EXHIBIT 10.1
JOINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
between
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
and
EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
ARTICLE 1 – DEFINITIONS |
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ARTICLE 2 – PROGRAM |
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ARTICLE 3 – PROGRAM GOVERNANCE |
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ARTICLE 4 – DISCLOSURE, CONFIDENTIALITY AND RESTRICTED USE |
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ARTICLE 5 – PUBLICITY AND PUBLICATIONS |
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ARTICLE 6 – OWNERSHIP / PROCUREMENT OF PROGRAM RESULTS |
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ARTICLE 7 –LICENSE TO PROGRAM RESULTS |
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ARTICLE 8 – LICENSE TO BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND PATENTS |
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ARTICLE 9 – INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY PATENTS |
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ARTICLE 10 – PAYMENT |
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ARTICLE 11 – REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, INDEMNITIES AND LIABILITIES |
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ARTICLE 12 – TERM AND TERMINATION |
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ARTICLE 13 – ARBITRATION AND GOVERNING LAW |
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ARTICLE 14 – ASSIGNMENT |
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ARTICLE 15 – FORCE MAJEURE |
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ARTICLE 16 – ADDRESSES AND NOTICES |
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ARTICLE 17 – COMPLIANCE |
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ARTICLE 18 – RECORDS AND AUDIT |
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ARTICLE 19 – TAXES |
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ARTICLE 20 – ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS |
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APPENDIX A – DEFINITIONS |
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APPENDIX B – SAMPLE PROJECT DESCRIPTION FORMAT |
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This Agreement is made as of the Effective Date between:
ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, a corporation of the State of Delaware having offices at 1545 Route 22 East, Annandale, New Jersey 08801 (“ExxonMobil”); and
FuelCell Energy, Inc., a corporation of the State of Delaware having offices at 3 Great Pasture Road, Danbury, Connecticut 06810 (“FCE”).
ExxonMobil and FCE are engaged in collaborative research and development projects to evaluate and develop Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFCs) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (i.e., achieve low cost carbon dioxide capture). ExxonMobil and FCE wish to further the research and development efforts to evaluate and develop new and/or improved MCFCs to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial and power sources (“Scope”). Therefore, in consideration of the foregoing premises and mutual covenants contained herein, ExxonMobil and FCE (each a “Party” and collectively the “Parties”) agree as follows:
1.01 | Definitions. The terms appearing in this Agreement in initial capital letters, not otherwise defined in the preamble or body of this Agreement, are defined in Appendix A. |
2.03 | Work Exclusivity/Independent Work. During the Term of this Agreement, FCE will not conduct any Work using Generation 1 Technology in Carbon Capture Applications or any Work using Generation 2 Technology, independently or with third parties outside this Agreement, without prior written approval from ExxonMobil. Notwithstanding the foregoing, ExxonMobil hereby grants approval for FCE solely to conduct Authorized Work using Generation 1 Technology with Authorized Third Parties for Carbon Capture Applications and any Work using Generation 2 Technology solely for Power Applications and Hydrogen Applications. |
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ARTICLE 3 – PROGRAM GOVERNANCE
| (a) | Composition. Each Party will appoint in writing one or more of its employees as SC members. Each Party will have the right to change its SC members at any time by giving written notice of such change to the other Party. |
| (b) | Meetings. Meetings of the SC will be in person or by phone at a location and time agreed to in advance by the SC members. |
| (c) | Other Attendees. In addition to the attendance of SC members, with prior written notice to the other Party’s SC members, each Party may also bring to any SC meeting such technical and other advisors as it may deem appropriate, provided that such advisors are employees of a Party or its Affiliates and are under written confidentiality and use restrictions at least as strict as those imposed herein. Otherwise, a Party’s additional invitees may attend a SC meeting only with the other Party’s advance written approval. |
| (d) | Responsibilities. The responsibilities of the SC will include, but are not limited to: |
| i. | Project Endorsement and Monitoring. The SC will review and approve each Project Description and amendment thereto prior to execution by the Parties. (However, no Project Description or amendment thereto will be effective unless and until it is executed by duly authorized representatives of both Parties.) The SC will periodically monitor the ongoing status of all Projects, and make adjustments to priorities within and between the Projects. |
| ii. | Dispute Resolution. Assist the Parties in resolving any disputes. |
| (e) | Votes. Each Party only gets one vote on the SC regardless of the number of SC members it appoints. Except as otherwise stated in this Agreement, all decisions by the SC will be by unanimous agreement. In the absence of unanimity, ExxonMobil’s SC representatives will have final decision making authority with respect to only the following decisions required by the SC: whether and where to seek patent protection and whether to maintain patent assets, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 6.04 (Solicitation of Program Patents Discretionary). |
| (f) | Minutes. All decisions by the SC will be documented in agreed upon minutes distributed to SC members after the meeting. |
| (g) | No Amendment Rights. The SC may recommend but has no authority to amend the terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
| (h) | Costs. ExxonMobil will bear its own costs associated with participating in the SC. FCE’s costs and expenses associated with its participation in the SC are included in each Project’s budget as Direct Costs. |
| • | direct the work performed under a Project in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Project Description; |
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| • | monitor and coordinate all intellectual property activities relative to each Project; and |
| • | make recommendations to the SC on proposed publications containing Program Information. |
Unless otherwise mutually agreed, the Technical Managers for a Project will meet in person at least once each calendar quarter during a Project at such locations as the Technical Managers agree. The Technical Managers will communicate regularly by telephone or similar means between such meetings.
ARTICLE 4 – DISCLOSURE, CONFIDENTIALITY AND RESTRICTED USE
4.02 | Background Information Disclosure, Confidentiality and Use Restriction. Each Party will make available its Background Information to the other Party that it believes will be useful in carrying out work under the Program. Except as otherwise permitted under this Agreement, each Party agrees to hold the Background Information it receives from the other Party in confidence, and to not disclose or make available the other Party’s Background Information to any third party without the express prior written consent of the other Party, for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending twenty (20) years thereafter. Without the express prior written consent of the other Party, each Party agrees to use and practice the other Party’s Background Information only for the Program or as authorized in Article 8 (License to Background Information and Patents). |
4.04 | Information Handling Obligations. Each Party will endeavor to mark Confidential Information as follows: |
| (a) | Confidential Information first disclosed in tangible form or electronically will be marked by the Disclosing Party as “confidential” or “proprietary” or with words of similar import when provided, indicating whether the information is “Program Information” or “Background Information”; |
| (b) | Confidential Information first disclosed orally or by visual display will be identified by the Disclosing Party as “confidential” or “proprietary” or with words of similar import at first disclosure and subsequently confirmed as confidential in a summary provided in an e-mail or other written communication delivered to the other Party within thirty (30) days after first disclosure, that references the date of the confidential disclosure indicating whether the information is “Program Information” or “Background Information”; and |
| (c) | If a Sample is sent to the other Party, the Sample will be marked by the Disclosing Party as “confidential” or “proprietary” or with words of similar import at the time of disclosure indicating whether the Sample is “Program Information” or “Background Information”. |
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The failure to appropriately mark information/materials as “confidential” or “proprietary” upon initial disclosure to the Receiving Party will not be considered a waiver of confidentiality. Information/materials marked as “proprietary” or “confidential” when first disclosed, without further identification of the category of confidential information, will be presumptively considered and treated as Program Information until the Disclosing Party notifies the Receiving Party otherwise in writing.
| a. | the information or material was already in the Receiving Party’s or its Affiliate’s lawful possession (free of any confidentiality and use restrictions) and was not previously acquired directly or indirectly from the other Party under a current obligation of confidentiality; |
| b. | the information or material was already in the public domain or subsequently entered the public domain after disclosure through no fault of the Receiving Party; |
| c. | the information or material was or is hereafter furnished to the Receiving Party, or its Affiliate, on a non-confidential basis by a third party legally entitled to provide the information or material without restriction; |
| d. | the information or material was independently developed by employees or agents of the Receiving Party or its Affiliate who did not have access to relevant information provided by the Disclosing Party; and/or |
| e. | the information or material was released from the confidentiality obligations of this Agreement by the Disclosing Party’s written authorization. |
The later occurrence of any one of the aforementioned exceptions will not excuse any failure to adequately protect Confidential Information pursuant to this Agreement prior to the existence of the exception. More specific Confidential Information will not be deemed to be within the foregoing exceptions merely because it is embraced by more general information that is publicly available or in the possession of Receiving Party pursuant to one of the exceptions. Also a combination of features will not be deemed within the foregoing exceptions merely because individual features are publicly available or in Receiving Party’s possession pursuant to one of the exceptions.
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ARTICLE 5 – PUBLICITY AND PUBLICATIONS
Notwithstanding the foregoing, either Party may make such disclosure as it may determine to be required by applicable law (such as filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission), provided that in such case the Disclosing Party will provide advance notice of such disclosure to the other Party and, where legally permitted, an opportunity to redact its sensitive proprietary information from such disclosure.
Further, during the Term, each Party agrees that it will not use the name, service mark or trademark of the other Party, or any Affiliate of the other Party, or provide any indication from which the identity of the other Party or its Affiliate may reasonably be inferred in any publicity release or other announcement, without first obtaining the written approval of the other Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Party hereby grants approval for the other Party to use its name, service mark or trademark in promotional materials that have a generally accepted description of the Scope, which such generally accepted description shall be mutually agreed to in writing beforehand. An exception to this Paragraph will include U.S. patent prosecution that refers to this Agreement as a “joint research agreement” under 35 U.S.C. § 102(c).
Further, each Party agrees to include appropriate attribution of the other Party in any publicity release, advertising, print, media or other announcement concerning the use of MCFCs for carbon capture, the Program or the Program Results.
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ARTICLE 6 – OWNERSHIP / PROCUREMENT OF PROGRAM RESULTS
| (i) | cause its employees, contractors, and consultants to render reasonable and timely assistance to ExxonMobil and its attorneys or agents; |
| (ii) | assign, and will cause its and its Affiliates’ employees, contractors, and consultants to assign, its right, title, and interest in and to such Program Patent to ExxonMobil for filing; and |
| (iii) | cause its and its Affiliate employees, contractors, and consultants, to execute any documents as may be required to effect such assignments, or file, prosecute, and maintain any patent applications or patents that are based on, derived from, or protect such Program Patent. |
ExxonMobil will hold formal legal title to all such patent applications, and resulting patents.
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The abandonment of a pending patent application in favor of a continuation patent application, continuation-in-part patent application, or divisional patent application, or in favor of another application of a related subject (e.g. to overcome a double patenting rejection) and ExxonMobil’s decision not to file any Program Patent, will not be deemed to be an election not to continue to prosecute, issue, or maintain any Program Patent under Paragraph 6.04. In addition, (a) the failure to appeal a patent office or any administrative tribunal or judicial decision adverse to any patent or patent application, or (b) in the case of a co-pending non-provisional application in the U.S., (i) failure to enter an international patent application into the national phase, or (ii) to ratify a patent in any country, will not be deemed to be an election not to continue to prosecute, issue, or maintain any Program Patent under Paragraph 6.04.
6.08 | Disposal of Prior JDA Project Patents. During the Term of this Agreement and for two (2) years thereafter, in the event that either Party decides to sell or convey its interest in or otherwise dispose of any Prior JDA Project Patent to any Non-Affiliated Third Party, such Party will inform the other Party, who will then have the right of first refusal to purchase or otherwise acquire the sole interest at same or better terms. Any sale of a Prior JDA Project Patent to a Non-Affiliated Third Party is subject to the licenses granted and other obligations set forth in this Agreement. |
ARTICLE 7 – LICENSE TO PROGRAM RESULTS
| (a) | FCE’s R&D Rights. ExxonMobil grants FCE a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable (except pursuant to Article 14 (Assignment)), non-sub-licensable (except as set forth in this Paragraph 7.01(a)) right and license to practice Program Results solely to conduct research and development for the Program. More particularly, said right and license to practice includes the right to use, reproduce, and create derivative works of Program Information under applicable copyrights and to make, use, and import (but not sell or offer to sell) under the claims of Program Patents, in each case solely for research and development for the Program. Said right and license may be extended to contractors performing work on behalf of FCE but is not otherwise sub-licensable. |
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| (b) | FCE’s Commercial Rights. ExxonMobil agrees to grant or hereby grants FCE the following rights and licenses: |
| (1) | Power Applications and Hydrogen Applications. ExxonMobil grants FCE a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable (except as stated in Paragraphs 12.03 (Failure to Perform), 12.04 (Other Termination), and 12.05 (Bankruptcy)), sub-licensable, non-transferable (except pursuant to Article 14 (Assignment)), right and license to practice Program Results solely for Power Applications and Hydrogen Applications. More particularly, said right and license to practice Program Results solely for Power Applications and Hydrogen Applications includes the right to use, reproduce, and create derivative works of Program Information under applicable copyrights and to make, use, import, and sell or offer to sell under the claims of Program Patents; and |
| (2) | Carbon Capture Applications. In the event ExxonMobil notifies FCE that it has formally decided not to pursue Generation 2 Technology for Carbon Capture Applications, then upon FCE’s written request, ExxonMobil agrees to negotiate a grant to FCE, under commercially reasonable terms to be determined in good faith, a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-bearing (with the royalty to be negotiated), non-sub-licensable (except as set forth in this Paragraph 7.01(b)(2)), non-transferable (except pursuant to Article 14 (Assignment)), right and license to practice Program Results solely for Carbon Capture Applications. More particularly, said right and license to practice Program Results solely for Hydrogen Applications and Carbon Capture Applications will include the right to use, reproduce, and creative derivative works of Program Information under applicable copyrights and to make, use, import, and sell or offer to sell under the claims of Program Patents. Said right and license will be extendable to contractors performing work on behalf of FCE but will not otherwise sub-licensable. Nothing in this Paragraph 7.01(b)(2) will create an obligation on the part of ExxonMobil to grant FCE a right or license under Program Results if the Parties do not agree on the terms and conditions of such license. |
ARTICLE 8 – LICENSE TO BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND PATENTS
8.01 | Ownership Retained. Each Party will retain its title and ownership rights to its Background Information and Background Patents in all applicable jurisdictions. |
| (a) | Grant to ExxonMobil. |
| 1) | Carbon Capture Applications and Hydrogen Applications. To the extent not already granted pursuant to the License Agreement, FCE grants ExxonMobil and its Affiliates a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, sub-licensable, non-transferable (except pursuant to Article 14 (Assignment)) right and license to practice FCE Background Information and FCE Background Patents for Generation 2 Technology in Carbon Capture Applications and Hydrogen Applications. More particularly, said right and license to practice FCE Background Information and FCE Background Patents for Generation 2 Technology in Carbon Capture Applications and Hydrogen Applications includes the right to use, reproduce, and create derivative works of FCE Background Information under applicable copyrights and the right to make, use, import, and sell or offer to sell under the claims of FCE Background Patents. |
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| (b) | Grant to FCE. |
| 1) | Generation 1 Technology. |
| i. | Outside of Carbon Capture Applications. ExxonMobil grants FCE a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-sub-licensable (except as set forth herein), perpetual, irrevocable (except as stated in Paragraphs 12.03 (Failure to Perform), 12.04 (Other Termination), and 12.05 (Bankruptcy)), non-transferable (except pursuant to Article 14 (Assignment)) right and license to practice ExxonMobil Background Information and ExxonMobil Background Patents for Generation 1 Technology in any applications outside of Carbon Capture Applications. More particularly, said right and license to practice ExxonMobil Background Information and ExxonMobil Background Patents for Generation 1 Technology in any applications outside of Carbon Capture Applications includes the right to use, reproduce, and create derivative works of ExxonMobil Background Information under applicable copyrights and the right to make, use, import, and sell or offer to sell under the claims of ExxonMobil Background Patents. All rights and licenses in this Paragraph (b)(1)(i) may be extended to contractors performing work on behalf of FCE but are not otherwise sub-licensable. |
| ii. | Authorized Third Parties. ExxonMobil grants FCE a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-sub-licensable (except as set forth herein), perpetual, irrevocable (except as stated in Paragraphs 12.03 (Failure to Perform), 12.04 (Other Termination), and 12.05 (Bankruptcy)), non-transferable (except pursuant to Article 14 (Assignment)) right and license to practice ExxonMobil Background Information and ExxonMobil Background Patents for Generation 1 Technology in Carbon Capture Applications, solely to conduct Authorized Work with Authorized Third Parties. More particularly, said right and license to practice ExxonMobil Background Information and ExxonMobil Background Patents for Generation 1 Technology in Carbon Capture Applications includes the right to use, reproduce, and create derivative works of ExxonMobil Background Information under applicable copyrights and the right to make, use, and import (but not sell or offer to sell) under the claims of ExxonMobil Background Patents, solely to conduct Authorized Work with Authorized Third Parties. All rights and licenses in this Paragraph (b)(1)(ii) may be extended to contractors performing work on behalf of FCE but are not otherwise sub-licensable. |
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| 2) | Generation 2 Technology. |
| i. | Power Applications and Hydrogen Applications. ExxonMobil grants FCE a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-sub-licensable (except as set forth herein), perpetual, irrevocable (except as stated in Paragraphs 12.03 (Failure to Perform), 12.04 (Other Termination), and 12.05 (Bankruptcy)), non-transferable (except pursuant to Article 14 (Assignment)) right and license to practice ExxonMobil Background Information and ExxonMobil Background Patents for Generation 2 Technology in Power Applications and Hydrogen Applications. More particularly, said right and license to practice ExxonMobil Background Information and ExxonMobil Background Patents for Generation 2 Technology in Power Applications and Hydrogen Applications includes the right to use, reproduce, and create derivative works of ExxonMobil Background Information under applicable copyrights and the right to make, use, import, and sell or offer to sell under the claims of ExxonMobil Background Patents. The right and license in this Paragraph (b)(2)(i) may be extended to contractors performing work on behalf of FCE but is not otherwise sub-licensable. |
| ii. | Outside of Power Applications and Hydrogen Applications. In the event ExxonMobil notifies FCE that it has formally decided not to pursue Generation 2 Technology for Carbon Capture Applications, then upon FCE’s written request, ExxonMobil agrees to grant to FCE, under commercially reasonable terms to be determined in good faith, a worldwide, royalty-bearing (with the royalty to be negotiated), non-exclusive, sub-licensable, right and license to practice ExxonMobil Background Information and ExxonMobil Background Patents for Generation 2 Technology in any application outside of Power Applications and Hydrogen Applications. More particularly, said right and license to practice ExxonMobil Background Information and ExxonMobil Background Patents for Generation 2 Technology in any application outside of Power Applications includes the right to use, reproduce, and create derivative works of ExxonMobil Background Information under applicable copyrights and the right to make, use, import, and sell or offer to sell under the claims of ExxonMobil Background Patents. Nothing in this section will create an obligation on the part of ExxonMobil to grant FCE a license or right under ExxonMobil Background Patents or ExxonMobil Background Information if the Parties do not agree on the terms and conditions of such license. |
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ARTICLE 9 – INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY PATENTS
9.02 | Defense of Infringement Claims. Each Party will be responsible for all expenses (including attorney fees) and damages (e.g. royalties, settlement costs) incurred in defense of a claim of infringement by its own equipment, products, or processes, or by equipment, products, or processes of its Affiliates, contractors or consultants. |
10.01 | Project Costs. |
| a) | ExxonMobil will reimburse FCE for Research Costs (i.e., cumulative FTE Costs and Direct Costs) for each Project subject to total caps set forth herein and in the relevant Project Description. Research Costs of FCE paid for by ExxonMobil will be limited to FTE Costs for time actually spent on the Program and Direct Costs actually incurred and approved in advance by the Steering Committee. The cumulative Research Costs for the Program will not exceed forty-five million United States dollars ($45,000,000 USD) over the Term of the Agreement (“Total Research Cost”). ExxonMobil will reimburse FCE for Research Costs after receipt of invoices on a monthly basis. Invoices for Direct Costs will be supported by relevant third party invoices received by FCE documenting such costs. Materials shall be invoiced as incurred and subject to a thirty percent (30%) service fee. All such payments will be made after ExxonMobil’s receipt of invoices in accordance with the invoicing procedures specified in Paragraphs 10.01(b)-(e) and in Paragraph 10.04 (Invoices). |
| b) | First Invoice. FCE will invoice ExxonMobil an advance payment on or promptly after the Effective Date (“Initial Payment”), said Initial Payment not to exceed one-twelfth (1/12) of the Total Research Cost (i.e., three-million and seven-hundred and fifty thousand United States dollars ($3,750,000 USD)). Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, including Paragraph 10.04 (Invoices), such payment will be made within fifteen (15) days after ExxonMobil’s receipt of invoice. |
| c) | Subsequent Monthly Invoices. Within fifteen (15) days after the end of each calendar month that occurs during the remainder of the Term of the Agreement, subject to Paragraph 10.01(e), FCE will calculate and invoice ExxonMobil for the actual amounts incurred (for charges permitted in accordance with the respective Project Description(s)) during the immediately preceding calendar month. |
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| i. | By the fifteenth (15th) day of the last month of the Term of the Agreement, ExxonMobil will have been invoiced for the actual charges incurred in all of the prior months of the Term of the Agreement, but the most recently issued invoice will not be due. Therefore, at such time ExxonMobil will not have yet paid for the last two (2) months of the Term of the Agreement. When FCE issues the invoice during the last month of the Term of the Agreement (“8th Inning Invoice”), FCE will apply some or all of the Initial Payment, as applicable, as credit against the amount due. |
| ii. | Within fifteen (15) days after the end of the Term of the Agreement, FCE will issue an invoice (“9th Inning Invoice”) for the actual charges incurred during the last month of the Term of the Agreement, subject to Paragraph 10.01(a). FCE will apply any balance of the Initial Payment remaining after the 8th Inning Invoice as a credit towards the amount due on the 9th Inning Invoice. If after applying such credit, a balance of the Initial Payment still remains, FCE will refund the balance to ExxonMobil within thirty (30) days, unless otherwise mutually agreed (such as the Parties mutually agreeing to enter into a new Project and apply the balance as a credit towards amounts payable by ExxonMobil thereunder). |
| e) | Maximum Charges. The invoices sent by FCE under the foregoing procedure for each year of the Agreement may not in the aggregate be more than half the Total Research Cost, without prior written consent of ExxonMobil or amendment to the Project Description. All such payments will be made after ExxonMobil’s receipt of invoice in accordance with the invoicing procedures specified Paragraph 10.04 (Invoices). |
Such payment will be made within fifteen (15) days after ExxonMobil’s receipt of invoice, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, including Paragraph 10.04 (Invoices).
10.03 | Milestone Payments. As further consideration for technical progress in the Program, ExxonMobil shall pay the following sums upon achievement of the following Program milestones (“Milestone Payments”): |
| (a) | ExxonMobil will pay FCE a first Milestone Payment of five million United States dollars ($5,000,000 USD) upon FCE achieving Milestone 1 to ExxonMobil’s satisfaction; and |
| (b) | ExxonMobil will pay FCE a second and final Milestone Payment of five million United States dollars ($5,000,000 USD), upon FCE achieving Milestone 2 to ExxonMobil’s satisfaction. |
All such Milestone Payments will be made after ExxonMobil’s receipt of invoice in accordance with the invoicing procedures specified Paragraph 10.04 (Invoices). The obligation to pay any such installment ends upon termination of this Agreement by either Party for any reason prior to FCE achieving the respective milestone.
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All such payments by ExxonMobil to FCE will be made by wire transfer in United States Dollars. FCE shall provide the Bank Name, Bank Address, Bank Account, and Swift Code in each invoice.
ARTICLE 11 – REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, INDEMNITIES AND LIABILITIES
11.01 | Mutual Representations and Warranties. Each Party hereby represents and warrants to the other, to the best of its knowledge, that: |
| (a) | as of the Effective Date: |
| 1. | the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Party does not conflict with any agreement, instrument or undertaking, oral or written, to which it is a party or by which it may be bound, and |
| 2. | all necessary consents, approvals and authorizations of all governmental authorities and third parties required to be obtained by such Party in connection with the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement have been or will be obtained; |
| (b) | it owns or controls, in the same sense of having the right to license or convey, any Background Information to be provided to the other Party hereunder, and at the date of transmittal to the other Party, such Background Information in the Disclosing Party’s good faith belief will not be subject to any encumbrances or restrictions on use by any third party that would materially affect the Receiving Party’s exploitation of the rights granted in this Agreement; and |
| (c) | all of its professional and technical personnel who perform services on or for all Projects are under written obligation: |
| (1) | not to disclose secret or confidential information except as authorized under this Agreement or by their employer; |
| (2) | to assign to their employer all Program Inventions; and |
| (3) | to assign to their employer sole ownership of copyrights to all copyrightable works created in connection with any Project. |
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11.04 | Exceptions to Limitations of Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each Party will bear full responsibility, without limit, for the following: |
| (ii) | its legal obligations to third parties wherein nothing in this Agreement is intended to impair a party’s contribution and indemnity rights under law with respect to third party claims. |
ARTICLE 12 – TERM AND TERMINATION
12.01 | Term. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Article, this Agreement will continue in full force beginning on the Effective Date and ending two (2) years thereafter (“Term”). |
12.02 | Early Termination. The Parties recognize that circumstances may arise where this Agreement’s early termination would be desirable. Accordingly, either Party may terminate this Agreement or all/part of a Project for any reason and at any time upon giving the other Party sixty (60) days prior written notice. In the event of early termination of a Project or this Agreement. In addition, if this Agreement is terminated by ExxonMobil, ExxonMobil will pay FCE reasonable non-refundable expenses incurred by FCE in satisfying authorized commitments entered into by FCE with third parties prior to receipt of the termination notice. FCE will uses its best efforts to minimize termination expenses and will give appropriate credit to ExxonMobil where applicable. The total amount paid FCE under this Agreement or for a Project, including all amounts paid following termination, will not exceed the maximum authorized charge specified in this Agreement or for a Project. |
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12.04 | Other Termination. ExxonMobil may terminate this Agreement upon fifteen (15) days written notice, without penalty, payment or prejudice to claims and obligations then accrued, if FCE undergoes a Change in Control. Subject to requirements of applicable law, FCE will provide notice to ExxonMobil prior to, or promptly after, it becomes aware of any such Change in Control, and if prior notice is prohibited by applicable Law, as soon as practicable or after such notice is no longer prohibited, but in no event later than one (1) business day after any public announcement with respect to any such asset transfer or Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, in the event of termination under this Paragraph 12.04 ExxonMobil may terminate any licenses granted to FCE under this Agreement that would otherwise survive termination, taking into account the circumstances surrounding the Change in Control. Any licenses granted to ExxonMobil under this Agreement that would otherwise survive termination will continue to survive termination. |
12.05 | Bankruptcy. |
| (A) | To the extent a court of competent jurisdiction determines that this Agreement is subject to assumption or rejection under Title 11 of the U.S. Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) or the applicable law of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding in a non-U.S. jurisdiction: |
| (i) | All rights and licenses granted to ExxonMobil and its Affiliates under or pursuant to this Agreement are, and will otherwise be deemed to be, for all purposes of Section 365(n) of the Bankruptcy Code, licenses of rights to “intellectual property” as defined in section 101 of the Bankruptcy Code. |
| (ii) | If a case is commenced under the Bankruptcy Code by or against FCE and this Agreement is rejected as provided in the Bankruptcy Code, and ExxonMobil or any of its Affiliates elects to retain its rights hereunder as provided in the Bankruptcy Code, then ExxonMobil and its Affiliates shall retain all rights hereunder in perpetuity without further royalty payments of any kind and FCE (in any capacity, including debtor-in-possession) and its successors and assigns (including, without limitations, a trustee) shall not interfere with such rights. |
| (iii) | In the event of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings of FCE in a non-U.S. jurisdiction, the rights, powers and remedies of ExxonMobil and its Affiliates shall be applied under any applicable laws which are equivalent to Section 365(n) of the Bankruptcy Code, or if there is no such equivalent, the Parties will take all such actions as are permissible under applicable law to permit the continuation of the licenses contained in this Agreement to the maximum extent possible. |
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| (B) | To the maximum extent permitted under law, ExxonMobil may terminate this Agreement upon fifteen (15) days written notice, without penalty, payment or prejudice to claims and obligations then accrued, if FCE commences a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or a similar voluntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding in a non-U.S. jurisdiction, or if an order for relief is entered in an involuntary case filed against FCE under the Bankruptcy Code, and such case is not dismissed within sixty (60) days of the entry of such order, or if FCE makes a voluntary general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or suffers or permits agrees to the entry of an order appointing a receiver in an action actually pending in a court of competent jurisdiction for that portion of its business or assets related to the Project. In the event of termination under this Paragraph 12.05 and subject to ExxonMobil’s waiver (in its sole discretion), any licenses granted to FCE under this Agreement that would otherwise survive termination will automatically terminate and any licenses granted to ExxonMobil under this Agreement that would otherwise survive termination will continue to survive termination. |
12.06 | Continuing Rights and Obligations. Except as otherwise stated in this Agreement, the following Articles and Paragraphs will survive termination of this Agreement: |
| o | Article 1 (Definitions); |
| o | Article 4 (Disclosure, Confidentiality and Restricted Use); |
| o | Article 6 (Procurement and Ownership of Program Results) |
| o | Article 7 (License to Program Results), subject to Paragraphs 12.03 (Failure to Perform), 12.04 (Other Termination), and 12.05 (Bankruptcy); |
| o | Article 8 (License to Background Information and Patents), subject to Paragraphs 12.03 (Failure to Perform), 12.04 (Other Termination), and 12.05 (Bankruptcy); |
| o | Article 10 (Payment), but only to the extent there are continuing license and/or royalty share obligations pertaining to the commercial use of Program Results, Background Information and/or Background Patents; |
| o | Article 11 (Representations, Warranties, Indemnities and Liabilities); |
| o | Article 12 (Term and Termination) to the extent any clause therein speaks to post termination rights and obligations; |
| o | Article 13 (Arbitration and Governing Law); |
| o | Article 14 (Assignment); |
| o | Article 16 (Addresses and Notices); |
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| o | Article 18 (Records and Audit); |
| o | Article 19 (Taxes); |
| o | Paragraphs 20.02 (Independent Contractors), 20.03 (Independent Entities), 20.06 (No Third-Party Beneficiaries), 20.07 (Internal Conflict), 20.08 (Severability), 20.09 (Amendments; Modification; Waiver), 20.10 (Integration), and 20.11 (Execution); and |
| o | any rights and obligations contained in this Agreement which by their nature should continue. |
Any rights and obligations that have accrued to either Party against the other prior to the effective date of termination or expiration of this Agreement in any respect will survive such termination or expiration, and rights that have accrued to an Affiliate of a Party will continue regardless of any change in Affiliate status during the Term of this Agreement or thereafter.
ARTICLE 13 – ARBITRATION AND GOVERNING LAW
13.02 | Arbitration Proceedings. Both Parties will try to amicably resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement by involving representatives of the Parties with authority to settle such disputes. In the event the Parties are unable to agree upon a resolution within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed sixty (60) days after first notice of the difference unless otherwise agreed in writing, any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be referred to final and binding arbitration before three arbitrators under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. Each Party will appoint one arbitrator within thirty (30) days of notice of such referral and the two (2) so appointed will, within thirty (30) days from the appointment of the last of the two (2) arbitrators, select a third arbitrator who will act as the Chairman. The arbitration will take place in New York City, New York and the proceedings will be conducted in the English language. The arbitrators will decide all questions and settle all disputes strictly in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, including the relevant indemnities and liability limitations. The arbitrators will have no authority to award exemplary or punitive damages, and the arbitral panel will certify in the decision that no part of the award includes such damages. The Parties waive their rights to seek rulings from any court on issues of law that arise during the arbitration and to challenge the award on the grounds that the arbitrators made errors of law. Awards made pursuant to this Paragraph will be final and binding on the Parties from the date made and judgment upon any award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. No Party hereto will raise defenses based on sovereign immunity with respect to the arbitration, any judicial proceeding or ancillary thereto or with respect to enforcement of any award, order or judgment rendered in the arbitration or related judicial proceedings. |
13.05 | Injunctive Relief. No provision of this Agreement will prohibit any Party from approaching any court having competent jurisdiction to seek injunctive relief in case of urgency to prevent disclosure of its Confidential Information. |
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14.01 | Assignment. The Agreement is not assignable, including any assignment by operation of law (including but not limited to as a result of a merger or other corporate action), by either Party without the prior written consent of the other Party. Any and all assignments of this Agreement or of any part thereof not made in accordance with this Article will be void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, ExxonMobil may assign this Agreement to its Affiliates and FCE may assign this Agreement to any of its wholly-owned and wholly-controlled Affiliates, with prior written notice to the other Party, provided that (i) such assignment by FCE shall be void if at any point such Affiliate ceases to be both wholly-owned and wholly-controlled by FCE, (ii) Article 12, including but not limited to Paragraphs 12.03, 12.04 and 12.05, shall be applicable to both FCE and any Affiliate assignee of FCE, and (iii) no assignment pursuant to this sentence will relieve the Parties of their obligations under this Agreement. |
14.02 | Assignees Bound. Any assignee permitted in Paragraph 14.01 (Assignment) will agree in writing to be bound by all the obligations of the assigning Party under this Agreement, and a copy of such written agreement will be promptly provided to the other Party. Any Party making an assignment of this Agreement as permitted in Paragraph 14.01 (Assignment) will remain bound by the continuing obligations of confidentiality and nonuse applicable to such Party prior to the assignment. |
15.01 | A Party will not be liable to the other Party and will not be considered in breach of this Agreement for delays or failures in performance resulting from causes beyond the reasonable control of that Party, including, but not limited to, acts of God, labor disputes or disturbances, material shortages or rationing, riots, acts of war, new governmental regulations, communication or utility failures, or casualties. In such instance, the Party so affected will promptly notify the other Party in writing of such prevention, restriction or interference. ExxonMobil or FCE, as the case may be, will be excused from performing such obligations to the extent of such prevention, restriction or interference; provided, however, that the Party so prevented, restricted or interfered with will take all appropriate and reasonable steps to remedy such failure or delay and will resume its performance under this Agreement with all proper dispatch whenever such causes are removed. |
ARTICLE 16 – ADDRESSES AND NOTICES
16.01 | All notices, demands, requests, or other communications which a Party may desire or be required to give under this Agreement to the other Party will be in writing addressed as follows or to such other address designated by notice in writing: |
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ExxonMobil: |
| ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company |
|
| 1545 Route 22 East |
|
| Annandale, NJ 08801-0900 |
|
| Attention: Timothy Barckholtz, Senior Scientific Advisor |
|
| Email: tim.barckholtz@exxonmobil.com |
|
|
|
FCE: |
| FuelCell Energy, Inc. |
|
| 3 Great Pasture Road |
|
| Danbury, CT 06810 |
|
| Attention: Anthony Leo, Executive Vice President |
|
| Email: tleo@fce.com |
|
|
|
|
| With a copy to: |
|
|
|
|
| FuelCell Energy, Inc. |
|
| 3 Great Pasture Road |
|
| Danbury, CT 06810 |
|
| Attention: Legal Department |
Such notice, demand, request, or other communications will be deemed to have been sufficiently given by and will be effective upon the earliest of: (a) delivering the same to a reputable courier service that requires a signature upon delivery; (b) mailing the same by registered or certified first-class mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested; (c) if an e-mail is provided, then by e-mail with receipt confirmation followed by mailing the same or (d) actual receipt by the addressee.
17.03 | Export Control and Trade Sanctions. Neither Party will furnish, deliver, or release the technology, services, software, or commodities made available to it hereunder to any individual, entity, or destination, or for any use, except in full accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and requirements of the United States with regard to export control and trade sanctions. Both Parties agree and understand that each will be responsible for ongoing compliance with all such applicable laws, regulations, and requirements. It will be a material breach if a Receiving Party takes any action or uses any of a Disclosing Party’s information in any manner which would violate United States laws, regulations, or requirements restricting the export, re-export, transfer or release to certain entities or destinations, including to persons within the Receiving Party or its Affiliates, or to unrelated Third Parties. |
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ARTICLE 18 – RECORDS AND AUDIT
| (a) | ExxonMobil and its employees or other representatives will have the right to reproduce for its internal records any of the documents kept by FCE in accordance with Paragraph 18.01 (Recordkeeping), such reproduced documents shall be subject to the confidentiality and use provisions contained in Article 4; and |
| (b) | all expenses of each such audit, including any pre-approved reasonable expenses incurred by FCE for such audit, will be for the account of ExxonMobil. |
FCE will cause any subcontractors to preserve documentation and allow ExxonMobil to audit such books, records, and accounts of subcontractors by way of auditing FCE.
19.02 | Tax Cooperation. Each Party will reasonably cooperate with the other Party to assist the other Party in providing information to support tax filings associated with this Agreement. |
ARTICLE 20 – ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
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20.04 | Future Work. This Agreement shall not constitute or imply any promise or intention: (a) to enter into any other agreement of any nature, (b) to make any purchase of products or services by either Party or its Affiliates, or (c) to make any commitment by either Party, its Affiliates, or licensees with respect to present or future marketing or supply of any product or service. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the end of the Term of this Agreement and subject to FCE achieving Milestone 1 and Milestone 2 to ExxonMobil’s satisfaction, the Parties agree to negotiate in good faith commercially reasonable terms for the demonstration of Generation 2 Technology at one or more of ExxonMobil’s commercial facilities.
20.06 | No Third Party Beneficiaries. No third parties are intended to be third party beneficiaries under this Agreement. None of the provisions of this Agreement will be enforceable by a third party. For the avoidance of doubt, permitted assignees of a Party pursuant to Article 14 (Assignment) will not be considered third parties for purposes of this Paragraph. |
20.07 | Internal Conflict. In the event of a conflict between the provisions in the body of this Agreement and any Project Description, the terms of the body of this Agreement will control. |
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Prior JDA. As of the Effective Date of this Agreement, the Prior JDA is terminated. Any rights and obligations that were to survive termination of the Prior JDA (pursuant to Section 14.06 of the Prior JDA) are also terminated, except the confidentiality and use restrictions on Prior JDA Background Information and Prior JDA Project Results. Such confidentiality and use restrictions, as set forth in the Prior JDA, will survive termination but will be superseded and replaced by the confidentiality and use restrictions set forth in Article 4 (Disclosure, Confidentiality, and Restricted Use) of this Agreement.
Memorandum of Understanding. As of the Effective Date of this Agreement, the Memorandum of Understanding is terminated, but the confidentiality obligations set forth in the Memorandum of Understanding shall survive termination.
Non-Disclosure Agreement and License Agreement. This Agreement does not modify, abrogate, terminate or supersede any other prior written agreements between the Parties except as specifically noted herein, and such agreements will continue to be applicable in accordance with their terms. For clarity, this Agreement does not modify, abrogate, terminate or supersede the terms and conditions of the Non-Disclosure Agreement or the License Agreement.
20.11 | Arm’s Length Transaction. This Agreement represents a negotiated, arm’s length transaction. The transactions contemplated under this Agreement are being made by each Party for reasonably equivalent value and fair consideration. The transactions contemplated in this Agreement will not constitute a fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance or any act with similar consequences or potential consequences under 11 U.S.C. Section 548 and other similar laws, or otherwise give rise to any right of any creditor of a Party whatsoever to lodge any claim against the other Party or avoid the transactions hereunder. |
20.12 | Execution. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Where provided for in applicable law, this Agreement may be executed and delivered electronically. If executing this Agreement using a handwritten signature, a Party may deliver a copy of such signature via electronic transmission and may provide the other Party a duplicate original so each Party retains an original for its records. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed in their respective corporate names by their duly authorized officers.
FUELCELL ENERGY, INC. |
| EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY | ||
|
|
|
| |
By: | /s/ Jason B. Few |
| By: | /s/ Vijay Swarup |
Name: | Jason B. Few |
| Name: | Vijay Swarup |
Title: | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Commercial Officer |
| Title: | VP R&D |
Date: | November 5, 2019 |
| Date: | November 5, 2019 |
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“Affiliate(s)” means any legal entity which, directly or indirectly, at the time in question, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the designated Party. For the purposes of this definition, “control” is defined as direct or indirect ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting interest or economic interest in the controlled entity or such other relationship whereby the controlling entity determines or has the right to determine the majority of the Board of Directors or an equivalent governing body of the controlled entity.
“Agreement” means this agreement, together with the appendices attached to this agreement and any Project Descriptions, extensions, renewals, or amendments hereof agreed to in writing and signed by the Parties.
“Authorized Third Parties” means Drax Group Plc. and Alberta Innovates Corporation, and, subject to FCE obtaining the prior written consent of ExxonMobil, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed, the respective successors, assigns, joint venturers, partners and contractors of each of them.
“Authorized Work” means non-commercial activities restricted to research and development, pilot plant, deployment, and demonstration projects, and commercial activities for which FCE has obtained the prior written consent of ExxonMobil.
“Background Information” in connection with a designated Party means technical information, data, know-how, expertise, materials (including hardware, samples, models, algorithms, and software), calculations, innovations, inventions, discoveries, improvements, formulations, manufacturing techniques, equipment designs, methods, processes, and the like, of the designated Party or its Affiliates that is:
| (a) | owned or controlled by the designated Party or its Affiliates (in the sense of having the right to license without accounting to others); and |
| (b) | conceived, created, developed, or acquired by the designated Party or its Affiliates: |
| (1) | prior to the Effective Date of this Agreement; or |
| (2) | at any time, but independently of any Project prior to the termination of this Agreement. |
Background Information includes Background Samples but does not include Program Information.
Background Information further includes any business or financial information of the indicated Party relating to the subject matter of this Agreement that is disclosed to the other Party under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, financial data, costs, margins, overhead, returns on capital employed, marketing strategies, and licensing strategies and terms.
“Background Patents” in connection with a designated Party means all patents and patent applications (including continuations, continuations-in-part, or divisions thereof, any patent resulting therefrom, and reissues, re-exams or extensions thereof, and revisions thereof arising from oppositions, inter or ex parte proceedings, or other patent office or judicial proceedings) of all countries, whenever filed, that are:
| (a) | owned or controlled by the designated Party or its Affiliates (in the sense of having the right to license without accounting to others); and |
| (b) | based solely on Background Information and not included in the definition of Project Patents. |
“Background Sample(s)” means ExxonMobil Background Sample(s) and/or FCE Background Sample(s) depending on the context in which the term is utilized.
“Bankruptcy Code” is defined in Paragraph 12.05 (Bankruptcy).
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“Capture Rate” means the percentage of CO2 transferred from the cathode inlet to the anode outlet.
“Carbon Capture Applications” means applications in which the MCFCs concentrate carbon dioxide from industrial or power sources, and for any other purpose attendant thereto or associated therewith.
“Carbonate Transference” means the current density that is due to carbonate transfer as a percentage of total current density.
“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following at any time after the date hereof with respect to FCE:
| a) | a merger or consolidation with any Person which results in the holders of the voting securities of FCE outstanding immediately prior thereto (other than the acquirer, its “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are used in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)) ceasing to represent at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the surviving entity (or, if applicable, its parent company) immediately after such merger or consolidation; |
| b) | any Major Competitor is or becomes the beneficial owner by purchasing directly from FCE, voting securities representing ten percent (10%) or greater than the actual voting power of any such entity; |
| c) | the sale to any Major Competitor of all or substantially all of the business of FCE to which this Agreement relates (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of stock, sale of assets or other similar transaction); |
| d) | any Person (which shall not be any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of such Person, or any corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of such Person, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of such Person), together with any of such Person’s “affiliates” or “associates”, as such terms are used in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, becoming the beneficial owner of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of FCE or by contract or otherwise having the right to control the board of directors or equivalent governing body of FCE or the ability to cause the direction of management of FCE (or, if applicable, its parent company); |
| e) | the approval by such entity’s board of directors or shareholders of any reorganization or transaction that would cause any of the situations described in clauses (a) through (d) to occur; or |
| f) | the approval by the board of directors or other governing body or the shareholders or other equity holders of FCE of any plan or proposal for its liquidation or dissolution. |
The occurrence or non-occurrence of a Change in Control does not alter or limit section 14.01 of this Agreement.
“Confidential Background Information” means, collectively, any and all Background Information that a Party is required to keep confidential pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Confidential Information” means, collectively, any and all Confidential Program Information, Confidential Background Information, and any other types of information, that a Party is required to keep confidential pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Confidential Program Information” means, collectively, any and all Program Information that FCE is required to keep confidential pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
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“Cure Period” means a period commencing on the date the defaulting Party receives the written notice of breach or default from the non-defaulting Party pursuant to Paragraph 12.03 and continuing until thirty (30) calendar days thereafter; provided, however, that if prior to the expiration of this period the defaulting Party provides the non-defaulting Party with written evidence that the breach or default cannot reasonably be cured within such period and the defaulting Party has promptly commenced and is diligently pursuing efforts to cure the breach or default, then the Cure Period shall continue as long as such diligent efforts to cure continue, but not beyond the date that is sixty (60) days after the expiration of the initial thirty (30) calendar day Cure Period.
“Definition Agreement” means the agreement between the Parties effective as of October 31, 2019, bearing ExxonMobil Document No. LAW-2019-3850.
“Disclosing Party” means the Party that discloses, directly or indirectly, information or other materials to the Receiving Party hereunder.
“Direct Costs” means reimbursable costs, approved in advance by the Steering Committee, which are (i) operational expenditures of FCE associated with the Program not included in the FTE Cost, including subcontractors, (ii) material or capital expenditures of FCE associated with the Program; and (iii) approved FCE travel costs to attend SC meetings or conferences, and use of contractors in furtherance of a Project.
“Effective Date” means October 31, 2019.
“Exclusivity and Technology Access Fee” is defined in Paragraph 10.02 (Up-front Exclusivity and Technology Access Fee Payment).
“ExxonMobil” is defined in the preamble.
“ExxonMobil Background Information” means Background Information that: (a) was developed or acquired by ExxonMobil independently of a Project, and (b) is provided by ExxonMobil for use in a Project under this Agreement. ExxonMobil Background Information does not include Program Information.
“ExxonMobil Background Sample” means a non-commercial sample of material, component, device, or the like that: (a) was developed or acquired by ExxonMobil independently of the Project, and (b) is provided by ExxonMobil for use in a Project under this Agreement. ExxonMobil Background Samples does not include Program Samples.
“FCE” is defined in the preamble.
“FCE Background Information” means Background Information that: (a) was developed or acquired by FCE independently of a Project, and (b) is provided by FCE for use in a Project under this Agreement. FCE Background Information does not include Program Information.
“FCE Background Sample” means a non-commercial sample of material, component, device, or the like that: (a) was developed or acquired by FCE independently of a Project, and (b) is provided by FCE for use in a Project under this Agreement. FCE Background Samples does not include Program Samples.
“FTE” means a full-time employee of FCE or an equivalent thereof, dedicated to the conduct of the Program based on a total of one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six (1,856) hours per year of direct project work per year. FTEs will include engineers, scientists, and any other functions mutually agreed to by the Steering Committee. Non-devoted personnel (e.g., FCE’s Board of Directors, management, secretarial, administrative, human resources, finance, purchasing, shipping and receiving, information technology specialists, lawyers, cleaning and food service personnel) are not FTEs. Individuals may be counted as fractional FTEs by using the individual’s total hours of work for FCE on the Program (as opposed to total hours of work) as the numerator and 1,856 as the denominator. For clarity, the phrase “direct project work” means the applicable person is engaged in activities contemplated to be performed by Project Description and excludes time incurred by a person on indirect work-related functions, such as time spent on management, training, general meetings, workplace events, completing time cards, and similar administrative functions, except for attendance at Steering Committee meetings.
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“FTE Costs” means the product of the FTE Rate and the hours worked of the total number of FTEs.
“FTE Rate” means the hourly amount agreed to by the Parties per FTE. As of the Effective Date, the FTE Rate for scientists and engineers is three-hundred and twenty-seven United States dollars ($327.00 USD) and the FTE Rate for all other FTEs is one-hundred and ninety-four United States dollars ($194.00 USD). Increases in the FTE Rate must be approved by the Steering Committee.
“Generation 1 Technology” is defined in the Definition Agreement.
“Generation 2 Technology” is defined in the Definition Agreement.
“Gross Negligence” means any act or failure to act (whether sole, joint or concurrent) which seriously and substantially deviates from a diligent course of action or which is in reckless disregard of or indifference to the harmful consequences.
“Hydrogen Applications” means applications in which the MCFCs are used solely for hydrogen generation in combination with power generation or combined heat and power generation.
“Initial Payment” is defined in Paragraph 10.01(b) (Project Costs).
“Inlet CO2 Concentration” means CO2 concentration in the cathode inlet measured at room temperature conditions (about 23oC) via gas chromatography, as calibrated according to conventional methods.
“Inlet O2 Concentration” means O2 concentration in the cathode inlet measured at room temperature conditions (about 23oC) via gas chromatography, as calibrated according to conventional methods.
“Inlet Water Concentration” means water concentration in the cathode inlet measured at room temperature conditions (about 23oC) via gas chromatography, as calibrated according to conventional methods.
“8th Inning Invoice” is defined in Paragraph 10.01(d) (Project Costs).
“9th Inning Invoice” is defined in Paragraph 10.01(d) (Project Costs).
“License Agreement” means the agreement between the Parties effective June 11, 2019 entitled License Agreement bearing ExxonMobil Document No. LAW-2019-3245.
“Major Competitor” means a company with a market capitalization in excess of fifty billion United States dollars ($50 billion USD) and whose principal business involves exploration for, and/or production of, crude oil and/or natural gas, manufacture of petroleum products and/or transportation and/or sale of crude oil, natural gas, and/or petroleum products.
“Memorandum of Understanding” means the non-binding agreement between ExxonMobil and FCE effective August 26, 2019.
“Milestone 1” is defined in the Definition Agreement.
“Milestone 2” is defined in the Definition Agreement.
“Milestone Payments” is defined in Paragraph 10.03 (Milestone Payments).
“Molten Carbon Fuel Cells” or “MCFCs” means a powerplant system including MCFC Stacks and Balance of Plant based on a fuel cell that comprises an electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode wherein the electrolyte comprises one or more carbonate salts that are molten (liquid) at operating temperatures. An “MCFC Stack” is a set of fuel cells connected electrically in series, arranged vertically or horizontally, that share common ducting for the cathode and anode streams. The ducting is considered part of the MCFC Stack. Further, the MCFC Stack may include “Reformer Units”, which are non-electrochemical units that catalytically reform the anode feed to H2 and CO, but do so without producing any electricity. “Balance of Plant” or “BOP” means all other equipment besides the MCFC Stack that is required to operate the MCFC as a stand-alone device, i.e., not in CO2 capture mode or in H2/syngas generation mode. For power generation this can include the dc-to-ac power conversion, fuel and water processing, air supply, and heat exchange equipment.
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“Non-Affiliated Third Party” means a third party who is not Party or an Affiliate of a Party.
“Non-Disclosure Agreement” means the agreement between the Parties effective December 7, 2018 entitled Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement bearing ExxonMobil Document No. EM11762.
“Party” and “Parties” is defined in the preamble.
“Person” means any trust, natural person, firm or partnership, company, corporation, or other entity that is given, or is recognized as having, legal personality by the law of any jurisdiction, country, state or territory, unincorporated body and association (including joint venture and consortium), any emanation of a sovereign state or government, whether national, provincial, local or otherwise, any international organization or body (whether or not having legal personality), and any other juridical entity, in each case wherever resident, domiciled, incorporated or formed, and more than one of the foregoing acting as a group.
“Policies” are defined in Paragraph 17.01 (Business Standards).
“Potential Decay Rate” is defined in the Definition Agreement.
“Power Applications” means applications in which the MCFCs are solely used for power generation, combined heat and power generation, or both.
“Power Density” means the product of the average cell or stack current density and the average cell potential.
“Prior JDA” means the agreement between the Parties effective April 30, 2016 entitled Joint Development Agreement bearing ExxonMobil Document No. EM09080.
“Prior JDA Background Information” means Background Information as defined in the Prior JDA.
“Prior JDA Project Patents” means Project Patents as defined in the Prior JDA, which by definition are jointly-owned by the Parties.
“Prior JDA Project Results” means Project Results as defined in the Prior JDA, which by definition are jointly-owned by the Parties.
“Project(s)” is defined in Paragraphs 2.01 (Program / Projects).
“Project Description” is defined in Paragraph 2.01 (Program / Projects).
“Program” is defined in Paragraph 2.01 (Program / Projects).
“Program Information” means all information and associated copyrights, whether or not patentable, that is conceived, created, developed or acquired in or for the Program during the Term of the Agreement from any source (including from any employee of either Party or its Affiliates, or from any Party’s or its Affiliates’ contractors or consultants, whether alone or jointly with one or more others) in the course of and as a result of working directly on the Program. Program Information shall be owned by ExxonMobil and its Affiliates.
Program Information specifically includes Program Inventions and Program Samples. Program Information also includes improvements to either Party’s Background Information conceived, created, developed or acquired in or for the Program and resulting directly from activities performed in the course of and as a result of working directly on the Program.
“Program Inventions” means Program Information that is characterized as inventions, discoveries, or improvements (whether patentable or not) that are conceived, created, developed, or acquired by or on behalf a Party or its Affiliates during the Term of this Agreement and one (1) year thereafter, and in the course of and as a result of working directly on the Program. Program Inventions shall also include Project Inventions (as defined in the Prior JDA) that have not been filed with any national, regional, or international patent body or organization by the Effective Date of this Agreement. Program Inventions shall be owned by ExxonMobil and its Affiliates.
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“Program Patents” means all patents and patent applications (including continuations, continuations-in-part, or divisions thereof, any patent resulting therefrom, and reissues, re-exams or extensions thereof, and revisions thereof arising from oppositions, inter or ex partes proceedings, or other patent office or judicial proceedings) filed with any national, regional, or international patent body or organization after the Effective Date of this Agreement, that are based upon and/or claim one or more features of Program Inventions. Program Patents shall be owned by ExxonMobil and its Affiliates.
“Program Results” means, collectively Program Information, Program Patents, and copyrightable works resulting from the Program.
“Program Sample” means a sample of material, component, device, or the like that is developed during the Term of this Agreement, in the course of and as a result of working directly on the Program.
“Receiving Party” means the Party that receives, directly or indirectly, information or other materials from the Disclosing Party.
“Research Costs” means Direct Costs plus FTE Costs.
“Scope” is defined in the preamble.
“Steering Committee” or “SC” is defined in Paragraph 3.01 (Steering Committee).
“Sample” means collectively FCE Background Sample, ExxonMobil Background Sample, and Program Sample.
“Technical Manager” is defined in Paragraph 3.02 (Technical Managers).
“Term” or “Term of this Agreement” is defined in Paragraph 12.01 (Term).
“Total Research Cost” is defined in Paragraph 10.01(a) (Project Costs).
“Willful Misconduct” means an intentional disregard of good and prudent standards of performance or of any of the substantive terms of this Agreement.
“Work” means any activities of any kind, including but not limited to, research and development, pilot plant, manufacture testing, demonstration, or commercial development/deployment.
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APPENDIX B – SAMPLE PROJECT DESCRIPTION FORMAT
PROJECT DESCRIPTION No. ____
Project Name: __________________
LAW-2019-3608
FCE Agreement No. :____________
Date: ________________________
Receiving Company Name & Address
Attention: ______________________
Dear ______________,
This Project Description No. [NUMBER] is issued pursuant to the Joint Development Agreement, effective [EFFECTIVE DATE] between ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company (“ExxonMobil”) and FuelCell Energy, Inc. (“FCE”), bearing ExxonMobil Agreement No. LAW-2019-3608 (“Agreement”). Each Party’s activities hereunder will be conducted in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement. The specific terms which will apply to this Project are described below.
| 1. | PROJECT DESCRIPTION/OBJECTIVES: |
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| 2. | TIME SCHEDULE: |
Commencement Date: ____________
Completion Date: ________________
| 3. | STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS / TECHNICAL MANAGERS: |
FCE: ______________________
ExxonMobil: __________________________
| 4. | PROJECT BUDGET |
Task | 1A | 1B | 1C | …. |
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Direct Costs |
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TOTAL |
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| 5. | DELIVERABLES: |
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If the foregoing is satisfactory, please have a duly authorized representative of your company sign duplicate originals of this Project Description and return both to for counter-execution on behalf of our company. A fully-executed original will be returned for your files.
Very truly yours, | |
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EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY | |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Date: |
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ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO: | |
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FUELCELL ENERGY, INC. | |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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