalf of and shall also apply in favour of any persons
involved in the development of the Process, and the Licensor holds the
benefit of these provisions, so far as applicable to them, in trust for
each such person.
|
19.7
|
The
provisions of Clauses 19.2 and 19.6 and Clause 20 shall apply (mutatis
mutandis) for the benefit of the Sub-Licensee in relation to any
Improvements made available to the Licensor
hereunder.
|
19.8
|
In
this Agreement, where one Party undertakes to indemnify the other
the:
|
19.8.1
|
indemnified
Party shall notify the indemnifier as soon as possible after it becomes
aware of a claim by a third party, or some other act or circumstance which
may give rise to a claim under the indemnity, and shall keep the
indemnifier fully informed of any developments in relation to such a
claim, act or circumstance; and
|
19.8.2
|
indemnity
shall be conditional on the indemnified Party (i) defending, settling and
otherwise dealing with the claim, act or circumstance as the indemnifier
shall reasonably direct (including lending its name, subject to sufficient
security for any liability it may incur) to any proceedings and (ii)
making no admission of liability or otherwise without the prior written
consent of the indemnifier.
|
19.9
|
Nothing
in this Clause 19 shall excuse the Licensor or Sub-Licensee from
performance of any of its obligations under this
Agreement.
|
19.10
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision to the contrary, the Parties expressly waive any claim
or action either may have against the University arising out of use or
exploitation of the Technology and any loss, damage or expense whatsoever
which either Party may suffer or incur through the use or exploitation of
the Technology. The University shall have the right to enforce
the provisions of this Clause
19.10.
|
20
|
INDEMNITY
|
20.1
|
Sub-Licensee
shall indemnify and hold harmless Licensor and its Associates against any
and all claims, of whatsoever nature which are made against Licensor
and/or its Associates and which arise from any act or omission by
Sub-Licensee, or its Associates or its or their contractors and
sub-contractors, in the course of producing (or attempting or preparing to
produce), selling or otherwise dealing with
Product.
|
17
21
|
TERM
|
21.1.1
|
This
Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until
terminated according to Clause 22.
|
22
|
TERMINATION
|
22.1
|
This
Agreement may be terminated forthwith by either Party (the “first party”)
by written notice to the other in the event of one or more of the
following if the other:
|
22.1.1
|
goes
into liquidation (other than voluntary liquidation for the purpose of a
bona fide reconstruction or amalgamation the terms of which have been
approved in advance by the first party in writing) or is dissolved or
struck off;
|
22.1.2
|
is
unable to pay its debts as they mature or suffers the appointment of a
receiver, administrative receiver or administrator (or any similar
official or process under the law of its domicile or place of
incorporation) of the whole or any part of its assets or is the subject of
any insolvency proceedings; or
|
22.1.3
|
is
in material breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement and fails to
remedy such breach (where it is capable of being remedied) within 60
(sixty) days of a notice from the first party so to
do.
|
22.2
|
This
Agreement may be terminated forthwith by the Licensor by written notice to
the Sub-Licensee if:
|
(a) there
is a Change of Control; or,
(b) the
Sub-Licensee disposes of all, or substantially all, of its business and/or
assets to any person, firm or corporation,
In each
case, otherwise than with the prior written approval of the Licensor, with such
approval not to be withheld or delayed unreasonably.
In each
case, the termination shall be effective upon delivery of a written termination
notice from the Licensor to the Sub-Licensee.
22.3
|
This
Agreement may be terminated forthwith by Licensor by written notice to the
Sub-Licensee in the event that the Milestones are not completed as set
forth in Schedule 2. The termination shall be effective upon
delivery of the written
notice.
|
18
22.4
|
Termination
of this Agreement shall be without prejudice to any rights of either Party
which may have accrued up to the date of such termination and the rights
to terminate this Agreement are not intended to be exclusive but shall be
in addition to every other remedy or right now or hereafter existing
including the right to recover damages and to a decree requiring any
appropriate performance required by this
Agreement.
|
22.5
|
Subject
to Clause 23, in the event of termination of this Agreement for whatever
cause, neither the Sub-Licensee nor any liquidator, administrator or
administrative receiver thereof shall have any right whatsoever to use,
assign, license or otherwise deal in the Technology, the Licensor’s
Improvements or any of the rights granted to the Sub-Licensee by this
Agreement.
|
23
|
CONSEQUENCES OF
TERMINATION
|
23.1
|
Upon
termination of this Agreement either by the Licensor, or at the end of the
Term, the Sub-Licensee and Licensor shall respectively return to the other
all samples, designs, plans, specifications, research papers, drawings,
technical documents and other Know-how in tangible form supplied to it by
the other or by its Associates and all copies thereof in its or, in the
case of the Sub-Licensee, any of the Sub-Licensee’s Associates’
possession, power or custody or in that of any sub-contractor or
Sub-licensee (but subject to any rights (including rights of
sub-sub-licensees) preserved pursuant to this Agreement.
|
23.2
|
If
this Agreement is terminated by the Sub-Licensee under Clause 22.1 then,
without prejudice to the respective rights of the Parties, unless the
Sub-Licensee gives notice to the contrary within the 30 days after the
effective date of such termination, the license granted by this Agreement
shall not terminate and this Agreement shall be deemed assigned and shall
be novated, with effect on and from the effective date of such
termination, by the Licensor to the Master Licensor. All royalties or
other license payments due hereunder to Licensor shall thereafter be
payable to Master Licensor.
|
23.2
|
In
the event the Master License is terminated, the license granted hereunder
shall continue and this Agreement shall be deemed novated in favour of the
Master Licensor and all royalties or other license payments due under this
Agreement in relation to periods starting on or after the effective date
of termination of the Master License, shall then be payable to, and paid
to, the Master Licensor. Any and all costs incurred by
the Sub-Licensee in connection with any such novation shall be paid by the
Licensor and the Sub-Licensee may deduct such costs from any amounts
otherwise due from the Sub-Licensee to the Licensor, whether under this
Agreement or otherwise.
|
23.3
|
Termination
of this Agreement or the Master License shall not affect the Parties’
rights or obligations under any of Clauses 13, 17, 18, 19, 23, and 30, or
any other provisions of this Agreement which expressly or by their nature
or effect are intended to continue beyond
termination.
|
19
24
|
NOTICES
|
24.1
|
All
notices to be given under this Agreement shall be delivered by hand, or
sent in writing by first class registered or recorded delivery mail, or
fax to the appropriate address shown at the head of this Agreement or to
such other address as the Party concerned shall from time to time
designate by notice pursuant hereto. Any such notices on the third working
day after the same shall have been properly posted; or in the case of hand
delivery, e-mail delivery on the day of delivery; or, in case of delivery
by fax on the first such working day after the day of transmission by the
fax operator provided that in the case of fax transmission the
transmitting fax machine generates upon completion of the transmission a
transmission report stating that the notice has been duly transmitted
without error to the addressee’s fax number, and a copy of such notice is
posted to or delivered to the address of the party concerned in accordance
with this Clause.
|
25
|
ASSIGNMENT AND
SUBLICENSING AND THIRD PARTY
RIGHTS
|
25.1
|
The
Sub-Licensee shall not, in whole or in part and whether in law or equity,
assign, sub-license, charge, sub-contract or otherwise dispose of any of
its rights or obligations under this
Agreement.
|
25.2
|
Except
for the rights granted the University, as provided in Clause 19.10 above,
this Agreement may not be enforced by any person who is not a Party and,
subject thereto, the Parties confirm that this Agreement is not intended
to confer any benefit on any person which may be enforced by that person
unless they are a Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing exception, this
Agreement may be varied by the Parties in accordance with its terms
without the consent of any person who is not a Party. Subject to the
foregoing, the rights granted to third parties under the Contracts (Rights
of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 are hereby excluded to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
|
26
|
WAIVER
|
26.1
|
The
rights of either Party arising out of any provision of this Agreement or
any breach thereof shall not be waived except in writing. Any waiver by
either Party of any of its rights under this Agreement or of any breach of
this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any other rights or
of any other or further
breach.
|
20
27
|
AMENDMENTS
|
27.1
|
This
Agreement may not be amended except by an agreement in writing signed by
both Parties.
|
28
|
ENTIRE
AGREEMENT
|
28.1
|
This
Agreement shall supersede all previous agreements and arrangements between
the Licensor and the Sub-Licensee or their respective predecessors
relating to the subject matter hereof, and in so far as they or some of
them may still be of effect are hereby declared to have been superseded by
this Agreement without claim for compensation or otherwise by either Party
but without prejudice to any rights or liabilities accrued before the date
hereof.
|
29
|
SEVERABILITY
|
29.1
|
All
agreements and covenants contained herein are severable and in the event
of any of them being held to be invalid by any competent court, this
Agreement shall be interpreted as if such invalid agreements or covenants
were not contained herein.
|
29.2
|
In
such event the Parties will negotiate in good faith to substitute a
provision which has an effect as close to that of the provision omitted as
is lawful or valid. If, in relation to any provision which goes to the
substance of the this Agreement, the Parties are not able to reach
agreement after negotiation in good faith, either Party shall be entitled
to terminate this Agreement on written notice to the
other.
|
30
|
LAW
|
30.1
|
This
Agreement shall be interpreted and the rights and liabilities of the
Parties shall be determined in accordance with the laws of England and the
parties agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English
Courts.
|
30.2
|
In
the event of a dispute or difference arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement (other than a dispute or difference subject to expert
determination), the Parties shall first use all reasonable endeavours to
resolve the dispute or difference by mutual negotiation. If the Parties
cannot settle the dispute or difference by the above means, then either
Party shall have a right to give one month’s written notice that the
matter shall be referred to alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) under
the supervision of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution of Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx, 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX0X 0XX (“CEDR”), and the other Party
shall not unreasonably refuse to co-operate in making such a
reference.
|
30.3
|
ADR
shall be conducted using a sole mediator (“Neutral”) in or substantially
in accordance with CEDR’s recommended agreement for the time being in use.
The Neutral should be a CEDR accredited mediator agreed between the
Parties, or in default of agreement within 14 (fourteen) days of notice of
either Party calling upon the other to engage in ADR, appointed by
CEDR.
|
21
30.4
|
The
Parties agree to co-operate fully and promptly and in good faith with CEDR
or the Neutral in the performance of their obligations under this Clause
including without limitation the doing of all such acts and the signing of
all such documents as CEDR or the Neutral may reasonably require to give
effect hereto, including, without limitation, CEDR’s relevant agreement
for the time being.
|
30.5
|
ADR
shall commence by either Party serving on the other written notice (“ADR
Notice”) setting out in summary form the issues in dispute and calling
upon that other Party to join in an approach to CEDR for the appointment
of the Neutral.
|
30.6
|
Unless
agreed otherwise in the course of the procedure each Party shall bear its
own costs of ADR.
|
30.7
|
If
and to the extent that after engaging in good faith in ADR the Parties do
not resolve the matters in dispute or any of them, all matters remaining
in dispute or difference shall be referred to the
Courts.
|
30.8
|
Either
Party before or during any dispute resolution proceedings may apply to a
court having jurisdiction for a temporary restraining order or preliminary
injunction where such relief is necessary to protect its interests pending
completion of the dispute resolution proceedings. The dispute resolution
procedure shall not be required for actions for breach of confidentiality
or enforcement of intellectual property rights and the Parties may bring
such actions in any relevant court.
|
31
|
CONDUCT UNDER THE
AGREEMENT
|
31.1
|
Each
Party agrees that it will at all times act in good faith to the other in
relation to any matter arising under or in connection with this
Agreement.
|
32
|
FORCE
MAJEURE
|
32.1
|
If
the performance of this Agreement by a Party (“Affected Party”) is
prevented, delayed or otherwise impeded by any event or circumstance; or
any series or combination of events and/or circumstances, which reasonably
is, or was, outside the control of the Affected Party (“Force Majeure”),
then the Affected Party shall not be in breach of this Agreement and such
other Party shall have no rights of claim or action (including the right
to terminate this Agreement) against the Affected Party in connection
therewith.
|
22
32.2
|
In
this Agreement, the term “Force Majeure” shall include, but shall not be
limited to, acts of war (declared or not); acts of terrorism; acts of
government or government agencies; severe weather conditions leading to a
general failure of transport and/or other communication systems; general,
national or regional strikes affecting workers generally or a particular
class or group of workers; earthquakes and other severe, natural
phenomena. Such term shall not include an inability to make
payments as they fall due unless such inability is caused by a material
failure of the banking system in which case the Party making the payment
shall use all reasonable efforts to find an alternative way of making such
payment as promptly as possible.
|
32.3
|
If
performance of any material part of this Agreement is prevented or
materially delayed or otherwise impeded by Force Majeure for a period of
more than 120 consecutive days or more than a cumulative 150 days in any
consecutive 365 days, then either Party shall be free to give notice to
the other Party that, unless full performance of this Agreement is
recommenced within the next following 15 days, then this Agreement shall
be terminated at the end of such 15th
day.
|
23
33
|
HEADINGS
|
33.1
|
The
headings in this Agreement are for reference only and do not limit or
affect the interpretation thereof.
|
AGREED
by the Parties through their authorized signatories:
For
and on behalf of
|
For
and on behalf of
|
|
La
Serena Technologies Limited
|
Sociedad
Contractual Minera White
Mountain
Titanium
|
|
/s/ Xxxxx Flower
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Kurthanjek
|
|
Xxxxx
Flower, Managing Director
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx, President
|
|
September 15, 2010
|
September 15, 2010
|
|
Date
|
Date
|
24
Schedule
1
The
Patent Applications
Name of Invention
|
Patent Applications
Number(s)
|
Filing/Priority Date
|
||
Chinuka
Ltd. “Treatment of Titanium Ores”
|
UK
Patent Application 0913736.5
|
Filing
Date
August
6, 2009
|
||
Chinuka
Ltd. “Treatment of Titanium Ores”
|
International
Patent Application
|
Filing
Date
|
Schedule
2
Milestones
Milestone
|
||
1
|
Within
1,826 days (5 years) after the Effective Date, cumulative expenditure
(capital and/or expense) of $5,000,000 towards the development of the
Technology.
|
|
2
|
Minimum
royalty payments, pursuant to Clause 6.1 of $200,000 per year with the
first of such years starting on and from the day after the 5th
anniversary of the Effective Date.
|
|
3
|
Commercial
production of Product starting in the year beginning on the day after the
9th
anniversary of the Effective Date.
|
Schedule
3
Escrow
Deed
SEE
ATTACHED
25