DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY
William H. Gates
Dear Bill:
RE: Letter of Agreement Regarding Investment in the Life Science Fund
This letter sets forth the "Agreement" by and between you, William H. Gates ("Gates"), and me,
Dr. Boris Nikolic ("Dr. Nikolic"), regarding our respective rights and obligations in connection
with the investment by Gates of $10 Million to $20 Million in the Life Science Fund (the "Fund").
With respect to Gates's investment in the Fund, Gates and Dr. Nikolic have agreed as follows:
Fund Investment Gates directly or through an affiliate of Gates shall purchase a $10 Million
to $20 Million interest in the Fund (the "Fund Investment")
Advance The amount that Gate or his affiliate pays to purchase the Fund Investment
shall be deemed to be an advance of funds due from Gates to Dr. Nikolic
under the prior agreement between Gates and Dr. Nikolic relating to the
purchase by Gates from Dr. Nikolic of Dr. Nikolic's interest in a certain
investment entity and that entity's underlying investments in Foundation
Medicine, Inc. and ResearchGate GmbH. As an advance, Dr. Nikolic shall
be deemed to bear all downside risk in the Fund Investment, in that Dr.
Nikolic shall only be entitled to be paid as provided in this Agreement, even
if the Fund Investment should become worthless.
Fund Investment At any time and from time to time commencing on the date that Gates or
Payment Demands his affiliate purchases the Fund Investment and continuing through and
including the third anniversary of said date of purchase (the "Payment
Period"), Dr. Nikolic shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to
Gates, to demand payment from Gates of the Adjusted Value (as
hereinafter defined") of up to all or a portion of the Fund Investment (a
"Fund Investment Payment Demand"). Dr. Nikolic may deliver to Gates up
to an aggregate of four (4) Fund Investment Payment Demands during the
Payment Period. In connection with each Fund Investment Payment
Demand, the "Adjusted Value" that Gates shall be required to pay to Dr.
Nikolic shall be equal to:
I. The portion of the Fund Investment, expressed as a percentage, as
to which Dr. Nikolic in his sole discretion elects to make such Fund
Investment Payment Demand, multiplied by
2. The difference of (a) the fair market value of the Fund Investment
(including all dividends, payments, distributions, securities and other
items of value at any time distributed or paid by the Fund in respect
of the Fund Investment) as of the date of such Fund Investment
SE251912 vl
EFTA_R1_00419610
EFTA01952097
3. Payment Demand, less (b) 50% of the amount, if any by which said
fair market value exceeds the amount originally paid by Gates or his
affiliate to purchase the Fund Investment.
The portion of the Fund Investment as to which any Fund Investment
Payment Demand may be made at any given time may not exceed the
difference of 100% less the aggregate percentage of the Fund Investment as
to which all then prior Fund Investment Payment Demands were paid by
Gates to Dr. Nikolic.
Fair Market Values For purposes of calculating the fair market value of the Fund Investment,
and the Adjusted Value in connection with each Fund Investment Payment
Demand hereunder, the following shall apply:
I. Fair market values shall be determined jointly by Gates 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 Gates or his affiliate shall hereafter sell, transfer,
convey, encumber or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of the
Fund Investment, the fair market value of the Fund Investment and
the Adjusted Value shall be calculated as if no such sale, transfer,
conveyance, encumbrance or other disposition ever occurred.
4. Investment values, net asset values or similar valuations (other than
those identified as estimated values) provided by the Fund to its
investors in the ordinary course of the Fund's operation shall be
presumed to be accurate absent manifest error, bias, gross
negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Fund.
5. 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 mutually agreed to by the parties in
good faith.
6. In valuing privately held, illiquid securities of a fund or an issuer, the
-2-
EFTA_R1_00419811
EFTA01952098
7. value of the fund's or issuer's securities will be determined using any
valuations of the fund or the issuer relied upon by purchasers in the
issuer's or fund's most recent investment round to have occurred
prior to the date that Dr. Nikolic makes a given Fund Investment
Payment Demand; provided, however, that if any such valuation is
more than twelve (12) months old at the time that Dr. Nikolic makes
a Fund Investment Payment Demand, then the parties agree to
engage a mutually agreed upon independent third party appraiser to
provide them with a then current appraisal of the illiquid security
sought to be valued.
8. During the period that Dr. Nikolic is permitted to make Fund
Investment Payment Demands hereunder, upon request from Dr.
Nikolic, Gates shall give Dr. Nikolic written notice of any dividends,
payments, distributions, securities or other items of value distributed
or paid by the Fund in connection with the Fund 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.
9. At all times while Dr. Nikolic is permitted to make Fund Investment
Payment Demands hereunder, upon request from Dr. Nikolic, Gates
shall provide Dr. Nikolic with true and correct copies of all
valuations, financial statements (whether audited or unaudited),
reports and other communications which Gates or Gates's affiliates
receives from or delivers to the Fund 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 Gates shall pay Dr. Nikolic the Adjsuted Value of in connection with each
Adjusted Value in Fund Investment Payment Demand within fifteen (15) days after Gates
Connection with receives such Fund Investment Payment Demand. Payment shall be made
Fund Investment by wire transfer to a proper account designated in writing by Dr. Nikolic to
Payment Demands Gates. Default interest shall accrue and be due and payable by Gates to Dr.
Nikolic on all such late, outstanding amounts at the default rate of twenty
five percent (25%) per annum until all such outstanding amounts are paid in
full.
No Sale of Fund Nothing provided in this Agreement shall be deemed to require Gates or any
Investment affiliate of Gates to make any sale or other disposition of all or any portion
Required of the Fund Investment in connection with any or all of the Fund Investment
Payment Demands by Dr. Nikolic; it being understood that Dr. Nikolic will
hold no interest whatsoever in the Fund Investment and that Gates shall be
free in his sole discretion to hold for as long as he shall so desire, or to sell,
encumber or otherwise dispose of at any time and from time to time, all or
-3-
EFTA_R1_00419612
EFTA01952099
any portion of the Fund Investment, whether before or after Dr. Nikolic
makes any or all Fund Investment Payment Demands.
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 as to Dr. Nikolic, 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 , and as to Gates, to Larry Cohen by email, text and by
phone/call at A notice or other communication sent to Dr.
Nikolic in compliance with the provisions of this Section shall be deemed
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. A notice or other communication sent to Gates
in compliance with the provisions of this Section shall be deemed given and
received upon confirmation of receipt, which shall be given promptly upon
actual receipt. All notices, requests, permissions and other communications
to Gates shall be addressed to:
Larry Cohen
All notices, requests, permissions and other communications to Dr.
Nikolic shall be addressed to:
itROVIDE NOTICE ADDRESS,FAX AND EMAIL]]
Each party hereto shall be required to timely notify the other party in
the event of change of his contact or address for receiving 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 [INSERT GOVERNING LAW] 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.
-4-
EFTA_R1_00419613
EFTA01952100
Miscellaneous I. Entire Agreement. Except as noted below, this Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof.
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 fitrther
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 with the prior written
consent of the other party hereto; provided, however, that Dr.
Nikolic may assign his rights to receive payments under this
Agreement to a wholly owned affiliate of Dr. Nikolic without the
prior written consent of Gates, provided further than such wholly
owned affiliate may not further assign any such payments without
Gates' written consent.
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
-5-
EFTA_Fti_o0419614
EFTA01952101
7. 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.
8. 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 for or against any party to this
Agreement.
9. Confidentiality. Each party hereto shall treat the terms of this
Agreement as confidential and, without the prior written consent of
the other party hereto, shall not disclose the terms hereof to any
third party; provided, however, that a party hereto may make such
disclosure (i) to his accountants, attorneys, tax advisors and other
advisors who require the same for the purpose of performing their
services for such party; (ii) as required by any law, rule or
regulation, or rule of a court or government authority or agency; (iii)
in connection with any pleadings, motions, discovery or other filings
in any legal proceedings or arbitration arising out of this Agreement;
or (iv) in response to a duly authorized subpoena, court order, order
from any government authority or other duly authorized discovery
or information request. At least five business days (if feasible) prior
to making any disclosure pursuant to clause (iv) above (other than in
connection with legal proceedings or arbitration arising out of this
Agreement pursuant to clause (iii) above), to the extent permissible
by applicable laws, rules and regulations, and by rule or order of the
applicable court or government authority, the party being asked to
make the disclosure shall inform the other party hereto of the
disclosure request, so as to permit the other party hereto to seek a
protective order or other appropriate relief if he so desires, and the
party being asked to make the disclosure will reasonably cooperate
with any such effort by the other party hereto; provided, however
that nothing provided herein shall prohibit the party being asked to
make the disclosure from timely complying with any such subpoena,
court order, order from government authority or other duly
authorized discovery or information request.
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED
-6-
EFTA_R1_00419615
EFTA01952102
Boris Nikolic
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED
William H. Gates
- 7-
EFTA_R1_00419618
EFTA01952103