JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
METALS
& ARSENIC REMOVAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
A
N
D
Advanced
Water Recycle Inc.
THIS
AGREEMENT
is made
this 3 day of April 2006
BETWEEN
|
METALS
& ARSENIC REMOVAL TECHNOLOGY, INC. (XXXXX)
a
duly incorporated company whose registered address is 2503 reliance
Ave.
Apex, 00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx represented
herein by
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx III in his capacity as President and Chief Executive
Officer of XXXXX,
INC.,
he by his signature warranting that he is duly
authorised;
|
A
N D
|
Advanced
Water Recycle Inc
a
duly incorporated company whose registered office is at 0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx., Xxxx, XX 00000 (hereinafter collectively and jointly and severally
referred to as “AWR”) represented herein by Xxxxxx Xxxx in his capacity as
the duly authorised agent of the AWR Inc, he by his signature warranting
that he is duly authorised.
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WHEREAS:
1.
|
The
parties each have a desire
to team together and use the dual
experience in Water treatment, and development to produce systems
using
the patented ARTI-64 product, and other technologies related to water
treatment.
|
2.
|
The
parties wish to utilize their expertise and intellectual property
rights
to develop, marker, and operate water treatment recycle systems for
market.
|
3.
|
Both
the XXXXX Inc and AWR have intellectual property rights with or related
to
the provision of water treatment systems, in the case of XXXXX being
in
particular its water treatment media and equipment in the case of
the AWRI
its production and management
capabilities.
|
IT
IS
AGREED
as
follows:
1.
|
INTERPRETATIONS
AND DEFINITIONS
|
1.1
|
In
this agreement the following terms shall, unless the context otherwise
admits or requires, have the following
meanings:
|
“Business”
means the development of systems or materials utilizing the expertise and
intellectual property rights of the XXXXX and AWRI collectively.
“Joint
Venture” means the separate trading operation and activities of the parties as
joint venturers and the establishment and promotion of the joint venture in
terms of this agreement and “Joint Venturers” means the parties conducting the
joint venture.
2
“Management
Committee” means the management committee
established in accordance with clause 3.
“Parties”
means the XXXXX Group and AWRI Group and any other person who, pursuant to
the
terms and conditions of this agreement may become a party to the joint venture
or otherwise bound by the terms of this agreement.
“Representative”
means an actual person appointed as the representative of a joint venturer
pursuant to clause 3.1(a)
and
includes alternative representative.
1.2
|
In
this agreement reference to the plural includes reference to the
singular
and vice versa.
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1.3
|
In
this agreement reference to any statutory provision shall include
any
statutory provision which amends or replaces it and any subordinate
legislation made under it. Headings inserted in this agreement are
for
convenience of reference only and do not effect the interpretation
of this
agreement.
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2.
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ESTABLISHMENT
OF JOINT VENTURE
|
2.1
|
This
agreement shall commence on April 3, 2006 and shall terminate in
accordance with clause 12.
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2.2
|
The
joint venturers hereby establish a joint venture in accordance with
the
provisions of this agreement for the purpose of pursuing the business.
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2.3
|
Upon
or as soon as possible after the commencement
date:
|
(a)
|
XXXXX
shall provide:
|
(i)
|
Metal
& Arsenic Removal Technology, Inc. (“XXXXX”) raw materials relater to
the production of ARTI-64.
|
(ii)
|
Equipment
needed to treat water with ARTI-64
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3
(ii)
|
Instructions
and literature related to
Treatment.
|
(iii)
|
On-site
assistance for start-ups.
|
(iv)
|
Access
to the XXXXX advisory board and Board
members
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(v)
|
Access
to XXXXX staff.
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(vi)
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Aid
in design of systems
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(b)
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AWRI
will provide:
|
(i)
|
Expertise
in water treatment;
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(ii)
|
Connection
to market;
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(iii)
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Long
term operation of system:
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(iv)
|
Design
of full systems
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(v)
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Oversee
construction of systems
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(vi)
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Aid
in grant development
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(vii)
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Engineering
services
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2.4
|
The
joint venture shall operate as from the commencement date and the
joint
venturers shall conduct themselves in relation to the joint venture
and
this agreement for the maximum commercial advantage of the joint
venture
and the joint venturers consistent with prudent commercial practice
and
the laws of the USA to the extent relevant.
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3.
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MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE
|
3.1
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The
day-to-day management of the joint venture and policy matters of
the joint
venture shall be conducted by a management committee which shall
consist
of one representative appointed in writing by each of the joint venturers
in respect of which the following shall
apply:
|
(a)
|
Each
joint venturer shall duly appoint and maintain the appointment
of one
representative.
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4
(b)
|
Any
joint venturer may at any time appoint one person to act as an alternative
to its representative at any meeting or meetings and may at any time
cancel the appointment.
|
(c)
|
Each
joint venturer may cancel the appointment of its representative provided
that such notice appoints another representative in his
stead.
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(d)
|
Every
such appointment or cancellation or reappointment shall be by notice
in
writing to the other joint venturer.
|
(e)
|
It
shall be the responsibility of each joint venturer to appoint and
maintain
valid appointments of its representative and any alternates.
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3.2
|
Any
joint venturer and any representative may, at any time, by notice
in
writing to the other joint venturer given pursuant to clause 3.5
summon a meeting of the management committee.
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3.3
|
The
joint venturers shall ensure that the management committee meets,
either
in person, or by video or telephone link, or by such other technological
means as the parties may from time to time stipulate, at least every
month.
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3.4
|
All
meetings of representatives shall, unless otherwise agreed by the
joint
venturers, be held at such reasonable place in North Carolina, the
USA as
the joint venturer calling the meeting chooses.
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3.5
|
Not
less than 14 days prior written notice shall be given to each joint
venturer of all meetings of the management committee specifying the
general nature of the business to be transacted thereat, and unless
otherwise agreed unanimously by the representatives of the joint
venturer
present thereat, no business other than that specified shall be transacted
at the relevant meeting.
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3.6
|
The
quorum for meetings shall be one representative appointed by each
joint
venturer.
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3.7
|
If
within half an hour from the time appointed for a meeting of the
management committee a quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand
adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place,
and
if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an
hour
from the time appointed for such adjourned meeting, the representative
then present shall be deemed to be a quorum.
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5
4.
|
POWERS
OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
|
4.1
|
A
meeting of the management committee at which a quorum is present
shall be
empowered to exercise the functions of the joint venturers under
this
agreement, except for the following
purposes:
|
(a)
|
Agreeing
to terminate this agreement and the joint venture;
or
|
(b)
|
modifying
or amending the provisions of this
agreement;
|
when
the
written agreement of the joint venturers shall be required. Subject to the
aforegoing provisions of this clause, decisions of the representatives shall
be
binding on the joint venturers.
4.2
|
Except
where it is expressly provided in this agreement to the contrary,
decisions taken by the representatives in relation to the joint venture
shall be unanimous.
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4.3
|
The
members of the management committee may if they so desire nominate
one of
their members to be the chairperson of all meetings of representatives.
The chairperson shall not be entitled to any casting vote.
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4.4
|
Minutes,
and a tape record of the proceedings at meetings of representatives
shall
be kept and copies thereof circulated within 30 days after such meeting
to
joint venturers for review, comment and such action as may be required.
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4.5
|
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein contained, a motion, proposal or
any other
matter approved in writing (including by facsimile, telex, telegram
or
e-mail) by all the joint venturers entitled to be represented at
meetings
of representatives and directed to the other joint venturer, shall
be
binding and be given effect to as if it were duly passed at a meeting
of
representatives.
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5.
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FINANCIAL
|
Cost
will
be divided 50/50 on the XXXXX product line and other components will not come
from the XXXXX budget unless set out in this document.
6.
|
SPECIAL
VOTING ARRANGEMENTS
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6.1
|
The
joint venturers agree that, notwithstanding anything contained in
this
agreement, no decision of the management committee shall be made
in
respect of any of the matters referred to in clause 6.2
unless supported by each of the controlling bodies of the joint venturers
themselves. The joint venturers agree that any resolution passed
or
decisions made in contravention of this clause shall be immediately
rescinded.
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6
6.2
|
The
matters which are subject to the provisions of clause 6.1
are:
|
(a)
|
the
consolidation or amalgamation of the joint venture with any other
company,
association, partnership or legal
entity;
|
(b)
|
any
significant new undertaking or activity by the joint venture outside
the
business described;
|
(c)
|
the
approval of annual capital and operating budgets of the joint venture
or
any significant variation thereof;
|
(d)
|
dismissal
of the manager or the variation to any material extent of the terms
and
conditions of the appointment of the
manager;
|
(e)
|
the
appointment or removal of the auditors of the joint
venture;
|
(f)
|
any
significant change in the method of funding the operations of the
joint
venture;
|
(g)
|
the
accounting procedures or policies of the joint venture.
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7.
|
ANCILLARY
AGREEMENTS
|
The
joint
venturers agree that there are no ancillary agreements entered into which are
in
conflict with the terms of this Joint Venture Agreement.
8.
|
AUDIT
AND INSPECTION RIGHTS
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8.1
|
Either
joint venturer may at any time require any aspect or aspects of the
financial, legal, technical or operational affairs of the joint venture
to
be the subject of a special enquiry or audit by a person or persons
nominated by such joint venturer. Any such special enquiry or audit
shall
be conducted on the following
basis:
|
(a)
|
The
costs of and in connection with such special enquiry or audit shall
be
borne by the joint venturer initiating the same.
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7
(b)
|
The
joint venturer initiating such audit or enquiry shall be responsible
to
ensure that such enquiry or audit is conducted in such manner
as results
in as little disruption of and interference with the management
of the
joint venture as is reasonably practical and that all information
relating
to the joint venture and the business is kept confidential.
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(c)
|
The
joint venturers shall ensure that the joint venture and its employees,
agents and contractors make available to the person or persons
conducting
such audit or enquiry all books, documents, records and such
other
information as is reasonably required by such person or persons
for the
purpose of conducting such audit or enquiry.
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(d)
|
The
results of any audit or enquiry undertaken as afore-said shall
promptly be
made known to both joint venturers.
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9.
|
CONFIDENTIALITY
AND KNOW-HOW
|
9.1
|
All
know-how and other information relating to the joint venture and
the
business shall be kept confidential and shall be the sole property
of the
joint venture and shall not be disclosed by any joint venturer to
any
party other than in the normal course of business of the joint
venture.
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9.2
|
The
provisions of clause 9.1
shall continue to bind both joint venturers notwithstanding the
termination of the joint venture and such restriction shall apply
until a
date one year after the date of termination.
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9.3
|
All
know-how, client contracts, client contacts, goodwill, trademarks,
other
intellectual property, the name of the joint venture itself and any
other
trade name used by the joint venture and all other intellectual property
relating to the business shall belong to the joint venture and shall
not
be used or employed by any of the joint venturers except in accordance
with this agreement. At the termination of this agreement, all such
items
introduced by one of the joint venturers shall however return to
and again
vest in the party introducing same.
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8
10.
|
ENCUMBRANCE
OF INTEREST IN THE JOINT
VENTURE
|
No
joint
venturer shall pledge, charge or encumber or cause to be pledged, charged or
encumbered its interest in the joint venture or any part of the assets of the
joint venture without the consent in writing of the other joint
venturer.
11.
|
NEGATION
OF PARTNERSHIP, AGENCY, SEVERAL
LIABILITY
|
11.1
|
Nothing
contained in this agreement or in the conduct of the joint venture
by the
parties shall be deemed to constitute any joint venturer the partner
of
any other party, or, except as otherwise herein expressly provided,
to
constitute any party as the agent or legal representative of the
other. No
party shall have any authority to act or assume any liability or
obligation on behalf of the other parties, except as expressly provided
in
this agreement.
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11.2
|
Any
agreement or obligation expressed in this agreement to be by or upon
the
joint venturers shall be deemed to be an agreement by or obligation
upon
each of them severally.
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12.
|
TERMINATION
|
12.1
|
If
any statutory, regulatory body or authority or any international
aid
organization or government of any of the countries in which the parties
propose operating the joint venture, should require directly or indirectly
any alteration or modification to any term of this joint venture
agreement
or to the funding arrangements of the joint venture in either case
in a
manner which is significantly adverse to either joint venturer, then
such
joint venturer may forthwith give notice to terminate this agreement
and
the joint venturer giving such notice shall incur no liability to
the
other joint venturer for any default or breach arising from the exercise
of the right under this clause 12.1.
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12.2
|
Any
joint venturer may give a notice of cancellation of this agreement
in the
event that any one or more members of the other joint
venturer:
|
(a)
|
is
declared insolvent or bankrupt or has a receiver or receiver manager
of
its affairs appointed;
|
(b)
|
has
all or any substantial part of its capital or assets appropriated
by any
government authority;
|
9
(c)
|
is
removed or liquidated except in consequences of a solvent
reconstruction;
|
(d)
|
is
in default under this agreement and such default has not been
rectified
within 21 days following a notice to the defaulting joint venturer
specifying the default.
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12.3
|
Notwithstanding
that there may be no breach or default by either joint venturer,
if a
Fundamental Disagreement as to a major matter occurs then either
joint
venturer may give a notice to the other canceling this agreement
on 60
days notice and such notice shall incur no liability to the other
joint
venturer for any default or breach arising from the exercise of the
right
under this clause.
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12.4
|
A
fundamental disagreement as to a major matter includes any of the
following disagreements namely:
|
(a)
|
a
disagreement as to the need to increase the funding of the joint
venture
by either party or as to the method by which such funding shall
be made;
|
(b)
|
a
disagreement as to the admission of additional parties to the joint
venture;
|
(c)
|
a
disagreement as to the making of a distribution or the dividend
policy;
|
(d)
|
a
disagreement as to the directions or expansion of the
venture;
|
(e)
|
a
disagreement as to the sale or other disposition of the venture
or part of
the business of the venture;
|
(f)
|
a
disagreement as to the appointment of the manager or the termination
of
the services of the manager;
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(g)
|
a
disagreement as to any substantial matter which can be calculated
to cause
permanent injury to the joint venture as a going concern and where
the
disagreement of the joint venturers is threatening the failure
of the
viability of the joint
venture.
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13.
|
COSTS
|
In
the
first instance the costs of each joint venturer in settling the terms and
conditions of this agreement are borne and paid for by each party to their
own
legal advisers. However as between the parties themselves the joint venture
shall bear the costs of establishing this joint venture including the legal,
accounting and all other out-of-pocket disbursements incurred by the parties
in
connection with this agreement. As against any legal advisers, accountants
or
other nominated officials of the joint venture the joint venture partners bind
themselves jointly and severally for the settlement of amounts due to such
parties.
10
14.
|
GOVERNING
LAW
|
This
agreement shall be governed by and interpreted according to the laws of North
Carolina and each party irrevocably submits itself to the jurisdiction of the
NC
courts in respect of any proceedings arising out of or relating to this
agreement or the joint venture itself.
15.
|
NO
WAIVER
|
15.1
|
No
failure or delay on the part of either joint
venturer in exercising any power or right under this Agreement shall
operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
such
right or power preclude any other or future exercise of the same,
or any
other right or power under this
agreement.
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15.2
|
No
waiver by either party of any provisions of this agreement shall
be
binding unless made expressly and confirmed in writing. Further,
any such
waiver shall relate only to such matter, non-compliance or breach
as is
expressly stipulated and shall not apply to any subsequent or other
matter, non-compliance or breach.
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16.
|
ASSIGNMENT
|
This
Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder are personal to the joint
venture partners and such rights shall not be assignable.
17.
|
NOTICES
|
17.1
|
All
notices or other communications to be given under this agreement
shall be
given at the recipients last known place of address (or such other
address
within NC as that party may have specified in writing) and shall
be deemed
to have been given or made:
|
(a)
|
in
the case of a communication by letter, on the third day after being
posted
by mail directly addressed and stamped;
|
(b)
|
if
given by hand, on personal delivery to the recipient or to such
address;
|
11
(c)
|
in
the case of a communication by facsimile, when transmitted with
no
indication of incomplete transmission to the recipient’s last known
facsimile number. In the case of a notice by facsimile the facsimile
communication shall forthwith be followed by the posting or delivery
of an
original notice;
|
(d)
|
in
the case of an e-mail communication, when transmitted with no
indication
of incomplete transmission to the recipient’s last known e-mail address.
In the case of notice by e-mail the e-mail communication shall
forthwith
be followed by the posting or delivery of an original
notice.
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17.2
|
The
notified addresses and facsimile numbers and e-mails of the parties
are as
follows:
|
(a)
|
The
XXXXX Group
|
Post
address:
|
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxx,
|
Xxxx,
XX 00000
|
Facsimile
address:
|
000-000-0000
|
Telephone
number:
|
Office:
000-000-0000 / Cell phone:
000-000-0000
|
E-mail
address:
|
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
|
Advanced
Water Recycle Inc (HydroFlo Inc portfolio company)
Post
address:
|
0000
Xxxxxxxx xxx
|
Xxxx
XX 00000
|
Facsimile
address:
|
000-000-0000
|
Telephone
number:
|
000-000-0000
|
E-mail
address:
|
xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xx
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17.3
|
Any
party may change its notified addresses and other details as set
out in
17.2 above by notice in writing served on the other
party.
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12
18.
|
VARIATION
|
No
modification, alteration of or addition to this agreement shall be binding
on
the parties unless in writing and signed or acknowledged by each of the
parties.
19.
|
PUBLICITY
|
All
public statements regarding the activities of the joint venture shall be
authorzised by the joint venturers unanimously.
20.
|
FORCE
MAJEURE
|
No
failure or omission by any party to carry out or observe any of the terms or
conditions of this agreement, including the obligation to pay money, shall,
except as herein expressly provided to the contrary, give rise to any claim
against the party in question or be deemed a breach of this agreement, if such
failure or omission arises from any cause reasonably beyond the control of
such
party.
21.
|
FURTHER
ASSURANCES
|
21.1
|
The
parties shall execute and deliver all documents and do all things
necessary for the proper and complete performance of their respective
obligations under this agreement.
|
21.2
|
Each
of the parties agrees to execute such further documents and do
such further things within its power as may reasonably be necessary
from
time to time to give effect to the terms of this
agreement.
|
22.
|
GOOD
FAITH
|
On
entering into this agreement the parties recognize that it is impractical to
make provision for every contingency that may arise in the course of the
performance of the parties’ obligations under this agreement. Accordingly the
parties declare their intention that this agreement shall operate between them
with fairness and without detriment to the interests of any of them, and if
in
the course of the performance of this agreement unfairness to any party is
disclosed or anticipated then the parties shall use their best endeavours to
agree upon such action as may be necessary and equitable to remove the cause
of
the unfairness. The joint venturers undertake to conduct the joint venture
and
their relations with one another in good faith and at all times in the best
interests of the joint venture.
13
23.
|
RESTRICTION
ON OTHER BUSINESS
|
23.1
|
No
joint venturer shall, except with the consent of the other party,
acquire
or hold any interest, whether direct or indirect or have any involvement
whatever in any business activity which competes or is likely to
compete
with the business of the joint venture.
|
23.2
|
Except
as expressly provided above, nothing herein shall be deemed to restrict
in
any way the freedom of the joint venturers to conduct any other business
activity whatsoever whether in USA or
elsewhere.
|
24.
|
DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
|
24.1
|
If
there is a dispute between the parties arising out of or in connection
with this agreement, or arising out of their respective rights and
obligations under this agreement or in any way affecting the joint
venture, neither of the parties is to commence any proceedings relating
to
that dispute until the following procedure has been completed
with:
|
(a)
|
The
party claiming a dispute has arisen must give written notice to
the other
party specifying the nature of the
dispute.
|
(b)
|
The
parties will endeavour, in good faith, to resolve the dispute referred
to
in the notice by using informal dispute resolution techniques.
|
(c)
|
If
the parties do not agree on a dispute resolution technique within
14 days
after the date notice of a dispute was given, the dispute is to
be
mediated according to the standard mediation.
|
(d)
|
Pending
resolution of the dispute, this agreement will remain in full effect
without prejudicing the parties respective rights and
remedies.
|
(e)
|
If
mediation is not successful in settling the dispute the dispute
shall be
referred to arbitration under the Arbitration Xxx 0000.
|
(f)
|
Pending
resolution of the dispute, a party seeking urgent interlocutory
relief
may, by notice to the other party, elect not to comply with the
provisions
of this clause, but only to the extent of the relief sought, and
only for
the period required to dispose of the application for interlocutory
relief.
|
14
25.
|
ENTIRE
AGREEMENT
|
This
agreement constitutes the sole understanding of the joint venturers with respect
to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior undertakings, written
or
oral which shall be of no further force or effect. No modification, alteration
or waiver of the terms of this agreement shall be binding unless the same shall
be in writing dated subsequent to the date of this agreement and duly executed
by both the joint venturers.
IN
WITNESS
of which
this agreement has been executed by:
XXXXX
|
)
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx III
|
Who
by his signature declares himself to be fully
|
)
|
authorised
thereto, and in the presence of the
|
)
|
undersigned
witness
|
)
|
AWRI
|
)
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxx
|
who
by his signature declares himself to be fully
|
)
|
authorised
thereto, and in the presence of the
|
)
|
undersigned
witness
|
)
|