EXHIBIT 10.4 STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AGREEMENTStrategic Alliance Agreement |
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EXHIBIT 10.4
STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the 8th day of April, 2004 (the "Effective
Date"), by and between ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
("ADM"), and EUGENE SCIENCE INC., a Korean corporation ("EUGENE").
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, ADM is engaged in the business of procuring and processing
fatty acid distillate ("Distillate") into, among other things, products
containing sterols and steryl esters using multiple technologies, and marketing
those products worldwide; and
WHEREAS, EUGENE is engaged in the business of producing and marketing
products containing sterols and steryl esters utilizing EUGENE proprietary
technology (the "EUGENE Products"); and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into a strategic alliance
involving the procurement of Distillate, the procurement and sale of sterols and
the sale and distribution of EUGENE Products, all pursuant to the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein, it is agreed as follows:
1. Term
(a) The term of this Agreement commence on the Effective Date, and
shall continue for an initial term of five (5) years from the date ADM commences
offering one or more EUGENE Products for commercial sale unless earlier
terminated as hereinafter provided. After the initial term, this Agreement shall
be automatically renewed for successive one (1) year periods unless and until
terminated as hereinafter provided. The initial term and each of the successive
renewal terms, if any, are hereinafter referred to as the "Term".
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, either party may
terminate this Agreement, without liability, at the end of the initial term or
any renewal term by providing the other party with at least ninety (90) days
advance written notice prior to the end of such term.
(c) Upon the happening of any one or more of the following events,
in addition to all other rights and remedies available to it, either party shall
have the right to cancel and terminate this Agreement immediately by written
notice to the other party:
(i) The failure of the other party to perform or comply
with any one or more of any of the terms or
conditions of this Agreement and the failure to cure
such failure within thirty (30) days from receiving
written notice of such failure;
(ii) The insolvency of the other party; or the assignment
by the other parry for the benefit of creditors; or
the filing of a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy,
judicial liquidation, or reorganization petition by
or against the other party; or the appointment of a
receiver, liquidator or judicial administrator, or a
trustee for either party, of any part or interest of
its business; or the failure of either party to
vacate, set
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aside or have dismissed any insolvency proceeding
under any law governing, or in effect for, the
Territory, within sixty (60) days from the date of
the commencement of any such proceeding; or the
dissolution of the entity of the other party for any
cause whatsoever; or the suspension of check/note
clearance privilege;
(iii) The failure to commence the sales of EUGENE Products
to any customers in the Territory within one year
after obtaining final regulatory approval to market
the EUGENE Products.
2. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS UPON TERMINATION
(a) Neither party shall be liable for compensation or
consequential damages of any kind, whether on account of the loss of present or
prospective profits, or anticipated sales, expenditures, investments, or
commitments made in connection with-this Agreement.
(b) The parties shall abide by and uphold any rights or
obligations accrued or existing on the date of such termination.
(c) For a period of six (6) months after the expiration or earlier
termination of this Agreement, ADM shall have the right to sell its inventories
of EUGENE Products through its regular channels of distribution and upon terms
consistent with those offered before expiration or termination.
3. PROCUREMENT OF DISTILLATE Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement, ADM shall and hereby does appoint EUGENE as its
exclusive agent to purchase Distillate from vegetable oil refining in. Korea. As
needed in ADM's discretion. ADM shall inform EUGENE of the price,
specifications, terms and conditions upon which ADM is willing to purchase
Distillate. EUGENE shall use commercially reasonable efforts and diligence to
purchase Distillate at or below the price requested by ADM, conforming with the
specifications, terms and conditions requested by ADM. To the extent EUGENE is
able to source such Distillate, EUGENE shall procure such Distillate for
EUGENE's account. EUGENE shall then sell such Distillate to ADM at the price
requested by ADM, conforming with the specifications, terms and conditions
requested by ADM. To the extent EUGENE is able to procure the Distillate at a
price lower than requested by ADM, EUGENE shall retain such margin for its
account. In addition, the parties may mutually agree upon a commission payable
from ADM. to EUGENE for procuring Distillate pursuant to this section ADM will
remit payment to EUGENE by wire transfer of irrevocable funds within one (1)
business day of receiving the faxed documents outlined in ADM's request, which
will include, but is not necessarily limited to, bill of lading, invoice, kosher
certificate and wash certificates. ADM shall reserve for EUGENE the
equivalent-quantity of sterols (finished product basis) in the Distillate that
EUGENE procured for ADM for sale to EUGENE pursuant to Section 4 below.
4. STEROL SUPPLY For EUGENE Products sold in North America and
Europe, EUGENE shall purchase all of its requirements for sterols from ADM, The
contract with respect to any such sale shall consist of this Agreement, plus
EUGENE'S purchase order, and ADM'S sales confirmation and/or invoice; however,
any provisions in EUGENE'S purchase order or ADM'S sales confirmation and/or
invoice that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement shall be of
no force or effect. The terms and conditions shall include those set forth
below:
(a) PRICE The price for sterols sold hereunder shall be ADM's
weighted average resale price of sterols and sterol steryl esters (on a pure
sterol basis deducting processing costs of intersterification) for food
applications and pharmaceutical applications (the "ADM's Weighted Average Sterol
Price"). The price shall be set at the commencement of the Term using ADM's
Weighted Average
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Sterol Price for the immediately preceding six-month period, and shall be
adjusted each six months based upon ADM's Weighted Average Sterol Price for the
immediately preceding six month period.
(b) LIMITATIONS The sterols sold hereunder are for EUGENE's
internal use for the production of EUGENE Products, and are not for resale. To
the extent EUGENE requires sterols for resale to third parties in Korea, Eugene
would purchase all of its requirements from ADM upon the terms and conditions
set forth herein, except for the price, which is to be mutually agreed.
(c) RELEASE To the extent EUGENE requires quantities of sterols
hereunder in excess of the amounts reserved for EUGENE pursuant to Section 3
above, and ADM is unable to supply such quantities, EUGENE may purchase such
sterols from a third party.
(d) DELIVERY The product shall be sold CIF Busan. All
interpretation of the delivery terms shall be in accordance with the Incoterms,
latest edition.
(e) PAYMENT ADM shall invoice EUGENE for sterols purchased, and
EUGENE shall make payment within 45 days of shipment.
(f) ORDERS EUGENE shall place all orders in writing for sterols at
least 30 days prior to the date of shipment. Orders shall set out the quantity
of product desired, any special instructions and the requested date product
should be available. EUGENE shall order sterols in approximately equal amounts
each month during the Term.
(g) WEIGHTS ADM's weights shall govern settlement; provided,
however, if any substantial discrepancy with EUGENE's weights exists, the
parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve the same.
(h) WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION ADM warrants that the sterols
shall conform to the specifications set forth in Schedule A, attached hereto.
EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS PARAGRAPH, SELLER MAKES NO WARRANTIES, WHETHER
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, IMPLIED WARRANTY
OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED.
IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL EITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL,
SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES UNDER ANY TORT, CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY OR
OTHER LEGAL OR EQUITABLE THEORY, EVEN IF SAID PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF OR COULD HAVE FORESEEN SUCH DAMAGES.
5. DISTRIBUTION OF EUGENE PRODUCTS Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, EUGENE shall and hereby does appoint ADM
as the exclusive distributor of the EUGENE Products for shipment and sale to
customers in North America and Europe (the "Territory"). ADM shall and hereby
does accept such appointment. The terms of such appointment are as follows:
(a) PRE-COMMERCIALIZATION ADM shall use commercially reasonable
efforts and diligence to proceed with the regulatory approval, promotion,
marketing and sale of the EUGENE Products in the Territory. As part of such
efforts, ADM shall pursue regulatory approval and conduct a review of
intellectual property rights in the Territory. These expenses ADM incurs and
other expenses ADM incurs related to preparing for the commercial sale of the
EUGENE Products in the Territory, and that are pre-approved by EUGENE, such
approval not to be unreasonably withheld, shall be defined as
"Pre-Commercialization Expenses." As further set forth below, EUGENE shall
reimburse ADM for one-half of the Pre-Commercialization Expenses. In the event,
ADM has not been reimbursed for one-half of the Pre-
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Commercialization Expense pursuant to the method set forth below, then EUGENE
shall promptly remit such unpaid amounts, including accrued interest, to ADM
unless the parties mutually agree to extend the period of repayment.
(b) PURCHASE OF PRODUCTS From time to time during the Term, ADM
may place purchase orders with EUGENE for the purchase of the EUGENE Products,
and to the extent EUGENE has EUGENE Products available or capacity to produce.
EUGENE Products available, EUGENE shall accept such purchase orders. EUGENE
shall produce the EUGENE Products at its production facility in Korea. The
contract with respect to any such sale shall consist of this Agreement, plus
ADM'S purchase order, and EUGENE'S sales confirmation and/or invoice; however,
any provisions in ADM'S purchase order or EUGENE'S sales confirmation and/or
invoice that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement shall be of
no force or effect. The terms and conditions of such purchase and sale shall
include those set forth below:
(i) Price The price for EUGENE Products sold hereunder
shall be (y) 115% of EUGENE's cost of manufacture
calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles, as have been consistently
applied by EUGENE (the 'Transfer Price"), plus (z)
50% of ADM's net margin from the resale of EUGENE
Products less an amount described below for EUGENE's
one-half share of the Pre-Commercialization Expenses
(the "Bonus Price"). For purposes of this paragraph,
EUGENE's cost of manufacture shall only include
actual costs incurred by EUGENE for raw materials,
labor, depreciation of production facility, utilities
and overhead necessary for the production. For
purposes of this paragraph, ADM's net margin shall be
calculated by subtracting from ADM's gross margin any
expenses, including rebates, returns, commissions and
license fees payable to any third parties, but not
including any Pre-Commercialization Expenses. For
purposes of this paragraph, ADM's gross margin shall
equal the sales received from ADM's sale of EUGENE
Products less the Transfer Price, less freight, taxes
and duties. The amount to be deducted for EUGENE'S
one-half share of the Pre-Commercialization Expenses
shall be calculated by amortizing-one-half of the
Pre-Commercialization Expenses over a period of three
(3) years, accruing interest per annum at an interest
rate equal to the Prime Rate, as published in THE
WALL STREET JOURNAL, plus 3%, such rate to be
adjusted semi-annually.
(ii) DELIVERY The product shall be sold CIF US port or
European port to be mutually agreed. All
interpretation of the delivery terms shall be in
accordance with the Incoterms, latest edition.
(iii) PAYMENT EUGENE shall invoice ADM for the EUGENE
Products purchased, and ADM shall make payment within
45 days of shipment.
(iv) ORDERS ADM shall place all orders in writing for
sterols at least 60 days prior to the date of
shipment. Orders shall set out the quantity of
product desired, any special instructions and the
requested date product should be available.
(v) WEIGHTS EUGENE'S weights shall govern settlement;
provided, however, if any substantial discrepancy
with ADM's weights exists, the parties shall attempt
in good faith to resolve the same.
(vi) WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION EUGENE warrants that the
EUGENE Products shall conform to the specifications
set forth in Schedule B, attached hereto. EXCEPT AS
SET FORTH IN THIS PARAGRAPH, SELLER MAKES NO
WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
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IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
AND NON-INFRINGEMENT ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. IN NO
EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL EITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE
FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR INCIDENTALDAMAGES
UNDER ANY TORT, CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER
LEGAL OR EQUITABLE THEORY, EVEN IF SAID PARTY HAS
BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF OR COULD HAVE
FORESEEN SUCH DAMAGES.
(c) TRADEMARKS ADM may, but shall have no obligation, to, use the
tradenames, trademarks or get-up of EUGENE in connection with the sale of the
EUGENE Products.
6. LICENSE TO EUGENE TECHNOLOGY In the event EUGENE is unable to
supply the volume of EUGENE Products required by ADM for distribution in the
Territory from its facility in Korea, upon request by ADM. EUGENE shall be
deemed to have granted to ADM a license on the terms and conditions set forth
below:
(a) LICENSE GRANT For the Term, and subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, EUGENE hereby grants to ADM (i) a sole and exclusive right
and license, with the right to assign and sublicense, to the EUGENE Technology
and Licensed Patents to manufacture, have manufactured on its behalf, import,
use, sell and offer to sell EUGENE Products in the Territory. EUGENE shall not
grant other licenses under the EUGENE Technology or the Licensed Patents in the
Territory. Further, EUGENE does not retain any rights under the EUGENE
Technology and the Licensed Patents to manufacture, have manufactured, use,
sell, offer for sale or import Eugene Products in the Territory.
(b) TECHNOLOgY TRANSFER EUGENE shall furnish to ADM copies of
EUGENE'S plans, drawings, schematics, manuals and other drawings related to the
manufacture of EUGENE Products utilizing the EUGENE Technology and Licensed
Patents. EUGENE shall further provide support and assistance to ADM as may be
reasonably requested to transfer the EUGENE Technology to ADM for purposes of
the license granted above.
(c) RUNNING ROYALTIES In consideration of the rights and licenses
granted to ADM by EUGENE under the License, ADM shall pay EUGENE a running
royalty ("Running Royalty") in United States dollars for each calendar quarter
equal to a percentage of Net Sales between 8% and 12%, the exact percentage to
be based upon the net sales price in a manner to be mutually agreed by the
parties. Running Royalties shall be paid by ADM to EUGENE within forty-five (45)
days after the close of the calendar quarter.
(d) ENFORCEMENT ADM if it so desires, shall have the right to
institute and prosecute any infringement action for the infringement of the
EUGENE Technology and/or Licensed Patents against any third party at ADM's own
expense. In such event, and, in the event that such suit results in a favorable
determination for ADM, ADM shall be entitled to keep any and all monies received
from such third party infringer for infringement of the EUGENE Technology and/or
Licensed Patents regardless of whether such monies are obtained by way of
judgment or by way of settlement. In any such infringement action brought by
ADM, EUGENE shall at ADM's request and subject to reimbursement by ADM for
EUGENE's reasonable out-of-pocket expense and management costs, cooperate with
ADM in all respec






