Exhibit 10.1
E
XCLUSIVE
L
ICENSE
A
GREEMENT
T HIS IS AN E XCLUSIVE L ICENSE A GREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) entered into
this 30th day of June, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), by
and among K NOLL V ENTURES , I NC . (“Knoll”), a Canadian corporation
with a place of business at
, and DDS T ECHNOLOGIES USA, I NC . (“ DDS ”), a Delaware
corporation with a place of business at 150 East Palmetto Park
Road, Suite 510, Boca Raton, FL 33432.
R ECITALS
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A.
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DDS is the
owner of certain rights with respect to dry disaggregation
technology products;
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B.
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Knoll has
identified a market for such products, and wishes to expand such
market;
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C.
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Knoll wishes to
obtain an exclusive license with respect to such DDS technology for
purposes of processing and extraction of metals and other materials
from mining, mine waste or tailings within North America;
and
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D.
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DDS wishes to
grant such a license on the terms and conditions set forth
below.
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N OW T HEREFORE , for
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as
follows:
A GREEMENT
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall
have the following meanings:
“AAA” shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Subsection 14.3 (“Arbitration”).
“Authorized Purpose”
shall mean the operation of Machines
and Enhanced Machines solely to process and/or extract metals and
other materials from mines, mine waste or tailings physically
located in the Authorized Territory.
“Authorized Territory”
shall mean, subject to Subsection
2.4 (“Exclusivity and Additional Territory”),
collectively the United States of America, Canada and
Mexico.
“Claims” shall have the meaning assigned to it in
S ECTION 12 (“I NDEMNITY ”).
“Confidential
Information” shall
have the meaning assigned to it in S ECTION 8
(“C ONFIDENTIAL
I NFORMATION ”).
“Disclosing Party”
shall have the meaning assigned to
it in S ECTION
8 (“C ONFIDENTIAL I NFORMATION ”).
“Effective Date”
shall have the meaning assigned to
it in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Enhanced Machines”
shall have the meaning assigned to
it in Subsection 4.1 (“Enhancements”).
“Enhancements”
shall have the meaning assigned to
it in Subsection 4.1 (“Enhancements”).
“Indemnified Party”
shall have the meaning assigned to
it in S ECTION
12 (“I NDEMNITY ”).
“Indemnifying Party”
shall have the meaning assigned to
it in S ECTION
12 (“I NDEMNITY ”).
“Machines” shall mean DDS machines as exist as of the
Effective Date.
“New Country Fee Records”
shall have the meaning assigned to
it in Subsection 6.3 (“Audit”).
“New Country Fees”
shall have the meaning assigned to
it in Subsection 6.1 (“New Country Fees”)
“Patents” shall mean patents, utility models and
applications therefor, including any and all divisionals,
continuations, re-examinations, renewals, provisionals,
continuations-in-part, or re-issues owned or licensable by DDS
(including without limitation U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,582), and which
are in existence as of the Effective Date or which come into
existence at any time thereafter and embody any Trade Secrets, and
including any and all Enhancements.
“Receiving Party”
shall have the meaning assigned to
it in S ECTION
8 (“C ONFIDENTIAL I NFORMATION ”).
“Royalties” shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Subsection 5.1 (“Royalties”).
“Sulfur Agreement”
shall mean that certain
“Exclusive License Agreement” by and among Knoll, DDS
and Sulfur Solutions, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Knoll, and
entered into on or around February 18, 2005.
“Sulfur Solutions”
shall mean Sulfur Solutions, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Knoll, for whom Knoll shall be deemed an
agent for purposes of this Agreement.
“Term” shall have the meaning assigned to it in
S ECTION 7 (“T ERM ,
T ERMINATION
AND E XTENSION ”).
“Trade Secrets”
shall mean all ideas, concepts,
know-how, formulas, techniques, procedures, and other non-public
information regarding the use or operation of Machines or Enhanced
Machines on or before the Effective Date, including without
limitation materials described as such in E XHIBIT A
(“T RADE
S ECRETS ”), and including any and all
Enhancements.
2. T RADE S ECRET AND P ATENT L ICENSES .
2.1 Trade Secrets.
Subject to Knoll’s
performance hereunder, including without limitation the timely
payment of Royalties, DDS hereby grants to Knoll solely during the
Term, the following licenses:
A. an exclusive (both as to DDS and all third
parties, and subject to Subsection 2.4(A)
(“Exclusivity”) ), transferable (as described in
Subsection 14.10 (“Assignment”) ),
Royalty-bearing license (with the right to grant sublicenses), to
use such Trade Secrets solely for the Authorized Purpose;
and
B. a non-exclusive, transferable (as described in
Subsection 14.10 (“Assignment”) ),
Royalty-bearing license (with the right to grant sublicenses) to
sell metals and other materials which are derived pursuant to
Subsection 2.1(A) to third parties outside the Authorized
Territory.
2.2 Patents.
Subject to Knoll’s performance
hereunder, including without limitation the timely payment of
Royalties, DDS hereby grants to Knoll solely during the Term and
solely in the Authorized Territory, the following
licenses:
A. an exclusive (both as to DDS and all third
parties, and subject to Subsection 2.4(A)
(“Exclusivity”) ), Royalty-bearing license (with
the right to grant sublicenses), solely for the Authorized
Territory, to use the Patents, and practice any claims thereof,
solely for the Authorized Purpose; and
B. a non-exclusive, transferable (as described in
Subsection 14.10 (“Assignment”) ),
Royalty-bearing license (with the right to grant sublicenses) to
sell metals and other materials derived pursuant to Subsection
2.2(A) to third parties outside the Authorized
Territory.
2.3 Enhancements.
With respect to any future Trade
Secrets or Patents regarding any Enhancements which shall be owned
by DDS as described in Subsection 4.1 (“
Enhancements ”), the licenses described in
Subsection 2.1 (“Trade Secrets”) and in
Subsection 2.2 (“ Patents ”) shall apply
to such Trade Secrets and Patents, subject to all of the applicable
terms and conditions set forth herein or in this
Agreement.
2.4 Exclusivity and Additional
Territory.
A. Exclusivity.
The parties understand and agree
that, subject to Knoll’s performance under this Agreement and
subject to Subsection 2.4(B) (“ Additional
Territory ”), DDS shall not grant any licenses or
sublicenses to any third parties with respect to any Patents or
Trade Secrets to allow such third parties to process and/or extract
metals and other materials from mining, mine waste or tailings
anywhere in the world for a period of three (3) years from the
Effective Date.
B. Additional
Territory. At the end of
the three (3) year period described in Subsection 2.4(A)
(“Exclusivity”), Knoll shall be entitled to add
such countries and regions in which Knoll has established a
significant commercial presence (with respect to the processing
and/or extraction of metals and other materials from mining, mine
waste, tailings or other feed stock pursuant to this Agreement) to
the Authorized Territory as Knoll may wish upon written notice to
DDS given no later than sixty (60) days after the end of such three
(3) year period, subject, however, to all of the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement. The parties understand and
agree that thereafter the provisions of Subsection 2.4(A)
(“Exclusivity”) shall no longer apply outside the
Authorized Territory as such Authorized Territory may have been
added to as hereinabove provided, but that the obligation of Knoll
to pay New Country Fees to DDS as described in Subsection 6.2
(“Payment”) shall apply. The addition of such
countries and regions by Knoll shall be at no additional cost to
Knoll but shall also be subject to the Royalty obligations set
forth herein.
2.5 Sublicenses.
All sublicenses granted by Knoll as
provided in this S ECTION 2 (“ T RADE S ECRET AND P ATENT L ICENSES ”) shall be in a commercially reasonable,
legally enforceable and written form, and shall be no less
protective of DDS’s rights (including without
limitation DDS’s rights with respect to
its Confidential Information”) than this Agreement. Knoll
shall identify all sublicensees to DDS promptly and in writing, and
shall ensure that such sublicensees are at all times in full
compliance with the terms of such sublicense agreements.
3. S ALE OF M
ACHINES .
3.1 Sulfur Agreement.
The parties acknowledge that, as of
the Effective Date, DDS has contracted to deliver to Knoll and
Sulfur Solutions certain Machines pursuant to the Sulfur Agreement,
and that such Machines shall be subject to the terms of both the
Sulfur Agreement and this Agreement; provided, however, that in the
event of a conflict between the terms thereof, the terms of this
Agreement shall prevail, and that further that Machines under this
Agreement shall in no event include those described in
Subsection 3.2 (“ Initial Machine Sale ”)
of the foregoing Sulfur Agreement.
3.2 Sample.
The parties further acknowledge
that, as of the Effective Date, Knoll has delivered to DDS a small
sample of mining waste for examination and inspection by DDS for
testing in a Machine pursuant to the licenses granted to Knoll in
S ECTION
2 (“ T RADE S ECRET AND P ATENT L ICENSES ”).
4. E NHANCEMENTS .
4.1 Enhancements.
Knoll will operate one (1) or more
Machines located at its premises in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for
the Authorized Purpose and shall evaluate the performance thereof
for no longer than sixty (60) days from the Effective Date. As a
result of such evaluation Knoll may recommend to DDS certain
improvements, enhancements and customizations thereto which are in
Knoll’s reasonable judgment necessary or desirable to improve
the performance of such Machine (collectively,
“Enhancements”). Such Enhancements shall belong solely
to DDS, and Knoll shall take all steps, both during and after the
Term, reasonably required by DDS to assign all rights therein to
DDS (with DDS to promptly reimburse Knoll for its reasonable, out
of pocket costs in connection therewith), and to properly document
and record such ownership and assignment. At such time as any of
the Enhancements are incorporated into a Machine, such Machine
shall be referred to as an “Enhanced
Machine.”
4.2 Use of Machines and Enhanced
Machines. Knoll shall
agree that it shall not, to the extent permitted by law or good
commercial practice, use, or permit or encourage the use of,
Machines or Enhanced Machines purchased by Knoll for any purpose
other than the Authorized Purpose.
4.3 Buy Back Rights.
In the event of any expiration or
termination of this Agreement, or prior to any contemplated sale,
lease, license, consignment or any other transfer of any Machine or
Enhanced Machine by Knoll to any third party, Knoll shall give no
less than forty-five (45) days’ written notice thereof to
DDS, and shall afford DDS the opportunity to purchase all or some
of such Machines or Enhanced Machines (at DDS’s discretion)
***. In the event that DDS declines to purchase any such Machines
or Enhanced Machines, Knoll may proceed with the foregoing sale,
lease, license, consignment or other transfer of such Machines or
Enhanced Machines. The parties understand and agree that any
agreements for sale of Machines or Enhanced Machines to third
parties (including without limitation any sublicensees of Knoll) by
DDS shall contain an analogous “buy back” provision;
provided; however, that it shall not be an obligation of Knoll
hereunder to arrange for the re-sale or return of such Machines or
Enhanced Machines to DDS.
5. R OYALTIES AND P AYMENT .
5.1 Royalties.
In addition to payment for the
purchase of Machines and Enhanced Machines, Knoll shall also pay to
DDS certain royalties (“Royalties”) to be calculated as
follows, based on amounts paid to Knoll by third parties for metals
or other materials which are produced using such Machines or
Enhanced Machines, or for sublicenses or other rights granted
pursuant to this Agreement:
A. Where Knoll uses Machines or Enhanced Machines
to process mine waste or tailings for the extraction of metals and
other materials, the Royalty paid to DDS shall be based on a
percentage of gross revenue received by Knoll in connection
therewith, to be calculated as follows: ***; and
B. Where Knoll grants any sublicenses of any rights
hereunder, the Royalty shall be calculated as follows based upon
all revenues received by Knoll in connection therewith:
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PERCENTAGE
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NUMBER OF AFFECTED MACHINES
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***
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***
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***
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***
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***
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***
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5.2 Sublicensees.
The Royalty obligation described
herein shall, in every case, remain an obligation of each
sublicensee, purchaser, assignee or other party or customer with
whom Knoll shall enter into a transaction in which there is any
direct or indirect grant of any DDS rights, by sublicense or
otherwise, and the parties acknowledge that it is their mutual
intention that Royalties to be paid to DDS will be substantially
the same, regardless of whether sulfur or sulfur derivatives are
processed by Knoll or by a sublicensee. To the extent that an
adjustment in Royalty calculation shall be necessary in order to
achieve such intention, the parties shall cooperate and negotiate
in good faith to adjust the Royalty calculation
accordingly.
5.3 Payment.
Knoll shall pay Royalties to DDS on
a calendar quarterly basis, thirty (30) days in arrears. Each
payment of Royalties shall be accompanied by written documentation
sufficient to explain to DDS’s reasonable satisfaction the
amount and calculation of such Royalties. Knoll shall also provide
on an annual basis a comprehensive, written report, certified as
accurate by Knoll’s independent accountants, describing all
Royalties due and paid, and the calculation thereof.
5.4 Audit.
Knoll shall also maintain at all
times written records of all metals and other materials sold, or
contracted for sale, by or on behalf of Knoll pursuant to this
Agreement in a form and format reasonably required by DDS
(collectively, “Records”). Knoll shall maintain such
Records solely at Lawson Lundell LLP 3700, 205 – 5
th
Avenue S.W.,
Calgary,
Alberta T2P 2V7 and shall make such Records
available for audit by DDS, or DDS’s accountants and
representatives, upon reasonable notice (in no event less than two
(2) nor more than five (5) business days’ notice). DDS shall
conduct such an audit no more frequently than two (2) times each
calendar year. In the event that any such audit reveals an
underpayment of Royalties, Knoll shall immediately pay the amount
of such underpayment plus interest thereon calculated at one and
one-half percent (1.5%) of all owed and unpaid Royalties, or the
highest rate allowed by law, whichever is lower. Where such audit
reveals an underpayment of more than five percent (5%), and Knoll
shall also reimburse DDS for its out of pocket expenses in
connection with such audit. Knoll shall maintain all such Records
for no less than five (5) years following the expiration or
termination of this Agreement.
5.5 Currency.
All