Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated May 21, 2021, by and among the Registrant and the investors listed on Schedule A thereto

EX-10.1 6 d105292dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made as of May 21, 2021, by and among Eliem Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the Investors (as defined in Section 1 below).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, certain of the Investors (the “Existing Investors”) hold shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock or Series A-1 Preferred Stock and possess registration rights, information rights, rights of first offer, and other rights pursuant to an Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement dated as of October 15, 2020 between the Company and such Investors (the “Prior Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, certain of the Investors are parties to that certain Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement of even date herewith between the Company and certain of the Investors (the “Purchase Agreement”), under which certain of the Company’s and such Investors’ obligations are conditioned upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Investors, certain Existing Investors, and the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Existing Investors hereby agree that the Prior Agreement shall be amended and restated, and the parties to this Agreement further agree as follows:

1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

1.1 “Access Industries” means AI ETI LLC.

1.2 “Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person, including, without limitation, any general partner, managing member, officer, director or trustee of such Person, or any venture capital fund or other investment fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one (1) or more general partners, managing members or investment adviser of, or shares the same management company or investment adviser with, such Person.

1.3 “Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

1.4 “Certificate of Incorporation” means the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and/or restated from time to time.

1.5 “Common Stock” means shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

1.6 “Competitor” means a Person engaged, directly or indirectly (including through any partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture or similar arrangement (whether now existing or formed hereafter)), in a business that is competitive with the business of the Company, but shall not include (i) any venture capital fund, private equity fund, or financial investment firm, (ii) Access Industries or its Affiliates, (iii) LifeArc (a company limited by guarantee and incorporated in England and Wales) (“LifeArc”) or any of its Affiliates, (iv) RA Capital (as defined below) or any of its Affiliates or (v) Intermediate Capital Group plc (“ICG”) or its Affiliates.

1.7 “Damages” means any loss, damage, claim or liability (joint or several) to which a party hereto may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state law, insofar as such loss, damage, claim or liability (or any action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon:


(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement of the Company, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto; (ii) an omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the indemnifying party (or any of its agents or Affiliates) of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any state securities law.

1.8 “Derivative Securities” means any securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for (in each case, directly or indirectly), Common Stock, including options and warrants.

1.9 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

1.10 “Excluded Registration” means (i) a registration relating to the sale or grant of securities to employees of the Company or a subsidiary pursuant to a stock option, stock purchase, equity incentive or similar plan; (ii) a registration relating to an SEC Rule 145 transaction; (iii) a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of the Registrable Securities; or (iv) a registration in which the only Common Stock being registered is Common Stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being registered.

1.11 “Exempted Securities” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Certificate of Incorporation.

1.12 “FOIA Party” means a Person that, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors, may be subject to, and thereby required to disclose non-public information furnished by or relating to the Company under, the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552 (“FOIA”), any state public records access law, any state or other jurisdiction’s laws similar in intent or effect to FOIA, or any other similar statutory or regulatory requirement.

1.13 “Form S-1” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC.

1.14 “Form S-3” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC that permits forward incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

1.15 “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time.

1.16 “Holder” means any holder of Registrable Securities who is a party to this Agreement.

1.17 “Immediate Family Member” means a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including, adoptive relationships, of a natural person referred to herein.

1.18 “Initiating Holders” means, collectively, Holders who properly initiate a registration request under this Agreement.

1.19 “Investors” means, collectively, the persons named on Schedule A hereto, each person to whom the rights of an Investor are assigned pursuant to Subsection 6.1, each person who hereafter becomes

 

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a party to this Agreement pursuant to Subsection 6.9, and any one of them, as the context may require. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person shall cease being an Investor for all purposes of this Agreement if and when such person no longer owns or holds any Registrable Securities.

1.20 “IPO” means the Company’s first underwritten public offering of its Common Stock under the Securities Act.

1.21 “Key Employee” means any executive-level employee (including, division director and vice president-level positions) as well as any employee who, either alone or in concert with others, develops, invents, programs, or designs any Company Intellectual Property (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).

1.22 “Major Investor” means (a) any Investor that, individually or together with such Investor’s Affiliates, holds at least 750,000 shares of Registrable Securities (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination, or other recapitalization or reclassification effected after the date hereof), (b) Blackwell Partners LLC – Series A for so long as Blackwell Partners LLC – Series A, individually or together with its Affiliates, holds at least 100,000 shares of Registrable Securities (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination, or other recapitalization or reclassification effected after the date hereof) and (c) Samlyn Onshore Fund, LP, Samlyn Offshore Master Fund, Ltd. and Samlyn Long Alpha Master Fund, Ltd. (collectively, “Samlyn”) for so long as Samlyn, together with its Affiliates, holds at least 641,025 shares of Registrable Securities (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination, or other recapitalization or reclassification effected after the date hereof).

1.23 “Major Series B Investor” means any Investor that, individually or together with such Investor’s Affiliates, holds at least 1,182,051 shares of Series B Preferred Stock (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, combination, or other recapitalization or reclassification effected after the date hereof),.

1.24 “New Securities” means, collectively, equity securities of the Company, whether or not currently authorized, as well as rights, options, or warrants to purchase such equity securities, or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such equity securities.

1.25 “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or other entity.

1.26 “Preferred Directors” means any directors of the Company that the holders of record of the Series A Preferred Stock, Series A-1 Preferred Stock or Series B Preferred Stock have elected, exclusively and as a separate class, pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation.

1.27 “Preferred Stock” means the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series A-1 Preferred Stock and the Series B Preferred Stock.

1.28 “Registrable Securities” means (i) the Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock; (ii) any Common Stock, or any Common Stock issued or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise of any other securities of the Company, acquired by the Investors after February 4, 2019; (iii) any Common Stock issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right, or other security that is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, the shares referenced in clause (i) above; excluding in all cases, however, any Registrable Securities sold by a Person in a transaction in which the applicable rights under this Agreement are not assigned pursuant to Subsection 6.1, and excluding for purposes of Section 2 any shares for which registration rights have terminated pursuant to Subsection 2.13 of this Agreement.

 

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1.29 “Registrable Securities then outstanding” means the number of shares determined by adding the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock that are Registrable Securities and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable (directly or indirectly) pursuant to then exercisable and/or convertible securities that are Registrable Securities.

1.30 “Restricted Securities” means the securities of the Company required to be notated with the legend set forth in Subsection 2.12(b) hereof.

1.31 “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

1.32 “SEC Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.

1.33 “SEC Rule 145” means Rule 145 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.

1.34 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

1.35 “Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions, and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities, and fees and disbursements of counsel for any Holder, except for the fees and disbursements of the Selling Holder Counsel borne and paid by the Company as provided in Subsection 2.6.

1.36 “Series A Preferred Stock” means shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

1.37 “Series A-1 Preferred Stock” means shares of the Company’s Series A-1 Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

1.38 “Series B Preferred Stock” means shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

2. Registration Rights. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

2.1 Demand Registration.

(a) Form S-1 Demand. If at any time after the earlier of (i) five (5) years after the date of this Agreement or (ii) one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of the registration statement for the IPO, the Company receives a written request from Holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding that the Company file a Form S-1 registration statement with respect to at least fifty percent (50%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding (or a lesser percent if the anticipated aggregate offering price, net of Selling Expenses, would exceed fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000)), then the Company shall (x) within ten (10) days after the date such written request is given, give written notice thereof (the “Demand Notice”) to all Holders other than the Initiating Holders; and (y) as soon as practicable, and in any event within sixty (60) days after the date such written request is given by the Initiating Holders, file a Form S-1 registration statement under the Securities Act covering all Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holders requested to be registered and any additional Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any other Holders, as specified by written notice given by each such Holder to the Company within twenty (20) days of the date the Demand Notice is given, and in each case, subject to the limitations of Subsections 2.1(c) and 2.3.

(b) Form S-3 Demand. If at any time when it is eligible to use a Form S-3 registration statement, the Company receives a written request from Holders of at least ten percent (10%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding that the Company file a Form S-3 registration statement with respect

 

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to at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Registrable Securities having an anticipated aggregate offering price, net of Selling Expenses, of at least five million dollars ($5,000,000), then the Company shall (i) within ten (10) days after the date such written request is given, give written notice (the “S-3 Demand Notice”) to all Holders other than the Initiating Holders; and (ii) as soon as practicable, and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the date such written request is given by the Initiating Holders, file a Form S-3 registration statement under the Securities Act covering all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any other Holders, as specified by written notice given by each such Holder to the Company within twenty (20) days of the date the S-3 Demand Notice is given, and in each case, subject to the limitations of Subsections 2.1(c) and 2.3.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing obligations, if the Company furnishes to Holders requesting a registration pursuant to this Subsection 2.1 a certificate signed by the Company’s chief executive officer stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for such registration statement to either become effective or remain effective for as long as such registration statement otherwise would be required to remain effective, because such action would (i) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, corporate reorganization, or other similar transaction involving the Company; (ii) require premature disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential; or (iii) render the Company unable to comply with requirements under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, then the Company shall have the right to defer taking action with respect to such filing, and any time periods with respect to filing or effectiveness thereof shall be tolled correspondingly, for a period of not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the written request of the Initiating Holders is given; provided, however, that the Company may not invoke this right more than once in any twelve (12) month period; and provided further that the Company shall not register any securities for its own account or that of any other stockholder during such one hundred twenty (120) day period other than an Excluded Registration.

(d) The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect, any registration pursuant to Subsection 2.1(a) (i) during the period that is sixty (60) days before the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated registration, provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; (ii) after the Company has effected two registrations pursuant to Subsection 2.1(a); or (iii) if the Initiating Holders propose to dispose of shares of Registrable Securities that may be immediately registered on Form S-3 pursuant to a request made pursuant to Subsection 2.1(b). The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect, any registration pursuant to Subsection 2.1(b) (i) during the period that is thirty (30) days before the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date that is ninety (90) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated registration, provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; or (ii) if the Company has effected two registrations pursuant to Subsection 2.1(b) within the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the date of such request. A registration shall not be counted as “effected” for purposes of this Subsection 2.1(d) until such time as the applicable registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC, unless the Initiating Holders withdraw their request for such registration, elect not to pay the registration expenses therefor, and forfeit their right to one demand registration statement pursuant to Subsection 2.6, in which case such withdrawn registration statement shall be counted as “effected” for purposes of this Subsection 2.1(d); provided, that if such withdrawal is during a period the Company has deferred taking action pursuant to Subsection 2.1(c), then the Initiating Holders may withdraw their request for registration and such registration will not be counted as “effected” for purposes of this Subsection 2.1(d).

 

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2.2 Company Registration. If the Company proposes to register (including, for this purpose, a registration effected by the Company for stockholders other than the Holders) any of its Common Stock under the Securities Act in connection with the public offering of its Common Stock solely for cash (other than in an Excluded Registration), the Company shall, at such time, promptly give each Holder notice of such registration. Upon the request of each Holder given within twenty (20) days after such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of Subsection 2.3, cause to be registered all of the Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested to be included in such registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Subsection 2.2 before the effective date of such registration, whether or not any Holder has elected to include Registrable Securities in such registration. The expenses (other than Selling Expenses) of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Subsection 2.6.

2.3 Underwriting Requirements.

(a) If, pursuant to Subsection 2.1, the Initiating Holders intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwriting, they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to Subsection 2.1, and the Company shall include such information in the Demand Notice or the S-3 Demand Notice, as applicable. The underwriter(s) will be selected by the Company and shall be reasonably acceptable to a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders. In such event, the right of any Holder to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall (together with the Company as provided in Subsection 2.4(e)) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter(s) selected for such underwriting. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Subsection 2.3, if the managing underwriter(s) advise(s) the Initiating Holders in writing that marketing factors require a limitation on the number of shares to be underwritten, then the Initiating Holders shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities that otherwise would be underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated among such Holders of Registrable Securities, including the Initiating Holders, (i) with priority given to Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock owned by each Holder or in such other proportion as shall mutually be agreed to by all such selling Holders) and (ii) after all Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock has been included, to such other Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities (in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the number of shares of Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities (other than Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock) owned by each Holder or in such other proportion as shall mutually be agreed to by all such selling Holders); provided, however, that the number of Registrable Securities held by the Holders to be included in such underwriting shall not be reduced unless all other securities are first entirely excluded from the underwriting. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to any Holder to the nearest one hundred (100) shares.

(b) In connection with any offering involving an underwriting of shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to Subsection 2.2, the Company shall not be required to include any of the Holders’ Registrable Securities in such underwriting unless the Holders accept the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and its underwriters, and then only in such quantity as the underwriters in their sole discretion determine will not jeopardize the success of the offering by the Company. If the total number of securities, including Registrable Securities, requested by stockholders to be included in such offering exceeds the number of securities to be sold (other than by the Company) that the underwriters in their reasonable discretion determine is compatible with the success of the offering, then the Company shall be required to include in the offering only that number of such securities, including Registrable Securities, which the underwriters and the Company in their sole discretion determine will not

 

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jeopardize the success of the offering. If the underwriters determine that less than all of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered can be included in such offering, then the Registrable Securities that are included in such offering shall be allocated among the selling Holders (i) with priority given to Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock owned by each Holder or in such other proportion as shall mutually be agreed to by all such selling Holders) and (ii) after all Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock has been included, to such other Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities (in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the number of shares of Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities (other than Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock) owned by each Holder or in such other proportion as shall mutually be agreed to by all such selling Holders). To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to any Holder to the nearest one hundred (100) shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall (i) the number of Registrable Securities included in the offering be reduced unless all other securities (other than securities to be sold by the Company) are first entirely excluded from the offering, or (ii) the number of Registrable Securities included in the offering be reduced below twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of securities included in such offering, unless such offering is the IPO, in which case the selling Holders may be excluded further if the underwriters make the determination described above and no other stockholder’s securities are included in such offering. For purposes of the provision in this Subsection 2.3(b) concerning apportionment, for any selling Holder that is a partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, the partners, members, retired partners, retired members, stockholders, and Affiliates of such Holder, or the estates and Immediate Family Members of any such partners, retired partners, members, and retired members and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing Persons, shall be deemed to be a single “selling Holder,” and any pro rata reduction with respect to such “selling Holder” shall be based upon the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned by all Persons included in such “selling Holder,” as defined in this sentence.

(c) For purposes of Subsection 2.1, a registration shall not be counted as “effected” if, as a result of an exercise of the underwriter’s cutback provisions in Subsection 2.3(a), fewer than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of Registrable Securities that Holders have requested to be included in such registration statement are actually included.

2.4 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under this Section 2 to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

(a) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such registration statement effective for a period of up to one hundred twenty (120) days or, if earlier, until the distribution contemplated in the registration statement has been completed; provided, however, that (i) such one hundred twenty (120) day period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holder refrains, at the request of an underwriter of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company, from selling any securities included in such registration;

(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement, as may be necessary to comply with the Securities Act in order to enable the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;

 

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(c) furnish to the selling Holders such numbers of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, as required by the Securities Act, and such other documents as the Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate their disposition of their Registrable Securities;

(d) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue-sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the selling Holders; provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions, unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act;

(e) in the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the underwriter(s) of such offering;

(f) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be listed on a national securities exchange or trading system and each securities exchange and trading system (if any) on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

(g) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement and provide a CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of such registration;

(h) promptly make available for inspection by the selling Holders, any managing underwriter(s) participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement, and any attorney or accountant or other agent retained by any such underwriter or selected by the selling Holders, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents, and properties of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant, or agent, in each case, as necessary or advisable to verify the accuracy of the information in such registration statement and to conduct appropriate due diligence in connection therewith;

(i) notify each selling Holder, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when such registration statement has been declared effective or a supplement to any prospectus forming a part of such registration statement has been filed; and

(j) after such registration statement becomes effective, notify each selling Holder of any request by the SEC that the Company amend or supplement such registration statement or prospectus.

In addition, the Company shall ensure that, at all times after any registration statement covering a public offering of securities of the Company under the Securities Act shall have become effective, its insider trading policy shall provide that the Company’s directors may implement a trading program under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act.

2.5 Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Section 2 with respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as is reasonably required to effect the registration of such Holder’s Registrable Securities.

 

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2.6 Expenses of Registration. All expenses (other than Selling Expenses) incurred in connection with registrations, filings, or qualifications pursuant to Section 2, including all registration, filing, and qualification fees; printers’ and accounting fees; fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and the reasonable fees and disbursements, not to exceed $50,000, of one counsel for the selling Holders (“Selling Holder Counsel”), shall be borne and paid by the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Subsection 2.1 if the registration request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered (in which case all selling Holders shall bear such expenses pro rata based upon the number of Registrable Securities that were to be included in the withdrawn registration), unless the Holders of a majority of the Preferred Stock then outstanding (voting together as a single class on an as-converted basis) agree to forfeit their right to one registration pursuant to Subsections 2.1(a) or 2.1(b), as the case may be; provided further that if, at the time of such withdrawal, the Holders shall have learned of a material adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects of the Company from that known to the Holders at the time of their request and have withdrawn the request with reasonable promptness after learning of such information then the Holders shall not be required to pay any of such expenses and shall not forfeit their right to one registration pursuant to Subsections 2.1(a) or 2.1(b). All Selling Expenses relating to Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Section 2 shall be borne and paid by the Holders pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities registered on their behalf.

2.7 Delay of Registration. No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any registration pursuant to this Agreement as the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Section 2.

2.8 Indemnification. If any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under this Section 2:

(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each selling Holder, and the partners, members, officers, directors, and stockholders of each such Holder; legal counsel and accountants for each such Holder; any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for each such Holder; and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any Damages, and the Company will pay to each such Holder, underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Subsection 2.8(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, nor shall the Company be liable for any Damages to the extent that they arise out of or are based upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of any such Holder, underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person expressly for use in connection with such registration.

(b) To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each of its directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each Person (if any), who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, legal counsel and accountants for the Company, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act), any other Holder selling securities in such registration statement, and any controlling Person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any Damages, in each case only to the extent that such Damages arise out of or are based upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of such selling Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such selling Holder will pay to the Company and each other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any

 

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claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Subsection 2.8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and provided further that in no event shall the aggregate amounts payable by any Holder by way of indemnity or contribution under Subsections 2.8(b) and 2.8(d) exceed the proceeds from the offering received by such Holder (net of any Selling Expenses paid by such Holder), except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct by such Holder.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Subsection 2.8 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action) for which a party may be entitled to indemnification hereunder, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Subsection 2.8, give the indemnifying party notice of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in such action and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, participate jointly with any other indemnifying party to which notice has been given, and to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party (together with all other indemnified parties that may be represented without conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such action. The failure to give notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Subsection 2.8, to the extent that such failure materially prejudices the indemnifying party’s ability to defend such action. The failure to give notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Subsection 2.8.

(d) To provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either: (i) any party otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Subsection 2.8 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case, notwithstanding the fact that this Subsection 2.8 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any party hereto for which indemnification is provided under this Subsection 2.8, then, and in each such case, such parties will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of each of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the statements, omissions, or other actions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability, or expense, as well as to reflect any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact, or the omission or alleged omission of a material fact, relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, however, that, in any such case (x) no Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public offering price of all such Registrable Securities offered and sold by such Holder pursuant to such registration statement, and (y) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation; and provided further that in no event shall a Holder’s liability pursuant to this Subsection 2.8(d), when combined with the amounts paid or payable by such Holder pursuant to Subsection 2.8(b), exceed the proceeds from the offering received by such Holder (net of any Selling Expenses paid by such Holder), except in the case of willful misconduct or fraud by such Holder.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

(f) Unless otherwise superseded by an underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering, the obligations of the Company and Holders under this Subsection 2.8 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration under this Section 2, and otherwise shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

2.9 Reports Under Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of SEC Rule 144 and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3, the Company shall:

(a) make and keep available adequate current public information, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times after the effective date of the registration statement filed by the Company for the IPO;

(b) use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

(c) furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) to the extent accurate, a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the registration statement filed by the Company for the IPO), the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements), or that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies); and (ii) such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such securities without registration (at any time after the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act) or pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies to use such form).

2.10 Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Preferred Stock then outstanding (voting together as a single class on an as-converted basis), enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that would (i) provide to such holder or prospective holder the right to include securities in any registration on other than either a pro rata basis with respect to the Registrable Securities or on a subordinate basis after all Holders have had the opportunity to include in the registration and offering all shares of Registrable Securities that they wish to so include or (ii) allow such holder or prospective holder to initiate a demand for registration of any securities held by such holder or prospective holder; provided that this limitation shall not apply to Registrable Securities acquired by any additional Investor that becomes a party to this Agreement in accordance with Subsection 6.9.

2.11 Market Standoff Agreement. Each Holder hereby agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the managing underwriter, during the period commencing on the date of the final prospectus relating to the registration by the Company for its own behalf of shares of its Common Stock or any other equity securities under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form S-1, and ending on the date specified by the Company and the managing underwriter (such period not to exceed one hundred

 

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eighty (180) days in the case of the IPO, or such other period as may be requested by the Company or an underwriter to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (1) the publication or other distribution of research reports, and (2) analyst recommendations and opinions, including, but not limited to, the restrictions contained in FINRA Rule 2711(f)(4) or NYSE Rule 472(f)(4), or any successor provisions or amendments thereto), (i) lend; offer; pledge; sell; contract to sell; sell any option or contract to purchase; purchase any option or contract to sell; grant any option, right, or warrant to purchase; or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable (directly or indirectly) for Common Stock held immediately before the effective date of the registration statement for such offering or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash, or otherwise. The foregoing provisions of this Subsection 2.11 shall apply only to the IPO, shall not apply to any transfer of shares to an Affiliate, the sale of any shares to an underwriter pursuant to an underwriting agreement, or the transfer of any shares to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the Holder or the immediate family of the Holder, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer to a trust shall not involve a disposition for value, and shall be applicable to the Holders only if all officers and directors are subject to the same restrictions and the Company uses commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a similar agreement from all stockholders individually owning more than one percent (1%) of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock (after giving effect to conversion into Common Stock of all outstanding Preferred Stock). The underwriters in connection with such registration are intended third party beneficiaries of this Subsection 2.11 and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto. Each Holder further agrees to execute such agreements as may be reasonably requested by the underwriters in connection with such registration that are consistent with this Subsection 2.11 or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. Any discretionary waiver or termination of the restrictions of any or all of such agreements by the Company or the underwriters shall apply pro rata to all Company stockholders that are subject to such agreements, based on the number of shares subject to such agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, this Subsection 2.11 shall not apply to shares of Common Stock acquired in the IPO or in the open market following the IPO.

2.12 Restrictions on Transfer.

(a) The Preferred Stock and the Registrable Securities shall not be sold, pledged, or otherwise transferred, and the Company shall not recognize and shall issue stop-transfer instructions to its transfer agent with respect to any such sale, pledge, or transfer, except upon the conditions specified in this Agreement, which conditions are intended to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act. A transferring Holder will cause any proposed purchaser, pledgee, or transferee of the Preferred Stock and the Registrable Securities held by such Holder to agree to take and hold such securities subject to the provisions and upon the conditions specified in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not require any transferee of shares pursuant to an effective registration statement or, following the IPO, SEC Rule 144, in each case, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

(b) Each certificate, instrument, or book entry representing (i) the Preferred Stock, (ii) Registrable Securities, and (iii) any other securities issued in respect of the securities referenced in clauses (i) and (ii), upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, or similar event, shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of Subsection 2.12(c)) be notated with a legend substantially in the following form:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR A VALID EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT.

 

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THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDER, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.

The Holders consent to the Company making a notation in its records and giving instructions to any transfer agent of the Restricted Securities in order to implement the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Subsection 2.12.

(c) The holder of such Restricted Securities, by acceptance of ownership thereof, agrees to comply in all respects with the provisions of this Section 2. Before any proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of any Restricted Securities, other than a sale, pledge or transfer to an Affiliate that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act or unless there is in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the proposed transaction or following the IPO, the transfer is made pursuant to SEC Rule 144, the Holder thereof shall give notice to the Company of such Holder’s intention to effect such sale, pledge, or transfer, provided that no such notice shall be required in connection if the intended sale, pledge or transfer complies with SEC Rule 144. Each such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer in sufficient detail and, if reasonably requested by the Company, shall be accompanied at such Holder’s expense by either (i) a written opinion of legal counsel who shall, and whose legal opinion shall, be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, addressed to the Company, to the effect that the proposed transaction may be effected without registration under the Securities Act; (ii) a “no action” letter from the SEC to the effect that the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of such Restricted Securities without registration will not result in a recommendation by the staff of the SEC that action be taken with respect thereto; or (iii) any other evidence reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Company to the effect that the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of the Restricted Securities may be effected without registration under the Securities Act, whereupon the Holder of such Restricted Securities shall be entitled to sell, pledge, or transfer such Restricted Securities in accordance with the terms of the notice given by the Holder to the Company. The Company will not require such a legal opinion or “no action” letter (x) in any transaction in compliance with SEC Rule 144; or (y) in any transaction in which such Holder distributes Restricted Securities to an Affiliate of such Holder for no consideration if such transfer is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; provided that each transferee agrees in writing to be subject to the terms of this Subsection 2.12. Each certificate, instrument, or book entry representing the Restricted Securities transferred as above provided shall be notated with, except if such transfer is made pursuant to SEC Rule 144, the appropriate restrictive legend set forth in Subsection 2.12(b), except that such certificate instrument, or book entry shall not be notated with such restrictive legend if, in the opinion of counsel for such Holder and the Company, such legend is not required in order to establish compliance with any provisions of the Securities Act.

2.13 IPO Allocation.

(a) Subject to compliance with the requirements of applicable securities laws and regulations, and in connection with an IPO, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its managing underwriter(s) for such IPO to make an allocation to the Major Series B Investors of an aggregate of ten percent (10%) of the shares of capital stock to be originally issued and sold in the IPO, excluding any underwriter over-allotment option (the “Allocation”), provided, however, that this Allocation may be reduced or eliminated upon the reasonable determination by outside counsel to the Company that the granting or exercise of the IPO participation right by any Major Series B Investor would

 

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violate applicable securities laws, including the Securities Act. Each Major Series B Investor will be entitled to its pro rata portion of any such Allocation, based on the number of Registrable Securities held by such Major Series B Investor. Each Major Series B Investor will be entitled to distribute its portion of any such Allocation among its Affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this paragraph shall limit the number of shares that a Major Series B Investor or its affiliates may acquire in the IPO outside of its participation right provided hereunder. Each Major Series B Investor further acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement constitutes an offer or the commitment to purchase any shares in the IPO.

(b) In case of a reduction of the Allocation, the Company shall deliver written notice to the affected Major Series B Investor of such fact, and use commercially reasonable efforts to offer to such Major Series B Investor, subject to compliance with the requirements of applicable securities laws and regulations, the right to purchase in a separate private placement (which shall be conducted concurrently with the IPO and the closing of which shall be contingent on the closing of the IPO) (the “Private Placement”) up to that number of shares of capital stock that such Major Series B Investor would have purchased but was unable to, pursuant to its pro rata portion of the Allocation, at the same price per share offered to the public in the IPO (such right, the “Private Placement Participation Right”). The Common Stock offered to such Major Series B Investor pursuant to the Private Placement Participation Right shall be on the same terms as which capital stock is offered in the IPO, except that the capital stock offered under the Private Placement Participation Right shall be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. If such Major Series B Investor exercises (in part or in whole) the Private Placement Participation Right, the Company and such Major Series B Investor shall execute and deliver such documents that are (i) customary for a transaction structured as a private placement concurrent with a public offering and (ii) reasonably satisfactory to the Company and such Investor.

(c) In the event that any Major Series B Investor fails to purchase their pro rata share of the Allocation, the Company shall promptly notify each Major Series B Investor that elects to purchase or acquire all of its pro rata portion of the Allocation (each, an “Allocation Investor”) of any other Major Series B Investor’s failure to do likewise. During the ten (10) day period commencing after the Company has given such notice, each Allocation Investor may, by giving notice to the Company, elect to purchase or acquire, in addition to the number of shares specified above, up to that portion of the Allocation for which Major Series B Investors were entitled to subscribe but that were not subscribed for by the Major Series B Investors, which is equal to the proportion that the Common Stock issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of Preferred Stock and any other Derivative Securities then held, by such Allocation Investor bears to the Common Stock issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of the Preferred Stock and any other Derivative Securities then held, by all Major Series B Investors.

(d) Further, in the event the Company enters into any agreement or amends any existing agreement providing for the grant to any other party of rights to participate in an IPO, on terms more favorable to such other party than the terms of this Agreement with respect to the Major Series B Investors, the Major Series B Investors shall automatically be granted such more favorable terms.

2.14 Termination of Registration Rights. The right of any Holder to request registration or inclusion of Registrable Securities in any registration pursuant to Subsections 2.1 or 2.2 shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of:

(a) the closing of a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation;

 

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(b) such time after consummation of the IPO as Rule 144 or another similar exemption under the Securities Act is available for the sale of all of such Holder’s shares without limitation during a three-month period without registration;

(c) the fifth (5th) anniversary of the IPO.

3. Information and Observer Rights.

3.1 Delivery of Financial Statements. The Company shall deliver to each Major Investor, provided that the Board of Directors has not reasonably determined that such Major Investor is a Competitor of the Company:

(a) as soon as practicable, but in any event within one hundred eighty (180) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (i) a balance sheet as of the end of such year, (ii) statements of income and of cash flows for such year, and (iii) a statement of stockholders’ equity as of the end of such year, all such financial statements with respect to any particular fiscal year to be audited and certified by independent public accountants of nationally or regionally recognized standing selected by the Company, unless those Major Investors that are holders of a majority of the Preferred Stock then outstanding held by all Major Investors (voting together as a single class on an as-converted basis) agree that such audit will not be required for the relevant year;

(b) as soon as practicable, but in any event no later than the date of the regular meeting of the Board of Directors next occurring after the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, unaudited statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal quarter, and an unaudited balance sheet and a statement of stockholders’ equity as of the end of such fiscal quarter, all prepared in accordance with GAAP (except that such financial statements may (i) be subject to normal year-end audit adjustments; and (ii) not contain all notes thereto that may be required in accordance with GAAP);

(c) as soon as practicable, but in any event within thirty (30) days before the end of each fiscal year a budget and business plan for each fiscal year (collectively, the “Budget”), approved by the Board of Directors (including a majority of the Preferred Directors), prepared on a monthly basis, including income statements for such quarters and, promptly after prepared, any other budgets or revised budgets prepared by the Company;

(d) as soon as practicable, but in any event within thirty (30) days of the end of the second quarter of each fiscal year and the end of each fiscal year, the capitalization of the Company as of the end of the second quarter of such fiscal year or the end of such fiscal year, as applicable, including the number of shares of the following: (i) issued and outstanding Common Stock, including, with respect to restricted Common Stock, vesting schedule and repurchase price; (ii) granted stock options, including vesting schedule and exercise price; (iii) shares of Common Stock reserved for future award grants under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan; (iv) Series A Preferred Stock; (v) Series A-1 Preferred Stock; (vi) Series B Preferred Stock and (vii) warrants or stock purchase rights, if any; and

(e) such other information relating to the financial condition, business, prospects, or corporate affairs of the Company as any Major Investor may from time to time reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated under this Subsection 3.1 to provide information (i) that the Company reasonably determines in good faith to be a trade secret or confidential information (unless covered by an enforceable confidentiality agreement, in a form acceptable to the Company); or (ii) the disclosure of which would adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel.

 

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If, for any period, the Company has any subsidiary whose accounts are consolidated with those of the Company, then in respect of such period the financial statements delivered pursuant to the foregoing sections shall be the consolidated and consolidating financial statements of the Company and all such consolidated subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding anything else in this Subsection 3.1 to the contrary, the Company may cease providing the information set forth in this Subsection 3.1 during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days before the Company’s good-faith estimate of the date of filing of a registration statement if it reasonably concludes it must do so to comply with the SEC rules applicable to such registration statement and related offering; provided that the Company’s covenants under this Subsection 3.1 shall be reinstated at such time as the Company is no longer actively employing its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective.

3.2 Inspection. The Company shall permit each Major Investor (provided that the Board of Directors has not reasonably determined that such Major Investor is a Competitor of the Company), at such Major Investor’s expense, to visit and inspect the Company’s properties; examine its books of account and records; and discuss the Company’s affairs, finances, and accounts with its officers, during normal business hours of the Company as may be reasonably requested by the Major Investor; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to this Subsection 3.2 to provide access to any information that it reasonably and in good faith considers to be a trade secret or confidential information (unless covered by an enforceable confidentiality agreement, in form acceptable to the Company) or the disclosure of which would adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel.

3.3 Observer Rights. As long as each of RA Capital Management L.P. or any of its Affiliates (“RA Capital”), LifeArc or any of its Affiliates, Access Industries or any of its Affiliates and ICG or any of its Affiliates owns any shares of Preferred Stock, the Company shall invite a representative of each of RA Capital, LifeArc, Access Industries and ICG to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors in a nonvoting observer capacity and, in this respect, shall give such representative copies of all notices, minutes, consents, and other materials that it provides to its directors at the same time and in the same manner as provided to such directors; provided, however, that such representative shall agree to hold in confidence and trust and to act in a fiduciary manner with respect to all information so provided; and provided further, that the Company reserves the right to withhold any information and to exclude such representative from any meeting or portion thereof if access to such information or attendance at such meeting could adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel or result in disclosure of trade secrets or a conflict of interest, or if such Investor is a Competitor of the Company.

3.4 Termination of Information and Observer Rights. The covenants set forth in Subsection 3.1, Subsection 3.2, and Subsection 3.3 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect (i) immediately before the consummation of the IPO, (ii) when the Company first becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 12(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or (iii) upon the closing of a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation, whichever event occurs first.

3.5 Confidentiality. Each Investor agrees that such Investor will keep confidential and will not disclose, divulge, or use for any purpose (other than to monitor its investment in the Company) any confidential information obtained from the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (including notice of the Company’s intention to file a registration statement), unless such confidential information (a) is known or becomes known to the public in general (other than as a result of a breach of this Subsection 3.5 by such Investor), (b) is or has been independently developed or conceived by such Investor without use of the Company’s confidential information, or (c) is or has been made known or disclosed to such Investor by a third party without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality such third party may have to the Company; provided, however, that an Investor may disclose confidential information (i) to its attorneys,

 

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accountants, consultants, and other professionals to the extent necessary to obtain their services in connection with monitoring its investment in the Company; (ii) to any prospective purchaser of any Registrable Securities from such Investor, if such prospective purchaser agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Subsection 3.5; (iii) to any existing Affiliate, partner, member, stockholder, or wholly owned subsidiary of such Investor in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Investor informs such Person that such information is confidential and directs such Person to maintain the confidentiality of such information; or (iv) as may otherwise be required by law, regulation, rule, court order or subpoena, provided that such Investor promptly notifies the Company of such disclosure and takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of any such required disclosure. Each of RA Capital, LifeArc, Access Industries and ICG shall cause each of its representatives for purposes of Subsection 3.3 to abide by the provisions of this Subsection 3.5 to the same extent as RA Capital, LifeArc, Access Industries or ICG, as the case may be, is required to do so, and shall be responsible and liable to the Company for any failure of any of its representatives to do so.

4. Rights to Future Stock Issuances.

4.1 Right of First Offer. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Subsection 4.1 and applicable securities laws, if the Company proposes to offer or sell any New Securities, the Company shall first offer such New Securities to each Investor. An Investor shall be entitled to apportion the right of first offer hereby granted to it in such proportions as it deems appropriate, among (i) itself, (ii) its Affiliates and (iii) its beneficial interest holders, such as limited partners, members or any other Person having “beneficial ownership,” as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, of such Investor (“Investor Beneficial Owners”); provided that each such Affiliate or Investor Beneficial Owner (x) is not a Competitor or FOIA Party, unless such purchase of New Securities by such Affiliate or Investor Beneficial Owner is otherwise consented to by the Board of Directors, and (y) agrees to become a party to this Agreement and each of the Voting Agreement and Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement of even date herewith among the Company, the Investors and the other parties named therein, as an “Investor” under each such agreement (provided that any Competitor or FOIA Party shall not be entitled to any rights as a Major Investor or Investor under Subsections 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1 hereof).

(a) The Company shall give notice (the “Offer Notice”) to each Investor, stating (i) its bona fide intention to offer such New Securities, (ii) the number of such New Securities to be offered, and (iii) the price and terms, if any, upon which it proposes to offer such New Securities.

(b) By notification to the Company within twenty (20) days after the Offer Notice is given, each Investor may elect to purchase or otherwise acquire, at the price and on the terms specified in the Offer Notice, up to that portion of such New Securities which equals the proportion that the Common Stock then held by such Investor (including all shares of Common Stock then issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of the Preferred Stock and any other Derivative Securities then held by such Investor) bears to the total Common Stock of the Company then outstanding (assuming full conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of all Preferred Stock and any other Derivative Securities then outstanding). At the expiration of such twenty (20) day period, the Company shall promptly notify each Investor that elects to purchase or acquire all the shares available to it (each, a “Fully Exercising Investor”) of any other Investor’s failure to do likewise. During the ten (10) day period commencing after the Company has given such notice, each Fully Exercising Investor may, by giving notice to the Company, elect to purchase or acquire, in addition to the number of shares specified above, up to that portion of the New Securities for which Investors were entitled to subscribe but that were not subscribed for by the Investors which is equal to the proportion that the Common Stock issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of Preferred Stock and any other Derivative Securities then held, by such Fully Exercising Investor bears to the Common Stock issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of the Preferred Stock and

 

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any other Derivative Securities then held, by all Fully Exercising Investors who wish to purchase such unsubscribed shares. The closing of any sale pursuant to this Subsection 4.1(b) shall occur within the later of one hundred twenty (120) days of the date that the Offer Notice is given and the date of initial sale of New Securities pursuant to Subsection 4.1(c).

(c) If all New Securities referred to in the Offer Notice are not elected to be purchased or acquired as provided in Subsection 4.1(b), the Company may, during the one hundred twenty (120) day period following the expiration of the periods provided in Subsection 4.1(b), offer and sell the remaining unsubscribed portion of such New Securities to any Person or Persons at a price not less than, and upon terms no more favorable to the offeree than, those specified in the Offer Notice. If the Company does not enter into an agreement for the sale of the New Securities within such period, or if such agreement is not consummated within thirty (30) days of the execution thereof, the right provided hereunder shall be deemed to be revived and such New Securities shall not be offered unless first reoffered to the Investors in accordance with this Subsection 4.1.

(d) The right of first offer in this Subsection 4.1 shall not be applicable to (i) Exempted Securities or (ii) shares of Common Stock issued in the IPO.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, in lieu of complying with the provisions of this Subsection 4.1, the Company may elect to give notice to the Investors within thirty (30) days after the issuance of New Securities. Such notice shall describe the type, price, and terms of the New Securities. Each Investor shall have twenty (20) days from the date notice is given to elect to purchase up to the number of New Securities that would, if purchased by such Investor, maintain such Investor’s percentage-ownership position, calculated as set forth in Subsection 4.1(b) before giving effect to the issuance of such New Securities.

4.2 Termination. The covenants set forth in Subsection 4.1 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect (i) immediately before the consummation of the IPO, (ii) when the Company first becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 12(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or (iii) upon the closing of a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation, whichever event occurs first.

5. Additional Covenants.

5.1 Insurance. The Company shall maintain, from financially sound and reputable insurers Directors and Officers liability insurance in an amount and on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Board of Directors, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such insurance policy to be maintained until such time as the Board of Directors determines that such insurance should be discontinued and the policy shall not be cancelable by the Company without prior approval by the Board of Directors including a majority of the Preferred Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.1 to the contrary, for so long as a Preferred Director is serving on the Board of Directors, the Company shall not cease to maintain a Directors and Officers liability insurance policy in an amount of at least five million dollars ($5,000,000) unless approved by a majority of the Preferred Directors, and the Company shall annually, within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, deliver to the Preferred Directors a certification that such a Directors and Officers liability insurance policy remains in effect.

5.2 Employee Agreements. The Company will cause (i) each Person now or hereafter employed by it or by any subsidiary (or engaged by the Company or any subsidiary as a consultant/independent contractor) with access to confidential information and/or trade secrets to enter into a nondisclosure and proprietary rights assignment agreement; and (ii) each Key Employee to enter into a

 

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one (1) year noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreement, substantially in the form approved by the Board of Directors. In addition, the Company shall not amend, modify, terminate, waive, or otherwise alter, in whole or in part, any of the above-referenced agreements or any restricted stock agreement between the Company and any employee, without the consent of a majority of the Preferred Directors.

5.3 Employee Stock. Unless otherwise approved by the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Preferred Directors, all future employees and consultants of the Company who purchase, receive options to purchase, or receive awards of shares of the Company’s capital stock after the date hereof shall be required to execute restricted stock or option agreements, as applicable, providing for (i) vesting of shares over a four (4) year period, with the first twenty-five percent (25%) of such shares vesting following twelve (12) months of continued employment or service, and the remaining shares vesting in equal monthly installments over the following thirty-six (36) months, and (ii) a market stand-off provision substantially similar to that in Subsection 2.11. Without the prior approval by the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Preferred Directors, the Company shall not amend, modify, terminate, waive or otherwise alter, in whole or in part, any stock purchase, stock restriction or option agreement with any existing employee or service provider if such amendment would cause it to be inconsistent with this Subsection 5.3. In addition, unless otherwise approved by the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Preferred Directors, the Company shall retain (and not waive) a “right of first refusal” on employee transfers until the Company’s IPO and shall have the right to repurchase unvested shares at cost upon termination of employment of a holder of restricted stock.

5.4 Matters Requiring Preferred Director Approval. So long as the holders of Preferred Stock have elected one or more Preferred Directors, the Company hereby covenants and agrees with each of the Investors that it shall not, without approval of the Board of Directors, which approval must include the affirmative vote of a majority of the Preferred Directors so elected and serving in such capacity (it being understood that the approval requirement shall be deemed satisfied if any of the following matters is approved by a committee established with the approval of the Board of Directors, including the affirmative vote of a majority of Preferred Directors so elected and serving in such capacity):

(a) make, or permit any subsidiary to make, any loan or advance to, or own any stock or other securities of, any subsidiary or other corporation, partnership, or other entity unless it is wholly owned by the Company;

(b) make, or permit any subsidiary to make, any loan or advance to any Person, including, without limitation, any employee or director of the Company or any subsidiary, except advances and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business or under the terms of an employee stock or option plan approved by the Board of Directors;

(c) guarantee, directly or indirectly, or permit any subsidiary to guarantee, directly or indirectly, any indebtedness except for trade accounts of the Company or any subsidiary arising in the ordinary course of business;

(d) make any investment inconsistent with any investment policy approved by the Board of Directors;

(e) incur any aggregate indebtedness in excess of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) that is not already included in a budget approved by the Board of Directors, other than trade credit incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(f) enter any agreement or arrangement committing the Company or its subsidiaries to payments of over five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) that is not already included in a budget approved by the Board of Directors;

(g) purchase assets with a value greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) that are not already included in a budget approved by the Board of Directors;

(h) in-license or out-license intellectual property (other than (i) in-licenses of commercially available off-the-shelf intellectual property or (ii) in-licenses or out-licenses incidental to contractual arrangements, the principal purpose of which do not relate to intellectual property);

(i) otherwise enter into or be a party to any transaction with any director, officer, or employee of the Company or any “associate” (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of any such Person, including without limitation any “management bonus” or similar plan providing payments to employees in connection with a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation, except for transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement, or transactions made in the ordinary course of business and pursuant to reasonable requirements of the Company’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms that are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors;

(j) hire, terminate, or change the compensation of the directors, executive officers (including, without limitation, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company) or Key Employees, including approving any option grants or stock awards to directors, executive officers (including, without limitation, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company), or Key Employees, or enter into or amend any agreements with any director, executive officer or Key Employee;

(k) enter into any service contract or employment contract with any director or employee of any level with gross remuneration that exceeds $500,000 inclusive of all benefits or which cannot be terminated on three months’ notice or less;

(l) enter into transactions outside the ordinary course of business, or change the principal business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, enter new lines of business, or exit the current line of business;

(m) sell, assign, license, pledge, or encumber material technology or intellectual property, other than licenses granted in the ordinary course of business;

(n) enter into any corporate strategic relationship involving the payment, contribution, or assignment by the Company or to the Company of money or assets greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or which cannot be terminated for convenience upon three (3) months written notice and that is not already included in a budget approved by the Board of Directors;

(o) approve of an annual business plan and budget, or take any action that is a material deviation for such budget or business plan, including, but not limited to, a material acquisition;

(p) issue of options to purchase capital stock of the Company;

(q) issue of shares of common stock as a bonus to any employee, consultant, or director;

(r) list any company securities on any stock exchange;

 

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(s) appoint any advisor or investment banker in connection with an equity financing or a sale of the Company;

(t) enter into any transaction to sell any capital stock of any subsidiary of the Company; or

(u) increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved under, or otherwise amend, modify or replace, the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan in effect as of the date hereof.

5.5 Board Matters. Unless otherwise determined by the vote of a majority of the directors then in office, the Board of Directors shall meet at least quarterly in accordance with an agreed-upon schedule. The Company shall reimburse the nonemployee directors for all reasonable out-of-pocket travel expenses incurred (consistent with the Company’s travel policy) in connection with attending meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to establish and maintain, an audit and compensation committee, each of which shall consist solely of non-management directors. Each non-employee director shall be entitled in such person’s discretion to be a member of any committee of the Board of Directors.

5.6 Annual Review of Chief Executive Officer. So long as the holders of Preferred Stock have elected one or more Preferred Directors, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Board of Directors of the Company shall conduct an annual review of the Chief Executive Officer, including compensation and performance matters.

5.7 Successor Indemnification. If the Company or any of its successors or assignees consolidates with or merges into any other Person and is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, then to the extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assignees of the Company assume the obligations of the Company with respect to indemnification of members of the Board of Directors as in effect immediately before such transaction, whether such obligations are contained in the Company’s Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or elsewhere, as the case may be.

5.8 Indemnification Matters. The Company hereby acknowledges that one (1) or more of the directors nominated to serve on the Board of Directors by the Investors (each an “Investor Director”) may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by one or more of the Investors and certain of their Affiliates (collectively, the “Investor Indemnitors”). The Company hereby agrees (a) that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to any such Investor Director are primary and any obligation of the Investor Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by such Investor Director are secondary), (b) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by such Investor Director and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement by or on behalf of any such Investor Director to the extent legally permitted and as required by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company (or any agreement between the Company and such Investor Director), without regard to any rights such Investor Director may have against the Investor Indemnitors, and, (c) that it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Investor Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Investor Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Investor Indemnitors on behalf of any such Investor Director with respect to any claim for which such Investor Director has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Investor Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such Investor Director against the Company. The Investor Directors and the Investor Indemnitors are intended third party beneficiaries of this Subsection 5.8 and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions of this Subsection 5.8 as though they were a party to this Agreement.

 

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5.9 Right to Conduct Activities. The Company hereby agrees and acknowledges that each of RA Capital (together with its Affiliates), LifeArc (together with its Affiliates), Access Industries (together with its Affiliates) and ICG (together with its Affiliates) is a professional investment organization, and as such reviews the business plans and related proprietary information of many enterprises, some of which may compete directly or indirectly with the Company’s business (as currently conducted or as currently propose to be conducted). The Company hereby agrees that, to the extent permitted under applicable law, none of RA Capital, LifeArc, Access Industries and ICG (and their respective Affiliates) shall be liable to the Company for any claim arising out of, or based upon, (i) the investment by any of RA Capital, LifeArc, Access Industries or ICG (or their respective Affiliates) in any entity competitive with the Company, or (ii) actions taken by any partner, officer, employee or other representative of any of RA Capital, LifeArc, Access Industries or ICG (or their respective Affiliates) to assist any such competitive company, whether or not such action was taken as a member of the board of directors of such competitive company or otherwise, and whether or not such action has a detrimental effect on the Company; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not relieve (x) any of the Investors from liability associated with the unauthorized disclosure of the Company’s confidential information obtained pursuant to this Agreement, or (y) any director or officer of the Company from any liability associated with his or her fiduciary duties to the Company.

5.10 Qualified Small Business Stock. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock, as well as any shares into which such shares are converted, within the meaning of Section 1202(f) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), to constitute “qualified small business stock” as defined in Section 1202(c) of the Code; provided, however, that such requirement shall not be applicable if the Board of Directors of the Company determines, in its good-faith business judgment, that such qualification is inconsistent with the best interests of the Company. The Company shall submit to its stockholders (including the Investors) and to the Internal Revenue Service any reports that may be required under Section 1202(d)(1)(C) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. In addition, within twenty (20) business days after any Investor’s written request therefor, the Company shall, at its option, either (i) deliver to such Investor a written statement indicating whether (and what portion of) such Investor’s interest in the Company constitutes “qualified small business stock” as defined in Section 1202(c) of the Code or (ii) deliver to such Investor such factual information in the Company’s possession as is reasonably necessary to enable such Investor to determine whether (and what portion of) such Investor’s interest in the Company constitutes “qualified small business stock” as defined in Section 1202(c) of the Code.

5.11 Public Announcements. The Company agrees that it shall not issue a press release or any other form of public statement, regardless of medium, or share information with a third party not bound by a written obligation to maintain the confidentiality of such information, in which a Major Investor’s involvement with the Company is referenced, without the prior written approval of such Major Investor.

5.12 United States Tax Matters. The Company shall:

(a) Passive Foreign Investment Company: (i) make due inquiry with U.S. tax advisors of the Company (“U.S. Tax Advisors”) at least annually regarding the status of any subsidiary of the Company as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to avoid becoming, or having any subsidiary become, a PFIC, (iii) as soon as practicable, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, examine its tentative PFIC status, and the PFIC status of its subsidiaries, and immediately notify each Investor if it becomes aware of any

 

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change in such PFIC statuses, (iv) as each such Investor may reasonably request, provide any assistance and information necessary to determine whether the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a PFIC based upon its unaudited financial statements and (v) in respect of each taxable year for any portion of which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or reasonably may be deemed a PFIC in the opinion of the Company or any Investor, as soon as practicable, but in any event, within sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, provide the unaudited statements and information necessary to enable an Investor to comply with all provisions of the Code with respect to PFICs, including but not limited to, making and complying with the requirements of a “qualified electing fund” election (the “QEF Election”) pursuant to Section 1295 of the Code or filing a “Protective Statement” pursuant to Section 1.1295-3 of the Treasury Regulations with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, as applicable, and to comply with all other requirements of the QEF Election. After the Company’s final, audited financial statements are issued, in accordance with Section 3.1(a), the Company shall make a final determination of PFIC status.

(b) Controlled Foreign Corporation. (i) as soon as practicable, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company and/or its subsidiaries, provide each Investor with a complete and accurate report, prepared by the U.S. Tax Advisors, regarding the Company’s status as a “controlled foreign corporation” as defined in Section 957 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (“CFC”) and the CFC status of its subsidiaries, (ii) immediately notify each Investor if it becomes aware of any change in the CFC status of the Company or any subsidiary for any taxable year, (iii) as an Investor may reasonably request, provide any other assistance and information necessary to determine whether the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a CFC, and (iv) in respect of each taxable year for any portion of which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be deemed a CFC in the reasonable opinion of the Company or any Investor, as soon as practicable, but in any event, after the Company’s audited financial statements are issued in accordance with Section 3.1(a), provide the information necessary to enable each Investor that is a “United States shareholder” of the Company (within the meaning of Section 951(b) of the Code) to comply with all CFC reporting and other requirements of the Code with respect to their equity holdings in the Company, including a complete and accurate report, prepared by U.S. Tax Advisors, setting forth the aggregate amount of any income of the Company or its subsidiaries that would be includible under Section 951 or Section 951A of the Code in the gross income of such “United States shareholders”.

5.13 Termination of Covenants. The covenants set forth in this Section 5, except for Subsections 5.7, 5.8 and 5.9, shall terminate and be of no further force or effect (i) immediately before the consummation of the IPO, (ii) when the Company first becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 12(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or (iii) upon a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation, whichever event occurs first.

6. Miscellaneous.

6.1 Successors and Assigns. The rights under this Agreement may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder only to a transferee of Registrable Securities that (i) is an Affiliate of a Holder; (ii) is a Holder’s Immediate Family Member or trust for the benefit of an individual Holder or one or more of such Holder’s Immediate Family Members; or (iii) after such transfer, either holds at least fifty thousand (50,000) shares of Registrable Securities (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, and other recapitalizations) or holds all of the Registrable Securities owned or held by such Holder immediately prior to such transfer; provided, however, that (x) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee and the Registrable Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred; and

 

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(y) such transferee agrees in a written instrument delivered to the Company to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the provisions of Subsection 2.11, that are applicable to Investors. For the purposes of determining the number of shares of Registrable Securities held by a transferee, the holdings of a transferee (1) that is an Affiliate or stockholder of a Holder; (2) who is a Holder’s Immediate Family Member; or (3) that is a trust for the benefit of an individual Holder or such Holder’s Immediate Family Member shall be aggregated together and with those of the transferring Holder; provided further that all transferees who would not qualify individually for assignment of rights shall, as a condition to the applicable transfer, establish a single attorney-in-fact for the purpose of exercising any rights, receiving notices, or taking any action under this Agreement. Except in connection with an assignment by the Company by operation of law to the acquirer of the Company, the rights and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned under any circumstances. The terms and conditions of this Agreement inure to the benefit of and are binding upon the respective successors and permitted assignees of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto and, to the extent permitted under this Agreement, their respective successors and permitted assignees any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.

6.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal law of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of Delaware.

6.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

6.4 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

6.5 Notices.

(a) All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt or (i) personal delivery to the party to be notified; (ii) when sent, if sent by electronic mail or facsimile during the recipient’s normal business hours, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipient’s next business day; (iii) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (iv) one (1) business day after the business day of deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next-day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective parties at their addresses as set forth on Schedule A hereto, or to the principal office of the Company and to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer and to the General Counsel, in the case of the Company, or to such email address, facsimile number, or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Subsection 6.5. If notice is given to the Company, a copy shall also be sent to Cooley LLP, Dashwood, 69 Old Broad Street, London, EC2M 1QS, UK, Attn: Stephen Rosen.

(b) Consent to Electronic Notice. Each Investor consents to the delivery of any stockholder notice pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), as amended or superseded from time to time, by electronic transmission pursuant to Section 232 of the DGCL (or any successor thereto) at the electronic mail address or the facsimile number set forth below such Investor’s

 

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name on the Schedules hereto, as updated from time to time by notice to the Company, or as on the books of the Company. To the extent that any notice given by means of electronic transmission is returned or undeliverable for any reason, the foregoing consent shall be deemed to have been revoked until a new or corrected electronic mail address has been provided, and such attempted Electronic Notice shall be ineffective and deemed to not have been given. Each Investor agrees to promptly notify the Company of any change in such stockholder’s electronic mail address, and that failure to do so shall not affect the foregoing.

6.6 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended, modified or terminated and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance, and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of (i) the Company and (ii) Holders of a majority of the Preferred Stock then outstanding held by all the Holders (voting together as a single class on an as-converted basis) and; provided, that the Company may in its sole discretion waive compliance with Subsection 2.12(c) (and the Company’s failure to object promptly in writing after notification of a proposed assignment allegedly in violation of Subsection 2.12(c) shall be deemed to be a waiver); and provided further that any provision hereof may be waived by any waiving party on such party’s own behalf, without the consent of any other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) this Agreement may not be amended, modified or terminated and the observance of any term hereof may not be waived with respect to any Investor without the written consent of such Investor, unless such amendment, modification, termination, or waiver applies to all Investors in the same fashion (it being agreed that a waiver of the provisions of Section 4 with respect to a particular transaction shall be deemed to apply to all Investors in the same fashion if such waiver does so by its terms, notwithstanding the fact that certain Investors may nonetheless, by agreement with the Company, purchase securities in such transaction) and (b) Subsections 3.1 and 3.2, and any other section of this Agreement applicable to the Major Investors (including this clause (b) of this Subsection 6.6) may not be amended, modified, terminated or waived without the written consent of each of the Major Investors unless such amendment, modification or termination applies to all Major Investors in the same fashion and is not objectively intended to disadvantage any Major Investor(s) relative to all others Major Investor(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Schedule A hereto may be amended by the Company from time to time to add transferees of any Registrable Securities in compliance with the terms of this Agreement without the consent of the other parties; and Schedule A hereto may also be amended by the Company after the date of this Agreement without the consent of the other parties to add information regarding any additional Investor who becomes a party to this Agreement in accordance with Subsection 6.9. The Company shall give prompt notice of any amendment, modification or termination hereof or waiver hereunder to any party hereto that did not consent in writing to such amendment, modification, termination, or waiver. Any amendment, modification, termination, or waiver effected in accordance with this Subsection 6.6 shall be binding on all parties hereto, regardless of whether any such party has consented thereto. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if after giving effect to a waiver of Section 4 with respect to a particular transaction, an Investor purchases securities in such transaction or issuance (such Investor, a “Participating Investor”), such waiver of the provisions of Section 4 shall be deemed to apply to each other Investor who holds Series A-1 Preferred Stock whose rights were waived or amended only if such Investor who holds Series A-1 Preferred Stock has been provided the opportunity to purchase a proportional number of the New Securities being offered by the Company in such transaction based on the pro rata purchase right of such Investor set forth in Section 4, assuming a transaction size determined based upon the amount purchased by the Participating Investor that invested the largest percentage in such transaction relative to the amount such Participating Investor would have been entitled to purchase pursuant to the calculation of the pro rata right in Section 4 had such provision not been waived, it being agreed that such opportunity may be provided subsequent to the initial closing in which such Participating Investor(s) purchase securities.

 

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6.7 Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision shall be reformed and construed so that it will be valid, legal, and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

6.8 Aggregation of Stock. All shares of Registrable Securities held or acquired by Affiliates shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement and such Affiliated persons may apportion such rights as among themselves in any manner they deem appropriate.

6.9 Additional Investors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Company issues additional shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock after the date hereof, any purchaser of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock may become a party to this Agreement by executing and delivering a written agreement or instrument agreeing to become a party to this Agreement as an Investor, and thereafter shall be deemed an “Investor” for all purposes hereunder. No action or consent by the Investors shall be required for such joinder to this Agreement by such additional Investor, so long as such additional Investor has agreed in writing to be bound by all of the obligations as an “Investor” hereunder. In addition, with the written consent of those Major Investors that hold a majority of the Preferred Stock then outstanding and held by the Major Investors (voting together as a single class on an as-converted basis), a purchaser of a class or series of the Company’s Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, other than the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock, may become a party to this Agreement by executing and delivering a written agreement or instrument agreeing to become a party to this Agreement as an Investor, and thereafter shall be deemed an “Investor” for all purposes hereunder, and the Company may amend Schedule A hereto to add information regarding such purchaser without further action or consent by the Investors.

6.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including any Schedules and Exhibits hereto) constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled.

6.11 Dispute Resolution. The parties (a) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of the state courts of Delaware and to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement, (b) agree not to commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement except in the state courts of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and (c) hereby waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such court.

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL: EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, THE SECURITIES OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF OR THEREOF. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. THIS SECTION

 

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HAS BEEN FULLY DISCUSSED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THESE PROVISIONS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY EXCEPTIONS. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT SUCH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT SUCH PARTY KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.

6.12 Costs of Enforcement. If any party to this Agreement seeks to enforce its rights under this Agreement by legal proceedings, the non-prevailing party shall pay all costs and expenses incurred by the prevailing party, including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees.

6.13 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power, or remedy of such nonbreaching or nondefaulting party, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of or acquiescence to any such breach or default, or to any similar breach or default thereafter occurring, nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. All remedies, whether under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

6.14 Effect on Prior Agreement. Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, Holders of a majority of the Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding and held by all of the Holders, and Holders of a majority of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock then outstanding and held by all of the Holders, the Company’s Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement dated October 15, 2020 shall terminate and be of no further force and effect and shall be amended and restated in its entirety as set forth in this Agreement.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:
ELIEM THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert Azelby

Name:   Robert Azelby
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
Address:   23515 NE Novelty Hill Rd.
  Suite B221 #125
  Redmond, WA 98053


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

INVESTORS:
AI ETI LLC
By: Access Industries Management, LLC, its Manager
By:  

/s/ Alejandro Moreno

Name:   Alejandro Moreno
Title:   Executive Vice President
By:  

/s/ Suzette Del Giudice

Name:   Suzette Del Giudice
Title:   Executive Vice President

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

INVESTORS:
RA CAPITAL HEALTHCARE FUND, L.P.
By: RA Capital Management, LLC, its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Peter Kolchinsky

Name:   Peter Kolchinsky
Title:   Manager
RA CAPITAL NEXUS FUND, L.P.
By: RA Capital Nexus Fund GP, LLC, its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Peter Kolchinsky

Name:   Peter Kolchinsky
Title:   Manager
RA CAPITAL NEXUS FUND II, L.P.
By: RA Capital Nexus Fund GP, LLC, its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Peter Kolchinsky

Name:   Peter Kolchinsky
Title:   Manager
BLACKWELL PARTNERS LLC – SERIES A
By:  

/s/ Abayomi A. Adigun

Name:   Abayomi A. Adigun
Title:   Investment Manager
  DUMAC, Inc., Authorized Agent
By:  

/s/ Abayomi A. Adigun

Name:   Abayomi A. Adigun
Title:   Investment Manager
  DUMAC, Inc., Authorized Agent

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

INVESTORS:
LIFEARC
By:  

/s/ Andrew Mercieca

Name:   Andrew Mercieca
Title:   CFO

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

INVESTORS:

/s/ David-Alexandre Gros

David-Alexandre Gros

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

INVESTORS:
ICG LIFE SCIENCES SCSP
By:  

/s/ Jens Hoellermann   /s/ Karl Heinz Horrer

Name:   Jens Hoellermann / Karl Heinz Horrer
Title:   Managers of the GP

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

INVESTORS:
SAMLYN ONSHORE FUND, LP
By:  

/s/ Michael Barry

Name:   Michael Barry
Title:   Authorized Signatory
SAMLYN OFFSHORE MASTER FUND, LTD.
By:  

/s/ Michael Barry

Name:   Michael Barry
Title:   Authorized Signatory
SAMLYN LONG ALPHA MASTER FUND, LTD.
By:  

/s/ Michael Barry

Name:   Michael Barry
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

INVESTORS:
ACORN BIOVENTURES, L.P.
By: ACORN CAPITAL ADVISORS GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Isaac Manke

Name:   Isaac Manke
Title:   General Partner

 

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SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS

 

Name and Address of Investor

RA Capital Healthcare Fund, L.P.

c/o RA Capital Management, LLC

200 Berkeley Street, 18th Floor

Boston, MA 02116

RA Capital Nexus Fund, L.P.

c/o RA Capital Management, LLC

200 Berkeley Street, 18th Floor

Boston, MA 02116

RA Capital Nexus Fund II, L.P.

c/o RA Capital Management, LLC

200 Berkeley Street, 18th Floor

Boston, MA 02116

LifeArc

7th Floor

Lynton House

7-12 Tavistock Square

London

WC1H 9lT

ICG Life Sciences SCSp

Procession House

55 Ludgate Hill

London

EC4M 7JW

Blackwell Partners LLC – Series A

280 S. Mangum Street

Suite 210

Durham, NC 27701

Attn: Jannine Lall

David-Alexandre Gros

AI ETI LLC

c/o Access Industries Management, LLC

40 West 57th Street, 28th Floor

New York, NY 10019

 

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Acorn Bioventures, L.P.

Attn: Isaac Manke

420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2626

New York, NY 10170

Email: ***@***

Samlyn Onshore Fund, LP

Michael B. Barry

Chief Compliance Officer

Samlyn Capital, LLC

500 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

***@***

Samlyn Offshore Master Fund, Ltd.

Michael B. Barry

Chief Compliance Officer

Samlyn Capital, LLC

500 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

***@***

Samlyn Long Alpha Master Fund, Ltd.

Michael B. Barry

Chief Compliance Officer

Samlyn Capital, LLC

500 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

***@***

 

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