Document:

Exhibit
10.1

 

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN OMITTED PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE
COMMISSION.  THE LOCATIONS OF THE
OMITTED INFORMATION ARE INDICATED BY THE FOLLOWING NOTATION: [OMITTED MATERIAL].

 

TRADEMARK LICENSE AGREEMENT

 

Effective this
19th day of December 2002, President and Fellows of Harvard College
(“Harvard”), a charitable, non-profit corporation organized under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having its principal place of business in
Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (“Harvard Bioscience”),
a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, having its
principal place of business in Holliston, Massachusetts, hereby agree as
follows:

 

1.                       Background.  Harvard is the oldest university in the
United States and comprises several schools, including an undergraduate
college, as well as the Medical, Dental, Public Health, Law, Divinity,
Business, Design, and Education schools, the Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government.  The Harvard Medical School was established
in 1782.  For more than 200 years, the
Harvard Medical School, together with its affiliated hospitals, has been widely
regarded as a preeminent institution for medical education, health care, and
research.

 

Harvard is the
owner of its famous HARVARD name and mark and holds numerous United States
federal trademark registrations and international trademark registrations for
the HARVARD name and mark and other HARVARD-formative marks.  Throughout its history, Harvard has used

 

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the HARVARD name and mark
to identify its educational, medical, health care, and research services,
purposes and mission.

 

Harvard Bioscience
is a corporation engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing, selling
and/or offering for sale products and services for scientific research,
industrial applications and OEM applications. 
Harvard Bioscience was formerly known as the Harvard Apparatus Company
and as Harvard Apparatus, Inc., and is the successor to a corporation formed in
or about 1903 by Dr. William T. Porter, a professor at the Harvard Medical
School.

 

Currently pending
in the United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, is Civil Action
No. 00-12625, President and Fellows of Harvard College v. Harvard Bioscience, Inc., in
which the parties disagree whether the uses by Harvard Bioscience of
HARVARD-formative marks are lawful. The parties agree that their mutual
interest calls for a settlement of this litigation on the terms set out below.

 

The parties
acknowledge that a license, implied or otherwise, from Harvard to Harvard
Bioscience has been in effect since 1903, under which Harvard Bioscience has
used the mark HARVARD APPARATUS and certain HARVARD-formative product
names.  The parties wish to confirm that
license and to agree to the following terms by which Harvard Bioscience may
continue those and other uses of the HARVARD name and mark, as set forth in
this Trademark License Agreement (this “Agreement”).

 

One purpose of
this Agreement is to set forth the distinct ways in which Harvard Bioscience
may use the marks HARVARD APPARATUS and HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, respectively.  As the paragraphs below provide, Harvard
Bioscience may use HARVARD

 

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BIOSCIENCE only as its
company name, and for communications in its corporate capacity, for example,
with its former, current and prospective investors and employees, its sources
of finance, its service providers, its vendors, or government agencies.  By contrast, HARVARD APPARATUS may be used,
in addition to the above uses, in connection with the sale of products and
services, for example, on products, catalog covers and in communications with
customers. The parties understand that in some instances no bright line
separates the two respective uses and that Harvard Bioscience may, due either
to unavoidable circumstances or inadvertence, use HARVARD BIOSCIENCE in a
context where only the use of HARVARD APPARATUS is appropriate under this
Agreement, or vice versa.  While such
misuse is not a basis for termination of this Agreement, Harvard Bioscience
will at all times make every effort to use the licensed marks in compliance
with those paragraphs below that expressly govern Harvard Bioscience’s use of
those marks.

 

2.                       Grant
of License.  For good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
Harvard hereby grants to Harvard Bioscience, its affiliates and divisions, a
worldwide, royalty- free, nonexclusive, license to use the HARVARD name and
mark only in the form of HARVARD APPARATUS and/or HARVARD BIOSCIENCE (together,
the “Licensed Marks”) and in the other forms provided below, and only in
accordance with this Agreement, provided that  the following conditions are
satisfied:

 

a.                                 Harvard
Bioscience may use HARVARD BIOSCIENCE only as its company name and only in
connection with the business of designing, manufacturing, selling and/or
offering for sale products and services for scientific research, industrial and
OEM applications. Such applications

 

3

 

include, by way of
example, usages related to the physiological, pharmaceutical, biological,
chemical, physical, environmental, food and beverage and medical sciences, and
those products and services within Harvard Bioscience’s natural area of
expansion as practiced by companies comparable to Harvard Bioscience (the
“Field”).  Harvard Bioscience may use
HARVARD BIOSCIENCE only for purposes of communications with former, current or
prospective investors and employees, sources of finance, its service providers,
its vendors, or government agencies, and others in its corporate capacity,
including, for example, on stationery for correspondence in its corporate
capacity or directed to actual or prospective investors and government
agencies, and on business cards; annual reports and other materials provided to
investors; filings with the Securities Exchange Commission and other regulatory
agencies; deeds and/or leases of real property, loan instruments, contracts,
and any other document or medium in which the legal name of the corporation is
required to be used; and press releases and other communications with print,
broadcast or other news media relating to corporate acquisitions, investments,
financing and other corporate matters. Harvard Bioscience may similarly use
HARVARD BIOSCIENCE as part of the identification of its current and future
divisions, affiliates and related companies, such as “Warner Instruments, a
Harvard Bioscience Company,” or “Warner Instruments, a Division of Harvard
Bioscience, Inc.” Harvard Bioscience may maintain a website at its existing
Internet address, www.harvardbioscience.com, all content of which, whether
directed to customers or to investors, shall be subject to this Agreement.  Harvard Bioscience may not, however, use
HARVARD BIOSCIENCE in connection with the sale or offering for sale of goods or
services or in communications with customers or the general public unless such
communication is for corporate

 

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purposes not relating to
sales of products or services.  For
example, Harvard Bioscience may not use HARVARD BIOSCIENCE on catalogs,
advertisements, marketing or promotional materials, products, packaging, trade
show banners, stationery for use in correspondence with customers, on sales
invoices, press releases or other communications relating to its sales of
products, except as provided in paragraphs 2(a) and 2(b).

 

b.                                Harvard
Bioscience may use HARVARD APPARATUS in connection with the sale or offering
for sale of products and services in the Field (the “Licensed Goods and
Services”). When using HARVARD APPARATUS in this manner, Harvard Bioscience may
refer to “Harvard Bioscience, Inc.” to indicate the legal name of the
corporation responsible for the offering. 
Such reference to “Harvard Bioscience, Inc.” may appear up to several
times in any multi-page publication, such as a catalog or brochure, and must be
inconspicuous relative to the use therein of HARVARD APPARATUS.  For example, in a catalog or brochure, a
reference to “Harvard Bioscience, Inc.” may appear only in type not larger or
more prominent than that used for the general text or advertising copy within
which “Harvard Bioscience” is proposed to appear.  Harvard Bioscience may also use HARVARD APPARATUS in all of the
ways it may use HARVARD BIOSCIENCE under Paragraph 2(a).

 

c.                                 Harvard
Bioscience may use the HARVARD name and mark for the following products, as
part of their product names, which have previously been in use (“Licensed
Product Names”):  Harvard Pump, Harvard 22 (and other numbers), Harvard Syringe
Pump, Harvard PHD Pump, Harvard PHD 2000 Syringe Pump, Harvard Peristaltic
Pump, Harvard Mechanical Syringe Pump, Harvard Mechanical Peristaltic Pump,
Harvard Shuttle Pump, Harvard Ventilator, Harvard

 

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Spirometer, Harvard
Stimulator, Harvard Biograph, Harvard Chart Recorder, Harvard Oscillograph,
Harvard Electrophysiological Teaching Unit, Harvard Kymograph, Harvard Indirect
Rat Tail Blood Pressure System, Harvard Pulsatile Blood Pumps, Harvard
Microdialysis Probes, Harvard Microelectrode Puller, Harvard Clark Capillary
Glass, Harvard Thermocirculator, Harvard Stronghold, Harvard CPK, Harvard
Clamps, and Harvard Connectors.  Harvard
Bioscience may not use the HARVARD name and mark, other than in the form of
HARVARD APPARATUS, as part of any product name not on the aforementioned list
unless Harvard Bioscience obtains the prior written approval to do so from
Harvard’s Office of Technology and Trademark Licensing.  Licensed Product Names shall be used only in
their entirety and only in the exact form in which they appear on this list
(for example, “Harvard Pump” or “Harvard Syringe Pump” or “Harvard Mechanical
Syringe Pump”), except that a Licensed Product Name may be followed by numbers
or letters denoting a new or updated version or series (for example, “Harvard
Pump 2” or “Harvard Pump 2003”), or modified by a descriptive term (for
example, “Harvard 2 Dual Syringe Pump” or “Harvard Mechanical Compact Syringe
Pump.) The use by Harvard Bioscience of the Licensed Product Names shall
conform to the font limitations of paragraph 3(a). Harvard Bioscience shall not
otherwise use the HARVARD name and mark, alone or in combination with words
other than APPARATUS or BIOSCIENCE.

 

d.                                Harvard
Bioscience may include in its catalogs, its website, and in other materials a
statement that Harvard Bioscience is using the Licensed Marks and Licensed
Product Names pursuant to this Agreement, in substantially the following form:
“HARVARD is a registered trademark of Harvard University.  The mark HARVARD APPARATUS [or HARVARD

 

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BIOSCIENCE] [or HARVARD
as part of a product name] is being used pursuant to a license agreement
between Harvard University and Harvard Bioscience, Inc.”  If Harvard Bioscience wishes to use such a statement
in any other form, Harvard Bioscience shall submit the art layout and placement
information for such a statement to Harvard for prior written approval, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, before the statement may be used
in any given medium (e.g., catalog, advertisement, website).  Once approval has been obtained for use in a
given medium, Harvard Bioscience may continue such use in that medium in the
approved format for so long as this Agreement remains in force and effect.  Once a format is submitted to Harvard for
approval Harvard will have 10 business days to approve or disapprove the
format.  If no written response is
received within 10 business days, the format will be deemed approved

 

e.                                 Harvard
Bioscience shall not represent or imply, in its catalogs, advertisements or
otherwise, that it is affiliated with any educational or research institution
or enterprise, except that, if Harvard Bioscience enters into an agreement or
business relationship with any educational or research institution, including
but not limited to the licensing of technology, joint research and development,
or product validation or testing, Harvard Bioscience may make truthful
statements regarding such agreement. 
Harvard Bioscience shall not, however, be prohibited from making
truthful statements regarding its history, including its connection with the
Harvard Apparatus Company founded by Professor William T. Porter and its use of
the mark HARVARD APPARATUS prior to this Agreement.

 

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f.                                   Within
18 months of the date of this Agreement, Harvard Bioscience will cease to use
or distribute any catalogs, stationery, labels, business cards or other
materials that do not comply with paragraphs 2(a)-(d) hereof. [OMITTED MATERIAL]

 

g.                                So
long as this Agreement remains in effect, Harvard agrees that it will not use
the mark HARVARD APPARATUS, that it will not use the mark HARVARD BIOSCIENCE
other than in connection with bioscience-related activities or offerings at
Harvard, and that it will not license or otherwise authorize any third party to
use the HARVARD name and mark in the form of either of the Licensed Marks.

 

h.                                For
purposes of this paragraph 2, “affiliates” shall mean any members of Harvard
Bioscience’s “affiliated group” as defined in Internal Revenue Code § 1504.

 

3.                       Form
of Use.

 

a.                                 Harvard
Bioscience agrees to use the Licensed Mark HARVARD BIOSCIENCE solely in a form
wherein (i) all letters are in the same font and color (ii) all letters of the
word BIOSCIENCE are in a font size no smaller than 1⁄2 the font size of the word
HARVARD; (iii) the word BIOSCIENCE always follows the word HARVARD immediately
(either immediately after or immediately below); and (iv) neither the word
HARVARD nor the mark HARVARD BIOSCIENCE appears in any of the following
fonts:  Bembo, Bodoni, Caslon, Centaur,
Century Schoolbook, Garamond, Goudy, ITC New Baskerville, ITC Galliard,
Linotype Didot, Minion, New Times Roman, Palatino (collectively, the “Representative
Serif Fonts”), or any font similar thereto, or in, surrounded, accentuated or
bordered by the color crimson, [OMITTED
MATERIAL].

 

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b.                                Harvard
Bioscience agrees to use the Licensed Mark HARVARD APPARATUS solely in a form
wherein (i) all the letters of APPARATUS are in a font size no smaller than 1⁄2
the font size of the letters HARVARD; (ii) the word APPARATUS always follows
the word HARVARD immediately (either immediately after or immediately below);
and (iii) neither the word HARVARD nor the mark HARVARD APPARATUS appears in
any of the Representative Serif Fonts or any font similar thereto, or in,
surrounded, accentuated or bordered by the color crimson.  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent
Harvard Bioscience from using the color red in connection with or for the
Licensed Mark HARVARD APPARATUS.

 

c.                                 Harvard
Bioscience agrees to use the Licensed Product Names solely in a form wherein
(i) all letters are in the same font, color and point size; (ii) the word
HARVARD is not presented more prominently than the other element or elements of
the product name; and (iii) neither the word HARVARD nor any other element or
elements of the product name appear in any of the Representative Serif Fonts,
or any fonts similar thereto (except that such word or elements may appear in
any such font within a general text or advertising copy printed entirely in
that font), or in, surrounded, accentuated or bordered by the color crimson.

 

4.                       Term
of the License.  This Agreement
shall continue in effect unless and until it is terminated by one of the
parties in accordance with paragraph 10 hereof.

 

5.                       Ownership
of Marks.  Harvard warrants that it
has the authority to grant the rights hereunder and that such grant is in
compliance with applicable law. Harvard Bioscience acknowledges Harvard’s
ownership of the HARVARD name and mark and agrees that it will not do anything
inconsistent with such ownership. Harvard acknowledges Harvard Bioscience’s
rights to

 

9

 

use the Licensed Marks
and Licensed Product Names as set forth in this Agreement and agrees that it
will not do anything inconsistent with such rights. All use of the Licensed
Marks and Licensed Product Names by Harvard Bioscience shall inure to the
benefit of and be on behalf of Harvard. 
Harvard Bioscience hereby transfers to Harvard any right, title,
interest, and goodwill, if any, in all marks containing the word HARVARD,
except for Harvard Bioscience’s right to use the Licensed Marks and Licensed
Product Names under this 
Agreement.  Harvard Bioscience
agrees that nothing in this Agreement shall give Harvard Bioscience any right,
title or interest in the HARVARD name and mark other than the right to use the
Licensed Marks and Licensed Product Names in accordance with this
Agreement.  Harvard shall have the sole
right, but not obligation, to register the marks HARVARD APPARATUS and HARVARD
BIOSCIENCE worldwide at Harvard’s expense, or shall do so upon request by
Harvard Bioscience at Harvard Bioscience’s expense.  Upon request by and at the expense of Harvard Bioscience, Harvard
shall make reasonable efforts to register the Licensed Marks in any country so
requested by Harvard Bioscience.

 

6.                       Quality
Standards and Maintenance.  Harvard
Bioscience agrees that the quality of all of the Licensed Goods and Services
will be maintained at a commercially reasonable level and will comply with the
requirements of any federal, state and other governmental regulatory agencies
responsible for assuring the quality and fitness of such products. The parties
agree that, without limitation, the quality of Licensed Goods and Services as
of the date of this Agreement is at a commercially reasonable level of
quality.  Further, and upon reasonable
notice to Harvard Bioscience, which shall not be less than 10 days, Harvard
shall have the right, at its own expense and no more than once in a calendar
year, to conduct at Harvard Bioscience’s facilities an examination of

 

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specimens of its use of
the Licensed Marks and of products manufactured by or for it, and to obtain
from Harvard Bioscience information and documentation, as would enable Harvard
to determine that the quality of the Licensed Goods and Services provided by
Harvard Bioscience is maintained in accordance with this paragraph throughout
the term of this Agreement.

 

7.                       Unauthorized
Use by Third Parties of the HARVARD Name and Mark.  Harvard Bioscience may notify Harvard in
writing of any unauthorized use of the HARVARD name and mark by others engaged
in the Field in the United States. 
Harvard has the right to bring, defend, resolve, and control, at its
expense, any and all claims and disputes based on unauthorized use of the
HARVARD name and mark.  In the event
that Harvard does not pursue judicial relief against any third party for any
claim of unfair competition or false designation of origin that may cause
confusion, mistake or deception with respect to Harvard Bioscience’s use of the
Licensed Marks for the Licensed Goods and Services within 120 days after
receiving notice from Harvard Bioscience of such a claim, Harvard Bioscience,
in its sole discretion, may bring an action directly, at its own expense.  Any damages, attorney fees, or costs
recovered by Harvard Bioscience in such action shall be retained by Harvard
Bioscience.  Harvard and Harvard
Bioscience shall cooperate in good faith with each other in connection with
prosecution of claims by either party against third parties for any claim of
trademark infringement or for any claim of unfair competition and false
designation of origin that may cause confusion, mistake or deception with
respect to Harvard Bioscience’s use of the Licensed Marks for the Licensed
Goods.

 

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8.                       Indemnity.
Harvard Bioscience shall indemnify Harvard for all claims arising from Harvard
Bioscience’s use of the Licensed Marks or Licensed Product Names or from any
acts, omissions or statements by Harvard Bioscience.

 

9.                       Non-Assignment,
Sublicenses by Harvard Bioscience. 
Neither this Agreement nor the Licensed Marks or Licensed Product Names
may be assigned by Harvard Bioscience, except that Harvard Bioscience may
assign this Agreement in connection with a sale of all or substantially all the
business and goodwill associated with the products sold under the HARVARD
APPARATUS mark.  Said sale may be in the
form of an asset or stock sale or any combination thereof.  Harvard Bioscience may pledge or hypothecate
this Agreement, but no third party may use the Licensed Marks or the Licensed
Product names except in compliance with this Agreement. Subject to the
foregoing, this Agreement is binding upon the parties, their successors,
assigns, heirs, executors and administrators. 
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, Harvard Bioscience may
not enter into any transaction that would result in more than one person or
entity purporting to have rights to use the mark HARVARD BIOSCIENCE. Harvard
Bioscience may not sublicense its right to use the mark HARVARD
BIOSCIENCE.  Harvard Bioscience may
sublicense its right to use the mark HARVARD APPARATUS under this Agreement to
third parties solely for use within the Field, provided that any such
sublicensee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement
and Harvard is promptly provided with a copy of the signed sublicense.

 

10.                 Termination.

 

a.                       Harvard
Bioscience may terminate this Agreement immediately for any reason upon thirty
(30) days written notice to Harvard.

 

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b.                      This
Agreement shall terminate when Harvard Bioscience ceases to use both Licensed
Marks for a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months, or upon a
liquidation or dissolution of Harvard Bioscience that results in the cessation
of use of both Licensed Marks. Further, Harvard Bioscience’s right to use
either of the Licensed Marks shall terminate when Harvard Bioscience ceases to
use such Licensed Mark for a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months.

 

c.                       Harvard
may terminate this Agreement (1) if any of Harvard Bioscience’s officers is
convicted of a felony in connection with the operation of Harvard Bioscience’s
business and such officer remains an officer more than 60 days after Harvard,
in a written notice to Bioscience, cites such conviction as a basis for
termination; or (2) for material breach of this Agreement, provided that, in
the case of material breach, Harvard Bioscience shall have sixty (60) days
written notice to use reasonable business practices to cure and provided
further that in the event the breach involves Harvard Bioscience’s failure to
maintain the quality of Licensed Goods and Services, it shall have one hundred
twenty (120) days written notice to use reasonable business practices to cure.
The cure of any material breach by Harvard Bioscience of this Agreement shall
not require the recall or return of any written materials, packaging or
product, which have been sent to third parties, including, without limitation,
customers of Harvard Bioscience prior to Harvard’s notice of breach. The
following shall not constitute material breach: (1) the failure to notify
Harvard of a third party’s unauthorized use of the HARVARD name and mark
pursuant to paragraph 7 hereof; and (2) the failure to notify Harvard of a change
of address pursuant to paragraph 15 hereof. 
If Harvard Bioscience fails to cure a material breach, this Agreement
shall terminate on sixty (60) days further written notice              If the parties disagree as to whether a
material breach has been cured, the matter shall

 

13

 

be submitted to binding
arbitration in accordance with paragraph 16 of this Agreement, in which event
this Agreement shall not be terminated unless and until a final decision is
rendered in favor of Harvard.  In the
event of such arbitration, Harvard Bioscience shall cooperate with Harvard in
submitting the matter to the arbitrator(s) as speedily as possible.

 

d.                      [OMITTED MATERIAL]

 

11.                 Phase-Out
Upon Termination.  Upon termination
of this Agreement, Harvard Bioscience shall, within twelve (12) months from the
effective date of the termination, discontinue all use of the Licensed Marks
and Licensed Product Names and any terms confusingly similar thereto, shall
delete the same from its corporate or business name, and shall destroy all
materials and papers, other than corporate records, upon which any Licensed
Mark or Licensed Product Name appears. 
Harvard Bioscience agrees that, within twelve (12) months of
termination, all rights in the HARVARD name and mark and the associated
goodwill shall be and remain the property of Harvard and that Harvard shall, no
sooner than ten years after termination, have the right, unrestricted by
this  Agreement, to license the HARVARD
name and mark in the form of the Licensed Marks and Licensed Product Names.

 

12.                 [OMITTED MATERIAL]

 

13.                 Performance
of Further Acts.  Harvard Bioscience
agrees to perform all further acts and to execute and deliver any additional
documents which may be reasonably required by Harvard to carry out the
provisions of this Trademark Licensing Agreement, including acts to perfect
trademark registrations or assignments in the name of Harvard.  In the event that Harvard notifies Harvard
Bioscience in writing that a use of the Licensed Marks or Licensed Product

 

14

 

Names does not
comply with the provisions of this Agreement, Harvard Bioscience will correct
such non-complying use with reasonable promptness and confirm as much in
writing.

 

14.                 No
Franchise or Agency.  Both parties
agree that this Agreement is a trademark /trade name license only, and neither
party intends to create any franchise relationship hereby.  Harvard Bioscience shall continue to have
full responsibility for and control over all operations of its business, and
the provisions relating to the nature and quality of goods or services sold by
Harvard Bioscience and the manner in which Harvard Bioscience may display the
Licensed Marks and Licensed Product Names are included herein solely for the
purpose of protecting the integrity, reputation and goodwill associated with
the Licensed Marks and Licensed Product Names. 
Nothing herein shall be construed as placing the parties in the
relationship of franchisor or franchisee, employer or employee, or principal or
agent.  Neither party shall have the
power to obligate or bind the other in any manner except as otherwise expressly
provided by this Agreement.

 

15.                 Notices,
Timing and Form.  All written
notices (or other communications) relating to this Agreement shall be deemed to
be sufficiently given when sent by United States Postal Service – certified
mail with signed receipt (or otherwise provably received by signed receipt from
the recipient) addressed to the party for whom intended at the following
addresses, or at the last known address. 
Each party shall promptly notify the other party in writing of any
change of the address to which notices under this paragraph should be sent.  The effective date of such notice shall be
the date the notice is received.

 

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(a)                                                           To
Harvard:

 

Harvard University

Office of the General Counsel

Holyoke Center, Suite 980

1350 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, Massachusetts  02138-3834

and

Harvard University

Office of Technology & Trademark Licensing

Holyoke Center, Suite 727

1350 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, Massachusetts  02138

and

Bromberg &
Sunstein LLP

125 Summer Street

Boston, MA 02110

 

(b)                                                          To
Harvard Bioscience:

 

President

Harvard Bioscience, Inc.

84 October Hill Road

Holliston, MA  01746

and

Goodwin Procter
LLP

Exchange Place

Boston, MA 02109

and

Dwyer &
Collora LLP

600 Atlantic Avenue

Boston, MA 02210

 

15.                 Prior
Agreements, Amendments, Severability. 
This Agreement is the entire agreement of the parties, and supersedes
all prior oral or written agreements or understandings of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof. 
This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by the party to
be charged.  If any provision of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless continue in full
force without being impaired or invalidated in any way.

 

16

 

16.                 Governing
Law.  This Agreement shall be
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the United States and the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Any
dispute arising under or involving this Agreement shall be submitted to binding
arbitration before JAMS/Endispute in Boston, Massachusetts, or, if
JAMS/Endispute is no longer in business, before a mutually acceptable
arbitrator or arbitration service in Boston, or, failing such agreement, before
the American Arbitration Association in Boston.  Any such arbitration shall commence upon written demand of one of
the parties, and shall be determined by a single arbitrator sitting in
accordance with the Rules of Commercial Arbitration of the American Arbitration
Association then in force at its office in Boston, Massachusetts.  The decision of the arbitrator shall be
final and binding.  The expense of the
arbitration shall be shared equally by the parties and each party shall bear
its own attorneys fees, unless the arbitration award states that the expenses
and fees shall be otherwise assessed. 
Any such arbitration shall take place in or near Boston, Massachusetts.

 

IN WITNESS, the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in duplicate by their
authorized officers whose names and signatures are set out below.

 

17

 

HARVARD:

 

	
   

  	
  President
  and Fellows of Harvard College

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Dated:
  December 19, 2002

  	
  /s/
  Joyce Brinton

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By: Joyce Brinton

  
	
   

  	
  Director, Office of Technology and Trademark Licensing

  

 

 

	
  Commonwealth of
  Massachusetts

  	
   

  
	
  Middlesex, ss. County

  	
  December 19, 2002

  

 

Then personally
appeared the above-named Joyce Brinton, duly authorized Director of the Office
of Technology and Trademark Licensing of the President and Fellows of Harvard
College, and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be her free act and deed,
before me,

 

 

	
  [Notary Seal]

  	
  /s/ Jeremy R. Jenkins

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Notary Public

  
	
   

  	
  My commission expires: February 3, 2006

  

 

18

 

HARVARD BIOSCIENCE:

 

	
   

  	
  Harvard
  Bioscience, Inc.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  /s/
  David Green

  	
   

  
	
  Dated:  December     , 2002

  	
  By:  David Green

  
	
   

  	
  Title:
  President

  

 

Middlesex, ss.

 

Then personally
appeared the above-named David Green, duly authorized President of Harvard
Bioscience, Inc., and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his free act
and deed, before me,

 

 

	
   

  	
  /s/ Alexia Armstrong

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Notary Public

  
	
   

  	
  My commission expires: 9/11/09

  

 

19Exhibit 10.1

 

	
  

  	
  Samson

  
	
   

  	
  Suite 1900

  1301 Travis Street

  Houston, TX 77002, USA

  713/751-9000 (main line)

  713/751-8884 (fax line)

  

 

January 14, 2003

 

	
  Challenger Minerals Inc

  	
   

  	
  Reef Global Energy I, L.P.

  
	
  15375 Memorial Drive, Suite G200

  	
   

  	
  1901 N. Central Expressway, Suite 300

  
	
  Houston, Texas 77079

  	
   

  	
  Richardson, Texas 75080

  
	
  Attn:    Mr. Ron Symecko

  	
   

  	
  Attn:    Mr. Walt Dunagin

  

 

Re:                               Participation
Agreement – OCS-G 23948

Grand Isle Area, Block 27

Offshore Louisiana

 

Gentlemen:

 

When executed by all Parties hereto in the manner
provided below, this letter shall evidence the agreement (“the Agreement”)
between Samson Offshore Company, hereinafter referred to as “SOC”, Challenger
Minerals Inc., hereinafter referred to as “CMI” and Reef Global Energy I, L.P.,
hereinafter referred to as “Reef” (CMI and Reef shall sometimes be referred to
individually as “Participant” and collectively as “Participants” and all of the
above parties shall sometimes herein be referred to collectively as “the
Parties” and sometimes individually as “Party”) with respect to (1)
Participant’s purchase from SOC of an undivided interest in and to the Oil
& Gas Lease described on Exhibit “A” attached hereto and made a part hereof
(the “Lease”) and (2) Participant’s participation in the drilling of a Test
Well, as defined in paragraph 4 hereof, on the Lease in the manner hereinafter
described.

 

1.                                       PURCHASE AND SALE

 

Effective as of
the date of execution herein by all Parties, and for the consideration set
forth below, SOC hereby sells and conveys and Participants hereby purchases in
the undivided percentages indicated below the following interest in the Lease
(the “Assigned Interest”):

 

	
  CMI

  	
   

  	
  5.0% of 8/8ths

  	
   

  
	
  Reef

  	
   

  	
  1.5% of 8/8ths

  	
   

  

 

The Assigned Interest is subject to its proportionate
part of the burdens set forth in paragraph 6 hereof and to the Joint Operating
Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit “B” (the “JOA”).

 

1

 

2.                                       CONSIDERATION

 

Within: two (2) business days of receipt of the fully
executed Ratification Letter Agreement (attached hereto as Exhibit “D”),
Participants shall remit to SOC, as consideration for the Assigned Interest,
the following:

 

(i)                                     From the CMI, the sum of $109,691.86
representing 5% of all costs paid by Samson for the Assigned Interest
attributable to the Lease acquisition, permits and regulatory filings (“Least
Costs”), and an executed original of the Authority for Expenditure (“AFE”) for
the Test Well, attached hereto as Exhibit “C”.

 

(ii)                                  From Reef, the sum of $32,907.56
representing 1.5% of all costs paid by Samson for the Assigned Interest
attributable to the Lease acquisition, permits and regulatory filings (“Lease
Costs”), and an executed original of the Authority for Expenditure (“AFE”) for
the Test Well, attached hereto as exhibit “C”.

 

3.                                       JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT

 

Subject to the provisions herein, all operations on
the Lease, including the drilling of the Test Well as provided in Section 4
below, will be governed by the terms of the JOA, which  names Gryphon as Operator.
In the event of a conflict between the JOA and this Agreement, the terms of
this Agreement shall prevail. By
execution of this Agreement, Participants do hereby join in and ratify such JOA
and the parties hereby agree to modify the JOA where necessary to reflect
the participation by Participants as a non-operator under said JOA. If required
Participants agree to promptly comply with any regulatory requirements required
for such participation in the Lease or Test Well.

 

4.                                       TEST WELL

 

Participants agrees to participate with Gryphon in the
drilling of the OCS-G 23948 Well # 1 being the initial well on the Lease to be
drilled as a straight hole to a total depth of 13,000’ TVD or a depth
sufficient to fully evaluate the “Disc 12 Sand” (D-2sd) as defined in the El Paso
OCS-G 18063 (GI 28) No. 1 Well from
12,510’ MD (top) to 12,610’ MD (base), whichever is less (“Objective Depth”)
with a surface and bottom hole location of 7,061’ FSL and 4,435’ FEL of Grand
Isle Area, Block 27 (the “Test Well”). CMI agrees to pay 6.66666% and Reef
agrees to pay 2% of the cost and expense of drilling the Test Well to the
Objective Depth, which shall include, but not be limited too, the actual costs
incurred in drilling, logging and completing all approved testing operations in
the Test Well, until the earlier to occur of the following: i) the actual costs
of such operations exceeds the AFE; or ii) the Test Well reaches the Objective
Depth, approved logging and testing operations have been completed, and a
recommendation is made to run casing or plug and abandon the same. Thereafter,
CMI’s share of costs with respect to the Test Well and the Lease shall be
reduced from 6.66666% to 5% and Reef’s share shall be reduced from 2% to 1.5%.

 

2

 

5.                                       SUBSTITUTE
WELL

 

If, after commencing the Test Well, but before
reaching the Objective Depth, there should be encountered conditions or
formations, whether natural or mechanical, which render further drilling of the
Test Well either impossible or impractical, and as a result operations on the
Test Well are permanently abandoned, a Substitute Well may be commenced no
later than 90 days following the abandonment of the Test Well. A proposal to
sidetrack the Test Well around an obstruction in the wellbore shall not be
considered a Substitute Well but a continuation of the Test Well, unless the
targeted bottom hole location of the sidetracked well is more than 200’ from the original  proposed
bottom hole location. Any Substitute Well proposal shall include  the estimated costs to
drill the same to the original Objective Depth in the Test Well. CMI and Reef
shall have the right and option to elect not to participate in a Substitute
Well, if proposed, however, failure to  participate
shall result in a forfeiture of interest
inthe Lease and the Test Well without reimbursement of costs incurred
prior to such election. The time period in which both CMI’s and Reef’s election to participate  in a substitute shall be governed by
the election provisions in the Joint Operating Agreement. If such Substitute
Well is timely commenced and either CMI and/or Reef participates, the
Substitute Well shall be considered and deemed for all purposes under this
Agreement to be the Test Well including, without limitation, the apportionment
among the Parties of the costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith
pursuant to Section 4.

 

6.                                       ASSIGNMENT OF INTEREST

 

SOC shall provide Participants with an executed
assignment of the Assigned Interest upon receipt by SOC of payment of the Lease
costs set forth above. Said Assignment shall be without warranty of title
except as to claims by,  through
or under SOC and shall be made expressly subject
to the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the attachments
hereto. Participants shall bear its proportionate share of (i) Lease royalty,
(ii) a 1% of 8/8ths overriding royalty interest in  favor of Gryphon, provided,
however, the net revenue interest to be delivered in such assignments of
interest stall not be less than  82.33333%,
for a proportionally reduced total net revenue interest of 4.11666% of 8/8ths for CMI, and
1.235% of 8/8ths for Reef, iii) the “Discovery Bonus” as setout and defined in
section 4.6(d) in the 2000 Program Agreement by and between Cheniere Energy,
Incorporated (now Gryphon Exploration Company) and Samson Offshore Company.

 

7.                                       NOTICES

 

All notices provided for in this Agreement shall be in
writing and deemed received seventy-two (72) hours after deposited in the U.S.
Mail. Where an election is required, all notices shall be delivered by
certified U.S. mail, return 

 

3

 

receipt requested, telecopy, or overnight courier or
messenger with receipt confirmation, to:

 

SAMSON OFFSHORE COMPANY

1301 Travis, Suite 1900

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:  Mr.
Sonny Measley

Phone:  (713) 577-2011

Fax:      (713)
577-2211

 

With a copy to

 

SAMSON OFFSHORE COMPANY

Two West Second Street

Tulsa, OK

Attention:  Mr
Jack Canon

Phone:  (918) 591-1009

Fax:      (918) 591-1718

 

CHALLENGER MINERALS INC

15375 Memorial Drive

Houston, Texas 77079

Attention:  Mr.
Ron Symecko

Phone:           (281) 925-7220

Fax:                           (281)
925-7280

 

REEF GLOBAL ENERGY I, L.P.

1901 N. Central Expressway, Suite 300

Richardson, Texas 75080

Attention:  Mr.
Wait Dunagin

Phone:  (972) 437-6792

Fax:      (972) 994-0369

 

Each party shall have the right to chime its address
at any time, and from time to time, by giving written notice thereof to the
other Parties.

 

8.                                       SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS

 

This Agreement and the transfer or retransfer of an
interest in the rights hereto shall inure to the to the benefit of and be
binding upon the heirs, successors and assigns of the Parties hereto; provided,
however, Participants may not transfer or assign in whole or in part, its
interest in this Agreement without the prior written consent of SOC, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

4

 

9.                                       CONFIDENTIALITY

 

Participants agree that the terms of this Agreement
shall be deemed confidential and shall not be revealed to any third party
except (i) to the extent disclosure may
be required by law, including, without limitation, disclosures in registration
statements or other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; (ii)
disclosures in any judicial or alternative dispute resolution proceeding
concerning the terms hereof; and (iii) disclosures with the written consent of
SOC, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

This Participation Agreement may be signed in
counterparts, and shall be binding upon the Parties and upon their successors,
representatives and assigns.

 

Please acknowledge your agreement of the terms herein
by executing one copy of this Participation Agreement where provided below and
returning the same to this office no later than January 17, 2003. This
Participation Agreement shall become effective when fully executed by all
Parties hereto.

 

SAMSON
OFFSHORE COMPANY

 

 

	
  /s/ Brian K. Ayers

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
  Brian K. Ayers

  
	
  Title:

  	
  Vice President

  
			

 

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED THIS 17th
DAY OF JANUARY 2003.

 

CHALLENGER
MINERALS INC

 

 

	
  /s/ T.J. Morrow

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
  T.J. MORROW

  
	
  Title:

  	
  PRESIDENT

  
			

 

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED THIS
           DAY OF JANUARY
2003.

 

REEF GLOBAL I, L.P.

 

 

	
  /s/ Michael J. Mauceli

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
  Michael J. Mauceli

  
	
  Title:

  	
  Managing Member

  
			

 

5

 

EXHIBIT “A”

 

Attached to and made a part of that certain
Participation Agreement dated January 14, 2003, by and between Samson Offshore Company  and Challenger Minerals
Inc., et al.

 

“Lease”

 

Oil and Gas Lease  dated June 1, 2002 from the United States
Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, as Lessor, to Gryphon
Exploration Company and Samson Offshore Company, as Lessee, covering all of
Block 27, Grand Isle Area, Offshore Louisiana, approximately 5000 acres more or
less, and bearing serial Number OCS-G 23948.

 

6

 

EXHIBIT “B”

 

Attached to and made a part of that certain
Participation Agreement dated January 14, 2003, by and between Samson Offshore
Company and Challenger Minerals Inc., et al.

 

“Joint Operating Agreement dated June 1, 2002”

 

7

 

EXHIBIT “C”

 

Attached to and made a part of that certain
Participation Agreement dated January 14, 2003, by and between Samson Offshore
Company and Challenger Minerals Inc., et al.

 

“Authority for
Expenditure”

 

8

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