EX-7.1 2 dex71.htm STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AGREEMENT Strategic Alliance Agreement

Exhibit 7.1

LOGO

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AGREEMENT

 


This Strategic Alliance Agreement is made and entered into this 5th day of April 2004, by and between Utek Corporation (“UTK”), 202 South Wheeler Street, Plant City, Florida 33566, a Delaware Corporation, and Manakoa Services Company (“MKOS”), 7203 W. Deschutes Avenue, Suite B, Kennewick, WA 99336 a Nevada Corporation.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, MKOS desires to engage UTK to provide the services as set forth in this Agreement, and

WHEREAS, UTK is agreeable to provide these services.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promise made in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

I. ENGAGEMENT

MKOS hereby retains UTK to provide those services as defined herein and UTK hereby agrees to the appointment on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth and agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts in providing said services.

II. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

UTK shall be, and in all respects be deemed to be, an independent contractor in the performance of its duties hereunder.

 

  A. MKOS shall be solely responsible for making all payments to and on behalf of its employees and UTK shall in no event be liable for any debts or other liabilities of

 

  B. UTK shall not have or be deemed to have, fiduciary obligations or duties to, and shall be able to pursue, conduct and carry on for its own account (or for the account of others) such activities, ventures, businesses and other pursuits as UTK in its sole, absolute and unfettered discretion, may elect.

 

  C. Notwithstanding the above, no activity, venture, business or other pursuit of UTK, during the term of this Agreement shall conflict with UTK’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

- 1 -


III. SERVICES

UTK agrees to provide the following services, hereinafter collectively referred to as “Services”:

SEE “CONFIDENTIAL TERM SHEET” (EXHIBIT A) ATTACHED AND MADE A PART HEREOF.

 

  A. UTK shall devote such time and efforts, as it deems commercially reasonable, under the circumstances to the affairs of MKOS, as is reasonable and adequate to render the Services contemplated by this Agreement.

 

  B. UTK cannot guarantee results on behalf of MKOS, but shall pursue all reasonable avenues available through its network of contacts. The acceptance and consumption of any transaction is subject to acceptance of the terms and conditions by in its sole discretion.

 

  C. In conjunction with the Services, UTK agrees to:

 

  1. Make itself available at the offices of MKOS or at another mutually agreed upon place, during normal business hours, for reasonable periods of time, subject to reasonable advance notice and mutually convenient scheduling.

 

  2. Make itself available for telephone conferences with the principal officer(s) of COMPANY during normal business hours.

IV. EXPENSES

It is expressly agreed and understood that each party shall be responsible for its own normal and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

V. COMPENSATION

 

  A. In consideration for the services, MKOS agrees that UTK shall be entitled to compensation as follows:

SEE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE CONFIDENTIAL TERM SHEET (EXHIBIT A) ATTACHED AND MADE A PART HEREOF.

VI. TERM AND TERMINATION

The term of the Agreement will be for 12 months unless terminated sooner.

This Agreement may be renewed upon mutual, written agreement of the parties.

Either party may terminate this agreement at any time with 60 days written notice.

 

- 2 -


VII. LEGAL COMPLIANCE

MKOS agrees that it will put in place, if it has not already done so, policies and procedures relating to and addressing, with the commercially reasonable intent to ensure compliance with, applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, including, but not limited to:

 

  A. The use, release or other publication of forward-looking statements.

 

  B. Disclosure requirements regarding the required disclosure of the nature and terms of UTK’s relationship with, including, but not limited to press releases, publications on its web site, letters to investors and telephone or other personal communication with potential or current investors.

 

  C. No press releases or any other forms of communication to third parties, which mention both UTK CORPORATION and COMPANY, shall be released without the prior written consent and approval of both UTK and COMPANY.

 

  D. EXECUTION. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, in the time and manner herein specified will not conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under any existing agreement, indenture, or other instrument to which either COMPANY or UTK is a party or by which either entity may be bound or affected.

 

  E. TIMELY APPRISALS. COMPANY shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep UTK up to date and apprised of all business, market and legal developments related to and its relationship to UTK.

 

  F. CORPORATE AUTHORITY. Both COMPANY and UTK have full legal authority to enter into this Agreement and perform the same in the time and manner contemplated.

 

  G. The individuals whose signatures appear below are authorized to sign this Agreement on behalf of their respective corporations.

 

  H. MKOS will cooperate with UTK and will promptly provide UTK with all pertinent materials and requested information in order for UTK to perform its Services pursuant to this Agreement.

 

  I. When delivered, the shares of COMPANY Common Stock shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  J. UTK represents to MKOS that a) it has the experience as may be necessary to perform all the required, b) all Services will be performed in a professional manner, and c) all individuals it provides to perform the Services will be appropriately qualified and subject to appropriate agreements concerning the protection of trade secrets and confidential information of which such persons may have access to over the term of this Agreement.

 

- 3 -


  K. Until termination of the engagement, MKOS will notify UTK promptly of the occurrence of any event, which might materially affect the condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of COMPANY.

VIII. CONFIDENTIAL DATA

 

  A. UTK shall not divulge to others, any trade secret or confidential information, knowledge, or data concerning or pertaining to the business and affairs of MKOS, obtained by UTK as a result of its engagement hereunder, unless authorized, in writing by MKOS. UTK represents and warrants that it has established appropriate internal procedures for protecting the trade secrets and confidential information of, MKOS including, without limitation, restrictions on disclosure of such information to employees and other persons who may be engaged in such information to employees and other persons who may be engaged in rendering services to any person, firm or entity which may be a competitor of.

 

  B. MKOS shall not divulge to others, any trade secret or confidential information, knowledge, or data concerning or pertaining to the business and affairs of UTK obtained as a result of its engagement hereunder, unless authorized, in writing, by UTK.

 

  C. UTK shall not be required in the performance of its duties to divulge to MKOS, or any officer, director, agent or employee of MKOS, any secret or confidential information, knowledge, or data concerning any other person, firm or entity (including, but not limited to, any such person, firm or entity which may be a competitor or potential competitor of) which UTK may have or be able to obtain other than as a result of the relationship established by this Agreement.

IX. OTHER MATERIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 

  A. INDEMNITY.

 

  1. UTK shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless MKOS from and against any and all losses incurred by MKOS which arise out of or result from misrepresentation, breach of warranty or breach or non- fulfillment of any covenant contained herein or Schedules annexed hereto or in any other documents or instruments furnished by UTK pursuant hereto or in connection with this Agreement.

 

  2. MKOS shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless UTK from and against any and all losses incurred by UTK which arise out of or result from misrepresentation, breach of warranty or breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant contained herein or Schedules annexed hereto or in any other documents or instruments furnished by MKOS pursuant hereto or in connection with this Agreement.

 

- 4 -


  B. PROVISIONS. Neither termination nor completion of the assignment shall affect the provisions of this Agreement, and the Indemnification Provisions that are incorporated herein, which shall remain operative and in full force and effect.

 

  C. ADDITIONAL INSTRUMENTS. Each of the parties shall from time to time, at the request of others, execute, acknowledge and deliver to the other party any and all further instruments that may be reasonably required to give full effect and force to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

  D. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Each of the parties hereby covenants that this Agreement, is intended to and does contain and embody herein all of the understandings and agreements, both written or oral, of the parties hereby with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and that there exists no oral agreement or understanding expressed or implied liability, whereby the absolute, final and unconditional character and nature of this Agreement shall be in any way invalidated, empowered or affected. There are no representations, warranties or covenants other than those set forth herein.

 

  E. ASSIGNMENTS. The benefits of the Agreement shall inure to the respective successors and assignees of the parties and assigns and representatives, and the obligations and liabilities assumed in this Agreement by the parties hereto shall be binding upon their respective successors and assigns; provided that the rights and obligations of UTK under this Agreement may not be assigned or delegated without the prior written consent of COMPANY and any such purported assignment shall be null and void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, UTK may assign this Agreement or any portion of its Compensation as outlined herein to its subsidiaries in its sole discretion.

 

  F. ORIGINALS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed an original and constitute one and the same agreement.

 

  G. ADDRESSES OF PARTIES. Each party shall at all times keep the other informed of its principal place of business if different from that stated herein, and shall promptly notify the other of any change, giving the address of the new place of business or residence.

 

  H. NOTICES. All notices that are required to be or may be sent pursuant to the provision of this Agreement shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by overnight package delivery service to each of the parties at the addresses appearing herein, and shall count from the date of mailing or the validated air bill.

 

  I. MODIFICATION AND WAVIER. A modification or waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective only if made in writing and executed with the same formality as this Agreement. The failure of any party to insist upon strict performance of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent default of the same or similar nature or of any other nature.

 

- 5 -


  J. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. Solely by virtue of their respective execution of this Agreement and in consideration for the mutual covenants of each other, MKOS and UTK hereby agree, consent and acknowledge that, in the event of a breach of any material term of this Agreement, the non-breaching party will be without adequate remedy-at-law and shall therefore, be entitled to immediately redress any material breach of this Agreement by temporary or permanent injunctive or mandatory relief obtained in an action or proceeding instituted in any court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity of proving damages and without prejudice to any other remedies which the non-breaching party may have at law or in equity.

 

  K. ATTORNEY’S FEES. If any arbitration, litigation, action, suit, or other proceeding is instituted to remedy, prevent or obtain relief from a breach of this Agreement, in relation to a breach of this Agreement or pertaining to a declaration of rights under this Agreement, the prevailing party will recover all such party’s attorneys’ fees incurred in each and every such action, suit or other proceeding, including any and all appeals or petitions there from. As used in this Agreement, attorneys’ fees will be deemed to be the full and actual cost of any legal services actually performed in connection with the matters involved, including those related to any appeal to the enforcement of any judgment calculated on the basis of the usual fee charged by attorneys performing such services.

 

  L. JURISDICTION. This agreement is subject to Delaware law and arbitration under Delaware law.

APPROVED AND AGREED:

 

UTEK CORPORATION     MANAKOA SERVICES COMPANY
By:  

/s/ Clifford M. Gross

    By:  

/s/ James C. Katzaroff

  Clifford M. Gross, Ph.D.       James C. Katzaroff
  Chief Executive Officer       Vice President

 

- 6 -


Exhibit A

LOGO

CONFIDENTIAL TERM SHEET

PROPOSED STRATEGIC ALLIANCE BETWEEN

UTEK CORPORATION (UTK) AND MANAKOA SERVICES COMPANY, (MKOS)

 


Statement of Work: To identify technology acquisition opportunities for Manakoa Services Company from research universities and government laboratories. A first step in this process is the development of a Technology Acquisition Profile. Once completed, we will identify and present technologies that meet this profile. While conducting our search we will maintain the confidentiality of MKOS.

Term: The term of the Agreement will be for 12 months unless terminated sooner. This Agreement may be renewed upon mutual, written agreement of the parties. Either party may terminate this agreement at any time with 90 days written notice.

Services: UTK agrees to provide the following distinct services to MKOS:

 

  i. Identify synergistic new technologies from universities and government laboratories to help provide MKOS with an enhanced new product pipeline.

 

  ii. Review technology acquisition opportunities for MKOS while maintaining MKOS’s confidentiality.

 

  iii. Present technology acquisition opportunities for MKOS. MKOS will have 30-days to determine if they want to go forward with the technology license.

 

  iv. At MKOS’s request and UTK will prepare, and compile additional information regarding the technology acquisition opportunities for MKOS.

 

  v. At MKOS’s request and upon mutual agreement between MKOS and UTK, UTK will negotiate and seek to acquire a license to the requested technology for subsequent sale and acquisition by MKOS.

 

  vi. On a case-by-case basis, at MKOS’s request and UTK’s sole discretion, UTK will propose an equity-financing plan for MKOS’s consideration, to finance select technology acquisition opportunities for MKOS.

 

- 7 -


  vii. MKOS will not seek to acquire any technologies presented to MKOS by UTK directly from the technology developer for a period of 24 months following the termination of the Strategic Alliance agreement.

COMPENSATION

In consideration for providing these Services, MKOS shall pay UTEK 150,000 unregistered shares of common stock upon the execution of this Strategic Alliance Agreement. 1/12th of the shares (12,500) shall vest each month during the term of this Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated any unvested shares will be returned to MKOS.

 

Approved by:    

/s/ Clifford M. Gross

   

/s/ James C. Katzaroff

UTEK Corporation     Manakoa Services Company
Clifford M. Gross, Ph.D. CEO     James C. Katzaroff, Vice President

 

- 8 -