Provision Language
2. Governance
2.1. Joint Steering Committee. Within [***] after the Effective Date, the Parties shall establish a joint steering committee (“JSC”) to facilitate the Development and Commercialization of the Product by Ocugen and BBIL pursuant to this Agreement. Each of Ocugen and BBIL agree to keep the JSC reasonably informed of its progress and activities under this Agreement, including pursuant to Section 2.9.
2.2. Composition. The JSC shall be comprised up to [***] designated by Ocugen and up to [***] designated by BBIL; [***]. Each Party’s representatives will be senior personnel (one of which may be a consultant) who possess a thorough understanding of the scientific and business issues relevant to this Agreement to enable such person to make decisions on behalf of such Party with respect to the issues falling within the jurisdiction of the JSC. Subject to the foregoing sentence, each Party may from time to time substitute its representatives on the JSC, in its sole discretion, effective upon notice to the other Party of such change. A secretary shall be appointed on an annual rotating basis by either Ocugen or BBIL, with Ocugen designating the first secretary.
2.3. Functions and Powers of the JSC. The JSC shall have and perform the following responsibilities:
(a) oversee the conduct of the Development Activities and the implementation and execution of the Development Plan;
(b) review and approve the Development Plan and all amendments thereto;
(c) review and discuss the overall performance of Development Activities by the Parties and comparing same to the diligence obligations set forth in Section 4.3;
(d) review reports delivered to the JSC in accordance with this Agreement;
(e) review or ensure the exchange of all Technology, proprietary materials, reports or other information submitted to each Party or the JSC pursuant to this Agreement;
(f) subject to Section 14.6, resolve any dispute with respect to the Parties’ rights and obligations under this Agreement;
(g) establish subcommittees, direct and oversee any subcommittee on all significant issues, and resolve disputed matters that may arise at the subcommittees; and
(h) perform such other functions as appropriate to further the purposes of this Agreement, as expressly set forth in this Agreement or as mutually determined by the Parties in writing.
2.4. Meetings. The JSC shall establish a schedule of times for regular meetings. Special meetings may be convened by any member of the JSC upon not less than thirty (30) days’ written notice to the other members of the JSC. Until the First Commercial Sale of the Product in the Ocugen Territory, the JSC will meet at least once per [***]. The JSC may conduct such meetings by telephone or audio, videoconference, or in person as determined by the Parties. Meetings of the JSC are effective only if at least one (1) representative of each Party participates in such meeting; provided, in the event of exigent circumstances, a Party may designate a substitute member to temporarily attend and perform the functions of such Party’s designee(s) at any meeting of the JSC, which shall constitute participation in such meeting for purposes of this Section 2.4. Each Party may invite a reasonable number of participants, in addition to its representatives, to attend JSC meetings in a non–voting capacity; provided that such attendees shall be bound by confidentiality and non–use obligations at least as restrictive as those set forth in this Agreement.
2.5. Minutes. The secretary shall have responsibility for preparing, circulating and finalizing the agenda for and minutes from each JSC meeting. Minutes shall be circulated to each Party within [***] after each meeting of the JSC, setting forth, inter alia, an overview of the discussions at the meeting and a list of any actions and decisions approved by the JSC and a list of any issues. Such minutes shall be effective only after approval by both Parties in writing. With the sole exception of specific items of the meeting minutes to which the members cannot agree and that may not be resolved as provided in Section 2.7, definitive minutes of all JSC meetings shall be finalized no later than[***] after the meeting to which the minutes pertain. If, at any time during the preparation and finalization of the JSC minutes, theParties do not agree on any issue with respect to the minutes, such issue shall be resolved by the escalation process set forth inSection 2.7. The decision resulting from the escalation process shall be recorded by the secretary in amended finalized minutes for such meeting.
2.6. Subcommittees. The JSC may establish and disband subcommittees as deemed necessary by the JSC. Each such subcommittee will consist of an equal number of representatives designated by each Party, which number shall be mutually agreed by the Parties. Each Party may change its representatives on any subcommittee upon written notice to the other Party or send a substitute representative to any subcommittee meeting. Each Party’s representatives and any substitute for a representative shall be bound by confidentiality and non–use obligations consistent with the terms of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, no subcommittee has the authority to bind the Parties hereunder and each subcommittee will report and be subordinate to the JSC. If a dispute arises that cannot be resolved by a subcommittee, such dispute shall be referred to the JSC for resolution.
2.7. Decisions.
(a) The JSC will act by consensus, with the representatives of each Party having, collectively, one (1) vote on behalf of that Party. The Parties shall cause their respective representatives on the JSC to use their good faith efforts to resolve all matters appropriately presented to them in an expeditious manner.
(b) If the JSC is deadlocked on a decision within its purview and cannot come to a mutual agreement on such decision within [***] after the matter has been brought to the JSC’s attention, it shall be escalated to the Senior Executives for resolution. If consensus cannot be reached by the Senior Executives within [***] after referral to the Senior Executives by the JSC, then the Parties will resolve such dispute in accordance with the terms of Section 14.5.
2.8. Scope of JSC Authority. The JSC and any subcommittees have only the powers assigned expressly to it in this Article II and elsewhere in this Agreement, and do not have any power to amend, modify, or waive compliance with this Agreement. Subject to the foregoing, each Party will be entitled to rely conclusively (without further evidence of any kind whatsoever) on any determination made by the JSC in accordance with this Agreement, and no Party will assert or attempt to assert that any action taken by the JSC that is within such scope of authority granted to the JSC under this Agreement is invalid or not binding on such Party. Each Party retains the rights, powers, and discretion granted to it under this Agreement and neither Party may delegate or vest such rights, powers, or discretion in the JSC or subcommittee unless expressly provided for in this Agreement or the Parties expressly so agree in writing.
12. Term and Termination
12.2. Other Bases of Termination.
(b) In the event that either Party believes that such Party has cause to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(i), prior to providing a notice of material breach as provided in Section 12.2(a)(i), such Party shall raise such issue by written notice to the Other Party, which shall not constitute a notice of material breach hereunder. If within [***] following the Other Party’s receipt of such notice, such Party believes that the Other Party has not remedied the issues identified by such Party in such notice, such Party may thereafter pursue the remedies provided to it under this Agreement, including pursuant to Section12.2(a)(i); provided that, if the Other Party disputes in good faith whether such Party has cause to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(i) and provides written notice of such dispute, which notice shall set forth the dispute in reasonable detail prior to the expiration of such [***] period, then such dispute shall be escalated to the JSC, who shall attempt to resolve such dispute within ten (10) Business Days after the matter has been brought to the JSC’s attention. If the JSC is deadlocked and cannot come to a mutual agreement on such decision within ten (10) Business Days, the matter shall be escalated to the Senior Executives for resolution; provided, however, if such dispute is not resolved by the Senior Executives within thirty (30) days following the date the matter was escalated, then such Party may thereafter pursue the remedies provided to it under this Agreement, including pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(i); provided further that the [***] period set forth in the second sentence of this Section 12.2(b) will be tolled until such time as such dispute is resolved.
14. General/Miscellaneous
14.6. Dispute Resolution. Subject to the decision–making provisions of Section 2.7 with respect to matters exclusively within the purview of the JSC, in the event of any dispute, difference or disagreement arising out of or relating to this Agreement (“Dispute”), the Parties shall seek to resolve the matter within the next thirty (30) days by referring it to the Senior Executives. The Senior Executives (or their designees) shall promptly meet in good faith to try to resolve the Dispute. If any such Dispute is not resolved by the Senior Executives through good faith discussions within such thirty (30) day period or in the event of any deadlock at the JSC which is not resolved by the Senior Executives in accordance with Section 2.7(b), such Dispute or deadlock shall be resolved by binding arbitration. Either Party may, on ten (10) days written notice to the other Party, initiate binding arbitration in accordance with the then–current arbitration rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. The arbitration shall be conducted in the English language by a single arbitrator who is mutually acceptable to both Parties and the award thus rendered shall be final and binding upon both Parties and enforceable in any court having jurisdiction thereof in accordance with its terms. The place of arbitration shall be Singapore. Each Party shall bear its own costs and expenses and attorneys’ fees in connection with any such arbitration. If, despite the good faith efforts of the Parties, they are unable to mutually agree on a single arbitrator, then, in such event, the arbitration will be conducted by a panel of three (3) arbitrators, one selected by BBIL and one selected by Ocugen (in each case, who shall be appointed within (30) days of the determination that such arbitration will be conducted by a panel as opposed to a single arbitrator), and a third arbitrator, who shall act as the presiding arbitrator, selected by the two–Party appointed arbitrators within thirty (30) days after the selection of the second arbitrator.