Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 28, 2021, by and among Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and each purchaser identified on Annex A thereto
EXHIBIT 10.1
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Stock Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of January 28, 2021, by and among Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each purchaser identified on Annex A hereto (each, including its successors and assigns, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).
BACKGROUND:
A. The Company and each Purchaser is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (as defined below), and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act.
B. The Purchasers, severally and not jointly, wish to purchase, and the Company wishes to issue and sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, an aggregate of 35,573 shares (the “Shares”) of Series X Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series X Preferred Stock”), of the Company, having the designation, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions as specified in the Certificate of Designation, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Certificate of Designation”), which will be convertible into shares (the “Conversion Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), in accordance with the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designation.
C. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Certificate of Designation, the conversion of the Series X Preferred Stock shall be subject to receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval (as defined therein).
D. The Company has engaged Jefferies LLC as its exclusive placement agent (the “Placement Agent”) for the offering of the Shares on a “best efforts” basis.
E. Prior to the Closing (as defined below): (i) the parties hereto shall execute and deliver a Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will agree to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Conversion Shares under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and applicable state securities laws and (ii) the Company shall file with the Delaware Secretary of State the Certificate of Designation, duly executed by an officer of the Company.
F. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company is entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, Cabo Merger Sub I, Inc., Cabo Merger Sub II, LLC, and Quellis Biosciences, Inc. (“Quellis”), in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Quellis will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company by way of merger (the “Merger”).
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated in this Section 1.1:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act. With respect to a Purchaser, any investment fund or managed account that is managed on a discretionary basis by the same investment manager as such Purchaser will be deemed to be an Affiliate of such Purchaser.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in the State of New York are generally are open for use by customers on such day.
“Closing Date” means the Trading Day when all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto, and all of the conditions set forth in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 5.1 and 5.2 hereof are satisfied or waived, as the case may be, or such other date as the parties may agree.
“Company Counsel” means Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.
“Company’s Knowledge” means with respect to any statement made to the Company’s Knowledge, that the statement is based upon the actual knowledge, or the knowledge that would have been acquired after reasonable investigation, of the executive officers of the Company having responsibility for the matter or matters that are the subject of the statement. With respect to any matters relating to intellectual property, such awareness or reasonable expectation to have knowledge does not require any such individual to conduct or have conducted or obtain or have obtained any freedom to operate opinions of counsel or any intellectual property rights clearance searches.
“Contract” means, with respect to any Person, any written agreement, contract, subcontract, lease (whether for real or personal property), mortgage, license, or other legally binding commitment or undertaking of any nature to which such Person is a party or by which such Person or any of its assets are bound or affected under applicable Law.
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“Control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” or “under common control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Effect” means any effect, change, event, circumstance or development.
“Effective Date” means the date on which the initial Registration Statement required by Section 2(a) of the Registration Rights Agreement is first declared effective by the Commission.
“Employee Plan” means any Employee Plan that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) sponsors, maintains, administers, or contributes to, or (ii) provides benefits under or through, or (iii) has any obligation to contribute to or provide benefits under or through, or (iv) with respect to which have any liability, or (v) utilizes to provide benefits to or otherwise cover any current or former employee, officer, director or other service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or their spouses, dependents, or beneficiaries).
“Encumbrance” means any lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, mortgage, security interest, lease, exclusive license, option, easement, reservation, servitude, adverse title, claim, infringement, interference, option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, community property interest or restriction or encumbrance of any nature (including any restriction on the voting of any security, any restriction on the transfer of any security or other asset, any restriction on the receipt of any income derived from any asset, any restriction on the use of any asset and any restriction on the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any asset).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.
“Governmental Authority” means any: (a) nation, state, commonwealth, province, territory, county, municipality, district or other jurisdiction of any nature, (b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, supra-national or other government, (c) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental division, department, agency, commission, bureau, instrumentality, official, ministry, fund, foundation, center, organization, unit, body or entity and any court or other tribunal, and for the avoidance of doubt, any taxing authority) or (d) self-regulatory organization (including Nasdaq).
“Law” means any federal, state, national, supra-national, foreign, local or municipal or other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, regulation, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority (including under the authority of Nasdaq or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).
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“Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect, individually or together with any other Effect, that has had, has, or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Company or its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that Effects arising or resulting from the following shall not be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect: (a) the announcement or disclosure of the sale of the Shares or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, (b) the taking of any action, or the failure to take any action, by the Company that is required to comply with the terms of this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, (c) any natural disaster or epidemics, pandemics (including the COVID-19 virus) or other force majeure events, or any act or threat of terrorism or war, any armed hostilities or terrorist activities (including any escalation or general worsening of any of the foregoing) anywhere in the world or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, (d) any change in GAAP or applicable Law or the interpretation thereof or (e) general economic or political conditions or conditions generally affecting the industries in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate; except in each case with respect to clauses (c), (d) and (e), to the extent disproportionately affecting the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated companies in the industries in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate.
“Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Stock Market.
“New York Courts” means the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan.
“Outside Date” means the thirtieth day following the date of this Agreement.
“Permitted Encumbrances” means (i) Encumbrances for current taxes and assessments not yet past due or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) mechanics’, workmen’s, repairmen’s, warehousemen’s and carriers’ Encumbrances arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company consistent with past practice, (iii) non-exclusive licenses of intellectual property rights granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and that do not (in any case or in the aggregate) materially detract from the value of the intellectual property rights subject thereto, and (iv) any such matters of record, Encumbrances and other imperfections of title that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the continued ownership, use and operation of the assets to which they relate in the business of the Company as currently conducted.
“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
“Principal Trading Market” means the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is primarily listed on and quoted for trading, which, as of the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, shall be the Nasdaq Global Market.
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“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
“Registrable Securities” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Registration Statement” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale by the Purchasers of the Registrable Securities.
“Reporting Period” means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending with respect to each Purchaser on the earliest of: (i) the date as of which such Purchaser may sell all of the Shares purchased hereunder (or the corresponding underlying Conversion Shares) under Rule 144 without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirements under Rule 144(c)(1) (or any successor thereto) promulgated under the Securities Act; (ii) the second anniversary of the Closing Date, or (iii) the date on which such Purchaser shall have sold all of the Shares purchased hereunder (or the corresponding underlying Conversion Shares).
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Series X Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals, and also includes any other class of securities into which the Series X Preferred Stock may hereafter be reclassified or changed into.
“Short Sales” include, without limitation, (i) all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, whether or not against the box, and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges, forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, short sales, swaps, “put equivalent positions” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and (ii) sales and other transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or non-U.S. regulated brokers (but shall not be deemed to include the location and/or reservation of borrowable shares of Common Stock).
“Subscription Amount” means, with respect to each Purchaser, the aggregate amount to be paid for the Shares purchased hereunder as indicated on Annex A opposite such Purchaser’s name, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds.
“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company, and shall, where applicable, include any subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof, including, for avoidance of doubt, Quellis.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the Principal Trading Market is open for business.
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“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto, the Registration Rights Agreement and any other documents or agreements explicitly contemplated hereunder.
“Transfer Agent” means American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, the current transfer agent of the Company, or any successor transfer agent for the Company.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE
2.1 Purchase and Sale. On the Closing Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company will issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser will purchase, severally and not jointly, the number of Shares set forth opposite the name of such Purchaser under the heading “Number of Shares Purchased” on Annex A attached hereto at a price of $3,092.53 per Share, for an aggregate purchase price to be paid by all Purchasers of $110,010,569.69 (the “Purchase Price”).
2.2 Closing.
(a) Closing. Upon the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article V, the closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely via exchange of executed documents and funds on the third Business Day after the date hereof, or at such other time and place as the Company may designate by notice (which notice may be communicated through the Placement Agent) to the Purchasers.
(b) Payment. On or prior to the Closing Date, each Purchaser shall deliver to the Company the Subscription Amount via wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Company or by other means approved by the Company on or prior to the Closing Date. At the Closing, following the receipt by the Company of the entire portion of the Subscription Amount payable by a Purchaser, the Company shall issue to such Purchaser book entry shares (or certificates if requested by such Purchaser) representing the number of Shares set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Annex A, registered in the name of such Purchaser.
2.3 Closing Deliverables.
(a) On or prior to the Closing, the Company shall issue, deliver or cause to be delivered to each Purchaser the following (the “Company Deliverables”):
(i) this Agreement, duly executed by the Company;
(ii) the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company;
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(iii) evidence of the issuance of the Shares in the name of the Purchasers by book entry on the stock ledger of the Company (or, if the Shares are to be represented in certificated form, a certificate representing the Shares in the name of such Purchaser as set forth on the Stock Certificate Questionnaire included as Exhibit C hereto (the “Stock Certificate”));
(iv) a legal opinion of Company Counsel, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers, executed by such counsel and addressed to the Purchasers; and
(v) evidence of filing of the Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
(b) On or prior to the Closing, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following (the “Purchaser Deliverables”):
(i) this Agreement, duly executed by such Purchaser;
(ii) the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by such Purchaser;
(iii) its Subscription Amount, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, in the amount set forth in the “Subscription Amount” column opposite each Purchaser’s name in the table set forth on Annex A by wire transfer to the Company;
(iv) a fully completed and duly executed Selling Stockholder Questionnaire in the form attached as Exhibit B to the Registration Rights Agreement; and
(v) a fully completed and duly executed Stock Certificate Questionnaire in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C if such Purchaser has requested Stock Certificates.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as previously disclosed in the SEC Reports (as defined below), the Company hereby represents and warrants the following as of the date hereof and the Closing Date (except for the representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be made as of such date) to each of the Purchasers and the Placement Agent:
(a) Due Organization; Subsidiaries. The Company is a Delaware corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all necessary corporate power and authority: (i) to conduct its business in the manner in which its business is currently being conducted, (ii) to own or lease and use its property and assets in the manner in which its property and assets are currently owned or leased and used and (iii) to perform its obligations under all Contracts by which it is bound. All of the Company’s Subsidiaries are wholly owned by the Company. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is licensed and qualified to do business, and is in good standing (to the extent applicable in such jurisdiction), under the Laws of all jurisdictions where the nature of its business in the manner in which its business is currently being conducted requires such licensing or qualification other than in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified individually or in the aggregate would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and, subject to receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. Subject to the receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval, all corporate action on the part of the Company, its directors and stockholders necessary for the authorization, execution, sale, issuance and delivery of the Shares and the Conversion Shares contemplated herein has been taken. Each of the Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party have been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed and delivered by the Company and is, or when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms, except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, examinership, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.
(c) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold by the Company under the Transaction Documents (including, subject to the Company obtaining Requisite Stockholder Approval, the issuance of Conversion Shares upon the conversion of the Shares), the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including without limitation, the issuance of the Shares and the reservation for issuance of the Conversion Shares) do not and will not conflict with, result in the breach or violation of, or constitute (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both) a violation of, or default under, (i) any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, or under any lease, license, franchise, permit, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, joint venture or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or its properties may be bound or affected, (ii) the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), the Company’s bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Bylaws”), or the equivalent document with respect to any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof, or (iii) subject to the Requisite Stockholder Approval, any statute or law, judgment, decree, rule, regulation, ordinance or order of any court or governmental or regulatory body (including Nasdaq), Governmental Authority applicable to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties, except in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) for such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
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(d) Filings, Consents and Approvals. Except for any Current Report on Form 8-K, Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities on Form D to be filed by the Company in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby, any required filing with Nasdaq and the Requisite Stockholder Approval, the filing of the Certificate of Designation and the Registration Statement required to be filed by the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to give any notice to, or make any filings with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Assuming the accuracy of the representations of the Purchasers in Section 3.2, no consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration, qualification or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required for the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the valid issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold pursuant to the Transaction Documents (including, subject to the Company obtaining the Requisite Stockholder Approval, the issuance of Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Shares) other than such as have been or will be made or obtained, or for any securities filings required to be made under federal or state securities laws applicable to the offering of the Shares or the issuance of Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Shares (other than the Requisite Stockholder Approval and filings that have been made, or will be made, pursuant to the rules and regulations of Nasdaq). The Company and its Subsidiaries are unaware of any facts or circumstances that might prevent the Company from obtaining or effecting any of the registration, application or filings pursuant to this Section 3.1(d).
(e) Issuance of the Shares. The issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized and the Shares, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free and clear of any Encumbrances, preemptive rights or restrictions (other than as provided in this Agreement or any restrictions on transfer generally imposed under applicable securities laws). Subject to receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval, the Conversion Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designation, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and shall be free and clear of any encumbrances, preemptive rights or restrictions (other than as provided in this Agreement or any restrictions on transfer generally imposed under applicable securities laws). The Company shall have reserved such number of shares of Common Stock sufficient to enable the full conversion of all of the Shares, subject to receiving the Requisite Stockholder Approval.
(f) Capitalization.
(i) As of January 28, 2021 (the “Capitalization Date”), before giving effect to the Merger and the issuance of the Shares, the authorized capital stock of the Company consisted of (x) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), 91,380 of which were designated as Series X Preferred Stock, none of which were issued and outstanding and convertible into shares of Common Stock, and (y) 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock, 20,084,337 shares of which were issued and outstanding. The Preferred Stock and the Common Stock are collectively referred to herein as the “Capital Stock.” All of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable and are free of any Encumbrances. As of the Capitalization Date, before giving effect to the Merger, the Company has 1,332,726 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options and 6,193,749 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants.
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(ii) Schedule 3.1(f) sets forth the pro forma capitalization of the Company (on a treasury stock method basis) immediately following the Merger and assuming the issuance of all Shares offered hereby.
(iii) None of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock or outstanding options or warrants to purchase Capital Stock of the Company were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement or in the Merger Agreement, as of the date hereof there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights (including conversion or preemptive rights), agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character, whether or not contingent, relating to the issued or unissued Capital Stock of the Company or obligating the Company to issue or sell any share of Capital Stock of, or other equity interest in, the Company. Neither the issuance and sale of the Shares nor the issuance of the Conversion Shares will obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person (other than the Purchasers) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under any of such securities.
(iv) Effective as of the consummation of the Merger, Quellis will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
(g) SEC Reports; Disclosure Materials. The Company has filed or furnished, as applicable, on a timely basis all forms, statements, certifications, reports and documents required to be filed or furnished by it with the Commission under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act since January 1, 2020 (the “SEC Reports”). As of the time it was filed with the Commission (or, if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on the date of such filing), each of the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (as the case may be) and as of the time they were filed, none of the SEC Reports contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(h) Financial Statements. As of their respective filing dates, the financial statements (including any related notes) contained or incorporated by reference in the SEC Reports (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, (ii) were prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the Commission, and except that the unaudited financial statements may not contain footnotes and are subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments that are not reasonably expected to be material in amount) applied on a consistent basis unless otherwise noted therein throughout the periods indicated and (iii) fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the periods covered thereby. Other than as expressly disclosed in the SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, there has been no material change in the Company’s accounting methods or principles that would be required to be disclosed in the Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Except as set forth in the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, the Company has not incurred any liabilities, contingent or otherwise, except those incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent (as to amount and nature) with past practices since the date of such financial statements, none of which, individually or in the aggregate, have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The books of account and other financial records of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are true and complete in all material respects.
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(i) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and delivered their report with respect to the audited financial statements included in the SEC Reports, has at all times since September 2010, the date of their engagement by the Company, been (i) a registered public accounting firm (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), (ii) to the Company’s Knowledge, “independent” with respect to the Company within the meaning of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act and (iii) to the Company’s Knowledge, in compliance with subsections (g) through (l) of Section 10A of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission and the Public Accounting Oversight Board thereunder.
(j) Absence of Certain Changes. Since September 30, 2020, except as set forth in the SEC Reports and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and this Agreement, there has been no material adverse change to, and no material adverse development in, the business, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Except in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, since September 30, 2020, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) declared or paid any dividends, (ii) sold any material assets, individually or in the aggregate, outside of the ordinary course of business or (iii) had material capital expenditures, individually or in the aggregate, outside of the ordinary course of business. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any bankruptcy law nor does the Company have any knowledge or reason to believe that its creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings or any actual knowledge of any fact that would reasonably lead any such creditor to do so. The Company and its Subsidiaries, individually and on a consolidated basis, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur at the Closing, will not be Insolvent (as defined below). For purposes of this Section 3.1(j), “Insolvent” means, with respect to any Person, (i) the present fair saleable value of such Person’s assets is less than the amount required to pay such Person’s total indebtedness, (ii) such Person is unable to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person intends to incur or believes that it will incur debts that would be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature or (iv) such Person has unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted.
(k) Litigation. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, currently threatened in writing against the Company or any of its directors and officers that questions the validity of the Transaction Documents or the right of the Company to enter into the Transaction Documents or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. There is no material action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, currently threatened in writing against the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors and officers.
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(l) Conduct of Business; Regulatory Permits. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under its Certificate of Incorporation, any certificate of designations of any outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company or the Bylaws or their organizational charter or bylaws, respectively. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any judgment, decree or order or any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will conduct its business in violation of any of the foregoing, except for possible violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company is not in violation of any of the rules, regulations or requirements of Nasdaq and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances that would reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Common Stock by Nasdaq in the foreseeable future. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any written notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit.
(m) Title to Assets. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns, and has good and marketable title to, or, in the case of leased properties and assets, valid leasehold interests in, all tangible properties or tangible assets and equipment used or held for use in its business or operations or purported to be owned by it, including: (i) all tangible assets reflected on the financial statements (including the related notes and schedules thereto) included (or incorporated by reference) in the SEC Reports and (ii) all other tangible assets reflected in the books and records of the Company as being owned by the Company. All of such assets are owned or, in the case of leased assets, leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries free and clear of any Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.
(n) Insurance. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries are insured by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed reasonable, adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its Subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes and policies covering the Company and its subsidiaries for product liability claims and clinical trial liability claims. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will not be able to (i) renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that could not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.
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(o) Transactions with Affiliates and Employees. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, since the date of the Company’s last proxy statement filed in 2020 with the SEC, no event has occurred that would be required to be reported by the Company pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
(p) Internal Controls. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the 1934 Act), which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities; (ii) have been evaluated by management of the Company for effectiveness as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter; and (iii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. Since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there have been no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or would reasonably be expected to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company is not aware of any change in its internal controls over financial reporting that has occurred during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or would reasonably be expected to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(q) Sarbanes-Oxley. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(r) No Registration. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2 of this Agreement, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Shares by the Company to the Purchasers as contemplated hereby.
(s) Certain Fees. No person or entity will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or a Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Company, other than the Placement Agent with respect to the offer and sale of the Shares (which placement agent fees are being paid by the Company). The Purchasers shall have no obligation with respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section 3.1(s) that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company shall indemnify, pay, and hold each Purchaser harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any such right, interest or claim.
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(t) Company Not an “Investment Company.” The Company is not, and will not be, immediately after receipt of payment for the Shares, required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(u) Registration Rights. Other than each of the Purchasers or as set forth in the SEC Reports, no Person has any right to cause the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company other than those securities which are currently registered on an effective registration statement on file with the Commission.
(v) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Company’s Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to terminate the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. The Company is in compliance with all applicable listing requirements of the Principal Trading Market.
(w) Disclosure. The Company confirms that it has not provided, and to the Company’s Knowledge, none of its officers or directors nor any other Person acting on its or their behalf has provided, and it has not authorized the Placement Agent to provide, any Purchaser or its respective agents or counsel with any information that it believes constitutes material, non-public information except insofar as the existence, provisions and terms of the Transaction Documents and the proposed transactions hereunder may constitute such information, all of which will be disclosed by the Company in the Press Release as contemplated by Section 4.4 hereof. The Company understands and confirms that the Purchasers will rely on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.
(x) No Integrated Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, and except with respect to the Capital Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement, none of the Company, its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of its Affiliates or any Person acting on its behalf has, directly or indirectly, at any time within the past six months, made any offers or sales of any Company security or solicited any offers to buy any security under circumstances that would (i) eliminate the availability of the exemption from registration under Regulation D under the Securities Act in connection with the offer and sale by the Company of the Shares as contemplated hereby or (ii) cause the offering of the Shares pursuant to the Transaction Documents to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of any applicable law, regulation or stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated.
(y) Tax Matters. Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed all income tax returns and all other material tax returns that were required to be filed by or with respect to it under applicable Law (taking into account any applicable extensions thereof). All such tax returns were correct and complete in all material respects and have been prepared in material compliance with all applicable Law. Subject to exceptions as would not be material, no claim has ever been made by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not file tax returns that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. All material amounts of taxes due and owing by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any tax return) have been timely paid. Since the date of the most recent financial statements (including the related notes and schedules thereto) included (or incorporated by reference) in the SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any material liability for taxes outside the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
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(z) No General Solicitation. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any person acting on behalf of the Company has offered or sold any of the Shares by any form of general solicitation or general advertising.
(aa) Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any director, officer, or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor to the Company’s Knowledge, any agent, Affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken any act in furtherance of an offer, promise, or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any non-U.S. or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or public international organization, or any political party, party official, or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), the UK Bribery Act 2010, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, authorized, requested, or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment or benefit. The Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the Company’s Knowledge, the Company’s Affiliates have conducted their respective businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
(bb) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the USA Patriot Act, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator or non-governmental authority involving the Company or its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened.
(cc) OFAC. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries nor any of their respective affiliates, directors, officers, nor to the Company’s Knowledge, any agent or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries is subject to any sanctions administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the United States Treasury Department, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or any other relevant sanctions authority; and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity for the purpose of financing the activities of any person that is the target of sanctions administered or enforced by such authorities or in connection with any country or territory that is the target of country- or territory-wide OFAC sanctions (currently, Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, and the Crimea Region of Ukraine).
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(dd) Off Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company (or any Subsidiary) and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in SEC Reports and is not so disclosed and would have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(ee) Acknowledgment Regarding Purchaser’s Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Purchaser is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and that the obligations of each Purchaser under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents are several and not joint. The Company further acknowledges that no Purchaser is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or in any similar capacity) with respect to this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by a Purchaser or any of its representatives or agents in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to such Purchaser’s purchase of the Shares. The Company further represents to each Purchaser that the Company’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives.
(ff) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation; Compliance with Regulation M. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or otherwise, and has taken no action which would directly or indirectly violate Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
(gg) Clinical Data and Regulatory Compliance. The preclinical tests and clinical trials, and other studies (collectively, “studies”) that are described in, or the results of which are referred to in, the SEC Reports were conducted in all material respects in accordance with the protocols, procedures and controls designed and approved for such studies and with standard medical and scientific research procedures; each description of the results of such studies is accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly presents the data derived from such studies; the Company and its Subsidiaries have made all such filings and obtained all such approvals as may be required by the Food and Drug Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or any committee thereof or from any other U.S. or non-U.S. government or drug or medical device regulatory agency, or health care facility Institutional Review Board (collectively, the “Regulatory Agencies”); neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of, or correspondence from, any Regulatory Agency requiring the termination, suspension or modification of any clinical trials that are described or referred to in the SEC Reports; and the Company and its Subsidiaries have each operated and currently are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable rules, regulations and policies of the Regulatory Agencies.
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(hh) No Additional Agreements. The Company does not have any agreement or understanding with any Purchaser with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents other than as specified in the Transaction Documents.
(ii) No Disqualification Events. No “bad actor” disqualifying event described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i)-(viii) of the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”) is applicable to the Company or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any Covered Person (as defined below), except for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii–iv) or (d)(3), is applicable. “Covered Person” means, with respect to the Company as an “issuer” for purposes of Rule 506 promulgated under the Securities Act, any person listed in the first paragraph of Rule 506(d)(1). Other than the Placement Agent, the Company is not aware of any Person (other than any Covered Person) that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of purchasers in connection with the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.
(jj) Shell Company Status. The Company is not, and has never been, an issuer identified in, or subject to, Rule 144(i)(1) of the Securities Act.
3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers. Each Purchaser hereby, for itself and for no other Purchaser, represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to each of the Company and the Placement Agent as follows:
(a) Organization; Authority. Such Purchaser is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite corporate or partnership power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the applicable Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Purchaser and performance by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or, if such Purchaser is not a corporation, such partnership, limited liability company or other applicable like action, on the part of such Purchaser. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application.
(b) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Purchaser or (ii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including U.S. federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Purchaser, except in the case of clause (ii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Purchaser to perform its obligations hereunder.
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(c) Investment Intent.
(i) Such Purchaser understands that the Shares and the Conversion Shares (collectively, the “Securities”) are “restricted securities” and have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable U.S. state securities law and is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and not with a view to, or for distributing or reselling such Securities or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable U.S. state or other securities laws, provided, however, that by making the representations herein, such Purchaser does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum period of time and reserves the right, subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or under an exemption from such registration and in compliance with applicable U.S. federal, state and other securities laws. Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business.
(ii) Such Purchaser does not presently have any agreement, plan or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute or effect any distribution of any of the Securities (or any securities which are derivatives thereof) to or through any person or entity; such Purchaser is not a registered broker-dealer under Section 15 of the Exchange Act or an entity engaged in a business that would require it to be so registered as a broker-dealer.
(d) Purchaser Status. At the time such Purchaser was offered the Shares, it was, and at the date hereof it is, and at the Closing will be, an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act.
(e) General Solicitation. Such Purchaser is not purchasing the Shares as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Shares published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or any other general advertisement.
(f) Purchaser Sophistication. Such Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment. Such Purchaser further acknowledges that there is no trading market for the Shares and that the Company’s ability to issue the Conversion Shares is subject to receipt of Requisite Stockholder Approval.
(g) Access to Information. Such Purchaser acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to review the SEC Reports and has been afforded (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Shares and the merits and risks of investing in the Shares; (ii) access to information about the Company and the Subsidiaries and their respective financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment. Neither such inquiries nor any other investigation conducted by or on behalf of such Purchaser or its representatives or counsel shall modify, amend or affect such Purchaser’s right to rely on the truth, accuracy and completeness of the SEC Reports and the Company’s representations and warranties contained in the Transaction Documents.
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(h) Certain Trading Activities. Other than with respect to the transactions contemplated herein, since the time that such Purchaser was first contacted by the Company, a Placement Agent or any other Person regarding the transactions contemplated hereby, neither the Purchaser nor any Affiliate of such Purchaser which (x) had knowledge of the transactions contemplated hereby, (y) has or shares discretion relating to such Purchaser’s investments or trading or information concerning such Purchaser’s investments, including in respect of the Shares, and (z) is subject to such Purchaser’s review or input concerning such Affiliate’s investments or trading (collectively, “Trading Affiliates”) has directly or indirectly, nor has any Person acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with such Purchaser or Trading Affiliate, effected or agreed to effect any purchases or sales of the securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any Short Sales involving the Company’s securities). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Purchaser and/or Trading Affiliate that is, individually or collectively, a multi-managed investment bank or vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Purchaser’s or Trading Affiliate’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of such Purchaser’s or Trading Affiliate’s assets, the representation set forth above shall apply only with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that have knowledge about the financing transaction contemplated by this Agreement. Other than to other Persons party to this Agreement, and to such Purchaser’s representatives or agents, including, but not limited to, such Purchaser’s legal, tax and investment advisors, such Purchaser has maintained the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including the existence and terms of this transaction). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall constitute a representation or warranty, or preclude any actions, with respect to the identification of the availability of, or securing of, available shares to borrow in order to effect Short Sales or similar transactions in the future.
(i) Brokers and Finders. Other than the Placement Agent, no Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or any Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Purchaser. No Purchaser shall have any obligation with respect to any fees, or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees, in each case of the type contemplated by this Section 3.2(i) that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents.
(j) Independent Investment Decision. Such Purchaser has independently evaluated the merits of its decision to purchase Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents, and such Purchaser confirms that it has not relied on the advice of any other Purchaser’s business and/or legal counsel in making such decision. Such Purchaser understands that nothing in this Agreement or any other materials presented by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchaser in connection with the purchase of the Shares constitutes legal, tax or investment advice. Such Purchaser has consulted such legal, tax and investment advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of the Shares. Such Purchaser understands that the Placement Agent has acted solely as the agent of the Company in this placement of the Shares and such Purchaser has not relied on the business or legal advice of the Placement Agent or any of their agents, counsel or Affiliates in making its investment decision hereunder, and confirms that none of such Persons has made any representations or warranties to such Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
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(k) Reliance on Exemptions. Such Purchaser understands that the Shares being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and understandings of such Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Purchaser to acquire the Shares.
(l) No Governmental Review. Such Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Shares or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Shares nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Shares.
(m) Regulation M. Such Purchaser is aware that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of Securities and other activities with respect to the Shares by the Purchasers.
(n) Beneficial Ownership. The purchase by such Purchaser of the Shares issuable to it at the Closing will not result in such Purchaser (individually or together with any other Person with whom such Purchaser has identified, or will have identified, itself as part of a “group” in a public filing made with the Commission involving the Company’s securities) acquiring, or obtaining the right to acquire, beneficial ownership in excess of 19.99% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the voting power of the Company on a post transaction basis that assumes that such Closing shall have occurred. Such Purchaser does not presently intend to, alone or together with others, make a public filing with the Commission to disclose that it has (or that it together with such other Persons have) acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, as a result of such Closing (when added to any other securities of the Company that it or they then own or have the right to acquire), beneficial ownership in excess of 19.99% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the voting power of the Company on a post transaction basis that assumes that each Closing shall have occurred.
(o) Residency. Such Purchaser’s residence (if an individual) or offices in which its investment decision with respect to the Shares was made (if an entity) are located at the address immediately below such Purchaser’s name on its signature page hereto.
The Company and each of the Purchasers acknowledge and agree that no party to this Agreement has made or makes any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in this Article III and the Transaction Documents.
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ARTICLE IV
OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
4.1 Transfer Restrictions.
(a) Compliance with Laws. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV, each Purchaser covenants that the Shares and Conversion Shares may be disposed of only pursuant to an effective registration statement under, and in compliance with the requirements of, the Securities Act, or pursuant to an available exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable U.S. state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of the Shares other than (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement, (ii) to the Company, (iii) pursuant to Rule 144 (provided that the Purchaser provides the Company with reasonable assurances (in the form of seller and, if applicable, broker representation letters) that the securities may be sold pursuant to such rule) or (iv) in connection with a bona fide pledge as contemplated in Section 4.1(b), the Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and shall have the rights of a Purchaser under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to such transferred Securities.
(b) Legends. Certificates and book-entry statements evidencing the Shares and any Conversion Shares shall bear, any legend as required by the “blue sky” laws of any state and a restrictive legend in substantially the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, OR UNLESS OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR TRANSFERRED PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THOSE LAWS. THE COMPANY AND ITS TRANSFER AGENT SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER AGENT THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.
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The Company acknowledges and agrees that a Purchaser may from time to time pledge, and/or grant a security interest in, some or all of the legended Securities in connection with applicable securities laws, pursuant to a bona fide margin agreement in compliance with a bona fide margin loan. Such a pledge would not be subject to approval or consent of the Company and no legal opinion of legal counsel to the pledgee, secured party or pledgor shall be required in connection with the pledge, but such legal opinion shall be required in connection with a subsequent transfer or foreclosure following default by the Purchaser transferee of the pledge. No notice shall be required of such pledge, but Purchaser’s transferee shall promptly notify the Company of any such subsequent transfer or foreclosure. Each Purchaser acknowledges that the Company shall not be responsible for any pledges relating to, or the grant of any security interest in, any of the Shares or for any agreement, understanding or arrangement between any Purchaser and its pledgee or secured party. At the appropriate Purchaser’s expense, the Company will execute and deliver such reasonable documentation as a pledgee or secured party of Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge or transfer of the Shares, including the preparation and filing of any required prospectus supplement under Rule 424(b)(3) of the Securities Act or other applicable provision of the Securities Act to appropriately amend the list of selling stockholders thereunder. Each Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that, except as otherwise provided in Section 4.1(c), any Securities subject to a pledge or security interest as contemplated by this Section 4.1(b) shall continue to bear the legend set forth in this Section 4.1(b) and be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 4.1(a).
(c) Legend Removal. The Company shall, at its sole expense, upon appropriate notice from any Purchaser stating that Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, timely prepare and deliver certificates representing the Conversion Shares to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as such Purchaser may request. Upon request of the Purchaser, and if such legend is no longer required under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the Company shall promptly cause the legend to be removed from any certificate for any Conversion Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and deliver, or cause to be delivered, to any Purchaser new certificate(s) representing the Conversion Shares that are free from all restrictive and other legends or, at the request of such Purchaser, via DWAC transfer to such Purchaser’s account. A Purchaser may request that the Company remove, and the Company agrees to authorize the removal of, any legend from such Conversion Shares, upon the earliest of (x) such time as the Conversion Shares are subject to an effective registration statement covering the resale of such Conversion Shares and (y) following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Company or the Company’s transfer agent of a legended certificate representing such Conversion Shares: (i) following any sale of such Conversion Shares pursuant to Rule 144, (ii) if such Conversion Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144(b)(1) without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirements under Rule 144(c)(1) (or any successor thereto), or (iii) following the time a legend is no longer required with respect to such Conversion Shares. Certificates for Conversion Shares free from all restrictive legends may be transmitted by the Company’s transfer agent to the Purchasers by crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) as directed by such Purchaser. The Company warrants that the Conversion Shares shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the Company as and to the extent provided in this Agreement. If a Purchaser effects a transfer of the Conversion Shares in accordance with this Section 4.1, the Company shall permit the transfer and shall promptly instruct its transfer agent to issue one or more certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at DTC in such name and in such denominations as specified by such Purchaser to effect such transfer. Additionally, if a Purchaser effects a conversion of the Shares into Conversion Shares at a time when a legend is not required with respect to the Conversion Shares, such Conversion Shares shall be issued without the restrictive legends set forth in Section 4.1(b). Each Purchaser hereby agrees that the removal of the restrictive legend pursuant to this Section 4.1(c) is predicated upon the Company’s reliance that such Purchaser will sell any such Conversion Shares pursuant to either the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including any applicable prospectus delivery requirements, or an exemption therefrom.
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(d) Acknowledgement. Each Purchaser hereunder acknowledges its primary responsibilities under the Securities Act and accordingly will not sell or otherwise transfer the Shares or Conversion Shares or any interest therein without complying with the requirements of the Securities Act. While the Registration Statement remains effective, each Purchaser hereunder may sell the Conversion Shares in accordance with the plan of distribution contained in the Registration Statement and if it does so it will comply therewith and with the related prospectus delivery requirements unless an exemption therefrom is available. Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, agrees that if it is notified by the Company in writing at any time that the Registration Statement registering the resale of the Conversion Shares is not effective or that the prospectus included in such Registration Statement is no longer compliant with the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, the Purchaser will refrain from selling such Conversion Shares until such time as the Purchaser is notified by the Company that such Registration Statement is effective or such prospectus is compliant with Section 10 of the Securities Act, unless such Purchaser is able to, and does, sell such Conversion Shares pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act. Both the Company and its Transfer Agent, and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, may rely on this Section 4.1(d) and each Purchaser hereunder will indemnify and hold harmless each of such persons from any breaches or violations of this Section 4.1(d).
4.2 Furnishing of Information. In order to enable the Purchasers to sell the Securities under Rule 144, during the Reporting Period, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act. During the Reporting Period, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Purchasers and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) such information as is required for the Purchasers to sell the Shares under Rule 144.
4.3 Integration. The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Shares in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Shares to the Purchasers, or that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Shares for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading Market such that it would require stockholder approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless stockholder approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction; provided, however, that this Section 4.3 shall not limit the Company’s right to issue shares of Capital Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
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4.4 Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. By 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Trading Day immediately following the date hereof, the Company shall issue a press release (the “Press Release”) disclosing all material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby. On or before 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on the fourth Business Day immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the Company will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission describing the terms of the Transaction Documents (and including as exhibits to such Current Report on Form 8-K the material Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not publicly disclose the name of any Purchaser or an Affiliate of any Purchaser, or include the name of any Purchaser or an Affiliate of any Purchaser in any press release or filing with the Commission (other than the Registration Statement) or any regulatory agency or Trading Market, without the prior written consent of such Purchaser, except (i) as required by U.S. federal securities law in connection with (A) any Registration Statement contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement or (B) the filing of final Transaction Documents (including signature pages to this Agreement) with the Commission and (ii) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, request of the Commission’s staff or Trading Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide the Purchasers with prior written notice of such disclosure permitted under this subclause (ii). Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are required to be publicly disclosed by the Company as described in this Section 4.4, such Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including the existence and terms of this transaction); provided, however, any disclosure may be made by such Purchaser to such Purchaser’s representatives or agents, including, but not limited to, such Purchaser’s legal, tax and investment advisors.
4.5 Anti-takeover Terms. No claim will be made or enforced by the Company or, with the consent of the Company, any other Person, that any Purchaser is an “interested stockholder” under Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or that any Purchaser could be deemed to trigger the provisions of any poison pill or anti-takeover plan or arrangement, to the extent solely by virtue of receiving the Shares or the Conversion Shares under the Transaction Documents.
4.6 Non-Public Information. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, including this Agreement, or as expressly required by any applicable securities law, the Company covenants and agrees that neither it, nor any other Person acting on its behalf, will provide any Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any information regarding the Company that the Company believes constitutes material non-public information without the express written consent of such Purchaser, unless prior thereto such Purchaser shall have executed a written agreement regarding the confidentiality and use of such information. The Company understands and confirms that each Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing covenant in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.
4.7 Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares hereunder for working capital and general corporate purposes.
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4.8 Principal Trading Market Listing. In the time and manner required by the Principal Trading Market, the Company shall prepare and file with such Principal Trading Market an additional shares listing application covering all of the Shares and Conversion Shares and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all steps necessary to cause all of the Shares and Conversion Shares to be approved for listing on the Principal Trading Market as promptly as possible thereafter.
4.9 Form D. The Company agrees to timely file a Form D with respect to the Shares, as required under Regulation D.
4.10 Short Sales After the Date Hereof. Each Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its Trading Affiliates not to, engage, directly or indirectly, in any transactions in the Company’s securities (including, without limitation, any Short Sales involving the Company’s securities) during the period from the date hereof until the earlier of such time as (i) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced as required by and described in Section 4.4 or (ii) this Agreement is terminated in full. Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed by the Company as described in Section 4.4, such Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of the existence and terms of this transaction and the information included in the Transaction Documents; provided, however, any disclosure may be made to such Purchaser’s representatives or agents, including, but not limited to, such Purchaser’s legal, tax and investment advisors.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Purchaser makes any representation, warranty or covenant hereby that it will not engage in Short Sales in the securities of the Company after the time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced as described in Section 4.4; provided, however, each Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly with any Purchasers, that such Purchaser will not enter into any Net Short Sales (as hereinafter defined) during the Reporting Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Purchaser and/or Trading Affiliate that is, individually or collectively, a multi-managed investment bank or vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Purchaser’s or Trading Affiliate’s assets, this Section 4.10 shall apply only with respect to the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the Shares covered by this Agreement.
For purposes of this Section 4.10, a “Net Short Sale” by any Purchaser shall mean a sale of Common Stock by such Purchaser that is marked as a short sale and that is made at a time when there is no Equivalent Offsetting Long Position in Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) held by such Purchaser. For purposes of this Section 4.10, an “Equivalent Offsetting Long Position in Common Stock” means, with respect to a Purchaser, all shares of Common Stock (A) that are owned by such Purchaser and (B) that would be issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of the Shares and any other options or convertible securities then held by such Purchaser, if any, without giving effect to any limitation on conversion, exchange or exercise set forth therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Purchaser has sold Securities pursuant to Rule 144 prior to the Effective Date of the initial Registration Statement and the Company has failed to deliver certificates without legends prior to the settlement date for such sale (assuming that such certificates are requested by Purchaser and meet the requirements set forth in Section 4.1(c) for the removal of legends), the provisions of this Section 4.10 shall not prohibit the Purchaser from entering into Net Short Sales for the purpose of delivering shares of Common Stock in settlement of such sale.
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4.11 Requisite Stockholder Approval. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to hold a special meeting of stockholders (a “Stockholder Meeting”) within 180 days from the Closing (the “Stockholder Meeting Deadline”) for the purpose of obtaining stockholder approval to allow for the conversion of the issued and outstanding Series X Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock in accordance with Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(a) (the “Requisite Stockholder Approval”), but remaining subject to a beneficial ownership conversion limit not to exceed 19.99% for any given stockholder. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit stockholder approval of such resolution and to cause the Board of Directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such resolution. If the Requisite Stockholder Approval is not obtained on or prior to the Stockholder Meeting Deadline, the Company shall cause an additional Stockholder Meeting to be held within 90 days from the prior meeting (the “Extended Stockholder Approval Period”). If the Requisite Stockholder Approval is not obtained within the Extended Stockholder Approval Period, then the Company shall convene additional stockholder meetings every 90 days thereafter until the Requisite Stockholder Approval is obtained.
4.12 Conversion and Exercise Procedures. Each of the form of Notice of Conversion included in the Certificate of Designation set forth the totality of the procedures required of the Purchasers in order to convert the Shares. Without limiting the preceding sentences, no ink-original Notice of Conversion shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Conversion form be required in order for the registered holder thereof to convert the Shares. No additional legal opinion, other information or instructions shall be required of the Purchasers to convert their Securities. The Company shall honor conversions of the Shares and shall deliver Conversion Shares in accordance with the terms, conditions and time periods set forth in the Certificate of Designation.
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING
5.1 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Purchasers to Purchase Securities. The obligation of each Purchaser to acquire the Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to such Purchaser’s satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by such Purchaser (as to itself only):
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3.1 shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of such date, except for such representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of such specified date.
(b) Performance. The Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing.
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(c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(d) Consents. The Company shall have obtained in a timely fashion any and all consents, permits, approvals, registrations and waivers necessary for consummation of the purchase and sale of the Shares, all of which shall be and remain so long as necessary in full force and effect.
(e) Adverse Changes. Since the date of execution of this Agreement, no event or series of events shall have occurred that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) No Suspensions of Trading in Common Stock. The Common Stock shall not have been suspended, as of the Closing Date, by the Commission or the Principal Trading Market from trading on the Principal Trading Market nor shall suspension by the Commission or the Principal Trading Market have been threatened, as of the Closing Date, either (A) in writing by the Commission or the Principal Trading Market or (B) by falling below the minimum listing maintenance requirements of the Principal Trading Market.
(g) Company Deliverables. The Company shall have delivered the Company Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.3(a).
(h) Merger. The Merger shall have been consummated in accordance with the Merger Agreement.
(i) Termination. This Agreement shall not have been terminated as to such Purchaser in accordance with Section 6.18 herein.
5.2 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Company. The Company’s obligation to issue the Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to the satisfaction of the Company on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Company:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties made by each Purchaser in Section 3.2 hereof shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date when made, and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date, except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of such specified date.
(b) Performance. Such Purchaser shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Purchaser at or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
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(d) Purchasers Deliverables. Such Purchaser shall have delivered its Purchaser Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.3(b).
(e) Merger. The Merger shall have been consummated in accordance with the Merger Agreement.
(f) Termination. This Agreement shall not have been terminated as to such Purchaser in accordance with Section 6.18 herein.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 Fees and Expenses. The Company and the Purchasers shall each pay the fees and expenses of their respective advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees, stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the sale and issuance and sale of the Shares to the Purchasers.
6.2 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions and representations, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules. At or after the Closing, and without further consideration, the Company and the Purchasers will execute and deliver to the other such further documents as may be reasonably requested in order to give practical effect to the intention of the parties under the Transaction Documents.
6.3 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or if by e mail upon written confirmation of receipt by e mail or otherwise, (b) on the first Trading Day following the date of dispatch if delivered utilizing a next-day service by a recognized next-day courier or (c) on the earlier of confirmed receipt or the fifth Trading Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered to the addresses set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
If to the Company: | Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | ||
100 High Street, Floor 28 | |||
Boston, Massachusetts 02110 | |||
Attention: General Counsel | |||
E-mail: ***@*** | |||
With a copy to: | Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | ||
60 State Street | |||
Boston, Massachusetts 02109 | |||
Attention: | Rosemary G. Reilly, Esq. Joseph B. Conahan, Esq. | ||
E-mail: | ***@*** ***@*** | ||
If to a Purchaser: | To the address set forth under such Purchaser’s name on the signature page hereof |
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person.
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6.4 Amendments; Waivers; No Additional Consideration. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Purchasers of at least a majority in interest of the Shares still held by Purchasers or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waiver is sought. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Purchaser to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any Transaction Document unless the same consideration is also offered to all Purchasers who then hold the Shares.
6.5 Construction. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. This Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents.
6.6 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement, or any rights or obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of each Purchaser. Any Purchaser may assign its rights hereunder in whole or in part to any Person to whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers any Shares in compliance with the Transaction Documents and applicable law, provided such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound, with respect to transferred Shares, by the terms and conditions of this Agreement that apply to the “Purchasers”.
6.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person; provided, however, that the Placement Agent is an intended third-party beneficiary of the representations and warranties of the Company and of each Purchaser set forth in Section 3.1 and Section 3.2, respectively, of this Agreement. The parties hereto further agree that the Placement Agent may rely on or, if the Placement Agent so requests, be specifically named as an addressee of the legal opinions to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement.
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6.8 Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the New York Courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such New York Court, or that such Proceeding has been commenced in an improper or inconvenient forum. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
6.9 Survival. Subject to applicable statute of limitations, the representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Shares.
6.10 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, or by e- mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature page were an original thereof.
6.11 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.
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6.12 Rescission and Withdrawal Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) the Transaction Documents, whenever any Purchaser exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then such Purchaser may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.
6.13 Replacement of Securities. If any certificate or instrument evidencing any Shares or Conversion Shares is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company may issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent of such loss, theft or destruction and the execution by the holder thereof of a customary lost certificate affidavit of that fact and an agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Transfer Agent for any losses in connection therewith or, if required by the Transfer Agent, a bond in such form and amount as is required by the Transfer Agent. The applicants for a new certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs associated with the issuance of such replacement Shares or Conversion Shares. If a replacement certificate or instrument evidencing any Shares or Conversion Shares is requested due to a mutilation thereof, the Company may require delivery of such mutilated certificate or instrument as a condition precedent to any issuance of a replacement.
6.14 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Purchasers and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations described in the foregoing sentence and hereby agree to waive in any action for specific performance of any such obligation (other than in connection with any action for a temporary restraining order) the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
6.15 Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or a Purchaser enforces or exercises its rights thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.
6.16 Adjustments in Share Numbers and Prices. In the event of any stock split, subdivision, dividend or distribution payable in shares of Common Stock (or other securities or rights convertible into, or entitling the holder thereof to receive directly or indirectly shares of Common Stock), combination or other similar recapitalization or event occurring after the date hereof and prior to the Closing, each reference in any Transaction Document to a number of shares or a price per share shall be deemed to be amended to appropriately account for such event.
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6.17 Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Purchaser under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under any Transaction Document. The decision of each Purchaser to purchase Shares pursuant to the Transaction Documents has been made by such Purchaser independently of any other Purchaser and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company or any Subsidiary which may have been made or given by any other Purchaser or by any agent or employee of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser and any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any other Purchaser (or any other Person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statement or opinions. Nothing contained herein or in any Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser acknowledges that no other Purchaser has acted as agent for such Purchaser in connection with making its investment hereunder and that no Purchaser will be acting as agent of such Purchaser in connection with monitoring its investment in the Shares or enforcing its rights under the Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. Each Purchaser has been represented by its own separate legal counsel in its review and negotiation of the Transaction Documents. For reasons of administrative convenience only, Purchasers and their respective counsels have chosen to communicate with the Company through Cooley LLP, counsel to the Placement Agent. Each Purchaser acknowledges that Cooley LLP has rendered legal advice to the Placement Agent and not to such Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that each such Purchaser has relied for such matters on the advice of its own respective counsel. The Company has elected to provide all Purchasers with the same terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Purchaser.
6.18 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the sale and purchase of the Shares abandoned at any time prior to the Closing by either the Company or any Purchaser (with respect to itself only) upon written notice to the other, if the Closing has not been consummated on or prior to 5:00 PM., New York City time, on the Outside Date; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 6.18 shall not be available to any Person whose failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement has been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the Closing to occur on or before such time. Nothing in this Section 6.18 shall be deemed to release any party from any liability for any breach by such party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or to impair the right of any party to compel specific performance by any other party of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents. In the event of a termination pursuant to this Section 6.18, the Company shall promptly notify all non-terminating Purchasers. Upon a termination in accordance with this Section 6.18, the Company and the terminating Purchaser(s) shall not have any further obligation or liability (including arising from such termination) to the other, and no Purchaser will have any liability to any other Purchaser under the Transaction Documents as a result therefrom.
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6.19 Exculpation of Placement Agent. Each party acknowledges and agrees that it has read the notice attached hereto as Exhibit E and hereto agrees for the express benefit of the Placement Agent, its affiliates and its representatives that:
(a) Neither the Placement Agent nor any of its affiliates or representatives (1) has any duties or obligations other than those specifically set forth in the engagement letter that each Placement Agent has entered into with the Company (each, an “Engagement Letter”); (2) shall be liable for any improper payment made in accordance with the information provided by the Company; (3) makes any representation or warranty, or has any responsibilities as to the validity, accuracy, value or genuineness of any information, certificates or documentation delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (4) shall be liable (x) for any action taken, suffered or omitted by any of them in good faith and reasonably believed to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Agreement or (y) for anything which any of them may do or refrain from doing in connection with this Agreement, except for such party’s own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
(b) The Placement Agent, its affiliates and its representatives shall be entitled to (1) rely on, and shall be protected in acting upon, any certificate, instrument, opinion, notice, letter or any other document or security delivered to any of them by or on behalf of the Company, and (2) be indemnified by the Company for acting as Placement Agent hereunder pursuant the indemnification provisions set forth in the Placement Agent’s Engagement Letter.
6.20 Waiver of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Each of the Purchasers and the Company acknowledges that Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (“WilmerHale”) may have represented and may currently represent certain of the Purchasers. In the course of such representation, WilmerHale may have come into possession of confidential information relating to such Purchasers. Each of the Purchasers and the Company acknowledges that WilmerHale is representing only the Company in this transaction. By executing this Agreement, each of the Purchasers and the Company hereby waives any actual or potential conflict of interest which has or may arise as a result of WilmerHale’s representation of such persons and entities, and represents that it has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel concerning the giving of this waiver.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
CATABASIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Jill C. Milne | |
Name: Jill C. Milne | ||
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
Wedbush Healthcare Partners 2021 Fund, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Ben Davey | |
Name: Ben Davey | ||
Title: Managing Director, Head of ECM |
[***]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
FAIRMOUNT HEALTHCARE FUND LP | ||
By: | /s/ Tomas Kiselak | |
Name: Tomas Kiselak | ||
Title: Managing Member |
[***]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
FAIRMOUNT HEALTHCARE FUND II LP | ||
By: | /s/ Tomas Kiselak | |
Name: Tomas Kiselak | ||
Title: Managing Member |
[***]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
LOGOS GLOBAL MASTER FUND LP | ||
By: Logos GP LLC | ||
Its General Partner | ||
By: | /s/ Arsani William | |
Name: Arsani William | ||
Title: Managing Partner |
[***]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
RA CAPITAL HEALTHCARE FUND, L.P. | ||
By: RA Capital Healthcare Fund GP, LLC | ||
Its: General Partner | ||
By: | /s/ Rajeev Shah | |
Name: Rajeev Shah | ||
Title: Manager |
[***]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
COMMODORE CAPITAL MASTER LP | ||
By: | /s/ R. Egen Atkinson, MD | |
Name: R. Egen Atkinson, MD | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[***]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
SERRADO OPPORTUNITY FUND LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Stewart J. Hen | |
Name: Stewart J. Hen | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
[***] |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
SPHERA BIOTECH MASTER FUND, LP | ||
By: | /s/ Doron Breen | |
Name: Doron Breen | ||
Title: Director of General Partner | ||
[***] |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
CITADEL MULTI-STRATEGY EQUITIES MASTER FUND LTD. | ||
By: Citadel Advisors LLC, its portfolio manager | ||
By: | /s/ Shellane Mulcahy | |
Name: Shellane Mulcahy | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
[***] |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
PERCEPTIVE LIFE SCIENCES MASTER FUND, LTD. | ||
By: | /s/ James Mannix | |
Name: James Mannix | ||
Title: COO | ||
[***] | ||
Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund, LP | ||
By: | /s/ James Mannix | |
Name: James Mannix | ||
Title: COO | ||
By: | /s/ Frederick Callori | |
Name: Frederick Callori | ||
Title: Partner | ||
[***] |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
CRMA SPV, L.P. | ||
By: | /s/ Bihua Chen | |
By: Cormorant Asset Management, LP, its | ||
Attorney-in-fact | ||
Name: Bihua Chen | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
[***] |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
CORMORANT GLOBAL HEALTHCARE MASTER FUND, LP | ||
By: | /s/ Bihua Chen | |
By: Cormorant Global Healthcare GP, LLC | ||
Name: Bihua Chen | ||
Title: Managing Member | ||
[***] |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
BOXER CAPITAL, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Aaron Davis | |
Name: Aaron Davis | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
[***] |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
MVA INVESTORS, LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Aaron Davis | ||
Name: | Aaron Davis | ||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[***]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
ACUTA CAPITAL FUND, LP | |
By: Acuta Capital Partners, LLC | |
Its: General Partner |
By: | /s/ Scott R. Smith | ||
Name: | Scott R. Smith | ||
Title: | Chief Operating Officer |
[***]
ACUTA OPPORTUNITY FUND, LP | |
By: Acuta Capital Partners, LLC | |
Its: General Partner |
By: | /s/ Scott R. Smith | ||
Name: | Scott R. Smith | ||
Title: | Chief Operating Officer |
[***]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
VENROCK HEALTHCARE CAPITAL PARTNERS EG, L.P. | |
By: VHCP Management EG, LLC, its general partner |
By: | /s/ Nimish Shah | ||
Name: | Nimish Shah | ||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[***]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
VENROCK HEALTHCARE CAPITAL PARTNERS III, L.P. | |
By: VHCP Management III, LLC, its general partner | |
By: VR Advisor, LLC, its manager |
By: | /s/ Nimish Shah | ||
Name: | Nimish Shah | ||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[***]
VHCP CO-INVESTMENT HOLDINGS III, LLC | |
By: VHCP Management III, LLC, its manager | |
By: VR Advisor, LLC, its manager |
By: | /s/ Nimish Shah | ||
Name: | Nimish Shah | ||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[***]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
VENROCK HEALTHCARE CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P. | |
By: VHCP Management II, LLC, its general partner | |
By: VR Advisor, LLC, its manager |
By: | /s/ Nimish Shah | ||
Name: | Nimish Shah | ||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[***]
VHCP CO-INVESTMENT HOLDINGS II, LLC | |
By: VHCP Management II, LLC, its manager | |
By: VR Advisor, LLC, its manager |
By: | /s/ Nimish Shah | ||
Name: | Nimish Shah | ||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[***]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
ACORN BIOVENTURES, L.P. | |
By: Acorn Capital Advisors GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | |
Its: General Partner |
By: | /s/ Anders Hove | ||
Name: | Anders Hove | ||
Title: | Member |
[***]
SCHEDULE 3.1(F)
PRO FORMA CAPITALIZATION
Pro Forma Capitalization (after Merger and issuance of Shares)
Treasury Stock Method Basis
Preferred Shares | As Converted Basis | |
Outstanding Common Stock | 23,417,006 | |
Outstanding Series X Preferred Stock | 86,077 | 86,077,000 |
Outstanding Options | 332,494 | |
Outstanding Common Warrants | 185,136 | |
Outstanding Preferred Warrants | 2,805 | 2,805,000 |
TOTAL | 112,816,636 |
ANNEX A
SCHEDULE OF PURCHASERS
See attached.
[***]
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
See attached.
(See Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K which this Exhibit A is a part)
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
See attached.
(See Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K which this Exhibit A is a part)
EXHIBIT C
STOCK CERTIFICATE QUESTIONNAIRE
Pursuant to Section 2.3(b) of the Agreement, please provide us with the following information:
1. | The exact name that the Shares are to be registered in (this is the name that will appear on the stock certificate(s)). You may use a nominee name if appropriate: | |||
2. | The relationship between the Purchaser of the Shares and the Registered Holder listed in response to Item 1 above: | |||
3. | The mailing address, telephone and telecopy number of the Registered Holder listed in response to Item 1 above: | |||
4. | The U.S. Tax Identification Number (or, if an individual, the U.S. Social Security Number) of the Registered Holder listed in response to Item 1 above: |
EXHIBIT D
MERGER AGREEMENT
(See Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K which this Exhibit A is a part)
EXHIBIT E
JEFFERIES REQUIRED DISCLOSURE
On February 2, 2016, pursuant to an offer of settlement by Jefferies LLC, the SEC entered an administrative order, pursuant to its Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation (“MCDC”) initiative, finding that Jefferies LLC, in connection with its underwriting of certain municipal securities offerings, willfully violated Section 17(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. The administrative order requires Jefferies LLC to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations or any future violations of Section 17(a)(2), to pay a civil penalty, and to complete certain undertakings. Jefferies LLC received waivers from the SEC of any disqualifications under Regulations A (Rule 262), D (Rule 505 and 506), and E arising from the settlement, effective as of February 2, 2016. The SEC Order is available at https://www.sec.gov/rules/other/2016/33-10030.pdf.