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Note 5 - License Agreements
12 Months Ended
May 25, 2014
License Agreements [Abstract]  
License Agreements [Text Block]

5.             License Agreements


Monsanto


On December 1, 2006, Landec entered into a five-year co-exclusive technology license and polymer supply agreement (“the Monsanto Agreement”) with Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”) for the use of Landec’s Intellicoat polymer seed coating technology. On December 1, 2011, Monsanto terminated the Monsanto Agreement and paid the Company a $4 million termination fee and all rights to the Intellicoat seed coating technology reverted to Landec. For fiscal year 2012, Landec recognized license revenues from the Monsanto Agreement of $2.7 million.


INCOTEC


In connection with the sale of Landec Ag to INCOTEC on June 24, 2012 (see Note 3), Landec entered into a seven-year exclusive technology license and polymer supply agreement with INCOTEC for the use of Landec’s Intellicoat® polymer seed coating technology for male inbred corn which is sold under the Pollinator Plus label. This license does not include the use of Intellicoat for the controlled release of an active ingredient for agricultural applications which was retained by Landec. Landec will be the exclusive supplier of Pollinator Plus polymer to INCOTEC during the term of the license agreement and will receive a royalty equal to 20% of the revenues realized by INCOTEC from the sale of or sublicense of Pollinator Plus coatings during the first four years of the agreement and 10% for the last three years of the agreement.


On June 24, 2012, Landec also entered into a five-year exclusive technology license and polymer supply agreement with INCOTEC for the joint development of new polymer and unique coatings for use in seed treatment formulations. In this agreement, Landec will receive a value share which will be mutually agreed to by both parties prior to each application being developed.


Air Products


In March 2006, Landec entered into an exclusive license and research and development agreement with Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (“Air Products”). In accordance with the agreement, Landec receives 40% of the direct profit generated from the sale of products by Air Products occurring after April 1, 2007, that incorporate Landec’s Intelimer materials.


Chiquita


The agreement with Chiquita has been renewed through December 2016 and requires Chiquita to pay annual gross profit minimums to Landec in order for Chiquita to maintain its exclusive license for bananas. Under the terms of the agreement, Chiquita must notify Landec before December 1st of each year whether it is going to maintain its exclusive license for the following calendar year and thus agree to pay the minimums for that year. Landec was notified in November 2012 of Chiquita’s desire to not maintain its exclusive license. As a result, the agreement has reverted to a non-exclusive agreement in which Chiquita will pay the Company for membranes purchased and the Company is now entitled to sell its BreatheWay packaging technology for bananas to others.


                Windset


In June 2010, Apio entered into an exclusive license agreement with Windset to allow for the use of Landec’s proprietary breathable packaging to extend the shelf life of greenhouse grown cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes (“Exclusive Products”). In accordance with the agreement, Apio received and recorded a one-time upfront research and development fee of $100,000 and will receive license fees equal to 3% of net revenue of the Exclusive Products utilizing the proprietary breathable packaging technology, with or without the BreatheWay® trademark. The ongoing license fees are subject to annual minimums of $150,000 for each of the three types of exclusive product as each is added to the agreement. As of May 25, 2014, two products have been added to the agreement.


                 Nitta     


In July 2012, the Company entered into an agreement with Nitta Corporation (“Nitta”), a Japanese company, to develop additional uses of the Company’s adhesive polymer technology for electronics. During fiscal year 2013, the Company recognized $688,000 in research and development revenues from this agreement.