Nupower may not have had contact with TPL...maybe they have tried and TPL was not interested.
PTSC is not a middle man.... they are a joint partner. Nupower probably a small company with a good product that just needs capital /cash , or management help.
PTSC is probably coming in to give a leg up to NuPower and if the partnership works..... if the product that Nupower and PTSC want to work with has some success... I think PTSC will either buyout the rights of that IP or even M & A the entire company... and that point passing the responsibility of the licensing to TPL.