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CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT FOR PURPOSES
OF SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS ONLY
September 3, 2013
kigG3-666
Attention-Williont-H,-C-itoos,ManagefWilliam H. Gates
Dear Bill:
RE: Letter of Agreement Regarding Purchase of Partnership Interest
in Investment Entity
This letter sets forth the agreement by and between bgC3 LLCyou, William H. Gates
("bgC3Gates"), and me, Dr. Boris Nikolic ("Dr. Nikolic"), with respect to the purchase by bgG-3
Gates from Dr. Nikolic of Dr. Nikolic's interest in a partnership. under the terms of which we
discussed potential investment in a range up to $100 efeated-under-ouF-pfier-agreement-in-a
eertain-$30-Millien-te-$50-Million in certain investments discovered and researched by Dr.
Nikolic Investment-Entity-(the "Investment Entity"). Only two of such investments, totaling
Twenty Million Dollars, as detailed below, were ever made. The partnership was formed
effective April 1. 2013. We now agree to dissolve and wind up the Investment Entity and With
respect to bgC3's Gates shall purchase from Dr. Nikolic of Dr. Nikolic's interest in the
Investment Entityrbge3-Gsand Dr. Nikolic have agreed as follows:
Termination-of
Employment-and
Besiness-ontl-Finaneial
RelationshipsDissolution
and Winding Up the
Partnership etteept—for—these—reitttionships—ereeted—by—the—previsions—of--this
Agreement. Dr. Nikolic acknowledges and agrees to the dissolution
and winding up of the Investment Entity, that he has disassociated
himself from the 'investment Entity. and that Gates shall have the
exclusive authority to wind up the Investment Entity.
Sale and Purchase of As part of the dissolution and winding up of the Investment Entity, Dr.
Interest in Investment Nikolic shall, and does hereby agree to, sell, transfer and convey to
Entity bgGaGates, and ales shall purchase from Dr. Nikolic, all of
Dr. Nikolic's right, title and interest in and to the Investment Entity
and the underlying partnership assets for a purchase price equal to the
aggregate of all amounts payable under all Investment Entity Payment
Demands (as hereinafter defined) to be made by Dr. Nikolic to ligG-3
Gates during the Payment Period (as hereinafter defined) pursuant to
this Agreement. Such sale and purchase shall be deemed to have been
completed, effective upon ItG3ss— payment in full to Dr.
Nikolic of all amounts payable under all Investment Entity Payment
Demands to be made under this Agreement, tegether-with-all-ethef
tortottats-dtte-anil-payable-by-bgC-3-te-DrrNileolie-tinder-tbis
SE-251912 vl
EFTA01117813
Advance bg63-Cste_._s will cause to be paid to pay-Dr. Nikolic the sum of Five
One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
($5700070001.250.000) upon execution of this Agreement (i.e., on
September 3, 2013) and, provided Dr. Nikolic remains in compliance
with his obligations to Gates, Five-One Million Two Hundred Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($-57000;0001.250.000) on Febtitaiy-1-0January 1,
2014 (collectively, the "Advances"), as advances against bgC3's
Gates' payment to Dr. Nikolic of the amounts due under the
Investment Entity Payment Demands to be made by Dr. Nikolic to
bgC3 Gates pursuant to this Agreement. Dr. Nikolic shall be entitled
to retain such Advances even if there is no increase in value in the
Foundation Medicine Investment or the ResearchGate Investment
prior to the end of the expiration of the Payment Period and there is no
guaranty that the Foundation Medicine Investment or the
ResearchGate Investment will result in any additional value above and
beyond the Advances, upon which Dr. Nikolic can call under the
terms of this Agreement. To the extent there is an increase in value
above the amount of such Advances, the amount of the Advances will
be offset first before any amounts are due Dr. Nikolic. Speli-advances
will-only-be-effset-against-an-Investment-Entity-Payment-Demand-if
the-panies-herete-reasenably-detenisine-in-geed-faith-thet-if--sueb-effset
likelrbe-insuffteient-taneunts-payable-in-respeet-ef-anrsubsequent
Ifivestment-Entity-Payment-Dentands-against-whiell-the-affset-may-be
applied. Such aAdvance payments shall be made by wire transfer to an
proper account designated in writing by Dr. Nikolic to bgG3Gates.
Foundation Medicine, bgGaGates, through one or more affiliated entities (the "Gates
Inc. and ResearchGate Purchaser"), has heretofore made an investment in Foundation
GmbH Medicine, Inc., a Delaware corporation with principal offices located
in Cambridge, Massachussetts ("Foundation Medicine"), in the
amount of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) (such investment,
together with any and all dividends, payments, distributions, securities
or other items of value at any time previously or hereafter distributed
or paid by Foundation Medicine to the Gates Purchaser in respect of
such investment shall be referred to herein as the "Foundation
Medicine Investment"), and an investment in ResearchGate GmbH, a
German company with limited liability located in Berlin, Germany
("ResearchGate"), in the amount of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000)
(such investment, together with any and all dividends, payments,
distributions, securities or other items of value at any time distributed
or paid by ResearchGate to the Gates Purchaser in respect of such
investment shall be referred to herein as the "ResearchGate
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Investment").
Investment Entity At any time and from time to time commencing on the date hereof
Payment Demands and continuing through and including September 3, 2016 (the
"Payment Period"), Dr. Nikolic shall have the right, exercisable by
written notice to bgG-3Gates, to demand payment of the increase in
value in respect of all or a portion of the Foundation Medicine
Investment and/or ell-up to fifty percent (50%) or a portion of fifty
percent (50%) of the ResearchGate Investment (an "Investment Entity
Payment Demand"). Dr. Nikolic may deliver to bge3Cs up to an
aggregate of four (4) Investment Entity Payment Demands during the
Payment Period. The amount of each Investment Entity Payment
Demand shall be equal to the sum of:
1. The portion of the Foundation Medicine Investment,
expressed as a percentage, as to which Dr. Nikolic in his sole
discretion elects to make such Investment Entity Payment
Demand (provided it is equal to or smaller than any
percentage remaining after any prior partial percentage
Investment Entity Payment Demands), multiplied by the
difference of (a) the fair market value of the Foundation
Medicine Investment (including all dividends, payments,
distributions, securities and other items of value at any time
previously or hereafter distributed or paid by Foundation
Medicine in respect of such investment) as of the date of such
Investment Entity Payment Demand, less (b) Ten Million
Dollars ($10,000,000) and less any prior payments, including
the Advances; and
2. The portion of the ResearchGate Investment, expressed as a
percentage, as to which Dr. Nikolic in his sole discretion
elects to make such Investment Entity Payment Demand
(provided it is equal to or smaller than any percentag
remaining after any prior partial percentage Investment Entity
Payment Demands), multiplied by the difference of (a) the fair
market value of the ResearchGate Investment (including all
dividends, payments, distributions, securities and other items
of value at any time previously or hereafter distributed or paid
by ResearchGate in respect of such investment) as of the date
of such Investment Entity Payment Demand, less (b) Ten
Million Dollars ($10,000,000) and any prior payments,
including the Advances.
The portion of the Foundation Medicine Investment as to which any
Investment Entity Payment Demand may be made at any given time
may not exceed the difference of 100% less the aggregate percentage
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of the Foundation Medicine Investment as to which all then prior
Investment Entity Payment Demands were paid by bgC--3Gates to Dr.
Nikolic. The portion of the ResearchGate Investment as to which any
Investment Entity Payment Demand may be made at any given time
may not exceed the difference of 443050% less the aggregate
percentage of the ResearchGate Investment as to which all then prior
Investment Entity Payment Demands were paid by bgC3Gates to Dr.
Nikolic.
In the event that all of the shares of Foundation Medicine or
ResearchGate are acquired by a third party entity, not affiliated with
either of the parties to this Agreement, then the remaining interest of
Dr. Nikolic under this Agreement, in the acquired company, shall be
calculated immediately following the date on which the final interest
of the Gates Purchaser is known and such amount shall be paid out by
Gates to Dr. Nikolic and Dr. Nikolic shall have no further claim under
this Agreement as to that particular investment.
Fair Market Values For purposes of calculating the fair market value of the Foundation
Medicine Investment and the ResearchGate Investment, the following
shall apply:
1. Fair market values shall be determined jointly by bgGaGates
and Dr. Nikolic, reasonably, in good faith and in accordance
with the provisions hereof.
2. No discounts (including, without limitation, minority discounts
or discounts for lack of marketability) will be applied in
determining fair market values.
3. Whether or not the Gates Purchaser shall hereafter sell,
transfer, convey, encumber or otherwise dispose of all or any
portion of the Foundation Medicine Investment or the
ResearchGate Investment, other than as provided for in the
foregoing paragraph related to an acquisition of the entire
company by a third party, the fair market value of each of the
Foundation Medicine Investment and the ResearchGate
Investment shall be calculated as if no such sale, transfer,
conveyance, encumbrance or other disposition ever occurred.
4. Securities traded on any domestic or foreign exchange or
included in the NASDAQ Stock Market are valued at their last
sale prices reported on the day as of which the value is being
determined, or if a security did not trade on such day, the last
sale price on the next preceding day on which a sale price was
reported. Values in any currency other than U.S. Dollars shall
be converted to U.S. Dollars at prevailing exchange rates
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mutually agreed to by the parties in good faith.
5. In valuing privately held, illiquid equity securities of an issuer,
the value of the issuer's total equity will be determined usin
the valuation of the specific class of equity in the company as
determined by the company for purposes of that company's
most recent round of financing to have occurred prior to the
date that Dr. Nikolic makes a given Investment Entity Payment
Demand; provide, however, if any such valuation is more than
twelve (12) months old at the time that Dr. Nikolic makes an
Investment Entity Payment Demand, then the parties agree to
engage a mutually agreed upon third party appraiser to provide
them with a then current appraisal of the interest held by the
Gates Purchaser in such company. feasenably-and-in-geed
appropriate, using, among other things, any of an income
publie—eempeny—Fnacket—Faultiple—Fnethed—end-4miler
oPtien-pHeing- methedra-Pfebability-weighted-e3ePeeled-retue
methedra-euff-e144-'eakle-Ffiethedrand-acky-ether-Iffetheelrac they
muteel4rdetemifte-is-apprepriate-te-cletermifte-the-yalue-ef-the
par-tieular--elass-ef-equity-seeeFity-at-iseee,
6. During the period that Dr. Nikolic is permitted to make
Investment Entity Payment Demands hereunder, upon request
from Dr. Nikolic, bgC3Gates shall give Dr. Nikolic written
notice of any dividends, payments, distributions, securities or
other items of value distributed or paid by Foundation
Medicine in connection with the Foundation Medicine
Investment or by ResearchGate in connection with the
ResearchGate Investment. Such notice shall include all
relevant terms, provisions and other details regarding any such
dividends, payments, distributions, securities and other items
of value so distributed or paid.
7. At all times while Dr. Nikolic is permitted to make an
Investment Entity Payment Demand hereunder, upon request
from Dr. Nikolic, b€C-3Gates shall provide Dr. Nikolic with
true and correct copies of all valuations, financial statements
(whether audited or unaudited), reports and other
communications which bec-3Gates or the Gates Purchaser
receives from or delivers to Foundation Medicine or
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ResearchGate promptly after receiving or delivering the same,
provided Gates is not otherwise legally or contractually
prohibited from sharing any such information with a third
party.
Payment of Investment bgGaGates shall pay Dr. Nikolic the full amount of each Investment
Entity Payment Entity Payment Demand within fwe-fifteen (15) days after IsigC--3Gates
Demands receives such Investment Entity Payment Demand. Payment shall be
made by wire transfer to an proper account designated in writing by
Dr. Nikolic to bgC-3Gates. In-the-event-thet-bga-fails-te-pay-the-full
ameunt-ef-any-Investtnent-Entity-Payment-Dentnntl-within-f-We-(4)
days-after-Feeeiving-sueh-ltwestment-Entity-Payment-Demand-from
Dr. Niltelier an-additi
ef-such-lweestment-Entity-Paytnent-Demandrand-defaultDefault
interest shall accrue and be due and payable by bgC3Gates to Dr.
Nikolic on all such late outstanding amounts at the default rate of the
lesser of (I) twenty-fwetwelve percent (2512%) per annum and (2) the
maximum interest rate allowed by law, until all such outstanding
amounts are paid in full.
No Sale of Investments Nothing provided in this Agreement shall be deemed to require
Required bge3Gates or the Gates Purchaser to make any sale or other
disposition of all or any portion of the Foundation Medicine Interest or
the ResearchGate Interest in connection with any or all of the
Investment Entity Payment Demands by Dr. Nikolic; it being
understood that Dr. Nikolic holds no interest whatsoever in the
Foundation Medicine Investment or the ResearchGate Investment and
that the Gates Purchaser shall be free in its sole discretion to hold for
as long as it shall so desire, or to sell, encumber or otherwise dispose
of at any time and from time to time, all or any portion of the
Foundation Medicine Investment and the ResearchGate Investment,
whether before or after Dr. Nikolic makes any or all Investment Entity
Payment Demands. Gates has no obligation to make any further
investments in either Foundation Medicine or ResearchGate, or in any
other entity.
Notices All notices, requests, permissions or other communications which
either party hereto may be required or desire to give to the other party
hereto under this Agreement must be in writing and sent by (1) first
class U.S. certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with
postage prepaid, (2) telecopy, facsimile or email (with a copy sent by
first class U.S. certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
with postage prepaid), or (3) express mail or courier (for either same
day or next Business Day delivery). A notice or other communication
sent in compliance with the provisions of this Section shall be deemed
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given and received on (x) the fifth (5th) Business Day following the
date it is deposited in the U.S. mail, (y) the date of confirmed
transmission to the intended recipient if sent by facsimile, telecopy or
email (provided that a copy thereof is sent by mail the same day in the
manner provided in clause (2) above), or (z) the date it is delivered to
the other party's address if sent by express mail or courier.
All notices, requests, permissions and other communications to
bgC-3Gates shall be addressed to:
[PROVIDE NOTICE ADDRESS, FAX AND EMAIL'
All notices, requests, permissions and other communications to
Dr. Nikolic shall be addressed to:
[PROVIDE NOTICE ADDRESS, FAX AND EMAIL'
Either party hereto may change its or his address for notices
and other communications hereunder by a notice given to the other
party hereto in the manner provided in this Section.
Governing Law This Agreement will be governed, interpreted, and construed under the
laws of the State of Nev.-31-erkWashington without regard to its
conflicts of law provisions.
Expenses Each party will be responsible for its or his own costs and expenses
(including any fees and expenses of their representatives or advisors)
incurred at any time in connection with this Agreement or any other
agreements, instruments or other documents entered into in connection
with the matters addressed by this Agreement.
Release Dr. Nikolic. on behalf of himself and his heirs, executors
administrators, assigns, and any marital community, expressly waives
against Gates, Melinda F. Gates, the families of Gates and Melinda F.
Gates. bgC3 LLC, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and any
other entities owned or controlled by Gates, together with their
predecessors. successors and assigns. and their present and former
officers, directors, stockholders, managers, employees, agents,
trustees, representatives, general and limited partners, members and
attorneys. and their respective present and former employees, agents,
representatives, and attorneys (all of which are collectively referred to
as "Released Parties"), any and all claims, damages, causes of action
or disputes of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether known or
unknown, based upon acts or omissions occurring or that could be
alleged to have occurred at the time of or prior to the execution of this
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Agreement including without limitation those related to the
Investment Entity ("Released Claims"); and further releases,
discharges and acquits Released Parties, individually and in their
representative capacities, from any and all Released Claims. Dr.
Nikolic represents and warrants that he is the sole and exclusive owner
of all Released Claims, and that no other party has any right, title or
interest whatsoever in any of the matters referred to herein, including
without limitation, any interest he has in the Investment Entity or its
underlying assets, and that he is unaware of any basis to assert any
form of charge or claim of unlawful discrimination.
Miscellaneous 1. Entire Agreement. Except as noted below, Tthis Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all
prior understandings, agreements, representations and
warranties by or among the parties hereto or their affiliates,
written or oral, with respect to such subject matter, which prior
understandings, agreements, representations and warranties are
hereby canceled, except any other contract or agreement
executed by Dr. Nikolic in favor of any Released Party, such
as any confidentiality agreement or assignment of intellectual
property.
2. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, modified
or supplemented other than in writing signed by both parties
hereto.
3. Waiver. Any waiver of any provision hereof must be in
writing and shall be effective only in the specific instance and
for the specific purpose for which such waiver is given. No
failure on the part of either party hereto to exercise, and no
delay in exercising, any right, power or privilege under this
Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege under
this Agreement preclude any other or further exercise thereof
or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege
hereunder.
4. Binding Effect; Assignability. This Agreement shall be
binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and
their respective heirs, devisees, successors, and permitted
assigns. This Agreement (including the rights and obligations
hereunder) shall not be assignable by either party hereto except
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with the prior written consent of the other party hereto;
provided, however, that Dr. Nikolic may assign this
Agreement and—his rights to receive payments under this
Agreement and—ebligatiens—iiereundes)—to a wholly owned
affiliate of Dr. Nikolic without the prior written consent of
bgGaGates, and Gates may assign his rights and obligations
under this Agreement to a wholly owned affiliate of Gates
without the prior written consent of Dr. Nikolic.
5. Severability. If any of the covenants, terms, conditions or
provisions of this Agreement are held invalid for any reason,
such invalidity shall not affect the other covenants, terms,
conditions and provisions hereof which can be given effect
without the invalid covenant, term, condition or provision, as
the covenants, terms conditions and provisions of this
Agreement are intended to be and shall be deemed severable.
6. Counterparts; Delivery. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
This Agreement may be executed and delivered by delivery of
a facsimile copy of an executed signature page or counterpart
hereof or by e-mailing a PDF version of a signed signature
page or counterpart hereof, and each shall have the same force
and effect as the delivery of an originally executed signature
page or counterpart hereof.
7. Construction. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been
prepared, and negotiations shall be deemed to have occurred in
connection with such preparation, pursuant to the joint efforts
of all of the parties to this Agreement. This Agreement
therefore shall be construed simply and fairly and not strictly
for or against any party to this Agreement.
8. Dispute Resolution. Subject to Gates' right to seek equitable
or injunctive relief in court, any and all disputes that arise
under this Agreement that are not informally resolved shall be
resolved by final and binding arbitration by a sole, neutral
arbitrator in Seattle, Washington, under the applicable rules of
the American Arbitration Association. In any arbitration or
litigation arising from this Agreement, the prevailing party
shall be entitled to an award of his costs and attorneys' fees.
9. Confidentiality. Both parties shall treat the terms of this
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Agreement as confidential and shall not disclose any
information related hereto, nor any non-public information
regarding Foundation Medicine or ResearchGate to any third
party; provided, however, that a party may disclose payment
terms and other similar information to his tax advisors on a
need to know basis.
Sincerely,
Boris Nikolic
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED THIS 3rd day of September 2013 by:
bgC3 LLC
By:
William H. Gatesr N4anagef
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ℹ️ Document Details
SHA-256
69a4784e139ce2448b3938d2c7baa04b6e69fe665b60840fdca27620bfefb1ff
Bates Number
EFTA01117813
Dataset
DataSet-9
Type
document
Pages
10
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