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Noble Foundation and Amaethon Establish Intellectual Property Marketing Relationship

ARDMORE, Okla. — The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., is pleased to announce the formation of a multi-year relationship with Amaethon Limited, a UK-based technology commercialization business.

Under the terms of the agreement, Amaethon has the exclusive right to create value from the research and intellectual property (IP) generated from the Foundation's molecular plant biology research programs and projects. Amaethon will be responsible for identifying and facilitating license opportunities and identifying and working with the Foundation to form new spin-outs, including sourcing seed capital. In exchange for these services, Amaethon will receive a share of licensing income received by the Foundation and an equity position in spin-outs created from its research or intellectual property.

As the Foundation retains ownership in its intellectual property portfolio, it will execute all agreements required under the commercialization events secured.

"This relationship provides the Foundation with a greater ability to identify both U.S.-based and international licensees for its plant-related discoveries and innovations, as well as develop spin-out opportunities for these technologies," said Michael A. Cawley, Noble Foundation president. "We look forward to a long relationship with Amaethon and expect great successes in this endeavor."

"This is our second strategic IP-based relationship, and I am delighted to be working with another group of world-class scientists and researchers. The Noble Foundation has committed substantial resources, over a considerable time period, towards its scientific goals and this has culminated in many significant scientific advances," said Dr. Graham P. Howe, chief executive officer of Amaethon. "We look forward to working with the Foundation on the commercialization of the current and extensive IP portfolio and creating further high-quality commercial horizons."

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The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, visit the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

More news releases available at www.noble.org/Press_Release