Contingent Value Rights Agreement among Concentra Biosciences, LLC, Concentra Merger Sub VI, Inc., Elevation Oncology, Inc., and Rights Agent

EX-10.1 3 tm2517439d1_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

FORM OF CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of [·] (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and between Concentra Biosciences, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Parent”), Concentra Merger Sub VI, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent (the “Purchaser”), [·], as Rights Agent (as defined herein), and [·], solely in its capacity as the initial representative, agent and attorney in-fact of the Holders (the “Representative”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Parent, Purchaser, and Elevation Oncology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 8, 2025 (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Purchaser will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, Purchaser shall deliver to holders of outstanding Company Common Stock, Company Restricted Stock Units and In-the-Money Options certain CVRs (as defined herein) of the Company (collectively, the “Initial Holders”), pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter described;

 

WHEREAS, Parent desires that the Rights Agent act as its agent for the purposes of effecting the distribution of the CVRs to the Initial Holders and performing the other services described in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Initial Holders desire that the Representative (as defined herein) act as their agent for the purposes of accomplishing the intent and implementing the provisions of this Agreement and facilitating the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and performing the other services described in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the consummation of the transactions referred to above, the parties agree, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders (as defined herein), as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS: CERTAIN RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

 

Section 1.1           Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement. References to Purchaser herein apply to the surviving corporation of the Merger with the Company from and after the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement). As used in this Agreement, the following terms will have the following meanings:

 

“Acting Holders” means, at the time of determination, Holders of not less than thirty percent (30%) of outstanding CVRs as set forth in the CVR Register.

 

 

“Additional Closing Net Cash Proceeds” means 100% of the amount by which the Closing Net Cash as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.01(d) of the Merger Agreement exceeds $26,449,000, adjusted for any claims Parent reasonably determines to be valid that arise prior to 30 days following the Merger Closing Date that are not accounted for in such Closing Net Cash.

 

“Change of Control” means: (a) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Purchaser on a consolidated basis (other than to any Subsidiary (direct or indirect) of Parent); (b) a merger or consolidation involving Purchaser in which Purchaser is not the surviving entity; and (c) any other transaction involving Purchaser in which Purchaser is the surviving or continuing entity but in which the stockholders of Purchaser immediately prior to such transaction (qua stockholders of Purchaser) own less than 50% of Purchaser’s voting power immediately after the transaction.

 

“Commercially Reasonable Efforts” shall mean the following specified actions by Parent or its Subsidiaries, including the Company after the Merger:

 

(a) only during the Disposition Period, the expenditure of up to $400,000 (the “CVR Expense Cap”) for: (i) Disposition business development efforts related to the CVR Product; (ii) the retention of an employee or consultant of Parent or Purchaser for the purpose of maintaining and preserving the CVR Product and seeking, negotiating and executing Disposition Agreements; (iii) the maintenance of the CVRs (including fees and expenses related to the Rights Agent and the Representative); (iv) the maintenance and prosecution of the intellectual property relating to the CVR Product, which intellectual property is set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, in each case as reflected in the Closing Net Cash (as defined in the Merger Agreement); and (v) the use of commercially reasonable efforts to enter into one or more Disposition Agreements during the Disposition Period; provided that Parent shall not be required to expend more than the CVR Expense Cap in furtherance thereof;

 

(b) only during the Disposition Period, continuing the CMC Activities (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the CVR Product to the extent the costs associated with such CMC Activities were included in the Closing Net Cash Schedule; and

 

(c) only during the period commencing on the Merger Closing Date and ending on the 30-day anniversary of the Merger Closing Date, as soon as practicable settle and resolve all outstanding liabilities as set forth on the Company’s audited balance sheet for the year ended March 31, 2025 (the “Company Outstanding Liabilities”).

 

For the avoidance of doubt, Commercially Reasonable Efforts shall not include, among other actions, pursuing new clinical, manufacturing or enabling work with respect to the CVR Product.

 

“CVRs” means the contractual contingent value rights of Holders that are granted by Purchaser to Initial Holders as additional consideration for the Offer and the Merger pursuant to the terms of the Offer and the Merger Agreement. Unless otherwise specified herein, for purposes of this Agreement all the CVRs shall be considered as part of and shall act as one class only. For the avoidance of doubt, Purchaser shall only grant CVRs to the Initial Holders and shall not grant further CVRs to any other Persons at any other time during the pendency of this Agreement, pursuant and subject to the terms hereof.

 

 

“CVR Payment Amount” means, for a given Holder, an amount equal to the product of: (a) the CVR Proceeds; and (b) (i) the total number of CVRs entitled to receive such CVR Proceeds held by such Holder, divided by (ii) the total number of CVRs entitled to receive such CVR Proceeds held by all Holders as each reflected on the CVR Register as of the close of business on the date prior to the date of payment (rounded down to the nearest whole cent).

 

“CVR Payment Date” means: (a) with respect to Disposition Proceeds payable to Holders, no later than thirty (30) days following the receipt of Gross Proceeds by Parent or any of its Affiliates; and (b) with respect to any Additional Closing Net Cash Proceeds payable to Holders, no later than sixty (60) days following the Merger Closing Date.

 

“CVR Proceeds” means: (a) the Disposition Proceeds; and (b) the Additional Closing Net Cash Proceeds.

 

“CVR Product” means the Company’s product candidate known as EO-1022, a HER3 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC).

 

“Disposition” means the sale, transfer, license or other disposition by Parent or any of its Affiliates, including the Company (after the Merger), of all or any part of the CVR Product, in each case during the Disposition Period.

 

“Disposition Agreement” means a definitive agreement, contract or other document entered into by Parent or any of its Affiliates, including the Company (after the Merger), and any Person who is not an Affiliate of Parent providing for a Disposition.

 

“Disposition Period” means the period beginning on the Merger Closing Date and ending on the first (1^st) anniversary following the Merger Closing Date.

 

“Disposition Proceeds” means 80% of the Net Proceeds.

 

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto.

 

“Equity Award CVR” means a CVR received by a Holder in respect of Company Restricted Stock Units or In-the-Money Options.

 

“Governmental Body” means any federal, state, provincial, local, municipal, foreign or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority, including, any arbitrator or arbitral body, mediator and applicable securities exchanges, or any department, minister, agency, commission, commissioner, board, subdivision, bureau, agency, instrumentality, court or other tribunal of any of the foregoing.

 

 

“Gross Proceeds” means, without duplication, the sum of all cash consideration and the value of any and all consideration of any kind that is paid to Parent or any of its Affiliates, or is received by, Parent or any of its Affiliates by the fifth (5^th) anniversary of the Merger Closing date in respect of a Disposition Agreement that is entered into during the Disposition Period, solely as such consideration relates to a CVR Product. The value of any securities (whether debt or equity) or other non-cash property constituting Gross Proceeds shall be determined as follows: (A) the value of securities for which there is an established public market shall be equal to the volume weighted average of their closing market prices for the five (5) trading days ending the day prior to the date of payment to, or receipt by, Parent or its relevant Affiliate; and (B) the value of securities that have no established public market and the value of consideration that consists of other non-cash property, shall be the fair market value thereof as of the date of payment to, or receipt by, Parent or its relevant Affiliate; provided, that Parent may elect, upon prompt notice to the Representative after receipt of consideration, to have any securities or other non-cash property specified in the foregoing clause (B) be deemed as Gross Proceeds only upon the earlier of: (1) the receipt by Parent or any of its Affiliates of cash in respect of the sale or other liquidation by Parent or its Affiliates of such securities or other non-cash property, and the value of such cash shall be Gross Proceeds upon receipt by Parent or any of its Affiliates; or (2) the first (1^st) anniversary of receipt of such securities or other non-cash property, and the value of such consideration shall be Gross Proceeds as of such date with a value equal to the greater of (x) the fair market value of such securities or other non-cash property as of the date originally received by Parent or its relevant Affiliate or (y) the fair market value of such securities or other non-cash property as of such date, and all other consideration, if any, paid to or received by Parent or any of its Affiliates will be deemed Gross Proceeds upon receipt by Parent or its relevant Affiliate.

 

“Holder” means, at the relevant time, a Person in whose name a CVR is registered in the CVR Register at the applicable time.

 

“Law” means any foreign or U.S. federal, state or local law (including common law), treaty, statute, code, order, ordinance, approval, authorization, certificate, registration, exemption, consent, license, order, permit and other similar authorizations, rule, regulation, or other requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Body.

 

“Net Proceeds” means, for each Disposition, the Gross Proceeds minus Permitted Deductions, as calculated in a manner consistent with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board. For clarity: (i) if Permitted Deductions exceed Gross Proceeds as it relates to a certain Disposition, as applicable, any excess Permitted Deductions shall be applied against Gross Proceeds in a subsequent Disposition, as applicable; and (ii) if any of the Gross Proceeds or Permitted Deduction are not in U.S. dollars, currency conversion to U.S. dollars shall be made by using the exchange rate prevailing at the JP Morgan Chase Bank or its successor entity on the date of receipt of such Gross Proceeds or date of payment of relevant Permitted Deductions, as applicable.

 

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an authorized officer of Parent, in his or her capacity as such an officer, and delivered to the Rights Agent and the Representative.

 

“Permitted CVR Transfer” means a transfer of CVRs: (a) upon death of a Holder by will or intestacy; (b) pursuant to a court order; (c) by operation of law (including by consolidation or merger) or without consideration in connection with the dissolution, liquidation or termination of any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity; (d) in the case of CVRs held in book-entry or other similar nominee form, from a nominee to a beneficial owner and, if applicable, through an intermediary, to the extent allowable by DTC; or (e) as provided in Section 2.7.

 

 

“Permitted Deductions” means the sum of, without duplication, the following costs or expenses:

 

(a) any applicable Taxes (including any applicable value added or sales taxes) imposed on Gross Proceeds and payable by Parent or any of its Affiliates and any income or other Taxes payable by Parent or any of its Affiliates that would not have been incurred by Parent or its Affiliates but for the Gross Proceeds having been received or accrued by Parent or its Affiliates (in each case, regardless of the due date of such Taxes); provided that for purposes of calculating income Taxes payable by Parent or its Affiliates in respect of the Gross Proceeds, any such income Taxes shall be computed after taking into account any net operating loss carryforwards or other Tax attributes (including Tax credits) of the Company or its Affiliates as of the Merger Closing Date prior to the Effective Time that are available to offset such gain after taking into account any limits of the usability of such attributes, including under Section 382 of the Code as reasonably determined by a nationally recognized tax advisor (and for the sake of clarity such income Taxes shall be calculated without taking into account any net operating losses or other Tax attributes generated by Parent or its Affiliates after the Effective Time);

 

(b) any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Parent or any of its Affiliates in connection with the development and Disposition of applicable CVR Product(s), including research and development costs, technology transfer costs, contractual expenses and any costs in respect of head licenses for sublicensed technology and the development or prosecution, maintenance or enforcement by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of intellectual property rights but excluding: (i) any costs related to a breach of this Agreement, including costs incurred in litigation in respect of the same but excluding the costs of the dedicated resource referenced in the definition of Commercially Reasonable Efforts; and (ii) to the extent not duplicative to clause (i), any such costs that are accounted for in the CVR Expense Cap, Transaction Expenses (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or Estimated Costs Post-Merger Closing (as defined in the Merger Agreement);

 

(c) (i) any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Parent or any of its Affiliates in connection with Disposition business development related efforts with respect to the relevant CVR Product(s) during the Disposition Period; and (ii) maintenance costs related to the CVRs or the CVR Product (including fees and expenses related to the Rights Agent and the Representative), in each case in excess of the CVR Expense Cap; and

 

(d) any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs incurred or accrued by Parent or any of its Affiliates in connection with Parent’s commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate or enter into any Disposition Agreement or consummate a Disposition of any applicable CVR Product(s), including any Representative’s fee, Right’s Agent fee, any brokerage fee, finder’s fee, opinion fee, success fee, transaction fee, service fee or other fee, commission or expense owed to any broker, finder, investment bank, auditor, accountant, counsel, advisor or other third party in relation thereto (but excluding any costs or expenses previously deducted from Gross Proceeds, the CVR Expense Cap, Transaction Expenses or Estimated Costs Post-Merger Closing).

 

 

“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereof or thereto.

 

“Rights Agent” means the Rights Agent named in the first paragraph of this Agreement, until a successor Rights Agent will have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Agreement, and thereafter “Rights Agent” will mean such successor Rights Agent.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, unlimited liability company or other business entity of which: (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; or (b) if a partnership, association, limited liability company, or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons will be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, association, limited liability company or other business entity if such Person or Persons are allocated a majority of partnership, association, limited liability company or other business entity gains or losses or otherwise control the managing director, managing member, general partner or other managing Person of such partnership, association, limited liability company or other business entity.

 

“Tax” or “Taxes” means any and all federal, state, local, or non-U.S. income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar, including FICA), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value-added, alternative or add-on minimum, or other tax of any kind or any charge of any kind in the nature of (or similar to) taxes whatsoever, including any interest, penalty or addition thereto.

 

Section 1.2           Rules of Construction.

 

(a)          As used in this Agreement, any noun or pronoun will be deemed to include the plural as well as the singular and to cover all genders.

 

(b)         This Agreement will be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties hereto and no presumption of burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of this Agreement.

 

 

(c)          As used in this Agreement, the words “include,” “includes,” or “including” will be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto,” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement will refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “or” will not be exclusive.

 

(d)          When reference is made in this Agreement to an Article or Section, such reference will refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement, as the case may be, unless otherwise indicated.

 

(e)          The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(f)          All references to $ are to United States dollars.

 

ARTICLE II
CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS

 

Section 2.1           CVRs; Authority; Appointment of Rights Agent. The CVRs represent the contractual rights of Holders to receive contingent cash payment of the CVR Proceeds from Parent pursuant to this Agreement. Parent has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Parent and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Rights Agent, Purchaser and the Representative, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the performance by Parent of its obligations hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will: (i) conflict with, or result in any violation of any provision of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws and other similar organizational documents of Parent; or (ii) conflict with, or result in any violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation under, any loan or credit agreement, note, mortgage, indenture, lease, or other agreement, obligation, instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or its properties or assets which violation, in the case of clause (ii), individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Parent to perform the obligations forth in this Agreement. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration, notice or filing with, any Governmental Body is required by or with respect to Parent in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Parent or the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Parent to perform the obligations set forth in this Agreement. Parent hereby appoints [·] as the Rights Agent to act as rights agent for Parent in accordance with the instructions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement, and [·] hereby accepts such appointment.

 

 

Section 2.2           Nontransferable. The CVRs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, encumbered or in any other manner transferred or disposed of, in whole or in part, other than through a Permitted CVR Transfer. Any attempted sale, assignment, transfer, pledge, encumbrance or disposition of CVRs, in whole or in part, in violation of this Section 2.2 shall be void ab initio and of no effect.

 

Section 2.3           No Certificate; Registration; Registration of Transfer; Change of Address.

 

(a)          The CVRs will be issued and distributed by Purchaser to each Holder in book-entry form only and will not be evidenced by a certificate or other instrument.

 

(b)          The Rights Agent will keep a register (the “CVR Register”) for the purpose of: (i) identifying the Holders of CVRs; and (ii) registering CVRs and Permitted CVR Transfers thereof. The CVR Register will initially show one position for Cede & Co. representing all the Company Common Stock held by DTC on behalf of the street holders of the Company Common Stock held by such Holders as of immediately prior to the Effective Time. The Rights Agent will have no responsibility whatsoever directly to the street name holders with respect to transfers of CVRs unless and until such CVRs are transferred into the name of such street name holders in accordance with Section 2.2. With respect to any payments to be made under Section 2.4 below, the Rights Agent will accomplish the payment to any former street name holders of Company Common Stock by sending one lump payment to DTC. The Rights Agent will have no responsibilities whatsoever with regard to the distribution of payments by DTC to such street name holders. Upon request of a Holder or the Representative to Parent, Parent will cause the Rights Agent to make available to such Holder or the Representative, as applicable, a list of the other Holders, the number of CVRs held by each Holder, the contact information maintained by the Rights Agent with respect to each Holder and such other information relating to this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by the Representative and is information that is typically stored by a Rights Agent in accordance with general industry practices for similar types of engagements.

 

(c)          Subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in Section 2.2 and subject to the Rights Agent’s bona fide procedures to validate the identity of a Holder, every request made to transfer a CVR must be in writing and accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Rights Agent pursuant to its guidelines, duly executed by the Holder thereof, the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, the Holder’s personal representative duly authorized in writing, or the Holder’s survivor (with written documentation evidencing such Person’s status as the Holder’s survivor), and setting forth in reasonable detail the circumstances relating to the transfer. Upon receipt of such written notice and proper validation of the identity of such Holder, the Rights Agent will, subject to its reasonable determination that the transfer instrument is in proper form and the transfer otherwise complies with the other terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the provisions of Section 2.2), register the transfer of the CVRs in the CVR Register. As a condition of such transfer, Parent and Rights Agent may require a transferring Holder or its transferee to pay to the applicable Governmental Body any transfer, stamp, documentary, registration, or other similar Tax or governmental charge that is imposed in connection with any such registration of transfer. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Agreement that requires the payment by a Holder of a CVR of such applicable Taxes or charges unless and until the Rights Agent is reasonably satisfied that all such Taxes or charges have been paid or that such Taxes or charges are not applicable. All duly transferred CVRs registered in the CVR Register will be the valid obligations of Purchaser and will entitle the transferee to the same benefits and rights under this Agreement as those held immediately prior to the transfer by the transferor. No transfer of a CVR will be valid until registered in the CVR Register in accordance with this Agreement.

 

 

(d)          A Holder may make a written request to the Rights Agent to change such Holder’s address of record in the CVR Register. The written request must be duly executed by the Holder. Upon receipt of such written notice and proper validation of the identity of such Holder, the Rights Agent will promptly record the change of address in the CVR Register.

 

Section 2.4           Payment Procedures: Notices.

 

(a)          If a Disposition Agreement is entered into during the Disposition Period, then Parent shall promptly deliver to the Rights Agent (with a copy to the Representative) written notice indicating that a Disposition Agreement has been entered into and a copy of the Disposition Agreement and any ancillary agreements thereto.

 

(b)          On or prior to each CVR Payment Date, with respect to any Disposition Agreement or any Additional Closing Net Cash Proceeds, Parent shall deliver to the Rights Agent (with a copy to the Representative): (i) written notice indicating that: (A) the Holders are entitled to receive one or more payments with respect to Disposition Proceeds or Additional Closing Net Cash Proceeds, as applicable; (B) the source and trigger event for such payment of Disposition Proceeds or Additional Closing Net Cash Proceeds, as applicable; and (C) a calculation of Gross Proceeds, Net Proceeds and any Permitted Deductions used to calculate such Disposition Proceeds, with reasonable supporting detail for such Permitted Deductions, or other calculations used to calculate the Additional Closing Net Cash Proceeds, as applicable (each such notice, a “CVR Payment Notice”); and (ii) any letter of instruction reasonably required by the Rights Agent. On or prior to any CVR Payment Date, Parent shall deliver to the Rights Agent the CVR Payment Amounts required by Section 4.2. All payments by Parent hereunder shall be made in U.S. dollars. For the avoidance of doubt, Parent shall have no further liability in respect of the relevant CVR Payment Amount upon delivery of such CVR Payment Amount in accordance with this Section 2.4(b) and the satisfaction of each of Parent’s obligations set forth in this Section 2.4(b). With respect to cash deposited by Parent with the bank or financial institution designated by Rights Agent, Rights Agent agrees to cause such bank or financial institution to establish and maintain a separate demand deposit account, therefor in the name of Rights Agent for the benefit of Parent. Rights Agent will only draw upon cash in such account(s) as required from time to time in order to make payments as required under this Agreement and any applicable tax withholding payments.

 

 

(c)          The Rights Agent will promptly, and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of the CVR Payment Notice as well as any letter of instruction reasonably required by the Rights Agent, send each Holder at its registered address a copy of the CVR Payment Notice and, following the applicable CVR Payment Date, promptly pay the CVR Payment Amount to each of the Holders reflected in the CVR Register as of the close of business on the CVR Payment Date.

 

(d)         Any portion of the CVR Payment Amount that remains undistributed to a Holder six (6) months after the date of the delivery of the applicable CVR Payment Date will be delivered by the Rights Agent to Parent or Purchaser, upon demand, and any Holder will thereafter look only to Parent and Purchaser for payment of the CVR Payment Amount, without interest, but such Holder will have no greater rights against Parent and Purchaser than those accorded to general unsecured creditors of Parent and Purchaser under applicable Law.

 

(e)          None of Parent, any of its Affiliates (including Purchaser), or the Rights Agent will be liable to any Person in respect of the CVR Payment Amount delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If, despite Parent’s, any of its Affiliates’ and/or the Rights Agent’s commercially reasonable efforts to deliver the CVR Payment Amount to the applicable Holder, the CVR Payment Amount has not been paid prior to two (2) years after the applicable CVR Payment Date (or immediately prior to such earlier date on which the CVR Payment Amount would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Body), the CVR Payment Amount will, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of Parent or Purchaser, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto. In addition to and not in limitation of any other indemnity obligation herein, Parent and Purchaser agree to indemnify and hold harmless Rights Agent with respect to any liability, penalty, cost or expense Rights Agent may incur or be subject to in connection with transferring such property to Parent or Purchaser.

 

Section 2.5           Tax Matters.

 

(a)           Except to the extent any portion of the CVR Payment Amount is required to be treated as imputed interest pursuant to applicable Law, Parent, Purchaser and the Representative intend that, for all U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes: (i) the CVRs received in respect of Company Common Stock (which for avoidance of doubt does not include the Equity Award CVRs) will be treated as additional consideration paid with respect to such Company Common Stock in connection with the Offer or the Merger, as the case may be; (ii) any CVR Payment Amount received in respect of such CVRs will be treated as an amount realized on the disposition or partial disposition of the applicable CVRs; and (iii) any CVR Payment Amount paid in respect of any Equity Award CVR will be treated as wages in the year in which the CVR Payment Amount is made (and not upon the receipt of such CVR) (clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, the “Intended Tax Treatment”). Unless otherwise required by a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or a similar determination under applicable state or local Law), the parties to this Agreement shall file all U.S. federal, state and local Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment, and no party shall take or cause another to take, a position or action inconsistent with such treatment, or fail to take, or knowingly fail to cause another to take, a position or action, where the failure to take such position or action is inconsistent with such treatment. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein is intended to impose on the Representative any obligation to prepare or file any Tax Returns.

 

 

(b)          In addition to any Permitted Deductions, Parent and its Affiliates (including Purchaser) and the Rights Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold, or cause to be deducted or withheld, from each CVR Payment Amount or any other amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld therefrom under applicable Law. With respect to Holders who received Equity Award CVRs, any such withholding may be made, or caused to be made, by Parent through the payroll system or any successor payroll system of Parent or any of its Affiliates, including the Company. Prior to making (or causing to be made) any such Tax deduction or withholding, Parent shall instruct the Rights Agent to provide the opportunity for the Holders to provide duly executed Internal Revenue Service Forms W-9 or W-8, as applicable, or any other reasonably appropriate forms or information from Holders in order to avoid or reduce withholding. The Purchaser shall promptly and timely remit, or cause to be remitted, any amounts withheld in respect of Taxes to the appropriate Governmental Body. To the extent any amounts are so deducted and withheld, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of whom such deduction and withholding was made.

 

(c)          Parent, Purchaser and the Representative intend that each payment provided under this Agreement with respect to an Equity Award CVR (the “Payments”) is a separate “payment” for purposes Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(i) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, Parent, Purchaser and the Representative intend that the Payments satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemption from the application of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively “Section 409A”) provided under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) and, to the extent not so exempt, that the Payments comply, and this Agreement be interpreted to the greatest extent possible, as consistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(iv)(A) - that is, as “transaction-based compensation.” To the extent this Agreement (and any definitions hereunder), or any payments hereunder, are not exempt, they shall be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A, including by reason of satisfying the “transaction-based compensation” provisions thereunder, including the five (5)-year post-Merger Closing payment limitation therein, and shall incorporate by reference all required definitions and payment terms. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Parent, the Company or the manager of Parent, or any of their respective representatives make any representation or warranty and will have no liability to a Holder or transferee or any other Person if any payments under any provisions of this Agreement are determined to constitute deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code (or any similar U.S. state tax law) that are subject to certain additional federal, state or other taxes. Parent may provide each recipient of an Equity Award CVR with a notice or award agreement setting forth the terms and condition of the Holder’s entitlement to payments under such Equity Award CVR in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Rights Agent makes no representations or warranties with respect to tax treatment of the CVRs. None of the Rights Agent, its Affiliates or the services provided by the Rights Agent hereunder are intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice.

 

Section 2.6           No Voting, Dividends or Interest; No Equity or Ownership Interest in Parent or any of its Affiliates.

 

(a)          The CVRs will not have any voting or dividend rights, and interest will not accrue on any amounts payable on the CVRs to any Holder.

 

 

(b)          The CVRs will not represent any equity or ownership interest in Parent, any constituent corporation party to the Merger or any of their respective Affiliates. It is hereby acknowledged and agreed that a CVR shall not constitute a security of Parent.

 

(c)          Each Holder acknowledges and agrees to the appointment and authority of the Representative to act as the exclusive representative, agent and attorney-in-fact of such Holder and all Holders as set forth in this Agreement. Each Holder agrees that such Holder will not challenge or contest any action, inaction, determination or decision of the Representative or the authority or power of the Representative and will not threaten, bring, commence, institute, maintain, prosecute or voluntarily aid any action, which challenges the validity of or seeks to enjoin the operation of any provision of this Agreement, including the provisions relating to the authority of the Representative to act on behalf of such Holder and all Holders as set forth in this Agreement. All actions taken by the Representative under this Agreement or the Representative Engagement Agreement shall be binding upon each Holder and such Holder’s successors as if expressly confirmed and ratified in writing by such Holder, and all defenses which may be available to any Holder to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the Representative taken in good faith under this Agreement or the Representative Engagement Agreement are waived.

 

(d)          Parent, its manager and its officers and Affiliates will not be deemed to have any fiduciary or similar duties to any Holder by virtue of this Agreement.

 

(e)           It is hereby acknowledged and agreed that the CVRs and the possibility of any payment hereunder with respect thereto are highly speculative and subject to numerous factors outside of Parent’s control, and there is no assurance that Holders will receive any payments under this Agreement or in connection with the CVRs. The Parties acknowledge that it is possible that no Disposition will occur during the Disposition Period and that there will not be any Gross Proceeds that may be the subject of a CVR Payment Amount.

 

Section 2.7           Ability to Renounce or Abandon CVR. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Holder or Holder’s successor or assign pursuant to a Permitted CVR Transfer may, at any time, at such Holder’s option, agree to renounce, in whole or in part, its rights under this Agreement and abandon all of such Holder’s remaining rights in a CVR by transferring such CVR to Purchaser or Parent without consideration therefor, effected by written notice to the Rights Agent, the Representative and Parent, which renouncement and abandonment notice, if given, shall be irrevocable. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit Parent or any of its Affiliates (including Purchaser) from offering to acquire or acquiring any CVRs for consideration from the Holders, in private transactions or otherwise, in its sole discretion. Any CVRs acquired by Parent or any of its Affiliates (including Purchaser) shall be automatically deemed extinguished and no longer outstanding for purposes of the definition of Acting Holders and ARTICLE VI and Section 6.3 hereunder.

 

 

ARTICLE III
THE RIGHTS AGENT

 

Section 3.1           Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The Rights Agent will not have any liability for any actions taken or not taken in connection with this Agreement, except to the extent of its bad faith, gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct (in each case as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

Section 3.2           Certain Rights of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes to perform only the duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent. In addition, Parent, Purchaser and the Representative (on behalf of the Holders) each agree that the Rights Agent shall have the following rights:

 

(a)          the Rights Agent may rely on and will be protected and held harmless by Parent in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, power of attorney, endorsement, direction, consent, order or other paper or document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(b)          the Rights Agent may rely on and shall be held harmless by Parent in acting upon written (including electronically transmitted) or oral instructions from Parent, Purchaser, the Representative or any CVR Holder with respect to any matter relating to its acting as Rights Agent;

 

(c)          whenever the Rights Agent deems it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, the Rights Agent may: (i) rely upon an Officer’s Certificate, which certificate shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent; and (ii) the Rights Agent shall, in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct on its part (in each case, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), incur no liability and be held harmless by Parent for or in respect of any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such Officer’s Certificate;

 

(d)         the Rights Agent may engage and consult with counsel of its selection and the written advice of such counsel or any opinion of counsel will, in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct (in each case, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), provide full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall be held harmless by Parent in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(e)          the permissive rights of the Rights Agent to do things enumerated in this Agreement will not be construed as a duty;

 

(f)          the Rights Agent will not be required to give any note or surety in respect of the execution of such powers or otherwise in respect of the CVR Proceeds;

 

 

(g)         the Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of, and shall be held harmless by Parent with respect to, any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by Parent only;

 

(h)         the Rights Agent will have no liability and shall be held harmless by Parent in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent and the enforceability of this Agreement against the Rights Agent assuming the due execution and delivery hereof by Parent), nor shall it be responsible for any breach by Parent of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement;

 

(i)           the Rights Agent shall not be required to perform any action if such action would cause the Rights Agent to violate any applicable law, regulation or court order;

 

(j)           the Rights Agent shall not be deemed to have any knowledge of any event of which it was to receive notice thereof hereunder, and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur no liability for failing to take any action in connection therewith, unless and until it has received such notice in writing;

 

(k)          the Rights Agent shall not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust with the Representative or any Holder;

 

(l)           Parent agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent and its affiliates, and its and their respective employees, officers, directors, representatives and advisors for, and hold such Persons harmless against, any loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, cost or expense (each, a “Loss”) arising out of or in connection with the Rights Agent’s duties under this Agreement, including the reasonable, documented and necessary out-of-pocket costs and expenses of defending Rights Agent against any claims, charges, demands, actions or suits arising out of or in connection with the execution, acceptance, administration, exercise and performance of its duties under this Agreement or enforcing its rights hereunder, unless such Loss has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a result of Rights Agent’s gross negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct; provided that this Section 3.2(h) shall not apply with respect to income, receipt, franchise or similar Taxes;

 

(m)         Parent agrees: (i) to pay the fees and expenses of the Rights Agent in connection with this Agreement as agreed upon in writing by the Rights Agent and Parent on or prior to the date hereof; and (ii) to reimburse the Rights Agent for all reasonable, documented and necessary out-of-pocket expenses paid or incurred by the Rights Agent in connection with the administration by the Rights Agent of its duties hereunder, including all stamp and transfer Taxes (and excluding for the avoidance of doubt any income, receipt, franchise or similar) and governmental charges, except that Parent will have no obligation to pay the fees of the Rights Agent or reimburse the Rights Agent for the fees of counsel in connection with any lawsuit initiated by the Rights Agent on behalf of itself, except in the case of any suit enforcing the provisions of Section 2.4(a), Section 2.4(b), Section 2.4(c), Section 2.4(d) or Section 3.2, if Parent is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Rights Agent or the Holders, as applicable in such suit; and

 

 

(n)         no provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

Section 3.3           Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

(a)          The Rights Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to Parent (with a copy to the Representative) specifying a date when such resignation will take effect, which notice will be sent at least sixty (60) days prior to the date so specified but in no event will such resignation become effective until a successor Rights Agent has been appointed. The Representative shall have the right to remove Rights Agent at any time by specifying a date when such removal will take effect but no such removal will become effective until a successor Rights Agent has been appointed. Notice of such removal will be given by the Representative to Rights Agent (with a copy to the Parent), which notice will be sent at least sixty (60) days prior to the date so specified.

 

(b)          If the Rights Agent provides notice of its intent to resign, is removed pursuant to Section 3.3(a) or becomes incapable of acting, Parent and the Representative, acting in concert, will, as soon as is reasonably possible, appoint a qualified successor Rights Agent who, unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Acting Holders, shall be a stock transfer agent of national reputation or the corporate trust department of a commercial bank. The successor Rights Agent so appointed will, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with Section 3.4, become the successor Rights Agent.

 

(c)          Parent will give notice of each resignation and each removal of a Rights Agent and each appointment of a successor Rights Agent by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail to the Holders as their names and addresses appear in the CVR Register. Each notice will include the name and address of the successor Rights Agent. If Parent fails to send such notice within ten (10) Business Days after acceptance of appointment by a successor Rights Agent in accordance with Section 3.4, the successor Rights Agent will cause the notice to be mailed at the expense of Parent.

 

Section 3.4            Transition Support. Rights Agent will cooperate with Parent, the Representative and any successor Rights Agent as reasonably requested in connection with the transition of the duties and responsibilities of the Rights Agent to the successor Rights Agent, including the transfer of all relevant data, including transferring the CVR Register to the successor Rights Agent.

 

Section 3.5           Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. Every successor Rights Agent appointed pursuant to Section 3.3(b) hereunder will execute, acknowledge and deliver to Parent and to the retiring Rights Agent an instrument accepting such appointment and a counterpart of this Agreement, and thereupon such successor Rights Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, will become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Rights Agent. On request of Parent or the successor Rights Agent, the retiring Rights Agent will execute and deliver an instrument transferring to the successor Rights Agent all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Rights Agent.

 

 

ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1           List of Holders. Parent will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Rights Agent (with a copy to the Representative) in such form as Parent receives from the Company’s transfer agent (or other agent performing similar services for Parent), the names and addresses of the Holders of such securities within thirty (30) days of the Merger Closing Date.

 

Section 4.2           Payment of CVR Payment Amounts. Parent shall, on or prior to any CVR Payment Date, deposit with the bank or financial institution designated by the Rights Agent, for payment to the Holders in accordance with Section 2.4, the aggregate amount necessary to pay the CVR Payment Amount to each Holder.

 

Section 4.3           Discretion and Decision-Making Authority. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject to Parent’s obligations to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts as set forth herein: (a) Parent and its Affiliates shall have the power and right to control all aspects of their businesses and operations (and all of their assets and products), and subject to its compliance with the terms of this Agreement, Parent and its Affiliates may exercise or refrain from exercising such power and right as it may deem appropriate and in the best overall interests of Parent and its Affiliates and its and their stockholders, rather than the interest of the Holders; and (b) following the Disposition Period, the Company shall be permitted to take any action in respect of the CVR Product; provided that, during the Disposition period:

 

(a)          Neither Parent nor any of its Affiliates (including Purchaser) may enter into a Disposition Agreement with Parent or any of its Affiliates (including Purchaser) as the acquiror, licensee or recipient of the CVR Product without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

(b)          Parent shall not, before the first (1^st) anniversary following the Merger Closing Date, terminate or negatively impact the required maintenance of the CVR Product, including by failing to preserve and maintain the CVR Product.

 

(c)          Parent shall comply with maintenance obligations relating to the intellectual property described in Schedule 1 required by any license or related term set forth in any Disposition Agreement, to the extent such intellectual property is contemplated by said Disposition Agreement.

 

 

Section 4.4           Audit Right. If Parent does not achieve any Additional Closing Net Cash Proceeds, Parent shall deliver to the Representative, within sixty (60) days following such determination, a report setting forth the calculations and reasonable supporting detail for the lack of Additional Closing Net Cash Proceeds (the “Negative Further Savings Report”). Upon the prior written request by the Representative, Parent shall meet at reasonable times during normal business hours with the Representative to discuss the content of any CVR Payment Notice or the Negative Further Savings Report. Parent agrees to maintain, for at least one (1) year after the last possible payment of CVR Proceeds, all books and records relevant to the calculation of a CVR Payment Amount and the amount of Gross Proceeds, Net Proceeds and Permitted Deductions or any other calculations with respect to the Additional Closing Net Cash Proceeds or the Negative Further Savings Report, as applicable. Subject to reasonable advance written notice from the Representative and prior execution and delivery by an independent accounting firm of national reputation chosen by the Representative (the “Accountant”) of a reasonable and customary confidentiality/nonuse agreement, Parent shall permit the Representative and the Accountant, acting as agent of the Representative (on behalf of the Holders), for one (1) year after the last possible payment of CVR Proceeds, to have access during normal business hours to the books and records of Parent as may be reasonably necessary to audit the calculation of such CVR Payment Amount, the calculation of the amount of Gross Proceeds, Net Proceeds and Permitted Deductions or any calculations with respect to the Additional Closing Net Cash Proceeds or the Negative Further Savings Report, as applicable.

 

Section 4.5           Assignments. Parent shall not, in whole or in part, assign any of its obligations under this Agreement other than in accordance with the terms of Section 6.3. At any time, the Representative may resign (in which case the Acting Holders shall promptly appoint a successor Representative (reasonably acceptable to Parent)) and may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (or this Agreement in its entirety) to any third party (reasonably acceptable to Parent) to serve as a successor Representative, provided that such assignee executes a written joinder to this Agreement assuming the rights and duties of the Representative. The immunities and rights to indemnification granted to the Representative Group hereunder shall survive the resignation or removal of the Representative or any member of the Advisory Group and the Merger Closing and/or any termination of this Agreement. Certain Holders have entered into an engagement agreement (the “Representative Engagement Agreement”) with the Representative to provide direction to the Representative in connection with its services under this Agreement and the Representative Engagement Agreement (such Holders, including their individual representatives, collectively hereinafter referred to as the “Advisory Group”). Neither the Representative nor its members, managers, directors, officers, contractors, agents and employees nor any member of the Advisory Group (collectively, the “Representative Group”) will incur liability of any kind to the Holders with respect to any action or omission in connection with the acceptance or administration of the Representative’s responsibilities hereunder or under the Representative Engagement Agreement, including any by the Representative in connection with the Representative’s services in connection with this Agreement, except in the event and only to the extent of liability directly resulting from the Representative’s bad faith, gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct (for the avoidance of doubt, neither the Advisory Group nor any member of the Advisory Group shall incur any liability of any kind to the Holders with respect to any liability directly resulting from the Representative’s bad faith, gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct).

 

Section 4.6           Additional Covenants.

 

(a)          During the Disposition Period, Purchaser shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries, licensees and rights transferees to, use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to enter into one or more Disposition Agreements as soon as practicable following the Effective Time.

 

(b)          During the Disposition Period, Purchaser shall continue to seek partnerships or investments for the CVR Product.

 

 

(c)          During the Disposition Period, Purchaser shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries, licensees and rights transferees to, manage the CMC Activities of any CVR Product in accordance with Parent’s plans as of the Effective Date.

 

(d)          During the period commencing on the Merger Closing Date and ending on the 30-day anniversary of the Merger Closing Date, Purchaser shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts in connection with the settling and resolving of the Company Outstanding Liabilities.

 

(e)          In the event that Purchaser desires to consummate a Change of Control prior to the fifth (5^th) anniversary of the Merger Closing date, Purchaser or its successor, as applicable depending upon the structure of the Change of Control, will cause the Person acquiring Purchaser to assume Purchaser’s or its successor’s (as applicable depending upon the structure of the Change of Control) obligations, duties and covenants under this Agreement. No later than five (5) Business Days after to the consummation of any Change of Control, Purchaser will deliver to the Rights Agent an Officer’s Certificate, stating that such Change of Control complies with this Section 4.6(d) and that all conditions precedent herein relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

(f)          Until such time as 30-day anniversary of the Merger Closing Date with respect to the settling and resolving of the Company Outstanding Liabilities and until such time as the first (1^st) anniversary of the Merger Closing Date with respect to entering into Disposition Agreements: (i) Purchaser shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, maintain records in the ordinary course of business pursuant to record-keeping procedures normally used by Purchaser and its Subsidiaries regarding its activities (including its resources and efforts); and (ii) to the extent Purchaser licenses, sells, assigns or otherwise transfers intellectual property and other rights (including, without limitation, all data, marketing authorizations and applications for marketing authorization), assets, rights, powers, privileges and Contracts, Purchaser will require the licensee, purchaser, assignee, or transferee, as applicable to provide the information necessary for Purchaser to comply with its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(g)          During the period commencing on the Merger Closing Date and ending on the first (1^st) anniversary of the Merger Closing Date, upon the reasonable written request from the Representative, Parent will provide: (i) the Representative with a written update in reasonable detail describing the progress, status and anticipated trajectory of efforts in respect of Dispositions and the settling and resolving of the Company Outstanding Liabilities; and (ii) the anticipated timing of receiving payments in respect of Dispositions, in each case up to one time in a fiscal quarter of each calendar year. The Representative agrees to maintain the confidentiality of any such update or other confidential information provided by Parent to the Representative under this Agreement; provided that the Representative may disclose any such update or other information to the Representative Group.

 

 

ARTICLE V
AMENDMENTS

 

Section 5.1           Amendments without Consent of Holders.

 

(a)          Without the consent of any Holders, the Representative, Parent, Purchaser and the Rights Agent, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more amendments hereto, for any of the following purposes:

 

(i)            to evidence the succession of another Person to Parent or Purchaser and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of Parent or Purchaser herein as provided in Section 6.3;

 

(ii)           to add to the covenants of Parent and Purchaser such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Representative, Parent, Purchaser and the Rights Agent will consider to be for the protection of the Holders; provided that, in each case, such provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders;

 

(iii)          to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement; provided that, in each case, such provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders;

 

(iv)          as may be necessary or appropriate to ensure that the CVRs are not subject to registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and to ensure that the CVRs are not subject to any similar registration or prospectus requirement under applicable securities laws outside of the United States; provided that, in each case, such provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders;

 

(v)          as may be necessary or appropriate to ensure that the Company complies with applicable Law;

 

(vi)         to evidence the succession of another Person as a successor Rights Agent or the Representative and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants and obligations of the Rights Agent or the Representative, as applicable, herein in accordance with Section 3.3 and Section 3.4; or

 

(vii)        any other amendments hereto for the purpose of adding, eliminating or changing any provisions of this Agreement, unless such addition, elimination or change is adverse to the interests of the Holders.

 

(b)          Without the consent of any Holders, the Representative, Parent, Purchaser, and the Rights Agent, in their sole and absolute discretion, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more amendments hereto, to reduce the number of CVRs, in the event any Holder agrees to renounce and abandon such Holder’s rights under this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.7.

 

(c)          Promptly after the execution by the Representative, Parent, Purchaser and the Rights Agent of any amendment pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.1, Parent shall mail (or cause the Rights Agent to mail) a notice thereof by first class mail to the Holders at their addresses as they appear on the CVR Register, setting forth such amendment.

 

 

Section 5.2           Amendments with Consent of Holders.

 

(a)          Subject to Section 5.1 (which amendments pursuant to Section 5.1 may be made without the consent of the Holders), with the consent of the Acting Holders, whether evidenced in writing or taken at a meeting of the Holders, the Representative, Parent, Purchaser and the Rights Agent may enter into one or more amendments hereto for the purpose of adding, eliminating or changing any provisions of this Agreement, even if such addition, elimination or change is materially adverse to the interests of the Holders.

 

(b)          Promptly after the execution by Parent, Purchaser, the Representative, and the Rights Agent of any amendment pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.2, Parent will mail (or cause the Rights Agent to mail) a notice thereof by first class mail to the Holders at their addresses as they appear on the CVR Register, setting forth such amendment.

 

Section 5.3           Execution of Amendments. In executing any amendment permitted by this ARTICLE V, the Rights Agent will be entitled to receive, and will be fully protected in relying upon, an opinion of counsel selected by Parent stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent may, but is not obligated to, enter into any such amendment that affects the Rights Agent’s own rights, privileges, covenants or duties under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

Section 5.4            Effect of Amendments. Upon the execution of any amendment under this ARTICLE V, this Agreement will be modified in accordance therewith, such amendment will form a part of this Agreement for all purposes and every Holder will be bound thereby. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights Agent and the Representative shall not be required to execute any supplement or amendment to this Agreement that it has determined would adversely affect its own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under this Agreement or, with respect to the Representative, the rights, duties, obligations or immunities of the Holders under this Agreement. No supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless duly executed by the Parent, Rights Agent and the Representative.

 

ARTICLE VI
OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION.

 

Section 6.1           Notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered in Person or by email, or by overnight courier, or three (3) Business Days after being sent by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), provided that with respect to notices delivered to the Representative, such notices must be delivered solely via email, as follows:

 

If to the Rights Agent, to it at:

 

[·]
Email: [·]

 

 

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

[·]
Email: [·]

 

If to the Representative, to it at:

 

[·]

Email: [·]

 

If to Parent or Purchaser, to Parent:

 

Concentra Biosciences, LLC

4747 Executive Drive, Suite 210

San Diego, CA 92121
Attention: Kevin Tang
Email: [***]

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

One Embarcadero Center, Suite 2600

San Francisco, CA 94111
Attention: Ryan A. Murr
Email: ***@***

 

Any party may specify a different address by giving notice in accordance with this Section 6.1.

 

Section 6.2           Notice to Holders. Where this Agreement provides for notice to Holders, such notice will be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at the Holder’s address as it appears in the CVR Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder will affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.

 

 

Section 6.3           Successors and Assigns. Parent and Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder in its sole discretion and without the consent of any other party: (i) to any controlled Affiliate of Parent, but only for so long as it remains a controlled Affiliate of Parent; (ii) in compliance with Section 4.6(d); or (iii) otherwise with the prior written consent of the Acting Holders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), any other Person (any permitted assignee under clauses (i), (ii), or (iii), an “Assignee”), in each case provided that the Assignee agrees to assume and be bound by all of the terms of this Agreement. Any Assignee may thereafter assign any or all of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder in the same manner as Parent or Purchaser pursuant to the prior sentence. In connection with any assignment to an Assignee described in clause (i) above in this Section 6.3 and clause (ii) above in this Section 6.3, each of Parent or Purchaser, as applicable, (and the other assignor) shall agree to remain liable for the performance by each Assignee (and such other assignor, if applicable) of all obligations of Parent or Purchaser, as applicable, hereunder with such Assignee substituted for Parent or Purchaser, as applicable, under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each of Parent’s successors and each Assignee and each of Purchaser’s successors and each Assignee, as applicable. Subject to compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 6.3 relating to assignments, this Agreement shall not restrict Parent’s, Purchaser’s any Assignee’s or any of their respective successors’ ability to merge or consolidate with, or sell, issue or dispose of its stock or other equity interests or assets to, any other Person. Each of Parent’s successors and Assignees and each of Purchaser’s successors and Assignees, as applicable, shall expressly assume by an instrument supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Rights Agent (with a copy to the Representative), the due and punctual payment of the CVR Proceeds and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and obligations of this Agreement to be performed or observed by Parent or Purchaser, as applicable. The Rights Agent may not assign this Agreement without the Representative’s written consent, except to an affiliate of the Rights Agent in connection with a corporate restructuring or to a successor Rights Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Any attempted assignment of this Agreement or any such rights in violation of this Section 6.3 shall be void and of no effect.

 

Section 6.4           Benefits of Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, will give to any Person (other than the Rights Agent, the Representative, Parent, Parent’s successors and Assignees, Purchaser, Purchaser’s successors and Assignees, the Holders and the Holders’ successors and assigns pursuant to a Permitted CVR Transfer) any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of the foregoing. The rights of Holders and their successors and assigns pursuant to Permitted CVR Transfers are limited to those expressly provided in this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Representative shall not commence any action under this Agreement on behalf of or to enforce the rights of the Holders except at the direction of and with the prior written consent of the Acting Holders. Except for the rights of the Rights Agent and the Representative set forth herein, the Acting Holders will have the sole right, on behalf of all Holders, by virtue of or under any provision of this Agreement, to institute any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, and no individual Holder or other group of Holders will be entitled to exercise such rights. Reasonable expenditures incurred by such Holders in connection with any enforcement action hereunder may be deducted from any damages or settlement obtained prior to the distribution of any remainder to Holders generally. Holders acting pursuant to this provision on behalf of all Holders shall have no liability to the other Holders for such actions. The Representative and all Holders (including the Acting Holders) must enforce any such legal or equitable rights, remedies or claims under this Agreement against Parent and Purchase and not against the Rights Agent.

 

 

Section 6.5           Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)          This Agreement, the CVRs and all actions arising under or in connection therewith shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof.

 

(b)          Each of the parties hereto (i) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware and any state appellate court therefrom or, if (but only if) such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the United States District Court sitting in New Castle County in the State of Delaware and any appellate court therefrom (collectively, the “Delaware Courts”); and (ii) consents to service of process by first class certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the address at which such party is to receive notice in accordance with Section 6.1. Each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally: (A) agrees not to commence any such action or proceeding except in the Delaware Courts; (B) agrees that any claim in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in the Delaware Courts; (C) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the jurisdiction or laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Courts; and (D) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in the Delaware Courts.

 

(c)          EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING BETWEEN THE PARTIES (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE), INCLUDING ANY COUNTERCLAIM, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT THEREOF. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS CONTAINED IN THIS Section 6.5(c).

 

Section 6.6           Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree shall remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable. The parties further agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable provision.

 

Section 6.7           Counterparts and Signature. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by an electronic scan delivered by electronic mail), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to the other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart.

 

 

Section 6.8           Termination. This Agreement will be terminated and of no force or effect, the parties hereto will have no liability hereunder (other than with respect to monies due and owing by Parent or Purchaser to the Rights Agent and/or the Representative), and no payments will be required to be made, upon the earliest to occur of: (a) the mailing by the Rights Agent to the address of each Holder as reflected in the CVR Register of all CVR Payment Amounts (if any) required to be paid under the terms of this Agreement; (b) the delivery of a written notice of termination duly executed by Parent, Purchaser and the Acting Holders; or (c) the 30^th day following the fifth (5^th) anniversary of the Merger Closing date. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary, nothing herein shall terminate or otherwise negatively affect any of the rights or remedies of the Representative Group with respect to the Holders pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise.

 

Section 6.9           Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Merger Agreement (including the schedules, annexes and exhibits thereto and the documents and instruments referred to therein) contain the entire understanding of the parties hereto and thereto with reference to the transactions and matters contemplated hereby and thereby and supersede all prior agreements, written or oral, among the parties with respect hereto and thereto.

 

Section 6.10         Legal Holiday. In the event that the CVR Payment Date shall not be a Business Day, then, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any payment required to be made in respect of the CVRs on such date need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the CVR Payment Date.

 

Section 6.11         Obligations of Parent. Parent shall ensure that Purchaser, and Purchaser shall ensure that Parent, duly perform, satisfy and discharge each of the covenants, obligations and liabilities applicable to such party under this Agreement, including the timely payment of any CVR Proceeds, and Parent shall be jointly and severally liable with Purchaser for the performance and satisfaction of each of said covenants, obligations and liabilities, including the timely payment of any CVR Proceeds. If, for any reason whatsoever, Purchaser shall fail or be unable to make full and timely payment as set forth in this Agreement or perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, such payment or obligations shall be due and payable for the purposes hereof and Parent will forthwith pay and cause to be paid in lawful currency of the United States, or perform or cause to be performed, Purchaser’s obligations hereunder. The foregoing obligation of Parent constitutes a continuing guarantee of payment and performance (and not merely of collection), and is and shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances, including circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a guarantor and including any amendment, extension, modification or waiver of any of Purchaser’s payment or other obligations hereunder, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of Purchaser or any assignment thereby.

 

[Remainder of Page Left Blank Intentionally]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

CONCENTRA BIOSCIENCES, LLC

 

By
Name	Kevin Tang
Title	Chief Executive Officer

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

CONCENTRA MERGER SUB VI, INC.

 

By
Name	Kevin Tang
Title	Chief Executive Officer

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

[·] solely in its capacity as Rights Agent

 

By
Name
Title

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

[·], solely in its capacity as Representative

 

By
Name
Title

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

Family	Program	Cases
[·]	[·]	[·]