LICENSE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.51
BETWEEN:
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THE
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, a
corporation continued under the University
Act of
British Columbia with its administrative
offices at 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx,
X0X 0X0
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("UBC")
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AND:
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GLOBAL
HYDROFUEL TECHNOLOGIES INC., a
corporation incorporated
under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, with
a registered office at 1750 - 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, X0X 0X0
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(the
"Licensee")
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WHEREAS:
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A. UBC
has
been engaged in research during the course of which it has invented,
developed
and/or acquired certain technology relating to methods of generating hydrogen
from water,
which research was undertaken by Dr. A.C.D. Chakiader ("Chaklader")
with
contributions
by Xx. Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx ("Xxxxxxxxxx")
in
the
Department of Metals and Materials at
UBC
(collectively, the "Investigators");
B. It
is
UBC's objective to exploit its technology for the public benefit, and to
generate further research in a manner consistent with its status as a
non-profit, tax exempt educational institution;
X. Xxxxxxxxx
is a Emeritus Professor at UBC and is no longer an employee of UBC; and
D. The
Licensee and UBC have agreed to enter into this license on the terms and
conditions
set out in this Agreement.
THE
PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1.0DEFINITIONS:
1.1 In
this
Agreement:
(a)
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"Accounting"
means
an accounting statement setting out in detail how the amount of Revenue
was determined;
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(b)
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"Affiliated
Company' or "Affiliated Companies" means
two or more corporations
where the relationship between them is one in which one of them is
a
subsidiary of the other, or both are subsidiaries of the same corporation,
or fifty percent
(50%) or more of the voting shares of each of them is owned or controlled
by the same person, corporation or other legal
entity;
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(c)
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"Confidential
Information" means
all information, regardless of its
form:
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(i)
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designated
by UBC as confidential, whether orally or in writing, including
without
limitation all information related to the Technology (including all
derived analyses and conclusions) and the terms and conditions of
this
Agreement;
and
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(ii) |
disclosed
by UBC to the Licensee, whether before or after the Start Date,
or
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(iii)
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disclosed
by the Licensee to UBC and which is clearly identified in writing
as
"Confidential" either at the time of disclosure or within thirty
(30) days
thereafter,
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•
except
that "Confidential Information" does not include information:
(iv)
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possessed
by the recipient (the "Recipient") prior to receipt from the disclosing
party (the "Discloser"), other than through prior confidential disclosure
by the Discloser, as evidenced by the Recipient's business
records;
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(v)
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published
or available to the general public otherwise than through a breach
of this
Agreement;
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(vi)
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obtained
by the Recipient from a third party with a valid right to disclose
it,
provided
that the third party is not under a confidentiality obligation to
the
Discloser
in respect of the same; or
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(vii)
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independently
developed by employees, agents or consultants of the Recipient who
had no
knowledge of or access to the Discloser's information as evidenced
by the
Recipient's business records;
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(d) "Effective
Termination Date" the
date
on which this Agreement is terminated under
Article 18;
(e) "First
Use of the Technology" means
the
earlier of either:
(i)
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the
first use by a third party of the Technology or any Improvement,
including
the delivery to a third party or use by a third party of a prototype
which
uses the Technology or Improvements,
or
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(ii)
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the
first sale of a Product,
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in
exchange for valuable consideration;
(f) "Improvements"
collectively
UBC Improvements and Licensee Improvements;
(g)
"Improvement
Revenue": all
revenues, receipts, monies, and the fair market value of any shares or other
securities and all other consideration directly or indirectly collected or
received whether by way of cash, credit or other value received by the Licensee
(but not including any Improvement Sublicensing Revenue)
from the marketing, manufacturing, sale or distribution of the Licensee
Improvements;
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(h)
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"Improvement
Sublicensing Revenue": all
revenues, receipts, monies, and the fair
market value of any shares or other securities and all other consideration
directly
or indirectly collected or received whether by way of cash, credit
or
other value
received by the Licensee from any sublicensees pursuant to each sublicense
or sub-sublicense relating to the Licensee Improvements or any
products
manufactured or provided in connection with the use of all or some
of
the
Licensee Improvements. For greater clarity, it is confirmed that
Improvement Sublicensing
Revenue will include all:
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(i) |
milestone
payments, royalties, license fees, distribution rights;
and
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(ii) |
research
or development fees in excess of the direct reimbursement for the
actual costs of such research and development incurred by the Licensee
pursuant to a written research plan and
agreement,
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received
by the Licensee or any sublicensee from any sublicensee or sub-sublicensee
relating to the Licensee Improvements;
(i)
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"Licensee
Improvements" means improvements, variations, updates, modifications
and enhancements made and/or acquired by the Licensee which relate
to the Technology and which can not be practised without infringing
those
patents
set out in Schedule "A" at any time after the Start
Date;
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(j) |
"Licensee
Technology
Revenue": all
revenues, receipts, monies, and the fair market
value of any shares or other securities and all other consideration
directly or
indirectly collected or received whether by way of cash, credit or
other
value received
by the Licensee (but not including any Licensee Technology Sublicensing
Revenue) from the marketing, manufacturing, sale or distribution
of
Licensee
Technology;
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(k) |
"Licensee
Technology
Sublicensing Revenue": all
revenues, receipts, monies,
and the fair market value of any shares or other securities and all
other
consideration
directly or indirectly collected or received whether by way of cash,
credit
or other value received by the Licensee from any sublicensees pursuant
to
each
sublicense or sub-sublicense relating to the Licensee Technology
or any
products
manufactured or provided in connection with the use of all -or some
of
the
Licensee Technology. For greater clarity, it is confirmed that Improvement
Licensee
Technology Sublicensing Revenue will include
all:
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(i)
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milestone
payments, royalties, license fees, distribution rights;
and
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(ii)
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research
or development fees in excess of the direct reimbursement for the
actual costs of such research and development incurred by the Licensee
pursuant to a written research plan and
agreement,
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received
by the Licensee or any sublicensee from any sublicensee or sub-sublicensee
relating to the Licensee Technology;
(l) |
"Licensee
Technology": means
any technology which is invented, discovered, licensed or acquired
by the
Licensee and which does not relate directly or indirectly
to the Technology or Improvements and which can be practised without
infringing
those patents set out on Schedule
"A";
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(m) |
"Post
Termination Period":means
the period of two (2) years commencing upon
exercise of the Licensee's right to acquire the Technology and UBC
Improvements pursuant to Article
14.3;
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(n) |
"Product(s)"
means
goods or services manufactured or provided in connection with
the use of all or some of the Technology and/or any UBC
Improvements;
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(o) |
"Revenue":
all
revenues, receipts, monies, and the fair market value of any shares
or other securities and all other consideration directly or indirectly
collected
or received whether by way of cash, credit or other value received
by the
Licensee (but not including any Sublicensing Revenue) from the marketing,
manufacturing,
sale or distribution of the Technology and any UBC Improvements,
and/or any Products, less direct sales taxes and customs duties
applied
on the sales of Products;
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(p) |
"Royalty
Due Dates": the
last working day of March, June, September and December of each year
during the term of this Agreement;
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(q) |
"Start
Date" means
February 3
, 2003;
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(r) |
"Sublicensing
Revenue": all
revenues, receipts, monies, and the fair market value
of any shares or other securities and all other consideration directly
or
indirectly collected or received whether by way of cash, credit or
other
value received
by the Licensee from any sublicensees pursuant to each sublicense
or
sub-sublicense
agreement relating to the Technology and any UBC Improvements,
and/or any Products. For greater clarity, it is confirmed that
Sublicensing Revenue will include
all:
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(i) |
milestone
payments, royalties, license fees, distribution rights;
and
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(ii)
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research
or development fees in excess of the direct reimbursement for the
actual costs of such research and development incurred by the Licensee
pursuant to a written research plan and
agreement,
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received
by the Licensee or any sublicensee from any sublicensee or sub-sublicensee
relating to the Technology, Improvements or any Products;
(s) |
"Technology":
all
knowledge, know-how and/or technique or techniques invented,
developed and/or acquired, before the Start Date by UBC relating
to,
and
including, the technology described in Schedule "A" of this Agreement,
as
amended
from time to time, including, without limitation all related research,
data, specifications,
instructions, manuals, papers or other related materials of any
nature
at all, whether written or otherwise, and UBC's Confidential
Information;
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(t) |
"UBC
Improvements" means
improvements, variations, updates, modifications and enhancements
made
and/or acquired by UBC directly relating to the Technology at any
time
after the Start Date; and
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(u) |
"UBC
Trade-marks": any
xxxx, trade-xxxx, service xxxx, logo, insignia, seal, design,
symbol or device used by UBC in any manner at
all.
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2.0PROPERTY
RIGHTS IN AND TO THE TECHNOLOGY:
2.1
The
Licensee acknowledges and agrees that UBC owns all right, title and interest
in
and to
the Technology and all UBC Improvements. UBC agrees that the Licensee shall
own
all
right, title and interest in and to the Licensee Improvements and Licensee
Technology, subject to the provisions of Article 5.
2.2 The
Licensee will, at the request of UBC, sign all documents as may be
required to
ensure
that ownership of the Technology and any UBC Improvements remain with
UBC.
2.3
On
the last working day of June and December of each year during the term of
this
Agreement, the Licensee will give notice to UBC of the details of all
improvements which the
Licensee and any sublicensees of the Licensee have developed and/or acquired
during the previous
six (6) month period.
3.0 GRANT
OF LICENSE:
3.1
Subject to Article 3.4, UBC grants to the Licensee an exclusive world-wide
license
to use and sublicense the Technology and any UBC Improvements and to
manufacture, distribute,
and sell the Products on the terms and conditions set out in this
Agreement.
3.2 The
license granted under this Agreement is granted only to the Licensee
and not
to
any Affiliated Companies.
3.3 The
Licensee will not cross-license the Technology or any Improvements
without the
prior
written consent of UBC.
3.4
The
Licensee acknowledges and agrees that UBC may use the Technology and
any
Improvements without charge in any manner at all for research, scholarly
publication, educational and all other non-commercial uses.
3.5
UBC
will register a financing statement regarding this Agreement under the
Personal
Property Security Act of
British Columbia, the Uniform Commercial Code (U.S.) and/or under
similar legislation in those jurisdictions in which the Licensee carries on
business and/or has
its
chief place of business. The Licensee will pay the sum of $500.00 on account
of
the costs associated with such registrations.
3.6
The
Licensee will give notice to UBC if it is carrying on business and/or locates
its
chief
place of business in a jurisdiction outside British Columbia before starting
business in that
other jurisdiction. If UBC has registered a financing statement under Article
3.5 and provides
the Licensee with notice of same, the Licensee will file within fifteen (15)
days of any change
in
jurisdiction, the appropriate documents in the Personal Property Registries
or
similar registries
outside of British Columbia to document the change in jurisdiction and will
provide UBC
a
copy of the verification statement regarding each filing within fifteen (15)
days after receiving the verification statement. The Licensee will pay for
all
costs associated with the registrations under this Article 3.6.
4.0
SUBLICENSING:
4.1
The
Licensee will not grant sublicenses of the Technology and any UBC Improvements
to Affiliated Companies or other third parties without the prior written consent
of UBC,
which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. After obtaining UBC's consent,
the
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Licensee
will provide UBC with a copy of the proposed sublicense prior to being signed
by
all parties
to the sublicense, which UBC acknowledges shall constitute Confidential
Information.
4.2
Any
sublicense granted by the Licensee will be granted only to the sublicensee
and
cannot be assigned. All sublicenses and sub-sublicenses must contain covenants
by each sublicensee and sub-sublicensee to observe and perform terms and
conditions similar to those contained in this Agreement respecting the
indemnification of UBC, insurance, the treatment of Confidential
Information, and the handling of complaints regarding the alleged infringement
of third
party rights.
4.3
Before executing a sublicense, the Licensee will give notice to UBC of the
jurisdictions
in which the sublicensee is carrying on business. If the Licensee, during the
term of the
sublicense, becomes aware of the sublicensee carrying on business in another
jurisdiction, then the Licensee will give notice to UBC within five (5) days.
If
UBC has registered a financing statement
under Article 3.5, the Licensee will, immediately after executing the
sublicense, register a financing change statement under the Personal
Property Security Act of
British Columbia, the Uniform Commercial Code (U.S.) and/or any similar
legislation in those jurisdictions
in which each sublicensee carries on business and has its chief place of
business to
add
each sublicensee to the registration referred to in Article 3.5, and will
provide UBC with a copy
of
the verification statement within fifteen (15) days after receiving the
verification statement.
If any sublicensee changes the jurisdiction within which it is carrying on
business and/or
the location of its chief place of business, the Licensee will file the
appropriate documents
in the Personal Property Registries or similar registries within or outside
of
Canada to
document the changes in jurisdiction. The Licensee will pay for all costs
associated with the filings
under this Article 4.3.
4.4
If
any sublicense of the Licensee is in material breach of its sublicense with
the
Licensee
and such breach is not cured within sixty (60) days of Licensee's receipt of
notice from UBC
of
same, then Licensee shall terminate any such sublicense.
5.0
ROYALTIES.
EQUITY AND LICENSE FEE:
5.1
In
consideration of the license granted under this Agreement, the Licensee
will pay
to
UBC:
(a) a
royalty
of 1.5% of the Revenue; and
(b) a
royalty
of 10% of the Sublicensing Revenue.
5.2
In
consideration of the license granted under this Agreement, the Licensee
will pay
to
UBC:
(a) a
royalty
of 0.75% of the Improvement Revenue; and
(b) a
royalty
of 5% of the Improvement Sublicensing Revenue.
5.3
In
consideration of the license granted under this Agreement, the Licensee
will pay
to
UBC:
(a) a
royalty
of 0.25% of the Licensee Technology Revenue; and
(b) a
royalty
of 1.67% of the Licensee Technology Sublicensing Revenue.
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5.4
In
the event that the Licensee uses the Technology and/or UBC Improvements in
combination
with either the Licensee Improvements or the Licensee Technology (the "Combined
Technology"),
the Licensee shall pay to UBC a royalty comprised of:
(a) Technology
and/or UBC Improvements, Licensee Improvements, and Licensee Technology:
(i) 0.83%
of
Revenue, and
(ii) 5.56%
of
Sublicensing Revenue.
(b) Technology
and/or UBC Improvements and Licensee Technology:
(i) 0.88%
of
Revenue, and
(ii) 6.25%
of
Sublicensing Revenue.
(c) Licensee
Improvements and Licensee Technology:
(i) 0.5%
of
Revenue. and
(ii) 3.34%
of
Sublicensing Revenue.
(d) Technology
and/or UBC Improvements and Licensee Improvements:
(i) 1.13%
of
Revenue, and
(ii) 7.5%
of
Sublicensing Revenue.
5.5
The
royalty is due and payable within thirty (30) days of each respective Royalty
Due
Date
and is to be calculated with respect to the Revenue and the Sublicensing Revenue
in the
three
(3) month period immediately before the applicable Royalty Due
Date.
5.6
All
royalties paid by the Licensee to UBC under this Agreement will be in
Canadian
dollars without any reduction or deduction of any nature or kind at all. If
the
Licensee receives any Revenue or Sublicensing Revenue in a currency other than
Canadian dollars, the currency
will be converted to the equivalent in Canadian dollars on the date that any
amount is payable to UBC, at the rate of exchange set by the Bank of Montreal
for buying that currency. The
amount of Canadian dollars resulting from the conversion is to be included
in
Revenue or Sublicensing
Revenue.
5.7
Products are to be deemed to have been sold by the Licensee and included in
the
Revenue when the consideration for the same has been received. The Licensee
is
deemed to
receive Sublicensing Revenue when the consideration has been
received.
5.8
Any
transaction, disposition, or other dealing involving all or part of the
Technology
or any Improvements or Products, between the Licensee and another person that
is
not
made
at fair market value is deemed to have been made at fair market value, and
the
fair 'market
value of the transaction, disposition, or other dealing will be added to and
deemed part of
the
Revenue or the Sublicensing Revenue, as the case may be, and will be included
in
the calculation
of royalties under this Agreement.
5.9
For
a
period of eight (8) years from the Start Date of this Agreement, the Licensee
shall have the right to prepay all royalties due and payable to UBC pursuant
to
Articles
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5.1,
5.2,
5.3 and 5.4 of this Agreement by paying the sum of $7,500,000.00 less all
royalties paid by the Licensee to UBC from the Start Date to the date of such
prepayment (the "Prepayment
Amount"). Upon
receipt by UBC of the Prepayment Amount, all royalties due pursuant
to Articles 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 of this License shall be deemed to be fully
paid for the balance
of the term of this Agreement.
5.10
Equity
(a)
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As
part of the consideration of the rights granted by UBC to the Licensee
hereunder,
the Licensee shall deliver forthwith on execution of this Agreement
to UBC
the number of common voting shares equal to at least eight percent
(8%) of
the
total shares in the capital of the Licensee (the "Shared') issued
and
outstanding
as of the date of execution of this Agreement calculated on the basis
that
all share rights of conversion or of options or warrants have been
exercised so that UBC would have eight percent (8%) on a fully diluted
basis, of the equity of
the Licensee so calculated.
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(b)
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The
Licensee represents that the Shares have a nominal value as of the
date of
this
License Agreement and the Licensee further agrees that UBC will be
transferring
a total of fifty percent (50%) of the Shares to the Investigators
(the
"Investigators'
Shares") and
that it shall undertake such resolutions and record such
transfer as are reasonably required to effect such transfer of shares.
UBC
will
retain fifty percent (50%) of the Shares (the "UBC
Shares").
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5.11
Subject only to Article 5.12, UBC and the Investigators' percentage interest
in
the common
share capital of the Licensee shall not be diluted by the issuance of additional
shares or
new
classes of shares to less than four percent (4%) with respect to the UBC Shares
and four
percent (4%) with respect to the Investigators' Shares. Subject to Article
5.12,
if at any time subsequent
to the execution of this Agreement the Licensee issues shares to any person,
corporation
or other entity, the Licensee shall forthwith issue to UBC and the Investigator,
at a price
of
$0.001 per share, the number of common shares required to keep UBC and the
Investigators'
Shares total percentage of the outstanding share capital of the Licensee at
four
percent
(4%) with respect to the UBC Shares and four percent (4%) with respect to the
Investigators' Shares after the issuance of any new shares.
5.12
The
obligation of the Licensee to deliver additional shares to UBC and the
Investigators
under Article 5.11 shall terminate after the Licensee has received a total
of
more than
$400,000.00 in equity financing for the purchase of its shares subsequent to
the
date of this
Agreement. For greater certainty it is confirmed that UBC and the Investigators
shall be entitled to receive additional shares in accordance with Article 5.11
in connection with any equity
financings undertaken by the Licensee up to and including any equity financing
resulting in
the
achievement by the Licensee of the $400,000.00 threshold. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Licensee agrees that UBC and the Investigators' percentage
interest in the common share capital of the Licensee shall not be diluted to
less than fifty percent (50%) of their original shareholdings up to the date
on
which the Licensee has raised a total of $2,000,000.00
equity investment into the Licensee subsequent to the date of this Agreement.
In
the
event
the UBC Shares and the Investigators' Shares are diluted beyond that permitted
by this
Article, the Licensee shall issue additional shares to UBC and the Investigators
in the manner set out in Article 5.11. For greater certainty, it is confirmed
that UBC and the Investigators shall be entitled to receive additional shares
in
accordance with Article 5.11 in connection
with any equity financing undertaken by the Licensee up to and including any
equity financing
resulting in the achievement by
the
Licensee of the $2,000,000.00 threshold if the
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result
of
such equity financing is that the UBC Share's and the Investigators' Shares
are
diluted to
less
than two percent (2%) each of the then issued and outstanding share capital
of
the Licensee.
By way of example, if the Licensee raises $2,500,000.00 in its first equity
financing then
UBC
and the Investigators will each be protected at the 4% threshold on the first
$400,000.00,
at the 2% threshold (50% of UBC and the Investigators' original shareholdings)
on the
next
$1,600,000.00 and the remaining $500,000.00 will not be subject to Article
5.11
and this
Article 5.12.
5.13
In
consideration of entering into this Agreement and contributing the Technology
and
any
Improvements to the Licensee, the Licensee shall issue to UBC and the
Investigators the
same
class of shares in the capital of the Licensee that are issued by the Licensee
to its founders
(the "Founders'
Shares") under
the
equivalent rights and restrictions attached to such shares. For clarity, the
UBC
Shares and the Investigators' Shares shall in all material respects have
special rights and restrictions identical to the special rights and restrictions
attached to the Founders'
Shares whether such rights are attached to the Founders' Shares or are conferred
under
the
terms of a shareholders' agreement.
5.14
Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, the Licensee will use
commercially
reasonable efforts to cause all of the UBC Shares and the Investigators' Shares
to be
issued
free from any pooling, escrow or other trading restrictions placed on such
shares by the
Licensee. The Licensee acknowledges and agrees that, subject to compliance
with
applicable
securities laws, UBC shall have the right to transfer any or all of the UBC
Shares to a company
or society of which UBC is the sole shareholder in the case of a company or
of
which UBC
controls the membership, in the case of a society and the Licensee shall take
all steps or do
such
acts as may be reasonably required to allow such transfer.
5.15
The
Licensee acknowledges and agrees that it will comply with all applicable
laws
and
legislation with respect to the issuance and any transfer of the UBC Shares
and
the Investigators'
Shares.
5.16
The
UBC Shares and the Investigators' Shares shall be deemed to be fully paid
for
as of
the date of issuance and shall be the absolute property of UBC and the
Investigators, respectively.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, neither all nor any portion of the
UBC
Shares and the Investigators' Shares shall be refundable to the Licensee under
any circumstances.
5.17
Until the Licensee becomes a reporting issuer for equity securities under the
Securities
Act of
British Columbia, or under the applicable securities legislation in any other
jurisdiction which has jurisdiction over the issuance of shares by the
Licensee:
(a)
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the
Licensee shall provide to UBC within twenty (20) days after the last
day
of each
quarter, financial statements, including a balance sheet and a statement
of income
as of the last date of each such quarter, a cumulative statement
of
income
from the first day of the then current year to the last day of such
quarter, and a cumulative cash flow analysis from the first day of
the
then current year to the
last day of the then current year;
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(b)
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the
Licensee shall provide to UBC within ninety (90) days after the end
of
each fiscal year of the Licensee, unaudited financial statements
prepared
pursuant to a
review of engagement by the Licensee's accountants;
and
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(c) |
the
Licensee shall provide to UBC at least forty-five (45) days prior
to the
beginning
of each fiscal year of the Licensee, an operating plan with monthly
and
quarterly
financial breakdowns for such fiscal
year.
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5.18
Any
shareholders' agreement or other relevant transaction document entered into
by
the
Licensee and its other shareholders, shall include an agreement between UBC
and
such other
shareholders of the Licensee, that prevents such shareholders (each a
"Selling
Shareholder ") from
selling any shares in the capital stock of the Licensee to any third party
unless
the UBC Shares are included at the option of UBC, in such sale, pro rata based
on the total
number of shares owned by the Selling Shareholder and UBC, and on the same
terms
and conditions
as those offered to the Selling Shareholder. The same terms and conditions
relating to
the
UBC Shares in connection with this Article 5.18 shall also apply with respect
to
the Investigators' Shares.
5.19UBC
hereby grants to the Licensee an option to purchase a portion of the
UBC Shares
on
the following terms and conditions:
(a)
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subject
to paragraph 5.19(d), the Licensee shall have an option to acquire
eighty
percent
(80%) of the shares of the Licensee owned by UBC, which for greater
certainty
do not include the Investigators' Shares (the "Optioned
Shares");
|
(b)
|
the
option shall expire on the sooner of five (5) years from the date
of this
Agreement
and three (3) years from the date on which the shares of the Licensee
begin trading on a public stock exchange (the "Option
Period");
|
(c)
|
the
option price for the Optioned Shares shall be $3,200,000.00 (the
'Option
Price");
|
(d)
|
during
the Option Period, UBC has the right to give the Licensee notice
(the
"Sale
Notice") of its intention to sell all or a portion of the Optioned
Shares
(the "Offered
Shares") whereupon the Licensee shall have fourteen (14) days (the
"Notice
Period") to purchase such shares being offered for sale by UBC at
a price
calculated
by dividing the Option Price by the number of Offered Shares. The
Licensee
shall pay fifty percent (50%) of the purchase price for the Offered
Shares
upon exercise of the option and the balance within ninety (90) days
thereafter; and
|
(e)
|
If
any of the Offered Shares remain unaccepted by the Licensee after
the
expiry of
the Notice Period, then UBC shall have the option to sell all, but
not
less than all,
of the Offered Shares to a third party provided
that:
|
(i)
|
such
sate is effected at a price which is not less than the price and
on
terms
and conditions no more favourable (from a purchaser's perspective)
than those set forth in the Sale Notice
hereunder;
|
(ii)
|
UBC
shall not sell any of the Offered Shares to a third party who is
a
competitor
of the Licensee unless the Sale Notice originally delivered by UBC
attached a detailed written offer from the competitor for the Offered
Shares;
and
|
(iii)
|
such
sale is completed within a 90 day period following the expiry of
the
Notice
Period (after which period has expired UBC must again
comply
|
-11-
with
this
Article 5.16 before selling any of the shares of the Licensee owned by UBC
to
any third party).
5.20
UBC
agrees that it shall not sell more than ten percent (10%) of the UBC Shares
in
each
of the two (2) years after the date on which the shares of the Licensee begin
trading on a
public
stock exchange, without first complying with paragraph 5.19(d).
5.21
As
part of the consideration for the rights granted by UBC to the Licensee
hereunder,
the Licensee agrees to pay to UBC as an initial license fee the sum of
$5,000.00. The said sum shall be paid concurrently with the execution of this
Agreement. Neither all nor any
portion of the said sum shall be refundable to the Licensee under any
circumstances.
5.22
UBC
shall have the right to appoint an observer (the "Observer") who shall,
subject
to the Observer executing a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement with
the Licensee,
receive notice of and be entitled to attend all meetings of the board of
directors of the Licensee.
The Observer shall be a person acceptable to the Licensee, acting reasonably.
The right
of
UBC to appoint the Observer will terminate on the earlier of (i) the date that
immediately precedes
the date on which the shares of the Licensee begin trading on a public stock
exchange, or (ii) the date that all right, title and interest in and to the
Technology and Improvements
has been assigned to the Licensee in accordance with Article 14.3, or (iii)
the
date
UBC
ceases to be a shareholder of the Licensee.
6.0 ANNUAL
PAYMENTS:
6.1
The
Licensee will pay to UBC, in addition to all other amounts due under this
Agreement,
an annual maintenance fee of $1,000.00 (the "Annual
Maintenance Fee"). The
Annual Maintenance Fee is payable on or before January 2nd
of
each
year during the term of this
Agreement, starting on January 2, 2004 and will not be refunded to the Licensee
(in whole or
in
part) under any circumstances. This fee is distinct from any payments required
under royalties.
7.0 PATENTS:
7.1
The
Licensee may identify any process, use or products arising out of the
Technology
and any Improvements that may be patentable and UBC will, on the request of
the
Licensee,
take reasonable steps to apply for a patent in the name of UBC provided that
the
Licensee
pays all costs of applying for, registering and maintaining the patent in the
jurisdictions in
which
the Licensee designates that a patent is required. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any significant
patent costs shall require the prior written approval of the Licensee to be
provided promptly.
The Licensee will on UBC's request pay to UBC a reasonable payment as an
advance
against expected patent expenses. In the event the Licensee does not approve
any
proposed
patent costs, UBC shall be under no obligation to incur such costs.
7.2
On
the
issuance of a patent obtained under Article 7.1, the Licensee
becomes the
licensee of the patent on the terms and conditions set out in this
Agreement.
7.3
Within thirty (30) days of presentation of receipts and/or invoices by UBC
to
the Licensee,
the Licensee will reimburse UBC for the balance of all costs incurred to date
regarding
any patents or patent applications relating to the Technology and any
Improvements licensed
under this Agreement, subject to Article 7.1.
-12-
7.4
The
Licensee will not contest the validity or scope of any patents relating to
the Technology
and any Improvements licensed under this Agreement.
7.5
The
Licensee will ensure proper patent marking for all uses of the Technology
and
any
Improvements licensed under this Agreement and will clearly xxxx the appropriate
patent
numbers on any Products made using the Technology and any
Improvements.
8.0
DISCLAIMER
OF WARRANTY:
8.1
UBC
makes no representations, conditions or warranties, either express or
implied,
regarding the Technology or any Improvements or the Products. Without
limitation, UBC
specifically disclaims any implied warranty, condition or representation that
the Technology or
any
Improvements or the Products:
(a) |
correspond
with a particular description;
|
(b) |
are
of merchantable quality;
|
(c) |
are
fit for a particular purpose; or
|
(d) |
are
durable for a reasonable period of
time.
|
UBC
is
not liable for any loss, whether direct, consequential, incidental or special,
which the Licensee
or other third parties suffer arising from any defect, error or fault of the
Technology or any Improvements or Products, or their failure to perform, even
if
UBC has been advised of the possibility
of the defect, error, fault or failure. The Licensee acknowledges that it has
been advised by UBC to undertake its own due diligence regarding the Technology
and any Improvements
and that the Licensee has had a third party complete a technical assessment
of
the
Technology prior to executing this License.
8.2
Nothing
in this Agreement:
(a)
|
constitutes
a warranty or representation by UBC as to title to the Technology
and/or
any Improvement or that anything made, used, sold or otherwise disposed
of
under the license granted in this Agreement is or will be free from
infringement of patents, copyrights, trade-marks, industrial design
or
other intellectual property rights;
or
|
(b)
|
imposes
an obligation on UBC to bring, prosecute or defend actions or suits
against third parties for infringement of patents, copyrights,
trade-marks, industrial designs or other intellectual property or
contractual rights.
|
8.3
Notwithstanding Article 8.2, if there is an alleged infringement of the
Technology or
any
improvements or any right with respect to the Technology or any Improvements,
the Licensee may, on receiving the prior written consent of UBC (which will
not
be delayed or withheld
unreasonably), prosecute litigation designed to enjoin infringers of the
Technology or any
Improvements. Provided that it has first granted its prior written consent,
UBC
agrees to reasonably
co-operate to the extent of signing all necessary documents and to vest in
the
Licensee
the right to institute the litigation, provided that all the direct and indirect
costs and expenses
of bringing and conducting the litigation or settlement are paid by the Licensee
and in this
case
all recoveries are for the benefit of the Licensee.
-13-
8.4
If
any complaint alleging infringement of any patent or other proprietary rights
is
made
against the Licensee or a sublicensee of the Licensee regarding the use of
the
Technology
or any Improvements or the manufacture, use or sale of the Products, the
following procedure
will be adopted:
(a)
|
the
Licensee will promptly notify UBC on receipt of the complaint and
will
keep UBC
fully informed of the actions and positions taken by the complainant
and
taken
or proposed to be taken by the Licensee on behalf of itself or a
sublicensee;
|
(b)
|
except
as provided in Article 8.4(d), all costs and expenses incurred by
the
Licensee
or any sublicensee of the Licensee in investigating, resisting, litigating
and
settling the complaint, including the payment of any award of damages
and/or
costs to any third party, will be paid by the Licensee or any sublicensee
of the
Licensee, as the case may be;
|
(c)
|
no
decision or action concerning or governing any final disposition
of the
complaint will be taken without full consultation with, and approval
by,
UBC. UBC will not unreasonably delay or withhold any such
approval;
|
(d)
|
UBC
may elect to participate as a party in any litigation involving the
complaint to the
extent that the court may permit, but any additional expenses generated
by
such
participation will be paid by UBC (subject to the possibility of
recovery
of some
or all of the additional expenses from the
complainant);
|
(e)
|
notwithstanding
Article 8.2, if the complainant is willing to accept an offer of
settlement
and one of the parties to this Agreement is willing and able to make
or
accept
the offer and the other is not, then the unwilling party will conduct
all
further
proceedings at its own expense, and is responsible for the full amount
of
any
damages, costs, accounting of profits and settlement costs in excess
of
those provided in the offer, but is entitled to retain for itself
the
benefit of any litigated
or settled result giving a lower payment of costs, damages, accounting
of
profits
and settlement costs than that provided in the offer;
and
|
(f)
|
the
Licensee will pay all royalties payable under this Agreement to UBC
in
trust from the' date UBC receives notice of the complaint and until
a
resolution of the complaint
has been finalized. If the complainant is successful, then the royalties
paid
to UBC in trust under this Article 8.4(f) will be returned to the
Licensee, provided that the amount being returned to the Licensee
is no
more than the amount paid by the Licensee to the complainant in the
settlement or other disposition of the complaint. If the complainant
does
not succeed, then UBC retains all royalties paid to it under this
Article
8.4(f).
|
9.0
INDEMNITY
AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:
9.1
The
Licensee indemnifies, holds harmless and defends UBC, its Board of Governors,
officers, employees, faculty, students, invitees and agents against any and
all
claims (including
all associated legal fees and disbursements actually incurred) arising out
of
the exercise
of any rights under this Agreement, including without limitation against any
damages or losses,
consequential or otherwise, arising in any manner at all from or out of the
use
of the Technology
or any Improvements or Products licensed under this Agreement by the Licensee,
its
sublicensees, sub-sublicensees or their customers or end-users.
-14-
9.2
Subject to Article 9.3, UBC's total liability, whether under the express or
implied terms
of
this Agreement, in tort (including negligence) or at common law, for any loss
or
damage suffered by the Licensee, whether direct, indirect or special, or any
other similar damage
that may arise or does arise from any breaches of this Agreement by UBC, its
Board of Governors, officers, employees, faculty, students or agents, is limited
to the amount of the initial license
fee paid to UBC under Article 5.21.
9.3 The
Licensee acknowledges and agrees that UBC will not be liable for consequential
or incidental damages arising from any breach or breaches of this
Agreement.
9.4
Notwithstanding the termination or expiry of this Agreement, the obligations
set
out
in
this Article 9 will survive and continue to bind the Licensee and its successors
and assigns.
10.0 PUBLICATION
AND CONFIDENTIALITY:
10.1
Each
party will keep and use the other party's Confidential Information in
confidence
and will not, without the other party's prior written consent, disclose the
other party's Confidential
Information to any person or entity, except to the party's directors, officers,
employees,
faculty, students and professional advisors who require the Confidential
Information to
assist
such party in performing its obligations and exercising its license rights
under
this Agreement.
The Licensee will maintain an appropriate internal program limiting the
distribution of
UBC's
Confidential Information to only those officers, employees, consultants and
professional
advisors who require such Confidential Information in performing the Licensee's
obligations
and exercising the Licensee's license rights under this Agreement and who have
signed
appropriate confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements. The Licensee shall
xxxx all documentation
and correspondence "Confidential", as directed by UBC from time to
time.
10.2
Any
party required by judicial or administrative process to disclose the other
party's
Confidential Information, will promptly notify the other party and allow it
reasonable time to
oppose
the process before disclosing the Confidential Information.
10.3
UBC
is not restricted from presenting at symposia, national or regional professional
meetings, or from publishing in journals or other publications, accounts of
its
research
relating to the Technology and any Improvements, provided that with respect
to
the Confidential
Information only, the Licensee is provided with copies of the proposed
disclosure at least
sixty (60) days before the presentation or publication date and does not, within
thirty (30) days
after delivery of the proposed disclosure, give notice to UBC indicating that
it
objectsto the proposed
disclosure. Any objection to a proposed disclosure will specify the portions
of
the proposed disclosure considered objectionable (the "Objectionable Material").
On receiving notice
from the Licensee that any proposed disclosure contains Objectionable Material,
UBC and the Licensee agree to work together to revise the proposed disclosure
to
remove or alter the
Objectionable Material in a manner acceptable to both the Licensee and UBC,
in
which case the
Licensee will withdraw its objection. UBC is not restricted from publishing
or
presenting the proposed
disclosure as long as the Objectionable Material has been removed. Any
Objectionable
Material will not be disclosed for six (6) months from the date UBC delivered
the proposed
disclosure to the Licensee. After six (6) months from the date UBC delivered
the
proposed disclosure to the Licensee, UBC is free to present and/or publish
the
proposed disclosure whether or not it contains Objectionable Material, unless
any such proposed disclosure contains Confidential Information of the
Licensee.
-15-
10.4
The
Licensee requires of UBC, and to the extent permitted by law UBC agrees,
that
this
Agreement, and each part of it, is confidential and will not be disclosed to
third parties, as
the
Licensee claims that the disclosure would or could reveal commercial, scientific
or technical
information and would significantly harm the Licensee's competitive position
and/or interfere
with the Licensee's negotiations with prospective sublicensees. Notwithstanding
anything
contained in this Article 10, the parties acknowledge and agree that either
party may identify
the title of this Agreement, the parties to this Agreement and the names of
the
inventors of
the
Technology and any Improvements.
10.5Notwithstanding
the termination or expiry of this Agreement, the obligations set out
in
this Article 10 survive and continue to bind the parties, their successors
and
assigns.
11.0
PRODUCTION
AND MARKETING:
11.1
The
Licensee will not use the UBC Trade-marks or make reference to UBC or its
name
in
any advertising or publicity, without the prior written consent of UBC. Without
limitation, the
Licensee will not issue a press release regarding this Agreement or the
Technology or any Improvements
without first obtaining UBC's written approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if the
Licensee is required by law to act in breach of the foregoing provisions, the
Licensee will be permitted to do so but will make all reasonable efforts to
provide UBC with sufficient prior notice to
permit
UBC to bring an application or other proceeding to contest the
requirement.
11.2
The
Licensee represents and warrants to UBC that it has the
infrastructure, expertise
and resources to:
(a)
|
develop
and commercialize the Technology and any
Improvements;
|
(b)
|
track
and monitor on an ongoing basis performance under the terms of each
sublicense entered into by the
Licensee;
|
(c)
|
monitor
on a world wide basis patent infringement regarding any patent relating
to
the Technology and any Improvements licensed under this Agreement;
and
|
(d)
|
handle
the Technology and any Improvements with care and without danger
to
the
Licensee, its employees, agents, or the
public.
|
11.3
The
Licensee represents and warrants to UBC that it will, throughout the term of
this
Agreement use commercially reasonable efforts to promote, market and sell the
Products and
exploit the Technology and any Improvements and to meet or cause to be met
the
market demand
for the Products and the use of the Technology and any
Improvements.
11.4
Without
limiting the generality of Article 11.3, the Licensee
will
undertake the following
activities with respect to the Technology and Improvements:
(a) |
for
the period commencing on the Start Date and terminating on the earlier
of
(i) the
date that is five (5) years from the Start Date; (ii) the date that
immediately precedes
the date on which the shares of the Licensee begin trading on a public
stock
exchange, or (ii) the date that all right, title and interest in
and to
the Technology
and Improvements has been assigned to the Licensee in accordance
with
Article 14.3, provide to UBC a comprehensive written report every
six (6)
months
during the term of this Agreement documenting the activities undertaken
by
the Licensee pursuant to Articles 11.3 and
11.4;
|
-16-
(b)
|
the
Licensee shall use its best efforts to produce a prototype for continuous
production
of hydrogen at a rate sufficient to power a 0.5kW fuel cell or
equivalent
engine for four (4) hours at the end of eighteen (18) months or
sooner;
|
(c)
|
the
Licensee shall use its best efforts to produce a prototype for continuous
production
of hydrogen at a rate sufficient to power a 1.0kW fuel cell or
equivalent
engine for twenty-four (24) hours at the end of thirty-six (36) months
or
sooner;
|
(d)
|
the
Licensee shall raise not less than $2,000,000.00 in equity investment
in
the Licensee
within three (3) years of the anniversary date of this Agreement,
with
sixty
percent (60%) of such funds to be spent in connection with the Technology
in the first eighteen (18) months and the balance of such funds shall
be
spent in connection
with the Technology in the following eighteen (18) months;
and
|
(e)
|
in
addition to the amounts required to be raised by paragraph 11.4(d),
the
Licensee
shall raise a further equity investment of at least $5,000,000.00
within
thirty-six
(36) months of the date of this Agreement for use in connection with
the
Technology.
|
11.5
If
UBC is of the view that the Licensee is in breach of Articles 11.3 or 11.4,
UBC
may
give
notice to the Licensee under Article 18.3. Within fifteen (15) days of receiving
UBC's notice,
the Licensee shall provide notice to UBC of its decision to either:
(a)
|
proceed
with remedying the breach in accordance with Article
18.3;
|
(b)
|
dispute
the breach ("Dispute") and refer the Dispute to mediation in accordance
with
Articles 11.6. The parties will then appoint a mutually acceptable
mediator ("Mediator);
or
|
(c)
|
accept
the breach.
|
If
the
Licensee elects to proceed with remedying the breach, then the Licensee will
be
deemed to
have
waived any right to refer the matter to mediation in accordance with Article
11.6. If the Licensee
either fails to make an election, or fails to respond to UBC, in accordance
with
this Article,
then the Licensee will be deemed to have accepted the breach and UBC may
terminate this
Agreement.
11.6
Unless
the parties agree otherwise, the following rules and procedures
govern the
conduct of the parties and the Mediator before and during the mediation of
a
Dispute:
(a)
|
within
fifteen (15) days of the appointment of the Mediator, the Licensee
will
provide
to the Mediator and UBC a written summary of its position and copies
of
all
documents on which it intends to rely in presenting its position
before
the Mediator. On receiving the Licensee's summary and documents,
UBC has
fifteen
(15) days to submit to the Licensee and the Mediator a summary of
UBC's
position
along with the documents on which UBC intends to
rely;
|
(b)
|
after
each of the Licensee and UBC has provided its summary and documents
under
Article 11.6(a), but not more than sixty (60) days from the appointment
of
the
Mediator, the parties agree to meet in the presence of the Mediator
with a
view
to resolving the Dispute. The role of the Mediator will be to assist
in
|
-17-
negotiating
a resolution of a Dispute and the Mediator will not make a decision that
is
binding on a party unless that party has so agreed in writing;
(c) |
the
mediation of a Dispute may be terminated by either party, by giving
notice
to the
other party:
|
(i)
|
if
the parties cannot agree on a mutually acceptable Mediator within
fifteen
(15) days from the Licensee electing to refer the Dispute to mediation
under Article 11.5(b);
|
(ii)
|
if
the other party fails to comply with its obligations under this Article
11.6; or
|
(iii)
|
if
the parties cannot agree on a resolution of the Dispute within sixty
(60)
days
from the appointment of the
Mediator;
|
(d) |
any
information or documents disclosed by either party under this Article
11.6
must
be kept confidential and must not be used except to attempt to resolve
the
Dispute;
and
|
(e) |
each
party must bear its own costs of complying with this Article 11.6
and
the parties
must bear equally the costs of any Mediator
engaged.
|
11.7
If
the parties cannot agree on the resolution of the Dispute within sixty (60)
days
from
the
appointment of the Mediator, or if the mediation of the Dispute has been
terminated under
Article 11.6(c), then the Licensee will (counting from the end of the sixty
(60)
day period) have
a
further thirty (30) days to remedy the breach in accordance with Article
18.3(a). If the Licensee fails to remedy the breach within such thirty (30)
day
period then subject to Article 15.2,
UBC
may at its option, either terminate this Agreement or change this Agreement
from
an exclusive
license to a non-exclusive license.
12.0
ACCOUNTING
RECORDS:
12.1
The
Licensee will maintain at its principal place of business, or another place
as
may
be
most convenient, separate accounts and records of all Revenues and Sublicensing
Revenues
and all business done in connection with the Technology or any Improvements.
The
accounts
and records will be in sufficient detail to enable proper returns to be made
under this Agreement
and the Licensee will cause its sublicensees to keep similar accounts and
records.
12.2
The
Licensee will deliver to UBC on the date thirty (30) days after each and every
Royalty Due Date, together with the royalty payable under this Agreement, the
Accounting substantially in the form attached as Schedule "B" and a report
on
all Sublicensing activity, including
an accounting statement setting out in detail how the amount of Sublicensing
Revenue was
determined and identifying each sublicensee and the location of the business
of
each sublicensee.
12.3
The
calculation of royalties will be carried out in accordance with generally
accepted
Canadian accounting principles ("GAAP"), or the standards and principles adopted
by the
U.S.
Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") applied on a consistent
basis.
12.4
The
Licensee will retain the accounts and records referred to in Article 12.1 for
at
least
six
(6) years from when they were made and will permit any duly authorized
representative of
UBC to
inspect or audit the accounts and records during normal business hours of
the
-18-
Licensee
at UBC's expense. The Licensee will provide to the representative all reasonable
evidence
as the representative deems necessary to verify the Accounting and will permit
the representative
to make copies of or extracts from the accounts, records and agreements at
UBC's
expense. If an inspection or audit of the Licensee's records by UBC shows an
under-reporting
or underpayment by the Licensee of any amount to UBC, by more than five percent
(5%)
for
any twelve (12) month period, then the Licensee will reimburse UBC for the
cost
of the inspection or audit as well as pay to UBC any amount found due (including
any interest) within thirty
(30) days of notice by UBC to the Licensee.
12.5
During the term of this Agreement and after its expiry or termination UBC will
use reasonable
efforts to ensure that all information provided to UBC or its representatives
under this
Article remains confidential and is treated as confidential by UBC.
13.0
INSURANCE:
13.1
During the term of this Agreement, the Licensee will procure and maintain
insurance
(including public liability and commercial general liability insurance), as
would be acquired
by a reasonable and prudent businessperson carrying on a similar line of
business.
13.2
Notwithstanding Article 13.1, one (1) month before the First Use of the
Technology
or any Improvement, the Licensee will give notice to UBC of the terms and amount
of the product liability, public liability, and commercial general liability
insurance and such other types
of
insurance which it has placed. This insurance will:
(a) |
be
placed with a reputable and financially secure insurance
carrier;
|
(b)
|
include
UBC, its Board of Governors, faculty, officers, employees, students
and
agents
as additional insureds;
|
(c)
|
provide
primary coverage regarding all activities under this
Agreement;
|
(d)
|
include
a waiver of subrogation against UBC, and a severability of interest
and
cross-liability
clauses; and
|
(e)
|
provide
that the policy cannot be cancelled or materially altered except
on at
least thirty (30) days' prior notice to
UBC.
|
13.3
UBC
may from time to time require reasonable amendments to the terms or the
amount
of
coverage contained in the Licensee's insurance policy. The Licensee will provide
to UBC
for
its approval certificates of insurance evidencing the coverage seven (7) days
before the First
Use
of the Technology. The Licensee will not:
(a)
|
allow
the First Use of the Technology or any Improvement to occur before
the
certificate
is provided and approved by UBC; or
|
(b)
|
sell
any Product or allow any third party to use the Technology, at any
time
unless the insurance outlined in Article 13.3 is in
effect.
|
13.4
The
Licensee will also require each sublicensee to procure and
maintain:
(a) |
public
liability and commercial general liability insurance and such other
types
of insurance
as would be acquired by a reasonable and prudent businessperson carrying
on a similar line of business;
and
|
-19-
(b) |
in
any event, one (1) month before the First Use of the Technology or
any
Improvement
by the sublicensee, product liability, public liability and commercial
general
liability insurance in reasonable amounts, with a reputable and
financially secure
insurance carrier.
|
The
Licensee will use its best efforts to ensure that all sublicensees' policies
of
insurance contain a waiver of subrogation against UBC, its Board of Governors,
faculty, officers, employees, students and agents.
13.5
During the Post Termination Period the Licensee will procure and maintain public
liability
and commercial general liability insurance which provides coverage in respect
of
claims made
during the Post Termination Period. This insurance will:
(a)
|
be
placed with a reputable and financial secure insurance
carrier;
|
(b)
|
include
UBC, its Board of Governors, faculty, officers, employees, students
and
agents
as additional insured;
|
(c)
|
provide
coverage for actions arising during the period commencing upon First
Use
of the Technology and expiring upon commencement of the Post Termination
Period;
|
(d)
|
include
a waiver of subrogation against UBC, and a severability of interest
and
cross-liability
clauses; and
|
(e)
|
provide
that the policy cannot be cancelled or materially altered except
on at
least thirty (30) days' prior notice to
UBC.
|
14.0
ASSIGNMENT
& CHANGE OF CONTROL:
14.1
The
Licensee will not assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge, financially encumber,
grant
a
security interest, permit a lien to be created, charge or otherwise dispose
of
any or all of the
rights granted to it under this Agreement without the prior written consent
of
UBC, which consent
will not be unreasonably withheld.
14.2
Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, UBC will have the right
to assign
its rights, duties and obligations under this Agreement to a company of which
it
is the sole
shareholder, or a society which it has incorporated or which has purposes which
are consistent
with the objectives of UBC, provided that UBC has also so assigned the
Technology and
any
UBC Improvements to any such entity. If UBC makes such an assignment, the
Licensee
will release and discharge UBC from all obligations or covenants, provided
that
the company
or society, as the case may be, signs a written agreement which provides that
the company
or society assumes all obligations or covenants from UBC and that the Licensee
retains all rights granted to the Licensee under this Agreement.
14.3
UBC
hereby grants to the Licensee the right to acquire all right, title and
interest in
and to
the Technology and UBC Improvements for the sum of $1.00 upon the receipt by
UBC
of
the
aggregate amount of $11,500,000.00 on account of all monies received
from:
(a)
|
the
sale of shares in the Licensee, whether through the purchase by the
Licensee
or otherwise;
|
(b)
|
payment
of royalties pursuant to Articles 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and
5.4;
|
-20-
(c) |
the
Prepayment Amount paid pursuant to Article 5.9;
and/or
|
(d) |
the
voluntary payment of cash by the Licensee to
UBC.
|
Upon
the
Licensee's due exercise of its right to acquire all right, title and interest
in
and to the Technology
and UBC Improvements under this Article 14.3, UBC shall assign such Technology
and UBC Improvements to the Licensee and this Agreement shall terminate except
that Articles 9.1,10.1,12.4
and 13.5 shall survive and continue in full force and effect.
14.4
In
the
event all right, title and interest in and to the Technology and UBC Improvements
is assigned to the Licensee pursuant to Article 14.3:
(a)
|
the
Licensee shall grant to UBC an irrevocable royalty-free license to
the
Technology
and Improvements for the purposes of research, scholarly publication,
educational and all other non-commercial uses;
and
|
(b)
|
UBC
shall immediately transfer all shares of the Licensee then owned
by UBC,
which have not been sold in accordance with this Agreement and accounted
for under
paragraph 14.3(a).
|
15.0
GOVERNING
LAW:
15.1
This
Agreement is governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the
laws
of
British Columbia and the laws of Canada in force in that province, without
regard to its conflict
of law rules. All parties agree that by executing this Agreement they have
attorned to the
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The parties agree that
the British Columbia Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction over this
Agreement.
15.2
In
the event of any dispute arising between the parties concerning this
Agreement,
its enforceability or the interpretation thereof, the same shall be settled
by a
single arbitrator
appointed pursuant to the provisions of the Commercial
Arbitration Act of
British Columbia,
or any successor legislation then in force. The place of arbitration shall
be
Vancouver,
British Columbia. The language to be used in the arbitration proceedings shall
be English.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may seek injunctive relief in
respect of any dispute arising between the parties by way of court application
at any time prior, during or after any
arbitration proceeding.
16.0
NOTICES:
16.1All
payments, reports and notices or other documents that a party is required
or may
want
to deliver to any other party will be delivered:
(a)
|
in
writing; and
|
(b)
|
either
by personal delivery or by registered or certified mail (with all
postage
and other
charges prepaid) at the address for the receiving party as set out
in
Article 16.2
or as varied by any notice.
|
Any
notice personally delivered is deemed to have been received at the time of
delivery. Any notice
mailed in accordance with this Article 16.1 is deemed to have been received
at
the end of the
fifth
day after it is posted.
-21-
16.2 Addresses
for delivery of notices:
If
to UBC:<?xml:namespace prefix = o />
|
The
Director
|
|
University
- <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />IndustryLiaisonOffice
Xxxxxxxxxx
xx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
#000
– 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
X0X
0X0
|
|
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
|
|
|
If
to the Licensee:
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Global
Hydrofuel Technologies Inc.
Xxxxx
000 -000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
X0X
0X0
|
|
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Fax:(000)
000-0000
|
<?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
|
|
17.0
TERM:
17.1
The
term of this Agreement starts on the Start Date and ends on the expiry or
invalidity
of the fast patent licensed under this Agreement, unless terminated earlier
under Article 18.
18.0
TERMINATION
OF AGREEMENT:
18.1
This
Agreement automatically and immediately terminates without notice to the
Licensee
if any proceeding under the Bankruptcy
and Insolvency Act of
Canada, or any other statute of similar purpose, is commenced by or against
the
Licensee and the same is not withdrawn or dismissed within forty-five (45)
days
of any such commencement.
18.2
UBC
may,
at its option, terminate this Agreement with immediate effect by
giving notice
to
the Licensee if one or more of the following occurs:
(a)
|
the
Licensee becomes insolvent, as evidenced, for example (without limitation)
by the appointment of a receiver, a receiver manager, the issuance
of
financial statements which according to GAAP would render the Licensee
insolvent, the termination
of a majority of the Licensee's employees, the vacation of the Licensee's
chief place of business or the Licensee ceasing or threatening to
cease
carrying on business;
|
(b)
|
any
execution or other process of any court becomes enforceable against
the
Licensee,
or if any similar process is levied on the rights under this Agreement
or
on
any money due to UBC and is not released or satisfied by the Licensee
within thirty
(30) days from the process becoming enforceable or being
levied;
|
(c)
|
any
resolution is passed or order made or other steps taken for the winding
up, liquidation
or other termination of the existence of the
Licensee;
|
(d)
|
the
Technology or any Improvements becomes subject to any security interest,
lien,
charge or encumbrance in favour of any third party claiming through
the
Licensee;
|
-22-
(e)
|
if
the Licensee breaches any of Articles 4.1, 11.1 or 13.2;
or
|
(f)
|
If
any sublicensee of the Licensee is in breach of its sublicense with
the
Licensee and
the Licensee does not take reasonable steps to cause the sublicensee
to
cure the breach within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice from
UBC;
|
(g)
|
if
the Licensee is in material breach of any other agreement between
the
Licensee
and UBC and the breach has not been cured within the time provided
for
the curing of such breach under the terms of the other
agreement.
|
18.3
Other than as set out in Articles 18.1 and 18.2, either party may terminate
this
Agreement
for any breach which is not remedied after providing the following notice to
the
party in
breach:
(a)
|
thirty
(30) days notice in the case of any breach which can reasonably be
remedied within thirty (30) days of the delivery of such notice;
or
|
(b)
|
if
the breach cannot be remedied within thirty (30) days and the breach
is
not remedied
within such further period as may be reasonably necessary, or within
ninety
(90) days after receipt of notice, whichever is
sooner.
|
18.4
If
this Agreement is terminated under Article 18.1 to 18.3, the Licensee will
make
all
outstanding royalty payments to UBC as set out under Article 5, and UBC may
proceed to enforce
payment of all outstanding royalties or other monies owed to UBC and to exercise
any or
all of
the rights and remedies available under this Agreement or otherwise available
by
law or in
equity, successively or concurrently, at the option of UBC. Within five (5)
days
of the Effective Termination Date, the Licensee will deliver to UBC all
Technology and any Improvements in its possession or control and has no further
right of any nature at all in the Technology
or any Improvements. If the Licensee has not delivered up the Technology and
any
Improvements
within five (5) days from the Effective Termination Date, UBC may immediately
and without notice enter the. Licensee's premises and take possession of the
Technology and any
Improvements. The Licensee will pay all charges or expenses incurred by UBC
in
the enforcement of its rights or remedies against the Licensee under this
Article 18.4, including without limitation UBC's legal fees and disbursements
on
an indemnity basis, unless this Agreement has been terminated by the Licensee
pursuant to Article 18.3.
18.5
The
Licensee and all sublicensees will cease to use the Technology or any
Improvements
in any manner at all or to manufacture or sell the Products within five (5)
days
from
the
Effective Termination Date. The Licensee will then deliver to UBC an accounting
within thirty
(30) days from the Effective Termination Date. The accounting will specify,
in
or on such terms
as
UBC may in its sole discretion require, the inventory or stock of Products
manufactured
and remaining unsold on the Effective Termination Date. UBC will instruct that
the
unsold Products be stored, destroyed or sold under its direction, provided
this
Agreement was
terminated under Article 18.2 or 18.3. Without limitation, if this Agreement
is
terminated under Article 18.1, no Products will be sold without the prior
written consent of UBC. The Licensee
will continue to make royalty payments to UBC in the same manner specified
in
Article 5
on all
Products that are sold in accordance with this Article 18.5, notwithstanding
anything contained
in, or any exercise of rights by UBC, under Article 18.4.
18.6
Notwithstanding
the termination or expiry of this Agreement, Article 12 remains in full
force and effect until six (6) years after:
-23-
(a)
|
all
payments of royalty required to be made by the Licensee to UBC under
this
Agreement
have been made by the Licensee to UBC;
and
|
(b)
|
any
other claim or claims of any nature or kind at all of UBC against
the
Licensee has
been settled.
|
19.0
MISCELLANEOUS
COVENANTS OF LICENSEE:
19.1
The
Licensee represents and warrants to UBC that the Licensee is a corporation
duly
organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of British Columbia
and
has the power,
authority and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, all of which have been duly and
validly authorized by all requisite
corporate proceedings. The Licensee covenants to remain as a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of British Columbia or otherwise continued
as a Canadian Federally incorporated
company.
19.2
The
Licensee will comply with all laws, regulations and ordinances, whether
Federal,
State, Provincial, County, Municipal or otherwise, with respect to the
Technology and any
Improvements and this Agreement.
19.3
Upon
the presentation of itemized bills to the Licensee by UBC, the Licensee will
pay
all
reasonable legal expenses and costs incurred by UBC regarding any consents
and
approvals
required from UBC, including without limitation expenses and costs regarding
UBC's review
of
any sublicenses to be granted by the Licensee.
19.4
The
Licensee will pay all taxes and any related interest or penalty designated
in
any
manner at all and imposed as a result of the existence or operation of this
Agreement, including without limitation tax which the Licensee is required
to
withhold or deduct from payments
to UBC. The Licensee will provide to UBC evidence as may be required by Canadian
authorities to establish that the tax has been paid. The royalties specified
in
this Agreement are exclusive
of taxes. If UBC is required to collect a tax to be paid by the Licensee or
any
of its sublicensees,
the Licensee will pay the tax to UBC on demand.
19.5
The
obligation of the Licensee to make all payments under this Agreement is
absolute
and unconditional and is not, except as expressly set out in this Agreement,
affected by
any
circumstance, including without limitation any set-off, compensation,
counterclaim, recoupment,
defence or other right which the Licensee may have against UBC, or anyone else.
for
any
reason at all.
19.6
All
amounts due and owing to UBC by the Licensee pursuant to this Agreement
shall
be
paid in Canadian currency without any reduction or deduction of any nature
or
kind at all and all amounts expressed in this Agreement shall be in Canadian
currency. The Licensee will
pay
interest on all amounts due and owing to UBC under this Agreement but not paid
by the Licensee
on the due date, at the rate of one percent (1%) per month. The interest accrues
on the
balance of unpaid amounts from time to time outstanding, from the date on which
portions of the
amounts become due and owing until payment in full.
19.7
The
Licensee will not enter into any agreements with the United States Government
or any other government in connection with the Technology or any Improvements
licensed hereunder wherein such government would gain ownership of the
Technology and/or Improvements,
without the prior written consent of UBC.
-24-
20.0
MANAGEMENT
OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:
20.1
The
Licensee acknowledges that it is aware of UBC's Conflict of interest Policy
#97,
Patent and Licensing Policy #88 and Research Policy #87
(xxxx://xxx.xxxxxx.xxx.xx), and that
UBC
may amend these policies or introduce new policies from time to
time.
20.2
Save
and
except as expressly agreed in a Collaborative Research Agreement entered
into between UBC and the Licensee, the parties agree:
(a)
|
the
facilities and research programs of the Licensee will be conducted
independently of all UBC facilities, faculty, students or staff;
and
|
(b)
|
no
students, post-doctoral fellows or other UBC staff will participate
or be
involved in the Licensee's research, projects or utilize its
facilities.
|
21.0
MAINTENANCE
AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT:
UBC
shall
be under no obligation to provide any maintenance or technical support to the
Licensee
or any sublicensees. The Licensee acknowledges and agrees that Chaklader is
no
longer
an
employee of UBC and therefore it is at his sole discretion to provide such
maintenance
or technical support for the Technology to the Licensee. Any maintenance or
technical
support provided by Chaklader shall be subject to a separate consulting
agreement to be
negotiated between Chaklader and the Licensee.
22.0
GENERAL:
22.1
The
Licensee will permit UBC, during normal business hours, to enter any
premises
of the Licensee for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not this Agreement
has been,
is
being, or will be complied with by the Licensee.
22.2
Nothing contained in this Agreement is to be deemed or construed to create
between
the parties a partnership or joint venture. No party has the authority to act
on
behalf of any
other
party, or to commit any other party in any manner at all or cause any other
party's name
to
be used in any way not specifically authorized by this Agreement
22.3
Subject
to the limitations in this Agreement, this Agreement operates for
the benefit
of and is binding on the parties and their respective successors and permitted
assigns.
22.4
No
condoning, excusing or overlooking by any party of any default, breach or
non-observance
by any other party at any time or times .regarding any terms of this Agreement
operates
as a waiver of that party's rights under this Agreement. A waiver of any term
,
or right under,
this Agreement will be in writing signed by the party entitled to the benefit
of
that term or right,
and is effective only to the extent set out in the written waiver.
22.5
No
exercise of a specific right or remedy by any party precludes it from or
prejudices
it in exercising another right or pursuing another remedy or maintaining an
action to which
it
may otherwise be entitled either at law or in equity.
22.6
Headings
in this Agreement are for reference only and do not form a part of
this Agreement
and are not be used in the interpretation of this Agreement.
-25-
22.7
All
terms in this Agreement which require performance by the parties after the
expiry
or
termination of this Agreement, will remain in force despite this Agreement's
expiry or termination
for any reason.
22.8 Part or all of any Article that is indefinite, invalid, illegal or otherwise voidable or unenforceable may be severed from this Agreement and the balance of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect.
22.9
At
the request of UBC or the Licensee, the non-requesting party shall obtain the
execution
of any agreement or instrument (including from its employees, agents,
contractors, consultants
or representatives) that may be required to consummate the transactions
contemplated
in this Agreement, including assigning any rights, waiving any rights or
perfecting any
rights in such party's name.
22.10
The
Licensee acknowledges that the law firm of Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx has acted
solely
for UBC in connection with this Agreement and that all other parties have been
advised to seek
independent legal advice.
22.11
This
Agreement sets out the entire understanding between the parties and
no changes
to this Agreement are binding unless signed in writing by the parties to this
Agreement.
22.12
Time
is
of the essence of this Agreement.
22.13
In
this
Agreement, unless the contrary intention appears, the singular
includes the
plural and vice versa and words importing a gender include other
genders.
SIGNED
BY
THE PARTIES AS AN AGREEMENT on the 9 day of July, 2003 but
effective as of the Start Date.
SIGNED
FOR AND ON BEHALF of
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA by its authorized signatories: |
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Authorized
Signatory
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
Associate
Director
University-Industry
Liaison
|
______________________
Authorized
Signatory
|
THE
CORPORATE SEAL of GLOBAL
HYDROFUEL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Was
hereunto affixed in the presence of:
|
|
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Authorized
Signatory
|